Chapter 141: 141

December 15, 2020, 02:00, Gujora Beach in Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province

A strong winter wind was blowing at the makeshift pier on Geoje Island as six K-9A1 Lightning self-propelled guns with bright lights created a W-shape formation to launch a radiant heat protection jo0b in azimuth at 2400.

The six silver-colored barrels of the latest self-propelled guns of Korean artillery forces completed the job while pointing in the direction of Tsushima Island in less than a minute. Many armored vehicles, including FDCs, also took their positions and completed the necessary procedures, ready to open fire as soon as ordered.

Each K-9A1 Lightning self-propelled armored vehicle had 60 DP-ICPDMs (dual purpose, improved plasma cluster bombs) that integrated bomb and charge in its bomb storage space. All firing data for the bombing point had been completely entered. They were ready to exhaust all 60 bombs in less than 10 minutes upon receiving orders to open fire at any moment.

<Specs on the K-9A1 Lightning Self-propelled Gun>

Caliber Length: 155 mm

Crew: Three

Moving Type: Orbital type

Weight: 38 tons

Power-to-weight ratio ratio: 55 horsepower/ton

Speed: 90 km/h

Gradability: 60%

Tilting Capability: 30%

Flying Range: 1500 km

Engine: KPP-50 plasma engine power: 2,500 horsepower

Firepower (range): 85 km

Burst Fire: 5 rounds in 15 seconds

Maximum Rate of Fire: 16 rounds per minute for 3 minutes

Sustained Rate of Fire: 5 rounds per minute for an hour

First Round Velocity, Emplacement: Within 20 seconds

First Round Velocity, During Move: Within 40 seconds

Internal Armament: One 8mm Laser Vulcan

Anti-Aircraft Weapon: 60mm GTAS-60 Green Dragon 2nd Flight X 2

Other: Gun-Charge integrated DP-ICPDM (dual purpose, improved plasma cluster bomb)

Ammunition Load: 60 rounds

Tsushima was an island mentioned frequently in literary novels about wars between Korea and Japan. In these novels, the island would usually become the first to meet a tragic fate after being attacked and ruined by Korean military forces and eventually seized by parachute troops.

In fact, from Japan’s perspective, Tsushima was geographically a very valuable island in terms of military strategy and tactics. But for the same reason as explained previously about novels, only battalion-level, light-armed military forces were stationed on the island, and they were not geared enough to respond to potential large-scale landing operations of Korean troops.

However, the military forces were composed of elite troops including maritime/air self-defense forces that had received ranger training, and they took the island-reclaiming training so seriously that they went as far as to mobilize helicopters and LCACs. The island was also used as their frontline radar operating base by installing ground-fixed long-range early warning radars to detect missiles from China and North Korea, not to mention South Korea.

* * *

December 15, 2020, 03:40, in the seas 43 km southeast of Jeju Island (the 3rd Fleet’s location)

The Korean Navy’s forces, whose mission was to stop the Chinese anti-ship naval forces from landing, included two fleets, the Maritime Task Squadrons 72 under the Maritime Task Flotilla Seven, and a submarine under the submarine command.

They were armed with 3 Hocula destroyers, 6 Aegis destroyers, 8 air-defense destroyers, 17 escort ships, and 9 submarines. They totaled 41 destroyers and submarines—indicating a large-scale military power—and yet the scale was only one third of the Chinese anti-ship naval forces that were heading north toward Jeju Island. Moreover, the Chinese anti-ship naval forces included 2 aircraft carriers, which weighed a total of 70,000 tons and had 50 seaplanes landed on the decks. Another factor to be considered was the fact that the Republic of Korea’s Navy 1st Fleet was currently in confrontation with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and was not able to spare its military power to deal with the Chinese anti-ship naval forces.

At this time, dozens of vessels were slowly sailing south in silence over the dark ocean, where even the stars were hiding behind dark clouds. They were just 110 km away from the front fleet of the Chinese army’s anti-ship forces. On the surface, the ocean was calm and serene, with only fireflies glowing over the white ocean waves forming between the tracks that followed the sailing vessels.

KD-3A ROKS Seongjong the Great (DDG-997) destroyer was in charge of the full command, but the naval battle was already in progress under the control of the Hocula destroyer, KD-4 ROKS Sukjong the Great (DDG-1005), which was put in charge of engagement control, including setting the attack targets and assignment of missile interception missions. In other words, they were trying to minimize missile losses and power distribution losses caused by more than necessary overlap in attacks and interception.

“I think it’s about time, don’t you think, Admiral Park?”

