The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

Chapter 230: The Japanese Navy's Final Song

Suzuki Sosaku didn't have time to dwell on this. He roughly calculated that if the First Front Army of the Chinese Expeditionary Force was included, the Japanese troops on the Philippine front would face a massive force of nearly 50. To effectively halt the actions of the Sino-US coalition forces, the best way was to cut off their sea routes.

Suzuki immediately picked up the phone and made a request to the commander of the Combined Fleet, Soemu Toyoda, urging the navy to organize troops once again to attack the US fleet.

Admiral Toyoda Soemu was in a state of deep distress. When he took over as commander of the Combined Fleet, the fleet was already in decline. Over ten days earlier, under orders from Imperial Headquarters, Soemu had mobilized every available warship and engaged the US military in a major engagement at Leyte Gulf. While inflicting heavy damage on the US, the Japanese navy also suffered heavy losses. The Combined Fleet still had four aircraft carriers: Katsuragi, Amagi, Unryū, and the recently launched Shinano, which had just undergone sea trials. The Japanese Navy's greatest shortage wasn't carriers, but carrier-based pilots. Previous operations had already exhausted the elite aviators they had painstakingly trained over the past decade. This was why he had no choice but to send out the rookie trainees early to act as suicide bombers.

The Japanese Navy currently possessed four battleships, seven heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers and destroyers, and over 7 submarines in the Philippine Sea. At this point, the Japanese Navy no longer possessed the ability to compete with the Army, having become a mere vassal of the latter. Less than ten minutes after receiving Suzuki's request, Yamashita Tomoyuki, Commander of the Philippine Front, called and relayed the latest order from Imperial Headquarters, demanding that the Imperial Combined Fleet replicate its success at the Battle of Leyte Gulf and inflict a crushing defeat on the US Pacific Fleet off the coast of the Philippines.

Admiral Toyoda Fuetake was forced to gather a group of naval commanders to discuss a response. After the arrival of Vice Admiral Kurita Takeo, commander of the fleet; Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo, commander of the aircraft carrier group; and Southern Fleet Commander Shoji Nishimura, commander of the Southern Fleet, he explained the headquarters' orders to them.

Toyota's deputy soldier's face was heavy, and his voice was low: "Everyone, the order from the headquarters has been issued. We must come up with a response plan."

Kurita Takeo frowned and sighed, "Commander Toyota, given the current state of the Combined Fleet, going into battle again would simply be courting death."

Ozawa Jisaburo was worried: "Yes, our strength is not as good as before, but this is an order, we cannot disobey."

Bitterness filled their faces. Given the current state of the Combined Fleet, going into battle again would indeed be tantamount to committing suicide. However, they knew full well that they were soldiers and had no choice but to follow orders.

Kurita Ken'o, furious, resolutely declared, "I will personally lead the Amagi and Unryu to the northeast of the US fleet as bait. Just like the Battle of Leyte Gulf, I'll force the US Pacific Fleet to mobilize its carrier battle group. This way, Nishimura-kun's Southern Fleet will have the opportunity to approach the US landing fleet and engage them in a decisive battle."

Nishimura Shoji nodded and said bitterly, "I will gather four battleships and seven heavy cruisers and charge straight into the center of the enemy. Even if all of us are destroyed, we will destroy the enemy fleet."

Kurita added: "Colonel Musashi Tazawa's submarine detachment will also fight to the death to enter the core camp of the US military and launch the final attack."

Toyota nodded. "I will order all the Sakura of the 16th Air Force to rush over. Let them perform their final swan song for the Empire."

Ozawa Jisaburo stepped forward and bowed to Kurita Takeo. "Commander Kurita, you are the commander of the Imperial Fleet, and I am the commander of the aircraft carrier formation. You cannot lead the team yourself, so let me do it."

Kurita Ken'o refused arbitrarily: "No, this is my decision. I must do my last bit for the future of the Imperial Navy."

Ozawa Jisaburo smiled faintly, bowed deeply and solemnly to Toyota and Kurita, and said, "The Empire has not yet reached the point where you need to sacrifice yourself. The future of the Imperial Navy is in your hands."

Ozawa Jisaburo continued, "I'm afraid this will be our last farewell. Please take good care of my family. I beg you." After saying that, he bowed deeply to everyone again.

Nishimura Shoji was also inspired by Ozawa Jisaburo and bowed solemnly to the crowd, saying, "This time, we will go and repay our lives. Our families need your care. Please!"

Toyota and the others quickly bowed to Ozawa and Nishimura in return. Then, a group of high-ranking Japanese naval officials shouted, "Long live the Empire of Japan! Long live the military fortune!"

Will Japan's military fortunes last? As Toyoda Soetake and Kurita Takeo watched Ozawa Jisaburo and his men depart, their faces wet with tears, their hearts filled with sadness and helplessness.

The next day, the U.S. and Japanese navies once again engaged in a thrilling battle off the coast of the Philippines. The intensity of the battle was roughly similar to the tragic Battle of Leyte Gulf more than 10 days ago. However, the Japanese army's strategy did not work. Instead, they fell into a trap carefully laid by the U.S. military, which became the last swan song of the Japanese Navy!

A Japanese carrier group, led by the Amagi and Unryū, appeared in the northeastern waters and was immediately spotted by US patrol aircraft patrolling the perimeter. Without hesitation, Admiral Spruance ordered the Fifth Fleet to close in swiftly. The two large carriers immediately launched fighter jets and attacked the Japanese carrier group.

Despite the heavy losses suffered by the US forces in the surprise attack at Leyte Gulf, the Fifth Fleet's reinforcements, combined with the surviving core elements of the former Third and Seventh Fleets, effectively overwhelmed the Japanese Navy. Although the Fifth Fleet's two carriers launched an attack on the Japanese carrier group, the landing fleet remained surrounded by seven escort carriers and two heavy carriers, along with a powerful strike group of 3 battleships and heavy cruisers, not to mention nearly a hundred light cruisers and destroyers. These carriers had been deployed early in the morning, forming formations and awaiting the Japanese approach.

Admiral Spruance saw through the Japanese plot the moment the carrier group appeared. Unlike W.F. Halsey and T.C. Kinkaid, he followed Yang Hong's advice and cleverly concealed his main fleet in the southwestern waters, approximately 50 nautical miles from the landing fleet. By this very moment, the personnel and equipment of the landing fleet had already completed their landings the previous night, working tirelessly. The large-scale engineering equipment, in particular, was now working furiously in the virgin forests of southern Samar. Their goal was to quickly establish two or more airstrips. The Fifth Air Force was eagerly awaiting their arrival on the island!