Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 353 Sinking the USS Washington! A Glorious Moment for the Chinese Navy and Air Force!
In the command center of the Chinese Navy's flagship aircraft carrier Wanli, off the coast of Gangneung Port.
"Commander Xiao, this time our navy has assembled the aircraft carrier Wanli, the battleship Dongfanghong, a cruiser, four destroyers, six submarines, and twelve gunboats!"
It's fair to say that the foundation of our new Chinese navy rests on this ship; we can't afford to lose..."

Captain Li Hongbo said in a low voice.

"It's not just our navy; the air force mobilized three hundred fighter jets to attack with us, which means they've deployed most of their main forces."

But if it weren't for Comrade Wu Wanli's repeated efforts to fight to the death, our Chinese navy would still only have those gunboats.

Therefore, we must fully support his proposed battle plan.

Xiao Zhenhua said.

"According to the latest intelligence, the U.S. Seventh Fleet consists of one aircraft carrier, one battleship, three cruisers, and six destroyers."

Overall, their naval strength is superior to ours, and even that Dreadnought aircraft carrier has a very impressive pedigree...

He participated in the air battles over Taiwan and the naval battles over the Philippines, and also achieved numerous military exploits in the fight against Japan!
And then there's the battleship USS Washington, which sank the Japanese battleship Kirishima in the Battle of Guadalcanal, making it invincible in the Atlantic and Pacific!
However, their air force, especially their carrier-based aircraft, has been drawn away by Comrade Wu Wanli, and now this is a golden opportunity!

Li Hongbo said with slight excitement.

"Washington?"
If we sink the USS Washington, can the newspapers say that China bombed the 'Washington'?
Hahahahaha…………

As for the HMS Essex, we'll hear Wanli's advice on capturing it with all his might!

The order was given: all warships were to accelerate to full speed ahead and make a final sprint into the waters near the port to engage in a decisive battle with the US Seventh Fleet!

All carrier-based aircraft took off immediately, under the unified command of land-based air force squadron leader Wang Wei, to bomb with all their might before the US Air Force could return to provide support!

Xiao Zhenhua thought for a moment and then immediately gave the order.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the communications soldier immediately responded.

....................................

Southeast of Jiangling Port, in the sky, inside the Wanli No. 1 fighter jet.
The air force squadron leader's fingers were firmly pressed on the control stick. Outside the windshield, a massive formation of three hundred Chinese fighter jets was accelerating.

His headset was filled with the short confirmations from the commanders of each formation, which merged into a low hum.

"Attention all aircraft, maintain altitude and enter in echelon!"

His voice, transmitted clearly through the throat microphone, reached the ears of every Chinese pilot.

As he spoke, his gaze pierced through the thin gaps in the clouds below, locking onto the U.S. Seventh Fleet anchored in the bay.

The massive Essex-class aircraft carrier HMS Intrepid resembled a floating island, with figures running frantically across its deck.

The heavily armored battleship USS Washington pointed its massive guns diagonally, exuding the arrogance of Guadalcanal's sinking of Kirishima.

Three Cleveland-class light cruisers and six Fletcher-class destroyers were scattered around the capital ships, forming a tight ring of protection.

"Attention all!
According to the predetermined attack wave!
Dive bomber formation – targeting enemy cruisers and destroyers!

Torpedo bombers—block the flank passage of the Intrepid!

The fighter squadrons engaged their anti-aircraft fire! Attack!

After giving the order over the radio, the air force squadron leader pulled the control stick and was the first to dive down.

In an instant, the massive Chinese aircraft formation disintegrated and reassembled in mid-air.

The first wave of attacks consisted of twenty-four MiG fighter jets.

These fighter jets were the first to lower their noses, their engines emitting a piercing shriek, and swooped down on the Cleveland-class light cruiser USS Montpellier.

The signal of impending death reached its climax amidst the piercing, mournful air raid sirens of the US fleet.

"Air defense! All units at maximum elevation! Fire! Fire!"

