The third guard group came forward, which immediately attracted the attention of the Chinese Navy and Air Force.

Because before this, the third guard group had been active in the southern waters of Shikoku Island, at most it could be maneuvered to the eastern end of Osumi Strait and the south of Awaji Island, and mainly in the south of the Fenggo Waterway, so for a few days, the reconnaissance satellites have been monitoring this sea area and tracking the third guard group.

At around 2 p.m. on June 1st, when the reconnaissance satellite passed again, it was discovered that the third guard group was heading towards the Osumi Strait.

At that time, this situation had not attracted the attention of the intelligence agencies.

After all, the third guard group has a large range of activities, sailing from the south to the southwest of Fenghou Waterway, and is also within its patrol area.

It must be admitted that the second part is a bit negligent.

According to later investigations, an intelligence analyst discovered the problem, that is, based on the length of the warship trail in the photo, it roughly calculated that the speed reached thirty knots, which is the maximum speed that Japanese warships can reach. However, when patrolling, the fleet could not sail at the maximum speed.

The reason is very simple. Even the Atago class destroyer with a displacement of tens of thousands of tons can only sail more than 3,000 kilometers at its highest speed. Because the third guard group has been active in this sea area for a few days, the remaining fuel can only sail more than 2,000 kilometers at its maximum speed.

In other words, the warship can only sail for less than two days and must return to the port to recharge its fuel.

More importantly, when sailing at full speed, the warship not only cannot use towed sonar, but even the shell sonar and nose sonar will be disturbed and nearby submarines cannot be detected.

The third guard group stayed south of Shikoku Island to prevent Chinese submarines from approaching Japan.

A fleet dominated by anti-submarine will definitely not exceed 16 knots without absolute necessity. The fleet will accelerate its navigation only when pursuing enemy submarines.

Unfortunately, the level of this intelligence analyst is too low.

What's even more unfortunate is that the shift was handed over at that time. After receiving the report, the head of the intelligence analysis department got off work before he could take a closer look. The successor first handled more important information, that is, the whereabouts report of the second and third guard groups returning to Okinawa, and put the report at the end.

Four hours later, the reconnaissance satellites once again flew over the third guard group patrolling waters.

This time, the reconnaissance satellite did not discover the third guard group.

Obviously, this is no trivial matter.

The head of the intelligence analysis department turned back to process the previous report and discovered the problem. The third guard group had accelerated toward the southwest four hours ago.

At this time, the third guard group had crossed the Osuki Strait and entered the East China Sea.

Before the second unit concluded that the third guard group had entered the East China Sea, the "Sea Dragon" that had been lurking at the western end of the Osumi Strait discovered this fleet with a speed of up to 30 knots.

It must be a fleet, not another fleet, because no fleet can run so fast.

The problem is that the "Sea Dragon" did not send a message in time.

It was not until after 9 o'clock on the night of June 1 that Zhou Yusheng received a message forwarded by the East China Sea Fleet Submarine Command that the third guard group entered the East China Sea and was sailing towards the Diaoyu Islands with a speed of up to 30 knots.

This battle report was sent by the "Sea Dragon".

The "Sea Dragon" did not attack the third guard group. The reason was very simple. When the third guard group was discovered, the vertical distance between the submarine and the fleet route was more than 30 kilometers. Then, anti-submarine patrol aircraft were found near the fleet, which made the "Sea Dragon" unable to pursue at full speed.

At this distance, even a 650-mm heavy torpedo cannot catch up with the warship.

It is even more unreliable to use anti-ship missiles.

After the fleet went away and the anti-submarine patrol plane flew away, the "Sea Dragon" threw out the communication float and set the sending time to two hours later.

During this period, the "Sea Dragon" maneuvered more than 20 nautical miles and left the search area of ​​the anti-submarine patrol aircraft.

After the intelligence was determined, the next question was, what exactly did the Japanese fleet want to do?

When Zhou Yulong received the news, the second and fourth guard groups who returned to Okinawa Island in the afternoon had formed a joint fleet. Mig-31, who had gone out to reconnaissance, also found that there was a "Hyuga" class helicopter carrier in each of the two guard groups, and then the joint fleet entered the East China Sea.

However, the speed of the Joint Fleet is not fast, only twelve knots.

In anyone's eyes, the real threat is not the third guard group, but the joint fleet.

Based on all aspects of information, Teng Yaohui judged that the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force adopted the feint attack tactic, but he felt that the third guard group was fighting the feint attack.

"In another twelve hours, the third guard group will enter the combat range." Teng Yaohui was not panicked because he was also eager to fight the Japanese fleet. "If the joint fleet starts to accelerate now, it will enter the combat range in eight hours. Even if it accelerates in four hours, it can arrive at the same time as the third guard group."

"The key is how we are going to fight." Yang Yufang was still very low-key.

Teng Yaohui nodded and said, "In four hours, we will cross the Diaoyu Islands. My point is to face the joint fleet directly regardless of the third guard group."

Yang Yufang frowned and did not express his opinion.

