Damn the World, Ride a Submarine - Chapter 184



Only Krnovel

Episode 184 – Angel of Death

The ARK’s situation room’s operational situation panel began to flash with colorful dots and shapes.

The red and blue triangles on the map of Taiwan on the panel were about to meet.

– An air-to-air missile engagement began. Missiles were launched almost simultaneously from enemy and friendly attack formations.

…

…

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– 19 enemy aircraft have been shot down. No friendly casualties yet.

In an instant, red and blue dots on the screen began to intertwine. The dogfight had begun after the first missile exchange.

– 17 enemy aircraft were shot down. 36 enemy fighters were shot down in response. Five appear to have escaped.

“What about the damage to our army?”

– One F/A-18E/F was hit and is returning to the carrier.

“Is that all?”

– That is all.

– The second squadron from the 2nd Carrier Strike Group is taking off to replace the escort mission.

Before I knew it, the situation panel was filled with blue square dots, indicating vertical takeoff and landing rotary wing aircraft, approaching Taiwan. They were MV-280 and AV-280 assault formations.

– An air assault formation carrying a special task force entered Taiwanese airspace.

– Reached the training coordinates.

On the screen, blue square dots were positioned scattered all over the Hualien Airport in Taiwan.

After the air assault squadron of Operation Dong Hwang Jae Ki departed, the entire fleet was heading at full speed toward the eastern waters of Taiwan.

The ARK’s situation room was as busy as the New York Stock Exchange, with reports of the progress of the 3D operation and flashing situation screens.

– Three AC-130Js took off from the Luzon Island Air Force Base.

The newly introduced AC-130J Ghost Rider was a gunship called the artillery of the sky.

The C-130 transport aircraft was like a death knell for ground forces, as it fired 30mm GAU-23/A machine guns and 105mm M102 howitzers indiscriminately.

He is also nicknamed the Angel of Death.

Additionally, it was not simply equipped with a cannon on the plane, but was also equipped with AGM-176 Griffin air-to-ground missiles and various guided bombs, making it the best option as a ground force support force.

After the air superiority was completely secured, it was decided that five aircraft would be introduced in a hurry as an effective means to continuously block the advance of Chinese forces stationed in Taiwan.

The AC-130J OSS artillery resources were to perform artillery missions from the sky before landing.

– Our air assault squadron is entering Hualien Airport.

“Please display the battle broadcast screen.”

The scene being filmed by the MV-280 and AV-280 was displayed on a large screen in a grid format, and the radio transmission from the operation site was reverberating through the situation room.

– Chijijijik. This is AV-01/01, 2nd escort squadron, suppress enemy armored forces north of the runway. Over.

– Chijijik. AV-02/01 received. Abnormal.

– Chijijik. This is AV-01/01, Escort 1st Squadron, destroy enemy ground forces and border resources south of the runway. That’s it.

The AV-280 was a vertical takeoff and landing attack aircraft developed to replace the Apache and Viper attack helicopters.

It was optimized for landing assault support, as it had both the speed of a fixed-wing aircraft and the low-altitude flight capability of a helicopter.

The situation room screen showed the AV-280 formation firing AGM-114 Hellfire missiles at Chinese tanks and armored vehicles waiting around Hualien Airport, and in an instant, dozens of tanks and armored vehicles were engulfed in flames.

Several Chinese tanks were exploding, sending their turrets flying into the air.

Each AV-280 was equipped with 18 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

After eliminating the armored force with anti-aircraft equipment, the AV-280 aircraft began to hover by turning its propellers vertically.

In that state, the M230E1 30x113mm chain gun was fired toward the ground force outpost.

– Ding, ding, ding.

– Drrrrrrrrrrrr….

The twelve AV-280s were loaded with 24,000 rounds of 30mm chain gun ammunition, and all aircraft were firing their chain guns at ground hazards.

Even the concrete outposts were half destroyed, revealing the insides, and the anti-aircraft gun outposts were turned into fire pits after just two or three shots.

Chinese tactical vehicles moving somewhere were inevitably showered with chain gun fire, exploding and being completely destroyed.

– A Chinese regiment is advancing south along Coastal Road No. 9 from the north. Hualien Airport is 20km away.

– Chinese reinforcements from the south are moving north on Route 11. One mechanized regiment. About 15km away.

“Where are our bomber formations?”

– We have taken off from the 2nd Carrier Strike Group for a mission change. 24 F/A-18E/Fs will arrive in the operation area in about 10 minutes.

At that moment, the battle broadcast screen showed the MV-280, which had been air-assaulted, hovering over the outskirts of Hualien Airport and the rooftop of the control tower and main office building.

Soon, our special forces quickly descended using fast roping, and the agents who landed on the ground were seen looking for cover and keeping watch.

