In fact, as early as early in the morning, a Royal Air Force plane performing a routine patrol mission discovered the mighty Ming army fleet.
However, it was not taken seriously at the time. It was not until an urgent telegram from London was sent that the Singapore Fortress Command responded.
Air strikes against the Ming Army's landing troops were immediately implemented. The Royal Air Force's 36th Torpedo Squadron, 62nd Bomber Squadron, and 17th Fighter Squadron deployed in the Far East dispatched all available fighter aircraft.
13 Cowbell MkIV biplane torpedo planes, 10 Blenheim MkII light bombers, and 9 F2A Buffalo fighters attacked the Ming fleet from the southeast.
The British Empire's biplane torpedo planes not only had "Swordfish", but also "Cowbell".
This biplane, which can only fly levelly at 250km/h under normal circumstances, is now carrying an aviation torpedo weighing more than 700 kilograms, making it as clumsy as a dodo bird.
"Height two thousand, slope distance six thousand two, usually!"
The air defense officer of the Zhenguan shouted an order. The word "normal" he called actually refers to the standard response mode under normal circumstances.
"Angular velocity measurement, heading angle measurement!"
"The temperature is 21 degrees, the wind is from the northeast, and the wind speed is 3.3!"
As the data was compiled, the calculated shooting elements were immediately transmitted from the air defense commander to the fuze tester of each large-caliber anti-aircraft gun.
The gunners inserted each round of 128mm fragmentation bullets weighing 70 kilograms into the measuring machine. The slot made a "clicking" sound when driven by the motor, and the timer fuze was automatically calibrated to the calculated time range.
"Boom! Boom!"
Amidst the roar, the three twin-mounted 128mm tanks on the port side of the Zhenguan fired the first salvo at the slowly approaching British fleet a few kilometers away.
Suddenly, clouds of gray-black smoke bloomed in the distant sky, and some scattered aircraft debris could be vaguely seen falling down.
Before the VT proximity fuze was put into use, the hit rate of large-caliber anti-aircraft guns could be said to be shockingly low.
The American experience in the Pacific War is that using traditional time fuses, a 127mm high-level dual-purpose gun requires an average of 2,000 shells to shoot down an enemy aircraft; after using VT proximity fuses, the efficiency increased by about three to four times. times.
Therefore, at present, the role of large-caliber anti-aircraft guns is to deter, disrupt, and disperse incoming enemy aircraft formations.
Although the colonial armies of the Empire where the sun never sets are free and contented with enjoying themselves, their courage is still there. This can probably be regarded as the ancestral bloodline of the Unsa people?
The shock wave and shrapnel emitted by the explosion affected the aircraft in the formation. The shock wave shook them this way and that, and the high-speed fragments carved large holes in the wing skin.
However, the British pilots still worked hard to maintain the formation.
13 torpedo planes began to descend in altitude and turned slightly to prepare to enter the torpedo attack route; 10 bombers also descended, but continued to maintain level flight.
As the distance got closer, the small-caliber anti-aircraft guns of the Ming fleet also opened fire.
In an instant, the sound of cannons intertwined into a magnificent symphony!
A series of 38.4mm and 25.6mm high-explosive bombs and tracer bullets pierced the sky like stray arrows, and the sky above the entire sea area seemed to be shrouded in a meteor shower that went against the sky.
A hit Cowbell torpedo plane burst into conspicuous flames and plunged toward the sea, dragging billowing black smoke.
When it collides with the water at a speed of nearly 200 kilometers per hour, the soft sea will be as hard as stone. The entire aircraft will instantly fall apart, causing a large splash of water.
A moment later, the 36th Torpedo Squadron began to cut into the attack route.
At this stage, the torpedo aircraft needs to further reduce its speed and altitude and remain stationary until it enters the effective range and drops the torpedo.
Because ordinary aviation torpedoes have many restrictions when being thrown, for example, these MkVII torpedoes must ensure that the water entry height cannot be greater than 30m and the water entry speed cannot be higher than 144km/h, otherwise they will malfunction or fail.
Obviously, the torpedo planes at this time were like living targets.
"Good boy, you hit me accurately!"
"Fuck, what's the difference between this and a target machine?!"
"Ha ha ha ha--"
The destroyer Quang Ninh, located at the outermost part of the formation, showed its prowess. The sailors operating anti-aircraft guns shot down three torpedo planes in a row.
The Cowbell torpedo aircraft, which was hit by a 38.4mm high-explosive bomb, disintegrated directly in the air and turned into dozens of fragments of different sizes and fell into the sea.
Compared with other countries that have not yet realized the lack of air defense firepower levels and have not installed medium-caliber anti-aircraft guns, the Ming army has moved much faster in this regard.
