What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 418 The Theory of Covering Up
The fire completely charred its port side, detonated 16 missiles amidships, and broke off part of the smokestack. However, the crew cleaned up the fire damage during the voyage and then did some minor tidying up of the exterior. When it arrived in port, it looked relatively undamaged compared to other warships.

Actual testing confirmed this: the main structure was completely undamaged, the superstructure required minor repairs, and the steam turbine chimney could even be welded back on for continued use.

The previously reinforced anti-ship missile armor bulkheads proved effective, diverting most of the impact to the sides and causing minimal damage to the warship.

The final repair plan for the USS New Jersey only required repairing the smokestack, part of the superstructure, replacing two Phalanx CIWS and a few radar antennas. This work could be completed in a little over a month if we rushed it out.

The Imperial Navy immediately decided to turn the tragedy into a celebration, honoring the USS New Jersey as an "unsinkable ship" and awarding all officers and men a special commemorative medal, while also recognizing their outstanding achievements in rescuing friendly forces.

Major media outlets were also regulated to lavish praise on the heroic performance of the crew and to downplay the severe damage suffered by the Enterprise.

Following this, Prism Building announced that the attack was caused by the Second Fleet using special radar jamming devices, launching an attack at the cost of a large number of suicide attacks, which caused some losses to the task force.

The severe damage to the Enterprise was due to ground crew violations, including failing to close the hangar in time and ignoring safety hazards by packing the aircraft too densely, which led to an uncontrollable fire and subsequent explosion.

Of course, this is only a preliminary conclusion. A special investigation team has been stationed on the warship and has spoken with the crew members at the time, and will write a more professional and detailed report.

At the same time, President Jefferson finally gave a formal public response:
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The air raids on Guyana were defined as a full-blown provocation, and a formal declaration of war with the Second Fleet was made.
Continue to intensify investigations into the whereabouts and life trajectories of Hans's exiled elites from that era;
Then there's the issue of security in Nanmei:
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An agreement is being reached with the US and Pakistan to send ground troops for guidance, followed by a plan to use air force precision strikes to completely destroy the "air force base."
The Second Fleet was warned that any attack on the Panama Canal was unacceptable, and warships would be formally deployed to protect the canal's navigation safety, with consideration given to establishing air defense bases there.

Following this statement, related bills were submitted to parliament, and although they have not yet been passed, a large number of members have expressed their approval.

However, what the president says is one thing, and what he does is another.

The Panama Canal is only 1500 kilometers from the Panama rainforest, and the inland Glenbia is in a terrible state. The warships protecting the canal still face the risk of being attacked by air again.

Moreover, there are currently no aircraft carriers in service on the mainland, and the USS George, which performed exceptionally well last year, has been deployed to the Gulf.

The air force needs to build bases around Panama, which will take a considerable amount of time, and the warships sent there during this period will be in extreme danger.

However, the economic losses from the disruption of canal navigation are astronomical and cannot afford any further delays.

Prism once again turned its attention to its allies, first approaching the equally humiliated Chicken. The latter verbally agreed, but stated that due to heavy losses, it would not be able to send a large-scale fleet until early 98.

Britain avoided the issue like the plague, while the other small European countries shook their heads in disbelief.

Unable to find allies in the Atlantic, the empire could only look to the Pacific.

……

"Are they pressuring us again?"

In the study, Tang Wen ate a mouthful of rice noodles and finally understood why he had been summoned.

"What the US really wants most is a few Kongo-class battleships from the Eighth Fleet, but it does want to get a few more battleships to take the hits."

Zhao Hande clicked his tongue:
"You might not believe it, but they sent people to contact us privately and said that if we went to war, we could install Sea Sparrow and Phalanx systems in the United States, and bring them back with us when we return home."

"So, on top of joining the WTO, they're giving away some leftover equipment as a bonus?"

“It’s not a gift; we have to pay for it ourselves, but we can buy it at the Imperial Navy’s internal procurement price.”

"This is outrageous! Do they want us to arm ourselves to protect the US?"

Tang Wen couldn't help but complain, and Zhao Hande shook his head repeatedly: "The missile system debugging and electromagnetic compatibility of Taishan and Huashan will take at least another year. They can't do anything at all. The reasons for refusing are very valid."

However, although the domestic authorities rejected the proposal, they also put forward another solution as planned:
It was acknowledged that a second Type 001 battleship was under construction and nearing completion, and could be sold to the Empire.

Unlike the powerful and well-equipped Taishan and Huashan, this Yamato renovation project, which is about to be launched, is different.

Zhao Hande took out a piece of paper, which was the domestically decided reform plan:

The hull was essentially a blank Yamato, with all secondary guns and anti-aircraft guns removed, and C801 launchers and HHQ7 close-in weapon systems added. The stern was modified into a helicopter landing pad, and several radars were added.

The Type 001 is simply an original battleship with a bunch of weaponry of the Type 051 standard crammed on it, only in greater quantities. The modification time and difficulty are extremely low, and it can be easily completed in a month.

And the price is very cheap; the domestic price offered is only a friendly price of $15 billion.

The Empire's liaison officers, of course, looked down on this eye-searing antique and were unwilling to pay $15 billion for it. So Zhao Hande took the opportunity to suggest selling it to Japan, where it could still cooperate with the Empire in battle.

"They agreed?"

"It was just a private meeting to exchange opinions, but their people didn't refuse at the time, they just made one request:"
The second Type 001 tanker must be launched by July, and personnel will be sent to inspect its armor and defensive capabilities.

"completely fine."

Tang Wen gave an OK sign. Minor adjustments were no problem, but it would put a lot of work on the domestic shipyards.

……

Tomohiro Uchimura is having a meltdown.

As soon as Minister Johnson's assistant, Saliore, sat down, he made an outrageous demand:
"The Empire hopes that you will send the Kongo and Kirishima destroyers, as well as two 'Hatsuyuki'-class destroyers and two Haruna-class helicopter destroyers to form a joint defense force."

Such a request sent chills down his spine; it was practically half of the 88 Fleet in one sentence!

Moreover, there are already three Kongo-class ships built, and they intend to take the first two, which have been trained, with them!

They call it prioritizing our shared defense, but in reality, they're just becoming targets.
Tomohiro Uchimura could only whisper:

"Sir, if so many warships are diverted, a defense vacuum will be created in the Western Pacific."

Salor calmly waved his hand:
"There's no need to worry about that; the Empire will add more warships to fill the gaps."

Tomohiro Uchimura was furious. Why didn't you just provide direct support to Panama? You're just trying to trick them into becoming targets.

Kosareur kept talking about "joint defense," and he dared not object. He could only bow and apologize repeatedly, hoping to drag it out indefinitely.

The Maritime Self-Defense Force had already received the news that the captains of several capital ships were either sick on leave or many sailors were afraid of being absent from duty.

Salor's eloquence was no match for that of a seasoned diplomat, and after half a day of fruitless negotiations, he had no choice but to change the subject:
"Mr. Uchimura, what if the Empire were willing to help you acquire a 70,000-ton capital ship?"

"Sorry, this..." Uchimura Tomohiro, who was shaking his head, suddenly realized what was happening, and his smooth smile vanished.
"What, seventy thousand tons?"

(End of this chapter)