Although the German submarine force is well-known and has scared the British-American alliance, in comparison, the Austro-Hungarian Navy had already caught up with their German counterparts in submarine technology during World War I. During World War II, the Austro-Hungarian Navy was even slightly ahead of their allies in many submarine technology, and with their support, the Chinese Navy also made great progress in submarine construction.

In the early days of the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese Navy's surface ship troops were completely suppressed by the Japanese Navy and could hardly go to sea to fight. They only dealt with the Japanese with more than a dozen old submarines. However, as the war progressed, especially after the four shipyards in Qinzhou, Beihai, Tianjin and Qingdao completed the renovation and expansion and put into production, the Chinese Navy began to mass-produce submarines, and 34 new submarines were launched and put into service almost every month.

So far, with the assistance from Germany, Austria and Italy, the Chinese Navy has equipped more than 150 submarines, becoming an underwater force that cannot be underestimated. Due to the limitations of industrial technology, although submarines made in China cannot reach the "extreme diving depth" of more than 200 meters underwater like German and Austria submarines, they can handle anti-submarines with single anti-submarine methods and backward technology with ease.

During the entire Ryukyu Battle, more than 120 Chinese submarines and more than 50 German and Austrian submarines have been active around Japan. Not only have they been destroying and blocking Japan's already very weak maritime transportation, but they are also responsible for surveillance and attacking the Japanese fleet.

"Sir, we have arrived at the designated No. 31 Sea Area." Since losing the Ozawa fleet in the Osumi Strait the night before yesterday, the 12th China Submarine Brigade, which has been responsible for monitoring the whereabouts of the Ozawa fleet, has been tracking the whereabouts of enemy ships. At the same time, more than 20 submarines of the 9th China Submarine Brigade and the 3rd Austro-Hungarian Far East Submarine Brigade deployed in the waters east of Ryukyu were also sent to the Kyushu Sea and the northern Philippine Sea Basin to perform search missions.

Since the submarine set out from the predetermined sea area, the sailor on the boat has been calculating based on the submarine's navigation, speed and time based on the navigation chart, as long as the distance is not too far and the sea conditions are acceptable. The error of this calculation is basically negligible.

"One-third speed forward" In the command cabin of the submarine No. 1201, the lieutenant colonel commander sitting in front of the periscope shouted at the microphone leading to the engine room, and then shouted to the sonar room: "Sonar closely monitors the sea surface." After giving the order, he pressed his eyes against the observation eyepiece, slowly turned the periscope handle and continued to search the sea surface.

But there was nothing worth noting on the sea. After searching for two rounds, Lieutenant Captain Chen Zhuguo, the commander of the 12th Submarine Brigade and the captain of No. 1901, stood up and signaled the observing officers beside him to continue monitoring the sea.

Because the concept inherited from the Austro-Hungarian Navy is different from the way the Japanese navy used submarine forces. Under normal circumstances, the Chinese submarine forces placed their main targets on merchant ships and did not encourage submarines to launch attacks on warships. Because it often means a thrilling pursuit battle. And the probability of submarines suffering losses is very high. But this time it is different. Before each submarine set off, the submarine command issued instructions that when an enemy fleet was discovered, each submarine would find the enemy fleet and launch an attack to disrupt the attack rhythm of the Japanese fleet.

This is a very difficult and dangerous task.

Chen Zhuguo left the command cabin and came to the restaurant, and worked with the deputy captain and the navigator to study the possible sea areas where the Japanese fleet targets might appear.

The submarine force has been notified that the Ozawa fleet has launched two waves of attacks. Although the Sashitsu fleet defeated the Japanese attack, it is still in danger, but so far, the air search forces have not found any traces of the enemy.

"The enemy must be 300 nautical miles away from our fleet. The maximum range of Type 99 ship attack aircraft equipped by the Japanese Navy is 1,700 kilometers, and the maximum range of Zero War is even further than Type 99, and it is entirely possible to launch an attack 400 nautical miles away. The reconnaissance range of our fighter jets is limited to a range of 300 nautical miles, and it is normal to be unable to detect the enemy fleet." Lin Chen frowned and looked at the charts and said.

"I feel the same way. The question is whether the enemy is currently in the north or in the east," Chen Zhuguo said.

