Chapter 758 West Wind 4

February 20, 1917, the first day of the first lunar month.

In the early morning, when the sun jumped out of the sea from the east of the Maldives Islands, two hummingbird long-range reconnaissance aircraft had taken off in the base of Gan Island, Adu Atoll, the southernmost section of the archipelago.

After two laps over the light air of the body made of light wood, it accelerated and flew northward. The airport, which was not big under the wings, was already hot.

Gan Island is one of the two largest islands in the Maldives Islands in the Adu Atoll. Gan Island is one of them, but it is only 2.7 square kilometers. The highest point is only 4 meters away from the water surface. The island is narrow but less than 450 meters wide. Since the Maldives became a British protected area, the British Navy A naval base was built here, currently controlled by the Xinhua Navy, and an airport was established here for the first time.

Adu Atoll is not deep enough to dock warships above the level of destroyers, so there is only one bomber/reconnaissance regiment stationed here, and there are also submarines and patrol ships that often come here to replenish and relax.

Looking down from the sky, the emerald island is like a string of pearls inlaid in the blue Indian Ocean, which is so beautiful that it makes people palpitate. But for the naval airmen stationed here, the humid and sultry climate makes them complain, because this weather is the biggest killer of aircraft, especially aluminum-metal aircraft.

Today's airport is more resentment than usual, and the scolding are even more in the ears. Of course, all the scolded targets are the Indian fleet that suddenly rushed out of Mumbai last night. From the Queen to Campbell's female relatives, they have been taken care of.

What's more, because today is still the first day of the Lunar New Year, no one likes to work in this day.

The box full of butter was removed and smeared on the start and drive shafts. Under the elegant posture of the pilot soaring in the blue sky, it was the hard work of countless air force ground crews. Without them, the metal plane was just a pile of aluminum ingots slowly rotting on the ground.

The first to have aircraft, the first to systematically carry out ground service training, and the world's largest professional air force ground service personnel, this is not only the army, but also a valuable asset for the future aviation industry of the whole country.

"Long morning, regimental commander."

"Come on, one for each of you."

"Wow."

"Brothers, the regiment leader has sent red envelopes to everyone."

Hula, hundreds of soldiers and pilots surrounded the regiment leader in the middle, and the exquisite red envelopes were snatched out in an instant. When everyone opened the red envelopes, they found that it was not money, but a picture of the same beautiful woman.

"It's so beautiful, regimental commander, who is this?"

"I know, I know. I've seen it in the newspaper. I heard that it's a movie star."

"Movie star? What's the use for us?

"Don't you understand this? The regimental commander is afraid that you will have sex with the sow and miss you!"

"Haha."

"Get out of here! It's bullshit." The head of the regiment kicked the shouting guy and said, "Miss Lin will come to us for a condolence performance next month, so I'll relieve your glut first."

"Wow, really, come to us?"

"Really, the telegram sent to me by the Chief of Staff in person was also confirmed by the Logistics Department, and I heard that there were a hundred beautiful women who came together."

"Wow, my heart, I'm going to die."

"Get out of here and work. Who's not ready in an hour? I'll let him stand guard when watching the beautiful woman's performance!"

"Say, pliers, give me the pliers! Bomb truck, push it over. Bullets, give me bullets!"

After the regimental commander encouraged everyone's motivation, his face was not very good. Although the Indian Grand Fleet came out, it is not known whether it would really pass through here. After all, there is a deep ocean outside the atoll, which cannot be completely covered by bombers alone.

However, he believes that as long as Campbell enters his attack circle, even if there are only 32 bombers, he is confident enough to teach the other party a profound lesson.

"Left front, 2 submarines."

Jiang Qixiong, with all the hopes of the regimental commander, held the steering wheel, pasted it to the window and saw two slender black spots on the blue sea below, and immediately rushed down with a press.

"It's our people."

The observer, who was tanned by the Indian Ocean, saw the familiar military uniforms on the submarine deck before the plane approached. Seeing the submarine soldiers waving to him, Jiang Qixiong circled around before continuing to fly north.

The navigation and radio are carefully calculated on the small board of the back seat. From Gan Island to Trivandrum, the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, about 800 kilometers, the bomber can fly more than one way, and the hummingbird with a range of up to 2,200 kilometers can even go back and forth over Bangalore farther.

The Indian Grand Fleet came out last night. Although it is impossible to grasp the exact time and speed of departure, the warship is a warship, and the speed is about 16 to 20 knots. No matter how fast it is, it is not impossible. But the problem is that the speed of the ships in the Indian Grand Fleet is not even, and the power system of the Indian Grand Fleet is It is a reciprocating steam engine, so it is impossible to keep it above 20 knots all the time.

According to this calculation, the other party should still be in the coastline west of the Indian Peninsula. Now the biggest problem is whether they sail close to the coastline or go deep into the Arabian Sea. No one can know, so the search circle focuses on the vast sea area between the southern end of the peninsula and the Arabian Sea.