On the bridge of the battleship USS Washington, the roar of Vice Admiral Spruance, the fleet commander, rang out during a break in the alarms.

His command instantly transformed into a roar of steel.

“Boom boom boom boom!!!”

Dozens of 40mm anti-aircraft guns and 20mm machine guns on the sides and towering bridge of the USS Washington simultaneously spewed out scorching flames, weaving the first deadly fire net of near-explosive fragments and tracer rounds.

The nearby cruisers USS Denver and USS Santa Fe, along with the surrounding destroyers, unleashed their full firepower.

Countless orange-red tracer bullets intertwined, collided, and exploded wildly in the low sky, forming a boiling fire net that covered the entire fleet.

The black plumes of smoke from the explosions of anti-aircraft shells stretched endlessly across the blue sky like menacing weeds.

The Wanli-1 fighter jet, like a swift flying through the eye of a storm, was violently shaken by the dense ballistic airflow, and its instrument panel was shaking wildly.

A 40mm shell exploded less than ten meters from the outside of the right wing, and the pre-fragmented material hit the fuselage skin with a "crackling" sound.

He slammed the control stick, and the fighter jet narrowly missed several deadly crossfire lines at a near-out-of-control dive angle.

"Damn! The Montpellier's port side air defense is weak!"

The navigator's voice, hoarse and metallic, pierced through the noise of the engine and the explosion.

Almost simultaneously with his report, the first wave of Chinese fighter jets launched a desperate charge under heavy fire.

The belly hatch of a Chinese fighter jet was wide open, and two huge 250-kilogram aerial bombs broke free from their racks and crashed toward the "Montpellier" with a piercing shriek.

The light cruiser was frantically turning hard to starboard in an attempt to evade.

boom! boom!
The first bomb landed in the sea off the starboard side of the stern, sending a huge column of water soaring into the sky. The powerful shockwave caused the massive 10,000-ton ship to tremble violently.

The second bomb became the death knell—it pierced almost straight into the deck of the "Montpellier" mid-stern section, right next to the funnel!
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a dull thud so loud it could stop your heart, as if the bones of a giant beast were shattering inside your body.

Immediately afterwards, blinding flames and thick smoke erupted from the point of impact, instantly engulfing the entire deck and superstructure.

The ship suddenly sank downwards, and then began to list rapidly to port amidst the mournful sound of the keel breaking.

The American naval soldiers who hadn't been killed by the bomb slid into the burning seawater screaming like dumplings being dropped into a pot, and the roar of the ship's guns came to an abrupt halt.

Montpellier is finished!

On the bridge of the USS Washington, a staff officer gasped in shock.

Spruance's face turned ashen, his nails digging deep into his palms.

However, this was only the beginning of the Chinese Air Force's dance of death.

More Chinese bombers, like sharks smelling blood, began to cut in from different directions under the cover of fighter jets.

They unleashed a barrage of burning bombs and countless rockets at the US warships.

The destroyer USS Charles Osborne was targeted by a large number of Chinese fighter jets flying at low altitude.

Rockets rained down on the bridge and engine room, instantly turning them into a runaway fireball that slowly spun and sank on the sea surface.

Meanwhile, the boiling of the sea surface foreshadows the arrival of underwater danger.

The wolf pack of six Soviet-made submarines had already silently sailed underwater to their attack positions.

Chinese submarine captains are using periscopes to scan the chaotic silhouette of the giant ship on the turbulent sea.

"Deepened to three meters!"
Torpedo tubes one through four – Target: USS Washington!
Two-second interval—release!

The Chinese captain of a submarine gave a low command.

Four thick torpedoes detached from the bow, leaving long, thin white trails, like deep-sea serpents, and hurtled at high speed toward the massive battleship.

Almost at the same moment, a fatal blow also suddenly struck from another direction.

The main fleet of the Chinese Navy, led by the aircraft carrier Wanli and the towering battleship Dongfanghong, finally broke through the thin fog on the horizon and entered the battlefield with overwhelming force!
Following closely behind were a Soviet-supplied cruiser, four Soviet-made destroyers, and twelve torpedo boats and gunboats that the Chinese Navy had since its inception.

