Chapter 67 The Eagles of the Empire

September 13, 1903, Jilin, the capital of Jilin Province in the Chinese Empire.

The early morning mist has not completely dissipated. In the vast flat land surrounded by high walls and iron wires in the north of Jilin City, dozens of huge light gray buildings stand. These buildings resemble factory buildings, but they have no chimneys and have openings in the front and rear.

Large sliding door.

Looking down from thousands of meters in the air, you can see that these buildings are divided into two rows, with a large open space in the middle. On the open space are more than a dozen iron towers with a height of 30 meters. There are many pulleys and other machinery on the top of the towers. Each building

Each building has a cement road leading to a certain iron tower, and another cement road leading to the open grassland at the other end.

The official military name for these buildings is: Aerospace Vehicle Maintenance Storage Depots, often referred to as airship depots.

As the fog gradually weakened, the door of an airship hangar marked with "01" slowly slid open to both sides. A group of people holding dozens of thick ropes laboriously moved outside the door. The gray people behind the ropes

The "sexual" monster, bit by bit, piece by piece, piece by piece, slowly reveals its true appearance.

A huge cigar-shaped body with a golden dragon painted on the surface, four double-layer tail fins made of canvas and steel pipes, four steel five-blade propellers with a diameter of more than three meters, and a long egg with a row of small portholes.

A semi-embedded pod - this is the empire's most terrifying aerial weapon - the FTG-3 "Qiangyun" large attack airship.

The "Qiangyun" airship is provided with lift by sixteen large airbags filled with helium. The airbags are contained in a structural hard shell with a triangular steel frame. The driving force comes from 4 Taipei Beiyang Heavy Industries hk-10a 300-horsepower aeroengines, driving 4

Five-blade propeller, maximum speed 70 kilometers per hour, semi-enclosed pod, limited to 6 people, ceiling 6,000 meters, equipped with 2 self-defense machine guns. It has a large bomb bay and two external bomb racks, with a maximum bomb load of 8 tons

, the range when carrying 5 tons of bombs is 1,600 kilometers. Production was finalized in 1902. By August 1903, there were 12 boats of this type equipped with the army, with an average cost of each boat of about 800,000 yuan (130,000 pounds).

People continued to pull this huge monster to an open grassland opposite the airship hangar. This grassland also has its official military name - the aerospace vehicle departure ground, usually called the take-off field, and between the two rows of airship hangars

The open space with a long row of iron towers is called the landing site, and its official name is: aerospace vehicle landing and recovery site. In the distance from the take-off site, there are several criss-crossed flattened runways, near the runways.

There are also some small warehouses. On the large flat ground near the warehouses are parked rows of large birds with double-decker wings. These ugly structures are made of wood chips, iron nails, canvas, steel ropes, propellers and exposed engines.

Birds have to feel ashamed in front of the majestic, graceful and gorgeous large airships. They have no reason to be proud. Although their flight speed is dozens of kilometers faster than the airship, they have many faults and leave idle time.

It is short, can carry few people and items, and once the engine loses power, the aircraft usually turns into a pile of garbage. Even if all the engines are damaged, the airship can still stay in the air with the help of its own buoyancy, and then slowly release the gas in the air bag.

to achieve a safe landing.

This is the largest aviation floating base in the empire. It has 26 medium-sized airship hangars and 12 large airship hangars. It also has 4 pairs of runways in different directions, equipped with 50 simple hangars and 5 first-level maintenance hangars.

, an aircraft assembly plant and an aircraft overhaul plant.

The official name here is the Army Jilin Air Floating Base, with the Ministry of National Defense number lakj-02. After the imperial government announced the general mobilization, the base served as the main standby base for the aviation floating group directly under the Northeast Front Army Headquarters and received a large force.

air force.

According to the regulations on aviation aerospace forces promulgated in June 1901, the official organization of the army and navy aviation aerospace forces is aviation aerospace groups, groups, squadrons, squads, crews, and support units such as aviation aerospace engineering battalions and service battalions.

An aviation group generally has 2 to 3 groups under its jurisdiction. The group has more than 2 squadrons under its jurisdiction, the squadron has more than 2 squadrons under its jurisdiction, and the squadron has more than 2 crews under its jurisdiction.

In addition, each army division is equipped with an air balloon company, equipped with 3 airborne reconnaissance balloons and 6 airborne school launch balloons.

By the beginning of September 1903, the aviation aerospace group under the direct jurisdiction of the Northeast Front Army Headquarters was under the jurisdiction of the 1st Aviation Group, the 1st and 2nd aerospace groups, the independent 91st Aviation School's Shooting Squadron, the 1st Aviation Engineer Battalion, the 1st and 2nd Aerospace Groups.

, 3rd and 4th Aerospace Engineer Battalion, 1st Aviation Service Battalion, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Aerospace Service Battalion.

