Chapter 203
February 5th, 2021, 03:35
Seoul Yongsan-ku B2 bunker (ROK military joint command center)
Above the Kyushu skies, the mass aerial battle was over. The joint chief of staff had decided to conduct the landing operation on Japan earlier than scheduled and gave the order to the naval strategic command.
The reason the joint chief of staff made the decision was based on the results of the fierce aerial battle between the two nations. Japan had sent out 50% of their aerial forces to defend Kyushu, despite it not being a key area like Honshu was. However, the destruction of the land anti-air forces in the area had made them unable to use the advantage of fighting from the home skies.
Also, the difference in the specifications of the fighter jets played a role as well. The Corean air force had converted the black phoenix jets’ arms to air-to-air weapons to compensate for their lower numbers. Only 50 jets out of the 300 deployed by the Japanese air force made it back to base.
The aerial and naval forces that were tasked with defending the shores and skies of Kyushu and Honshu were mostly destroyed. Only the 1st escorting fleet and a few local military forces were left to defend the area. Therefore, the joint chief of staff had concluded that they would be able to conduct the landing operation earlier than scheduled.
At the Incheon naval base’s port, the 10th landing fleet’s amphibious vessels and logistical ships were busy loading the equipment and materials of the 2nd and 3rd marine division while being protected by the 2nd fleet.
Also, before the landing operation was to take place, the air force had planned to strike the Honshu area for the second time. Each fighter wing was busy making preparations, while the 15th and 19th fighter wing was equipping the CBS/A-30P Blue Dragon bomber’s exterior and interior weaponry.
* * *
February 5th, 2021, 03:40
The seas 215km east from Ulsan (Chungmugong Lee Sun-Shin’s location (CG-1101))
The battle between the Zumwalt fleet and the Chungmugong Lee Sun-Shin (CG-1101) involving cannons and missiles was becoming fiercer as time went on.
The 4th Zumwalt destroyer Anderwoody was half sunk, while the other three Zumwalt destroyers were busy launching the Super Harpoon missiles. The Chungmugong Lee Sun-Shin (CG-1101) had entered into the interception phase by launching their Sea Sky Dragon (GTAS-300) ship-to-air missiles before retaliating with their more powerful Avarice (SSM-1000K) hypersonic ship-to-ship cruise missiles.
“Target 1 successfully intercepted! Target 2’s interception successful! Target 3 failed, target 4 successful.”
“We are entering the second interception attempt, sir.”
“All four missiles for the second interception attempt have been launched, sir.”
The operators were busy reporting results as the Hocula super computer automatically acted to make the interceptions. Captain Ahn Yoon-Joon, who was observing the ongoings, tilted his head and spoke.
“That’s odd. No matter how powerful the Zumwalt destroyer’s radars are, it’s strange that they can detect a target 100km away and launch attacks!”
Captain Ahn stroked his forehead for a moment to think, then gave a direct order to the radar operator.
“Are there any Japanese naval reconnaissance planes within 300km from our location?”
“Yes, sir. There are two naval reconnaissance planes 258km from us flying at inner Honshu.”
“258km... Then those would not be able to detect our location as well...”
“Yes, captain. If they were to detect our vessel’s location, the planes would have to be at least 50km from our positions.”
“It’s bugging me! Set the reconnaissance planes as targets as well.”
“Yes, sir.”
The automatic 68 cell K-VLS-III (Vertical Launch System) launched two rounds of Sea Sky Dragon missiles, and they flew southeast unlike the other ones, and soon disappeared into the sky.
“Sixty-seven seconds away from reaching the 1st P-3C plane, sixty-eight seconds from reaching the second P-3C plane, sir.”
The two P-3C naval reconnaissance planes immediately descended to make evasive maneuvers against the unexpected missile strikes, but they were unable to avoid the hypersonic Sky Sea Dragon missiles flying at Mach 10.
A moment later, the radar operator reported in.
“Both planes have been struck down, captain.”
Captain Ahn Yoon-Joon asked the radar operator again.
“Is our vessel still being detected by the enemy?”
“Yes, captain. We are still being detected by the enemy.”
“Radar operator!”
“Yes, captain!”
“There’s something near us! Check for any disruptive radio waves within a 100km radius!”
“We will increase the output of our scans, sir.”
The radar operators all increased their range and began to check every radar screen thoroughly. A few minutes later, one of the operators raised his hand and shouted.
“I found it, sir. Azimuth 0-9-2, distance 55km, altitude of 11km.”
“Disruptive waves?”
“Yes, sir. It is very powerful.”
“Contact the Apollo mission control! The source! Have the data link us the source’s exact location and scanned information!”
“Yes, sir.”
When something was caught on the radar as Captain Ahn Yoon-Joon expected, his eyes lit up and he clenched his fists. The reports from the operators within the battle station continued to pour in.
“Second interception missiles, targets 6, 7, 8, and 9 were all successful!”
“The enemy vessels launched a second wave of missiles, sir. There are eight rounds in total. They are all the same type of missiles from the first wave. They are 51 seconds from impact and traveling at Mach 8.”
“We are launching the 3rd wave of interception missiles, sir.”
The battle station was full of reports from the operators that it felt like a night market, and Captain Ahn Yoon-Joon watched the scene while leaning on the console.
“Captain! Please take a look at the battle screen. It’s the data from the Apollo 2 satellite’s scans.”
The screen stationed at the center showed the data link coming from the Apollo 2 reconnaissance satellite. From the screen, eight faint objects within a 4km radius were found, and they emitted powerful disruptive waves. A moment later, footage of the objects taken with the photo optic lens showed up.
“Based on our analysis, it seems to be F-35B jets and the EA-18GE Growler electromagnetic fighter jets, sir.”