Like a raging torrent of steel, they charged at the right flank of the U.S. Seventh Fleet from the side and rear!
On the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Wanli, the last batch of carrier-based aircraft, loaded with torpedoes and bombs, roared into the air and joined the aerial stranglehold commanded by the air force squadron leader.

"Entire fleet—approach the enemy on starboard!"
Main guns—target USS Washington! Free fire! Maximum rate of fire!

The captain of the Dongfanghong battleship stood on the majestic bridge, his gaze fixed on the most threatening behemoth in the distance.

His voice, transmitted through the fleet's communication channels, became the clarion call for the entire Chinese navy to attack.

"Boom! Boom boom boom boom—!"

The roar of the Dongfanghong battleship's first salvo from its three triple-mounted guns, totaling nine 406mm guns, was like the hammer of a god striking into the distance.

The heavy muzzle brakes spewed out huge fireballs and blast waves tens of meters in diameter, and the entire warship was pushed sideways on the sea surface by the recoil.

Nine super-heavy armor-piercing shells tore through the air, traveling at speeds too fast for the naked eye to follow, covering a distance of more than ten nautical miles, and hurtled toward the USS Washington battleship!

"Fire! Starboard! Maximum defense!"

Inside the bridge of the USS Washington, the damage control alarms were blaring loudly.

This veteran ship, which has seen countless battles, displayed an amazing response.

The main gun turret, driven by the electric motor, made a difficult but rapid attempt to turn, while the secondary guns and anti-aircraft guns desperately sprayed interceptor bullets toward the approaching trajectory.

However, the speed and power of the 406mm giant bullet exceeded the limits of human capability.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three deafening roars, as if the sky were splitting open, exploded almost one after the other!

A shell slammed into the USS Washington’s starboard side amidships, about five meters above the waterline.

The surface armor of the battleship USS Washington cracked, creating a huge crater. The ship rocked violently, and terrifying sounds of steel twisting and breaking came from inside.

The second shell struck its rear deck near the Y turret, penetrating the horizontal armor and exploding violently inside.

The violent tremors caused the rotating mechanism of the battleship Washington's turrets to jam instantly, and thick smoke billowed violently from the gaps in the gun mount rings.

The most lethal was the third one, which, with unparalleled kinetic energy, accurately struck the base of the gun shield of the main gun on the right side of the forward turret of the USS Washington!
boom! ! !
The front turret was as if it had been hit by an invisible giant fist, and the armor of the entire base of the gun mount twisted and tore apart!
The secondary explosion has occurred!
First, the explosive charges piled up inside turret A were ignited, and flames shot out violently from the gaps in the breech and the observation window.

Then, an even more terrifying chain reaction occurred: the propellant charges piled up in the deep ammunition hoisting channel below the turret were detonated!
An indescribable super explosion has occurred!

The bow of the USS Washington looked as if it had been swallowed by a giant maw from hell!

The twin-mounted 406mm main gun turret, weighing over 200 tons and touted as indestructible, along with its massive base, was completely blown away from the inside by an unimaginable force!
A massive fireball, tens of meters in diameter, mixed with thousands of tons of steel fragments, cannon barrel wreckage, and human limbs, along with white steam from the sea, shot straight into the sky like a volcanic eruption!
The shockwave from the explosion swept across the entire foredeck, including turret wreckage, anti-aircraft gun positions, deck facilities, and countless sailors were instantly blown away!
The entire bow structure twisted and broke downwards, and surging seawater poured wildly into the gaping wound.

The destruction of the USS Washington became a turning point in this brutal naval battle, but it also ignited a desperate, desperate struggle among the remaining US warships.

The massive vortex and thick black smoke created by the sinking wreckage of the giant ship temporarily obstructed the Chinese fleet's line of sight for artillery fire.

Taking advantage of this brief period of chaos, the light cruisers USS Denver and USS Santa Fe unleashed all their firepower on the Chinese gunboat group and the Chinese cruisers!

