Chapter 6: A heavy hammer (two)

The talks between Roosevelt and Churchill were not over yet, but the US Pacific Fleet suffered a new blow. During its return journey after transporting Marines and Army planes to Midway, the only large aircraft carrier, Saratoga, was sunk by an enemy submarine on the sea about 200 nautical miles southeast of Midway in the early morning of the 24th!

The USS Saratoga aircraft carrier returned to the Pacific Fleet after the Battle of Midway. Since the 11th, the ship has carried out several missions to transport fighter jets and combat personnel between Midway and Honolulu. The US escort destroyers and submarines have never found enemy submarines in the waters along the way. However, with a slight slack, a big problem arises...

Although after the Saratoga was sunk, the Pacific Fleet launched a large-scale move like a hornet poked in a nest, and even discovered and sunk three Japanese submarines cruising in the waters near Midway Island. The US military also determined that the attacker was sunk, the fact that the Pacific Fleet had only one light aircraft carrier, meant that the power of the hostile sides in the Pacific was unbalanced again! This made both General Jin and Nimitz extremely angry.

"Sneak attack! Sneak attack! Apart from sneak attack or sneak attack! The damn Japanese people would not have anything else except sneak attack!" After receiving the news, General Jin was furious and shouted to Nimitz on the phone, "I don't care what method you use, you must clean up the bed bugs hidden in the key seas! Never let the Japanese submarines penetrate the west coast!"

"General, I also hate those damn Japanese!" Nimitz sighed, but complained, "But now the fleet is no longer called the Pacific Fleet! We urgently need ship replenishment! Motherships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines... We need any ship that the navy can use! Without a suitable ship, we cannot guarantee the safety of such a vast sea surface at all!"

After the Battle of Midway, there were not many large ships left in the US Pacific Fleet. After the sinking of the Saratoga, the entire Pacific Fleet was the only one light aircraft carrier with obviously weak power, as well as six cruisers, thirteen destroyers and sixteen submarines. Nimitz had to rely on this force to ensure the safety of the Pacific waters in the central and eastern regions, and the headache-inducing escort mission, which was really unavailable.

"Chester, the Japanese also suffered a lot of losses in the Battle of Midway. At least in the next two or three months, it is impossible for them to organize large-scale surface combat operations! You should pay attention to the Japanese submarines!" General Kim said seriously, "First it was the York City, and now it was the Saratoga. The Japanese seem to be copying the German submarine warfare on the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean! If this really becomes a reality, you know, what that means! Therefore, the signs of Japanese submarine warfare must be completely defeated as soon as possible!"

After Germany started a submarine war against the United States in January, German submarines were able to drill to a place near New York that was only a few hundred meters away from the shore to sink American ships! This made the US side, especially the navy, lose face!

In the western Atlantic Ocean, the German army sank the United States and more than 130 British ships within two months. Such losses were unbearable for even the wealthy United States. Roosevelt even accused the then Secretary of Navy Knox of "the Navy did not attach enough importance to Atlantic operations."

Although Nimitz was the commander of the Pacific Fleet, he knew the consequences of the German army's submarine warfare on the Atlantic. When he thought that the Japanese might copy that combat method to the Pacific and the terrible consequences it had brought to the Allies, he couldn't help but feel numb!

"General, if we want to effectively prevent the Japanese submarine warfare, we must have more ships!" Nimitz emphasized, "Even if there is no large ship supplement in the short term, at least there must be enough speedboats of less than 1,000 tons! Using speedboats equipped with submarine detectors to deal with submarines is an effective tactic that Lan Fang's Navy has verified in actual combat."

"Okay, Chester, I know your difficulties, so I will find a way to find a way to ships. But you must find a way to ensure that there will be no problems in the next two months!" Considering the current situation of the Pacific Fleet, General Jin rarely let go and promised, "Anti-submarine speedboats will be delivered to Pearl Harbor soon, and in the latest two months, you may still get one or two large aircraft carriers!"

