Empire of the Ring

Chapter 695: Royal Fleet (3)

Used frigates bought from Britain were remodeled in the Danish Shipyard and were now deployed to the Kazakh Navy, increasing the number of ships operating in the Indian Ocean to 11.

One Aegis destroyer and four frigates were grouped into one task force group and the total of two task force groups deployed in the Indian Ocean. The multipurpose landing ship was serving as a command ship and a support ship for the groups.

Four frigates had also been deployed on Arirang and Meltemi islands, placing the southeastern Mediterranean region on the border.

Then, the U.S. Navy also withdrew two Aegis destroyers that had been deployed forward near the Suez Canal to the central Mediterranean Sea.

It was because four frigates of Kazakhstan’s Navy were deployed in the southeastern waters, and there was no reason to duplicate the forces.

However, the Kazakh navy was not doing it for free of charge.

Youngho also did not forget to take the benefit in return, citing that the Kazakh Navy, which had relatively weak national power, was operating as a multinational force.

The U.S. Navy had decided to provide cruise missiles in exchange for some of the work of the Kazakh Mediterranean fleet.

When two task forces were formed in the Indian Ocean after Victor Jun was promoted to admiral, he was on board a multi-purpose landing ship to command the first maneuvers.

The scene of the maneuvers in the Indian Ocean between Seychelles and the Maldives was being filmed by a photographer from the armed forces information and education division of the Defense Ministry. He was moving around the deck swiftly not to miss any of the movements.

The training footage taken today would soon be broadcast throughout Kazakhstan and the federal states. This was because it was a good material that would instill pride in the people of the Kazakh Federal Kingdom.

Despite being inland, the Kazakh Navy had capabilities that were unrivaled to many bigger nations.

Such national promotional films were often created for the people of the Kazakh Kingdom, and so far, they loved to watch them. They were proud of their country.

“Get everything in the film. All the people should see it, and His Highness and Her Majesty are very interested in this too.”

“Admiral, this sight is so spectacular that the whole nation will be thrilled by it. Would they have dreamed of traveling across the ocean with such a large fleet? It’s all the power of our royal family. I’m even getting goosebumps.”

“I feel the same way as you do. Don’t get excited and make a great video.”

Victor Jun was now experiencing mixed feelings.

When he just became an officer, he was in charge of a retired 100-ton Chamsuri-class patrol boat from the Korean Navy, and only a while ago, he commanded an Aegis destroyer, and now he was commanding a 30,000-ton-class fleet command vessel. It felt like he was still dreaming.

If a nuclear submarine was deployed next month, the fleet would be invincible in the Indian Ocean.

The 30,000-ton multipurpose landing ship was huge, with 240 meters long and 37 meters wide flight deck.

The deck in front of the control tower, which stood tall on the right side of the flight deck, was equipped with 20 vertical missile launchers and even a goalkeeper, so the vessel had its own anti-aircraft defense capability.

In addition, a dock was installed on it so that a submarine weighing less than 500 tons produced in the royal territory could be docked and used if necessary.

Now it was a supply ship, but when it came to landing operations, it could carry 12 attack helicopters, 10 tanks, 15 amphibious armored vehicles, 10 trucks, and two hovercrafts, on top of 1,500 troops.

In addition, the water and oil carried on the landing ship were enough for one mobile fleet to use for a month.

He had never thought that his friendship with the Duke of Kazakhstan since the days of the autonomous state would continue this long.

He thought it was a joke then when the Duke asked him if he would want to be the Minister of National Defense, it was slowly coming to reality.

“Who’s the pilot of the helicopter that just landed? I don’t know how a man wandering on this wide flight deck can land on an Aegis destroyer or a frigate.”

“He’s excited to have such a wide space since he has been using narrow decks.”

“Don’t shoot that. If the Duke sees it, he won’t like it.”

Helicopter pilots were landing roughly without any tension because the flight deck was so wide.

It was the first exercise and both task force groups attended, and the helicopters that were yet to be installed on the multi-purpose landing ships were training to take off and land on the ship’s flight deck.

“Assistant, check which ship the helicopter belongs to. We have no choice but to reprimand the captain.”

“Yes, sir.”

