What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 649 The Sea Wolf Plan (August 2400 Monthly Tickets)

The U-boat is the most cost-effective warship in the Lost Empire.

Compared to the prototype, which only added the function of launching reconnaissance aircraft, even if it is evolved to the level of a jet aircraft and is sunk and recovered, it will only cost tens of thousands of silver coins. With a little bit of combat success, it will definitely break even.

They are quick to build, numerous, inexpensive, and cost-effective. If conditions are right, you can exhaust the enemy by launching a large number of aircraft.

After using the P13A for the first time, Tang Wen quickly figured out its application scenarios:
The P13A's ramjet engine consumed fuel extremely quickly when running at full power, only enough for 10 minutes to cover 500 kilometers, and its maneuverability was poor, making it no better than a gnat in regular combat.

However, when facing large targets such as bombers, the high-altitude and high-speed characteristics of the P13A make it more like a missile, and a missile with a range of 500 kilometers and its own powerful propulsion.

Shooting down bombers is possible, but shooting down warships is even easier.

The reason for leaving behind the 20 U-boats was not only to mislead the Empire, but also because Tang Wen saw on television that the Empire had dispatched more fleets, while the British and the British had also increased their warships. Hans wanted to join but was stopped.

Attacking an aircraft carrier is out of the question, but taking down an Arleigh Burke or severely damaging a Hood would be great, further fueling the Empire's anger.

The Empire, however, had become more experienced and adept at using only airplanes, while the Royal Navy remained stuck in outdated thinking.

The moment the Lancaster approached, its name and model were revealed.

[Found British Navy 'Lancaster' (Tier: ?? / HP: ??)]

Three nearby U-boats immediately risked surfacing. While Lancaster was still basking in the joy of its first victory, three P13As were already flying off with solid rocket boosters. By the time the first stage separated, Lancaster was already within reach.

Unlike the B2 ambush, the warship was much slower, giving the P13A ample time to reposition and ram at such close range.

In less than 18 seconds, the Lancaster only had time to detect the target before three pyramid-shaped P13A helicopters struck the frigate's bridge, hull, and midships funnel at Mach 2.

Even though the P13A didn't carry the extra weight of the HAZ, the impact of the remaining 1-ton mobile suit at twice the speed of sound still had terrible consequences.

Because the Type 23's command center lacked the heavy armor of traditional warships, the P13A missile that struck the bridge entered from the upper left. The immense kinetic energy of the attack nearly tore half of the bridge apart before it emerged from the other side. The resulting impact and debris instantly killed the entire command staff on the spot.

The P13A, coming from the port side, aimed at the broadside of the ship, hitting the upper equipment and living quarters. The powerful blow destroyed half of the upper deck on the spot.

The most devastating blow came from the funnel. This P13A bomb entered from above the starboard side, but because of the angle, it did not penetrate the bottom of the ship. Instead, it tore through the funnel and burst out of the ship's hull on the starboard side. Together with the second P13A bomb, it completely destroyed the midships section of the ship.

All of this happened almost simultaneously, and the upper deck of the Lancaster, which was still speeding along at high speed, was almost completely destroyed.

The only fortunate thing was that the four Standard Missile 2s from the Stanson were sensitive enough that they activated their self-destruct mechanisms within milliseconds of detecting the disappearance of the target they needed to intercept, and exploded in mid-air a few dozen meters away from the Lancaster, causing no further damage.

However, some of the pipes on the Lancaster, which had been impacted, had begun to burn, and the sailors, having lost their entire command structure, were in a state of panic trying to save the warship.

The U-boat captain had no time to admire the Lancaster's devastation; instead, he immediately sought out more opportunities.

Tang Wen's decision not to request the B2 wreckage doesn't mean he won't search for it; if he manages to salvage even a small piece, it's a bonus. Secondly, he wants to create as many combat achievements as possible before the U-boat is sunk. These two optional side missions should be completed as if they were the main missions.

The moment the USS Stanson launched its missile, it was detected by the system as firing, thus exposing itself. Since the submarine that had just launched the P13A had a 90-second cooldown, the other submarines also began to surface in an attempt to eject the P13A to continue the attack.

……

"There they are!"

As the Lancaster was attacked, the Stanson turned to flee and issued a warning, while anti-submarine helicopters and carrier-based aircraft rushed to take down the attackers.

At this point, the USS Stanson only wanted to escape. The threat posed by those strange Mach 2 missiles to warships was self-evident. Even air-to-air missiles could cause great damage to modern thin-skinned destroyers, and the "Standard Missile 2" could also be used to attack warships.

However, 90 seconds after the attack on the Lancaster, even the nearest helicopters had not yet reached the area where the submarines were located. At this time, the three submarines that had just attacked, as well as two U-boats that surfaced 20 kilometers away, launched P13A missiles, with the target being the USS Stanson.

As soon as the five "missiles" were launched, the USS Steinson, which was already on high alert, responded by simultaneously opening its fore and aft chocolate bars and launching ten "Standard Missile 2" missiles as if they were free, creating a series of spectacular plumes of smoke in the air.

