Empire Conquest-Chapter 851 - 95: At the Critical Moment (Part 2)
It must be admitted that the Empire Navy’s carriers are renowned for their formidable survival capabilities.
During the last war, the Empire Navy took the lead in enhancing carrier survivability by implementing strategies such as small compartment structures to increase their resilience after attacks. The most emblematic example is the two "Imperial Capital" class carriers, which suffered heavy damage in battles yet were repeatedly repaired and returned to the battlefield, lasting until the end of the war.
The carriers built by the Empire Navy post-war also emphasize survivability.
The "Xue Yuanzheng" class has over 4000 watertight compartments, and aside from the boiler and engine compartments, all others are small compartments. Theoretically, even if one-third of the compartments below the waterline are flooded, as long as the flooding does not exceed 15,000 tons, the carrier will not sink.
According to the engineer’s conclusion or theoretical calculations, the "Xue Yuanzheng" class can withstand up to 10 heavy anti-ship missiles or 4 heavy torpedoes.
This survival capability is exceptionally formidable.
In fact, the Empire Navy has always had a tradition of using retired carriers for survivability testing.
Aside from a few converted into naval museums, all of the large carriers in the Empire Navy have been used for internal testing after retirement, without exception. More than 20 large carriers were built during the last war. It was through these tests that the Empire Navy gained a wealth of firsthand data and experience, which were all applied to post-war carrier designs.
Furthermore, the "Huizhou" has not sunk, at least not yet.
Although the combat reports describe this cruiser as being in a perilous situation and at risk of capsizing at any moment, Li Shenzhi has issued orders to the captain to make decisions based on the actual situation, prioritizing the safety of the officers and soldiers. However, the captain of the "Huizhou" has not issued an abandon ship order, and efforts to save the battleship are ongoing, with a possibility of returning it to Alexandria.
In other words, despite the loss of over 50 bombers and more than 20 fighters, the West Continent group’s reprisal action did not manage to sink a single battleship.
The main factor is the deployed troops.
A total of 80 "Fire God" bombers were deployed!
If there were no important, must-achieve objectives, what reason would the Tiaoman Empire have to deploy 80 "Fire God" bombers against the 51st Special Mixed Fleet with only two carriers?
So, what is this important objective?
Initially, Zhou Yongtao and key military personnel discussed this issue.
Including the Minister of Defense, several key military personnel believed it was related to the continental battlefield, hoping to eliminate the 51st Special Mixed Fleet, prevent the Empire from transporting supplies to the Chains Land Bridge, reduce the difficulty of attacking the Chains Land Bridge, and use this reprisal to cover up the setbacks suffered on the ground battlefield.
Additionally, it could be seen as forcing the Empire to shift its focus to the maritime battlefield.
Indeed, there is some rationale behind these reasons. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
However, these objectives are quite meager.
Moreover, there is a critical point that doesn’t make sense.
The final batch of bombers launched the attack from the north, flying over the Ter Republic, thus violating the "Istanbul Convention."
This convention not only establishes the Ter Republic’s permanent neutrality but also holds great strategic significance.
To put it bluntly, when the Tiaoman Empire and the Liangxia Empire were contracting, they essentially backed their respective influences in the Ter Republic.
If the Tiaoman Empire breaches the treaty, the Liangxia Empire will no longer need to abide by it.
This implies that the Empire could use the Ter Republic to transport troops and supplies via railway to the Chains Bridge.
Thus, what is the point of blocking the sea shipping lanes?
This concerns a very crucial railway.
Invested by the Empire’s railway company, the railway from Sirte to Kars, running north-south through the Armenian Plateau, has been operational for several years.
Additionally, about 300 kilometers south of Sirte is Mosul in Iraq, with approximately 100 kilometers without a railway.
If the Ter Republic can be used, it would solve the problem of transporting supplies to the Chains Bridge.
Moreover, a new battlefield could be opened here.
The Tiaoman high command certainly wouldn’t think Iraq could withstand the Empire’s forces.
In this case, what reason does the Tiaoman high command have to actively undermine the neutrality of the Ter Republic?