This forward-looking approach is largely due to Zhou Changfeng's efforts, otherwise the military officials would probably be leisurely and unhurried.
The Type 3 and 4 20.8mm anti-aircraft guns designed and developed by the Shenyang Army Artillery Factory have excellent performance except for the slightly higher manufacturing cost.
However, it is only a small-caliber anti-aircraft gun anyway, and there must be a medium-caliber anti-aircraft gun to fill the firepower gap.
Are you waiting for domestic research and development? Or should we directly choose the Bofors M34, which is produced in Sweden and has been tested through history?
In view of the fact that the former has to wait at least one or two years, there is no guarantee of excellent performance.
If the overall score of the Bofors M34 anti-aircraft gun is 80 points, maybe Daming can design one with 90 points, but it may also be able to design one with 70 points.
After comprehensive consideration, Zhou chose the ready-made option, striving to raise the Ming Navy's air defense level to the first level as quickly as possible.
As a result, the air defense level of the Ming Navy will be at the top of its only category for almost two years.
After that, the U.S. Navy will not be able to reach the same level until the Americans eliminate their own rubbish 28mm "Chicago Piano" anti-aircraft guns and imitate the Oerlikon and Bofors.
Last summer, a commissioner sent by the Ministry of War went to Sweden, signed a production rights contract with Bofors Company, and obtained a complete set of drawings. The delighted Swedes also presented twelve ready-made cars.
It can be said to be a pleasant transaction.
Compared with this, in history, although the Russians and Americans copied a large number of Bofors anti-aircraft guns, they did not pay the relevant fees. The Swedes were inevitably depressed.
When the commissioner of the Ministry of War returned to Lanfang by boat for rest, ten of the artillery pieces were given to the Lanfang National Defense Force, and only two were brought home to be used as reference templates for qualified products.
Lanfang sent someone to secretly take photos of the drawings, and then started mass production at the National Dongwanlu Arsenal.
The M34/36 anti-aircraft gun produced by Daming has no essential changes. It just redesigns a new lighter chassis, changes the caliber to 38.4mm, and changes the original 4-round magazine to a 5-round magazine.
Because many arsenals have produced 38.4mm infantry guns, some equipment such as boring barrels and turning shells can be directly used, which can save a lot of time.
Therefore, after several prototype cannons were trial-produced in early October and passed the test of the Ordnance Bureau, the Shenyang Artillery Factory alone produced more than 200 cannons within three months, excluding the New Year's Day holiday.
"Left full rudder!!!"
"The steering effect is not great enough!"
Despite heavy losses, several Cowbell torpedo planes bravely flew to the attack position and dropped torpedoes.
Because the opposite shore bombardment had just been carried out, the Zhenguan, which had accelerated from zero, was still only traveling at a few knots, and the rudder effect was not fully exerted, so the turning avoidance was slightly slow.
"Fuck! Come here, come here, come here!!!"
"Da da da da——"
The sailors on the side controlled the machine guns and fired wildly at the white track. However, this was meaningless because the bullets could only travel a meter or two after entering the water, while the torpedoes usually traveled several meters deep.
"cover!"
The battleship was turning, and everyone grabbed hold of objects around them to stabilize themselves. An officer shouted sternly to everyone to hide themselves.
This 457mm aerial torpedo almost missed the Zhenguan, and at the latest it was only two steps away.
The expected explosion did not happen, and before everyone had time to rejoice, then...
"Boo-boo-boo!!!"
The aerial bomb dropped by the Blenheim bomber flying over the fleet landed more than ten meters away on the port side of the Zhenguan!
The 250-pound aerial bomb exploded into several huge waves, and the sailors were splashed with seawater.
Although the 10 Blenheim bombers of the 62nd Bomb Squadron initially dropped bombs on the Zhenguan, they soon turned to attack the transport ship.
They dropped another thirty 250-pound bombs and more than fifty 40-pound bombs.
The 6,000-ton Changlin is one of several transport ships ordered by the Ming Dynasty Navy ten years ago. It was originally a very common civilian cargo ship, but according to the requirements of the navy, several watertight compartments were added, and the original The triple-expansion coal-fired boiler was replaced by an oil-coal mixed-fired boiler, which increased sinking resistance and speed.
"boom!"
Now the Changlin was hit directly by two 250-pound aerial bombs, as well as several near-misses!
It burst into flames, smoke billowed, and water began to enter several cabins. The sailors did their best, using high-pressure water cannons to deal with the flames and using pumps to drain out the seawater.
The Army's Fourth Engineering Brigade carried on it also suffered disaster, with dozens of casualties.
Compared to the 36th Torpedo Squadron, which suffered heavy losses, none of the Blenheim bombers fell, only some were slightly injured.