The navigator's calculation is not wrong. On the edge of the Krasa Islands, 150 kilometers west of the Indian Peninsula, there is a huge box formation of 46 warships and 11 transport ships, during which Malaya is leading the formation to split the waves at a speed of 19 knots and fly south.

Whether it is a flagship or the smallest W-class destroyer, the deck and mast are full of sailors holding telescopes. In the center, on the deck of the only mother ship in the major fleet, several camel fighters rose in the wind as the outermost sentries of the fleet.

Everyone is very nervous, because everyone knows that there is a Xinhua heavy aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean. No one knows whether they are not far away. What's more, in addition to the aircraft carrier, they must also release long-range reconnaissance aircraft from Ceylon, Gan Island and Socotra Island.

"While we left last night, the army has begun to attack Paris."

In the bridge of USS Malaya, Campbell, who had just had breakfast, frowned and didn't expect such a coincidence, but it was not something he wanted to know, so he immediately waved his hand: "I don't want to know this."

"Yes!"

"Lt. Gen. Hill sent a telegram 3 hours ago. They have bypassed the Cape of Good Hope and are expected to arrive in Madagascar this evening. If it goes well, they can play with us in the Seychelles Islands in 3 days!

In addition, the Y3 formation reported two hours ago that they encountered two Chinese submarines in the Arabian Sea. After being found, they began to turn south as planned. At present, it is about 130 nautical miles west of us. Cameron, the chief of staff of the Indian Grand Fleet, immediately marked the specific location of the Y3 formation on the chart, and then raised his head again: "If the submarine sends a telegram, they will be bitten by the reconnaissance aircraft in three hours at most!"

Campbell looked cold, as if he didn't hear the following words, and said coldly, "Continue."

"The Y1 formation is in front of us on the right, about 87 nautical miles southwest of the archipelago. The Y2 formation has arrived at Minikoy Island and is passing through the Eighth Strait. It is planned to drive east in an hour."

"Have you found any trace of the Chinese fleet?"

"Not yet, but it's dawn now. If China's heavy aircraft carrier is with us, it should be reported soon." After Cameron handed the pen to his assistant, he looked at the Y1, Y2 and Y3 formations he marked.

In Mumbai for nearly a year, the Grand Fleet has not done nothing. First of all, dozens of transport ships and cargo ships stranded in India were camouflaged, and some of them were also equipped with small caliber guns as temporary cruisers.

Now, they have all been incorporated into three Y formations to disguise and deceive the enemy's submarines and reconnaissance ships, and in order to be more realistic, the formation also added an old-fashioned battleship and at least three cruisers, as well as some Short 184 water reconnaissance aircraft.

But even so, everyone is not at ease, because Xinhua has an absolute aviation advantage. Maybe submarines and warships can't be accurately distinguished from their perspective, but aircraft can easily see the camouflage in condescending.

So everyone knows that as long as the three Y formations are found, there is no possibility of survival at all, but no one can accuse Campbell of being cold-blooded, because this is the only effective way to confuse the enemy.

"S sir, we are about to enter the Jiudu Strait."

Campbell looked at the chart with no expression on his face. After two laps of his fingers between the three Y formations, he said, "Left rudder, order the plane to disperse and fly to the southwest to the reconnaissance flight, let the Y1 formation spread out and expand the search range. Let's insert it horizontally."

Cameron looked at the line drawn by Campbell's finger and said in surprise, "If we cross the Jiudu Strait into the Arabian Sea, we are very likely to encounter a Chinese aircraft carrier. Isn't it too dangerous to do so?" The Y3 formation entered the Jiudu Strait without encountering the enemy, indicating that it is safe there, we"

"No, we have no choice."

Before he finished speaking, Campbell pointed to the chart and interrupted him: "It's safe now. It doesn't mean that it's safe before landing!" The Jiudu Strait is only 230 nautical miles from Colombo, Ceylon, where Chinese reconnaissance aircraft and bombers can easily launch an attack and return to the base.

We don't have an aviation advantage, so we must keep a certain distance from Colombo. Even if they will encounter that mothership, one can't completely eat us at present.

Y3 formation is in the northwest and Y1 is in the southwest. They support the reconnaissance barrier in the west for us. If the enemy's plane appears, it will definitely be found by them first. Campbell was used to taking out a cigar from his pocket. The inferior Indian cigar made him frown slightly before he continued: "We are still 87 nautical miles away from the nearest Y1 formation. If their plane is attracted, it will take at least a few hours to re-search even if it is found to be fake, so they can start at most. A wave of attacks will be dark the day after tomorrow, and the night can help us get out of trouble!"

"Report." As soon as Campbell finished speaking, the correspondent came in nervously.

"The Y2 formation reported that they were attacked by submarines in the Eight Strait."

"Do you know how many enemies there are?" Cameron also suddenly became nervous and asked, "Is there a plane?"

"I haven't found the plane yet, but." The correspondent swallowed and said with lax eyes, "General Barn said that at least seven submarines were attacking them!"

"God!"

"Accelerate to 21 knots, immediately cross the Jiudu Strait and get out of here!"

(to be continued)