The radar operator analyzed the data with the friend or foe database and reported to the captain.
“The Growler jets are that powerful? No matter! Arms man! Do we have the data linked with the Apollo 2 satellite?”
“Yes, we are currently synchronized with the satellite, captain.”
“Commence the attack! Fire two rounds of the Haegung missiles for each jet.”
“Yes, sir. Allotting two Haegung missiles to each target.”
Despite the powerful disruptive waves, the Hocula radar and the Apollo satellite were able to faintly detect the Japanese jets, and eight missiles were launched for them. Then, four additional Sky Sea Dragon missiles were launched as well.
* * *
February 5th, 2021, 03:45
The seas 18km southeast from Japan’s Oki Island (the Zumwalt destroyer fleet’s location)
“Admiral! It’s the arms man, sir.”
“What is it?”
“The thing is... The enemy vessel has vanished from our radar, sir.”
“Are you saying that we are unable to detect them on our radars?”
“Yes, sir.”
Admiral Yamamoto Genzur stayed calm despite the shocking report and ordered the communications operator.
“Communications operator! Contact the Isei and 11th flight wing’s commanders!”
“Yes, sir.”
“What are you waiting for? Contact them now!”
“Sir! We are unable to reach them.”
“What about the Growler flight wing?”
“Yes! It’s the same, sir.”
“What?! Have they been struck down?”
Five minutes ago, the Isei flight wing’s F-35B jets and the EA-18GE Growler jets under the 11th flight wing was detected by the Apollo 2 satellite’s radars. When the Chungmugong Lee Sun-Shin (CG-1101) repeatedly launched its Haegung missiles, they were shot down from the sky.
Admiral Yamamoto Genzur sensed something was wrong and gave an order through the fleet communication line.
-All vessels set the ECM output to maximum, and set azimuth to 0-8-5 and full turn portside! We move away from these waters at full speed.
-Vessel 2, yes, sir.
-Vessel 4, under....
Booooom!
Outside the bridge’s window, the Anderwoody destroyer was engulfed in flames and lit up the night. It seemed to have been struck by at least two ship-to-ship missiles. As if to confirm this hunch, the battle station reported in.
“The Anderwoody, vessel number 4 has been struck directly by the enemy missiles.”
Boom~ Boom~ Boom~
There seemed to be an internal explosion occurring within the Anderwoody, and after a few more explosions, it split into many pieces. Then, the ship began to sink slowly into the dark, cold ocean. The Anderwoody, which continued to battle after being struck by cannon rounds, had met its fate after being hit three more times by the enemy’s missiles.
“We are detecting additional cannon rounds. 4, 5, 6 rounds, they are increasing. The first round is 45 seconds away from impact!”
“Sixteen rounds of ship-to-ship missiles have been launched simultaneously. Eight are hypersonic missiles, while the other eight are supersonic missiles. They are 48 seconds away from impact, sir.”
“We deal with the hypersonic missiles first. Launch the SM-7 missiles! Retaliate with our SM-2 missiles for the supersonic missiles and use the CIWS 32MJ rail guns for the cannon rounds.”
The Chungmugong Lee Sun-Shin (CG-1101) transitioned into the offensive and must have decided to put an end to this battle since they continued to pour missiles and cannon fire towards them.
On the other hand, the two Zumwalt destroyers that could not detect the Chungmugong Lee Sun-Shin (CG-1101) on their radars turned left and moved at full speed to leave the area. Then, they launched their SM-7 anti-air missiles from their vertical launch pads while the 32MJ class railguns continued to fire interception bullets. The southeastern skies where the interception rounds headed off to filled with flashes of light.
However, vessel number 2 the Michael Monsoor was hit by the enemy’s Avarice hypersonic ship to ship missiles at its rear. It was too busy defending the other vessels and ended up being unable to intercept the missiles headed towards it.
The shockwave from the momentum and explosion had caused the entire rear of the ship to be torn off. When the water began to pour in, the ship began to sink rapidly while leaning portside and the bottom shot up to the surface.
Creaaaaaak~
When the angle of the vessel was at about 30 degrees, the crew began to abandon ship immediately. However, the Chungmugong Lee Sun-Shin (CG-1101) did not allow the enemy to retreat peacefully. The Michael Monsoor, which had lost its ability to defend itself from incoming missiles, was hit once again by four plasma cluster rounds and one more Avarice missile. It was as if a boxer was punching an already downed opponent repeatedly.
Booom~ Boom~ Bang~ Booom~
The Michael Monsoor was torn into dozens of pieces from the numerous explosions before it could sink into the ocean. Admiral Yamamoto Genzur, who was looking at the scene from the bridge of his own Zumwalt destroyer, bit hard on his lower lip.
“Damn it! We have been had by the enemy once again!”
He wiped the blood off his lip with his sleeves and closed his eyes.
This naval battle that lasted for over two hours resulted in the Chungmugong Lee Sun-Shin (CG-1101) to be victorious once again. Corea’s joint fleet did sustain heavy losses, but the Japanese navy had lost all of its 4th escorting fleet and three Zumwalt destroyers. Based on either numbers or power, this battle was Corea’s victory.
For Japan’s navy, no more vessels were left to defend the eastern seas except for the Zumwalt destroyer headed back to Maizuru port. Also, the Japanese submarine forces, which had been silently moving under the depths were all detected by the Poseidon ocean satellite and struck down by the supercavitating torpedoes. The Japanese submarines were no longer able to continue their infiltration with their lives on the line and disappeared from the southern and eastern seas.
As a result, the east and south seas could be considered as Corea’s sole territories. Since the path was clear in the air and the sea heading towards Kyushu, the joint chief of staff now had a footing to begin their landing operation.
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