Maryana 1944 part 2

I-USS Yorktown (CV-10), enye yezinkampani ezithwala izindiza ze-TF 58. Izindiza ezinamaphiko - i-SB2C Helldiver dive bombers; ngemuva kwabo kukhona ama-F6F Hellcat fighters.

I-Battle of the Philippine Sea yanquma umphumela womkhankaso waseMariana. Amabutho aseSaipanu, eGuam naseTinian, nakuba ayesiqaphela isimo sawo esingenathemba, ayengeke abeke phansi izikhali zawo.

Ngobusuku buka-June 18/19, 1944, imikhumbi yemikhumbi yaseMelika neyaseJapane oLwandle LwasePhilippine yayisekude namahora ambalwa kushayisana komoya okukhulu kunawo wonke emlandweni. I-TF 58 - iqembu labathwali bezindiza ezisheshayo ngaphansi komyalo we-Vice Adm. U-Mitcher - wabhukuda ezingxenyeni ezinhlanu, ezihlukaniswe ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-25. Ukwakheka kwabo kwaba kanje:

• I-TG 58.1 - abathwali bezindiza zezindiza i-Hornet ne-Yorktown, abathwali bezindiza ezilula u-Bello Wood no-Bataan (amaqembu abo edeski lendiza ahlanganisa ama-F129F-6 Hellcat fighters, 3 SB73C-2C Helldiver dive amabhomu kanye namabhomu amane e-SBD -1 Dauntless, 5 TBM - 53 TBM Amabhomu e-1C Avenger namabhomu e-torpedo kanye nezilwi eziyisishiyagalombili ze-F6F-3N Hellcat night - isamba sezindiza ezingama-267); izikebhe ezintathu ezisindayo (i-Baltimore, iBoston, iCanberra), i-anti-aircraft cruiser (Oakland) nababhubhisi abangu-14;
• I-TG 58.2 - abathwali bezindiza zemikhumbi i-Bunker Hill kanye ne-Wasp, abathwali bezindiza ezilula i-Monterey ne-Cabot (i-118 Hellcats, i-Helldivers engu-65, i-53 Avengers ne-F6F-3Ns eyisishiyagalombili - izindiza ezingu-243 seziphelele); ama-cruiser amathathu alula (i-Santa Fe, i-Mobile, i-Biloxi), i-cruiser eyodwa ye-anti-aircraft (i-San Juan) nababhubhisi abangu-12;
• I-TG 58.3 - abathwali bezindiza zezindiza i-Enterprise ne-Lexington, abathwali bezindiza ezilula i-Princeton ne-San Jacinto (117 Hellcats, 55 SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers, 49 Avengers kanye nabathathu F4U-2 night fighters " Corsair " and four night fighters F6F-3N "Hellcat" "- ingqikithi yezindiza ezingu-228); i-heavy cruiser Indianapolis, ama-light cruisers amathathu (Montpellier, Cleveland, Birmingham) kanye ne-anti-aircraft cruiser eyodwa (Reno) nababhubhisi abangu-13;
• TG 58.4 - umthwali wezindiza zemikhumbi i-Essex, abathwali bezindiza ezilula i-Langley ne-Cowpens (85 Hellcats, 36 Helldivers, 38 Avengers kanye nama-F6F-3N amane - ingqikithi yezindiza eziyi-163); ama-cruiser amathathu alula (i-Vincennes, i-Houston, i-Miami) kanye ne-anti-aircraft cruiser (i-San Diego) kanye nababhubhisi abangu-14;
• I-TG 58.7 - imikhumbi yempi eyisikhombisa (North Carolina, Washington, Iowa, New Jersey, Indiana, South Dakota, Alabama), abagibeli abane abasindayo (Wichita, Minneapolis) , New Orleans, San Francisco) nababhubhisi abangu-14.

