Chapter 372 Airship!

Galayan Island.

Located in the Babuyan Islands, north of Luzon, it is the largest inhabited island in this archipelago. However, after the Xinhua Army entered Luzon, the Bus Strait and the Babuyan Strait next to the islands became extremely important, so more than a thousand indigenous people here were transferred to Luzon Island, and a small one was built here. The military base is specially designed to monitor the strategic passage of the South China Sea into and out of the Pacific Ocean.

Although it is not as famous as Krabi, it is not as huge as Subic, or even as the planned Sulawesi base, but because of the important geographical location here, there has been a naval garrison, two patrol gunboats, and reconnaissance airships that have just begun to be equipped.

The naval garrison is under the jurisdiction of the Marine Corps, but it is not the main force. It is more similar to the surname of the internal affairs division. Such troops are all over many inhabited islands controlled by Xinhua. In addition, the troops also have to take into account local construction. They are often stationed in one place for a long time, so many soldiers take root in the local area. Family members and even relatives are brought to the local area.

In fact, this is a disguised colonization. These larger islands have a certain economic value. After the army is stationed, they often expel or centralize the indigenous people, so it has almost become a paradise for soldiers and their families, which is very helpful for the development of the island economy.

On the west side of the big island, there is a small harbor that bends inward. This is the Galayan base, similar to many bases. In addition to a small wharf, there are also several brick-and-wood dormitories and warehouses, as well as a huge and flat field. Outside the wall stretched by barbed wire, there are the soldiers' families or The person is allowed to go to the residential area of other people on the island.

Now, the big field is occupied by three small airships, which are tightly arranged together. In the barracks next to them, several naval non-commissioned officers are making preparations.

Originally, the airship was the exclusive equipment of the air force, but the general staff gradually realized the importance of the airship, especially after the unique advantage in reconnaissance, it began to equip the navy with airships.

Unlike the hippo-class heavy airship equipped by the air force, the navy has not yet used the requirement of airship bombing, so it is only equipped with this small airship with a length of 15 meters. However, after the name Hippo, no one dares to ask the emperor to name it again, which has a nice name.

"Sea eagle."

Seahawk is a small four-seat airship specially designed and built for reconnaissance, which are the captain, the co-pilot and observer, the communications officer and the observer. Because the navy needs to use airships to patrol the vast seas, especially to places such as the Daxia Islands and Hawaii, it takes a long time and has a large endurance, so the equipment department is special It is intended to add a fuel tank to the sea eagle's stomach.

In this way, the sea eagle's range can reach 800 kilometers, the reconnaissance radius can also reach 300 kilometers, and it can patrol tens of thousands of square kilometers of sea in a few hours, so it is very popular with the army.

As more and more new equipment such as airships enter the army, military spending has also increased explosively, which has also caused the Prime Minister's Office, which is not yet rich at present, to raise the matter of reducing military spending again.

A moment later, the members of the airship were ready and walked to the outermost Seahawk No. 7 with a smile, but in the middle of the way, the captain Wang Hua suddenly stopped.

"Double happiness, take two more barrels of oil and put it in the pod."

"Sir, are both mailboxes full? What else do you want to do with oil? Shuangxi looked up at the sky and didn't understand. It was past lunch time. Now if it takes off, it can only fly back for three hours at most. Otherwise, I will not dare to come back before dark, so the two boxes of oil are a little too much. Why increase it?

"Let you go, just go, don't daw me." After the captain pushed the handle, Shuangxi hurried to the warehouse next to him, and after a while, he stuffed two barrels of ten kilograms of gasoline into the pod.

As the propeller pods on both sides spewed out a stream of smoke, the airship quickly rushed into the sky like a light milky sea eagle. After a while, Galayan Island became a palm-sized green emerald.

"Fage to the east, with an altitude of 1,000 meters and a speed of 50 knots." After the captain and the co-pilot cooperated to adjust the course, they turned their heads and shouted to everyone, "It's going to be harder these two days. Everyone's eyes are wide open!" The fleet was waiting for the news, so when it found the suspicious ship, it immediately reminded me to descend, but don't let the British slip under our eyes.

