Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 313, 312: Attack on the Troop Transport Ship, Using Howitzers Modified into Aerial Bombs

On the battlefield of Wusong, the Shrike flew towards the Yangtze River with three Il-16 fighters.

Strictly speaking, it is the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Huangpu River.

Fang Wen was the one who made this decision.

After skillfully tactically eliminating five enemy interceptor aircraft, Fang Wen, in his mechanical perception state, had a clear understanding of his situation.

Throughout the battlefield, Japanese enemy aircraft and Nationalist Air Force fighters were locked in fierce combat. The five Japanese aircraft that had just been intercepting them were responsible for the mission.

Unfortunately, they ran into the Taishan team and were wiped out in one fell swoop.

This meant that the Taishan team was no longer being monitored by Japanese warplanes.

Now that Fang Wen is free to move around, he needs to issue instructions for the next action in a timely manner.

He observed the entire battlefield and identified three points from which he could launch harassment and attacks: the Wusong Railway Wharf, the warships on the river, and the troop transport ships sailing towards the wharf on the river in preparation for landing.

Although the Wusong Railway Wharf was very important, the garrison there was very scattered and they were all hiding in bunkers, so the impact of aerial strafing was not significant.

According to the intelligence sent back by Yoshida, the warships on the river...

The Type 89 127mm anti-aircraft gun is the standard long-range anti-aircraft weapon for all large Japanese surface ships. Although it poses little threat to high-altitude bombers, it can attack aircraft that come from other angles.

There are also the Type 96 25mm anti-aircraft gun and the Type 93 13.2mm anti-aircraft machine gun.

It can be said that it has a relatively complete air defense system and is very restrained in harassment operations such as dive-bombing.

Fang Wen had no desire to lead the team on such a dangerous but low-reward endeavor.

After all, the main purpose of the aircraft harassment at this stage was to cooperate with the army to drive the Japanese troops at the Wusong landing point into the water.

That leaves only the troop transport ships on the water.

Due to the threat of warships and artillery, the National Army was forced to retreat to the building bunkers 1000 meters away. Currently, there are no direct-fire weapons posing a threat to the troop transport ships on the water. The Japanese army is continuously sending troop transport ships to reinforce the Wusong Railway Wharf.

Thinking about this, Fang Wen understood what the Taishan team, now free to move around, should do.

Immediately, under his command, the flight team changed course in the air and flew toward the target.

(A scene from Wusong during the battle; houses and docks were destroyed by artillery fire.)
At the Wusongkou, the end of the Huangpu River, where it meets the Yangtze River, several troop transport ships are sailing upstream.

Because of the sunken ship on the river, large warships could not come to escort the ship, and only a small, old warship led the way.

Meanwhile, the soldiers preparing to land, standing on troop transport ships converted from cargo ships, were watching the scenery on both sides of the Huangpu River.

Suddenly, the lead escort destroyer sounded an alarm, and the captain of the troop transport ship, upon hearing the alarm, immediately told his soldiers to be on alert.

But in reality, the soldiers on these troop transport ships had no idea where the danger was coming from.

Until four fighter jets flew overhead.

Upon arriving at the target area, Fang Wen looked down and saw an old, small warship escorting them, followed by two troop transport ships.

This old-fashioned destroyer was a warship from World War I. It was equipped with torpedo tubes and small- to medium-caliber guns, but its anti-aircraft firepower consisted only of a Type 93 13.2mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the bow.

Once this escort ship is dealt with, there will be no longer any threat to troop transport ships.

He immediately gave the order to attack the warships.

Just as the four planes swooped down, the old destroyer finally realized that these were not its own aircraft.

In a panic, they immediately organized a counterattack and issued an alarm to warn the troop transport ships behind them.

But how can such efficiency compare to that of a high-speed diving fighter jet?

Just as an officer rushed to the Type 93 13.2mm anti-aircraft machine gun, preparing to raise the gun barrel to fire into the air, Fang Wen's Shrike launched the first attack.

A barrage of machine gun shells reduced the entire anti-aircraft machine gun to rubble, and the officer disappeared without a trace.

Subsequently, three more Il-16s also attacked the bow and stern of the warship.

In this attack, the only anti-aircraft weapon was destroyed in one fell swoop, and the destroyer was also damaged considerably.

But that wasn't the real target; the limited machine gun ammunition had to be used on the troop transport ships.

Immediately, the Shrike climbed to a higher altitude, carrying the air combat team.

This was to adjust the angle for the next wave of combat. After the fuselage was adjusted into position, the four fighter jets swooped down again.

They launched a dive-bombing attack on the two troop transport ships.

This time, following Fang Wen's secret telegram instructions, the combat teams were split into pairs of 22, each attacking one ship in an attempt to cause damage as quickly as possible before Japanese aircraft could provide support.

Immediately, the four fighter jets split into two groups and flew towards the two troop transport ships respectively.

20mm machine gun shells were unleashed on the troop transport ship. The deck was filled with Japanese soldiers, and there was no need to aim. The explosive machine gun shells caused huge damage after hitting the enemy.

The soldiers on the troop transport ship collapsed instantly after being subjected to such a fierce air attack.