The 1st Aviation Group includes the 1st Aviation Reconnaissance Group, the 1st Aviation Bombing Group and the 88th and 89th Aviation Reconnaissance Squadrons. The 1st Aviation Reconnaissance Group has 30 "Cangfeng" single-seat reconnaissance aircraft, and the 2nd Aviation Bombing Group has 30 aircraft

"Qingfeng" light bomber, the 88th Air Reconnaissance Squadron is equipped with 10 "Fire Wind" two-seat reconnaissance aircraft, and the 89th Air Reconnaissance Squadron is equipped with 10 "Gale" reconnaissance liaison aircraft. The standby base is in Jilin.

The 1st Floating Group includes the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Attack Brigades. The 1st Attack Group is equipped with 12 "Qiangyun" large attack airships, and the 2nd and 3rd Attack Groups are each equipped with 12 "Ziyun" medium-sized attack airships. Standby base

In Jilin, the first departure base is in Qiqihar, the second departure base is in Mudanjiang, and the third departure base is in Manzhouli.

The 2nd Floating Group includes the 4th Attack Brigade and the 1st and 2nd Reconnaissance School's Shooting Brigades. The 4th Attack Group is equipped with 8 "Qingyun" light attack airships, and its standby base is in Jilin. The 1st Reconnaissance School's Shooting Brigade is equipped with

"Shengyun" reconnaissance airship and "Shengyun J" artillery school 'shooting' airship 4 each, the standby base is in Manzhouli. The 2nd Reconnaissance School 'shooting' brigade is equipped with "Pingyun" reconnaissance airship and "Pingyun J" artillery school

There are 4 "shooting" airships each, and the standby base is in Mudanjiang.

The 91st independent aviation school's gunnery squadron is equipped with 10 "Qingfeng J" artillery school gunnery aircraft. The standby base is in Mudanjiang.

There are a total of 80 aircraft and 60 airships.

In fact, each field army under the Northeast Front Army is also equipped with aviation aerospace groups of varying sizes to provide close air support for frontline troops. The equipment of the aviation aerospace groups directly under the jurisdiction of each field army is as follows:

The aviation floating group directly under the jurisdiction of the Guards Field Army Headquarters:

It has the 2nd Aviation Reconnaissance and Bombing Group, the 10th Aerial Reconnaissance School's Shooting Group, the 86th Aviation Reconnaissance Squadron, the 92nd Independent Aviation School's Shooting Squadron, the 2nd Aviation Engineer Battalion, the 2nd Aviation Service Battalion, the 5th

Floating service camp.

The 2nd Reconnaissance and Bombing Group is equipped with 10 "Cangfeng" single-seat reconnaissance aircraft, 10 "Firewind" two-seat reconnaissance aircraft and 10 "Qingfeng" light bombers. The standby base is in Aihun.

The 10th Aerial Reconnaissance School's Shooting Brigade has four "Shengyun" reconnaissance airships and four "Shengyun J" artillery school's shooting airships. The standby base is in Nenjiang.

The 86th Aviation Reconnaissance Squadron is equipped with 10 "Gale" reconnaissance liaison aircraft. The standby base is in Nenjiang.

The 92nd independent aviation school's gunnery squadron is equipped with 10 "Qingfeng J" artillery school gunners. The standby base is in Aihun.

There are a total of 50 aircraft and 8 airships.

The aviation aerospace group directly under the First Field Army Headquarters:

It has jurisdiction over the 3rd Aviation Reconnaissance Group, the independent 93rd Aviation School Shooting Squadron, the 25th Aerial Reconnaissance School Shooting Squadron, the 3rd Aviation Engineer Battalion, the 24th Aviation Service Company, and the 25th Aerial Service Company.

The 3rd Air Reconnaissance Group is equipped with 10 "Cyclone" single-seat reconnaissance aircraft and 10 "Firewind" two-seat reconnaissance aircraft.

The 25th Aerial Reconnaissance School Shooting Squadron is equipped with two "Shengyun" reconnaissance airships and two "Shengyun J" school shooting aircraft.

The independent 93rd Aviation School's gunnery squadron is equipped with 4 "Hokaze J" and "Harukaze J" artillery school gunners each.

There are a total of 28 aircraft and 4 airships. The standby bases are all in Manzhouli.

The aviation aerospace group directly under the Second Field Army Headquarters:

It has the 87th Aviation Reconnaissance Squadron, the 96th Aviation Reconnaissance School's Shooting Squadron, the 23rd Aerial Reconnaissance School's Shooting Squadron, the 27th Aviation Service Company, and the 26th Aerial Service Company.

The 87th Aviation Reconnaissance Squadron is equipped with 10 "Cyclone" single-seat reconnaissance aircraft, and its standby base is in Fujin.

The 96th Aviation School Shooting Squadron is equipped with 4 "Cangfeng" single-seat reconnaissance aircraft and 4 "Huofeng J" artillery school shooting aircraft. The standby base is in Raohe.

The 23rd Aerial Reconnaissance School's Shooting Squadron is equipped with 2 "Feiyun" reconnaissance airships and 2 "Shengyun J" School's Shooting' airships. The standby base is in Fujin.

There are a total of 18 aircraft and 4 airships.

