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Chapter 272
Chapter 272
Chapter 272
February 20, 2021, 22:00
The sea 99km off the southern end of Jeju Island (the location of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of the 2nd Fleet and Maritime Task Squadrons 71)
The aircraft took off from Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78). At the same time, 24 CF-21P Red Phoenixes were launched at the 25th Air Force Base. Also, 24 CF/A-25P Black Scarlet Phoenixes of the 17th Fighter wing which were temporarily stationed at Seoguipo Airport were launched as well. They switched to supercruise flight mode and flew at a staggering speed of Mach 6.5. They passed above the combined fleet three minutes after taking off.
The scene where 48 state-of-the-art fighters close to the 7th generation were flying in the air as a group was truly spectacular. It made less noise than expected and disappeared from view at an instantaneous speed. The crew members of the combined fleet who saw this waved their hands and cheered.
As if they wanted to return the cheer, the 24 CF/A-25P Black Scarlet Phoenixes shot out the S-ALM-100 Anacondas to the 11th Carrier Strike Group. The S-ALM-100 Anaconda was an air-to-ship missile. There was a total of 45 missiles, and they flew away like blue lights.
Meanwhile, several explosions continued to occur mid-air between the combined fleet and the 11th Carrier Strike Group. They were caused by 88 Hae Seong A missiles colliding with the SM-2s launched by the destroyer of the 11th Carrier Strike Group and the AMRAAM missiles launched by the aircraft. However, the intercept rate of the supersonic ship-to-ship missiles was less than 50%.
The Hae Seong A missiles that survived from the first interception kept going to the aircraft carriers and destroyers of the 11th Carrier Strike Group. They flew over very close to the sea, sometimes touching the sea.
“28 Hae Seong A missiles were intercepted. Currently, there are 38 left. They are flying towards the targets normally. 116 seconds until the first missile hits!”
The King Gwang-hae ship was authorized to attack. Captain Ahn Hyeong-gyun had come down to the battle command room in person and had been watching the situation.
“Tactical control officer! Get ready to fire the third round of missiles.”
“Yes, captain!”
“Fire control officer! How is the reloading of the ship-to-ship missiles going?”
“The Dae Jo-yeong and Wang Geon will need about five more minutes to reload.”
Currently, destroyers of the Corean Navy’s CD-2 class or lower were equipped with two quad mount launchers capable of firing anti-ship missiles. At the time of the 1st Naval Power Improvement Project, the missiles of the CD-2 class destroyers were replaced by marine missiles Hae Seong A. But the number of launchers could not be increased due to the narrow space. However, the launchers were installed. They could drastically reduce the reloading time from 20 minutes to 10 minutes.
On the other hand, the CD-1A Kang Ui-sik class ship, Dae Jung-sang (DDH-983) was equipped with four quad mount launchers to increase the anti-ship missile power from the beginning of the design. It was the next-generation air defense destroyer replacing the Gwanggaeto the Great class destroyer.
“Good. Each of the remaining five ships fire eight anti-ship missiles. Assign targets to each ship!”
“All five ships have been assigned targets.”
“Fire!”
“Fire Hae Seong A!”
The combined fleet sailed in one-line formation. Five ships once again fired Hae Seong A anti-ship missiles. In modern maritime warfare, anti-ship missile attacks generally attacked with the maximum number of missiles at a time, going over the critical point of the enemy fleet’s defense capability. However, the combined fleet of Corea now deliberately launched anti-ship missiles at a staggered pace. This was intended to hinder the detection of Epirus (Super EMP Weapon) launched by Zeus 1 by making the enemy focus on the interception of anti-ship missiles.
At the moment, the destroyers of the 11th Carrier Strike Group were busy intercepting the missiles that were fired from Corea’s combined fleet and the Black Scarlet Phoenixes. 24 CF-21P Red Phoenixes which were flying ahead of the CF/A-25P Black Scarlet Phoenixes were engaged in full-scale air combat with enemy fighters. Meanwhile, the Epirus (Super EMP Weapon) missile was falling at a speed of Mach 45.
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February 20, 2021, 22:05
Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
The Kadena Air Force Base was one of the two major bases in the Okinawan region, along with the Futenma U.S. Marine Corps’ Air Station. It was the largest military airfield of the U.S. Pacific Air Force. The 18th Air Force group belonging to the 5th Air Force was stationed here. Four E-55A stealth detection planes that had come from the Guam Anderson Air Force Base were just taking off from the runway.
Then, the 19 F-22SR Super Raptors, which had returned from a fierce air battle this morning, completed reorganization and entered the runway with a guidance signal from a marshal.
The E-55A stealth detection plane was developed to detect stealth aircraft. Four E-55A stealth detection planes increased their altitude and launched broadband radar X-waves for detection. Subsequently, 19 F-22SR Super Raptors and 4 B-1R Archers took off and flew over to the northern end where the fierce air battle was happening.
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February 20, 2021, 22:05
The sky 453km off the northern tip of Okinawa, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
The lock gears of the two AGM-158C LRASM air-to-ship missiles mounted on the hardpoints of the wings of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets were released and separated. The missiles quickly flew forward, using their own propulsion power, and produced white smoke. Meanwhile, as the two heavy missiles fell from the aircraft, the Super Hornets became much lighter. They maneuvered and entered a full-scale air battle.
The situation of the U.S. Navy’s aircraft, which had been defeated despite its numerical advantage so far, was very bad. Currently, the Corean planes engaged in the air battle were 24 CF-21P Red Phoenixes and 24 CF/A-25P Black Scarlet Phoenixes which were the fighter-bombers. However, the current U.S. Navy’s aircraft were only 12 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and 19 F-35C Lightning II aircraft. It was a very small number.
