Empire Conquest
Chapter 405 - 401 Blood and Fire Battlefield

Chapter 405: Chapter 401 Blood and Fire Battlefield

By the last day of November, the Marine Corps had fundamentally secured the landing zone and even built a field airport on the beach capable of accommodating the takeoff and landing of fighters.

By then, over 5000 troops had landed and were continuing to increase by 1000 per day.

Additionally, the Marine Corps had constructed a temporary dock.

To support the landing operation and alleviate the burden on the 41st Special Mixed Fleet, the Marine Corps also sent a detachment to Ata Island to the north on the 30th.

Fortunately, there was no enemy presence on the island.

Moreover, the size of the indigenous tribes on the island was quite small, just a few hundred people, and they were very friendly towards the Imperial officers and soldiers. The tribal chief had been favored by the Imperial Army since childhood. To be specific, he had been inoculated against smallpox by the Imperial garrison and survived the subsequent epidemic that broke out.

On December 6th, the 41st Special Mixed Fleet finally received the order to withdraw.

The field airport on Ata Island was completed, and the engineering detachment of the Marine Corps was also constructing a temporary pier, which would be finished within a few days.

With the airport and pier completed, the shore-based air force deployed on the island could replace the ship-borne aircraft of the 41st Special Mixed Fleet.

By this time, the Marine Corps had also clarified the situation on Sai Island.

The Newland Army definitely received advance notice or accurately deduced the strategic movements of the Imperial Navy. Knowing that the Imperial Navy would capture Sai Island before attacking Guan Island, they utilized the cover of night over the past few months to transport troops to Sai Island, especially using fast destroyers. The Newland Army had not only taken control of the island but also secretly completed defensive arrangements, all unbeknownst to the Imperial Navy.

During this period, with the assistance of the stationed Saiyi forces on Sai Island, the Newland Army built numerous defensive fortifications, including comprehensive underground bunkers.

According to captured prisoners, the Newland forces on the island belonged to the 1st Marine Division, with total strength exceeding 15,000, and possibly even reaching 18,000.

Fortunately, the Newland Army didn’t manage to transport tanks and heavy artillery to Sai Island in time.

It wasn’t for lack of preparation, but rather the difficulty of transportation was quite significant.

Before the Imperial Navy launched its offensive, the Newland Navy had transported over a hundred mortars to Sai Island, along with supplies for three months.

Additionally, all the Saiyi troops stationed on the other islands of the North Ma Islands were gathered on Sai Island, roughly 3000 men.

In fact, it was after obtaining this intelligence that the Marine Corps sent the engineering detachment to Ata Island to construct the field airport and dock.

On December 7th, the Navy deployed the first shore-based air force to Ata Island.

That same day, the unit provided support for the Marine Corps engaged in combat on Sai Island.

In the evening, the 1st Fire Support Fleet, responsible for covering the landing zone, encountered several cruisers of the Newland Navy to the northeast of Tiny Island, south of Sai Island.

Thus, the first naval battle of the Sai Island campaign began.

Both sides fielded 6 cruisers, but the 1st Fire Support Fleet had 2 heavy cruisers while the Newland Fleet comprised entirely of light cruisers.

Not until the following morning did Bai Zhizhan receive the news.

In truth, the naval encounter that took place northeast of Tiny Island lasted less than 3 hours, and both sides retreated almost simultaneously.

On the Imperial Navy’s side, there were mainly concerns about torpedo attacks, and the 1st Fire Support Fleet’s mission was to provide artillery support for the Landing Forces.

If the two heavy cruisers were damaged, the Marine Corps would have to halt its offensive operations on Sai Island in the coming days.

On the Newland Navy’s side, there were worries about being bombed after daybreak.

Because the battle took place at night and the distance between engaging forces was not close, neither side’s warships had the "magic weapon" for night battles, namely, the gunnery radar, so there were no battleships sunk.

According to the battle report from the Imperial Navy, all six cruisers took hits from shells, but none were significant.