In particular, China's only cruiser became the primary target.

Its 152mm main guns were fiercely bombarding a US destroyer, completely exposed to the crossfire of the USS Denver and USS Santa Fe.

"Port side! Enemy cruisers are firing!"

The captain lowered his binoculars, and the warning had just been uttered.

boom! boom! boom! boom!
A barrage of 152mm and 127mm shells rained down like hail.

Several huge fireballs instantly erupted from the midsection of the Chinese cruiser's hull, as a shell pierced through the thin horizontal armor.

The shell exploded violently above the engine room, and the raging shockwave and flames instantly engulfed the entire power core!
The devastating explosion of the main boiler followed immediately, shattering the fragile keel of this 10,000-ton cruiser amidships like a matchstick!

The broken hull sank rapidly amidst the desperate, twisting sounds of metal, its bow and stern rising high above the sea like rebellious beasts.

The remaining anti-aircraft gun emplacements continued to fire futilely into the sky until they were completely submerged by the icy seawater.

The Soviet naval ensign on the bridge fluttered in the flames before finally sinking into the waves.

At the same time, the twelve Chinese gunboats tasked with high-speed assaults and torpedo attacks also faced their most brutal moment of sacrifice.

Braving a hail of bullets, like moths drawn to a flame, they rushed one after another towards the American fleet, attempting to launch deadly torpedoes.

"Charge! Fire the mines!"

The captain of a 100-ton torpedo boat roared as the boat was engulfed in a fireball from a 40mm shell fired by a US destroyer and broke in two.

Another, slightly larger gunboat was hit by a salvo from the secondary guns of the Santa Fe, its superstructure riddled with holes and burst into flames.

Ultimately, it lost control and collided with a similarly badly damaged US destroyer, resulting in both ships perishing.

The sounds of exploding shells, the splashes of torpedoes hitting the water, the sucking sounds of sinking ships, and the mournful cries of dying sailors intertwined on the sea, creating a dirge of hell.

In a mere ten minutes of combat, eight valiant Chinese gunboats were reduced to burning wreckage and drifting oil slicks on the sea.

The cost of strangulation by sea and air was equally heavy.

Several holes had been punched in the wing of the Wanli-1 fighter jet by shrapnel.

He witnessed a Chinese bomber attempting to attack the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier being simultaneously struck by four dense 40mm fire nets the moment it reached its lowest point to drop its bombs, exploding into a huge fireball in mid-air.

In an attempt to cover the evacuation of a damaged Il-10, a Chinese fighter jet engaged in a dogfight with two other fighters that had scrambled from the "Intrepid" to provide reinforcements. The Chinese fighter jet was eventually hit in the tail and crashed into the sea, trailing thick smoke.

Fighter jets trailing flames or thick smoke continued to fall from the sky, like burning meteors.

The battle was only halfway through when the air force squadron leader received reports of more than sixty fighter jets being lost or forced to return to base through his headset.

His heart was bleeding, but his gaze remained fixed on his next target—the USS Denver cruiser.

"Torpedo bombers! Concentrate your attack on the Dauntless's port side! Suppress its turning! Buy time for the fleet to encircle it!"

The fighter jets engaged its escort ships!

The air force squadron leader decisively gave the order and simultaneously pushed the control stick sharply.

The Wanli-1 fighter let out a roar of exhaustion and swooped down again, its four wing cannons fiercely strafing the exposed bridge of the USS Denver.

A barrage of tracer bullets lashed out like the Grim Reaper's whip, shattering the portholes and suppressing their firepower.

Not long after, another wave of deadly torpedoes from the Chinese naval fleet descended.

This time, it comes from the sky and underwater.

Four Chinese Navy torpedo bombers, under the command of the air force squadron leader, braved the fierce anti-aircraft fire sprayed from the sides of the USS Intrepid and made a low-altitude sea-skimming breakthrough.

Heavy torpedoes plunged into the water one after another, heading straight for the aircraft carrier's port side amidships.