The US Navy originally had many submarine hunting and speedboats, but because the tonnage of these two boats is too small and not suitable for ocean combat, it is only used for coastal patrol and alert. Although there are some in the Hawaiian Islands, the number is obviously insufficient.

At that time, although submarine hunting had anti-submarine capabilities, its speed was a bit slow, with an average of only about twenty knots, which was inconsistent with Nimitz's requirements. Although some speed boats had speeds of about forty knots, they were not suitable for anti-submarine use because of the excessive noise generated during their rapid navigation.

However, the practice of Lan Fang's Navy gave Nimitz a new inspiration. According to the methods mastered by Li Sihua and others during training with the Minzu Navy in Shannan, Lan Fang's Navy installed anti-submarine facilities on the speedboats and pioneered the "fast maneuver, low-speed anti-submarine" tactics in actual combat, effectively preventing the infiltration of Japanese submarines into the surrounding waters of Lan Fang from under the sea.

Lan Fang's tactics also added an effective way to deal with Japanese submarines to General Jin and Nimitz. However, General Jin and Nimitz felt regretful. If the tonnage of the speedboat was not too small, the navigability was poor at sea, and the distance was limited to the nearshore area. In addition, the detection range of small sonar was not large, this combat method should play a greater role.

After putting down the phone with Nimitz, General King called the phone to Hyde Park again. While reporting the news of the sinking of the Saratoga to President Roosevelt, he also asked about the government's contact with the People's Party.

"The Saratoga is a good ship. I just left the navy when it laid its keel. I regret its sinking." Roosevelt sighed and expressed his remembrance of the sunken aircraft carrier, and then said, "I have let Elthorpe contact the People's Party's purchase of aircraft carriers from the People's Party, and there is no clear result yet. However, Ernest, I have agreed with Winston that the aircraft carrier that the People's Party will transfer to the United Kingdom will be first used by the Pacific Fleet for a period of time in order to reduce some immediate difficulties for Chester. Of course, in exchange, we need to increase the escort force on the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition, Winston and I also talked about the issue of prompting the People's Party to increase its combat efforts against Japan. The aircraft carrier you want will be resolved in our subsequent negotiations with the People's Party. Moreover, Harry is ready to go to northwest China again."

Although he did not get a specific guarantee of time, Roosevelt was able to help the US Navy obtain an aircraft carrier from the British, and Hopkins was preparing to drag his sick body to northwest China again, which was enough to make the stubborn old man, the stubborn man, feel grateful while breathing a sigh of relief.

No matter what, as long as you can use two or three aircraft carriers and supplemented with other surface ships, Nimitz will have a lot better life in the future, and the US military's disadvantage in the Pacific will be able to regain a lot.

The Americans are here with the idea of ​​the People's Party, and Zhao Zhenzhong and others are also planning how to use the current situation to gain greater benefits from allies led by the United States.

"It's too much, too little, now it's time to stop when it's better!" After learning about the sinking of the Saratoga, Zhao Zhenzhong ordered, "Telephone Kuang Haicheng through the long-wave radio station and ask him to lead all other submarines still operating in the Central Pacific to return to the base!"

"I originally wanted to see what level of self-sustaining power of the 'Tiger Shark' can reach under ocean conditions. Who knew that Kuang Haicheng and the others had created such a name again!" Zhou Mingyuan smiled, "But that's good. As soon as the Saratoga sinks, the Americans will definitely be anxious, and our modified aircraft carriers can get a good price!"

Shortly after the war in Midway, the United States used Althorp to test the possibility of purchasing aircraft carriers from the People's Party. Zhou Mingyuan, who was in charge of the reception at the time, said ambiguously: "Although our current navy is not in scale, especially the auxiliary ships, it is still possible to leave a few more to prevent war damage. However, if the price is really good and there are real money, we can also consider it. Of course, this needs to be resolved through specific negotiations."

After understanding the attitude of the People's Party, Althorp contacted the United States and then conveyed the news to the People's Party that "Hopkins will negotiate cooperation with Japan in the future." However, when the People's Party is ready for reception, the United States postponed the date of Hopkins' visit for some reason, and the transactions on aircraft carriers were temporarily put on hold.

