Empire Conquest-Chapter 917 - 128: Formidable Characters

Among them, those in good condition will be sealed and preserved.

Importantly, the operational time of the Navy shipborne fighters is typically 75% of that of the Air Force’s same-type combat aircraft.

The reason given by the Navy is that the operational environment for shipborne aircraft is harsher, for example, during takeoff and landing, they endure greater external forces, and they remain long-term in high humidity and high salt environments, with higher intensity during deployment, thus the lifespan of shipborne aircraft is definitely less than that of land-based aircraft.

However, the Imperial Navy deliberately ignored a problem, that the shipborne aircraft had already made necessary adjustments in design to accommodate the harsh deployment environment.

As such, shipborne aircraft surely underperform in key functions compared to the Air Force’s same models.

Take the Navy’s pride "War-9B" for instance; its top speed, maximum altitude, and acceleration performance all fall short of the Air Force’s "War-11A". Because it’s bulkier, even with a more powerful engine, the vertical maneuverability of "War-9B" is inferior to "War-11A".

The crux lies in ensuring the advanced performance of the plane group, which also elevates the combat readiness level.

The most representative are "Attack-6" and "War-12".

Previously mentioned, "War-12" in the Navy Air Force has a different role than "War-10", not designed to form a high-low mix with the equally expensive "War-9" to enhance fleet air combat capability, but to replace "Attack-6".

Simply put, "War-12" is a multi-purpose fighter more suited for attack missions.

In actual deployments and usage, this is indeed the case!

During the Boss Bay War, the Navy deployed over 400 "War-12", 90% of the time they were performing ground support tasks.

Actual combat has proven, "War-12" can’t be considered an excellent fighter, but it is an outstanding attack aircraft!

Compared to "Attack-6", "War-12" possesses overwhelming advantages in other areas besides a slightly shorter operational radius. The most critical point is the ability to execute attack missions without needing other fighters as escorts, relying entirely on its self-defense weaponry, such as combat missiles to handle encountered enemy aircraft, greatly reducing the combat burden of the Navy Air Force.

If necessary, it can also discard ground attack ammunition in advance, changing the mission nature during flight.

But the issue is that the "Attack-6" being replaced by "War-12" had an average service time of less than 20 years.

The last batch of "Attack-6F" was delivered in New Calendar 141, with a service time of less than 10 years.

As a result, besides the early models that reached service life, retired either scrapped or low-cost dumped after life-extension treatment to allies, the retired "Attack-6F" were all sealed up, and inspected prior to sealing, those with longer service time had their main load-bearing structures reinforced to ensure immediate use upon unsealing.

By the outbreak of Boss Bay War, there were as many as 500 sealed "Attack-6F".

As the global war broke out, these shipborne attack aircraft were all reactivated and directly organized into newly formed shipborne air force wings.

Relying on preserved combat aircraft, the Imperial Navy added 10 new shipborne air force wings.

Among these combat units, 4 wings have reached combat status, ready to be deployed to the front line. The other 6 will complete training within half a year to be deployable.

In terms of mobilization efficiency, the Navy Air Force surpassed the Air Force.

According to Ding Zhennan’s understanding, including the previously deployable active shipborne air force wings, there are at least 8 deployable wings.

However, the Navy’s focus is on the East Ocean.

Over at the Howay Islands, at least 3 additional wings are required to address the increasingly obvious threats.

Besides, Southwest East Ocean also needs reinforcement to ensure that when the Sixth Special Mixed Fleet leaves to support the Fourth Special Mixed Fleet, it can cover the strategic route from Aus to the Empire’s mainland, guarding a length over 10,000 kilometers, covering the entire island chain defense line of Southwest East Ocean.

With such, the shipborne air force available to the Alliance Army is very few.

That’s why Ding Zhennan called Shi Shouliang.

The outcome did not surprise Ding Zhennan.

The Navy Headquarters agreed to Shi Shouliang’s request, but due to concentrating forces against threats from across the East Ocean, at most they could spare 2 wings.

