Volume 1: The Empire Awakens Chapter 24: Painful Lessons (Part 1)
Tan Renhao was not surprised by the results of the exercise.
Without those unnecessary restrictions, the Imperial Navy's First Fleet, which has been recognized as the most powerful fleet in the world for hundreds of years, would definitely be humiliated.
However, what the Imperial Navy wanted this time was not victory, but a result that it could explain to the subjects of the Empire, the Prime Minister of the Empire, and the Emperor of the Empire.
It was precisely in order to obtain this "result" that the results of the exercise were announced : all three aircraft carriers of the Japanese Southwest Combined Fleet were sunk, and more than 20 other escort warships suffered heavy losses.
The Imperial First Fleet lost two battleships and another four were severely damaged.
In the end, the Empire's First Fleet won this maritime "competition".
This was also the main news reported by major newspapers and radio stations in the empire for more than ten consecutive days.
"It's just whitewashing the truth!"
Hao Dongjue threw the newspaper he had just received directly into the trash can. "This isn't the way to fake victory, is it? Did we really win? If we don't restrict the Japanese Southwest Fleet from operating within a 20-nautical-mile radius , I'm afraid the First Fleet won't even be able to see the shadow of a Japanese warship!"
"In fact, we can't look at it that way. At least the strength of the First Fleet has been proven. The aircraft carriers of the Japanese Southwest Combined Fleet are vulnerable to battleships!"
Chang Jianxin had no intention of arguing with Hao Dongjue, he was just discussing the matter at hand.
"Vulnerable? Do you think the commanders of the Japanese Navy are idiots who would drive an aircraft carrier into the muzzle of a battleship to die?"
Hao Dongjue sneered, "If a war really breaks out, the Japanese Southwest Fleet will most likely discover the First Fleet 250 nautical miles away. They will have enough time to organize several rounds of bombing during the day, and the First Fleet will not have any chance to fight back at all!"
Chang Jianxin smiled bitterly and shook his head. He understood what Hao Dongjue meant, and he didn't want to argue with the excited Hao Dongjue at all.
"Renhao, why don't you speak?"
Seeing that Chang Jianxin ignored him, Hao Dongjue turned to Tan Renhao and said, "You saw it too, and you should know the result of this exercise. You are simply deceiving yourself!"
"So what else can we do? Should we disclose the truth about the exercise to reporters?"
Tan Renhao glanced at Hao Dongjue, then smiled bitterly.
Hao Dongjue was stunned and smiled bitterly.
"In fact, this exercise has given us a lot of experience and lessons."
Tan Renhao took the newspaper out of the trash can and said, "At least, Marshal Sagittin has realized the powerful strike force of naval aviation, which is very beneficial to our future development. In addition, we have overlooked one thing."
"What?"
Hao Dongjue moved a chair and sat next to Tan Renhao.
Chang Jianxin's gaze also shifted over. They both knew that Tan Renhao knew the most about aviation operations, and they were both willing to listen to Tan Renhao's "profound theories".
“That’s what I just thought of.
If the First Fleet encounters the Japanese Southwest Combined Fleet on the battlefield, it is not completely without a chance, but it depends on luck and the timing.
If the sea conditions were bad, or at night, the First Fleet might be able to catch up with the Japanese Southwest Combined Fleet and destroy it before the enemy could launch its bombers.
However, the chance is very slim!"
Tan Renhao let out a long sigh, "In addition, the most important thing is that if the Japanese Southwest Combined Fleet is not going to deal with the First Fleet, but our naval base, I am afraid that a sneak attack will be enough to cause the Empire to lose a fleet!"
"A surprise attack on a military port?"
Now, Hao Dongjue and Chang Jianxin looked at Tan Renhao in surprise.
"Yes, if we launch a surprise attack on the military port, the strike force of the aircraft carrier will be able to be more fully exerted!"
Tan Renhao took the cigarette handed to him by Hao Dongjue. During this period of time, he had unknowingly gotten into the habit of smoking while thinking about problems.
"The key to unleashing carrier strike power is accurate and timely intelligence.
If the exact location of the enemy fleet cannot be discovered in time, the ultra-long-range strike power of the aircraft carrier cannot be exerted.
However, with current technology, the number of reconnaissance aircraft carried by aircraft carriers and other warships in the fleet is very limited, and there is no guarantee that enemy fleets can be detected in a timely manner in all directions.
Therefore, as long as the First Fleet can secretly approach the Japanese Southwest Combined Fleet, it can achieve a beautiful victory.
Of course, as I said, such opportunities are rare and are affected by weather, sea conditions, time, environment and other factors. They are almost impossible to come by chance.
So, to deal with a behemoth like the First Fleet, the best way is to directly attack the First Fleet's home port, before the First Fleet leaves the port, or even launch a surprise attack when it is not prepared at all. This is the most effective way to win! "
Hao Dongjue and Chang Jianxin nodded repeatedly, and at the same time realized the huge danger.
Tan Renhao let out a long sigh.
"What's even more dangerous is that the Empire's main military port is only a thousand kilometers away from the Japanese mainland, and the closest one is only a few hundred kilometers away. If a war breaks out, Japan's aircraft carriers can launch a surprise attack within a few hours or at most a day. I'm afraid that at this time, most of the warships are anchored in the port!"
All three of them fell silent. This was the crux of the matter.
The empire is too close to Japan, so close that it has almost no depth of maritime defense.
Although the navies of the United States and the British Empire are more powerful and more threatening, they are thousands of miles away, and the empire has enough time to deal with the conditions of these two most powerful opponents.
As for Japan, the empire had almost no time to prepare for war.
"However, this is something we can discuss between us. I believe that the top brass of the Imperial Navy should have already realized the same problem!"
Tan Renhao put down the newspaper in his hand and threw away the cigarette butt. "Now, let's hurry up and complete the task assigned by Chief of Staff Wu Xianyu. Wasting time will only make us further away from victory!"
The three of them became busy, even Hao Dongjue lowered his head to work.
Even though they were only three second lieutenants, they all knew that the armistice signed after the last war was not a signal of the end of the war, but only a symbol of a temporary pause.
After more than ten years of preparation and recuperation, the arsenals of the great powers are now filled with artillery shells, a new generation of soldiers has grown up, and the wounds of war have basically healed.
These are the basis for the outbreak of a new round of global war!
