Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 574 Destroying Two Ki-36s, Trapping the Enemy in a Jar, and the Air Attack on the Logistics Line

Fang Wen piloted the gunship aircraft and flew over.

At the same time, mechanical sensing was used to conduct detailed observations of enemy aircraft.

The Tachikawa Type 98 direct cooperative reconnaissance aircraft, also known as the Ki-36.

Its emergence was to replace the old-fashioned biplane reconnaissance aircraft.

It has two cockpits, one in front for the pilot and one in the rear for reconnaissance personnel, which are used for military reconnaissance activities such as aerial mapping and landmark marking on the ground.

Its speed of 350 kilometers per hour does not belong to the category of high-speed fighter jets, but it is faster than gunship aircraft.

And what about its weapon system?

There is a fixed 7.7 mm machine gun on the right front of the nose and a rotating 7.7 mm machine gun at the rear, which are operated by two people on board.

Fang Wen gave him an evaluation.

A typical thin-shell, inexpensive aircraft, lacking both speed and defense. To put it nicely, it's a reconnaissance aircraft; to put it bluntly, it's a low-cost air force product.

Because it is cheap, Yoshida previously reported that the army was preparing to increase its orders.

Seeing the gunboats flying in from afar, the two Japanese reconnaissance planes immediately chose to engage.

During the year of fighting, Taishan Air Force's gunboats gradually emerged, and the Japanese Army, Navy and Air Force conducted detailed studies on all aspects of them.

According to the analysis of Japanese aviation instructors, gunship aircraft had protective shields that could withstand the fire of existing weapons and were designed specifically to attack ground targets, making them a target of the Japanese military.

However, its poor flexibility and slow speed are also obvious weaknesses. Therefore, in the case teaching of the Japanese Air Force, it is clearly pointed out that once a gunboat is spotted, the first thing to do is to try to dogfight it.

Therefore, the reaction of these two reconnaissance aircraft was correct.

Unfortunately, they encountered Fang Wen, who was piloting a gunboat.

Once Fang Wen activated his mechanical perception, he was confident he could handle the enemy in front of him, even while piloting a gunship.

After all, this gunship aircraft had been modified and equipped with an air-to-ground rocket launcher.

With the addition of air-to-ground rocket launchers, gunship pilots now have the means to launch proactive attacks, instead of having to fly in circles and relying solely on side-mounted machine guns and cannons for offense, as was the case before.

Under mechanical sensing conditions, and in conjunction with the television fire control device, Fang Wen has begun to use his special ability to perform manual locking and guidance.

His fingers rested on the control handle of the rocket launcher, using precise manipulation to adjust the launcher's trajectory and angle.

The two Japanese reconnaissance planes ahead suddenly split up to the left and right, choosing not to engage in a direct confrontation.

This sudden change caused Fang Wen to cancel his planned launch.

Clearly, these two Japanese reconnaissance planes were preparing to use dogfighting tactics to flank and attack from behind.

In this situation, we can only temporarily abandon the launch and regain control of the battle.

He steered the aircraft to the side, suddenly reducing its altitude.

By taking advantage of the change in spatial difference, the dogfight tactic between the two reconnaissance aircraft was temporarily rendered ineffective.

Faced with this situation, the two Japanese reconnaissance planes quickly turned around and attempted to pursue the enemy again.

Their actions were exactly what Fang Wen had planned, which meant that Fang Wen would control the pace of the battle.

He then issued an order.

"Target is 30 degrees above, machine gunners are free to fire."

Gong Xiuneng and the other two machine gunners immediately turned the gun and cannon levers inside the cabin, adjusting the firing direction of the aircraft machine guns and cannons to an elevation angle, and then kept their eyes fixed on the sky above.

The plane's shadow flashed by, and the machine gunners quickly pulled the triggers and spun their guns to follow the enemy plane's trajectory and fire.

Bullets and machine gun shells rained down into the air.

Unfortunately, these moving targets are much harder to hit than fixed ground targets. Bullet marks swept across the area, but no enemy aircraft was hit.

Meanwhile, the observers behind the Japanese warplanes were operating the rear machine guns to strafe the gunship aircraft.

The bullets rattled across the gunboat's fuselage, sending sparks flying from the armored plates, but they failed to penetrate the thick protective steel armor.

"Don't panic, they won't be arrogant for long." Fang Wen calmed down and fully activated his mechanical perception.

In an instant, the propeller speeds of the two Ki-36s, the wing angles, and even the subtle movements of the pilots pulling the control sticks all flooded into his mind like a data stream.

The reconnaissance plane on the left is cutting in at an angle at a speed of 350 kilometers per hour, attempting to initiate a tail-chase attack.

Meanwhile, the enemy aircraft on the right had begun to make slight adjustments to its nose, preparing to dive from the left rear of the gunship aircraft.

