Published at 13th of February 2023 06:54:25 AM

At 10:30 p.m. on March 2, a huge transport fleet transporting more than 80,000 people from the four divisions of the Lanyin Front Army of the Island Army set sail from Zamboanga. Zamboanga is more than 200 kilometers away from Sinar Port and Lahad Datu in eastern Borneo. Calculating the time, they can arrive on the morning of March 3rd. The reason why I chose to set off at night was naturally to avoid being attacked by the Luftwaffe.

Leugeant General Kawabe Shozo, the commander of the Lanyin Front Army, was at the port of Zamboanga, watching the transport fleet leave and hide in the darkness.

"Bless God Amaterasu, this time the landing operation must be successful!" Lieutenant General Kawabe Masanori prayed secretly. You must know that this time they have invested in the main force. Among them, the 2nd Division and the 18th Division are both permanent divisions of the Japanese Army. It has not been reformed, and it is still a four-unit system, with a Class A division with more than 28,000 people. If none of these troops can succeed, then the Lanyin front army may have to take their lives to fill this time.

"Your Excellency, Commander, we will succeed!" Major General Taro Nakayaga said.

Lieutenant General Kawabe Shozo nodded: "Order the rest of the troops to prepare as well. As soon as Sakurai-kun and Hondkun gain a firm foothold in Borneo, other troops will set off immediately to provide them with reinforcements."

"Hi, Your Excellency, Commander!" Major Generals Nakayataro and Isomura Takeyo replied.

This time, in the absence of other options, the Lanyin Front Army of the island country army can only do its best. Although they knew it would cause very heavy casualties, it was their only way.

At 1:00 am on March 3, the huge transport fleet and the island nation's fleet converged. The warships of the Island Fleet are scattered around the convoy to provide protection for these convoys. However, it is undoubtedly very difficult for a fleet of only 14 warships, large and small, to provide protection for hundreds of transport ships. It can only barely form a defensive network around the fleet.

The island country army, the Lanyin front army and the island country fleet both put threats in the air. Worried about being attacked by the Luftwaffe after dawn. But they forget that in addition to the German Air Force can pose a deadly threat to them, the German Navy can also threaten them. Although it is night, the submarine force of the German Navy's Pacific Fleet has already dispatched many submarines to deploy in the Sulu Sea.

So far, the number of German submarines operating in the Sulu Sea has reached 12. Although it may not seem like much, Suluhai is not big in the first place. German submarines are already very dense in this sea area.

The German submarine with the hull number U-441 is cruising on the sea at a speed of 8 knots. The development of the submarines of the German Navy is now in its fourth generation. The displacement of these submarines is getting bigger and bigger, and it is close to 2,000 tons. In terms of weapons, in addition to an 88mm multi-purpose naval gun that can be retracted into the boat, there are eight 533mm heavy torpedo launch tubes.

It is said that the German Navy is preparing to mass-produce the next-generation submarine, which has a larger displacement and improved noise reduction capabilities. Coupled with an advanced propulsion system, it can already submerge underwater for a long time. Once the new generation of submarines is in service, the attack power of the submarine force of the island navy will be further improved.

Of course, this has nothing to do with the German submarine cruising the Sulu Sea. The submarines they are using now are far ahead of other countries. However, everyone is still extremely eager for military exploits. Only by obtaining military exploits can they be promoted and get better treatment. The most important thing is to be able to help their motherland win the war.

After the outbreak of the war between Germany and the island nation, the submarine force has long been gearing up. They often appear in the western Pacific Ocean, even off the coast of island countries, and attack ships of island countries. Both military ships and civilian ships have become the targets of their attacks, causing panic along the coast of the island country. At the same time, this has already produced a large number of ace captains.

Although the navy of the island country also has a large number of submarines, the navy of the island country often regards these submarines as a tool for reconnaissance. The real role of these submarines has not been brought into play.

In another time and space, the biggest role of the submarine force of the island nation's navy is to transport war supplies and transport the wounded for the besieged island nation army. The American submarines attacked the sea transportation lines of the islanders and sank the few island merchant ships at sea. Even if the islanders occupy Nanyang, they will not be able to transport the resources there back to the country and transform them into war power.

"Boss, when will the islanders launch an attack! We have been wandering around the Sulu Sea for several days." A submarine soldier asked.

After the Philippine Islands were occupied by the army of the island country, the Pacific Fleet dispatched submarine forces to the coast near the Philippines.

"Who knows! Just wait. As long as the islanders attack, we will send them into the sea to feed the fish." The captain, Major Hansen, said. He also hopes that the islanders will launch an attack as soon as possible. In this case, he can also achieve greater results.

At this moment, the communications soldier climbed up.

"Boss, submarine No. 448 sent a telegram, and they found a huge transport fleet. It is only 60 kilometers away from us." The signalman reported.

"What? The islanders are finally here. Ready to fight!" Major Hansen's face flashed with joy. Hastily got into the submarine. The other submariners who were active on the deck of the submarine also got into the submarine.

When the hatch was closed again, the submarine began to accelerate, preparing to intercept the island nation's transport fleet.

At the same time, the 23rd Army Command of the German Army also received the news. Lieutenant General William Adam immediately got up and ordered the entire 23rd Army to enter a state of emergency combat readiness after confirming that the islanders were attacking in large numbers.

The army troops deployed in eastern Borneo immediately entered combat readiness, ready to attack the incoming army of the island country at any time.

The fighter planes deployed by the German Air Force's 4th Aviation Group in Borneo also started preparations before takeoff. As soon as the day dawns, they will take off and launch an attack on the island army's transport fleet, causing the island army to be sunk before reaching Borneo.

Of course, the submarine force of the island navy was the first to attack the island army's transport fleet. After receiving the telegram, 12 island nation submarines rushed to besiege the island army's transport fleet. The transport ships of the Japanese army were not fast, so the submarines of the German Navy could rush ahead of them, forming a pocket, waiting for them to drill in themselves.