Okinawa.

Colonel Layton, chief of U.S. military intelligence, told senior Allied generals in Operation Downfall:

"We have received accurate information that the Japanese 11th Front is stationed in Sendai."

"This front army has six divisions and two brigades under its jurisdiction. Its strength is much smaller than that of the 12th and 13th front armies."

"The total number of regular troops is around 100,000, and the number of civilian volunteers cannot be estimated."

Compared with the Kanto region, the number of Japanese troops in the Sendai region was very small, which strengthened the idea of ​​​​the Allied forces landing from the Sendai region.

Colonel Layton continued:

"The weather department predicts that there will be rare good weather on the 5th, 6th and 7th."

"If you miss these three days of better weather, you have to wait until after the 15th."

"Of course, this is just a preliminary prediction. After all, the weather on the sea is weirder than a woman's temper."

"hehe…………"

The generals were amused by his last words, and there was a relaxed atmosphere in the conference room.

Japan's typhoon season runs from June to October, with the final months of September and October being the typhoon-prone season.

Lots of rainfall and lots of typhoons.

It is not easy to have three days of weather suitable for landing in this season.

MacArthur and Nimitz had decided to time the downfall at dawn on October 6.

The senior generals present at the meeting agreed with this decision.

Although they were still apprehensive about landing in Japan, the situation forced them to land in Japan.

Because none of the senior Western generals here are willing to see Japan become the back garden of Midsummer.

This is a battle between justice and evil, as well as a battle to pursue interests.

After determining October 6 as the time for Operation Downfall, Admiral Fraser, commander of the British Empire's Pacific Fleet, suddenly remembered a hidden danger.

"Where are the last warships of the Japanese Combined Fleet? Why haven't you heard anything about them?"

"The Yamato is a big threat, have you all forgotten?"

After this reminder, many generals in the Navy became solemn.

Several operations of Kikusui launched by the Japanese army caused huge losses to the Allied navies.

In order to allow Operation Collapse to proceed smoothly, Washington added two new super aircraft carriers to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The landing operations on the Western Front will not be until next year, so America fully supports the downfall operations in the East.

If the exact location of the Yamato cannot be determined, the Mongolian Navy's super aircraft carrier will face threats when Operation Downfall is launched and will not be able to devote itself fully to the battle.

No one wants to see another aircraft carrier sunk by Japanese suicide attack planes or Sakura bombs.

Suddenly, everyone's eyes turned to Colonel Layton, the chief intelligence officer.

Colonel Layton's face twitched and he said:

"We are fully searching for the Japanese Yamato and have sent out reconnaissance planes and submarines."

"No trace of the Yamato has been found so far. It should have been hidden by the Japanese navy in a secret port."

"But they can't hide it for too long. The intelligence department must try to find it before the downfall operation is launched!"

This answer did not satisfy the naval generals present, and many of them frowned.

Nimitz said:

"The last remaining warships of the Japanese combined fleet will not exceed 20. No matter where the Yamato is hidden, it does not have the ability to turn the tide of the war."

"October 6th is the landing day. No matter whether we can find the Yamato or not, we must take action!"

"All ministries should seize the time to prepare. On the evening of October 5th, the fleet will set sail!"

"Yes, sir!!!"

The generals walked out of the conference room while talking in low voices, the expressions on their faces were not relaxed.

General Sveroons, commander of the Fifth Fleet, walked side by side with General Stilwell. He pretended to be casual and asked:

"Joseph, I heard that you have a very good relationship with the leaders of Zhongxia. Have you heard from them about the traces of the Yamato?"

Spruance was still worried about the Yamato.

General Stilwell frowned slightly, shook his head and said:

"We just have a good personal relationship. We have always acted impartially when it comes to the country and the military. They will not have any emotions with me."

"I'm sorry, I don't know."

Spruance cursed, then patted General Stilwell on the shoulder, shook his head and left.

The troops participating in Operation Downfall mainly came from the United States, with 30% of the troops coming from Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Great Britain and other countries.