"Although the Pacific War broke out, the transportation of materials from the United States to Britain and Australia has continued to increase, but the materials that promised to be transported to Shannan were only stopped! When we talk to the Americans this time, we must be harder!" Tang Ming suggested.

"The price of aircraft carriers is to be negotiated by 'Shopkeeper Zou. With his ability, he will definitely take two more swords from the Americans!" Zhao Zhenzhong nodded with a smile and said, "However, I think the Americans will not only talk to us about this. In the Soviet Union, Britain and our party reached an agreement on territorial issues. The pressure facing our army in Central Asia, Outer Mongolia, Shannan and other places was greatly reduced. In order to alleviate the pressure on the Pacific battlefield, it is almost certain that the Americans will urge our army to increase combat efforts against Japan!

Although we cannot take this opportunity to force the United States to break off diplomatic relations with Chongqing and establish diplomatic relations with us, we can allow the US government to make a statement on the territorial agreement reached by our party, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom! This does not violate the diplomatic principles of the United States, but also can confirm the future territory of our China internationally, and indirectly recognize the status of our People's Party government in China, so as to lay the foundation for our People's Party government to gain domestic power and create a new diplomatic situation in the future."

"This relationship is good!" Tian Yunyi smiled and reminded, "However, I'm afraid the United States will not agree easily. Besides, what if they link the lost land that our party recovered is connected with the Chongqing side? After all, Chongqing can be under the name of a "central."

"Then it is clear that the Americans will admit that 'there is only one China in the world, Outer Mongolia, western Xinjiang, southern Shannan, as well as the Far East, Northeast, Taiwan, Penghu Islands, Hong Kong and other places still occupied by the Japanese army are all inseparable parts of China's territory'!" Thinking of the tricks that Americans had played in the world, Zhao Zhenzhong couldn't help but feel angry and said flatly, "This is just to make the Americans make a gesture. As for the real territorial scope of our China in the future, it depends on the armed forces of our party to win, and it cannot be determined by the recognition of outsiders!"

After several Central Executive Committee members of the People's Party finalized the bottom line for talks with the Americans, a few days later, and Hopkins did not arrive until noon on July 2.

Although the voyage was much less than when I came last time, Hopkins had a waste of his originally hoped sea trip because of Churchill's visit to the United States. He had to fly away from Washington on June 25, pass through the Australian Department of Economic Affairs, and arrive in Chittagong and Lanzhou.

After a night of rest, Hopkins recovered a little, and held talks with Zhao Zhenzhong and Tian Yunyi on the 3rd. Althorp once again acted as a translator for Hopkins.

At the beginning of the talks, Hopkins apologized for the interruption of Shannan material transportation due to the outbreak of the Pacific War, and informed Zhao Zhenzhong and others that about 500,000 tons of machinery and equipment, fine copper, aluminum ingots and other raw materials will arrive in Chittagong in mid-to-late July.

Hopkins' attitude gave the talks a good start, and Zhao Zhenzhong also expressed his due understanding of the difficulties in the United States. Then, Hopkins turned the topic to Pacific operations and aircraft carrier transfers.

"Maybe the two gentlemen have heard that although the Pacific Fleet won the Battle of Midway, defeating the Japanese's plan to occupy the Central Pacific islands and threaten the west coast of the United States, the fleet suffered a great loss. In the Pacific, the US Navy now has only one light aircraft carrier, the U.S. Navy. This is extremely unfavorable to defeat the Japanese's future offensive. Our new aircraft carrier will not be put into service at the earliest." Hopkins calmly explained the difficulties the US military is facing, and then said earnestly to Zhao and Tian, ​​"In order to defeat our common enemy as soon as possible, I was entrusted by the President to seek help from your party, hoping to get two to three aircraft carriers to change the unfavorable situation of the Allied forces on the Pacific battlefield."

Seeing that Hopkins raised the issue of aircraft carrier transactions so eagerly, Zhao Zhenzhong and Tian Yunyi exchanged understanding glances. Both of them understood that the Americans were indeed in a worrying situation, and the opportunity for the People's Party came.

