Over the South China Sea, a Navy carrier-based high-altitude reconnaissance plane was heading toward the reconnaissance target.

This is a professional reconnaissance aircraft, improved from the Warhawk-2 model, two-seater, one front and one rear. In order to increase speed, as well as the flight altitude, this reconnaissance aircraft had only one aviation machine gun as a weapon for self-defense. The increased fuel volume and the addition of fuel tanks have greatly improved the detection radius of this reconnaissance aircraft. Moreover, it is also equipped with the most advanced avionics device, which is longer than the general aircraft communication distance. Moreover, the quietness of the aircraft's engine is okay, coupled with the sound of waves when the ship is moving, it is completely enough to mask the sound of the aircraft.

In the case of the Imperial-class aircraft carrier, one aircraft carrier is equipped with eight such reconnaissance aircraft. At the same time, this reconnaissance aircraft is also equipped with more advanced infrared night vision devices, which can see farther and clearer than the infrared rays of ordinary fighters and bombers.

It's daytime, and there's no need for night vision devices.

The reconnaissance plane flew rapidly at an altitude of 10,000 meters, and when it approached the target given by the radar, the reconnaissance plane slowly dropped in altitude.

A conversation between the two pilots came from the cockpit.

"Did you find a target?"

"Haven't seen it yet! Wait, there's smoke on the left, it's likely to be the target. ”

The pilot in front of him reverses the direction of the plane with the words of the observer behind him.

In the eyes of the two pilots, twelve warships slowly appeared in their eyes, and the two huge battleships in the middle were even more conspicuous. When the reconnaissance planes flew over the fleet, they could clearly see the hideous naval guns on the battleships and the British flag fluttering on them.

"Bird's Nest, Bird's Nest, this is Hawkeye Four, we have found the British Eastern Fleet, azimuth xxxxxx."

The reconnaissance plane quickly reported the information it had found to the aircraft carrier Shihuang.

"Hawkeye Four, this is the Bird's Nest, has the other party found you?"

"Bird's Nest, the other party hasn't discovered us yet, and hasn't changed the direction of exercise."

"Hawkeye Four, continue to follow, pay attention to high-altitude concealment. Pay attention to the amount of fuel, and we will send the Hawkeye III to pick it up. ”

Receiving further orders, the reconnaissance aircraft immediately climbed to the maximum ceiling, hid behind the clouds, and followed far behind the British fleet. The aircraft taxied at high altitude for a while from time to time to reduce the fuel consumption of the aircraft.

Unbeknownst to Keith, there was a pair of eyes in his sky watching them at this time. According to his estimates, this place is still far away from the Chinese mainland, and it will not encounter the opponent's fleet at all, and if the other side sends planes to investigate, it will not be able to escape the fleet's observers. It's just that what he doesn't know is that China's planes are not like their seaplanes, they don't fly high, not to mention, they are also very noisy, and they will be discovered from afar.

After getting the specific coordinates of the British Eastern Fleet, Liu Haijiang was not cautious.

"Send the coordinates of the British fleet to the naval staff and submarine forces, and at the same time ask the naval staff whether to send carrier-based aircraft to attack the British Eastern Fleet." As the commander, Liu Haijiang has always stayed on the aircraft carrier control tower, and this is his post.

The coordinates of the British Eastern Fleet appeared in the Naval Staff, and at the same time ten submarine groups of the division in various seas of the South China Sea also received the coordinates. Thirty submarines turned around together and surrounded them in the direction of the British Eastern Fleet.

Specific operational orders from the Navy Staff were also issued to the aircraft carrier battle groups and submarine forces.

The battle was a joint undersea and air assault operation, with aircraft attacking, then a deadly attack by underwater submarines, and dive bombers. Be sure not to let go of any enemy ship.

Aircraft carrier battle group.

After receiving the order to attack, the battle alarm was sounded.

One by one, the planes in the hangar were lifted onto deck for final flight checks. The ground crew also began to get busy, adding fuel to the fuel, transporting the bombs, and loading the bombs.

The First Emperor can carry sixty or seventy dive bombers at a time, but only forty-five can be lifted into the air in one batch. Because the target this time was two large battleships, and the tonnage of the cruiser was not small, all the planes on this mission were equipped with one-ton heavy bombs.

Liu Haijiang did not immediately order the carrier-based aircraft to be dispatched, he was waiting for news from the submarine force.

In the sea 100 nautical miles west of the Nansha Islands, three Chinese submarines are advancing 50 meters underwater.

Shang-class submarines, this type of submarine is the most equipped submarine in China at this time, the Xia-class submarine was completely discontinued as early as the end of World War I, and now the Xia-class submarines owned by the Navy are all for training. The Xia-class is the type of submarine that Chen Shao sold to Germany at the beginning, and its various performances are also very backward. The Shang-class submarine is a second-generation submarine, and its combat effectiveness is comparable to that of Germany's most advanced U-boat in World War II, but this type of submarine is completely different from the U-boat. The teardrop-shaped streamlined shape can make the submarine sail faster and more stable underwater.