As the crew landed on the ground, the MV-280 began to drop what appeared to be supplies onto the ground and then ascended and exited.

The OSS task force entered various parts of the airport as if they had made a promise. Although the muzzle flash was occasionally visible, the operation seemed to be proceeding smoothly.

– A squadron of OSS Air Force fighter bombers has arrived in the operating area.

– Preparing to bomb Chinese reinforcement regiments on Routes 9 and 11.

On one side of the battle feed screen, a black-and-white screen of the FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) used to conduct ground attacks from the cockpit of an F/A-18E/F was shown.

The black-and-white screen showed armored vehicles and military trucks moving on Routes 9 and 11.

In one corner of the screen, it says Maverick! It shows that they are targeting an AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile.

A slight vibration was transmitted to the screen, and at the end of the Maverick missile’s flight trail, the armored vehicle in the black and white screen was engulfed in a white cloud of flames.

The armored vehicles following behind were also detonated one after another by AGM-65 Mavericks, and soldiers jumping out of military trucks following behind were also shown on the black and white screen.

The F/A-18E/F’s continued their aerial bombardment, and the operations officer’s voice could be heard.

– The advance of the Chinese reinforcement regiments on Routes 9 and 11 has been halted, and over 90% of the enemy’s mechanized forces have been annihilated.

The actions of the OSS raiding squadrons resulted in the Chinese reinforcements losing their armored and mechanized forces.

Now, even if they still had the will to fight, they would have to run 10km.

At that moment, there was another battle report from the operations officer.

– This is a report from the Special Forces Assault Battalion. They have completely taken control of the Hualien Airport control tower and the main headquarters building.

“Ah, thank goodness. What about our damage?”

– There have been no reports of damage, but based on what has been confirmed, it is expected to be either none or minor.

At that time, Director Kim Jun-myeong requested secure communication.

“Oh, I was waiting to hear from you, sir.”

“Yes, sir, we have complete control of Hualien Airport. The Free Division troops will be arriving soon.”

But it was strange. Beyond the radio, I could hear the sound of propellers and the occasional gunshot.

“Wait a minute! Sir. Are you in the operational area?”

“Oh, yes. We moved together with the training group.”

“Oh my, Director!”

“I’m sorry. I thought you wouldn’t give me permission if I told you in advance…”

“Ah, even so. How could someone in charge of the entire operation do something like that?”

I was angry, but on the other hand, I was envious of Director Kim Jun-myeong.

“I had to quickly assess the initial situation on the ground, so I made a rash decision. Please forgive me.”

“Haa~ I was locked in a submarine and ···”

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

“If you do this again, I’ll go with you.”

“Yes, yes. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“What is our damage situation?”

“The only non-combat casualty was a sprained ankle.”

“Oh! You’ve nailed the plan again this time.”

“It’s because we’ve definitely secured the right to provide. And the MV-280 is really something.”

“Yes, that was the reason we were able to plan this operation.”

“It only took 40 minutes to fly 400 kilometers. I don’t think they could have imagined that they would be conducting an assault operation 400 kilometers away.”

“But it’s still too early to feel relieved. It will take six hours for the main fleet to arrive. We have to defend the beachhead with our current resources.”

“Yes. That’s why I came here myself.”

“oh my ···.”

Beyond the radio, the sound of multiple propellers began to be heard again.

“Sir, it looks like the vanguard of the Free Division has arrived. I’ll contact you again.”

“Take care. I’ll see you soon.”

Director Kim Jun-myeong hung up the phone without even answering. This meant that he was concentrating on the situation on the ground.

I, too, focused on the operational situation. The operations officer and operator continued to report.

– A formation of MV-280s carrying the 1st Battalion of the Free Division landed at Hualien Airport.

– The CH-53K Kingstellion assault formation departing from the 5th amphibious assault ship entered Taiwanese territorial waters. It is carrying the 2nd Battalion of the Free Division.

– Three AC-130J Ghost Riders departing from Luzon Island entered Taiwanese airspace.

– Five of our C-5M transport aircraft entered Taiwanese airspace.

“How much time is left until our fleet’s main force arrives at the landing point?”

– At the current speed, there are about 4 hours left.

One of the battle situation broadcast screens showed the Hualien airstrip, where a C-5M transport plane was landing.

And on another screen, eight CH-53K Kingstellion helicopters were landing.

As the helicopter landed, soldiers in full gear were running out in formation.

After exchanging a light salute with the helicopter guide, the soldiers began to gather on one side of the airport. As they formed a line, they seemed to be talking to the special forces.

Buses and pickup trucks came into the screen. They seemed to be vehicles that had probably been conscripted locally.

‘Director Kim’s field application tactics are…’

A few hundred special forces managed to take control of the airport, but they could not defend it by running around the entire vast airport and runways.

However, if we just waited for distribution, we might miss the opportunity.

…