What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 336 Kosomoyets (7200 monthly votes in April)

No matter when or what the purpose is, targeting civilians is an act that is extremely contrary to moral principles.

Even if we really had to do it, there would be a plausible reason.

The reason why the Imperial Fleet could sink one U-boat after another so easily in the past was because Tang Wen strictly restricted them to only being able to retaliate after spotting a warship.

If we attack every ship indiscriminately, the world's attitude towards the Second Fleet will change from "sitting idly by and causing trouble for the US" to "being universally reviled as a rat crossing the street."

It was precisely because of these constraints that very few forces responded when Hastings demanded a thorough investigation into the smuggling of goods.

Even Hans, who is the most suspected, has to take the blame. After all, if they start it, will the other countries also be forced to close the border?
But if there were truly unrestricted submarine warfare, the outcome would be hard to predict.

Therefore, Tang Wen had to explain that the Imperial Navy had concealed the fact that it could not stop submarines from entering the coastal waters, so that Zhao Hande would believe that this was definitely not the work of Gaijin's submarine.

"So, according to you, Johnson orchestrated this whole thing?"

Zhao Hande found it hard to believe. There were more than 700 people. How could such a thing be done in a place where human rights are paramount?
"We had a submarine sunk before, but they didn't make it public. They must be trying to frame us to incite hostility from all over the world... Damn it!"

Tang Wen couldn't help but swear; he had already realized this unsolvable chain of suspicion.

After all, no matter what, the Empire's reputation is far superior to that of the Second Fleet on the high seas.

If they try to frame someone by bringing up the previously concealed remains, there's really no way to expose them!
After all, with witnesses and physical evidence, even if someone has doubts, they cannot truly raise any objections!

The empire's immaculate golden body still exists, and even Zhao Hande dares not question it.

However, Tang Wen realized that he still had a cheat code to use, so he immediately calmed down and searched for the nearest submarine in the Bahamas.

U-4501, the submarine that can reach speeds of 40 knots underwater, is nearby.

Although the wreckage of the Type IX U-boat that was sunk in the Bahamas was not recovered, Tang Wen was able to sense its location, which was currently on a semi-submersible vessel.

It's midnight in the Atlantic Ocean, and it's being sent to the vicinity of the Clover!
Paying for salvage to remove them in full view of the public would be too much, but if U4501 rushed over and sank them, then disappeared with the wreckage, Johnson would have no physical evidence!
U4501 is currently nearly 600 kilometers away from the semi-submersible vessel, and it will take 8 hours to reach it.

Tang Wen originally planned to have it wait in the middle of the Atlantic to rendezvous with the U2501 that arrived later, and then try to launch a Thunder Operation while the Enterprise was heading south.

Its mission has now been temporarily changed to focus entirely on heading north to destroy evidence and prevent Johnson from framing it.

Just then, a message flashed through his mind.

A U-boat was loitering off the coast of Chiwei, keeping watch on the Polar Dawn. While wandering around aimlessly, its sonar detected a treasure:

At a depth of 1500 meters in the waters southwest of Medvezh Island, a pile of metal debris lies scattered.

The U-boat has lowered its anchor hook and requested Tang Wen to come to the scene to confirm.

……

Eight years ago, the Kosomoyets, the most powerful and only third-generation super nuclear submarine in the Soviet Union, sank off the coast of Chove.

This is the only Type 685 nuclear submarine. Although the authorities subsequently sent a submersible to investigate, they were unable to salvage the wreckage. They could only roughly analyze the cause of the accident through photos and recordings from that time.

Soviet nuclear submarine discovered: K-278 "Kosomoyets"

Hull: Length 118.4 meters, beam 11.1 meters, draft 8.4 meters, surface displacement 5800 tons, submerged displacement 8000 tons

Weapons: 6x Garnet submarine-launched cruise missiles, 10x Blizzard/SEAT-60M torpedoes
Power source: One VM-5 pressurized water reactor, producing 43000 horsepower, with a submerged speed of 30.6 knots and a surface speed of 14.6 knots.

