pappabearbooks Chapter 188 The Same Feeling
Chapter 188 The Same Feeling
"Sir," Kuroshima approached him, her voice soft, "what are you thinking about?"
Kato lowered his hand without turning around: "I was wondering if Commander-in-Chief Togo had the same feelings when he faced the Russian fleet in the Tsushima Strait ten years ago."
"Commander-in-Chief Togo has won a great victory."
"Yes, he won." Kato turned around and looked at Kuroshima. "But do you know why he won? It's not just because of his superior tactics, not just because of the soldiers' bravery, but also because the Russian fleet had come from afar and was exhausted, while we were well-rested and had the advantage of terrain."
He walked to the chart table and pointed to the designated ambush position: "Now the situation is reversed. We are the ones who have traveled a long way, while the Lanfang is waiting in ambush. Moreover, we are not facing an old Russian warship, but one of the most advanced battlecruisers in the world."
Kuroshima remained silent. He knew his superior was telling the truth, but as chief of staff, he had to boost morale, not dampen it.
"Sir, we also have advantages." He organized his thoughts. "First, we have the element of surprise. The Fuxing didn't know we would deploy four capital ships. Second, we have a numerical advantage. Four against one, our firepower is overwhelming. Third, the battlefield we chose has sea fog and poor visibility, which is more advantageous for us who are familiar with the local waters."
Kato listened and slowly nodded: "You're right. But we can't underestimate our opponent. Lin Hai... I've studied his information."
He pulled a file out of the folder, on which was pasted a photo of Lin Haisheng—a Chinese military officer with a resolute face.
"I asked a fellow countryman to immigrate to Lanfang later, and he became one of the first naval officers. Three years ago, he commanded a submarine reconnaissance mission in the Mediterranean, and six months ago he was transferred to be the captain of the Fuxing." Kato read from the file, "The Naval Academy's evaluation is: calm, decisive, and able to maintain clear judgment under pressure."
He tossed the file back onto the table: "An opponent like this won't easily fall into a trap. And even if he does, he won't be easily devoured."
"So you mean...?"
"What I mean is," Kato's eyes sharpened, "tell all the captains not to underestimate the enemy. The first salvo must be all-out, aiming to severely damage or even sink the target. If the first salvo fails, immediately prepare for the second and third salvos. Don't give the enemy any chance to breathe."
"clear!"
The Kongo sailed out of the harbor and into the open sea. The other three Kongo-class ships also set sail one after another and assembled at their designated positions. Cruisers and destroyers formed an escort formation on the outer perimeter, and the entire fleet resembled a giant sea arrow pointing southwest.
Kato glanced at his watch: 5:10. According to the plan, they would arrive at the designated ambush position three days later, on the morning of August 4th.
"Send a telegram to Tokyo," he ordered. "'Sakura' has set off."
Dubai time, 8:00 AM.
Chen Feng didn't sleep a wink that night. He stood in front of the electronic nautical chart in the command center, looking at the latest updated information.
The red dot representing the Fuxing bullet train has crossed the central South China Sea and is moving towards the Taiwan Strait. The four blue dots representing the Bismarck formation are maintaining a concealed formation forty nautical miles behind the Fuxing.
The latest to appear are a dozen or so yellow dots – the Japanese Combined Fleet departing from Yokosuka, Kure, and Sasebo.
"Confirmed," Zhou Tieshan said, standing beside him with the newly translated telegram in his hand. "Our submarine observers reported that between 4:30 and 5:00 AM this morning, large fleets departed from all four major Japanese naval ports. The Kongo and Hiei departed from Yokosuka, while four cruisers and eight destroyers departed from Sasebo. Two cruisers also departed from Maizuru Port."
Li Te quickly marked this information on the nautical chart: "Total strength: four battleships, six cruisers, and eight destroyers. It's almost the entire main force of the Combined Fleet."
"Not almost, but all of them," Chen Feng corrected. "The Kongo-class is Japan's newest and strongest warship, and they've deployed them all at once. It seems they're determined to take down the Fuxing in one fell swoop."
A few seconds of silence fell over the command center. Everyone knew what four Kongo-class destroyers meant—they represented the core strength of a nation's navy, a mission that risked the nation's very existence.
"President," Little's voice was a little hoarse, "should we turn the Fuxing around? Or at least, let the Bismarck formation get a little closer? At a distance of forty nautical miles, if the Japanese fleet suddenly appears, the Fuxing might not be able to hold out until reinforcements arrive."
Chen Feng did not answer immediately. He walked to the control panel and pulled up the weather map of the East China Sea.
"Take a look at this," he said, pointing to the screen. "According to the weather forecast, from August 4th to 5th, there will be dense fog in the sea area near 125 degrees east longitude and 28 degrees north latitude, and the visibility may be less than three nautical miles."
"Dense fog..." Zhou Tieshan frowned. "It's a double-edged sword for both sides. It's not conducive to observation and aiming, but it's also not conducive to concealment."
"But it's even more disadvantageous for the attacking side," Chen Feng analyzed. "In dense fog, the accuracy of long-range artillery fire will decrease significantly. If the Japanese fleet wants to ensure a hit rate, it must get close to 10,000 meters or even closer. And that distance..."
He pulled up the performance data of the Fuxing: "The Fuxing's 381mm main guns can penetrate the main armor belt of the Kongo-class destroyers at a range of 10,000 meters. In other words, in dense fog, the chances for both sides are equal. In fact, because the Fuxing has stronger firepower per ship, it may have an advantage in close-range combat."
Li Te's eyes lit up: "So the Japanese fleet chose to launch an attack in the dense fog to approach covertly. But they didn't expect that this would actually level the technological gap between the two sides."
"Not only that." Chen Feng walked to the nautical chart and drew a circle around the location of the Fuxing. "Tell Lin Hai that when passing through the designated sea area on August 4, if they encounter dense fog, they should slow down and even linger at the edge of the fog. Give the Japanese the feeling that 'the prey is right in front of them,' and lure them into attacking."
"But what if the Japanese don't attack?" Zhou Tieshan asked.
"Then let's continue on to Qingdao," Chen Feng replied simply. "But if I were Kato Tomosaburo, I would definitely launch an attack. Because he has mobilized the main force of the entire Combined Fleet, he can't possibly return empty-handed. Besides, dense fog doesn't happen every day; if we miss this opportunity, we might have to wait a long time."
He paused, then continued, "But just to be on the safe side, we need to add another layer of insurance."
You mean...