IPhini lika-Admiral Ozawa, umkhuzi we-Mobile Fleet (ibutho lezempi eliyinhloko le-Japanese Navy), wasakaza amabutho akhe ngale ndlela elandelayo:

• Ithimba A - abathwali bezindiza zezindiza uShokaku, iZuikaku kanye neTaiho, ngokuhlanganyela bakha i-First Aviation Squadron (iqembu labo lesitezi, i-601st Kokutai, lalihlanganisa ama-A79M Zeke fighters, 6 D70Y Judy dive amabhomu kanye namabhomu amadala ayisikhombisa e-D4A Val kanye ne-3 B51do bomberstorpe jill - ingqikithi yezindiza ezingama-6); abagibeli bezikebhe ezisindayo uMyoko noHaguro; i-cruiser ekhanyayo Yahagi; ababhubhisi abayisikhombisa;
• Ithimba B - abathwali bezindiza kusukela kumikhumbi ye-Junyo ne-Hiyo kanye nenkampani yezindiza elula i-Ryuho, ndawonye akha I-Second Aviation Squadron (iqembu layo lesitezi, 652. Kokutai, lihlanganisa 81 A6M Zeke, 27 D4Y Judy, 3 D18A Val kanye 6 B135N Jill - ingqikithi yezindiza ze-XNUMX );
• umkhumbi wezempi iNagato, isikebhe esinzima iMogami; ababhubhisi abayisishiyagalombili;
• Ithimba C - abathwali bezindiza ezilula uChitose, uChiyoda noZuiho, behlangene bakha iThird Aviation Squadron (iqembu labo lesitezi, i-653rd Kokutai, lalihlanganisa ama-62 A6M Zik namabhomu ayisishiyagalolunye e-B6N Jill torpedo kanye ne-17 B5N "Kate" amadala angu-88 - isamba esingu-XNUMX indiza); imikhumbi yempi "Yamato", "Musashi", "Kongo" futhi "Haruna"; ama-heavy cruisers Atago, Chokai, Maya, Takao, Kumano, Suzuya, Tone, Chikuma; i-light cruiser Noshiro; ababhubhisi abayisishiyagalombili.

Ekhanda lokubunjwa kwakuyiqembu eliqine kakhulu C, elihlanganisa ikakhulukazi imikhumbi yempi kanye nabahamba ngomkhumbi (okumelana nokuhlasela uma kuqhathaniswa futhi behlome kahle ngezikhali ezilwa nezindiza) kanye nabathwali bezindiza ababaluleke kakhulu, kwakuwukubhekana nokuhlasela okungenzeka kwabaseMelika. Amaqembu A no-B alandela cishe amakhilomitha angu-180 ngemuva, eceleni, cishe amakhilomitha angama-20 ngokuhlukana.

Sekukonke, iMitscher Air Force yayinezindiza ezingama-902 ezisebenza ezikhungweni zezindiza (kuhlanganise nezilwi ezingama-476, amabhomu e-dive angama-233 kanye namabhomu angama-torpedo angama-193) kanye nezindiza zasolwandle ezingama-65 ezisetshenziswa yimikhumbi yempi nabahamba ngomkhumbi. I-Ozawa ingafaka izindiza ezingama-430 kuphela (kuhlanganise nezilwi ezingama-222, amabhomu e-dive angama-113 namabhomu angama-95 e-torpedo) kanye nezindiza zasolwandle ezingama-43. U-Mitcher wayenenzuzo ngaphezu kokuphindwe kabili ezindizeni, futhi kuma-fighters - izikhathi ezintathu, kusukela ku-222 Zeke abaningi abangaba ngu-71 (inguqulo endala ye-A6M2) basebenza njengamabhomu e-fighter. Ngaphezu kwama-cruiser asindayo, iphinde yadlula zonke izigaba zemikhumbi.

Kodwa-ke, ekuseni ngo-June 19, imikhumbi ye-TF 58 yaqala ukwethuka. I-Ozawa isebenzise kahle kakhulu inzuzo yayo ebalulekile - ibanga elide lendiza yayo. Izimoto zakhe zokuhlola kanye nezindiza zasolwandle zahamba ibanga elingamakhilomitha ayi-1000 ukusuka emikhunjini yakhe; lawo ma-Mitscher ane-650 km kuphela. Ukwenza izinto zibe zimbi kakhulu kubantu baseMelika, amaqembu asemoyeni aseJapan angahlasela ukusuka ku-550 km, amaMelika asuka ku-400 km. Ngakho-ke, ku-Mobile Fleet, isitha esiyingozi kakhulu sizoba umkhuzi, onciphisa ngesibindi ibanga, elwela "ukusondela". Nokho, u-Ozawa wayazi ukuthi u-Adm. U-Spruance, umkhuzi we-Fifth Fleet ye-US Navy kanye nomkhuzi omkhulu we-Operation Forager, uyaqaphela ukuthi angahlaseli.

