In fact, it is not only the Japanese army planning a battle, but the US army also planning a battle.

Of course, this does not refer to the South Pacific Navy Command headed by Gormley, but the command of Nimitz, the commander of the higher-level Pacific Theater Commander-in-Chief.

The US Navy, led by Gormley, was actually feeling a little guilty after these battles. The first battle made the Japanese defeat the "Iron-Deep Bay", and the second battle almost both aircraft carriers were sunk. If it weren't for the "Cactus" aviation brigade of Guadalone, no one would have known what would be the situation in the end. After finally waiting for the reinforcements to increase their strength, the "Hornets" aircraft carrier was sunk by Japanese submarines.

"We get the news!" Gormley said to the navy general: "The Japanese are transferring a fleet from the local area. This fleet may have two to three aircraft carriers, so... In addition, a Rabaul aircraft carrier and the less injured "Shokawa" may also participate in the war. The Japanese will have four to five aircraft carriers!"

This immediately made the navy generals look gloomy, because the US military has only two aircraft carriers available now, and the gap is too big.

"It is foreseeable!" Gormley said: "In the next war, we can only invest two aircraft carriers and cooperate with the 'Cactus' airline team in Guadalam, so that we can win!"

"But... Guadalam's 'Cactus' air force has been exposed!" Fletcher said: "The Japanese will not be fooled again, so I think our wisest choice now is to preserve our strength and avoid fighting the Japanese Navy as much as possible!"

Fletcher's idea may make sense. Trying to the point where such a huge difference in strength often only makes bad things.

"Avoid?" Gormley asked back: "If we avoid it, what should the troops stationed on Gua Island do? Disregard them? Or withdraw them and give up Gua Island?"

Gormley said this and the navy generals were speechless.

It is impossible to ignore the garrison on Gua Island, because there are 15,000 troops on it, and one of them is even a US military, so it cannot be ignored no matter what.

But withdrawing and abandoning Guadao will cause the efforts made by the US Navy during this period to waste. What's worse is that the US Navy may have to pay a greater price for this in the future, because the Japanese army will threaten several nearby naval bases and a large area of ​​sea and airspace after occupying Guadao.

Looking at the generals who didn't speak, Gomli reiterated: "So, gentlemen, it is impossible to avoid it. We can only fight. We cannot afford the price of Guadalam being controlled by the Japanese army. Do you understand?"

There was another long silence in the conference room.

After a while, the Minister of Operations Knox said: "I think in future battles, we should let the only two aircraft carriers spread out and fight separately, and the two aircraft carriers should be at least 15 to 20 nautical miles apart, which will reduce the risk of the two aircraft carriers being discovered by the Japanese army at the same time and being attacked!"

"I don't think so," Fletcher replied. "I think they should fight together, because so that they can support each other, protect each other, and enhance their defense capabilities!"

"But..." Knox said: "This will put both of our aircraft carriers in danger at the same time. Once both aircraft carriers are attacked and injured, it will be a nightmare for our carrier-based aircraft!"

Knox's words make sense, because if both aircraft carriers are attacked and cannot receive the fighter, the carrier-based aircraft will have to land or crash.

"But if we disperse, our aircraft carriers will be more likely to be sunk by the Japanese army!" Fletcher retorted: "As long as the two aircraft carriers cooperate well, we are fully capable of blocking the Japanese attack like last time!"

Fletcher's words also make sense. He relies on the joint defense of the "Saratoga" and "Enterprise" in the last battle, but this is not a good reason, because the price is that the "Enterprise" is seriously injured. The "Saratoga" is slightly injured.

Some of the naval generals supported Fletcher, while others supported Knox, and they were in a stalemate between each other.

Some people even put forward other views, that is, to fight scatteredly before the Japanese discovered it, and to fight concentratedly when it was determined that Japanese fighter jets came to attack.

However, just as the command center was in a scramble, a telegram was handed to Gormley.

Gomley was stunned at the telegram, then sighed and said, "Gentlemen, don't argue about this issue, because we only have one aircraft carrier available!"

Hearing the words, all the naval generals in the command center were stunned.

The telegram said that the aircraft carrier "Saratoga" was injured by torpedoes from Japanese submarines. Fortunately, there was only one torpedo that hit the USSaratoga. The Navy was able to tow it back in time for maintenance... The reason why the aircraft carrier "Saratoga" was hit by the torpedo was because it originally wanted to build a battle cruiser at the beginning of its construction, but it was changed to an aircraft carrier after the hull was built, which caused the hull of the USSaratoga to be too long and reached 266 meters, which was one of the longest aircraft carriers at that time.

This caused the "Saratoga" to be unable to turn and avoid it in a short time after discovering the torpedo, so the torpedo launched from the Japanese "I 26"... "I 26" launched six torpedoes at a distance of 3,500 meters. Due to the failure of one of the torpedo launchers, only five torpedoes actually fired, and one of the five hit.

Although only one attack torpedo hit, due to the huge power of the Type 95 torpedo, the central part of the starboard starboard of the Saratoga was severely damaged, a boiler room was infiltrated, the turbine and electric power transmission system were damaged, and the power lost. He had to patrol the Minneapolis (CA-36) and he was unable to participate in the battle for three months.

Fortunately, this incident caused no casualties.

Unfortunately, the only aircraft carrier that the US military can use is the "Bumblebee".

This situation seems to be surprising. The US military even won a small victory in the last naval battle because the losses of the US military injuring two aircraft carriers were much smaller than that of the Japanese army being sunk by one aircraft carrier and injured two aircraft carriers.

However, the Japanese used submarines to recover the losses on the front battlefield.

However, this accident is inevitable.

This is not to say how excellent the Japanese submarines are, but the Japanese torpedo performance is excellent while the American torpedoes have serious defects.

On the battlefield, any shortcomings may reduce the combat effectiveness of the entire army and pay the price. Now is the time for the US Navy to pay the price.

Therefore, the US Navy, to be precise, was the US Navy general under Gormley's command, soon fell into a state of passive slackness. (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!