According to the "Istanbul Convention" supplementary terms, if any contracting party violates the treaty, the Ter Republic will ally with other contracting states. As Newland Republic has not yet participated in the war, the Ter Republic can only legally ally with the Liangxia Empire.
To truly prevent the Empire Navy from advancing into the Mo Sea, they should wait until the 51st Special Mixed Fleet enters the Mo Sea before launching an attack.
At that time, it might be possible to completely annihilate the 51st Special Mixed Fleet and the accompanying transport fleet.
Importantly, they could arrange Tactical Air Force to carry out the strike or deploy more fighters to shield the bombers.
Clearly, the Tiaoman Empire’s action at this time is not the most ideal choice.
Facing Qin Fenglie and other key military personnel, Zhou Yongtao did not emphasize this issue.
The main reason being it wasn’t necessary.
Zhou Yongtao focused on preparing to utilize the Ter Republic once it is confirmed that the Tiaoman Empire breached the treaty, specifically following acceptance by the Ter Republic Authority. So before that, the primary task is indeed to defeat Iraq.
Moving north from Boss Bay, through the Ter Republic to Chains Bridge, the route is either through Iraq or Boi Country.
Evidently, only the former can be chosen now.
Regarding the 51st Special Mixed Fleet, it can be set aside temporarily.
During the discussion, Zhang Xiaotian proposed conducting reprisal bombings on the northern military base of Land Heart Sea, but Zhou Yongtao vetoed it.
Reprisal bombings are primarily for show.
If this were a local war, there might be such necessity. But in the context of a global war, this kind of action has no practical value.
In fact, Air Force Chief of Staff Zhen Bisheng also expressed opposition.
The reasoning is simple; the Navy has decided to withdraw the fleet deployed in Land Heart Sea, and thus the Air Force would have to undertake the reprisal operations.
Even if the Navy’s shore-based air force assists, the strike must be executed by the Air Force’s bombers.
Clearly, the Air Force currently does not have any extra capacity to support operations in Land Heart Sea.
Therefore, Zhou Yongtao emphasized repeatedly to win the Boss Bay conflict quickly, ending operations in that direction to concentrate forces against the West Continent group.
This was also a message to Zhang Xiaotian that it is not yet time to launch a reprisal.
However, Zhou Yongtao reminded Zhang Xiaotian to elevate the Navy’s readiness, especially regarding East Ocean, and to remain vigilant.
The heavy damage to the 51st Special Mixed Fleet is not a trivial matter.
Even if the two super carriers have not sunk, they are already incapacitated, meaning the Empire Navy can only deploy 13 carriers in the short term. Excluding 5 undergoing major repairs in the shipyard, and 3 that must remain in the direction of Fan Flame Ocean, plus 2 deployed in the Southwest East Ocean, the Empire Navy has only 3 carriers in the most crucial strategic direction, that is, near the Howay Islands.
Notably, these are 3 large carriers.
Of course, for the past decade, the Empire Navy has consistently deployed only 3 carriers around the Howay Islands.
This number is adequate in peacetime.
With 3 carriers, there is always at least 1 operating in open waters, providing sufficient deterrence to potential enemies.
In wartime, however, 3 carriers are definitely insufficient!
If reinforcements are needed in the Land Heart Sea, or if warfare in the Southern Subcontinent needs to be addressed, forces must be redeployed from the Southwest East Ocean.
In such a case, there would be no Reserve Team left near the Howay Islands!
Theoretically, the Newland Navy could, in approximately 15 days, increase their carrier deployment in East Ocean to 5, retaining 1 as a backup.
If the Newland Air Force is prepared accordingly, mobilizing sufficient bombers would give them the capacity to launch an attack.
Moreover, if the Newland Authority has convinced Fanluo Country, there is an increased likelihood of simultaneous trouble in East Ocean.
Thus, the Empire is now facing an extremely perilous situation.
In addition to being engaged on 3 fronts, it is highly likely that battles will soon erupt on 2 additional fronts.
If that happens, the trouble will be immense!
This is, in fact, why Zhou Yongtao brought Lin Shiping along.
