Empire Conquest-Chapter 850 - 95: At the Critical Moment
Imperial Capital Prime Minister Mansion.
When Lin Shiping arrived, it was already past 8 PM; Zhou Yongtao had just seen off the Minister of Defense and several chiefs of staff and other military key individuals.
The 51st Special Mixed Fleet was attacked in the East Continent Heart Sea, which did not surprise Zhou Yongtao.
In fact, Zhou Yongtao did not participate in the related deployment work of naval combat operations.
Although he is the Navy Marshal and has served in the Navy for decades, making him the most outstanding commander and commander of the Empire Navy since Bai Zhizhan, after moving into the Prime Minister Mansion, mainly to avoid suspicion, Zhou Yongtao rarely involved himself in naval affairs, let alone directly interfere in combat operations.
When Luo Youbin delivered the battle report, Zhou Yongtao simply sighed.
Can you blame Chief of Naval Staff Zhang Xiaotian?
Preserving the Land Heart Sea Sub-fleet and deploying carriers into the East Continent Heart Sea was fundamentally to support the overall strategy, unrelated to the Navy headquarters or directly related to the Chief of Naval Staff, so even if responsibility needs to be pursued, it should be borne by the Empire Cabinet.
Furthermore, having the Special Mixed Fleet leave the port is a normal combat deployment.
Theoretically, fleets that remain in port not only lack any value but are not necessarily safer.
The 51st Special Mixed Fleet’s Commander being incompetent?
Clearly, this is shifting the blame.
From a tactical deployment perspective, the 51st Special Mixed Fleet did not make a mistake and did not rashly head north, remaining in the southern waters of the East Continent Heart Sea.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible to intercept three bomber groups consecutively before being attacked.
Honestly speaking, it’s a matter of insufficient forces.
After intercepting three bomber groups, the 51st Special Mixed Fleet no longer had enough air defense fighters, thus unable to extend the air defense network.
Of course, this is closely related to having only two carriers.
If the 51st Special Mixed Fleet was a three-carrier battle group, confronting the fourth bomber group, it could at least deploy eight fighters for interception.
Unfortunately, the 51st Special Mixed Fleet does not possess three carriers.
Who can be blamed for this?
Obviously, this cannot be attributed to the Navy.
Over a decade ago, right after the Boi War ended, when the legislative houses forcefully passed a bill limiting carriers to 15, Zhou Yongtao and other senior generals in the Navy, who were still serving, explicitly mentioned that 15 carriers could not guarantee handling all emergencies.
The key is that the Empire Navy is globally deployed.
Even during necessary contraction after a major war outbreak, such as voluntarily giving up the utterly indefensible North Sunset Ocean, 15 carriers are still insufficient.
At that time, Zhou Yongtao proposed keeping at least 18 carriers, preferably 20.
Increasing by three carriers during special times, like peak maintenance periods for carriers, essentially equals just one more operational carrier, whereas a five-carrier increase ensures at any time, there are two more carriers available for deployment or in deployment status.
Clearly, never underestimate these one or two carriers.
Because without these critical few carriers, the Empire Navy, after the outbreak of war, to ensure sufficient forces in more important directions, could only transfer carriers from the Land Heart Sea Sub-fleet, given that strategically, the Land Heart Sea Sub-fleet holds the lowest position.
To put it bluntly, the Land Heart Sea itself does not hold much strategic value.
There’s a hint of "chicken ribs" to it.
This is not just idle talk.
The crucial point is, the Empire has indeed little interest involved here in the Land Heart Sea.
Securing the route to Mo Sea?
Clearly, even if this route is secured, if Astrakhan cannot be held, Baku remains impossible to secure.
Once the Chains Land Bridge falls, this route becomes worthless.
Militarily, holding Astrakhan is not much less difficult than defending Novorossiysk, relatively speaking it’s even greater; namely, Astrakhan is not only the must-pass for the southward push to Baku but also the base for attacking the eastern Luosha heartland, including sweeping the Chains Land Bridge.
Before taking Astrakhan, the West Continent Group won’t risk gathering heavy troops for a strong attack on Novorossiysk.
Securing the Xifan Canal?
Clearly, as long as the Empire controls Boss Bay, especially the southern coastal oil-producing nations, remaining the dominant force in the New Moon Region, securing the Xifan Canal isn’t a problem.
Moreover, deploying fleets in the Narrow Sea can similarly guard the Xifan Canal.
Only when achieving absolute strategic advantage and initiating strategic counterattacks does the Empire Navy need to reinforce the Land Heart Sea.
Before then, priority is undoubtedly on ensuring other directions.
Speaking of which, what truly surprised Zhou Yongtao was the West Continent Group’s determination to attack the 51st Special Mixed Fleet.
If the report sent by Li Shenzhi wasn’t exaggerated, the West Continent Group deployed at least 80 "Fire God" bombers and over 30 "Storm" AVD fighters, unilaterally disrupting the Ter Republic’s neutral position; the commitment and cost were indeed significant!
Of course, losses were equally severe.
At least 48 "Fire Gods" were shot down before bombing, and 5 post-bombing, with escort fighters losing over 20.
Honestly, just the value of these bombers and fighters exceeds that of two Super Carriers!
The key is, the two carriers of the 51st Special Mixed Fleet weren’t sunk.
According to the first report, damages to the "Bai Zhizhan" were under control, with no risk of sinking, and it could even operate helicopters; the "Li Mingbo" was slightly worse, but the fire had been extinguished, leaving high confidence to save this carrier.