These words immediately made everyone understand why they had to bring two more barrels of oil before getting on the boat. If they needed to lift and investigate many times, it was indeed very fuel-consuming, so everyone began to admire the captain's foresight.

In flattery and laughter, Seahawk 7 began to scout east along the Bus Strait and gradually disappeared out of sight--

Off the coast of the Yaeyama Islands.

Liu Bu toad slowly climbed the Duke's flying bridge, looked at it and still leaned forward. His hands clenched the railing as if he were enjoying the blue scenery, and his heart was as uncomfortable as being covered with a gauze.

Two Arctic ships, four Dukes, and four Vladivostok heavy patrols.

This is the configuration of the First Fleet for this mission. Not only was it not reduced, but it allocated the two heavy patrols that originally belonged to the Second Fleet, in order to stop the main force of Phillipman's Far East fleet, or even completely defeat him!

But no one expected that on the day he vowed again, Felitman led 21 ships, dodged surveillance and successfully rushed into the Luzon Sea and penetrated into the vast Pacific Ocean.

This is not a mistake. In fact, the Hurricane has been very close to it. Several times, it even tried to overwhelm the opponent's gun range, but the opponent is worthy of being the top student of the Greenwich Naval Academy. After using the night cover, he suddenly released a large amount of smoke, he used the cross-dispersed tactical method and finally cheated. Hurricane. .

Although the twenty-one ships sound a lot and will be huge, in fact, throwing them into this sea is as inconspicuous as throwing a stone in the desert. Unless Phillipman's brain is broken, scatters the fleet's ships very open, and holds a light dance on the deck at night, otherwise he really can't avoid it. I'm afraid I can't find it in ten days and a half months.

More importantly, Britain has the world's largest naval hydrological survey ship and many years of experience in dominating this generation. Many places are even more familiar than the local controllers, so when he knew that half of the British Far East Fleet had entered the Luzon Sea, he immediately realized that it was not good.

In the battle of the fleet, the first discovery is that if you can't find that everything is empty talk, so the top priority to find the other party is to find the other party. If you can't find the other party in a day, it means that the coast will be threatened for one more day. No matter how well the army fights, it is likely to suddenly face an attack from the sea.

Even if the Phillyteman does not disturb the southeast and turns to meet with the other half of the fleet stationed in Hong Kong, it is equivalent to dragging his side into the decisive battle. The British Far East Fleet with the number of ships will take the initiative. Even if it defeats the other party in the end, it will be a great loss.

So taking advantage of his rare division of troops, eating or hurting him and forcing Britain to withdraw from the waters of Xinhua is a task that the navy must complete!

But reconnaissance ships and destroyers have been sent out, and all waterways and straits have been filled with surveillance ships. Even the newly established aviation detachment of the navy has taken full initiative. At this moment, it is estimated that more than 30 sea eagles in the sky are patrolling everywhere in order to find opponents!

Where is he?!

"Report, the Ogasawara Islands garrison camp reported that one of their patrol boats found a British cruiser outside the volcanic islands 30 minutes ago, which was confirmed to be the first-class armored cruiser Saxony of the British Far East Fleet. It is currently sailing towards Honolulu."

"to Honolulu?!"

Hearing the news, Liu Bu toad and everyone were suddenly nervous. Honolulu was the place where the emperor started. Although heavy industry basically withdrew, there were hundreds of thousands of Chinese living there. If Felix really went to attack somewhere, I'm afraid the loss would not be too small.

"Commander, do you want to do it immediately?"

Liu Bu toad just opened his mouth, but Ji Rushan, who had been looking at the scenery, waved his hand: "Continue to the south."

"Continue to the south?"

The staff suddenly frowned. Isn't this the opposite of the opponent? The General Staff and the Naval Command handed over most of the capital ships to the First Fleet, which was to ask the First Fleet to stop the Phillyteman. Now they don't chase others, but continue to go south. What are you going to do?

Cooperate with the Second Fleet to blockade Hong Kong! There is only half a fleet there, and there are submarine troops to help. It is still a question whether they can leave the port. Is it necessary to step in?

"Commander, we."