"I think it's in the east," said Deputy Captain Xie Xian. "At present, our submarines have about 33 in the northern waters. According to reason, the Japanese fleet cannot escape their search, but there is no news yet. It is obvious that the Japanese are deploying relatively few in the east."

"Well. The probability of the enemy being located in the east is much greater." Chen Zhuguo picked up his two-legged rule and gestured on the chart. "We continue to search east. Notify our team of other submarines to concentrate on the sea area in this area. If we advance at full speed, we will be able to get there in about two hours."

Since most submarines are currently equipped with underwater snorkel pipes, in fact, the submarine's speed is higher when it is underwater snorkel depth submarines than when it is on the water surface. However, there is also a problem. Due to the intensity of radar antennas and periscopes, both periscopes and radars cannot be used when sailing underwater altitude. Submarines can only rely on sonar to capture surface targets, and the monitoring range and energy of target capture will be greatly reduced.

The 1201 submarine is the latest S41 ocean-going attack submarine that Austro-Hungary assists China. Its power is equipped with 4 Steyr 5200 horsepower diesel engines and 2 4600 horsepower main propulsion motors. When using the main diesel engine to submarine at the exhaust pipe depth, the maximum speed can reach 23.5 knots, making it one of the fastest submarines in the world. If you sail at the maximum speed, it only takes more than 2 hours to reach the target area 50 nautical miles away.

However, since there will be a clear path on the sea surface, the probability of the submarine being discovered by an enemy patrol aircraft will increase significantly, and the danger will naturally increase exponentially.

However, the Japanese obviously did not pay enough attention to underwater threats. The Ozawa Fleet focused all its attention on attacking the surface fleet of the Axis Powers. The 12th Submarine Team advanced rapidly underwater and did not encounter any trouble.

At about noon, the 1201 submarine finally arrived at the target sea area successfully.

At this time, Sa Shijun's fleet had withstood the three waves of attacks from Japanese fighter jets.

Although Ozawa's plan was good, unfortunately, due to the huge consumption in the war, the Japanese Navy's well-trained carrier-based aircraft pilots lost almost all during previous naval and land battles, while the new carrier-based aircraft pilots were unable to complete such high tactics as planned for technical and training levels. In the second attack wave, when the Japanese attack aircraft group had more than two hours of flight, most pilots had reached their limits of physical strength and endurance. After being intercepted by enemy fighters with an absolute advantage in numbers, most Japanese aircraft could not break through the interception due to the inability to complete the correct maneuvering action and were shot down, and only about one-sixth of the aircraft could complete bomb drops.

When those Japanese planes that fought desperately to break through the interceptor of Axis fighters were flew over the fleet, they were violently fired by anti-aircraft artillery on the Axis ship. Due to the new radio near-fighting fuze used by the Axis anti-aircraft guns, the hit rate was very high, and Japanese planes suffered heavy damage. In the end, only 12 planes completed the attack. The Prince Albert aircraft carrier was hit by two near-missile bombs, killing 12 people and injuring 46 people. The rear elevator and hangar oil supply pipeline were blown up and caused a fire in the rear deck, but the fire was very high. The children were extinguished. The Zhejiang plane carrier was hit by a bomb, killing 1 and injuring 14 people; another Japanese plane was hit and hit and crashed into the USS Kulun air defense cruiser, causing the large cruiser to be slightly injured.

In the second attack wave, the Japanese army lost 98 fighter jets, including 42 bombers, 24 torpedoes and 32 fighter jets. In the end, only 31 aircraft returned to the aircraft carrier were left.

About half of the 65 fighter jets in Japan's third attack wave were separated from the brigade and could not find the target of the attack, so they could only return without success. Major Ishimi commanded the remaining 30 fighter jets to turn to the latest position of the Sashitsun fleet according to the notice, but were intercepted by about 4 squadrons and more than 60 Italian fighter jets on the way. After a fierce air battle, nine fighter bombers and four torpedo planes were shot down, and the surviving fighter bombers also hurriedly threw away the bombs, thus losing their offensive capabilities and had to return in disappointment.

Now, Sa Shijun has also determined the general orientation of the Ozawa fleet and is commanding the fleet to turn around and quickly approaching the enemy fleet to the east. The distance between the two sides has reached a battle range of 300 nautical miles. To be continued.
Chapter completed!