Even trained soldiers could no longer remain calm in such a scene.

Blood and flesh flew everywhere, and the demons in the air tore apart their former companions.

Covered in the blood and gore of their own men, some Japanese soldiers were incoherent and bewildered, while others leaped into the river to escape the ensuing attack.

Many more rushed toward the entrance on the other side of the deck, believing they would be safe once inside the ship.

However, this idea was stopped by the captain and the accompanying officers.

Clearly, the space below is also full of transported supplies.

Fang Wen, having completed the first round of strafing, witnessed this scene while using his mechanical senses to perceive the troop transport ship below.

He had some guesses.

No wonder these soldiers were all stationed on the deck; there must be a lot of military supplies inside the ship's hold.

For example, bullets, infantry guns, artillery shells, high explosives, etc.

However, the machine gun shells they brought this time were all explosive shells, which were designed for air combat and probably couldn't even penetrate the hull of a cargo ship.

Therefore, he could only regretfully continue with the next round of dive-bombing.

After two rounds of dive-bombing, Fang Wen stopped. In his mechanical perception state, he used radar to detect several flying objects 5 kilometers away.

Although radar cannot pinpoint the exact location, the general direction can be determined. That direction could not be the Nationalist Air Force, so it seems that Japanese support planes have arrived.

This place is not safe to stay any longer. Having already obtained the benefits, Fang Wen immediately issued a secret telegram order.

Immediately afterwards, the four fighter jets climbed up, formed flight formation again, and accelerated towards the southwest.

Not long after they left, a large group of Japanese planes attacked, but they missed.

The river was left in a mess. Two troop transport ships and one escort ship were damaged, especially the deck of the troop transport ships, where a large number of wounded soldiers were groaning in pain, and the surviving soldiers who were unharmed were also in low spirits.

Before this batch of soldiers could even reach the Wusong Railway Wharf, they had already suffered significant losses.

The Taishan Flight Squadron returned to Hangzhou Jianqiao Airport. On the way back, they did not encounter the enemy. At present, the air forces of both sides are in Shanghai, and the battle is very fierce.

After landing at the airport, Fang Wen was very concerned about the situation in Shanghai, but this concern could only be passive.

As night fell, a telegram finally arrived from Nanjing.

This is a message of praise and the day's battle report sent by Captain Gao. [Regimental Commander Fang, your unit performed exceptionally well in today's air battle; you are a role model for all of us in the aviation industry.]

Today, over a hundred fighter jets engaged in combat over Wusong, creating a highly chaotic situation.

Both sides suffered casualties; our side shot down 12 aircraft and lost 6.

This result is only for one day; we will surely avenge this defeat tomorrow.

Because of his good relationship with Fang Wen, Captain Gao's telegrams were somewhat emotional.

It seems he is very dissatisfied with the performance of the National Air Force today.

Fang Wen, who also participated in today's air battle, analyzes the air battle from his perspective.

In such large-scale air combat, without air command and control, all the aircraft involved are like a disorganized mess.

The competition is based on the skills honed through daily training, practical experience, performance under pressure, and teamwork with teammates.

In addition, the Nationalist Air Force mainly consisted of biplane fighters such as the Hawk 2 and Hawk 3, while the Japanese Navy had already upgraded to the Type 96 monoplane carrier-based fighter, making the Nationalist Air Force less agile.

There is an even more important point.

In such swarm air combat, danger lurks everywhere, and only airmen who are unafraid of danger can perform at their best.

Now that the War of Resistance against Japan has fully broken out, the strongest generation of Japanese soldiers, who are fanatical and obsessed with Bushido, are extremely fanatical.

On the other hand, the Nationalist army, whether it was the army or the air force, lacked the spirit and morale. They shouted their loyalty to the party and the country, but very few of them could actually do it.

On the other hand, the Red Army had many soldiers with firm beliefs.

Therefore, in complex air combat, the highly skilled pilots of the Nationalist Air Force who relied on tactics and coordinated operations were not necessarily more threatening than the fanatical Japanese air force pilots.

Fang Wen couldn't help but sigh.

A variety of complex reasons prevented the rise of the National Air Force. Embezzlement of military funds, factionalism, and conflicting interests ultimately hindered its development.

This year may be their most glorious moment. Fang Wen doesn't have too many expectations for them, only hoping that they can perform as they have in history.

He stopped thinking about it and returned to his dormitory to rest and prepare for tomorrow's battle.

But that very night, something big happened in Shanghai.

At 3 a.m., the Wusong battlefield was shrouded in darkness because the moon was hidden behind dark clouds and the power facilities had been destroyed by artillery fire.

Suddenly, beams of bright light shot out from the Huangpu River.

This is the searchlights of dozens of light cruisers and destroyers simultaneously illuminating the shore.

It is also a kind of signal guidance.

Subsequently, the 140mm and 127mm main guns bombarded the area around Wusongkou, Chuansha Town, Wusong Fort, and Shizilin Fort.

Under heavy artillery fire, the Japanese army launched a larger-scale amphibious landing operation.

However, these Japanese troops still encountered resistance from the Nationalist army after landing.