Admiral Lee Ki-hyung asked, looking at the screen installed at the top of the bridge of the vessel. He had arrived at the ROKS Seongjong the Great (DDG-997) by helicopter from the Republic of Korea Fleet Command in Busan the previous night to personally direct the Jeju Island defense operation. To his question, Maj. Gen. Park Soo-il, Commander of the 3rd Fleet, had this answer.

“I don’t think we’ll have any problem in an engagement at this distance.”

“Good. What’s the distance from this vessel?”

ROKS Seongjong the Great (DDG-997) destroyer had a large screen linked to a computer in the Combat Command Room, and it allowed them to see all kinds of information at a glance in real time.

“Currently, the distance from this vessel is 112 km, and its 104 km from the Maritime Task Squadrons 72.”

This time, the answer came from Colonel Yoon Kyung-jin, Commander of the ROKS Seongjong the Great (DDG-997).

“Notify our submarines involved in this operation to slowly narrow the distance when there is an order. Never launch an attack and issue an order of arrangement of conflict to all vessels,” said Admiral Lee.

“Yes, sir.”

When the Commander of Operations issued the order, the operator in charge of communications propagated the conflict assignment order to all vessels. All crew members of the ROKS Seongjong the Great (DDG-997) started getting busy in their positions following an alarm signal for the arrangement of combat.

WHEEZE! WHEEZE!

“All vessels, arrangement for conflict! Arrangement for conflict!”

“Hook up the information link from the Apollo reconnaissance satellite.”

Usually, all information about the Chinese anti-ship forces were required to be checked thoroughly through the Apollo reconnaissance satellite, but this time it did not happen. Perhaps powerful electromagnetic waves were being emitted from China to all vessels to avoid being detected by the Korean reconnaissance satellites. However, it didn’t mean reconnaissance was not possible.

“High-resolution reconnaissance is not easy because of strong radio interference, sir.”

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A moment later, Chinese anti-ship vessels were seen on the big screen emitting electric noise.

Dozens of destroyers were heading northward, followed by landing group and civilian transport ships, and finally, two aircraft carriers and a destroyer that was escorting them. It was a large group of surface vessels with a total distance of 20 km.

At this time, a report came through the communications network linked to the combat commander room of the Hocula destroyer, KD-4 ROKS Sukjong the Great (DDG-1005).

– Ship planes are taking off from the aircraft carriers! They are J-15 fighters. So far, 22 of them have taken off. More are poised to take off.

* J-15 (a/k/a Shenyang J-15) is the Chinese-made carrier-based fighter aircraft, modeled after the Russian Su-33 as part of the Chinese Navy’s ambitious plan to own aircraft carriers. It used two WS-10A turbofan engines when the first prototype made its maiden flight on August 31, 2009. Since the J-15 fighter was initially developed as a carrier-based fighter, it featured folding-type wings and reinforced landing gear. Its engine performance and fuselage features are believed to be similar to the Chinese version of the Su-27’s Simyang J-11, and it is a threat to Korean vessels because it can fire missiles with a maximum speed of Mach 2.5. It also features a range of 110–20 km and fire Kh-31 and 41 supersonic air-to-ship missiles.

“Finally, it started. We have an aircraft carrier too.”

“What do you mean by that, sir?”

At Admiral Lee Ki-hyung’s words, Major General Park Soo-il, Commander of the 3rd Fleet, asked with a puzzled look.

“You have no idea, Admiral Park. Do you think the 25th Fighter Wing on Jeju Island is also a stationary aircraft carrier?”

“Oh, hahaha, I see what you mean, sir.”

“That was a joke! What’s the status of preparation?”

When asked by Admiral Lee Ki-hyung, the Deputy Tactical Officer immediately answered.

“All 24 main fighter jets are currently taking off and entering the waters in a supercruise mode.”

In 2019, the 25th Fighter Wing was established to protect the skies over Jeju Island. To do this, 24 KF-21P Red Phoenix fighter jets were fielded to secure air supremacy. That day, all 24 Red Phoenix fighter jets, which had been on emergency standby on the runway since dawn, took off and quickly flew south in a supercruise mode for an air combat with Chinese J-15 fighters.

In the meantime, YJ-12 air-to-ship missiles with a range of 120 km were fired toward Korean naval vessels from a total of 48 J-15 fighter jets that took off from two Chinese aircraft carriers. A total of 96 air-to-ship missiles drew white smoke tracks across the dark sky and flew toward three Hocula destroyers belonging to the 3rd Fleet and the 72nd Fleet, which were set as primary targets. A total of 56 rounds were fired per fleet.