"For the situation on the Pacific battlefield, our party believes that the current situation is not the worst time." Zhao Zhenzhong did not directly respond to Hopkins's topic on aircraft carriers, but said in a solemn manner, "Although the Japanese army suffered a setback in the Battle of Midway, except for the aircraft carriers that had already sunk and suffered heavy damage, Yamamoto Izuru's joint fleet still has six aircraft carriers of all sizes available. In addition, the fleet's other ships have not suffered much loss, and the Japanese army still has the ability to launch attack operations again. In addition, we have noticed that the US military has successively sunk the York City and Saratoga aircraft carriers by Japanese submarines, which means that the Japanese army is increasing its submarine operations.

We have to remind the United States and the Allied forces that if the Japanese joint fleet launches attacks on the Central Pacific or Australia before the Pacific Fleet is due to be supplemented, and its submarine forces are active in destroying material transportation throughout the Pacific Ocean, the Allied forces will suffer unprecedented setbacks!”

Although Hopkins was not a military officer, before he came, he was pulled by General Jin and instilled with the importance of purchasing a People's Party aircraft carrier to the Pacific War situation. This is why General Jin also described the consequences.

"Thank you for your reminder. We think so too, so we hope that your party can provide two or three aircraft carriers as soon as possible." Although we know that such negotiations will give the other party the initiative, the most important thing for the United States is to change the balance of enemy and us in the Pacific before the Japanese army launched again. Hopkins also said bluntly, "To be honest, among the merchant ships that arrived later, in addition to a few escort ships, there are also relevant naval personnel. They are preparing to drive several aircraft carriers to return as soon as possible. Therefore, if your party has any conditions, as long as it is not too much, you can raise them."

Since the United States is not afraid of being attacked, the People's Party has no need to be polite. At this moment, Tian Yunyi mentioned the previous agreement reached with the Standing Committee to Hopkins and said: "We can agree on aircraft carrier transactions here. However, the specific transaction content involves the number of ship equipment accessories and the number of attached fighter jets, and then your military professionals need to discuss in detail with our General Logistics Department."

Regarding the issue raised by the People's Party that the US government issued a statement on China's territory, Hopkins thought it carefully for a while, feeling that this statement would only be unfavorable to Japan and would be a favorable thing to the United States, so he agreed: "The US government will not interfere with the bilateral relations of other countries, but since the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement with your party on territorial issues, the US government can issue a statement that welcomes relevant parties to achieve regional stability and promote anti-Axis Group of War. In this statement, we can mention China's territory, including the Far East, Northeast, Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc., which are still Chinese territory occupied by the Japanese army."

In original history, the issue of Japanese occupation of Chinese territory and returning all to China after the war was proposed in the Cairo Declaration in early December 1943. However, because the Soviet Union was taken into account at that time, it did not involve the issue of Outer Mongolia's ownership, let alone the Central Asia and the Far East occupied by the Soviet Union.

Now, if the United States really issues a relevant statement at the request of the People's Party, it will not only be nearly a year and a half ahead of time, but will also include the recovered Central Asia, Outer Mongolia, Shannan, and the Far East, Northeast, Taiwan, Penghu Islands, Hong Kong and other places that are still occupied by the Japanese army! This will be the first Western country to recognize the expanded Chinese territory after Lan Fang! Moreover, due to the de facto leadership role of the United States in fighting the Axis Group, the significance of this statement is particularly far-reaching!

Seeing that the negotiations between the two sides gradually deepened and agreed on important aspects, Hopkins raised another issue that the United States, Britain and other allies were very concerned about: "Your Party has always been firm in fighting against Japan before. We want to know what caused your Party to reduce its attack on Japan since it sent troops to the Soviet Union and Mongolia. Especially when the Soviet Union and Britain reached an agreement with your Party, and the pressure no longer existed."

Hopkins did not expect that his only exploratory question caused Tian Yunyi to feel bitter. Even under Althorp's explanation, even Hopkins himself shook his head and sighed.
Chapter completed!