The two sides resumed their tug-of-war.

The battle raged until dawn, after which Japanese aircraft joined the attack.

In response, the National Air Force immediately set off again to begin another day of group air combat.

At 5 a.m., Fang Wen received a telegram from Nanjing.

But the task assigned to him this time was somewhat different.

At the request of the frontline troops, they want your unit to bombard the Japanese artillery positions entrenched outside Wusong Town.

Fang Wen frowned as he looked at the task.

The location, size, and number of artillery positions were not mentioned; nothing was known.

It's too ambiguous who proposed this task.

But he did not refuse; instead, he accepted the task and began preparations.

Because bombing is required, this flight will be carried with bombs, but the bombs will be provided by Jianqiao Airport.

He immediately contacted the airport ground staff supervisor and then went to the warehouse to check.

Inside the warehouse, aerial bombs were placed on iron racks half a meter off the ground.

The ground crew supervisor explained, "We only have one type of bomb in stock, all supplied by the Jinling Arsenal. They are modified from 150mm howitzers. Although they use the structure of a howitzer, the firing method has been changed to adapt to bombing, and their power is even greater than that of a 150mm howitzer."

The 150mm howitzer was arguably one of the most powerful artillery pieces of its time.

Fang Wen had heard that in 23, the Nationalist government purchased a batch of 150mm howitzers from Germany, which were their most prized weapons.

Unexpectedly, there were talented people at the Jinling Arsenal who actually modified artillery shells into aerial bombs.

Fang Wen probably knew the power of this kind of shell.

The shockwave can destroy up to 200 meters in radius, and buildings within 10 meters of the blast's epicenter can be virtually destroyed.

But the most crucial aspect of bombing is accuracy. A slight difference in the air can mean a difference of hundreds of meters on the ground. Apart from Fang Wen, very few people can accurately hit such a 50-kilogram bomb.

Fang Wen, whose heart was filled with excitement at the prospect of bombs, feigned calmness and asked, "How many bombs are there? Can I use them all?"

"A total of 6 were delivered. Captain Gao used 2 during training. You can use the remaining 4," the ground crew supervisor replied.

There were only four bombs. Considering that each bomb weighs nearly 50 kilograms, that's only the amount of bombs that two planes could carry at once. Fang Wen was a little disappointed, but 150mm grenades are precious in themselves, so he stopped hoping for more.

He then signed to accept the bombs, and together with his pilots, mechanics, and ground crew, carefully loaded them onto a trailer and drove them to the hangar.

In the hangar, Fang Wen and the mechanics made adjustments to the bomb mounting system to adapt it to the current aircraft's loadout.

After a flurry of activity, the bombs were lifted up and installed on either side of the aircraft's belly.

Adding 100 kilograms of payload weight won't have much of an impact.

After the bombs were installed, Fang Wen and the pilots held a short meeting.

"This bombing was carried out by a group of Japanese troops located outside Wusong Town. They landed from elsewhere and set up an artillery position, constantly threatening the Wusong defense line. Compared to warships, this point is easier to eliminate, so the frontline troops requested our assistance in dealing with it."

After a pause, Fang Wen continued, "The problem is that they are unsure of the artillery positions' locations, requiring us to conduct reconnaissance ourselves. Given the current battlefield situation, it's impossible to conduct reconnaissance before sending out bombers. Therefore, I've decided to combine reconnaissance and bombing. This will be very difficult and involve some uncertainties, such as the possibility of being attacked by Japanese aircraft during the bombing. Therefore, I need to adjust the combat team's positioning. I will be the main bomber, Zhai Xiaojun will be the second bomber, each carrying two bombs. Du Jiahuai and Shao Deqing will be the escort fighters; you need to engage the enemy, hold them off, and give them time to bomb."

Du Jiahui and Shao Deqing felt a lot of pressure regarding Fang Wen's arrangement, but since the mission was primarily bombing with escorting as a secondary objective, it was certain that Fang Wen, who had the highest bombing accuracy, would carry out the bombing mission. Therefore, it was up to the two of them to take on the protection task.

The two Red Army pilots accepted the order with serious expressions.

Du Jiahuai replied earnestly, "Please rest assured, Commander, we will definitely complete the mission."

Zhai Xiaojun, however, was optimistic: "With the regimental commander here, this mission will definitely succeed. Regimental commander, you know, the Japanese in Shanghai are about evenly matched with us. If we keep fighting like this, we might even win."

Fang Wen smiled, but did not answer.

Words that could damage morale couldn't be said, but the reality wasn't good. Even though the 88th and 87th Divisions had reached Wusong, it wouldn't change much of history. After their unsuccessful offensive, would the Japanese navy just stay there indefinitely? Of course not. If they attacked the areas surrounding Shanghai, Shanghai would become an isolated island, just as dangerous.

The longer Fang Wen stayed in this era, the more he integrated into it. War is complex and influenced by many factors, just like the general trend of the ancients. Today, the Japanese army is stronger than the Republic of China in all aspects and has the upper hand. Even if some variables occur, they will not affect the overall situation.

But now that he's in this era, he'll continue, because victory will ultimately be on China's side.

(End of this chapter)