Chapter 68 Adding to the flames
.After the emergence of the aircraft, the biggest threat to the fleet came from the air.
During World War II, aircraft carriers were able to replace battleships and become maritime overlords, relying on invincible carrier-based aviation.
After the war, countries around the world regarded air defense as the primary tactical indicator of warships.
When the technology is not advanced enough, the fleet's air defense capability is a problem. Even battleships and cruisers equipped with hundreds of anti-aircraft guns are difficult to withstand the bomber group. With the advent of air defense missiles, the fleet's air defense problem has been alleviated. After solid-state phased array radars such as "Aegis", "Chinese Aegis", and "Sampson" were launched, the fleet's air defense capability has greatly increased, solving the air defense problem in one fell swoop.
As the saying goes, one goes up and the other goes up.
The enhanced air defense capability of the fleet is not the result of active development, but is forced out. The emergence of air defense missiles also include anti-ship missiles. For air defense warships equipped with the "Aegis" system, they have their own hypersonic anti-ship missiles and missile saturation attack tactics.
During the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union specially built cruise missile nuclear submarines for this purpose.
According to the standards at that time, four Oscar-class cruise missile nuclear submarines could launch saturation attacks on the US aircraft carrier battle group and sink the US heavy aircraft carrier.
Although the United States dominated after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the threat to the US Navy disappeared overnight, the pace of technological progress did not stop.
The emergence of electromagnetic weapons has raised new problems for fleet air defense.
After entering the information age, the key to fleet air defense is not how advanced the air defense missile is, but whether it can detect incoming anti-ship missiles in a timely and accurately manner and guide air defense missiles to intercept, thus putting higher requirements on the air defense command and intelligence system of warships.
The electromagnetic weapons strike the fleet's air defense command and intelligence system.
During the Second Korean War, the 72nd US special fleet was almost wiped out because the electric shock of the volunteers paralyzed the fleet's command and intelligence system, completely paralyzed the aircraft carrier that dominated the ocean for more than half a century, creating opportunities for sneak attacks for submarines.
It can be said that if there is no advantage in air control, the one that is sunk will definitely not be an aircraft carrier.
Although after the Second Korean War, China, the United States and other countries have increased their research on electromagnetic weapons and electromagnetic confrontation systems, fleet air defense is still a huge problem in high-intensity electromagnetic confrontation, because the harsh electromagnetic environment is enough to weaken the long-range detection and interception capabilities of the air defense system.
After the outbreak of the East China Sea conflict, most countries were not optimistic about Japan because Japan was too backward in the field of electromagnetic warfare.
As long as China uses electromagnetic warfare, it will be difficult for Japan to win, and China will definitely use electromagnetic weapons in battle, or even use electromagnetic weapons in defense.
It is precisely this way that when Kida Taichiro visited Washington, Chandler actively promoted the AG4m anti-ship missile with electromagnetic confrontation capabilities.
According to Chandler's prediction, the East China Sea Fleet will definitely use electromagnetic weapons in air defense operations.
The problem is that the East China Sea Fleet does not use electromagnetic weapons.
Although the air defense fighter jets covering the East China Sea Fleet used electromagnetic weapons in the peripheral air defense operations, which saved the threatened early warning aircraft and killed twelve aggressive f15js in one fell swoop, the East China Sea Fleet did not use electromagnetic weapons after entering the fleet's air defense operations.
This surprised Chandler a little, and what surprised him even more was that the East China Sea Fleet withstood the attack of Japanese fighter jets.
It can intercept more than 80 anti-ship missiles in an air defense operation, and its combat effectiveness of air defense and anti-missiles should not be underestimated.
You should know that under standard conditions, the US aircraft carrier battle group is equipped with an air defense cruiser and three air defense destroyers, and can only intercept up to 120 anti-ship missiles.
There are no aircraft carriers in the East China Sea Fleet, so it has to rely on the cover of the docking-based aviation force.
Of course, the special battlefield environment also plays a great role. For example, the Chinese Air Force's fighter jets provided air defense cover for the fleet throughout the entire journey, and their role far exceeds that of the "Huangdi" aircraft carrier. However, it cannot be denied that the East China Sea Fleet's air defense capabilities are very strong.
With strong air defense capabilities, the Chinese Navy has the ability to build a more powerful aircraft carrier battle group.
It can be said that as long as time is used, the Chinese Navy will sooner or later gain the strength to compete with the US Navy, and it will take up to twenty years.
Chandler's judgment has had a crucial impact on the long-term development of the US military, especially the US Navy.
Of course, this is all for the future.
This battle made Chandler clearly realize that Japan's existing air power can ensure air supremacy, not to mention defeating the Chinese fleet.
You should know that before the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force attacked the East China Sea Fleet, the Chinese Navy Air Force took the initiative and relied on the help of electromagnetic weapons. Not only did they use the third-generation fighter jets to shoot down eighteen F22a and eleven F15j, but they almost killed the e767 in the sea.