They were still using the "deadlock tactic" taught by the Japanese instructors, trying to use their flexibility to fight a protracted battle.

However, the flexibility of gunship aircraft is only relative, as Fang Wen operated the aircraft to perform a circling and climbing maneuver.

This was a buoyancy advantage of the gull-wing gunship, which, by taking advantage of the elevation difference during the climb, managed to shake off the two enemy aircraft that had just dived down.

Two simple changes in spatial displacement, one up and one down, reveal a huge difference in pilot skill.

Japanese reconnaissance planes were simply incapable of such smooth spatial maneuvering and were hastily adjusting their fuselages.

At this moment, Fang Wen had already piloted the gunship to create distance and straightened the nose to re-aim.

The mechanical sensors immediately locked onto the enemy aircraft on the right, and with precise control, the rocket launcher axis was aligned with the nose of the enemy aircraft.

The enemy aircraft re-entered the television fire control screen, and its swaying fuselage gradually came into the aiming sights.

At this moment, Fang Wen slightly adjusted the rudder with his left hand, while his right index finger gripped the firing handle, simultaneously simulating the rocket's flight trajectory in his mind:

After the rocket is launched from the launch pod, it will first fall half a meter downwards, then drift upwards with the airflow, and finally catch up with the enemy aircraft's wing within 3 seconds.

However, the impact of wind resistance also needed to be considered. After calculating the wind resistance effect and allowing for a certain directional deviation, he pressed the launch button in advance. "Whoosh—" Four rockets shot out from the launch pod, their orange-red tail flames illuminating half of the cockpit.

The light and the sound carried the hue of death.

The enemy pilot on the other side saw it; the incoming rockets magnified in his pupils.

Fear appeared on his face, but there was no time to react.

In less than three seconds, four air-to-ground rockets arrived in front of the aircraft.

Unlike ground-based rockets, air-to-ground rockets are equipped with delayed-detonation fuses instead of mechanical contact fuses.

The four air-to-ground rockets exploded instantly, and the scattered debris and shockwaves covered the entire airspace.

Under such a wide-range attack, the K36 fighter jet had no chance of survival.

It was instantly affected by the blast wave and detonated in mid-air.

The flames from the mid-air explosion of the first Ki-36 had not yet dissipated when the pilot of another reconnaissance plane was terrified by the sight before him.

He lowered the nose of the plane, attempting to escape the dangerous airspace in a dive.
The "relentless pursuit" tactic they had just planned has been completely forgotten; now all that remains is the instinct to flee in panic.

Fang Wen's lips curled into a cold smile as his mechanical senses instantly locked onto the fleeing enemy aircraft.

In his "mechanical vision," the enemy aircraft's flight path was so clear that it could be easily and accurately captured.

As the enemy aircraft entered the bullseye, Fang Wen pressed the fire button.

Four rockets were launched from the right-hand rocket launcher and quickly approached the fleeing enemy aircraft.

It then exploded.

The rear half of the enemy plane disappeared instantly from the blast wave.

The plane, now only half intact, crashed to the ground.

Fang Wen was very satisfied with the result.

This is the advantage of air-to-ground rockets in terms of range.

Once the firing direction is determined, it can cover a certain area. If multiple or even a dozen aircraft or gunships launch a salvo of aerial rockets to intercept it, it can cover a large area of ​​airspace, causing enemy fighters in that area to attack indiscriminately.

Just like the Soviet Union's first air-to-air rocket combat in the Nomonhan region, its fundamental advantage lies in its area-of-effect strike capability.

After destroying two reconnaissance aircraft with air-to-ground rockets carried by gunboats, Fang Wen piloted his plane back to base.

This counter-encirclement and annihilation campaign has only just begun; the aerial battles are merely an appetizer.

He landed at the sea airport where the Eighth Route Army's air regiment was located. After the plane landed and docked at the pier, Fang Wen got off the plane and heard the soldiers waiting at the pier say something.

"Commander Fang, our commander said you should go to the regimental headquarters for a meeting immediately after landing."

Fang Wen nodded. As a member of the Air Force participating in this operation, he was temporarily integrated into the flight regiment to fight together, and it was a must for him to participate in the flight regiment's combat meetings.

He immediately went to the air regiment headquarters.

Inside the regimental headquarters meeting room, Yan Wenwu, the regimental commander, was holding a meeting with the pilots.

"Comrades, the situation has changed. The Japanese army did not choose to launch their attack from Quyang, but instead launched an attack on the Wutai area from Taiyuan and nearby strongholds. Therefore, our air regiment's original operational plan must be overturned."

At this point, he saw Fang Wen walk in and immediately asked.

"Commander Fang, how is your aerial reconnaissance in the Wutai area going?"