Almost at the same time, a Chinese submarine that had been lying in wait also launched its last two torpedoes from its stern, also targeting the "Dauntless"!
boom! boom! boom! boom!
Violent explosions rang out one after another on the massive port side of the Dauntless!

A huge column of water shot up into the sky!

Although the Essex-class ships' robust torpedo protection prevented them from sinking immediately, the violent impact and massive flooding drastically reduced their speed.

It listed severely to the left, completely paralyzing takeoff and landing operations on the deck, and thick smoke billowed up.

The fate of the USS Denver was even more tragic.

After being strafed by the air and bombarded by the destroyer, the cruiser was then covered by a salvo from the nine 406mm guns of the Dongfanghong battleship, which rushed in at high speed from the flank!
Nine heavy armor-piercing rounds were like God's hammer of judgment, three of which hit directly!
A missile that penetrated the foredeck detonated in the bow ammunition magazine, triggering a massive secondary explosion that blew the entire bow off!

Another missile struck the bridge, instantly obliterating the command center!
The third bomb penetrated the aft engine room and exploded. The wreckage of the USS Denver quickly broke in two during the chain of explosions, sinking to the bottom of the icy sea along with most of the crew.

The last US cruiser, the USS Santa Fe, managed to hold on, but if the fighting continued, it would certainly sink.

At this moment, more than half of the main surface ships of the US Seventh Fleet have been killed or wounded!
This is not because the Chinese navy is stronger than the US Seventh Fleet, but because the largest combat force of the US Navy and Air Force, the "fighter jet group", was lured away by Wu Wanli in advance.

History has proven that battleships and cannons cannot defeat aircraft carriers and planes, and this moment confirms that truth once again.

The massive Chinese naval and air force aircraft, like circling vultures, began to tighten the final encirclement.

On the aircraft carrier Wanli, carrier-based aircraft took off and landed continuously, while the giant guns of the battleship Dongfanghong slowly rotated, their cold muzzles aimed at that once invincible behemoth.

At this very last moment, the US Air Force fighter jets finally returned to provide support and arrived!
“Buzz buzz buzz buzz——”

The roar of American warplanes tore through the sky as they swooped down toward the battlefield off the coast of Gangneung Port, where the fighting was raging.

Although Air Force Commander Hudson's order came late, this massive air force still managed to strike the Chinese naval and air forces that were besieging the remnants of the Seventh Fleet in time.

"Attention, Falcon Flock!"

The first echelon can suppress Chinese fighter jets!
The second echelon will attack surface ships!

The third echelon will concentrate its bombardment on that aircraft carrier!

Destroy their air command!

U.S. Air Force Commander Hudson roared over the radio.

They arrived swiftly and decisively, skillfully cutting into the chaotic airspace.

Inside the Wanli-1 fighter jet
"Enemy aircraft group! Northeast direction! Altitude 5000! Diving at high speed!"
All units! Air defense at maximum alert!
The fighter squadron immediately abandoned its current target and launched a full-scale interception!

Upon seeing this, the air force squadron leader immediately gave the order.

Looking at the Santa Fe, which was not yet completely destroyed, and the Dauntless, which had lost most of its combat capability but was still putting up a stubborn fight, he knew that the most severe test was coming.

The first echelon of US fighter jets, like raptors, swooped down on the Chinese bomber group and escort fighters that were attacking the USS Intrepid and USS Santa Fe at low altitude.

Taking advantage of their altitude and speed, they swooped down, their 12.7mm machine guns and 20mm cannons weaving a dense barrage of fire.

“Boom boom boom boom—!”

"Dong dong dong——!"

In an instant, three Chinese fighter jets that were carrying out torpedo attacks were shot down in mid-air and turned into burning fireballs that fell into the sea.

A Chinese MiG fighter jet, which was suppressing the anti-aircraft fire of the Santa Fe with its machine gun, was simultaneously caught by several lines of fire. Its wing was broken off, and it tumbled into the waves.