"It is obvious that the third guard group is acting as a feint attack, and wants to attract our attention with this. Let us turn north. The joint fleet will advance to the near the Diaoyu Islands, attack the second fleet, and prevent the landing fleet from reaching the Diaoyu Islands. During this period, the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force will definitely dispatch with all its might to assist the joint fleet in combat."

"In this case, it is equivalent to sacrificing the third guard group."

"If we can kill our Second Fleet, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force will not suffer any losses. More importantly, if we can use this to seize air supremacy, Japan will be able to take the initiative in the battlefield."

Yang Yufang thought for a while and said, "The key is whether the Sea of ​​Japan is the Self-Defense Force to sacrifice the third guard group."

"Do you have a different opinion?"

"Anyway, the third guard group has ten destroyers, and it is unreasonable to lose the fleet in order to seize the sea control power."

"Maybe, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force has no better choice."

Yang Yufang breathed a sigh of relief and said: "If the three guards operate in a concentrated manner, they will have an absolute advantage in terms of force, and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force can concentrate in one direction, rather than compete with us for air supremacy in both directions at the same time. In this way, the chance of victory will be greater."

Teng Yaohui frowned and did not refute Yang Yufang's views.

Zhou Yusheng hesitated for a moment and said, "The third guard group is advancing alone. Even if it is covered by air, as long as the Air Force and HNA appropriately increase the investment in the direction and focus on expelling Japan's anti-submarine patrol aircraft, the submarine can block the third guard group from the periphery."

"you mean……"

"According to your point of view, use submarines to deal with the third guard group, and the fleet is fighting head-on. The feint of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force is meaningless."

Teng Yaohui nodded, expressing his agreement with Zhou Yusheng's point of view.

Now, the problem arises. If the feint attack is worthless, then sacrificing the third guard group is meaningless.

"Why is the joint fleet still near Okinawa?" Mu Haoyang raised his head and looked at several generals.

Before, he had been looking at the charts.

"College, do you have any questions?" Teng Yaohui really didn't pay much attention to this naval colonel from the Marine Corps.

"Tactically speaking, it is impossible for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force to determine who is the main attack and who is the feint attack from the beginning. After all, the reform of the battlefield situation is not decided by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. The more reasonable arrangement is to not distinguish between the main attack and the feint attack, but to wait until the battle is over before making a decision."

Teng Yaohui frowned and looked at Mu Haoyang, but seemed not very convinced that Mu Haoyang also understood naval warfare.

"Colin, you're right." Yang Yufang smiled and encouraged Mu Haoyang to continue.

"The problem now is that after the joint fleet enters the East China Sea, the speed is controlled at about 12 knots. If it does not accelerate, it will definitely not be able to arrive before the third guard group." Mu Haoyang paused for a moment and said, "I think a more reasonable tactic should be to accelerate the navigation of the joint fleet, at least to arrive at the same time as the third guard group. If the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force is confident, or the Air Self-Defense Force provides enough air cover, the joint fleet should also arrive in advance, first fight with us, and then launch an assault. Only in this way can we fight decisively through the fleet east of the Diaoyu Islands, restrain our aviation forces and ensure that the third guard group is smooth. Only in this way can we fight the decisive battle through the fleet east of the Diaoyu Islands, restrain our air force and ensure that the third guard group is smooth. Only in this way can we fight the decisive battle through the fleet on the east side of the Diaoyu Islands, restrain our air force and ensure that the third guard group is smooth. Only in this way can we fight the decisive battle through the fleet on the east side of the Diaoyu Islands, restrain our air force and ensure that the third guard group is smooth.

Li goes south. Judging from the current situation, if the joint fleet does not accelerate within four hours, the third guard group will first fight with us. Even if it is a feint, the Air Self-Defense Force will invest a large number of fighter jets in that direction, otherwise the third guard group will not pose a threat to us at all. With the current size of the Air Self-Defense Force, it is definitely impossible to cover the joint fleet when covering the third guard group with all its might. That is to say, as long as the third guard group fights with us first, the joint fleet will be exposed to our air strike forces. Because we have bombers that can perform sea strike missions, the strike joint fleet will not affect air combat."

"Col. You have said so much, what do you want to explain?" Teng Yaohui had to pay attention to Mu Haoyang's opinions.

Mu Haoyang was a little hesitant because he was not sure whether his judgment was correct.

Zhou Yusheng kicked him and made him boldly speak out.

"Commander Teng, I think it is not the third guard group that is fighting the feint, but the joint fleet."

"Is that true?" Teng Yaohui smiled and asked Mu Haoyang to continue talking.

"Only in this way can we explain why the Joint Fleet did not advance at full speed. If four hours later, the Joint Fleet is still hot and not accelerated..."

"Obviously, you're right."

Mu Haoyang forced a smile and did not continue.

"Then, we must figure out a question, what can the third guard group do? Let the combined fleet that is larger and closer to us take a feint attack, and let the third guard group that comes from afar take the main force, what exactly does the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force want to do?" Teng Yaohui glanced at the others and said, "Of course, we must be a little patient. If the combined fleet still does not accelerate in four hours, we will have to admit Colonel Mu Haoyang's inference."

Teng Yaohui said this, and no one else expressed his opinion.
Chapter completed!