Chapter 145: 145

December 15, 2020, 06:00, Yongsan-ku CC tanker (tactical interception satellite Zeus 1 Command Center), Seoul

The DF-21D (Dung Feng-21D) anti-ship ballistic missiles that were launched from all over China 30 minutes ago could not even reach the atmosphere. They turned into dust when intercepted by laser beams coming from Korea’s KAMD (Korea Air Missile Defense) first line of defense, the KS-AD Zeus 1 satellite.

*China’s DF-21D (Dung Feng 21-D) anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) were confirmed to be at initial operational capacity or IOC by the U.S. in 2011. The missiles were not normal ballistic missiles but rather for ships named as the CSS-5 Mod 4 by the NATO. The DF-21D was an ASBM based on the mid-range ballistic missile DF-21 stationed by China in the ’90s. It posed a threat to the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carriers or other large destroyers from neighboring nations. The range of the DF-21D was at 2,000 km–2,700 km. If placed in China’s western regions, it would be possible to rain down the payload to the entire Korean peninsula. The missile was capable of being equipped with high explosives or nuclear warheads.

The Zeus 1 satellite relentlessly fired its high-powered laser beams to intercept the Chinese hypersonic missiles flying toward the 3rd Fleet. When the satellite fired its laser beam, a Chinese hypersonic ballistic missile would blow up in the air and spread shrapnel everywhere.

“Forty-five out of 55 DF-21D (Dung Feng) anti-ship ballistic missile intercepted.”

“How about our power output?”

Commander Lim Soo-ho, who remembered the last mission against the Chinese ballistic missile attacks coming to a halt from the low power output, checked on the power output when he had the chance.

“We are at 59 percent, sir.”

“We should finish up here and leave the other ten to the Hades land interception satellite. Change positions to strike down the cruise missiles that are targeting the 3rd Fleet.”

Commander Lim Soo-ho ordered for the rest of the interception to be handed off to the AKMD’s 3rd phase Hades satellite to prevent the power output mishap from last time.

“Yes, sir. I will contact the Hades Command Center.”

The ten Chinese anti-ship ballistic missiles left were all intercepted by the Hades base stationed in Korea and the Hocula fleet’s S-SSM-500S Trianna interception missiles.

*Trianna (S-SSM-500S ballistic interception missile) has a range of 12,000 km and speed of Mach 40.

* * *

December 15, 2020, 06:20, 120 km southeast of Jeju Island (at the Chinese anti-ship force’s location)

Commander in Chief Zhang Jike, who believed they could break Korea’s naval force regardless of size, was distraught over the report of the anti-ship ballistic missile attack’s failure. He glanced at his allied vessels on fire floating on the dark sea.

“Commander! How about we retreat, sir?”

Lieutenant General Wang Liqin, Commander of the East Sea fleet, cautiously suggested the idea.

“Retreat? How could you suggest that now, Lieutenant General Wang Liqin?”

Commander Zhang Jike, frowning, must have taken offense at the suggestion as he responded angrily.

“The situation is dire, sir—”

Lieutenant General Wang Liqin reiterated his suggestion of a retreat. Commander in chief Zhang Jike cut him off immediately.

“Even if the anti-ship ballistic missile attacks failed, but if we push on a bit more, the Korean Navy will be completely annihilated. If we retreat now, we are giving them a chance to recover.”

Both may have been of the same rank but Commander in Chief Zhang Jike responded firmly, being the second in command in the Chinese Navy.

Lieutenant General Wang Liqin could not speak further and stared at the South Sea fleet’s Commander. He gave him a look as if to say: you should speak up as well. Commander Xin Xin of the South Sea fleet spoke begrudgingly.

“Commander Zhang Jike, sir.”

“Lieutenant General Xin Xin, do you agree with Lieutenant General Wang Liqin?”

“Yes, sir! A false move and that could put the amphibious fleet in danger as well. Don’t you think so, sir?”

“What danger? The Korean Navy has exhausted its missile supply too. The ships that are floating around are no more than just fishing ships! Operations aide-de-camp, give me the status of the Korean Navy.”

