Munitions Empire-Chapter 1137 - 1057 guessed the answer
The airflow made these falling bombs sway slightly from side to side. As they descended to a certain altitude, the locking structure of these cluster bombs opened, allowing the strong wind to lift the protective casing.
A huge gust of air instantly blew open the four-section casing, blossoming like a beautiful flower in the sky. The next second, the submunitions fixed to the internal structure scattered like fairies scattering flowers, left to be blown about by the air everywhere.
After two or three seconds, these melon-sized submunitions slammed into the ground, bursting one after another. The continuous explosions were like a storm sweeping over the targets on the ground.
From the barren open ground, the cluster bomb explosions spread all the way to the airfield covered with camouflage nets. The Zero Fighters and Dragon Bombers hidden under the nets were instantly swallowed by the blasts.
The anti-aircraft gun positions, which had just aimed their muzzles at the sky, were also lifted into the air in the next second, and then scattered back to the ground, crashing down everywhere.
Although at least two-thirds of the bombs did not hit their targets directly, this new type of ammunition still demonstrated good destructive effects on unprotected airport targets.
Just the one-third of submunitions that hit the target turned the entire field airport runway into a moonscape. The numerous craters instantly crippled the airport, and it would take at least several days of repair work to possibly resume normal operations.
And such results don’t even include those aircraft that have been incapacitated on the side: half of the airfield’s planes were disabled, most of them scrapped with no value in repair.
Without delay, the bombers that had dropped the bombs banked and left the battlefield, leaving behind the stunned Goblins staring blankly at the distant black dots vanishing into the sky.
The Zero Fighters that had taken off in an emergency had barely climbed to around 4,000 meters, only to find that they couldn’t catch up with the retreating Great Tang Empire bombers.
The nearest Zero Fighter pilot could even see the dragon emblems painted on those grey-white fuselages, yet had no opportunity to close the distance and unleash a burst of machine gun fire at those damned enemies.
In fact, this wasn’t even the most miserable part. The most miserable thing was that after chasing for half a day and watching the bombers of the Great Tang Empire leave, the pilots returned to find their airfield riddled with holes and unusable.
Before they ran out of fuel, they had to quickly transfer to other airfields that had not been attacked or had survived the attack to land.
Luckily, the Zero Fighters had a long enough range and enough endurance; otherwise, these homeless planes might actually have run out of fuel and crashed near the smoky runways of their airfield.
The results of this bombing were truly outstanding; out of the airfields Mirage Country deployed on South Island, at least 7 were completely paralyzed and rendered useless.
110 Dragon Bombers were deployed at these airfields, and now less than 30 remained usable. Similarly, out of the 210 Zero Fighters stationed there, fewer than 100 could continue to fight.
That is, of the 300 Zero Fighters Mirage Country deployed to South Island for combat support, less than 200 remained even before the official engagement in battle.
The entire South Island air defense system was in chaos, with rescues being conducted and casualty reports being tallied. Within just a few hours of the two countries formally entering the war, Mirage Country suffered enormous losses.
Inside the Air Force Command on South Island, a group of officers was in disarray. From time to time, someone rushed past with documents, moving fast enough to create a breeze.
By one desk, an air force officer was clutching the phone, shouting, "Yes! We need more anti-aircraft guns! The enemy used a kind of high-speed bomber that the Zero Fighters can’t intercept... Our highly-anticipated fighters have let us down."
The air force of Mirage Country didn’t have their own uniforms; they wore the same ones as the infantry, with just a slight difference on the collar and shoulder patches.
This officer was requesting more anti-aircraft guns from Ben Island. Mirage Country had not deployed many anti-aircraft guns on South Island previously due to their great faith in the performance of the Zero Fighters.
But now, the facts proved that the Great Tang Empire’s bombing was still effective. The fighter defense line, which could not secure South Island’s safety, was as good as non-existent—an emergency allocation of more anti-aircraft guns became another option for South Island air defense.
Not far behind this officer, another was also clutching a phone, reporting to his superiors the losses from the recent bombing: "Losses? About 100 Zero Fighters are scrapped, some parts can still be used, some engines are still intact, but they can’t fly anymore…"
The incident was sudden; they had not been able to visit the scene. However, the message from the airport indicated that the enemy had dropped a large number of small bombs, completely covering the entire field.
This description baffled many, and they also lacked a proper understanding of the devastation caused by cluster bombs to airports: they could not imagine how terrifying a large number of bombs, specifically designed to destroy runways, could be.