The army of other countries certainly does not have this kind of combat power.
As long as the Chinese team maintains this high-pressure situation, Japan will never take the initiative, and it will be impossible to reverse the situation of the East China Sea.
When the loss reaches a certain level, such as losing two-thirds of the fighter jets, Japan will seek peace from China.
Chandler has met Kobayashi Mitsuichi and is very clear that the Japanese Prime Minister is not a militant, and he is even more clear that the Japanese Prime Minister will make the most rational decisions when necessary.
To put it simply, if Kobayashi Koichi announced the resignation of the cabinet general and then persuaded the members of Congress who supported him to hold a general election in advance, even if some militants are willing to stand up for the United States and are entangled in the issue of war, Japan will interrupt military operations due to changes in domestic political situations.
When the election is over and the new cabinet government comes to power, the situation may have been calmed down long ago.
In the face of fait accompli, it is definitely much more difficult to make Japan counterattack the Diaoyu Islands than to retake the Diaoyu Islands now, and the pressure from the international community will also make the Japanese authorities think twice.
The problem is obvious. If you want the war to continue, you have to give Japan some encouragement, and a real encouragement.
Shortly after the Chinese Ministry of Defense released its first war report, Chandler went to the White House and personally introduced the situation to the president, mainly trying to convince the president to provide more direct military aid to Japan.
"Do you believe in the outcome of the battle announced by the Chinese authorities?"
"President, I don't think there is anything to doubt."
"Is that true?" Macmillan smiled and did not rush to make a high statement.
In his opinion, the war report released by the Chinese Ministry of Defense is not credible, because in the Second Korean War, the volunteers poured water into the war report, deliberately exaggerating the results of the war and concealing the damage.
"President, today is not the same as before. We cannot look at what we are today with the eyes of yesterday." Chandler knew Macmillan's thoughts very well, and knew that Macmillan was a white supremacist in his bones. In fact, most Republicans have this tendency. "It is undeniable that in the war five years ago, China had made articles on the war report, and its main purpose was to boost morale. But the situation is completely different now. From the beginning, China has carried out active diplomacy, trying to make more countries understand the military actions taken on the Diaoyu Islands. Perhaps, there will be no many countries supporting China, but China must face the world with the most sincere attitude. If China fakes the war report and proves it by us, then there will be no convincing in other aspects. Although the war has only been fought for less than a day, in the previous war report, China did not deliberately exaggerate the results of the war and conceal the losses. Instead, Japan made articles on the war report."
"So, do you think Japan is doing something wrong?"
"President, I'm not saying that Japan is doing something wrong. From a morale-boosting perspective, it is understandable to exaggerate the results of the war and conceal the losses of the war. The most important thing is that the topic we are discussing now has nothing to do with this. No matter how the Japanese authorities use the war report, they cannot change the facts."
"What fact?"
"In this conflict, Japan has shown signs of defeat."
Macmillan's brow jumped a few times and asked Chandler to continue.
"In fact, from the very beginning, we seriously underestimated China's military strength, especially the war experience gained by the Chinese team through the Second Korean War."
"What's the meaning?"
"Before this, no one believed that the Chinese Air Force could defeat the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force in one day, so that the opponent would completely lose hope of victory."
"The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force did suffer significant losses, but it would not have lost hope."
"President, do you think the Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces are still confident in challenging the Chinese Air Force after today?"
"this……"
"What exactly is this battle like? The commander of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force knows best. I can only conclude that after the attack launched with all my strength is resolved by the opponent, if it is me, I will doubt the next battle and shake it." Chandler breathed a long breath and said, "According to the information we have already grasped, in the battle a few hours ago, the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force did not take advantage of it, and even did not receive the due reward after paying a significant price."
"If this is true, we have to consider whether Japan can stick to it."
"That's why I'm here to find you."
"Yeah?"
"From the situation of the first day of battle, it is probably within three days that the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force will fight all its capital without air force protection. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's warships are just decorations and they dare not even enter the East China Sea, let alone compete with the Chinese Navy for sea control."
"General, do you want me to send troops to the war?" Macmillan stared at Chandler.
"Of course not. No matter what the war is like, we must stay outside the battlefield, otherwise Japan will not suffer the biggest loss."
"you mean……"
"We must provide Japan with more powerful and direct military assistance, in addition to providing existing equipment, we must also bring our pilots to the war when necessary."
"Go to the war!?" Macmillan looked surprised.
“Just let the pilots volunteer to join the war like China did in North Korea,” Chandler paused for a moment and said, “President Roosevelt did something similar before the ‘Pearl Harbor incident’, allowing our pilots to volunteer to participate in the Battle of the British Air.”
"Yeah?"
"President, now is not the time to hesitate. We have to make a decision as soon as possible."
Macmillan nodded, but did not immediately answer Chandler.
Providing arms is one thing, and sending personnel is another. What's more, it's not in 1940, and the world war has not yet broken out.
Chapter completed!