Chapter 174 Plank Road-Panama (III)

The flagship of the mobile fleet, "Dapeng".

In the pilot standby room below the island, dozens of naval pilots are receiving missions.

"Why is it a mine?"

Qi Bing raised her hand to ask a question in confusion. After she released her ponytail from the lockdown room, she cut off her ponytail and replaced it with cheerful short hair with ears, which was very fresh and lovely.

The captain Cai Yong was so shocked that he touched his bare and shining head: "Then, Lieutenant Qi, what do you think?"

"Because...because knowing that the existing torpedoes and bombs are useless?"

"clever. "

"But, how do you know if you don't try it?"

"clever. "

"That……"

"Our mission is not to destroy the canal," Cai Yong smiled slightly, "know why?"

"Because..." Qi Bing blinked and was stunned.

"I don't know, this is a secret." Cai Yong shrugged and smiled, immediately put on a serious look, "Listen to everyone, the key to the success of this mission is to maintain formation. Under any circumstances, it is strictly forbidden to leave the formation and act without authorization. Emotional and personal heroism are thrown into the sea. Do you understand?"

"clear!"

Qi Bing knew that the captain's words were pointing, and blushed and shrank his neck.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you this time."

Cai Guolan, who was standing beside him, whispered in Qi Bing's ear.

"Sister Cai..." Qi Bing unconsciously shrank his cat's paws.

"Follower, the war in the formation was to protect the ship attack. I agreed that I would fall again this time, don't come. This time, no army landed, and the plane would be completely destroyed if it fell."

"What if I fall..." Qi Bing looked at Cai Guolan pitifully.

"'Suicide'." Cai Guolan was stern. "War is not a game. If you really can't escape that time on Oahu, I made up my mind to kill you and then 'suicide'. Can you imagine what happens when we fall into the hands of Americans?"

"cannot……"

"You are really - you won't cry until you see the coffin!" Cai Guolan turned her head angrily.

"Sister Cai, don't do this, I'll just commit suicide..."

Cai Guolan was completely speechless.

On the other hand, in the air bridge on the uppermost level of the island, Lieutenant General Liang Shuming, commander of the mobile fleet, silently looked at Panama Bay in the dark, and felt uneasy.

The training of aircraft carrier troops before the war was focused on attacking enemy ships, and they had never systematically trained how to attack large ground targets like the canal. Moreover, according to the information already mastered, the Panama Canal was excavated in rocky mountains, and the river channel was extremely strong. The Gravity Dam-type Gatong Dam was made of reinforced concrete dozens of meters thick, and the steel lock was more than one meter thick. It far exceeded the power of the main attack weapons of the "Owl Eagle" ship attack - 450mm aerial torpedo and 250kg aerial bombs.

In this way, like Zhang Liang burning the plank road, the possibility of destroying the canal in one breath is very slim.

Fortunately, the goal of the "plank road" operation is not to completely destroy the canal, but to "make it unavailable within two to three months" and delay the US Navy's reinforcements to the West Coast. So that our army in Hawaii can focus on carrying out various fortifications - especially the shipwreck cleaning operations that restore the functions of Pearl Harbor and Honolulu Port.

The Rahana anchorage, which runs through the sea, is not a place where the resident fleet has lived for a long time. On the one hand, it is difficult to defend against enemy attacks, and on the other hand, the ship's supply operation efficiency is low and susceptible to wind and waves, so the combat effectiveness of the resident fleet will be greatly reduced.

By relying solely on landing ships to rush to transport the landing ships, it is impossible to establish a so-called "aircraft fortress" with Oahu as the core. The strengthening of Hawaii's defense also depends on the early opening of the port.

On the other hand, since the strategic intention of the base camp to seize Hawaii is to use it as a "magnet" to attract American power, completely destroying the Panama Canal is obviously contrary to this strategy. If the United States temporarily gives up counterattacking Hawaii because the canal was destroyed, and it will turn to the strategy of first Europe and then Asia. The pressure from Germany and Austria will greatly increase. If Germany and Austria are quickly destroyed, the East Asian Alliance must not have gone far...

It cannot be destroyed. It cannot be destroyed, so it has to be blocked.

The risk of battleship troops approaching blockade is too high, and there is also a problem with supply. The General Staff ruled out this item as early as the weapons deduction stage.

Liang Shuming personally tends to blockade with submarines, but the chief of staff, who was born in the army, said lightly: "Submarines need to be sent, and aircraft carriers must also contribute. For mine laying, a ship attack squadron is headed by one submarine, and there are 18 ship attack squadrons on four aircraft carriers. Our Earth-Whale-headed ocean submarine ships have only less than 20. Besides, after the submarine is deployed, it has to run thousands of nautical miles to replenish. How far does the aircraft run? It is much more convenient."

It's not unreasonable. However, Liang Shuming was determined to annihilate the enemy fleet and prove that his aircraft carrier unit was the real main force of the navy. He could not be interested in the "miscellaneous things" that were neither majestic nor brave.

"The mobile fleet should keep working hard and chase San Diego in one go, and then destroy the enemy ships that escaped Pearl Harbor. If the remnants of the enemy fleet are not in San Diego, search along the west coast, and explore each port one by one, regardless of the invincible ships, so as to truly stimulate the United States and force them to use their main force to defend the local area."

After the Hawaii battle, Liang Shuming explained the above thoughts to Commander Sa Zhenbing in person.

Commander Sa replied: "There are five hundred special airdrop mines on the transport ship over there. Load your ship and drive to Panama Bay. Before being discovered by the enemy, throw it into the designated waters of the planned area, and the plank road combat will be completed."

"Can you raid the West Coast later?"

"I will generate electricity for you and it is expected to converge in the waters of Guadalupe."

Guadalupe Island, about 160 nautical miles from the California Peninsula, belongs to Mexico, 300 nautical miles from Los Angeles to the north, 1,800 nautical miles from Hawaii to the west, 3,800 nautical miles from Panama to the south, and regular liner routes from the west coast of the United States to the east coast are passing between the island and the California Peninsula.

"What the commander-in-chief means is to take action personally and pack up the remaining American warships?"

"It can be said that since we have reached this point, we are unwilling to not shoot a few shots in the mainland of the United States before returning to the flight. Next, I know your thoughts very well. Actually, I don't want to have a dignified battle with the American fleet? This is our last chance, so take it seriously."

Liang Shuming remembered that he was too excited when he saluted and lifted his military cap away.

What is Panama? What is it about throwing water mines? Attacking military ports and eliminating enemy ships is the main business of the mobile fleet!

Block the Panama Canal? Wrong, the core of this mission should be to destroy the enemy fleet guarding Panama! The first three waves of aircraft should all be torpedoes and bombs, and all the enemy fleets were killed. What can you do casually?

The key to the problem is where the enemy fleet is... Isn't it still as stupid as Pearl Harbor and died in the harbor and wait for the bombing?
Chapter completed!