Chapter 170: The Fleet Sets Sail, Underwater Confrontation (2 in 1)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Even though the naval base here had made preparations, they still couldn’t stop the frogman unit.
According to the results of the simulation exercise, the two submarines and three warships anchored in the naval base were all destroyed by the frogman unit.
It could be said that the coordination between the small submarines and the frogman unit brought daily surprises to the Navy’s high command.
In this situation, the Navy’s high command directly assigned the small submarines and the frogman unit to the Liaoning aircraft carrier fleet and set sail with the fleet.
This time, the fleet was not going on a training exercise but to break through the first island chain and conduct exercises in the waters near Guam, close to the second island chain.
The purpose was clear to those who understood.
In the original plan, there were no small submarines accompanying the fleet. However, after two days of testing, the navy’s high command felt that this small submarine might bring them unexpected surprises.
After all, their aircraft carrier fleet had passed through their turf.
The Americans could not remain indifferent.
Even if America didn’t understand, its son would take action, and if something happened, it could blame it on the dutiful son.
So, overt military confrontation was not possible, but covert military confrontation was everywhere.
It wasn’t something that should be underestimated.
Once covert military confrontation was lost, and even if outsiders didn’t know, the plan to break through the second island chain would fail.
And what would be involved in a covert military confrontation?
Submarines.
This was the only means to make the other side suffer without provoking a war.
Our submarines were all under your aircraft carrier fleet, while you were up there, training with pride.
Wasn’t it embarrassing?
Even though the aircraft carrier fleet would take the submarines with them this time, such an underwater confrontation had its own set of challenges, so more protection meant better chances.
The next day, the aircraft carrier fleet led by the Liaoning sailed out of the naval base in a grand manner, heading in the direction of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Accompanying them were domestically produced main warships, including types 005, 052D, 051C, 054A, 903A, and the underwater 094 nuclear attack submarines.
The small submarines did not go underwater.
Instead, they were placed in the ship’s hold and would be deployed when needed.
This was due to their limited range.
It couldn’t be deemed a weakness, as they were never intended to be operated independently.
Our fleet had set sail.
Undoubtedly, the Japanese side knew about it.
It couldn’t be kept secret, and we had no intention of hiding it.
Apart from the satellites in the sky, even at the port, who knew how many grains of sand there were?
Of course, this time we were going openly.
We weren’t afraid that we’d be found out.
We were simply afraid of you pretending that you didn’t.
“Baka… that’s pushing it way too far!”
After hearing this news, the Japanese Navy high command cursed in Chinese, clearly showing their frustration.
All they could do was swim in their pool of anger.
What else could they do?
Accompany the aircraft carrier fleet?
That would be ridiculous.
In the past, the Japanese Air Force had the same idea. Whenever Chinese planes flew into their airspace, they would intercept them.
We all know the consequences of that.
Japanese pilots, considered newbies, were treated as rookie elites, flying in the sky every day to gain experience.
In the end, the planes were scrapped, and the pilots were nearly worn out.
Now, the Air Force no longer took the bait, and it was the Navy’s turn to go into action.
What would they do?
Send out the fleet?
Unlike the Air Force, not going to sea would be considered surrendering and hiding.
If they sent out their fleet, however, they would be falling into our trap.
The domestic intention was clear: to use size as a means of intimidation.
With this daily commotion, we’ll see if the Japanese can still make it.
At this time, the phone in the Navy’s command center rang.
“Hai… hai…”
The Japanese admiral, nodding and bowing, answered the call. When he put down the phone, he ordered the navy fleet to set sail.
They had no choice.
They didn’t want to go to sea, but when daddy America summoned them, what could they do but obey?
Soon, the news that the Japanese fleet had set sail reached our side, and the fleet’s high command was quite pleased.
They originally wanted to have some fun by themselves.
Now, someone was playing with them.
A few hours later, two fleets faced each other, separated by a hundred miles.
Of course, this was the Japanese idea.
Actually, our fleet was having dinner at this time.
An hour later, the aircraft carrier fleet set sail again, following the boundary line between international waters and Japanese territorial waters.
As for Japan claiming this as their exclusive economic zone?
Sorry, we didn’t recognize it.
Japan didn’t even submit the proposal to the United Nations, which meant it would be vetoed when the time came.
In the next few hours, our aircraft carrier fleet moved in and out of this area.
It wasn’t aimless navigation; they were recording underwater topography and data of the currents along the continental shelf.
Finally, at n PM, our aircraft carrier fleet stopped, and each warship gathered around the aircraft carrier, preparing to camp.
At the same time, the small submarines were deployed into the water.
Now, it was time for an underwater confrontation.
This was also a critical point in the mission, so failure was not an option.
Once the small submarines were in the water, they dived directly to a depth of 500 meters and started moving around in the surrounding waters.
In the deep sea at night, even with the submarine’s headlights on, visibility was limited.
However, this was not important; underwater operations primarily relied on sonar, not sight.
Gurgle…
Gurgle…
The sonar operator heard unusual sounds through the headphones and immediately made a hand gesture to the driver.
The driver nodded and controlled the small submarine to move forward slowly.
At this point, the sounds in the sonar became clearer and clearer.
Suddenly, the sonar operator raised his hand and signaled to stop.
The small submarine came to a halt.
At this moment, the sonar operator pointed upward.
A Japanese submarine was creeping directly above them, about 200 meters below the surface. It was moving at a snail’s pace.
The small submarine rose to about 300 meters.
The submarine was right in front of them.
“Notify the frogmen, prepare for action.”
“Understood.”
After a brief conversation, they notified the frogman team in the rear compartment.
Receiving the notification, the team quickly put on their helmets.
Normally, the team couldn’t operate at a depth of 300 meters, as the water pressure was too great.
But now, thanks to the equipment provided by Tang Rui, they could operate at a maximum depth of 370 meters.
Though it didn’t sound like much, it was still a significant improvement.
After putting on their helmets, the frogmen communicated with the control room through the internal communication system in their helmets.
“Deep-Sea Dragon Special Team is ready, requesting to leave the cabin.”
“Roger, open the valve.”
Gurgle…
Water began to fill the compartment where the frogman team was located. Once it was submerged, they opened the compartment hatch on top of their heads.
After leaving the small submarine, they quickly swam to the Japanese submarine. When they got closer, they realized it was the Japanese Navy’s flagship, the ‘Great Whale’ conventional submarine with a displacement of 3,000 tons.
“Captain, what’s the plan?”
“Did you bring the equipment that President Tang provided us?”
“We’ve got it; it’s good stuff.”
“Good, let’s help maintain the Japanese submarine, remove its rudder, and clean it.”
“Understood, Captain.”
The frogman team members formed four groups, each equipped with a device provided by Tang Rui, a water cutter. In no time, four groups were ready, and the captain ordered them to start cutting.
The equipment spun to life.
The frogmen members maneuvered the devices to cut through the massive rudder shaft bearing.
The cutting process went on without a hitch.
Beep, beep, beep…
At this point, an alarm sounded inside the Japanese submarine.
“Rudder main shaft broken?”
“What’s going on?”
“The submarine’s rudders… they’re gone.”
“Which rudders?”
“All of them..”