Of course, the Newland Navy, as always, declared victory in the "127 Tiny Island Naval Battle", claiming to have sunk four Imperial Navy cruisers.

As a result, the First Fire Support Fleet and the Second Fire Support Fleet swapped places on the afternoon of December 8.

With the "Yuejiang" at the forefront, there was no longer any worry about surprise attacks from the Newland Fleet.

The "Yuejiang" not only boasted 350 mm naval guns capable of destroying cruisers in one shot but also was equipped with a gunnery radar that could accurately bombard enemy ships 20 kilometers away at night.

The key was that, on the side of the West East Ocean, the Newland Navy did not have battleships that could challenge the "Yuejiang".

Of the five Newland battleships that escaped during the Northwest East Ocean Battle, the severely damaged "Mali" had already returned to the shipyard on the East Coast, and may not be fully repaired even by next year. The other four were all in Treasure Harbor, showing no intention of venturing out.

The "Yuejiang" was the only battleship near Sai Island, and it was a fast battleship at that.

Even if the four Newland battleships in Treasure Harbor were to make a sortie, they would likely be unable to do much to the "Yuejiang" due to their lack of speed.

For safety’s sake, with Sai Island only a few hundred kilometers from Guan Island and within the strike range of the shore-based air force, the "Yuejiang" would head to the northeast waters of Tiny Island at night, blocking the Newland Fleet’s northern passage, and return north before dawn to the area covered by our own fighters.

This fully utilized the value of a fast battleship.

More importantly, the Imperial Navy intensified its surveillance of Guan Island, dispatching long-range fighters such as "Red Rabbit" for reconnaissance missions.

Only if it was discovered that the Newland Navy was preparing action would it be necessary for the "Yuejiang" to head south.

In addition, the Imperial Navy re-formed the 42nd Special Mixed Fleet and, on the night of December 8, dispatched the fleet to conduct operations near Sai Island from the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom.

The four "Longxing" class battleships, along with four heavy cruisers and more than a dozen other warships, were sufficient to control the seas near Sai Island under the protection of the Ata Island shore-based air force. If needed, they could also provide fierce artillery support for the Marine Corps on the island.

The key was the four heavy cruisers.

After arriving at the battlefield, these four heavy cruisers were incorporated into the Second Fire Support Fleet, replacing the four heavy cruisers of the 41.3 Division and, along with the "Yuejiang", headed south at night to blockade Sai Island, countering Newland warships attempting to transport troops and supplies to Sai Island under the cover of darkness.

Due to a top speed of only 25 knots, and the fact that the four "Longxing" class had not undergone regular maintenance for more than a year, and were not in the best condition, the Navy Commander’s plan was merely to let them show presence in the rear, cheering on the "Yuejiang" and deterring the Newland Navy from rash actions.

If all went well, the four "Longxing" class battleships would be replaced by repaired battleships before the Spring Festival.

According to the original plan, the Marine Corps would have captured Sai Island before the Spring Festival, and perhaps even landed on Guan Island.

Now, it seems clear that this was an impossibility.

Not to mention attacking Guan Island, it would be quite an achievement just to capture Sai Island, or more precisely, to take control of the situation and move into the mopping-up phase before the Spring Festival.

Under the revised plan, the capture of Sai Island was postponed until before the Qingming Festival of the following year.

Even if the battles that followed went smoothly, the operation to attack Guan Island would not be considered until after the Qingming Festival.

This was not only due to the strength of the enemy but also because the Imperial Navy and the Marine Corps were not fully prepared, having only one Marine Division ready for the landing.

The Imperial Marine Corps utilized a small organizational structure, with a full-strength division having just over 13,000 officers and soldiers.

Even with fleet support, at least two Marine Divisions would be required to take Sai Island. To attack Guan Island, a third Marine Division would need to be prepared.

It’s clear that Sai Island had become a bloody battleground where both sides expended their forces!

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