Devil's Army

"Under the fierce attack of the First Army Air Force and the Qingdao Fleet, the Musashi Fleet suffered damage to many warships and had to withdraw to Yokosuka for rest and reorganization."

The Qingdao fleet did not continue the pursuit, as all eighteen of their warships had suffered damage to varying degrees.

"After the Musashi Fleet withdrew, the Qingdao Fleet also returned to Qingdao for rest and reorganization."

On its return voyage, the Qingdao fleet encountered the Jiangsu-Shanghai Combined Fleet, which was engaged in fierce combat with their air force, while passing through the waters off Shanghai.

Captain Ji immediately commanded the fleet to form a battle formation and encircle them.

The Japanese combined fleet in Jiangsu and Shanghai, already exhausted from dealing with air raids by the First Army Air Force, was subjected to a powerful attack by the Qingdao Fleet, and the guns of many warships were destroyed.

After more than half an hour of fierce fighting, the Japanese combined fleet in Jiangsu and Shanghai was completely annihilated.

The Qingdao fleet, in a move that seemed to kill two birds with one stone, captured four cruisers and destroyers, as well as a number of small gunboats and assault boats.

This eliminated the threat at sea for the First Army to subsequently recapture Shanghai and Jiangsu.

Meanwhile, the remaining Japanese troops in Ningbo took advantage of the fact that the First Army Air Force was busy fighting their navy to retreat to the Zhoushan Islands by gunboats and transport ships.

When the Independent Brigade pursued them to the head of Zhenhai Avenue, the Chengguan Wharf (Zhenhai Port) and the Ningbo Jiangbei Bank Bund Wharf Complex (urban area), the Japanese troops in Ningbo had already escaped by boat.

With the end of the naval battle between the Qingdao Fleet and the Japanese fleet, the First Naval Squadron of the First Army also arrived at Ningbo Port, preparing to assist the Army in recovering the Zhoushan Islands.

The next morning, the First Fleet of the First Army Navy began its attack on the Zhoushan Islands.

The Japanese army deployed blocking positions along the three main sea routes from Ningbo to the Zhoushan Islands.

Route 1: Zhenhai Port—Jintang Waterway—Zhoushan Island (Dinghai Port)

The total distance here is about 35 nautical miles. The route must pass through the narrow section of the Yongjiang Estuary between Zhaobaoshan and Jinjishan (the narrowest point is only 0.3 nautical miles) and the bend of the Jintang Waterway (where the current speed reaches 3 knots).

The Toba-class gunboat squadron of the 11th Gunboat Division of the Japanese Navy ambushed the narrowest channel at the mouth of the Yongjiang River.

Although the First Fleet of the Navy had an overwhelming numerical advantage, it could only pass through here in single file, one ship at a time.

At this moment, the Japanese gunboats that were lying in ambush on both sides of the waterway opened fire and fiercely bombarded the ships of the First Army.

The ship leading the sortie, the "Dangtu No. 34", was immediately hit and caught fire.

While extinguishing the fire, the naval officers and men of the First Army deployed artillery on both sides of their ships to launch a fierce attack on the Japanese gunboats attacking them from both sides, and then proceeded through the waterway at full speed.

However, the narrow section of the Yongjiang Estuary has a narrow channel, and the bend in the Jintang Waterway forced a warship to slow down and break formation.

In a narrow encounter, the brave prevail. Despite the Japanese artillery fire, the First Fleet of the Navy still managed to pass through the waterway at full speed.

As more and more ships from the First Fleet of the First Army Navy passed through the waterway, the firepower used to attack the Japanese gunboats became increasingly fierce.

The remaining Japanese gunboats could no longer hold out and retreated towards the Zhoushan Islands.

The Second Squadron of the First Detachment of the First Army Navy pursued the Japanese army along Route 2—Ningbo Baifeng Wharf—Xiazhimen Waterway—Zhoushan Liuhang Island.

The total distance here is about 28 nautical miles. The route passes through the Xiazhimen Channel (which is densely populated with islands and reefs and has a channel width of less than 0.5 nautical miles). There are many hidden reefs and turbulent currents, and ships are prone to running aground and getting lost.

The Japanese army deployed artillery on Xiazhimen Island and launched a fierce bombardment on the 2nd Squadron of the First Army Navy, which was passing through the Xiazhimen Channel, causing the ships of the 2nd Squadron to run aground and sink in the chaos.

However, the second squadron leader of the First Army Navy did not fall for the trick.