Before receiving the Navy Headquarters letter, Ding Zhennan had already sought out the highest commander of Gaoju Kingdom, Admiral Park Tae-hee.

In persuading Gaoju Kingdom, Ding Zhennan didn’t mince words, directly telling Park Tae-hee they could consider allowing Gaoju troops to occupy Southern Iraq, responsible for managing ports like Basra and Fao, ensuring Gaoju Kingdom receives the corresponding war dividends.

However, the premise is that Gaoju Kingdom must increase troops, not just ground forces, but also air power.

The key is air power.

When discussing, within the Alliance Army, only Gaoju Kingdom still has the capability to reinforce Boss Bay.

The main member countries of the Eastern Group are almost all involved or about to be involved in warfare. East Luosha needless to say, the core area of the homeland has fallen, whether they can hold the current line is a question. Bakistan faces the Southern Subcontinent, focusing efforts on dealing with Fanluo Country. The Saiyi Imperial Kingdom to the east, even with a fleet of significant size and relatively large air power, primarily protects the strategic route to Howay Islands. As for the Ao Country in Southwest East Ocean, it is responsible for the entire strategic defense of Southwest East Ocean.

Only Gaoju Kingdom temporarily has no worries.

However, this is not surprising.

In the strategic system of the Eastern Group, Gaoju Kingdom itself is one of the strategic reserve teams, responsible for supporting the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom.

Simply put, in the strategic system of the Eastern Group, especially around East Ocean, Gaoju Kingdom is the second echelon.

For now, the East Ocean War hasn’t erupted.

Moreover, the Imperial Navy has entered a state of war, enhancing the deployment intensity in East Ocean, and Saiyi Imperial Kingdom has begun preparations for war.

In the short term, it isn’t Gaoju Kingdom’s turn to take the lead.

The key is, Gaoju Kingdom can’t resist the lure presented.

It’s the oil in Boss Bay!

If Liangxia Empire during wartime can achieve self-sufficiency in oil-based energy through controlling social consumption and expanding domestic extraction scale, then for Gaoju Kingdom, which produces no oil, it relies more heavily on imports during wartime.

Gaoju Kingdom developed, rapidly completing industrialization post-war, relying on import processing trade, unrelated to resources.

Obtaining oil from Southern Iraq is a dream come true and a perfect result for Gaoju Kingdom!

Of course, the Imperial Authority could not refuse Gaoju Kingdom’s reinforcement of Boss Bay.

Long before ground war began, Ding Zhennan had approached Admiral Park Tae-hee, hoping Gaoju troops could undertake more combat tasks. But at that time, Park Tae-hee tactfully declined Ding Zhennan citing the lack of domestic permission, when in fact the conditions had not been negotiated.

As Ding Zhennan knew, Park Tae-hee, as Commander-in-chief of the Royal Guard, is essentially second in command in Gaoju Kingdom, under one but above thousands.

In all but name, he is Gaoju Kingdom’s Regent King!

Moreover, the current King of Gaoju Kingdom is indulged in pleasure, ignoring state affairs for over a decade, the state power long fell into the hands of the Royal Guard Commander-in-Chief.

Indeed, Park Tae-hee’s status is not unfounded.

Among the many generals of Gaoju Kingdom, he is one of the few with actual combat experience, having been to Boi Country over 20 years ago.

Though in the Boi War, Gaoju troops’ performance was lackluster, Park Tae-hee’s Royal Guard stood out as one of the rare main forces.

During the engagement, Park Tae-hee was merely a Lieutenant officer.

By the war’s end, he was a Major General of the Royal Guard!

In just ten years, his rank rose over ten levels.

During the war, he befriended the then Crown Prince, serving in the Royal Guard, and formed a strong bond.

Afterwards, he married his only daughter to the former King’s elder son and supported him to become the Crown Prince.

Thus, he became the father-in-law of the current King of Gaoju, his daughter being Gaoju Kingdom’s only queen, and his grandson the Crown Prince.

It’s fair to say, this guy is definitely a formidable character.