Chapter 197 - Book 8 4-4 Japan Sinking!: Begin The Destruction!
February 5th, 2021, 00:00
45km southwest from Japan's Oki Island (the 4th escorting fleet's location)
At the seas 152km away from Corea's joint fleet, the 4th escorting fleet's chopper carrier, also the fleet's commanding vessel, had Admiral Nagano Damon on the bridge. He had his hand on his back and stared over the horizon towards the Corean peninsula's direction. Admiral Nagano Damon was a sharp-looking man but short in stature. He turned his gaze towards his 4th escorting fleet sailing in a line formation.
"Admiral, sir! It's a report from the central defense forces. The Corean fleet has entered the range of our surface-to-ship missiles."
After the Corean-Japanese war broke out, the 7th surface-to-ship missile regiment under the central defense forces hid in the nearby woods at Masuda to shelter themselves from Corea's missile strikes. Then, they covered all of their equipment with camouflage nets to avoid detection and maintain their strength. Today, they finally finished the preparations for launching their missiles, and when the Corean fleet had arrived in range, they contacted the 4th escorting fleet.
When Admiral Nagado Damon finally heard the report he was waiting for, he gave his order without any hesitation. "Have all reconnaissance planes check for submarines up to 20km from our front! Each vessel is to get into battle positions while maintaining position!"
"Yes, sir," Captain Kawai Sunichi answered the admiral and relayed his orders to every captain through the communication line.
Admiral Nagano Damon, who had a deep voice that did not match his size, smiled slightly after giving his orders.
Admiral Nagano Damon's family was one that had four men serve as naval generals. This tradition started from Nagano Damon's great grandfather, Nagano Osami*, who had risen through the ranks of the navy to become the commander during the second world war.
* Nagano Osami was born in 1880 at the Gochi prefecture as Sajoku's son, and graduated from the naval academy. During his time as a captain, he worked under the artillery unit at the special forces during the Russian-Japanese war. He also participated in annihilating the Russian fleet that was returning to port after the battle. After his achievements, his life in the military went smoothly, resulting in him becoming the commander of the navy in 1934. By June 21st, 1943 he had become the commander-in-chief of the entire Japanese military. On February 21st, 1944 he stepped down from being the commander-in-chief due to the invasion on Truk Island.
After the second world war was over, he was sentenced to being a class A war criminal, but since he was diagnosed with pneumonia that led to complications during his time in prison, his sentence was reversed after his death at age 66. Nagano Osami was the only person that had served all three major positions in the Japanese navy in his lifetime (he naval general, the commander, and the commander-in-chief of the military).
As such, his great-grandson, Nagano Damo was also full of the right-wing imperialistic political view as well. Damo was full of imperialistic ambitions and dreamt of Japan returning to its glory days during the imperial age.
After Admiral Nagano Damon's orders were given, the 4th escorting fleet's commanding vessel, the Isei (DDH-182) chopper carrier had its SH-60K anti-submarine choppers take off. From the other ships within the fleet, many different types of anti-submarine choppers also began to take off and fly towards the sea as well.
"I will make sure to drown all the Josenjin's vessels in the sea. Then, we will land our forces at Dakeshima to remind them that is our territory," the admiral thought.
Admiral Nagano Damon was full of confidence. Also, he held ambitions to take Dok-do island as well after destroying the Corean navy.
"As soon as the Kirishima vessel finishes analyzing the targets and their positions with its radar, each vessel is to fire four rounds of type-90 ship to ship missiles. Captain Kawai Sunichi!"
"Yes, admiral!"
"Deploy all of our F-35B and growler jets immediately."
"Yes, sir."
A moment later, the Kirishima (DDG-174), which was in charge of the offensive, reported in about setting all the targets.
Admiral Nagano Damon smiled so much that his teeth were showing and continued his orders. "Contact the 7th surface-to-ship artillery and have them go on the offensive as well."
"Yes, sir."