Before the staff officer finished speaking, Ji Rushan turned around and raised his hand to stop the staff from speaking. Instead, he asked with a smile, "Captain Liu, you are most familiar with the British navy. I want to know if you were a Felicman, would you attack Hawaii?"

After thinking about it, Liu Bu toad immediately shook his head.

There is no reason for Philip Man to bombard Honolulu. Although the fleet has come out, there are still nearly a hundred torpedo boats there, and Pearl Harbor has more than 200 heavy guns. There is no reason for the British to know where the situation is. It is no different from looking for such a hard bone with half a fleet.

Even if you go to the Daxia Islands, Borneo, or even Luzon, you should not go to Hawaii!

So the British will never be so stupid, otherwise they would not be the world's first navy! And they will not bypass the whole earth and return to Europe, let alone ask for the protection of the Americans! What's more, if the other party really goes to Hawaii, they have already passed the Ogasawara Islands, and they can't catch each other at this moment.

And most importantly, the Far East Fleet is led by the Far East Fleet, which is mainly used to protect Britain's interests in China and the East Indies, that is, the South Ocean. Now the southeast is shining with thunder, and Britain's interests on the southeast coast are in danger. If his Far East Fleet does not act at this time, I'm afraid I'm afraid that he, the commander, won't be the end of the war.

After listening to Liu Bu toad's words, the staff around him also understood one after another. Ji Rushan nodded heavily at this time: "From the time he chose to leave Shanghai, Felitman knows us very well, so he must know where his advantages are, as long as he can Half of the harbor's fleet is also pulled out, and he has a chance to win.

"He made a big mistake! If the bait cruiser is not sent, maybe he has a chance to win!" After Ji Rushan muttered to himself, a cold star flashed in his eyes, and he seemed to have made up his mind: "Keep the course and tell the kitchen to prepare supper!" I believe he is still here!!"

When Ji Rushan finished speaking, he slowly turned around. In fact, everyone knew very well that although the young fleet commander's analysis was very reasonable, he was actually not completely sure.

He is taking risks, because if Phillyteman really goes to Hawaii, even if he drops hundreds of shells, his future will probably be overshadowed.

Seeing that the sun in the west is gradually setting, and the day is about to pass again. If you can't find the other party as soon as possible, then when the British fleet from Singapore and even India continues to arrive, the fleet will face a bitter battle! --

"Your Excellency Lieutenant General, coffee."

In the old man's star, Felitman took the coffee and raised the spoon and stirred it unconsciously. At the same time, he was extremely regretful.

Shortly after the Anderson left, he began to regret, but at that time, the cruiser had left for nearly two hours, and it was already difficult to chase at the speed of the torpedo ship. What's more, if a few torpedo ships were sent out, the fleet would suffer a great loss if it met the same high-speed small ship as the enemy.

So he could only watch the cruiser continue to execute the order. The only thing he could do now was to pray that God's opponent did not find the Anderson, or make a wrong judgment as he expected.

But is that possible?

Although the Xinhua Navy is young, its growth speed is also extremely amazing, especially the fleet with the world's largest ironclad battle experience!

He has been in this country for many years, and he is very clear about the learning ability of the Chinese. When they were armed by Li Mo's ambitious man, the nation began to burst into amazing potential that shocked the world.

Jinghai class, Rhine, are all manifestations of their wisdom!

They have a history of 5,000 years, and those histories are full of Eastern wisdom. Their history is a history of war, so he can't take it lightly.

Looking at the fleet surrounded by lights and without a trace of light, the chagrin in Felix's heart gradually faded. For him, the way to win the war was very simple. Even if there was a mistake before, it was not a big problem. As long as it lurked, he waited for the arrival of the three King's Power-class battleships that should have departed from India. Da, if he joins Hong Kong's left-behind fleet again, then he can give a head-on attack to the Xinhua Navy with an absolute superior force!

War, especially the navy, the most important thing is strength! Even if it is held back by the Boers, the Royal Fleet of the British Empire still has such ability!

"The direction." Felicman took a sip of coffee, but the smile on the corners of his mouth had not disappeared, and a shout suddenly rang from the observation window.

"The airship!"

(to be continued)