Damn the World, Ride a Submarine - Chapter 226



Only Krnovel

Episode 226 – P-8C Poseidon

President Zhang Yuanfei saluted me even though he was the head of state. Seeing me try to stop him, he opened his mouth.

“No. If there had been no Marshal, how could free Taiwan have existed? I am the President of Taiwan, but Marshal is my Marshal.”

“Yes, yes. I’m glad you’re healthy. Haha.”

“You have to be healthy. Now I’m busy reviving Taiwan.”

“It seems so. Are the domestic situations stabilizing a bit?”

“Thanks to your consideration, I am quickly regaining stability.”

“That’s great. Is there anything difficult?”

“It’s not that it’s difficult. I have to rebuild the Taiwanese Navy, but I don’t know where to start. I can’t just be indebted to you forever…”

“Don’t be so hasty. Anyway, since you’ve decided to rebuild the Navy, I’ll help you if I can.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

One of the reasons Taiwan fought two wars was because of semiconductors. In particular, TSMC’s production capacity had a significant impact not only on the economy but also on the defense industry.

“By the way, Mr. President, are Taiwan’s semiconductor production facilities safe?”

“Fortunately, it was well managed even during the Chinese occupation, and thanks to the rapid progress of the operation to recapture Taipei, it was able to survive.”

“Fortunately, the.”

“If I had been a little later, I might have found a land that was no different from an empty can. It’s all thanks to you, Marshal.”

“An empty can?”

“I found out later that the Chinese Communist Party leadership, realizing that the situation was turning, gave orders to blow up Taiwan’s semiconductor facilities.”

“Ah, that was almost a disaster.”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s very fortunate that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army commander stationed in Taiwan at that time hesitated and didn’t do it because he was afraid of being held accountable after the war.”

“Yes, that’s true. That’s really fortunate.”

“But… I have one request for you, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, feel free to tell me.”

“With import lines with mainland China cut off, securing food and energy resources is difficult.”

“I guess so. I’ll talk to my OSL and ESSO about it, so coordinate well.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Zhang Yuanfei looked at me and saluted me again.

“Ah, ah. You don’t have to go that far.”

“No. I am sorry that all I can do is salute. I just hope that one day I, and our Taiwan, will be able to help you, our Marshal.”

“I feel good now that you said that, because it feels like I’ve gained strong support. Haha.”

…

My schedule in Taiwan was also completed. I headed to the South China Sea to visit Hainan Province, where the OSS Northern Army and the 1st Armored Division were stationed.

Suddenly, I remembered the report that more than half of the Chinese Navy’s submarines still remained. I went to find Commander Choi Eun-seok, who was traveling with me on the ARK.

“Commander, how many Chinese submarines are left?”

“All nine Type 094 and Type 096 SSBN strategic nuclear submarines, which pose the greatest threat, are still intact. Four of them have been located by our SSNs and are being covertly tracked.”

“Oh, no SSBNs were sunk, so…”

“It has been confirmed that most of the SSN attack nuclear submarines were sunk in the last naval battle, leaving one Type 093 and one Type 095.”

“hmm ···.”

“And we estimate that there are about 15 Type 039 and Type 041 SSK diesel/electric submarines left.”

“China’s submarine power is still formidable.”

“That’s right.”

“Commander, what is the greatest threat to the submarine?”

“In a one-on-one engagement, enemy SSNs are a threat, but in large-scale combat situations or over large sea areas, it is aircraft, then and now.”

“Are nuclear submarines and aircraft the biggest threat?”

“Yes, that’s right. If you look at the performance of the detection equipment, there isn’t much difference between an Aegis ship and an aircraft.”

“…”

“Aircraft are much faster than ships, making them ideal for searching large areas of the ocean simultaneously. In other words, once they are detected, they are more difficult to avoid.”

“Ah, I see. If we drop multiple sonar detection devices from the air… the detection range will be wider.”

“Yes, I was going to suggest something to you anyway.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

Commander Choi Eun-seok was suggesting the introduction of a new anti-submarine warfare system.

“I would like to introduce the P-8 Poseidon, a submarine-specific surveillance aircraft.”

“Okay, that’s good. How is the performance?”

“The P-8 Poseidon has more than just the ability to detect submarines. It can directly attack enemy submarines by dropping torpedoes from the air, making it an anti-submarine killer.”

“Oh~”

“It is equipped with radar and optical detection equipment that can detect even small periscopes on the water, and its detection range is over 400 km.”

“hmm…”

“Additionally, multiple sonar buoys can be dropped into the sea to search wide areas underwater.”

“What a great resource. You should have told me sooner. Why now…”

“So far, our fleet and underwater drones have been sufficiently capable of conducting anti-submarine operations, but we are reaching our limits as the sea to be searched has suddenly expanded.”

