"Next, I will send Telegram to the headquarters and ask Mr. Commander to coordinate with the Navy. If the Navy can mobilize some fleets to reinforce us, then our plan to advance along the coastal highway will have a high probability of success. However, The only thing we need to worry about is that the Germany people also have a very powerful navy. The last naval battle between the navy and the Germany people was not successful, but they suffered a lot of losses." Masaharu Honma frowned. This is also where the army generals are most dissatisfied with the navy.
"Those guys in the Navy are really useless. They have spent most of our military expenditures, but they still can't defeat the Germany people. You know, the Germany people only have two fleets in Pacific Ocean, and their overall strength is less than 30% of the total strength of German Navy. How can they defeat German Navy if they can't even defeat German Navy?" Lieutenant General Akito Nakamura said disdainfully.
"Yes! If those military funds were not misappropriated by the navy, we might be able to equip more artillery, machine guns, Anti-tank Gun and Armored Fighting Vehicle. In that case, our strength will not be surpassed by the Germany people so much." Lieutenant General Seiichi Tanaka also looked unwilling.
In order to support the development of the navy, Island Nation's Army has made great sacrifices over the years. Most of their equipment is still at the level of the last world. This puts them at a complete disadvantage in the battle with German military.
If Island Nation Navy could defeat German Navy in a naval battle and thus give the army more support in this war, the army generals might not be so dissatisfied. However, the Navy ultimately failed. This naturally made the army generals very dissatisfied. Many army generals are accusing the navy of affecting Island Nation's overall strategic plan.
"There is no need to say more about the navy. They don't want to fail, but the current result is irreversible. What we can do now is to win the war for the Empire as much as possible." Masaharu Honma said.
"Nakamura-kun, I want 18th Area Army to implement the plan to advance westward from the Coastal Highway. Before that, 14th Area Army and 7th Area Army will climb over Mount Witti, attack Crocker Range, and attract the main force of Germany people. By then, 18th Area Army can just advance along the coastal road. If we have the support of the navy, we may be able to break through the blockade of Germany and attack Brunei City. Even if it doesn't work, we can attract a group of Germany people and create opportunities for us to break through Crocker Range." said Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma.
Akito Nakamura Lieutenant General's face was a little solemn, but he nodded in the end. 18th Area Army There are only 130,000 people. Once attacked by the main force of German military, the possibility of being defeated will be very high. However, if we can get the support of the navy, there is still a good chance of defeating Brunei City when the main force of German military is attracted by the 7th Area Army and 14th Area Army. At that time, it will mean a huge credit.
"Honma, 18th Area Army will do his best!" Lieutenant General Akito Nakamura said.
Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma nodded. "Gentlemen, this battle is related to the future of the Empire. Likewise, it is also related to our future. This time, we must do our best to defeat the Germany people in one fell swoop! Let the Germany people know that although they are the number one in the world, we are not weak either!"
"Hi!" Lieutenant General Seiichi Tanaka and Lieutenant General Akito Nakamura nodded heavily. As Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma said, this battle is not only related to the fate of Island Nation, but also related to their own future. After the fiasco of the Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army, Lieutenant General Kawabe Masazō has been relieved of his duties. If they failed to defeat the Germany people, but were severely damaged, they would probably end up with the same fate as Lieutenant General Kawabe Masazō. Therefore, they must do their best.
After this meeting, Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma immediately reported the plan to Southern Army Headquarters of Manila. General Southern Army Commander Hitoshi Anami approved this combat plan. He did not interfere with the specific operations of the troops below, but only focused on the final results. At the same time, General Hitoshi Anami also sent Telegram to General Staff Headquarters, hoping that they could coordinate with the Navy and let the Navy come forward to assist Southern Army in defeating the Germany people on Borneo.
Island Nation Navy's current strength is still recovering. After more than a month, he has recovered a lot. But overall, it is still far from returning to its peak state. In particular, a large number of new warships have not yet entered service, so there are not many warships that Island Nation Navy can dispatch. But the Army has made a clear request, and Island Nation Navy has no way to refuse. It can only promise the Army that it will do its best to support them.
18th Area Army of the Island Nation's Army, began to detour to the northeast of Borneo, preparing to advance westward along the coastal highway.
7th Area Army of the Island Nation's Army and 14th Area Army climbed over Mount Witti and advanced along the road towards Brunei City. They were aggressive along the way, as if they did not pay attention to the German military 23rd Front Army gathered around Brunei City.
Although there are mountains and dense forests blocking the way, Island Nation's Army seems to be full of confidence in this battle. After all, 7th Area Army of the Island Nation's Army and 14th Area Army combined have more than half a million people, which is already more than twice the number of German military's 23rd Front Army. If the terrain and transportation facilities on Borneo did not limit their performance, they would have an even greater advantage in the battle.
Island Nation's Army's actions naturally cannot be hidden from the surveillance of German military. German military's reconnaissance force is active in the dense forest, monitoring Island Nation's Army. At the same time, the fighter planes in the sky were also fighting Island Nation's Army Air Force while attacking Island Nation's Army marching on the ground, reporting their every move to German 23rd Army Corps.
German 23rd Army Corps Commander Lieutenant General William Adam made the deployment based on the actions of the Island Nation's Army.
German 226th Infantry Division was dispatched to Baofu to block 18th Area Army of the Island Nation's Army's advance along the coastal road. Although, it is difficult to resist hundreds of thousands Island Nation's Army with less than 20,000 troops. However, in the case of narrow terrain, it is difficult to exert the strength advantage of the Island Nation's Army.
227th Infantry Division and 229th Infantry Division garrisoned the valley between Sipitan and Lavas. This is the only exit over the road Crocker Range. Island Nation's Army If you want to cross Crocker Range, other than passing through the dense and dangerous rainforest, you have to force your way through here.