Actions must not only consider Japan's problems, but also consider collaboration among allies.

General Stilwell knew that it would be difficult for them to be as united, pointed and determined as the Central Xia army.

He was also worried about the landing operation three days later.

..

The Allies are looking for traces of the Yamato, and the same goes for Nakaxia.

The Musashi has been sunk, and Koto hopes to capture the last Yamato.

Or put it in a military museum and use it as a base for patriotic education.

Or it can be directly refitted and enlisted in the Navy of the Republic, and then together with the Tianjin and Peiping, it can sail to the doorsteps of other countries to show off its power.

However, it is very difficult to capture the Yamato. You must first find traces of the battleship.

The Sky Eye high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft and intelligence lines in Japan were used, but the Yamato was still not found.

Before the start of the bandit operation, under the personal command of Deputy Toyoda and Chuichi Nagumo, the Yamato left Tokyo Bay, maintaining radio silence and blackout, and headed north along the coastline.

Sailing at night and avoiding aerial reconnaissance during the day, we have quietly arrived at the Tsugaru Strait and entered the Mutsu Bay Naval Base to hide.

The original plan was to enter the Sea of ​​Japan and quietly attack the Zhongxia landing fleet.

However, before entering the Sea of ​​Japan, the Nakaatsu army had already launched a landing operation and quickly occupied Kitakyushu, Shimonoseki and Kagoshima with thunderous momentum.

The Yamato had lost its fighter plane and had no choice but to choose to take refuge in Mutsu Bay.

At this time, the upper management of the United Fleet was conflicted and did not know where to go.

The stubborn Nagumo Chuichi advocated continuing to penetrate deep into the Sea of ​​Japan. If he could not attack the Nakaha landing fleet, he would go straight to Vladivostok and attack the naval base.

In short, the people of Zhongxia should feel the determination of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

But this road is doomed, and the probability of reaching Vladivostok is very low.

Combined Fleet Commander Deputy Takeshi Toyoda disagrees!

Rear Admiral Toshihei Inoguchi, the captain of the Yamato, advocated staying in Mutsu Bay and waiting to see how the situation changes.

Now, no matter which front the Yamato goes to, it will be a dead end. It would be better to wait until the situation changes before making a sudden attack.

The Musashi was gone, and Rear Admiral Toshihei Inoguchi did not want the Imperial Navy's last flagship, the Yamato, to also perish.

One is conservative, the other is radical, each holding his own.

Fleet Commander Admiral Toyoda preferred to wait.

Vice Takeru Toyoda is a man who cherishes his own life, even though he has said many times in public that he wants to live and die with the Yamato.

Deputy Chief Toyoda has seen the end of Japan, nothing more than surrender and dismemberment.

All current resistance is meaningless and cannot change the final outcome.

Deputy Takeshi Toyoda believed that he had only done his duty as a soldier in his life, obeyed orders and participated in wars, and did not participate in beastly actions such as massacre of civilians.

Even if he goes to court-martial, he will not be punished to death.

Deputy Toyoda was already thinking about things after the war. There was a manuscript hidden under his desk, with a few words crookedly written on the cover:

"The Empire's Last Navy".

Deputy Takeru Toyoda was ugly and had mediocre grades in the Naval Academy. Yamamoto Isoroku once publicly stated that this person could not be put to great use.

After joining the army, I didn't have particularly outstanding achievements. I just got up slowly along the way.

Based on his qualifications, he took the position of commander of the combined fleet.

Those who once looked down upon him, including Yamamoto Isoroku, Koga Mine, etc., all died in the war, and even their bodies were incomplete.

He, an ordinary, even ugly-looking person, lived to the end.

The reason why he wrote "The Empire's Last Navy" was because Toyoda Toyoda wanted to brag about his talents in the book and belittle Yamamoto Isoroku and other people who looked down on him as arrogant and arrogant.

Whoever survives to the end will tell the truth.

This is Toyota's plan.
Chapter completed!