“Well, I didn’t know that we would reclaim Taiwan and occupy Hainan Province in just one year…”

“Currently, we can only conduct operations in strategic areas and moving waters. It is difficult to search suspicious waters by submarine or ship from the South China Sea to the East China Sea.”

“Okay, I’ll try to get it implemented as quickly as possible. But I suddenly have a question.”

“yes.”

“What happens if you sink a SSBN strategic nuclear submarine? Will all the nuclear bombs explode?”

“Oh, you have nothing to worry about. I’ve checked it myself, but nuclear weapons have multiple levels of safety measures.”

“Of course there is something like that, but since it only says there are several stages···.”

“Then I’ll tell you what I know. First, there’s a launch code and key system called PAL.”

“…”

“There are also safety devices called SADs. They include physical and electronic locks and time delay systems.”

* PAL (Permissive Action Link): Procedures and systems for activating nuclear weapons

* SADs (Safing and Arming Devices): A series of systems and devices for the safety and protection of nuclear weapons.

“okay.”

“And the most certain safety measure is that physical separation is the basic principle.”

“Material separation?”

“Yes, that’s right. Whether it’s plutonium or uranium, it’s assembled only after a launch order is given. In addition, there are additional detection and destructive measures.”

“It is reassuring that physical separation is a basic procedure.”

“Yes. Nuclear bombs do not explode simply due to physical impact or environmental changes. Therefore, even if a submarine is sunk, the possibility of nuclear missiles exploding at the same time is extremely low. However, ···.”

“but?”

“The possibility of radioactive material leaking from a nuclear reactor or nuclear warhead is quite high. Long-term environmental contamination is the biggest risk.”

“Okay, I understand. I asked in advance because I thought it would be helpful to know in case of an emergency.”

“Yes. At the command level, we will look into the tactical and strategic side effects of the sinking and submit a report.”

“Thank you. For now, we will expedite the introduction of the P-8.”

…

Through conversations with Commander Choi Eun-seok, in order to conduct anti-submarine operations in the South China Sea, as well as the Philippine Sea, the East China Sea, the East Sea of ​​the Far Eastern Republic, and the Marshall Islands.

We came to the conclusion that there must be at least 12 P-8 Poseidons.

In order to procure this aircraft, he ordered all resources and personnel, including Admiral Son Il, Director Lee of the Information Bureau, Secretary General Jin Min-gyu, and Director Jeong Si-un, to be mobilized to expedite the introduction.

I kept nagging him to bring it as soon as possible, even if it meant paying 2-3 times more.

…

The early introduction of the P-8 Poseidon was achieved even before the ARK arrived in Hainan Province.

The solution, of course, was money.

A contract has been signed for the immediate delivery of 12 P-8C Poseidon anti-submarine patrol aircraft from Boeing.

The aircraft was originally scheduled to be delivered to India and Australia. Despite various attempts at persuasion and pressure.

The driving force behind the early introduction was the decision to provide a premium of 2.5 times the original introduction price.

The unit price was 250 million dollars, but with a premium added, it was settled at 700 million dollars. In Korean currency, it was 1 trillion won per unit.

The deal was quickly concluded, with India, Australia and Boeing all sitting back and making trillions of dollars.

*** P-8 Poseidon Specifications ***

Total length: 39.47m

Overall width: 37.64m

Overall height: 12.83m

Maximum takeoff weight: 85,820 kg

Cruising speed: 815 km/h

Maximum speed: 907 km/h

Combat radius: 2,222km

Ferry range: 8,300km

Radar: AN/APY-10 multi-mission radar / APS-154 AAS multi-function radar

Optical Detection: L-2 Wescam digital EO/IR sensor

Electronic Warfare: Electronic Warfare Management System and Airborne Threat Distribution System / Fiber-Optic Towed Decoy

Armed:

There are 5 internal and 6 external hard points.

Torpedo: Mk.54 MAKO LHT light torpedo

Bomb: JDAM or LGB

Missile: AGM-84D/G Harpoon

Anti-submarine weapon system: HAAWC (High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon system)

Crew: 2 pilots, 7 mission operators

* * * * * * *

…

The ARK arrived in Hainan Province and anchored at the OSS naval base in Sanya City.

At the dock, the commander of the OSS Northern Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Cha Min-soo, was there to greet them, standing at the head of the line with a dignified demeanor.

As we left the main gate, the OSS Northern Army Band rang out to welcome us. Even though both the commander and the soldiers were from North Korea, they played in a Korean style.

– Parabara baam~

– Parabara baam~

– Parabara baam~ …

Still, the welcoming refrain of “O Seong-jang-gun” was repeated five times.

“We warmly welcome your visit, Your Majesty.”

“Haha. It’s really nice to see your face like this after only hearing your voice through the phone.”

“When did you create the military band?”

“This is a military band that was spontaneously formed in preparation for the day when the enemy visits. It is the result of the soldiers practicing in their spare time.”

“Oh~ This is touching. Haha.”

“I am so honored that you say so.”