The aerial melee escalated instantly, with tracer rounds clashing and intertwining wildly at low altitudes, and the screeching of engines, the roar of machine guns, and the ear-piercing noise of metal tearing apart echoed through the sky.

Chinese fighter jets were forced to abandon their continued attacks on surface ships and focus all their efforts on engaging in close combat with the approaching US fighter jets.

The newly established suppression of the remaining U.S. surface ships was instantly torn open.

Just as the aerial battle was in full swing, the second wave of US attack bombers and torpedo bombers swooped down on the Chinese gunboats and destroyer formation from different directions.

"Hard to port! Evade! All anti-aircraft guns! Fire! Fire until all ammunition is used!"

The captain of a Chinese Soviet-made destroyer roared into a megaphone amidst the deafening roar of gunfire.

All available anti-aircraft weapons on the ship, such as 37mm anti-aircraft guns and 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns, were pointed at the sky, raining down bullets.

Chinese naval soldiers on deck braved flying shrapnel and scorching heat as they frantically loaded the ammunition.

However, the U.S. military had too many dive bombers.

Braving the sparse anti-aircraft fire of Chinese destroyers and remaining gunboats, they swooped down one after another like moths to a flame.

Boo hoo hoo-!
More than a dozen rockets detached from their racks and, trailing white smoke, crashed into a Chinese torpedo boat formation that was launching torpedoes.

boom! boom! boom! boom!
The violent explosion created a wall of water several meters high on the sea surface.

A torpedo boat of about 100 tons was hit directly, and the hull disintegrated instantly, with debris and human remains thrown high into the air.

Another vessel was capsized by the shockwave from the near miss, and the crew sank to the bottom of the sea before they could even scream.

Immediately afterwards, heavy aerial bombs fell like hailstones.

"Boom!!!"

A 500-pound aerial bomb precisely pierced the bridge of a Chinese gunboat.

The violent explosion wiped out the entire superstructure along with the command personnel, and the ship broke apart in the middle, sinking rapidly amidst raging flames.

"Boom! Boom!"

Two more earth-shattering explosions followed, with violent bursts and towering columns of water rising almost simultaneously from the port and starboard sides of a Chinese "Changsha"-class gunboat.

The gunboat had just hit the engine room of a US destroyer with its 76mm main gun and was also badly damaged itself.

These two near misses were the final straw that broke the camel's back.

The enormous underwater impact tore through its already thin hull and keel, and seawater rushed in.

The ship tilted at a visible speed, and in less than a minute, its bow, filled with resentment, rose high and quickly disappeared into the sea.

The sinking of these two gunboats was like two heavy hammer blows to the hearts of Chinese naval officers and soldiers.

They are the foundation upon which the navy built its strength, and the harpoons used to pierce enemy ships.

Their sacrifice infuriated the captains of the Chinese destroyers who were attempting to intercept US warplanes on the periphery.

On the other side of the water

The remaining officers and men of the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet witnessed their own fighter jets fearlessly diving overhead and watched as two Chinese gunboats were blown to pieces and sunk, as if they had been injected with a powerful dose of adrenaline.

Despair and fear were instantly replaced by a desperate, frenzied struggle.

"Well done, guys!"
For the USS Washington! For our fallen brothers! For a free America!

Fire! Full power!

On the bridge of the sinking aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, the acting commander shouted hoarsely into the ship's intercom.

Despite the deck tilting and thick smoke billowing out, the still operational 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns and 20mm Oerlikon machine guns continued to spew fire wildly, joining the air defense effort.

At the same time, the ship's 127mm secondary guns, which were still barely usable, turned their muzzles and fired fiercely at the approaching Chinese destroyer.

The light cruiser "Santa Fe" unleashed its final ferocity.

Its captain, with red eyes, abandoned any evasive maneuvers and supplied all remaining power to the main guns and anti-aircraft guns.

"All main guns! Target! That Chinese cruiser!"

Armor-piercing shells! Rapid fire! Anti-aircraft guns! Forget about yourselves! Shoot those Chinamen down from the sky!

