The Japanese respect the British Army, which had been fighting on the European continent for more than two years. Although they felt that the British tactics would inevitably make the war long and the Japanese were very sensitive to long-term war of attrition, Yoshima Oshima finally decided to partially adopt the other party's opinions and pulled some relatively light and relatively close-range artillery to a relatively backward position. At the same time, the troops on several defense lines were also slightly adjusted. This was a discount.

In addition to the deployment of firepower issues, there is another thing that makes the British dissatisfied that the Japanese's defense system is somewhat isolated and the connection between different defensive positions is a bit poor. To put it bluntly, there are very few traffic trenches built, and their ability to pass is relatively poor.

"If you ask the Japanese to deploy defense positions, they can build a machine gun nest very hidden and integrate it with the surrounding terrain and vegetation. They can build the cannon nest more solidly, use concrete to form an internal defense system, then add support, and cover the outside with a large amount of rammed earth and coral slag."

"However, they often ignore the connection between various support points. They set up defense lines very rigidly. Once a certain defense line is attacked, it will be very difficult for troops from other directions to support or withdraw from a certain defense line. And the Europeans would not do this because they knew that the breaking of the defense line is just the beginning of a defensive war. We will continue to fight against the enemy in trenches, bunkers and various living facilities. The Japanese defense system is very isolated, and it is not easy for the troops to support it." An British official who participated in the New Ireland Island Defense War commented on the Japanese defense system in this way.

However, the arrival of the British still brought some changes to this defense system. In the last few months before the war, with the strong insistence of the British, the Japanese finally dug up several channels that could be used to transport medium-caliber rapid-fire guns or to dismantle the accessories of heavy howitzers, and at the same time, they improved the infantry passages inside the defense system. Although it was impossible to connect all the defensive positions into a whole, it was much better than before.

After the war, the British and German armies had very consistent evaluations of the US and Japanese army, that is, two guys who had learned half a bottle fought a second-rate land battle. Of course, although their level was lower than that of the European battlefield, the bloodiness was not low at all. The nine-month-long battle of New Ireland became the first meat grinder on the Pacific battlefield! It became something that the US and Japanese armies were unwilling to mention!

At this time, under the command of Shigetaro Yoshimatsu, the main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet had already set off from Guinea to New Britain, where there was the base for the Japanese Combined Fleet to be the most prefaced. Although it was not far from New Ireland if you just look at the straight line distance, considering that New Ireland is a narrow island with a height of 350 kilometers east-west direction, both the Japanese and Americans were not close to each other. In the last period before the war, the senior executives of the Japanese Combined Fleet were discussing the issue of how to fight the first battle after the war!

"According to previous analysis, the most likely place for the US team to land in the eastern part of New Ireland, where there are some coastal alluvial plains, suitable for troops to land. If it is to the west, most of them are cliffs and it is difficult to land. The Americans carried a large number of destroyers and submarines, and they are likely to set up cordons and even minefields in the eastern part of the island and the strait between New Ireland and New Britain. Even the main fleet will be deployed here, because this is the closest route we enter the landing field." Lieutenant General Kato Tachiyoshi, who serves as the chief of staff of the Joint Fleet, said.

"However, it is obvious that it is impossible to enter the landing field from here. We are likely to collide with the American fleet that is waiting for battle. Therefore, when necessary, we must go far and away, and attack from the east from the entire New Ireland Island." Lieutenant General Kato Tachiyoshi said after drawing an arc on the map with his putter in his hand.

"The whole New Ireland Island has an area of ​​350 kilometers. If we want to go around from the west and then enter the landing ground, the sailing distance may increase by 400 kilometers, about 220 nautical miles. If the fleet sails, even the maximum speed may take about 9 hours. We all know that the navy's fleet cannot maintain a speed of more than 8 hours and 25 knots, and the time at night is not enough." said a Japanese officer.

"I have thought about this question. In fact, before the night comes, we can set the fleet's starting position here." At this time, Betty got up and came to the huge sea chart, then drew a line in the area north of New Ireland and said: "This place is about 250 kilometers away from the landing point of the US Navy. We can bypass the island in a solid line to reach this position, and then launch an attack at night."

"Are you kidding? This place may be within the range of the US Navy's aviation reconnaissance. A twin-engine seaplane or a single-engine carrier-based aircraft carrying a secondary fuel tank can reach such a large range." said Takijiro Oshiki, who served as the staff of the Joint Fleet Aviation Team next to him.

"Yes, this range can be achieved. So, the first thing we need to do is to use our land-based aviation power to kill the opponent's planes in large quantities before the fleet sets off, so that their aviation power will shrink rapidly. Secondly, we can take the initiative when the weather is bad. Don't worry, if it's just a thunderstorm rather than a tropical storm, our people can take the fleet safely to the combat waters and then attack the Americans by surprise." Betty said with a smile: "According to our meteorological personnel analysis, in the next week, a tropical cyclone will pass around the island. During that time, the entire New Ireland will be filled with wind and rain, which is very suitable for us to take advantage of the troubled waters!

"Is this news accurate?" asked an officer. At least no obvious signs were found in the meteorological observation station in Japan.

"We can wait and see." Betty said without any mind: "The Germans and we can find short-term sunny weather in the North Sea, where the weather is bad, for action. Then we can naturally determine the time of bad weather in the Pacific Ocean. There may be a deviation in time, but what should be done will definitely come back!"

"So, will this be the first opening game of the United Fleet in this war?" asked Navy Chief of Staff Too Shimamura.

"Yes, if there are a few days of bad weather, we can indeed take the opportunity to attack. The opponent will not know our location, and we have the advantage of speed, and we have the initiative in the battle." Kato Tadakichi said.

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