BATTLE OF EUROPE | Chapter 49

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European Expeditionary Fleet

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Six months had passed since the Battle of Oahu. On August 15, 1942, news arrived that preparations for acceptance had been completed from both Germany and Italy. In response to this, each ship of the Combined Fleet weighed anchor and turned its bow to the southwest. The destination was Europe, with a goal to bring Britain down from the war.

Since the Battle of Oahu, there have been no large-scale fleet battles. The April Indian Ocean offensive, as well as the series of battles in Australia in June, did not allow the Allied forces' fleet to show itself in front of the Combined Fleet.

While there was no decisive fleet battle, the war situation was changing significantly. In April, Japan had secured control of the Indian Ocean. In June, the Combined Fleet had struck Brisbane, the third-largest city in Australia, and then turned its focus towards Sydney. Crushing Australia's largest city would not be easy. The Australian government made a difficult decision, accepting negotiations for peace with Japan. With this, Japan not only broke a part of the Allied forces but also cut off the southern threat.

During this six-month interval, all the damaged ships from the Battle of Oahu had been repaired. The carrier-based air squadrons had also completed replenishing their crews and equipment, which had been depleted in the battles at the Marshall Islands and off the coast of Oahu.

European Expeditionary Fleet

First Fleet

- Battleships Yamato, Musashi, Nagato, Mutsu, Ise, Hyūga, Yamashiro, Fusō

- Heavy cruisers Kumano, Suzuya, Mogami, Mikuma

- Light cruiser Naka

- Destroyers Yukikaze, Hatsukaze, Amatsukaze, Tokitsukaze, Urakaze, Isokaze, Hamakaze, Tanikaze, Nowaki, Arashi, Hagikaze, Maikaze, Kuroshio, Oyashio, Hayashio, Natsushio

1st Air Fleet

- Akagi (36 × A6Ms, 45 × Type 0s)

- Shōkaku (36 × A6Ms, 42 × Type 0s)

- Zuikaku (36 × A6Ms, 42 × Type 0s)

- Zuihō (27 × A6Ms, 3 × Type 0s)

- Shōhō (27 × A6Ms, 3 × Type 0s)

- Light cruisers Naruse, Kase

- Destroyers Akizuki, Teruzuki, Suzutsuki, Hatsuzuki, Niizuki, Wakatsuki, Aogumo, Benigumo, Harugumo, Amagumo

2nd Air Fleet

- Hiryū (33 × A6Ms, 27 × Type 0s)

- Sōryū (33 × A6Ms, 27 × Type 0s)

- Unryū (33 × A6Ms, 27 × Type 0s)

- Hakuryū (33 × A6Ms, 27 × Type 0s)

- Sekiryū (33 × A6Ms, 27 × Type 0s)

- Heavy cruiser Tone

- Destroyers Shimotsuki, Fuyuzuki, Haruzuki, Yoizuki, Hanazuki, Yaegumo, Fuyugumo, Yukigumo

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