Island Nation Capital Tokyo, Naval Ministry. General Navy Minister Yoshida Zengo and General Chief of Naval Operations Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu frowned, and the expressions on their faces were very ugly. The news of the defeat of the task force sent from Combined Fleet undoubtedly gave them a heavy blow.
"Admiral Yamamoto is back?" General Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu asked.
"Admiral Yamamoto has already taken a flight and is heading back. We expect to be back in the afternoon." General Navy Minister Yoshida Zengo said.
Although General Yoshida Zengo took office, he trusted First Sea Lord. Became the leader among the Navy Three Chiefs. But his qualifications are relatively junior. Generals Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu and Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto were his previous bosses. Therefore, his posture was very low.
"Yoshida, the tragic defeat of the task force has put us in a very dangerous situation. Our Capital Ships team has almost been lost now. This battle will probably be very difficult to fight!" General Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu looked sad.
If the previous naval battle was a severe blow to Island Nation Navy, then the disastrous defeat of the task force this time was a fatal blow. This almost destroyed the construction of Island Nation Navy for more than 20 years.
Lieutenant General Yoshida Zengo nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. Before the war broke out, we all overestimated our own strength and underestimated the strength of Germany people. Even if they were only in Pacific Ocean deployed two fleets, and we couldn't defeat them. If we could, we shouldn't have started the war with the Germany people so early. If we could board for another year, the situation might be different."
If the time for the war between Island Nation and Germany can be postponed for one year, Island Nation Navy's strength will be improved again. In terms of aircraft carriers, they will add a full fifteen ships. Two of them are medium-sized aircraft carriers and one is a heavy-armored aircraft carrier. Although the other twelve ships are all modified aircraft carriers. But it can also carry a large amount of Carrier-based aircraft and has extremely powerful strength. In terms of Capital Ships, four 'Yamato-class' Battleship can also be added to Combined Fleet, making Combined Fleet have a stronger Capital Ship Squadron.
But unfortunately, they all know this is impossible. The United States master behind Island Nation cannot let them delay for such a long time. Americans hopes that Island Nation will participate in the war, consume Germany's strength, and lay a better foundation for United States to participate in the war. Therefore, they cannot allow Island Nation to act according to their own strategies. Otherwise, once United States cancels its support for Island Nation, the development momentum of Island Nation Navy will be curbed immediately.
"Yoshida, this is impossible. Besides, it's too late to say this now." General Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu said.
General Yoshida Zengo nodded.
"Now, what we should do is how to save the situation." General Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu said.
"Your Highness, now we only have two aircraft carriers and four Capital Ships left. Moreover, both aircraft carriers have to enter the shipyard for repairs for several months, and the 'Mutsu' Battleship also needs repairs. The only one that still has combat effectiveness is '' Yamashiro' Battleship. But Battleship's 'Yamashiro' is too weak. Once it goes to sea to fight, it may be easily killed by the Germany people. These three months will probably become a window period for our navy." said General Yoshida Zengo.
"The army will definitely be furious. Without the support of the navy, their operations in South Seas will be even more unsmooth. When the time comes, they will pay huge casualties." Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu said.
"There is no way around this. We have already paid an extremely heavy price. Besides, this is not what we want." General Yoshida Zengo said. He also knew that the Army would definitely make trouble. Even if the current Prime Minister is the previous First Sea Lord Mitsumasa Yonai. But on this issue, I'm afraid we can't favor the Navy.
But what General Yoshida Zengo said is right, Island Nation Navy does not want to lose this naval battle. The reason why they lost was entirely because German Navy was too powerful.
That afternoon, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto took a flight from Kure Naval Base back to Tokyo. After returning to Tokyo, he did not join forces with Fleet Headquarters, but went directly to the Naval Ministry. General First Sea Lord Yoshida Zengo and General Chief of Naval Operations Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu are still waiting here.
"Yoshida, Your Highness!" Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto greeted the two with a dark face.
"Admiral Yamamoto, thank you for your hard work!"
"Sit down quickly, Admiral Yamamoto."
After Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto took his seat, the topic got to the point.
"Admiral Yamamoto, the navy's strength has once again suffered a heavy blow. This time, our situation may be very bad!" General Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu said.
General Yamamoto Isoroku nodded. "There is no way! The navy's power has been greatly damaged, and it can no longer fight the Germans for the time being. Even after three months, our damaged battleships can be restored. At the same time, we can get five new aircraft carriers to join the fleet. But in terms of overall strength, we cannot compete with the Germans. Before other new aircraft carriers and 'Yamato-class' battleships enter service, we may only be able to deal with the Germans in the Pacific."
General Yoshida Zengo and General Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu nodded repeatedly. They also knew that there was no way around it. Before those damaged warships are repaired, they will not have the strength to fight against the Germany people. Even if five new aircraft carriers are put into service, they are only modified aircraft carriers that can only carry more than thirty Carrier-based aircraft. The five aircraft carriers added together only have more than 150 Carrier-based aircraft. Including the renovated aircraft carrier "Ibuki" and "Kurama", the total number of aircraft carriers Island Nation Navy and Carrier-based aircraft that can go to sea is only more than 330 aircraft. In terms of quantity, it cannot be compared with German Navy. In terms of quality, the two sides are completely incomparable. Unless they wait a while longer for subsequent aircraft carriers and Capital Ships to enter service one after another, then they will be able to have the strength to challenge German Navy.
"I have asked Shipbuilding Department to speed up the construction of the battleship as much as possible. We will strive to have the strength to challenge German Navy within half a year!" Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto said.
"In half a year, the Army will definitely be quite dissatisfied." Lieutenant General Yoshida Zengo said.
"So what? They can't let our navy go out to sea to fight the Germany people now, can they? What's the difference between that and dying? The navy has suffered all losses, can they defeat the Germany people alone?" Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto sneered.