I-SB2C Helldiver dive bombers (efanekiselwa eqenjini lase-Yorktown airborne) ithathe indawo ye-Dauntlesss egibele izithwali zezindiza ze-US Navy. Babenamandla amaningi okulwa, babeshesha, kodwa kwakunzima kakhulu ukushayela indiza, yingakho isiteketiso sabo "Isilo".

Nakuba inhloso ka-Ozawa kwakuwukucekela phansi imikhumbi ka-Mitcher, into ebaluleke kakhulu ka-Spruance kwakuwukuvikela i-beachhead e-Saipan kanye nemikhumbi ehlaselayo esuka eMariana. Ngakho-ke, i-TF 58 yalahlekelwa inkululeko yayo yokuqondisa, okuphoqelela lokhu kwakheka okuhamba phambili ukuthi izivikele cishe ngokwezibalo. Okubi nakakhulu, ngokuyala uMitcher ukuthi ahlale eduze kwamaMarians, wanika isitha enye inzuzo ebalulekile. Izindiza zika-Ozawa zase zikwazi ukusebenzisa izikhumulo zezindiza zaseGuam njengezisekelo eziya phambili. Befaka amafutha lapho ngemva kokuhlasela futhi ngaphambi kokuba babuyele kubathwali babo, bakwazi ukuhlasela bekude kakhulu, ngale kwebanga lendiza yakwaMitscher.

Lapho i-TF 18 ihluleka ukuthola imikhumbi yaseJapane ngobusuku bango-June 58, u-Spruance wayala uMitscher ukuba asondeze iqembu lakhe eduze kwamaMarians ukuze avimbele isitha ukuba singamdlulisi ngaphansi kobumnyama ngemva kokuhwalala. Ngenxa yalokho, ngobusuku bukaJuni 18/19, bobabili iMitschera (TF 58) kanye ne-Ozawa (Mobile Fleet) bahamba ngomkhumbi bebheke empumalanga bebheke eMariana, begcina ibanga elide ukusuka komunye nomunye. Ngobusuku bangaphambili, ngenxa yombiko womkhumbi-ngwenya we-Cavalla, abaseMelika bathola isikhundla sesitha, esiqinisekiswa kusihlwa ngoJuni 18 ngamabhekhoni omsakazo we-HF / PV, kodwa lolu lwazi olubalulekile lwaba luphelelwa yisikhathi njalo ngehora. Ngaphambi kwalokhu, ayikho endizeni ka-Mitcher yokuhlola eyayithole abathwali baka-Ozawa, ngoba lo wakamuva, ngokulawula ngobuchule, wagcina izisebenzi zakhe zingafinyeleli kuma-scouts e-TF 58. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, izindiza zakhe zazilandelela ukunyakaza kwabasebenzi baseMelika.

U-Ozawa akazange azigodle izimoto zakhe zokuhlola. Phakathi kuka-4 no-30, izindiza zasolwandle ezingu-6-00 i-B43N Kate kanye ne-13 i-D5Y Judy kanye ne-11 E4A Jake iwathumile, mhlawumbe ebona ukuthi iningi lawo lalizobanjwa ama-Hellcats ngaphambi kokuthi abike noma yini. Nokho, ukwazi isikhundla esiqondile TF 19 abathwali indiza kwaba into yokuqala kuye, njengoba ezama ukugcina ibanga eliphephile esitheni. Kodwa-ke, njengoba esebenzise amabutho amaningi kangaka ekuhloleni kabusha, wanquma ukunxephezela lokhu ngokwenqaba ukugada izindiza, okwakufanele zivikele imikhumbi yakhe ekuhlaselweni ngaphansi kwamanzi. Uma kucatshangelwa ukuthi babembalwa kangakanani ababhubhisi (ekupheleni kukaMeyi nasekuqaleni kukaJuni walahlekelwa abangaba abayisikhombisa, abaningi babo bacwiliswa yimikhumbi-ngwenya yase-US Navy, ngakho manje wayesenezingu-13 kuphela), wayezifaka engozini enkulu.