The aviation aerospace group directly under the jurisdiction of the Third Field Army Headquarters:

It has jurisdiction over the 4th Aviation Reconnaissance Group, the 11th Aerial Reconnaissance School Shooting Group, the 97th Aerial Reconnaissance School Shooting Squadron, the 4th Aviation Engineer Battalion, the 3rd Aviation Service Battalion, and the 6th Aerial Service Battalion.

The 4th Aviation Reconnaissance Group is equipped with 10 "Cyclone" single-seat reconnaissance aircraft, 10 "Cangfeng" single-seat reconnaissance aircraft and 10 "Firewind" two-seat reconnaissance aircraft. The standby base is in Dongning.

The 11th Aerial Reconnaissance School's Shooting Brigade is equipped with 2 "Feiyun" reconnaissance airships, 2 "Shengyun" reconnaissance airships, 2 "Shengyun J" artillery school's shooting airships and 2 "Pingyun J"

The school shoots airships. The standby base is in Hunchun.

The 97th Aviation Reconnaissance School Shooting Squadron is equipped with 4 "Gale" reconnaissance liaison aircraft and 4 "Qingfeng J" artillery school shooting aircraft. The standby base is in Hunchun.

There are a total of 38 aircraft and 8 airships.

In total, the Northeast Front Army was equipped with 214 aircraft and 84 airships. At that time, there were a total of 280 combat aircraft and 90 combat airships belonging to the army nationwide. It can be seen that the base camp has assigned most of the combat power of the aviation aerospace force to the Northeast.

Front Army, in view of the decisive role of the Northeast Front Army in the entire Sino-Russian War, such an assignment seems natural.

In addition to the Northeastern Front Army, the rest of the Army's aviation aerospace combat forces are organized into two aviation aerospace groups. One of the aviation aerospace groups is directly under the jurisdiction of the base camp and serves as the general reserve of the aviation aerospace force. The other group is assigned to the Mongolian Front Army.

To enhance the front's reconnaissance capabilities in a vast theater environment.

The specific configurations of these two aviation floating groups are as follows:

The aviation aerospace group (general reserve) under the direct jurisdiction of the base camp: It has jurisdiction over the 5th Aviation Reconnaissance and Bombing Group, the 98th Aviation Reconnaissance School's Shooting Squadron, the 100th Special Aviation Squadron, the 21st Aerial Reconnaissance School's Shooting Squadron, the 5th

Aviation Engineer Battalion, 4th Aviation Service Battalion, 31st Aerial Service Company.

The 5th Aviation Reconnaissance and Bombing Group is equipped with 10 "Cangfeng" single-seat reconnaissance aircraft and 20 "Harukaze" light bombers.

The 98th Aviation Reconnaissance School Shooting Squadron is equipped with 4 "Fire Wind" two-seat reconnaissance aircraft and 4 "Harukaze J" school shooting aircraft.

The 100th Special Aviation Squadron is equipped with 5 "Gale GL" two-seat liaison aircraft and 5 "Harekaze L" three-seat liaison aircraft.

The 21st Aerial Reconnaissance School's Shooting Squadron is equipped with 2 "Pingyun" reconnaissance airships and 2 "Pingyun J" school's shooting' airships.

There are a total of 46 aircraft and 4 airships. The standby bases are all in Changping, the capital.

The aviation aerospace group directly under the Mongolian Front has jurisdiction over the 85th Aviation Reconnaissance Squadron, the 99th Aviation Reconnaissance School Shooting Squadron, the 112th Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron, the 30th Aviation Service Company, and the 29th Aerial Service Company.

The 85th Aviation Reconnaissance Squadron is equipped with 10 "Cangfeng" single-seat reconnaissance aircraft.

The 99th Aviation Reconnaissance School Shooting Squadron is equipped with 4 "Fire Wind" two-seat reconnaissance aircraft and 4 "Harukaze J" school shooting aircraft.

The 112th Aerial Reconnaissance Team is equipped with 2 "Pingyun" reconnaissance airships.

There are a total of 18 aircraft and 2 airships. The standby bases are all in Kulun (Ulaanbaatar).

In addition to the Army, the Navy also has its own aviation aerospace force. The Marine Corps has 10 aerospace balloon companies. The Navy Headquarters and the Sanyo Fleet each have an aviation aerospace group directly under their jurisdiction. By the end of August 1903, all aviation aerospace units of the Navy

The specific configuration of the floating group is as follows:

The aviation floating group under the direct jurisdiction of the Naval Command:

It has jurisdiction over the 1st Aviation Reconnaissance School's Shooting Group, the 2nd Aviation Reconnaissance and Bombing Group, the 3rd Aerial Reconnaissance and Bombing Group, the 10th Naval Engineering Battalion, the 1st Naval Aviation Service Battalion, and the 1st Naval Aerial Service Battalion.

The 1st Aviation Reconnaissance and Reconnaissance School Shooting Brigade is equipped with 10 "Zhedian" water reconnaissance aircraft and 10 "Zhedian J" school shooting aircraft. The standby base is in Weihaiwei.
To be continued...