Chapter 824
The Captain's Mysterious Confidence, The Aircraft Carrier's Last Death Struggl
Just as victory is commonplace for them, this time was no exception.
In the past, no matter which tribe's internal affairs they interfered in, they always achieved final victory, as if victory was just a matter of turning their hands!
Who would have thought that so little time had passed?
They suffered such enormous losses: six destroyers, two cruisers, and one destroyer was damaged beyond repair. It can be said that they lost more than half of their ships.
Having fought to this point, they have even exhausted all their air defense measures. If another anti-ship missile attacks, they will surely be killed!
The remaining warships, along with the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier, are like meat on the chopping block of the Longxia Navy, ready to be devoured at any time! When have they ever been treated like this?
"How many of our carrier-based aircraft have we lost?" Willis suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked.
The communications officer hurriedly reported to the captain: "Reporting to the captain, we have just received the latest news."
"Based on the information currently available, a total of 8 F-18 carrier-based aircraft have been completely destroyed beyond repair. Another 10 have suffered varying degrees of damage. In addition, 19 carrier-based aircraft are being preserved in the hangar."
"Since the Longxia Navy did not launch anti-aircraft missiles during the first two rounds of attacks, the 36 carrier-based aircraft that were stranded in the air have successfully left this airspace, so there were no losses."
After hearing this report, Willis felt utterly miserable and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
Fortunately, the anti-ship ballistic missile that fell from the sky did not send the entire aircraft carrier to the bottom of the sea, but it did blow open the deck, destroy the second-level hangar, and damage a number of carrier-based aircraft, at least seven according to current statistics.
They were previously lowered into the hangar for safekeeping as he instructed; otherwise, all the remaining carrier-based aircraft would have been completely destroyed, let alone the 17 that have survived.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Willis asked again, "How much ammunition do we have left? What's the status of the other ships?"
Even though he already knew some of the results, he still wanted to know the specifics, so he couldn't help but ask.
"Reporting to the captain, our anti-aircraft missiles are all used up, as are our close-in weapon systems and the SeaRAM close-in weapon system."
"The other ships are in similar condition, all in very bad shape."
"If the Longxia Navy, or their air force formations, launch a third wave of attacks, we will be completely powerless to fight back!"
The communications soldier's words silenced all the sailors in the main control room; their hearts sank to the bottom, and their faces turned ashen.
At this point, they all knew they were just one step away from death, and there was no way to turn things around.
Even though a few warships survived, they were like lambs to the slaughter without anti-aircraft missiles, just like tigers with their teeth pulled out. They looked powerful, but they were just paper tigers!
Whether they can survive now is a question.
The first mate looked at everyone and couldn't help but ask, "Captain, we've lost our air defense capabilities. There's no way we can stop them. If the Longxia Air Force attacks us, we have absolutely no way to fight back!"
"Whether we live or die depends on whether the Longxia Navy and Air Force will take action against us!"
"Of course, it also depends on what we decide next!"
Willis clearly understood that this choice he made would directly impact the fleet's fate and future. Surrender, and they would all survive.
If they choose to continue fighting, then they might as well be going to report to God.
"Alright, everyone quiet down."
Taking a deep breath, Willis roared at the crowd, "Let me think about it carefully."
After everyone quieted down, he gripped the railing tightly with both hands, his eyes fixed on the dark sea outside the porthole, where waves crashed against the ship.
A full half minute passed, and he didn't move an inch. In the distance, several warships were sinking into the sea amidst billowing smoke and dust, and many sailors were jumping into the water.
Many lifeboats were deployed, and the sailors desperately climbed aboard.
As for the damaged destroyer, the crew was busy organizing damage control, fighting the fire, and carrying out repairs, all hoping to save the warship they depended on for survival. On the aircraft carrier deck, sailors in silver fireproof suits were busy putting out the fire.
As for the sailors on the warships that were undamaged, they launched lifeboats to help rescue the sailors who had fallen into the water.
Even though they weren't directly attacked by anti-ship missiles, some of them still fell into the water.
The sailors who had fallen into the water earlier were now swimming back desperately, hoping to be rescued. They would not hesitate to grab any chance of survival.
Seeing the smoke and fire all around them, they frantically swam towards the intact warship!
They didn't want to stay in the sea any longer. If there were sharks or other marine life in the area, they were doomed. After all, the blood from the injured or dead spread rapidly, attracting these creatures.
Seeing such a horrific scene, Willis's eyes turned bloodshot, his face contorted with rage, and a surge of fury welled up inside him, but he held back, the veins on his hands gripping the railing bulging.
This defeat was an immense humiliation for him, but it was the first and probably the last time in his military career.
Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared in his mind, as if he had suddenly attained enlightenment.
"You just said that the Longxia tribe's air force has arrived?"
Willis suddenly turned to the first officer and said, "Go and ask around on each ship to see if any have any remaining anti-aircraft missiles. Make sure you find out. If you do, I'll give you a big reward!"
The vice-captain was helpless, but could only accept the order and say, "Yes, Captain."
The results of the investigation came out in no time: the remaining two cruisers still had a few anti-aircraft missiles left unused, which had been delayed due to a malfunction in the vertical launch system.
In this way, they did find a few remaining anti-aircraft missiles, and the key point is that the vertical launch system was finally usable after the previous repairs.
The vice-captain quickly reported the matter, a hint of excitement on his face. Willis spoke again, "Of those stranded carrier-based aircraft, are there any still capable of fighting?"
Similarly, the vice-captain made an emergency contact, praying that the batch of carrier-based aircraft wouldn't leave after firing all their shots. Fortunately, they were lucky.