Fang Wen replied, "It is estimated that there are 5000 Japanese troops surrounding the Wutai Mountain area from five directions. I have already reported the situation to the command center, and I expect that new operational orders will be issued soon."

Yan Wenwu nodded: "If we were to fight in the Wutai area, our air regiment would have a greater advantage. But we wouldn't be able to use your Taishan's new weapons there."

He was referring to the 'Taishan Storm' ground-based rocket launcher.

This weapon is far more powerful in plains than in mountains. It was originally planned to be deployed in Quyang and then used in conjunction with ground troops to launch a series of attacks to destroy Japanese strongholds along the Pinghan Railway.

Unexpectedly, the Japanese army set its sights on the Wutai area. We had to deal with the battle there first before we could think about anything else.

Then, Yan Wenwu laid out a hand-drawn topographic map of Wutai Mountain on the table, his finger tracing several winding blue lines: "These are tributaries of the Hutuo River. The Japanese army will have to pass through these river valleys to encircle Wutai from Taiyuan, Xinxian, and Dingxiang. The valleys are all cliffs on both sides, and although there is only one firing surface, it is still possible to launch air raids. If we launch air raids there, we can definitely inflict effective damage on the Japanese army. Commander Fang, what do you think? Should we launch air raids in these areas?"

Fang Wen shook his head. "I don't think this is the best plan. If we block the Japanese army in those areas and prevent them from concentrating in one place, how can we annihilate the Japanese army in this encirclement and suppression? On the contrary, letting the Japanese army into the Wutai Mountains is the best way to trap them like turtles in a jar. Then, if the Japanese army tries to escape, the air squadron can intercept them by air raids in those river valleys and prevent their defeated army from escaping."

Yan Wenwu nodded: "That makes sense. It all depends on how the command center arranges it."

Just as he finished speaking, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door, and a communications soldier rushed in holding a note covered in writing: "Regimental Commander! A call from command center! The Japanese army's 'Operation Wutai' has been confirmed. Of the five Japanese forces, Sasaki's column and Kuze's unit are the main force on the left flank, advancing towards Taihuai Town along the Hutuo River Valley; Ghana's unit is on the southern mountain road, and Miyazaki's battalion is stationed in Daying Town as a reserve force—headquarters has ordered our regiment to stand by and not to launch air raids against the enemy for the time being, but instead to 'lure the enemy in deep and intercept them in segments'!"

Yan Wenwu took the telegram, read it carefully, then suddenly pressed down on the map, his fingertip tracing between "Tongqian Gou" and "Shangxia Xiyaojian," his eyes lighting up: "Just as headquarters thought! What a perfect trap!"

He handed the telegram to Fang Wen, his voice tinged with suppressed excitement, “The 717th Regiment of the 359th Brigade has set up an ambush on both sides of Tongqian Gully, just waiting for Sasaki’s column to slip in; our flight regiment’s mission is twofold: first, to keep an eye on Miyazaki’s battalion and prevent them from providing support ahead of time; second, to cooperate with the ground forces in the two passes of Shangxia Xiyaojian and Shizui Town when the Japanese army is defeated. Those two valleys are as narrow as a throat; as long as the firepower is strong, they won’t be able to get through!”

Fang Wen took the telegram, his eyes scanning the words "Use air superiority to monitor the Japanese supply lines," and looked up to add, "During my reconnaissance, I discovered that the grain trucks of Sasaki's column were all at the rear of the column, followed by three ammunition trucks, parked in the mountain valley west of Tongqian Gully. This made me think of the difficulties the Japanese army faced in supplying supplies in the mountains. If we could send planes to harass their supply lines, the Japanese front-line troops would be thrown into chaos within two days without supplies. How about this, we request permission from the command center to launch an air attack targeting the Japanese supply lines?"

“An air attack? Can you be more specific?” Yan Wenwu asked.

Fang Wen replied, "Our air regiment has a paratrooper company, right? Give it to me, and give me four gunship planes as well. Add to the two I have here, and that makes six gunship planes, carrying 100 paratroopers. We'll strike the Japanese army's logistics lines and disrupt their supply lines. At the same time, we'll contact the local guerrillas via walkie-talkie and coordinate our operations."

The more than 100 paratroopers in the air regiment were all trained by Fang Wen. During the operation in the Taihang Mountains, due to the complex terrain, there were not many actual airborne operations.

However, at the beginning of the formation of this paratrooper unit, Fang Wen led them in a surprise airborne operation in Baoding, which achieved very good results.

This time, Fang Wen once again proposed the tactic of airborne operations, and this time it was aimed at the enemy's logistics system. Yan Wenwu immediately reported this situation to the command center.

An hour after the telegram was sent, the command center sent a reply, approving the request.

Immediately, Fang Wen set about selecting paratroopers and gunboat pilots to participate in the battle.

(End of this chapter)