Maximum diving depth: 1250 meters

[Pay 2758000 silver coins to salvage]

The salvage cost of over 200 million yuan is astronomical, but Tang Wen doesn't think it's expensive at all.

First of all, the Type 685 submarine is made entirely of titanium alloy, making it arguably the most expensive nuclear submarine ever built.

Russia invested heavily in its 685-class submarines, equipping them with highly automated control, extremely quiet operation, and an astonishing diving depth. While the US Seawolf-class submarines can only reach a maximum depth of 600 meters, the 685-class has a working depth of 1000 meters and a maximum depth of 1250 meters.

All of this relies on a full titanium alloy hull, which comes at the cost of extremely high price and extremely difficult processing, resulting in only one ship being built.

This nuclear submarine is not only unprecedented, but may also be the last of its kind.

Even more than 30 years later, there is still no nuclear submarine that pursues such ultimate performance.

The 5000 tons of titanium alloy it produced alone are well worth the price.

Not to mention that when K-278 sank, two of the missiles had mushroom-shaped warheads.

Without hesitation, Tang Wen retrieved it from the depths of the ocean and brought it to the isolated island base in the South Pacific, where he immediately deployed it.

……

For ordinary people all over the world, this day is absolutely a day of disaster.

On the afternoon of April 11, the Clover sank with more than 700 people on board.

Less than 12 hours later, the "Coral Princess" in Luzon, carrying more than 300 people, also sank to the bottom of the sea.

The difference is that the Clover is close to Florida, and within a few hours more than 5 ships and more than 10 helicopters were assembled to go to the rescue, and the Imperial Navy was desperately searching for the submarine that caused the accident.

But the Coral Princess wasn't so lucky; the Luzon authorities' only response was: "Oh, oh? Oh!"

They had absolutely no rescue capabilities, and they didn't even receive the news until five hours after the Coral Princess "struck on the reef and sank," and then... decided to give up.

It was already night in the Western Pacific, and they didn't have many helicopters that dared to fly at night, and they were even unwilling to send out rescue ships. Instead, nearby international charitable organizations actively coordinated volunteers everywhere.

Johnson was somewhat taken aback when he received news that a cruise ship had also sunk thousands of miles away. After careful consideration, he felt that it might really be an accident.

After all, the Second Fleet had no motive or need to do this; on the contrary, he had to find a way to "discover" evidence.

The ship that sank the Clover was not a nuclear submarine, but a homemade semi-submarine that had been captured from a flour merchant. It had been modified and fitted with torpedo tubes, and after use, it was simply scuttled.

The semi-submersible ship, carrying the wreckage, operated at night, ready to announce at dawn that the Imperial Navy had sunk the offending submarine and avenge the victims.

Will anything unexpected happen?

No, no.

After daybreak, immense public pressure will force Congress to pass all unreasonable budget bills, at any cost, so that he can become a positive hero carrying the hope of revenge.

Johnson summoned his subordinates:
"Go and ask about the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Coral Princess, and whether there was any possibility of sabotage by the Second Fleet."

With the minister giving such a hint, the subordinates naturally understood that this must be another evil conspiracy, further confirming the murderer's identity.

After giving the instructions, Johnson found that his tension had not disappeared, but had become even more intense.

Perhaps it was a premonition, but the office phone rang, most likely from a member of parliament concerned about passenger safety.

Johnson composed himself and answered the phone, about to offer a reassuring smile, when he heard a scream:
"Minister, ESD-24 has been attacked and sent us a distress signal, but we have lost contact!"

ESD-24 is the semi-submersible ship carrying the submarine wreckage; in the public channel, it's portrayed as a rescue ship attempting to save the Clover.

In fact, barring any exceptions, ESD-24 should have carried out this mission after dropping the wreckage.

Johnson, his head spinning as if he'd been hit with a hammer, trembled and asked:
"Why didn't ESD-24 report this to me? Who are you?"

"This is Calvin. They sent out a distress signal on the military channel, but disappeared after only one call!"

(End of this chapter)