Big-Ship Big-Gun Combined Fleet

Chapter 107 - Searching for the Enemy

In order to attack the enemy, it is essential to obtain precise positional information and knowledge of their military composition. Therefore, reconnaissance aircraft were deployed without hesitation in large numbers. This emphasis on information is a matter of course for the US military, and Admiral Halsey, the commander of the Third Fleet and directly in charge of Task Group 3.3, is no exception. In order to locate the approaching Japanese fleet, Halsey had launched a total of 44 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers from eleven Essex-class aircraft carriers just before dawn.

The Third Fleet's strength, especially in terms of capital ships, was more robust than during the Battle of Leyte. While the number of battleships had decreased, the addition of the large Montana-class battleships significantly improved the overall combat power compared to the Battle of Leyte. On the other hand, the number of cruisers and destroyers had either remained the same or, in some cases, decreased. This was due to the intensified anti-submarine warfare in the Atlantic, where the new type of U-boat, called Type XXI, wreaked havoc, leading to increased naval escort battles in that region. The United States, facing the challenging situation of prioritizing aid to its ally, the United Kingdom, over defeating Japan, had its reasons.

Nevertheless, the Japanese Navy had lost many cruisers and destroyers in the Battle of Leyte, and subsequently, a significant number of destroyers in convoy escort missions, but it did not pose a major problem given the circumstances.

Third Fleet

- Task Group 3.1

-- Battleships Montana, Ohio, Maine, New Hampshire, Louisiana

-- Battleships Illinois, Kentucky

-- Battleships South Dakota, Indiana

-- 4 heavy cruisers, 8 light cruisers, 32 destroyers

- Task Group 3.3

-- Essex (72 × F6Fs, 18 × SB2Cs, 12 × TBFs, 4 × F6F night-fighters)

-- Franklin (72 × F6Fs, 18 × SB2Cs, 12 × TBFs, 4 × F6F night-fighters)

-- Saratoga (72 × F6Fs, 18 × SB2Cs, 12 × TBFs, 4 × F6F night-fighters)

-- Lexington (72 × F6Fs, 18 × SB2Cs, 12 × TBFs, 4 × F6F night-fighters)

-- 2 light cruisers, 12 destroyers

- Task Group 3.4

-- Bunker Hill (72 × F6Fs, 18 × SB2Cs, 12 × TBFs, 4 × F6F night-fighters)

-- Ticonderoga (72 × F6Fs, 18 × SB2Cs, 12 × TBFs, 4 × F6F night-fighters)

-- Yorktown (72 × F6Fs, 18 × SB2Cs, 12 × TBFs, 4 × F6F night-fighters)

-- Enterprise (72 × F6Fs, 18 × SB2Cs, 12 × TBFs, 4 × F6F night-fighters)

-- 2 light cruisers, 12 destroyers

- Task Group 3.5

-- Intrepid (72 × F6Fs, 18 × SB2Cs, 12 × TBFs, 4 × F6F night-fighters)

-- Wasp (72 × F6Fs, 18 × SB2Cs, 12 × TBFs, 4 × F6F night-fighters)

-- Ranger (72 × F6Fs, 18 × SB2Cs, 12 × TBFs, 4 × F6F night-fighters)

-- 2 light cruisers, 12 destroyers

- Task Group 3.7

-- 24 escort carriers, 48 destroyers (648 planes of various types, deployed in six groups)

The Third Fleet was undoubtedly the world's strongest fleet, but Halsey still had some grievances. Above all, the number of aircraft carriers had not increased at all. This was primarily due to the top priority given to the construction of the Montana-class battleships. The cause of this was undoubtedly the Yamato-class battleships. The Yamato-class battleships were unmatched by the traditional North Carolina-class or South Dakota-class, and even the Iowa-class battleships were deemed inadequate. In a semi-panic state, the upper echelons of the US Navy invested the majority of war resources in the construction of the Montana-class battleships and their improved versions, freezing the construction of new aircraft carriers as a consequence.

Currently, five ships from the sixth to the tenth of the Montana-class are on the verge of completion, and the construction of improved versions utilizing the same class's hulls, equipped with 18-inch guns, is progressing rapidly. From the perspective of Admiral Halsey, an advocate of air power, it seemed far more beneficial to use the budget and resources to build 20 to 30 Essex-class aircraft carriers rather than constructing 15 ships of the Montana-class and its improved versions. Even something like the Yamato-class battleships can be destroyed by 30 Essex-class that added to the existing eleven.

Furthermore, what disappointed Halsey more than grievances was that the deployment of F8F Bearcat fighters for this battle barely missed the deadline. The F8F had a level of maneuverability beyond the F6F Hellcat, and even the Zero Model 53, which boasted an equivalent or slightly superior advantage over the F6F, was no match for it. If there had been just one or two more months, a significant number of F8Fs could have been deployed to the Third Fleet.

However, what bothered Halsey more than anything was the loss of the freedom to choose targets. The aircraft squadrons of the Third Fleet were ordered to prioritize striking the Japanese mobile fleet, and attacking enemy battleships was prohibited until all enemy aircraft carriers were either sunk or incapacitated. This was related to the loss of air superiority to the Japanese in the Battle of Leyte, which resulted in significant damage to the battleship fleet. In the Battle of Leyte, the Third Fleet's mobile fleet suffered heavy losses in the early stages due to the inability to foresee suicide attacks by Japanese aircraft.

There was no overt criticism of Admiral Halsey for this, as nobody had expected or even imagined suicide attacks. Nevertheless, the feelings of the upper echelons of the US Navy towards him were closer to presumed innocence than complete innocence. Halsey himself is aware of this.

"Fine, then. Let those who want to say something say it. I'm just here to kill those Japs."

Despite the lack of an increase in aircraft carriers, the untimely deployment of state-of-the-art fighters, and the headwinds against his own evaluation, Halsey's fighting spirit remained undiminished. He had grievances with the force, but there was no anxiety. The number of aircraft on the Japanese mobile fleet was at most around 220 to 230, which is only 20% of their total number of planes. Even if all these planes were to launch suicide attacks, 800 F6Fs would be more than enough to handle them.

"I'll pay those Japs the debt from Leyte twofold. There will be no mercy to those damned barbarians who discard their crew's lives like trash. Today will be their last day."

As Halsey doubled down on his fighting spirit, a report came in from the communication staff: one of the SB2Cs sent out for reconnaissance had spotted the Japanese fleet moving south.