In order to better hide itself, the submarine's silence treatment is also very good. Once it dives to the ultimate depth of 200 meters, even the sonar detection of the Chinese anti-submarine destroyer will not be able to detect it. The weapon system has also been greatly improved compared to the Xia-class submarines, and one submarine can be equipped with sixteen 533mm torpedoes, which can fire four at a time. This type of submarine has eliminated the torpedo port at the stern, and the space saved is to allow the crew to stay more comfortably.

Displacement: surface 1120 tons / underwater 1232 tons

Maximum speed: 18.3 knots above the surface / 19.3 knots underwater

Endurance: 11,000 nautical miles / 12 knots on the surface, 135 nautical miles / 8 knots under the surface Safe diving depth: 165 meters, limit depth: 220 meters Submariners: 5 officers, 19 non-commissioned officers, 32 sailors Shang class is the first submarine to exceed 1,000 tons, and it is also the first submarine with underwater speed exceeding surface speed. Although the displacement of this submarine is not comparable to that of the largest German submarine in World War II, it is far superior in some respects.

The German side was also very satisfied with this submarine, a total of 30 submarines of this type were built, and all 30 submarines participated in the attack on the British Eastern Fleet. Twenty of these submarines were intended to be sold to Germany, which also sent a number of naval soldiers to conduct targeted training. The German side was very interested in this naval battle, and several of the submarines were observed by German naval soldiers. There is no better way to advertise a weapon than a real combat effect.

Ten submarine groups used close radio contact to maintain top speed towards the same target.

When they were all approaching the target, all the submarines took advantage of the quiet gap on the surface and surfaced for the last time. After one last air change before the battle, all the submarines began to dive again, and this time they would only surface until the battle was over.

When all the submarine groups were already infinitely close to the British fleet, the news of the completion of preparations reached the aircraft carrier Shihuang.

Forty-five dive bombers were fully docked on the deck, and after the order to go, all the planes started their engines and the propellers began to spin.

The two took off together, and in just a few dozen minutes, all 45 dive bombers had taken off. In this naval battle, because the other side did not have an aircraft carrier, in order to achieve the maximum result, Liu Haijiang had no intention of dispatching fighters. As for the other party's three seaplanes, Liu Haijiang didn't pay attention to them at all. Even if it was a reconnaissance plane, relying on the self-defense machine guns above, it could destroy those three seaplanes several times.

Keith was standing on the bridge as always, and for some reason, Keith always felt that something was wrong. No, where Keith never figured it out. Keith remembers the last time this was the last time he was the commander of a patrol fleet that specialized in fighting German submarines, and that's how he felt when he encountered German submarines.

This place is not far from China, and Keys also has reason to believe that there are submarines on the Chinese side, and even battleships can be built, and it is normal to have submarines. However, several destroyers have just checked several times, and no abnormalities have been found on the bottom of the sea.

Since no submarine was found, Keith didn't think about it anymore. I laughed at myself in my heart, when did I become so timid.

As time went on, Keith began to feel a little uneasy in his heart, and this feeling was rare, very rare. The sea is so quiet, this would have been normal, but now it has been a few hours since China declared war, but why is China so quiet. This doesn't make sense.

According to Keith's thoughts, the Chinese fleet should be looking for itself at this time, and Keith is also ready to be discovered. But why there was no movement at all, this really made Keith puzzled.

While Keith was thinking wildly, the captain of the battleship Nelson walked to the bridge and said to Keith: "Your Excellency, Commander, there is news from Shanghai that the Chinese fleet, which sailed out of Shanghai Harbor two days ago, returned to Shanghai Harbor at one o'clock at noon today. ”

"No, this is not right, China absolutely knows that our fleet is heading towards them, and there is no reason for their fleet to return to Shanghai. There's definitely a conspiracy in this. Case said. At this time, the uneasiness in his heart was even stronger, all his previous conjectures were based on the opponent's battleship, and now he found that his original thinking was wrong from the beginning, and it was ridiculously wrong. The battleships of the other side have never come to deal with them, and if China is afraid of the British fleet, they will not believe it if they kill Keyes. Moreover, China will definitely not let its fleet go straight in, the only reason is that the other side has a conspiracy.

"Is it that the Chinese side is afraid of us and does not want to have a naval duel with us? After all, in addition to the strength of the warships, the quality of the other side's navy can't be seen how powerful it is? The captain of the battleship Nelson said.

"If the other party is really afraid of us, they will not take the initiative to declare war with us, and I am most afraid that the other party will have a backhand." When Keith said this, he instantly seemed to remember something, and said hurriedly: "Quick, send our seaplanes to see if there are any Chinese warships." There is also having all the sonar equipment of the fleet check underwater, raise the combat alarm. ”

(To be continued)