When Lieutenant General Xin Xin also expressed opposition, Commander in chief Zhang Jike angrily gave the order to the operation’s aide-de-camp.

“Yes, Commander!”

Aide-de-camp Yao ming checked the information and gave a report.

“The Korean Navy’s 1st Fleet has one anti-air destroyer sunk, two partially destroyed, three escorting vessels sunk, two partially destroyed, and two were completely destroyed. The vessels that can be used in the battle are the Aegis destroyer King Sungjong, Yoo Sung-ryong, the anti-air destroyer the Yang Man-chun, and the escorting vessel the Kyung-nam, sir.”

The three-hour-long battle had caused 10 out of 14 vessels in the 1st Fleet to sink or to be severely damaged, hence, they cannot be used for battle.

“The 3rd Fleet had two anti-air destroyers partially destroyed, one escorting ship sunk, and one completely destroyed. The Aegis destroyer King Sejong and anti-air destroyer the King Gwangaeto, and the escorting vessel the Al-cheon are the only surviving vessels.”

Five out of the eight vessels under the 3rd Fleet, excluding those that battled against the Japanese naval defense forces, have either sunk or have been severely damaged and unfit for battle.

“The three destroyers under the 7th Mobile Flotilla are still intact and are moving at high speeds, sir.”

“They are approaching our fleet?”

“Yes, sir. They are approaching at a speed of 50 knots.”

“I guess the Korean Navy is making its last struggle. Do they intend to fight with their last remaining forces?”

“Lieutenant General Wang Liqin.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Move your fleet to the rear. We must end the battle with the 4th Escort Fleet.”

Commander in Chief Zhang Jike ordered the Eastern fleet to retreat after they were almost annihilated by the battle against Korea. Then he called Lieutenant General Sun Jihai, Commander of the 4th Fleet.

“Lieutenant General Sun Jihai.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Advance four escorting vessels from each aircraft carrier.”

“Wouldn’t that cause a rift in the line of defense, sir?”

“What did I just say? The Korean Navy is incapable of attacking us.”

“Ah! As you command, sir.”

China had deployed its latest Aegis anti-air destroyers at the same time that they deployed their self-developed aircraft carrier. It had deployed six Type-055 Hainan class Aegis destroyers that were a stage above the Kunming class Type-052D destroyers from before as the escorting vessels for the aircraft carriers.

“Advancing four Hainan destroyers and four Kunming class destroyers, sir.”

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Four Hainan class light destroyers with a load displacement of 13,000 tons and four Kunming class destroyers with a 9,000-ton load displacement, left the aircraft carrier’s sides and began to sail at high speeds.

“I was hoping not to use the escorting ships for the carriers . . .”

Commander in chief Zhang Jike whispered to himself as he saw the eight destroyers gliding across the waves.

* * *

December 15, 2020, 06:30, in the deep sea, 159 km south of Jeju Island N 31° 45′ E 126° 12′

The Lee Bong-chang (SSP-081) submarine under the 7th Maritime Flotilla closed its distance toward the Chinese naval fleet as it conducted its mission of protecting Korean ships and fighting against enemy subs.

The Lee Bong-chang had broken through China’s anti-submarine net consisting of 100 destroyers and 20 submarines and was closing in on the aircraft carrier. They were navigating in complete silence and went radio silent as well to avoid being detected by China.

“Our goal is to subdue the Chinese aircraft carriers. No matter what happens, we must sink one of the two!”

Captain Na Won-hyun of the Lee Bong-chang (SSP-081) reaffirmed his will and carefully tried to close the distance between them and the aircraft carrier to be in the range of their Great White A hypercavitating torpedo.

“Sonar Operator! How many enemy subs are around us?”

“Captain, the closest to our position are two Won class submarine 35,000 away from us at our two o’clock, and one Jin class nuclear submarine at our nine o’clock 41,000 away.”

The Sonar Operator answered quietly.

“What’s our distance from the aircraft carrier?”

“The Huhbei aircraft carrier is 48,000 and the Sandung is 55,000, Captain.”