While the officers reporting the losses harbored a sense of unnamed fury, at least they didn’t need to be frantic. At this moment, the truly devastated were those air traffic controllers. Their duties were urgent, and being a minute or second late could cost lives.
Only in another corner of the command center, the dispatchers clutching their phones have already started to tremble in their voices: "We have 20 Zero Fighters that took off to intercept enemy planes and cannot land now, do you have space there? Yes! They can only land at your location... please arrange a landing time..."
"What did you say? Your Field Airport had 15 Zeroes transferred over? What do you mean ’at least half an hour’? Can a plane with no fuel stay in the air for half an hour? Hello? Hello?!" Another dispatcher is on the verge of tears.
Their airport has been severely damaged and is no longer capable of allowing previously launched intercepting Zero Fighters to land.
Therefore, these planes must be diverted to another airport for landing, but these planes do not belong to that airport, so they must be arranged on a temporary basis.
With different troops being served, the sudden increase in the number of planes to be dispatched has all bases’ dispatchers busy beyond measure. They have never had any training for a situation like this and are overwhelmed by the sudden problems.
The third dispatcher at this time is close to breaking down; the Zero Fighters he is responsible for were the first to take off, and by now they are almost out of fuel.
So, he can only hysterically threaten, no longer caring about the other party’s feelings: "No matter what, you must arrange for the planes to land! If we lose more planes, I’ll go to the main base and report your dereliction of duty!"
Not far from these dispatchers nearing madness, the Chief of Staff responsible for the defense of South Island is also on the phone: "Hello? Hello! What? Speak clearly, what do you mean ’attacked’? Great Southern Bay? I’m listening?"
The air defense units’ observation posts report to him that thick smoke is rising from Great Southern Bay, seeming like something has attacked there.
So, the concerned Chief of Staff of the Mirage Country Air Force anxiously inquires: "What? What does that mean?"
"Great Southern Bay has been attacked," came the definitive answer from the other end of the phone.
The Chief of Staff hesitates, guessing: "Bombing?"
He speculates that it may be the newly arrived bombers of the Great Tang Empire that have split off to bomb Great Southern Bay.
The other side rejects this guess: "No. We speculate it’s the same kind of weapon called ’missile’ that Great Tang Empire used in the attack on Dahua’s capital ... Three explosions, all in residential areas, causing heavy losses, dozens of buildings have collapsed, and casualties are over a thousand."
"I understand. Have the ships in the harbor been evacuated?" The Chief of Staff hangs up the phone somewhat helplessly and turns back to look at the officer who had been waiting behind him.
"They have been evacuated! Following the prearranged plan, I have ordered the troops to be ready to deploy mines in the designated area at any time..." The officer replied with his chin raised.
General Shengwu Zhong, responsible for the defense of the entire South Island, is quite satisfied: "Well done! Since those Tang people have hidden their cards, don’t blame us for playing dirty. Deploy mines and underwater mines in the suspected landing areas! At all costs, stop Tang Country’s troops on the beaches!"
Even though they were prepared, the officer still expresses some concerns: "Understood! But... General... the use of mines and underwater mines is against the international weapons treaty..."
After all, they all had signed that treaty, promising not to use inhumane and dangerous weapons such as mines, underwater mines, and White Phosphorus Bombs. If Mirage Country were to break the treaty now, Great Tang Empire might retaliate.
Shengwu Zhong frowns and reprimands: "Idiot! At a time like this, who cares about honor? The real victory comes at any cost!"
"Yes! I will immediately go to convey the orders," the officer bows his head and turns to carry out the task.
"First, they destroyed the South Island’s airport, the bombing is very targeted... It seems their target is us, no mistake." His gaze falls on the large map hanging on the wall, Shengwu Zhong looks grave: "Request reinforcements... more tanks, more infantry, more Anti-Aircraft Guns..."
"Yes! General!" The Chief of Staff bows his head and turns to send out the telegrams.
"Where will you land? Is it the south beach, or the north beach, or could it be... can you only try to seize the Great Southern Bay at the first opportunity?" His gaze sweeps through the three locations, Shengwu Zhong mutters to himself.
"The most dangerous is still Great Southern Bay... You come from afar, what you most want, must surely be the port, right?" Standing in place for a while, Shengwu Zhong feels he has guessed the answer: "Then I will wait for you right here..."
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Supplemental update