The six 152mm main guns turned recklessly and opened fire on a Chinese destroyer in the distance.

boom! boom! boom!
A huge column of water suddenly rose around the Chinese destroyer as a 152mm shell slammed into the front of the bow turret.

The violent explosion ripped off part of the deck, causing casualties among several sailors, and jammed the turret's rotating mechanism.

Another Chinese destroyer was hit repeatedly in the superstructure by the 127mm main gun of a US Fletcher-class destroyer, which caused a fire and temporarily cut off communications.

Even more fatally, the fire on the US destroyer that had been damaged but not yet sunk was miraculously brought under control by the damage control team.

Its two still-rotating 127mm turrets roared once more, firing furiously at the Chinese torpedo boats that were trying to approach and launch torpedoes, in coordination with its friendly ships.

The air cover provided by the US military, coupled with the sudden and fierce counterattack by the surface ships that was almost mutually assured destruction, instantly halted the rapid offensive momentum of the Chinese Navy.

The battle on the sea suddenly shifted, turning from a one-sided siege into an exceptionally bloody and brutal close-quarters killing spree.

Within a distance of less than five nautical miles, the two ships engaged in a fierce exchange of fire with their main guns, secondary guns, anti-aircraft guns, and even machine guns.

Shells whistled through the air, explosions erupted one after another, and thick smoke obscured half the sea.

Shipwreckage, oil spills, and an increasing number of soldiers falling into the water are floating on the sea.

Meanwhile, the aerial battle also intensified, evolving into an unprecedented melee and war of attrition.

The Wanli-1 fighter jet, piloted by the air force squadron leader, darted through the dense hail of bullets like a nimble dragon.

He had just damaged a TBF torpedo bomber that was attempting to attack the battleship "Dongfanghong" with his machine gun when he received an urgent warning from his wingman in his headset:
"Heads up! Two o'clock! Two Hellcats are closing in!"

The air force squadron leader pulled hard on the control stick, and the fighter jet rolled upwards in a sharp turn that was almost a stall.

Two streams of hot 12.7mm bullets grazed the underside of the aircraft.

He rolled back, aimed the nose at one of the American fighter jets that was turning, and opened fire with his 37mm cannon!
"Boom boom boom!"

Two of the three 37mm shells missed, but one hit the engine of the F6F precisely.

Black smoke billowed out instantly, and the US military aircraft lost control, spinning as it crashed into the sea.

"Well done, Dongya!"

The Chinese pilot in the wingman shouted excitedly.

"Don't let your guard down! Maintain formation! Provide cover for the bomber groups!"

The air force squadron leader calmly gave a warning while scanning the chaotic battlefield.

He saw several Chinese MiG fighters being besieged by a superior number of American Corsair fighters, and the situation was critical.

He immediately called out, "This is Wanli-1! Requesting support from nearby friendly aircraft in the C3 airspace! Our personnel are being pursued!"

"Roger! Support aircraft are approaching!"

The aircraft carrier Wanli responded quickly, and Chinese fighter jets that had just returned to the carrier to replenish their ammunition took off and joined the battle, instantly relieving the pressure on their besieged comrades.

The two sides' fighter jets rolled, dived, climbed, and tailed each other in the narrow airspace, staging the most thrilling aerial dogfight.

Fighter jets continued to crash down, trailing thick smoke and flames, exploding into fireballs in the air or crashing into the sea, splashing up huge sprays of water.

The white parachutes of Chinese and American pilots who bailed out were particularly conspicuous in the smoke-filled sky, but they often immediately became targets for ground or ship anti-aircraft fire from both sides.

The U.S. military's objective was clear: to protect its remaining ships at all costs, especially the USS Intrepid and USS Santa Fe.

Second, sink as many Chinese ships as possible, especially the massive battleship "Dongfanghong" and the aircraft carrier "Wanli".

The Chinese Air Force fought desperately to prevent US bombers and torpedo bombers from getting close to its main warships, while looking for opportunities to continue attacking surface targets.