“All right. Helmsman, our target is the Huhbei. Set the azimuth to 3-0-5, and maintain our diving depth and speed.”

“Azimuth to 3-0-5, maintaining depth and speed, sir.”

Even if the Lee Bong-chang submarines were the latest Hocula sub, infiltrating enemy-infested waters with anti-submarine destroyers and 20 submarines was a dangerous and nerve-racking action. The crew of the Lee Bong-chang (SSP-081) were covered in sweat and continued their silent navigation while relying on the light coming from the machines.

Ten minutes later, the Sonar Operator spoke urgently.

“What is it?”

“Eight of the destroyers escorting the two aircraft carriers have just left the nearby waters and is moving at high speed, at an azimuth of 0-1-3, sir.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, sir. I am certain.”

“Send out an active sonar signal and check their exact location.”

“Yes, Captain.”

The Hocula submarine’s active sonar, the SUSL-01MP, sent out a powerful hypersonic wave. The reflected sonar patterns detected numerous vessels and submarines in the area. This also showed up on the Sonar Operator’s monitor. They had been using their passive sonar to check the location of the ships and submarines up until now.

Beep, beep, beep.

The repeated hypersonic waves and the reflected sonar patterns were analyzed in real time by the submarine’s supercomputer and shown on the monitor installed at the center of the submarine.

Captain Na Hun-hyun quickly checked the different information placed on the screen.

“All right! This is our chance.”

On the screen, eight Aegis destroyers guarding the aircraft carriers were speeding north. Captain Na Hun-hyun judged this was their chance and gave an order to his crew to hurry up.

“Sonar Operator! Will our injection noises be detected by the Chinese ships or submarines?”

“No, sir. We are safe at this distance.”

“Great, Armsman.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Inject launch tube 1 through 8 and load them with the Huhbei’s sonar pattern.”

“Injecting hypercavitating torpedo to launch tube 1 through 8 and loading the Huhbei’s sonar pattern.”

“Helmsman! Stay on course and raise our diving depth to 15 to reach a depth of 100 at maximum speed.”

“Maintaining course! Raising diving depth to 15 and depth to 100 at maximum speed.”

Vrooooo!

When the Lee Bong-chang (SSP-081) raised the output of the plasma engine, it began to shoot forward at the speed of 60 knots.

“We will attack Huhbei when our distance is at 30,000.”

“We reached our destination, sir.”

“Armsman! Prepare interception torpedoes for launch tube 9 through 12.”

“Preparing the black shark interception torpedoes.”

* * *

December 15, 2020, 06:40, 140 km west of Jeju Island (the 2nd Escort Fleet’s 6th escorting force’s location)

On the seas, where the 2nd Fleet’s ships with the Kongo class Chokai Aegis destroyer (DDG-176) at the lead fought the battle, all of the Japanese ships were all under the sea except for the Onami (DD-111) that was drifting on the surface with black smoke and flames coming out of it.

The Chokai had leaned to portside when hit by the hypercavitating torpedo. As it tried to retreat, however, it was hit by three additional Great White torpedoes that followed and sunk the destroyer into the ocean after it exploded.

The Great White A torpedoes and two mid-range Great White torpedoes fired by the Youn Bong-gil before it was struck by the Japanese torpedoes, had hit their target, the Dakanami (DD-110), and tore through it as if it were made of paper.

Also, the four escorting ships of the Sasebo local fleet 20 km away from the Northeast had suffered heavy losses. The first ship-to-ship missiles from the Korean Navy’s 1st Fleet had hit the Haruyuki (DD-128) and the Jinsu (DE-230) and sunk them. Then the Asayuki (DD-132) was sunk by the assassin of the seas, the Son Won-il class Lee Sun-shin (SS-068) submarine’s mid-range torpedoes.

The Isoyuki (DD-127) was the only ship that had survived from the 13th Escort Fleet. It rescued the crew of the sunken vessels and immediately sailed back to the Sasebo Naval Base. The four destroyers under the 2nd Japanese Escort Fleet that had been sailing toward the area from eastern Dae-ma Island all turned back when they realized they were outnumbered.

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