The landing ship’s bridge was as noisy as a beehive, as a small-sized submarine launching exercise was going on as well.

The landing ship’s bridge was equipped with control tower functions, so about 20 officers would be working on it, so it had to be noisy.

It was natural that their voices rose when they were trying to do something unfamiliar to their hands.

With the commander of the fleet watching the drill, it seemed as if they were on a real operation with high tension.

Such training should be repeated dozens of times so that soldiers’ hands and feet would get accustomed to the maneuvers of their work, and mistakes would be reduced.

Admiral Jun’s voice grew louder and louder as he thought the joint training for 15 days was a way to improve the survival of the Kazakh Navy.

***

The Kazakh Navy’s mobile fleet entering the Indian naval base on Seychelles was in perfect order. This was the result of the hard training of 15 days.

The Seychelles base was anchored by an Indian naval destroyer, so only the command ship—the landing ship—was moored at the pier, while the rest of the vessels anchored at the outside port and stood by.

The Indian Navy looked surprised at the arrival of the landing ship, which was nicknamed Almaty.

The unusual type of landing ship modified from a used cargo ship with a new painting looked like a new one.

At first glance, it was easily mistaken for an aircraft carrier, not a landing ship.

The commander of the Seychelles base courteously greeted the admiral of the Kazakh Navy.

Regardless of rank, when a foreign warship visited, it was treated as a special presence, unlike commercial vessels. This was because the warships of each country were symbolic of the dignity and sovereignty of the country.

“We sincerely welcome your visit.”

Colonel Asam, the commander of the Seychelles base, welcomed Victor.

After seeing the aircraft carrier-class landing ship, he seemed nervous.

“Thank you for your welcome. You’ve built a great base. An aircraft carrier would be able to make it easy if our ship did so.”

“I’m flattered. This is just the beginning. It will be the largest naval base in the Indian Ocean if a dedicated dock for the Kazakh Navy is built.”

“Our Queen and Duke are also very grateful for giving up your room for our navy. His Highness sent me some vodka from Siberia to thank you.”

“A gift directly from the royal family. It’s quite an honor…”

India was also a Commonwealth country, so Indians were very respective of any royal family.

“Until we finish the construction, we’re in a position to share your base. Thank you again.”

“It’s nothing. We have a military alliance. It’s right for us to help our ally in need.”

“It’s less burdensome since you say so.”

Not everyone in India welcomed the military alliance with Kazakhstan, although they were said to have formed a military alliance.

Colonel Asam was one of those people.

Since it was an alliance with a small country, he felt a little contemptuous.

After checking the ally’s armed forces with his own eyes, however, he realized how wrong he was.

The Kazakh fleet had brought Aegis destroyers which India did not even have.

Captain Asam confirmed his faith in the Kazakh Navy after seeing the great command of the mobile fleet.

Normally, when entering a foreign port or base, it was common to display all the planes on the flight deck and show them off. It also meant disarming the other side by showing off its military power and showing that there was nothing more to hide.

However, because there was not a single helicopter or plane on the deck of the multipurpose landing ship, as none was deployed yet, it was mistaken that it had been moved to a maintenance shop under the deck by an airplane elevator.

Either way, Captain Asam, who saw the greatness of the Kazakh Royal Navy, was paying keen respect to Admiral Jun.

“Admiral, are you going to continue to stay at Seychelles Base, too?”

“I plan to stay here for the time being. We’re going to have a nuclear submarine at Seychelles Base next month, so I should stay there until we can operate smoothly.”

“You mean you are deploying a nuclear submarine in the Indian Ocean?”

“It’s a military secret of our country, but I’m telling you this because I think you should know, so please be extra careful about security.”

“Of course. But what kind of submarine is it?”

“It’s the Oscar-class submarine. The other one will be operating somewhere else and join the Indian Ocean if necessary.”

Captain Asam was so surprised at the mention of the Oscar-class submarine.

“You mean you have two Oscar-class super-large nuclear submarines?”

China had already made a fuss to prevent Russia from exporting nuclear-powered submarines, so it was already well known.

“I guess you didn’t know that our country has acquired nuclear submarines yet. There will be two nuclear-powered submarines operating in the Indian Ocean.”