Chapter 1309 Forced Landing

On February 28, the 3rd Air Corps of the Army Air Force of the island country was supplemented from within the country, and all flying divisions were fully staffed again. In addition, the 4th Air Force also all arrived in the Philippine Islands. This is also a powerful air force with three flying divisions.

When the two air armies are fully staffed, the island country army aviation has more than 600 combat aircraft in the Philippine Islands. In terms of the number of aircraft, it is no less than the 5th Aviation Group of the Luftwaffe. It's just that it can't compete with the Luftwaffe in terms of aircraft performance.

General Hisao Nishio, the commander of the Southern Army of the Island Army, is also adopting new tactics. He knew that it was simply impossible to completely seize air supremacy. The Japanese Army Air Force simply does not have this strength. Unless more fighter jets are mobilized from the country, otherwise, their losses will only increase further.

"Gentlemen, the German Air Force has too great an advantage. It is difficult to defeat them with the Army Air Force alone. So I decided to adopt a new tactic to deal with the Germans!" General Nishio Hiszo said.

After becoming the commander of the Southern Army, many people stared at this position. If Admiral Hisao Nishio is unable to achieve success for a long time, this will undoubtedly give others an excuse. Therefore, General Hisao Nishio couldn't wait to make a difference.

Lieutenant General Suematsu Shigeru, Commander of the Philippine Front, Lieutenant General Kawabe Masaharu, Commander of the Lanyin Front, Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma, Commander of the 14th Front, Lieutenant General Michida Sugawara, Commander of the 3rd Air Force, Kumaichi Teramoto, Commander of the 4th Air Force The lieutenant generals all looked at General Nishio Hiszo with a serious face, not knowing what he was going to do.

"Tukada-kun, tell the generals about the plan!" General Nishio Hiszo said to the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tsukada.

"Hi, Your Excellency Commander." Lieutenant General Tsukada Gong nodded.

"Gentlemen, in view of the obvious superiority of the Germans in the air, it is difficult for us to compete with them. Moreover, we do not have much time. Therefore, we can only adopt other tactics. After the approval of the General Staff Headquarters, land The Borneo plan can be implemented. However, what I need to tell everyone is that once this plan is implemented, our losses may be relatively large." Lieutenant General Tsukada said.

The faces of several front army commanders became serious. They know that when the previous expected goals cannot be achieved, the most likely thing for the island army is to adopt desperate tactics. After all, this is the consistent style of the Japanese Army.

"Two days later, the Lan-Indian front forces dispatched their main force, crossed the Sulu Sea forcibly, and launched a landing operation to the east of Borneo. At that time, the 3rd Air Force and 4th Air Force of the Army Air Force will provide full reinforcements to prevent the transport fleet from being attacked by the Germans. In addition, the Navy will dispatch some warships to reinforce us. We hope that this forced landing plan will be successful and land in eastern Borneo in one fell swoop." Lieutenant General Tsukada said.

As soon as Lieutenant General Tsukada finished speaking, Lieutenant General Kawabe Shozo's face became very ugly. This is clearly to let the Lanyin army use their lives to fill it! Even with the cover of the Army Aviation, it is unknown how many people will die in the sea before reaching Borneo. However, Lieutenant General Kawabe Shozo had no way to refuse. He knew that General Nishio Shouzo wanted all of this.

"After the Lanyin Front Army launches an offensive, the 14th Front Army will also launch a landing operation if necessary!" Lieutenant General Tsukada Gong continued.

Obviously, this is to prevent the Lanyin front army from suffering heavy losses and unable to gain an advantage on the Borneo battlefield. At that time, the 14th Front Army will have to attack.

"Hi, Your Excellency, Commander!" Lieutenant General Masahiro Honma replied.

"My lords, for the future of the empire, we must do our best this time. I believe that God Amaterasu will bless us. We will definitely be able to successfully land in Borneo and defeat the Germans!" General Hisao Nishio said.

"The empire will win! His Majesty the Emperor!" Several front army commanders roared loudly.

On the night of March 2, the navy of the island nation secretly dispatched a fleet through the Philippine archipelago and into the Sulu Sea. This fleet consists of two "Tone-class" heavy cruisers, two "Tianlong-class" light cruisers and 10 "Yugumo-class" destroyers.

Although the navy of the island country did not send a capital ship, it only sent two heavy cruisers. However, after the joint fleet suffered heavy losses, it is already very good that the navy of the island country can dispatch a fleet of this size. Moreover, these warships have strong firepower, and they undoubtedly pose a deadly threat to ground targets. Once the Lanzhou-Indian Front Army of the island country army starts landing operations, if these warships provide them with artillery support with powerful naval gun fire, it will undoubtedly clear the way for the landing troops and increase the possibility of successful landing.

At the same time in Zamboanga, Mindanao, a large number of transport ships and merchant ships have gathered in the port. Every transport ship and merchant ship was filled with soldiers from the Lanyin Front Army of the island country army. In order to increase the number of people transported as much as possible, those island soldiers were crowded on the ship like livestock. Of course, this also means that once these transport ships and merchant ships are sunk, they can cause considerable casualties to the island army.

However, when the island army is fighting, it has never put the lives of soldiers in its eyes. As long as they can win, no matter how many people die, they will not hesitate.

At 10 o'clock in the evening, Lieutenant General Kawabe Shozo, commander of the Lanyin Front Army, and Major General Taro Nakayaga, chief of staff, appeared at the port. Major General Isomura Takeyoshi, the deputy chief of staff of the Lanyin Front Army who was in charge of the preparations for this offensive, quickly reported the preparations to them.

"Your Excellency, Commander, Your Excellency Chief of Staff. All the troops in this landing operation have been uploaded, and they are ready to go at any time!" Major General Takeyoshi Isomura reported.

Lieutenant General Kawabe Shozo nodded: "Where are Sakurai-kun and Honda-kun?"

The 28th Army and the 33rd Army under the jurisdiction of the Lanyin Front Army mainly initiated this landing operation. They will all invest the main force in this landing operation. Among them, the 28th Army invested in the 2nd Division and the 54th Division, and the 33rd Army invested in the 18th Division and the 56th Division. The armies of the two countries will launch landings in Sennaport and Lahad Datu respectively.

Soon Lieutenant General Sakurai Shozo and Lieutenant General Honda Masazai arrived.

"Sakurai-kun, Honda-kun. This time, please go inside. Our landing must be successful!" Lieutenant General Kawabe Shozo said.

"Hey, Your Excellency, Commander, I will do my best!" Lieutenant Generals Sakurai Shōzo and Honda Masazai replied.