Volume 2: War breaks out Chapter 17: War on Radio (Part 1)
The sky gradually brightened, and staff officers arrived at the combat command center one after another. Hao Dongjue and Chang Jianxin also rushed over.
The two had no idea what happened last night.
When they found out that Tan Renhao had not slept all night and were about to get him a box lunch, the alarm sounded.
"What happened?"
Hao Dongjue was startled. It was the sound of an air raid alarm. "Are we under attack?"
Chang Jianxin was also shocked, and immediately looked at Tan Renhao.
Tan Renhao was also shocked, but seemed calmer.
At this time, Brigadier General Ji Xiaobin came to the combat command center, and he still served as the fleet combat staff officer.
"Colonel, what happened?"
Tan Renhao went to greet him.
"Our patrol plane encountered a Japanese long-range reconnaissance plane on its original route."
Ji Xiaobin said simply: "Commander Liao has decided to send more fighters into the air. It is now seven o'clock in the morning. If it goes as you expected, the next four hours will determine our future."
Tan Renhao breathed a sigh of relief and walked to the side of the navigation table.
This is a simple navigation table, used by combat staff rather than staff officers responsible for fleet navigation.
Now, the Fifth Fleet has entered the East China Sea and has been sailing towards the Empire's homeland, about 900 kilometers away from Japan's Kyushu Island.
The southernmost military airport on Japan's Kyushu Island is in Kagoshima, which can deploy about 50 bombers.
The combat radius of these bombers is about 1,000 kilometers, which means that if the fleet maintains its current speed, it will be out of the attack range of Japanese bombers within three hours.
However, the most important thing is that the fleet cannot be discovered. If it is discovered, it may not be safe even 1,000 kilometers away.
Soon, eight fighter jets from each of took off.
These "Sparrowhawks" are equipped with an auxiliary fuel tank, which allows them to fly continuously for at least four hours.
The fleet also began to accelerate. It seemed that General Liao Hanxiang had the same idea. The most important thing was to get out of the attack range of Japanese shore-based bombers as soon as possible while trying not to be discovered by Japanese reconnaissance planes.
"Renhao, what happened?"
Chang Jianxin walked over and asked in a low voice.
Tan Renhao glanced at Chang Jianxin, then called two of his companions and walked out of the command cabin.
While eating breakfast, he told the two of them his analysis from last night.
"You mean, the war breaks out today?"
Hao Dongjue's voice is very loud.
Tan Renhao glared at him and Chang Jianxin immediately pulled him back.
"No way, why don't we have any news?"
Hao Dongjue looked at Tan Renhao with some disbelief.
"This is my own analysis, but it was not adopted by the Navy Staff."
Tan Renhao smiled bitterly, "Fortunately, General Liao Hanxiang recognized my analysis.
This time, Japan is likely to launch a war without declaring war, and will first bomb our fleet and the military bases and ports on the Ryukyu Islands.
After destroying several of our main fleets, Japan will gain control of the sea in the Western Pacific, and then we will have a hard time. "
"But, can we be destroyed so easily?"
Hao Dongjue still looked unconvinced.
"The Fifth Fleet should not be easily destroyed, but the First Fleet currently parked in Naha Harbor, the Second Fleet which is not well prepared, and the Third Fleet which is heading towards the gates of hell, and the Southwest Fleet are all vulnerable. Have you forgotten our confrontation exercise with the First Fleet?"
Hao Dongjue shook his head. Of course he had not forgotten, but he was still a little doubtful.
"But those Japanese fleets may not be able to defeat us."
"The problem is that this time the Japanese came prepared, and we were left waiting for our turn."
Chang Jianxin stood on Tan Renhao's side. "According to Renhao's analysis, the Japanese fleet may launch a surprise attack between 7 and 11 this morning. I think 7:30 is the most likely time. This is the breakfast time for all the fleets of the Empire. Most officers and soldiers are not at their posts, and the personnel are concentrated. One bomb can kill a large number of people."
Tan Renhao smiled bitterly. What Chang Jianxin said made sense. 7:30 was the Achilles' heel of the Imperial Navy.
At this time, an officer ran over and informed Tan Renhao to go to the commander's headquarters immediately.
Tan Renhao immediately put down his lunch box and followed the officer to the upper deck. Hao Dongjue and Chang Jianxin did not stay either, and they also followed him to the commander's headquarters.
Most of the staff in the commander's headquarters are responsible for communications, and there are more than ten radio communication channels that can contact other fleets and bases.
Liao Hanxiang and Wu Xianyu were already here. Not long after Tan Renhao and others arrived, Ji Xiaobin also rushed over.
"Commander Liao, the reconnaissance plane has discovered a large number of Japanese bombers."
Ji Xiaobin marked the location and direction of the Japanese bomber fleet on the nautical chart. "These Japanese bombers are searching southward along our original route. Our reconnaissance aircraft has not been discovered yet."
Liao Hanxiang was slightly shocked. After looking at Tan Renhao, he immediately said, "Let all fighters take off. Those that are running out of fuel should return immediately. However, do not actively attack. All of them should perform the fleet's air defense mission."
Ji Xiaobin nodded and picked up the receiver of the battleship's internal telephone. He did not go directly to the combat command center to give orders.
"Also, sound the battle alert!"
Liao Hanxiang let out a long sigh, "What is coming will come sooner or later, we can't avoid it."
The officers in the cabin also became busy, but most of them were just busy doing useless things.
"I contacted the Navy Headquarters again half an hour ago and requested to return to Zhoushan on the grounds that the warship had mechanical problems. Guo Xianzhong did not object."
Liao Hanxiang spoke in a low voice, as if afraid of being overheard. "Also, I have contacted Marshal Sagittin, but he drank too much last night and hasn't gotten up yet."
Tan Renhao was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly.
"I sent the news to several other fleets, but Pei Yuming didn't believe our analysis at all and thought we were creating panic. I'm afraid he is now thinking about how to write a report. Come and consult me."
Liao Hanxiang also smiled bitterly. "Jiang Bangguo of the Second Fleet called us back and told us not to worry. They did not find any threat from the Japanese fleet. The Third Fleet has not called back yet, but the Southwest Fleet has already reached the vicinity of the Kange'an Islands. The Third Fleet is probably not far from there."