However, just as they turned around and returned, a few nautical miles behind the fleet, the "Song" fighter fleet carried by the aircraft carrier Tianshi Zuoyuan also completed an emergency liftoff.
In fact, the British were very lucky, because the Tianshi Zuoyuan had just taken off a few dive bombers to attack deep targets, and the four fighter jets originally performing patrol missions had run out of fuel and were preparing to land, so the fighter jets were slightly delayed in taking off. A little more.
But as six Type 37 carrier-based fighter jets launched a pursuit, the attacking British finally ran out of luck.
But there is no reason to leave immediately after being cool.
Facing the pursuing Ming army fighters, the nine F2A Buffalo fighters of the 17th Fighter Squadron escorting the formation responded without hesitation.
However, the British pilots encountered opponents that left them almost helpless, or their vehicles were really bad.
Except for the good performance of the radial engine, this ugly, thick, and heavy fighter aircraft is completely unable to compete with the "Type 37 carrier-based destroyer".
In addition to being slightly slower in level flight, the Type 37 ship-driven ship easily crushed these poor American-made fish with its excellent climbing and rolling capabilities.
It should be noted that the maneuverability of a fighter aircraft is a comprehensive evaluation of many aspects and is very broad. The famous Zero fighter in history is actually only longer than horizontal rotation.
In other words, it is only extremely powerful when circling at low speeds, but is much mediocre when it comes to scissor maneuvers, spiral descents, etc. where rolling performance is the core.
Therefore, even in terms of mobility, the Zero fighter is a partial subject.
Also characterized by mobility, the Sanqi-type ship drive is much more balanced.
Captain Jeffrey, the leader of Team B, was desperate at this moment - he tried his best to bite a Ming army fighter plane in front of him, but the opponent was easily resolved with a breaking S maneuver.
The pilot of the No. 11 aircraft of the "Song" team in front couldn't help but exclaimed on the radio: "I'm going! Is this really a fucking war? During the actual combat drill, I thought that people like me were looking for death when they went to the battlefield!!! "
In such a disparate battle, nine F2A Buffalo fighter jets suffered a brutal one-sided massacre.
Except for two who were able to escape due to a slight advantage in level flight speed, none of the others were spared. The cost to the Ming army's fighter planes was only one serious injury and two minor injuries.
After the escorting fighter jets were dealt with, the torpedo planes and bombers were next to suffer.
In the previous attack on the ship, 7 of the 13 Cowbells were lost, and now the only 5 remaining ones were all shot down in just a few minutes.
These biplanes, with a speed of only more than 200 kilometers per hour, were almost as defenseless as fish on the chopping board.
The downed torpedo plane dragged black smoke and plunged into the sea, causing a large splash of water.
The Blenheim bombers were a bit more difficult to deal with. They huddled together for warmth and fired fiercely at the incoming Ming army fighters from the self-defense machine gun towers on the back of the fuselage.
"Follow me, from bottom to top, and flap their wings!" The major leading the team responded immediately.
The Blenheim bomber was unable to counterattack attacks from below. Its machine gun turret was on its back, so it was naturally unable to fire downwards and behind.
One by one, the two-plane formations first lowered their altitude, then lifted up. They aimed their heads upward at the bombers from behind, and then aimed at the engines on their wings and fired.
The armament of the Type 37 ship-driven ship is quite satisfactory, with a 12.8mm machine gun in the nose and a 7.36mm machine gun in the left and right wings.
"Ta-da-ta-da-da-"
The wing skins torn apart by machine gun bullets were scattered, and a ball of flames shot out from the burning engine.
The Ming army's fighter planes can do whatever they want, and so on...
The British, who were asking for trouble, suffered a big loss. During the attack, a fleet of 32 aircraft only returned six scarred Blenheim bombers. The reason why they were able to return was that the Ming army had exhausted its fighter planes. ammunition.
The battle in the air was one-sided, and the battle on the ground was much the same.
The fierce air strikes and artillery bombardments made the defense line of the British-Indian 8th Infantry Brigade crumbling. However, when the Ming army landed, they relied on the Zhuyuan that had been calibrated long ago to fire back, causing damage to the 1st Marine Brigade and the 38th Infantry Division. Certain casualties.
However, their resistance only goes so far.
After setting up their positions, the 1st Marine Brigade reached the frontline headquarters of the 8th Brigade in just one hour and thirty-seven minutes.
"Where are the people?! Where is the breakthrough team?!"
"Look at that!"
Under the cover of the smoke screen, a breakthrough team consisting of an infantry platoon and a flamethrower squad from the chemical defense team approached the temporary headquarters built with I-beams, logs, and sandbags.
Their figures were vaguely visible in the smoke, but soon, a dazzling firelight flashed from there.
(End of chapter)