The air force squadron leader saw an American fighter jet break through the fighter jets' interception and dive down toward the massive hull of the "Dongfanghong".

He slammed on the throttle, and the Wanli-1 fighter jet emitted a piercing shriek, ignoring the bullets coming from behind, and rushed past at full speed.

The moment he entered firing range, he decisively pressed the machine gun button.

The 37mm shells whistled out, most of them missing their mark, but two hit the root of the right wing of the American fighter jet.

The bomber jolted violently, its bombing trajectory deviated, and the bombs landed in the sea dozens of meters away from the starboard side of the "Dongfanghong," creating a huge column of water.

The massive shockwave spread, causing the tens of thousands of tons of ship to shake violently.

"so close!"

The air force squadron leader thought to himself, but before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, several muffled thuds came from behind the cockpit canopy, and the fuselage shook violently!

The warning light on the dashboard is flashing—he's been bitten on the tail!

A 12.7mm bullet from a U.S. Corsair fighter jet hit the rear fuselage.

He reacted immediately, slamming the control stick and simultaneously ruddering to one side, the fighter jet performing a violent serpentine maneuver, narrowly avoiding the subsequent deadly strafing.

He used the Wanli-1 fighter jet's excellent climb performance to quickly pull upwards in an attempt to break free.

The "pirate" pursued relentlessly, and the two engaged in a thrilling chase on the vertical plane.

Time seemed to thicken amidst the fierce battle.

Every minute felt incredibly long, and every second was accompanied by the loss of life and the destruction of steel.

on the sea

The cruiser "Santa Fe" was left in a state of disarray under the continuous bombardment of the Chinese battleship "Dongfanghong" with its 406mm main guns and two destroyers.

Its main gun was down to only one and could still fire intermittently, its speed was greatly reduced, and it was listing severely.

It continued to emit thick smoke in its death throes, and its fierce anti-aircraft fire even shot down a Chinese torpedo bomber that was attempting to drop mines.

The damaged port side of the aircraft carrier "Intrepid" is still taking on water, and the ship's listing angle is increasing.

However, the anti-aircraft fire near its island superstructure remained fierce, successfully repelling several attacks by Chinese torpedo boats.

China also suffered significant losses: the cruiser was gone, four destroyers were damaged, and most of the gunboats were destroyed. Only the aircraft carrier sustained minor damage.

Both sides suffered heavy losses of fighter jets in the air, and the number of fighter jets in the sky was significantly reduced, but the fierce dogfight continued.

Inside the command center of the aircraft carrier Wanli

"Commander Xiao, although Comrade Wu Wanli attracted away the US fighter jets in the early stages, allowing us to launch a preemptive strike."

But now that the US fighter jets have returned to provide support, a stalemate has been reached again!
If we continue fighting at this pace, we can indeed defeat the US Seventh Fleet, but our Chinese naval fleet will also suffer heavy losses!

China's industry, especially its naval defense industry, is weak. At present, it can only barely manufacture gunboats and a small number of relatively outdated submarines.

"If we were to trade with the industrially powerful United States, that would be a huge loss..."

Li Hongbo listened to the dense artillery fire in the distance and said with concern.

Comrade Wu Wanli had already considered this point.

"Our Chinese navy and air force have done their best in this battle. Now it depends on whether Wu Wanli's 7th Steel Brigade can take Paotaishan!"

Xiao Zhenhua looked in the direction of Jiangling Port and said.

"Take Paotaishan and bombard it with coastal artillery?"

Comrade Wu Wanli, you'd better hurry. If you can't break through, the main force of the US Second Division in Jiangling City will break through the blockade and rush to its aid.

By then, there will be no chance, and new US air support may arrive.

This would be a catastrophic disaster for the tens of thousands of ground troops attacking, as well as for our navy and air force…

Upon hearing this, Li Hongbo sighed.

"I believe in Comrade Wu Wanli. He will definitely be able to capture Paotaishan in time and win the Jiangling Campaign!"

Xiao Zhenhua raised his head and said with a firm gaze.

(End of this chapter)