After launching the Standard Missile 2 (SM-2), the USS Stanson could only hope that all missiles would be intercepted in the next half minute. They weren't confident that the missiles, capable of accelerating to Mach 2, would be 100% successful. Meanwhile, the Stanson's captain had already decided to install Sea Sparrow missile modules as soon as possible. The Imperial Navy's Arleigh Burke had initially not considered a threat within 10 kilometers and generally only deployed SM-2 missiles at intervals of 10 to 120 kilometers. It wasn't until after the war with the Lost Empire that they decided to gradually install Sea Sparrow launchers. The Stanson, due to its long-term deployment overseas, had not yet undergone the modification.

在SPY-1的雷达中，3枚较近的P13A都被“标准2”率先拦截，而更远两架P13A却是因为拥有足够的反应时间，立刻选择使出拿手好戏：超低空5米掠海突击！
The signal received by SPY-1 was immediately interfered with by the sea surface echo, much to the astonishment of the USS Stanson:

The enemy's missiles can hit stealth aircraft at a range of 150 kilometers and can also launch surprise attacks by skimming the sea. Compared to them, the Standard Missile 2 is simply a generation behind!
Fortunately, one of the P13As was still intercepted by two Standard Missile 2s, but the last one successfully penetrated the defenses, and the command staff on the bridge of the USS Stanson only had time to grab onto something fixed.

The P13A precisely pierced and penetrated the bow of the USS Stanson. The penetration was severely deflected by the impact of the triangular aircraft, creating a shockingly large rift at least 5 meters wide!
Under the influence of gravity, the bow of the USS Stanson immediately drooped and tilted, but fortunately, the vertical launch system was not affected, and the warship with its bow destroyed was not in danger of sinking.

By this time, several aircraft had already launched their attack, and the five submarines that had just catapulted their P13As had lost their chance.

However, the remaining eight submarines were also desperately surfacing, attempting to take down the USS Stanson through a relay launch, and the other warships also spotted them and launched attacks.

Even so, four submarines successfully launched P13As, but this time the other warships also launched missiles to intercept them.

With the overwhelming interception of three air defense ships and one frigate, a P-13A had to face an average of six Standard Missile 2 missiles, and ultimately failed to take down the USS Stansen.

The entire strike group recklessly unleashed a variety of anti-submarine weapons, completely suppressing the U-boat's desperate counterattack.

However, at that moment, the Stanson and John Paul, which were close to the Lancaster, spotted a faint flash of light on the sea, followed by a white mushroom cloud rising on the horizon.

Twenty seconds later, unusual ripples appeared on the sea surface.

About a minute later, a muffled explosion was heard in the sky.

Although the P13A that hit the Lancaster's chimney did not contain RDX explosive, the remaining coal dust was trapped in the confined space. Under high temperature and pressure, it combined with the coal dust in the air to form a typical powder explosion.

The first explosion completely destroyed the propulsion system and piping, which in turn triggered a secondary explosion of fuel and ammunition, breaking the Lancaster in two. The entire warship was as if it had been dragged upwards by a huge force before crashing heavily onto the sea surface, taking on water and sinking rapidly.

Less than five minutes later, when the Lynx helicopter she had launched arrived to the rescue, only a small portion of the Lancaster remained afloat, and the sailors frantically tried to escape the whirlpool.

Three minutes later, the Lancaster sank completely, with only about twenty sailors and the ship's helicopter escaping. The rest of the crew, including the command staff, perished at sea.

……

Prism Building
"If the 'New York Ghost' crashes, let's proceed with Plan Seawolf."

When Rams said those words with a mixture of anger and helplessness, Wayne looked relieved, while Johnson seemed unable to hold back his emotions.

What is the Sea Wolf Program?

Prism Building could not accept the B2 being shot down, and the president could not afford to lose face. In addition, there was no direct evidence that the wreckage had fallen into the sea, so they ultimately chose to cover up the scandal and conceal the news.

Rams originally intended to directly assign the new B-2s that entered service this year the designation of AV-3, reducing the original 21-aircraft complement to 20. However, Wayne threw a tantrum and refused to agree, demanding the purchase of one more B-2 to fill the vacancy left by the AV-3 'New York Ghost'.

Rams compromised, but because the sinking of the USS Seawolf was so similar to the sinking of the USS Seawolf, the Prism Building had even gained experience in how to cover up budget reports to avoid being exposed. So he simply came up with a new term, "Operation Seawolf," and incidentally put pressure on the Navy.

The Seawolf II is still undergoing testing and is not expected to be delivered until 99. Rams still remembers this!
"The Navy's most advanced submarine sank before it even entered service, and the Air Force lost one of its most advanced aircraft on its first combat mission. Is this the result of Prism Building spending hundreds of billions of dollars?"

The generals were all quite embarrassed, and Wayne was even more pale. The loss of this one B-2 was enough to cause his approval rating within the Air Force to plummet.

This is half a Nimitz! A flying gold, even the future of Burke, who was in charge of the mission, has been greatly hindered.

Just as the Joint Chiefs of Staff were discussing how to continue targeting the subcontinent and devise attack methods, an urgent battle report arrived from the USS Nimitz:

The U-boats' desperate counterattack severely damaged HMS Stanson, almost completely destroying its bow, and sinking the escort ship carrying British allies!

(End of this chapter)