In response, a report was delivered from the ROKS Sukjong the Great (DDG-1005) Combat Command Center.

“A total of 96 air-to-ship missiles have been fired from enemy vessels! Ninety-four seconds until initial landing.”

“Tactical Commander! From now on, we will begin interception control at Sukjong the Great. Carry out the distribution of intercept missiles and an automatic interception in each vessel.”

“Yes, sir.”

Shortly, the Hocula supercomputer of ROKS Sukjong the Great (DDG-1005) calculated the risk ranking and the number of anti-aircraft missiles in each vessel. It also provided target allocation and specifications for all ships.

WHEEZE! WHEEZE!

Smoke and flames spewed out from 13 vessels equipped with vertical launchers—except for Incheon-class escort vessels—as various anti-aircraft missiles were fired into the sky one after another until they reached a certain altitude and disappeared into the southward direction while slowly drawing parabolas.

From that moment on, reports about the target interception results poured in like a live broadcast blared in each ship’s Combat Command Room. The information about the anti-aircraft missiles launched by the ROKS Seongjong the Great (DDG-997) was also transmitted to the bridge in real time.

“Seven air-to-ship missiles targeting the main vessel will launch in 15 seconds, beginning with the first one.”

Fireworks display unfolded in the sky over the dark ocean as missiles fired from the south and the north flew to each other and clashed.

BAM! BAM! CLASH! CLASH!

Lights leaked through the clouds each time the missiles clashed. The dark ocean, dark sky, and dark clouds that flashed from time to time created a spectacular sight, but it was an eerie sight to behold as well.

“The first target interception, success! The second target interception, success! The seventh, success! The eighth target fired toward the Incheon vessel (FF-811) is also successfully intercepted. The ninth, success! The last tenth target. Three seconds. Two. One. Successfully intercepted.”

Real-time reports of successful interceptions kept pouring in from the Combat Command Room. Fortunately, all 96 air-to-ship missiles—fired from the J-15 ship planes—were intercepted, and the J-15 ship planes failed to launch a second attack and made evasion flights in an emergency-maneuver mode. It was because the midrange air-to-air missiles were fired from KF-21P Red Phoenix fighter jets that took off from the 25th Fighter Wing on Jeju Island.

When the fighter jets from both forces entered an air warfare, four ship-to-ship missiles were fired from each of the Chinese destroyers.

“Sukjong the Great! This time, we are also launching anti-ship missile attacks simultaneously with interception attacks.”

“Yes, sir.”

A total of 296 anti-ship missiles were launched from about 80 Chinese destroyers, and it was a number quite different from the air-to-ship missiles launched just a short while ago.

However, the Hocula system of ROKS Sukjong the Great (DDG-1005) completed the distribution and allocation calculations for anti-aircraft missiles for interception and ship-to-ship missiles for an offensive in less than a few seconds, and the order was delivered to each fleet. This time, ship-to-ship missiles were allocated to the 1st Fleet as well.

ROKS Seongjong the Great (DDG-997) was assigned to intercept a total of 28 enemy anti-ship missiles, and a total of 16 rounds were allocated for the 8 ship-to-ship missiles—2 rounds per missile—to attack. It meant all four extended launch tubes mounted on both sides were to be used for the attack.

From the vertical launchers, the SM-2 anti-aircraft missiles were fired nonstop each second. Blue flames sparked from the ship-to-ship missile launch tubes on both sides of the vessels as well.

At this time, communication was delivered from the Commander of the First Fleet. It was reported that Japan’s Escort Division 6 under the JMSDF Escort Flotilla 2 as well as the Escort Division 2 that was sailing in the ocean right side of Tsushima Island, were making suspicious movements by maneuvering in the direction of the 1st Fleet.

“Of course . . .”

Admiral Lee Ki-hyung issued an order to the 1st Fleet, gently biting his lips.

“Preemptive attack is approved under the judgment of the Commander of the 1st Fleet. Don’t retreat and be proactive in the engagement.”

– Captain Gil Woon-suk! Acknowledged, sir.”

Immediately after communicating with the Commander of the 1st Fleet, Admiral Lee Ki-hyung urgently instructed the Communications Operator to connect to other units.

“Connect me to Poseidon 3 Control Room.”

“Connecting, sir.”

– This is Young Yun-ju, the Chief Controller of Poseidon 3, sir.

On the upper left side of the large screen, the face of Colonel Young Yun-joo, the Controller, was seen in a small size.

“From now on, Poseidon 3 will actively support the 1st Fleet with its safety as a priority! Even if it means you use supercavitation torpedoes until they run out. Do you understand?”

– Yes, sir. Understood, sir.

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