"After the 7th surface-to-ship artillery regiment fires their missiles, our vessels will go on full offensive and launch their missiles as well. Then, the Kirishima destroyer will be in charge of intercepting the enemy attacks."
"Admiral! The 7th surface to ship missile regiment has launched 36 missiles, sir."
"Good! We will attack as well. Fire the missiles!"
"Fleet! Launch missiles!" The tactician Okino Masaji relayed the admiral's orders.
"All vessels launch missiles!"
The seven vessels sailing in a line all fired their type-90 ship-to-ship missiles (SSM-2B) at once, and they all flew towards the northwestern direction while emitting red flames.
Also, the four F-35B jets launched two of its SAM-3 missiles, and eight jets in total disappeared to the dark sky.
36 surface-to-ship missiles, 48 ship-to-ship missiles, and 8 air-to-ship missiles totaling 92 anti-ship missiles. When the Corean joint fleet detected them on their radars, they fired their own anti-ship missiles and began to enter the interception phase.
* * *
February 5th, 2021, 00:15
The sea 112km East from the Kyungbook Pohang (the 1st and 3rd joint fleet's location)
"Multiple surface-to-ship missiles have been launched from the Hadamashi prefecture, sir." The voice of the tactical commander rang out on the bridge of the Taejo (DDG-995), the commanding vessel of the Corean joint fleet.
"So, it begins!" Admiral Gil Un-Suk of the 1st fleet spoke as if nothing bothered him.
"Admiral! We will enter into the offensive as well, sir," Colonel Kim Yoo-Hwan, the captain of the Taejo (DDG-995), made the suggestion.
"Have each vessel launch four anti-ship missiles, and enter into the interception process under our vessel's command."
"Yes, sir."
The Taejo (DDG-995), and 12 vessels under the fleet began to launch their Haesung anti-ship missiles and Haesung A supersonic missiles towards their allotted targets, from their 4-barrel MLRS system.
"There are 92 missiles in total headed towards our direction, and 36 of them have been confirmed to be supersonic missiles reaching a speed of Mach 1.5. They are 251 seconds away from impact, sir."
The command center of the Taejo (DDG-995) continued to report in about the status of the enemy missiles, and the monitor on the bridge showed 92 different lines representing the Japanese missiles moving around wildly.
"We intercept the supersonic missiles first. Each vessel is to launch two interception missiles."
Admiral Gil Un-Suk's order was relayed to every vessel in the fleet by the communication director and the operators. Soon, SM-2 interception missiles were launched according to the allotment of the Taejo (DDG-995).
A few minutes passed, and the skies between the two forces were full of bright flashes of light. These were from the interception and anti-ship missiles colliding with each other, and the lights flashed continuously.
The bridge of the Taejo was full of the voices of the operators reporting in about the interception status and relaying orders, since the vessel was in charge of all other joint fleet's vessels attacks and defenses.
"26 out of the 36 supersonic missiles have been intercepted! We will begin the allotment for the second phase of the interception."
"Fire the 2nd wave of interception missiles! How much time is left for the other anti-ship missiles?"
"They are 85km away and 385 seconds from impact."
"The 3rd interception phase will be done with subsonic missiles."
The SM-2 anti-air missiles rose into the sky from the joint fleet's vessels and disappeared into the darkness.
Meanwhile, a report of two anti-ship Haesung-A missiles hitting the Kirisame (DD-104) and Hatakaze (DD-171) came in. The Kirisame(DD-104) had been struck by three of the Haesung A missiles and sunk.
The Taejo (DDG-995)'s bridge and every other vessel's bridge rang out with the cheers of the operators and crew.
"I knew the Haesung A missiles would do their job! If we only had the supply, I would like to just launch all of them," Admiral Gil Un-Suk spoke in a joking manner, and the other crew smiled with him.
"We agree, sir."
The only vessel that operated the Haesung A supersonic missile was the KD-3A class Aegis destroyer, and there were only two vessels present. Excluding the 16 rounds they just fired off, there were only 16 rounds left. There were reserve supplies in the weapons storage facility, but since they were engaged in battle, they could not reload.