"Captain, they haven't gone far yet." The first mate's words pleased Willis.
"That's enough."
Willis spoke his mind with a serious expression, "The Dragonxia Tribe has even sent out their air force, which means there's only one possibility: their navy is very likely out of ammunition and supplies!"
"We didn't inflict any damage on them, but they're in the same situation as us now—run out of ammunition. This is our last chance to turn the tide!"
Willis became more and more excited as he spoke, almost bursting into laughter. "Think about it, in this round, if we just need to hold off their air force, our chances of survival are still very high."
That's right, he would never surrender, he would never surrender. Not only that, he would continue to fight and give the Longxia tribe a fierce counterattack!
The first mate had reservations about this. After hesitating for a moment, he asked rather cautiously, "Captain, do you really think that's the case?"
"You shouldn't be questioning me right now!"
Willis responded confidently, "Think about it carefully. The Dragon Xia Navy launched two rounds of attacks, each one a saturation attack. The first round used nearly three hundred anti-ship missiles, but the second round only used nearly two hundred. Don't you see the problem yet?"
"Now that the Longxia Air Force has reappeared, it proves that the Longxia Navy fleet has exhausted its anti-ship missiles and is basically out of ammunition."
Upon hearing this, the vice-captain fell into deep thought, and soon realized that what the captain said made a lot of sense. It was even possible that the Longxia Navy fleet had come with the intention of severely damaging them, and therefore had not carried many anti-aircraft missiles, using most of them for anti-ship missiles.
After two rounds of frenzied attrition, the Longxia naval fleet, even if it had missiles left, didn't have many and posed little threat.
In other words, they have weathered their most dangerous moment, and now it's their turn to fight back!
If there were no more missiles, why were so many fewer anti-ship missiles launched in the second wave of attacks?
In other words, the Longxia naval fleet did not make good use of the brief two-hour ceasefire for ammunition replenishment!
Upon reflection, the vice-captain immediately felt ashamed for having uttered the word "surrender" earlier; he had indeed been inconsiderate.
In fact, he was completely deceived by Captain Willis's blindness. The reason why the Longxia Navy Fleet did not launch a saturation second wave of attacks was simply because the Third Combat Group wanted to intercept the carrier-based aircraft reinforcements taking off from the Condor!
If he knew the outcome, he would probably be so angry that he would jump up and down and immediately shout "Captain, let's surrender!" again.
"More importantly, I estimate that after this period of time, our air support fighters will be arriving soon."
Willis was deeply moved. "As long as we withstand this wave of attacks from the Dragonxia Air Force, we can hold out until reinforcements arrive. There are reinforcements coming from the USS Condor and from the garrison base. With the continuous assistance of these two reinforcements, we will definitely be able to escape alive!"
"Not only that, we can also turn the tide!"
Even now, Willis still doesn't understand that both the military base and the Pacific Command have been hiding extremely important information from him: the reinforcements coming from the direction of the Condor will never arrive.
Because of the interception by the Third Combat Group, the USS Condor suffered significant losses of carrier-based aircraft and dared not send any more carrier-based aircraft to provide support.
Willis stared intently at the vice-captain, saying excitedly, "Do you think our fighter jets are inferior to those of the Dragon Summer Air Force? Obviously not! We have the number one fighter jet on Earth!"
"Therefore, our chances of surviving this time are very high, and we might even be able to launch a counterattack!"
He paused for a moment, then added after two seconds, "So don't say anything dejected in the future, because we are the strongest navy on Earth!"
The first mate quickly replied, "Yes, Captain!"
He knew perfectly well that Willis's last words were directed at him, and at this moment he completely believed the captain's words.
On the other side, the First Combat Corps.
The fleet remained hidden in the vast, dark sea, and the blackout was still in effect. From the outside, they blended seamlessly into the pitch-black ocean.
Inside the main control room of the 10,000-ton destroyer, Captain Chen had already monitored the situation of the Enterprise carrier fleet through radar, and a slight smile of joy appeared on his lips.
The second wave of attacks successfully reduced the Enterprise carrier fleet to more than half its size.
This can be said to be the best result achieved by the Dragon Summer Navy in the conflict with the Eagle Tribe Navy since its establishment, which is unprecedented!
They set a good example for the Dragon Xia Navy and greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers! From then on, when they encountered the Eagle Tribe Navy, they no longer felt awe but instead felt the pride and confidence that they could defeat them!
If this news gets back to China, the general public will probably be overjoyed, celebrating and rejoicing!
The scene would certainly be several times more lively than the Chinese New Year, with everyone immersed in the joy of victory.
Their hearts will surely be cleansed, and everyone will stand taller and have more national self-confidence!
With its remaining strength, the Enterprise carrier fleet's will to resist is likely far weaker than before. However, further probing is still necessary to gain a clearer understanding.
At this moment, he couldn't help but feel fortunate that the Third Combat Group had not participated in the second round of attacks; otherwise, the losses to the Enterprise carrier fleet would have been far more than this, and the possibility of total annihilation would have been extremely high!
If they don't have a single warship left, how can they use aircraft carriers as leverage to threaten the Eagle Tribe? That doesn't fit the subsequent plan mentioned above.
Threatening the Eagle Tribe is not the goal; the aim is to maximize profits, to ruthlessly exploit the Eagle Tribe, and to make them forever remember today's crushing defeat, so that they will have to think twice before taking action against the Dragon Summer Tribe again.
The Longxia tribe will then be able to develop more steadily, and no one will be able to threaten them with war! (End of Chapter)