Volume 1: The Empire Awakens Chapter 31: Accepting the Test (Part 2)
After leaving the Naha naval port, the fleet sailed towards the northwest at a maximum cruising speed of 18 knots.
Two days later, a warship approached. After seeing the hull number and the fleet flag clearly, Tan Renhao realized that it was the "Coyote" destroyer of the Strait Fleet (the Korea Strait Squadron, stationed on Jeju Island, belonging to the local patrol fleet).
Obviously, the Fifth Fleet has arrived near Jeju Island, and the fleet, led by the destroyer "Coyote", is still moving northwest.
"We are definitely going to Bohai."
Hao Dongjue said something that someone had introduced, "The battleship 'Dongting Lake' was part of the First Fleet and was once the deputy flagship of the First Fleet."
Chang Jianxin smiled bitterly. A warship that had been in service for more than 20 years was finally sacrificed as an experimental subject. If warships had feelings, they would probably not feel very good.
Tan Renhao looked at the destroyer USS Coyote twenty chains away and did not participate in the conversation between the two.
This was the first challenge the Fifth Fleet encountered.
Perhaps, it cannot be said that yet, but the results of the inspection will be directly related to the future of the Fifth Fleet.
As a member of the Fifth Fleet, Tan Renhao has tied his fate to this fleet that is not valued by anyone . This test will be directly related to his future.
At this time, a non-commissioned officer came over. He was General Liao Hanxiang's orderly.
"Lieutenant, the commander wants you to go to the flagship conference room immediately."
Hao Dongjue and Chang Jianxin looked at Tan Renhao, they both felt a little strange.
There were more than fifty staff officers accompanying the fleet, and the three of them were only at the lowest level. Liao Hanxiang now asked Tan Renhao to come over, so there must be something very important.
"Okay, I'll go right away!"
Tan Renhao nodded to his two companions and followed the non-commissioned officer into the bridge.
When the "Yancheng" was determined to be the flagship of the Fifth Fleet, it returned to the shipyard for a small-scale modification. The biggest change was that the original several non-commissioned officer cabins under the navigation bridge were converted into a fleet headquarters.
The flagship conference room is here.
In name, this is a conference room, but in reality it is just a narrow room that is five meters long and three meters wide. It is much smaller than any conference room on land and can accommodate at most more than ten people for a combat meeting.
When Tan Renhao entered, several major generals of the fleet, including Liao Hanxiang, Wu Xianyu, and Ji Xiaobin, were already there.
"Second Lieutenant, have you adapted well these past few days?"
Ji Xiaobin took the initiative to greet Tan Renhao.
Before sailing with the fleet this time, Tan Renhao had only lived on a warship for two months during his navigation internship in the first semester of his third year at the Military Academy. However, he had a strong ability to adapt and did not get seasick like many people. This was probably an important reason why he chose the navy.
"Okay, let's get started!"
Wu Xianyu asked Tan Renhao to sit next to Colonel Ji Xiaobin. On the table was a huge map, which was a small-scale map of Liaodong Bay in the northern part of Bohai Sea.
"The battleship 'Dongting Lake' and the heavy cruiser 'Jiading' have been towed to this sea area."
Tan Renhao quickly glanced at the location where Chief of Staff Wu Xianyu was pointing.
This is in the eastern part of Liaodong Bay, about ten kilometers southeast of Juhua Island, and the water depth nearby is about fifty meters.
"According to the plan, 36 fighters from three bomber squadrons will take off from the aircraft carrier early tomorrow morning and head for the Qinhuangdao Naval Air Station. The fleet will enter the Bohai Sea tomorrow afternoon."
Wu Xianyu pointed to the route on the map and said, "We will conduct a two-day joint training with the Bohai Garrison Fleet in the waters near Snake Island, and then conduct maritime formation training with the First Destroyer Squadron on the third day. The bombing of the two retired warships will be carried out in the afternoon of the third day, which is before the end of the entire training."
Tan Renhao frowned slightly. Chief of Staff Wu Xianyu's meaning was very clear.
This inspection will be kept strictly confidential, so this series of coordinated training activities were arranged. This is also the reason why the Fifth Fleet was announced to the outside world to suddenly move north.
Of course, this is the most basic method of maintaining confidentiality, but whether it can deceive spies from other countries is another question.
"We only have one chance."
Colonel Ji Xiaobin took over the words of Chief of Staff Wu Xianyu: "The bomber formation will return to the fleet in the name of returning home, but they will first complete the bombing of the two retired warships.
Because they were carrying heavier ammunition, all bombers could only carry one-third of their fuel. In addition, they had to fly about 50 kilometers in the direction of the fleet and reach the sky over the Bohai Sea before they could head to the designated bombing site.
Therefore, the entire bombing time will not exceed ten minutes, and there will be only two opportunities to enter the bombing route at most.
During the entire process, for the sake of confidentiality, we will not use radio communication equipment to contact the bomber formation, but in order to ensure the smooth bombing, we need someone to command at the front line and record the bombing data.
Lieutenant Tan Renhao, your team will be responsible for data recording."
Tan Renhao was stunned and immediately nodded.
"Colonel Ji Xiaobin is in charge of the command work personally."
Liao Hanxiang spoke up at this time, "You will leave the fleet tonight on two seaplanes.
The First Fleet will send a cruiser to stand by south of Chrysanthemum Island.
During the three days of fleet training, you must master the hydrological and weather conditions of the nearby waters. No mistakes can be made. Do you understand?"
Ji Xiaobin nodded immediately. I'm afraid all the officers and soldiers of the Fifth Fleet are now looking forward to the test four days later that will determine the fate of the Fifth Fleet.
When leaving the meeting room, Ji Xiaobin called Tan Renhao.
"Second Lieutenant, I recommended you this time, and the commander trusts you the most. The bombing data is very important. When the time comes, you will take a seaplane to observe from the air. You must try your best to arrange the tasks of the three people, and there must be no mistakes."
"I'll do my best, Colonel."
Tan Renhao didn't say anything definite, he was not in the aviation industry, but Hao Dongjue should be an expert in this field.
Ji Xiaobin patted Tan Renhao on the shoulder and left.
Tan Renhao immediately found his two partners and told them the newly assigned tasks.
That night, two seaplanes on the "Yancheng" carried them away from the fleet.
The plane was flying close to the sea surface, which made Tan Renhao admire the pilot's eyesight and skills.
However, he did not get a moment of peace. Along the way, Hao Dongjue was instilling the fun and excitement of flying into his two partners, and constantly exchanging experiences with the two pilots, as if he was the pilot of this seaplane.