Thirty minutes later, the anti-ship missiles flew back and forth and the differences in damages were getting more severe.
The 4th escorting fleet had used its F-35B jets, the surface-to-ship, and air-to-ship missiles along with their vessels guns, but their results were not too great. The Corean fleet was operating four Aegis destroyers, and their anti-air net was tighter and more powerful. Corea's joint fleet had mostly maintained most of its forces without any damages, but Japan's 4th escorting fleet had lost its Suzuki (DDG-117) and the Kirisame (DD-104) from the first missile strikes, and the second wave of missile strikes had taken out the Inazuma (DD-105) as well, and the ships were sinking into the dark ocean.
"Thank God. The air force is too busy to aid us, but the tide of victory is in our favor."
Admiral Gil Un-Suk smiled brightly.
"Admiral! We will go into another wave of missile attacks, sir."
"Good! Let's teach them a lesson!"
As soon as Admiral Gil Un-Suk finished speaking, the Haesung A missiles began to shoot out from the vertical launch pads and rose up into the sky.
"Captain Kim Yoo-Hwan!"
"Yes, admiral!"
"How many Haesung A missiles are left in our vessel?"
"Yes, there are six rounds left, sir."
"Hmm! I see! How much time will it take for us to reload?"
"If we rush it, then we will be able to round 16 rounds within 10 minutes."
"That's quicker than I expected, all right."
As the two men were having a leisurely conversation, a report from the command center came in.
"An object flying at Mach 8 from azimuth 0-9-2 has been detected!"
"Mach 8? Are you certain?"
"Yes, sir. 62 seconds before impact! There are two rounds headed to our vessel from a total of eight."
"Is it a plane? A missile?"
"We are entering the terminal phase of the interception now, sir."
The strategic director was in such a hurry that he could not answer Admiral Gil Un-Suk's question and entered into the interception phase. The situation was that dire.
"What could it be? Did Japan own any missiles or jets that could reach the speed of Mach 8?"
Admiral Gil Un-Suk, who was relaxed previously, thought for a moment and then closed his eyes as if he figured out something.
"We are launching two SM-2 anti-air missiles for every target from number 1 to 8, sir."
Two rounds of the SM-2 anti-air missiles flew off from four Aegis destroyers into the sky. The SM-2 missiles flew to their peak altitude by using its flexible maneuverability, then shot down towards the flying metal objects. However, since the objects were moving at a speed of Mach 8, they were too slow to strike them down. The 16 rounds of SM-2 missiles all fell into the surface of the ocean and exploded.
"Interception for target 1 through 8 have all failed!"
"We do not have enough time for the second interception attempt. We are transitioning into the CIWS."
The other vessels in the fleet joined in and launched its 21 MLRS RIM-116 RAM short ranged missiles. About 10 rounds flew towards the metal objects, but they all missed.
The final line of defense of the CIWS, the 20mm Phalanx and 30mm goalie guns all operated while making mechanical noises, and sprayed a large number of light beams into the dark sky.
Boom!
"Target 1 successfully intercepted!"
A flash of light lit up only 5km away from them. Numerous amounts of shrapnel flew everywhere to the joint fleet's location.
"Target 2 is still coming towards us. 5 seconds away from impact! 4! 3! It's coming. Ahh."
The 20mm Phalanx guns sprayed light beams everywhere but the small metal object flew past the net of fire and slammed into the lower Aegis radar of the Taejo (DDG-995).
Booom!
An enormous shockwave rang across the bridge. Then, it split into two before an enormous amount of heat rose from the cracks. Admiral Gil Un-Suk, captain Kim Yoo-Hwan and the other crew members were all vaporized before they could even scream.
The Seoaeryu (DDG-993) was also struck by two of the metal objects. A large explosion occurred and caused the vessel to lean portside and sink into the sea. The Sungjong (DDG-997) was also struck, and black and red flames were dancing around the vessel.. Only the Sejong (DDG-991) was successful in intercepting the two metal objects that flew towards them and managed to save themselves from death.