However, there were differences this time. First, the radar of the E-55A stealth detection planes, which could detect stealth aircraft, was installed. Also, early warning aircraft E-2C Hawkeyes, the ultrahigh altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft MQ-9B Reapers, and geostationary military satellites, GEO 10 and 12, were deployed. Therefore, it was possible to receive real-time information in many ways.
American fighters had been blinded by the excellent stealth capabilities of Corean fighters. They had lost the air battles and had been humiliated. They began attacking CF-21P Red Phoenixes recklessly to regain their honor. Besides, the F-22SR Super Raptors and B-1R Archers, which flew fast from the rear to support friendly fighters, were also entering missile range.
However, there was one thing the U.S. Navy overlooked. The CF-21P Red Phoenixes were more than 6.5-generation class jets. They incorporated not only stealth features but also several cutting-edge technologies that the United States could not even imagine.
The distance between the fighters of both sides reached within 100km. They fired anti-aircraft missiles at each other. They flew towards each other very closely. Over 100 anti-aircraft missiles were fired at once, crossing fire at midpoint.
Fighters of both sides performed evasion maneuvering to shake off the incoming missiles. They sprayed chaffs and flares into the dark sky. Flares scattered from side to side lit the surroundings like a phoenix.
The S-AAM-200 Rattlesnake was an air-to-air missile twice as fast as the AMRAAM operated by the U.S. naval aircraft. The S-AAM-200 Rattlesnake pierced sharply towards the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and F-35C Lightning IIs.
At the Rattlesnake’s speed of Mach 8, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets’ rapid evasive maneuvering became useless. The S-AAM-200 Rattlesnake flew at a tremendous speed and struck the bottom of one of the Super Hornets. The Super Hornet was hit in the center of the lower fuselage and exploded and shattered. The pilot was engulfed in flames from the explosion and burned without a chance to escape. These explosions continued to occur.
Boom! Boooom! Bam!
In an instant, six Super Hornets burned down in the air or crashed into the sea in dark red smoke. Some pilots were able to escape. The Rattlesnakes, which had excellent steering power, chased the F-35C Lightning IIs persistently. The F-35C Lightning IIs were hit as well and began to fall.
The 24 CF-21P Red Phoenixes of the 112th Combat Squadron also tried to escape death. They maneuvered with all kinds of techniques to avoid the AIM-120D AMRAAMs. With the pilots’ control abilities and the help of the supercomputers, the Red Phoenixes could avoid the AIM-120D AMRAAMs.
The AIM-120D AMRAAM, equipped with a proximity fuse, automatically exploded when the distance to the target got close. The explosions lit up the dark sky. Whenever that happened, the pilots of the Red Phoenixes tried to avoid the debris with their skills. Some debris passed through the plane. Occasionally, fragments collided with the fuselage of the Red Phoenixes. However, the bodies of Red Phoenixes were wrapped in liquid metal alloys. So, they were hard enough to bounce off a fragment or two.
Some fragments hit the top of the fuselage, spattered powerful sparks, and bounced off. The pilot who saw this opened his eyes wide. He immediately looked at the dashboard. There was no abnormal signal on the display confirming the general abnormality of the main jet fighter. The pilot, reassured, pulled the control lever and continued to perform brilliant maneuvers.
Amidst the splendid fireworks unfolding at an altitude of 5km, a fierce battle was happening on the sea as well.
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February 20, 2021, 22:20
The sea 372km off the north of Okinawa, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan (the location of the 11th Carrier Strike Group of the 3rd Fleet)
The Pat Tillman (DDG-1004) was intercepting by assigning targets to anti-ship missiles of Corea’s combined fleet. In the combat intelligence center of Pat Tillman (DDG-1004), the tactical control officer was commanding all intercept procedures while Captain Matthew Gatney watched.
“Failure to intercept targets one and two! Successfully intercepted targets three to twelve!”
“Assign the targets to the entire fleet for the fourth interception.”
“The Chris Kyle intercept the targets one and two that we failed to intercept previously. The John Paul Jones takes targets thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen.”
The heat of the battle information room was high as dozens of operators checked and reported on the situation in real-time.
“Hey, tactical control officer!” In this situation, Captain Matthew Gatney called the tactical control officer.
“Yes, captain!” he answered.
“Is the location of the enemy ship confirmed?”
“It is on azimuth between 3-4-5 to 3-5-5, and the distance is 262km.”
“Then we shouldn’t just intercept like this. This ship will direct the intercept procedures as it is now and transfer attack authority to our sister ship, the Chris Kyle.”
Shortly thereafter, the 13 cruisers and destroyers that had been intercepting the anti-aircraft missiles under the command of Pat Tillman (DDG-1004) now began the attack. They fired the RGM-84 Harpoons and the RGM-85 Super Harpoons in succession under the command of Chris Kyle (DDG-1005). The missiles soared from the VSL vertical launchers and soared high into the sky.
Four ship-to-ship missiles were launched from each ship. A total of 52 Harpoons and Super Harpoons covered the dark northern sky. They drew white smoke and gradually disappeared, leaving red spots.
At that time, the radar technician, Senior Chief Petty Officer Louis Jackson, shouted while looking at his monitor, “Sir! Four objects believed to be ballistic missiles were detected from an altitude of 7,600km! They are currently falling towards this fleet at speeds above Mach 45.”
“What? Why did you just find that out?” Lieutenant Commander Hursley Baker who was the tactical control officer of the ship shouted at the radar technician.
At this time, Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and Chris Kyle (DDG-1005) also linked detection information as they detected the objects falling from space.
“How much time is left until the landing?”
“It’s 8 minutes and 27 seconds.”
Eight minutes was not enough time to avoid missiles using evasion maneuver.