Section 3 War or Peace? (Above) [3rd Shift Votes]
In order to prevent a surprise attack by submarines, the Fifth Fleet strictly adhered to the anti-submarine evasion guidelines during the voyage. Every two hours, the fleet makes a quick turn. The escort of anti-submarine destroyers, as well as the seaplanes responsible for the search of the perimeter, were constantly operating on the periphery of the fleet. However, the Imperial Navy did not pay much attention to submarines. In World War I, the submarines of the German Empire played a huge destructive role in the Atlantic, but the Tang Empire did not take submarines seriously as a weapon of naval warfare.
Tan Renhao has been staying on the flagship of the "Li Jing", although the situation is very tense, but there is no more news coming, whether it will be fought or not, this is uncertain. Tan Renhao also took advantage of this opportunity to seize the time to familiarize himself with this task force that made him feel a little unfamiliar.
In terms of the number of ships, the size of the Fifth Fleet has increased by almost half. At present, it has 28 large warships above the destroyer, including 3 aircraft carriers, 1 large cruiser, 12 heavy cruisers, and 12 destroyers. In terms of personnel, the size of the Fifth Fleet has almost doubled, and the most important thing is that the Fifth Air Wing has been included in the Fifth Fleet, which has increased the number of officers and men by several thousand (the vast majority of whom are ground crews, as well as officers and men stationed at shore air stations). In terms of officers alone, the Fifth Fleet has increased by nearly 500 personnel, and the fleet's staff has more than 20 new faces.
The biggest change in the Fifth Fleet is still essential. A year and a half ago, the Fifth Fleet was just a shelf, except for three aircraft carriers, there were almost no warships that could be regarded as the main force, and even the previous flagship "Yancheng" was eliminated from other fleets and served for nearly 20 years. At present, the Fifth Fleet not only has one large air defense cruiser of the latest type, but also twelve heavy cruisers, either new or completely refitted, and are in the prime of life. More importantly, for the first time, the Fifth Fleet had a complete air defense force, and for the first time, thirteen warships with powerful anti-aircraft firepower really had the ability to provide short-range air defense cover for aircraft carriers.
Another change in the Fifth Fleet is in the quality of officers and men. The most obvious manifestation is the rank of officers and men of the aviation unit. Liao Hanxiang brought the Fifth Air Wing under the command of the Fifth Fleet, not a few words, or Marshal Sajiting's approval. In order to make the officers and men of the Fifth Air Wing obey his command, General Liao Hanxiang has made a lot of efforts, the most important of which is to comprehensively improve the remuneration of pilots.
At the time when the Fifth Air Wing was a separate army, ordinary pilots were sergeant non-commissioned officers, and navigators were sergeant-non-commissioned officers. This is a very low salary, and all the pilots of the Army Aviation were promoted to officers "collectively" two years ago, and some pilots even became colonels. It is a fact that the ranks of officers and men of naval aviation are generally lower, and it is a very serious fact. Liao Hanxiang had previously proposed to improve the remuneration of pilots, and if pilots were treated according to the standards of technical noncommissioned officers, more outstanding talents would only flow into the army aviation. As a result, his proposal was suppressed for two years. This time, Liao Hanxiang once again demanded an increase in the remuneration of pilots, and obtained the consent of the Navy Command on the condition that the Fifth Fleet should bear the increased allowance of 30 percent of the officers and men of the Fifth Air Wing. As a result, when the Fifth Air Wing was merged into the Fifth Fleet, the pilots became officers, and even the navigators stepped over the threshold of officers.
Of course, it's not just pilots who are getting paid better. The number of ground crews and officers and men on battleships has tripled, and even though there are still many people who have not been promoted, Liao Hanxiang has used the funds for the activities of the Fifth Fleet to improve the living standards of officers and men. Especially for the officers and men on the battleship, the impetus generated by this change was enormous. The Fifth Fleet's 15 million yuan can allow these officers and men to have two more dishes per meal, and they can also receive an extra apple every day. Perhaps, this little benefit is insignificant in the eyes of ordinary people, but for the soldiers of the Imperial Navy, for those who live at sea all year round, this little benefit is enough to make them feel satisfied.
It is not an exaggeration to describe the changes in the Fifth Fleet as "reborn" and "reincarnate". Previously, the Fifth Fleet was a small fleet inferior to some local fleets, but now the Fifth Fleet is recognized as the hope of the Imperial Navy. These changes are not only reflected in those documents, but also in the warships of the Fifth Fleet, in the quality of the officers and men of the Fifth Fleet, and even more in the looks and psychology of the officers and men of the Fifth Fleet.
In just three days, Tan Renhao had already discovered this subtle change from the expressions and words of the officers and men of the "Li Jing." Of course, he is also one of them. Although General Liao Hanxiang has not assigned him a new position for the time being, the position of the operational staff officer of the Aviation Combat Staff Department has been set aside, and that is the position of a major. In the Fifth Fleet, no one was able to compete with Tan Renhao for this position.
"Renhao, come out quickly!"
Tan Renhao put down the documents in his hand and rubbed his temples, he had been reading the materials for more than three hours in a row.
"Come out quickly, don't delay the time!" Hao Dongjue pulled Tan Renhao and rushed out of the cabin as he spoke.
"What's so urgent?" Tan Renhao was a little annoyed, if he was the operational staff officer of the Aviation Operations Staff, then Hao Dongjue and Chang Jianxin would be his main deputies, and Hao Dongjue, this kid, still has nothing to do all day long, just doesn't do the right thing.
Hao Dongjue didn't answer Tan Renhao, and pulled him directly to the gangway outside.
"See? Little Japan's fleet, damn it! ”
There were already many officers and soldiers who were on leave in shifts and came to the gangway outside, and Chang Jianxin was also there. Tan Renhao looked in the northeast direction, and sure enough, a fleet was approaching, although he couldn't see clearly the national flag and naval flag hanging on those battleships, but the shape of those battleships was very different from the battleships of the Imperial Navy, and the tall bow tower with a "Japanese style" could make people see at a glance that it was a Japanese warship.
The outside of the battleship immediately became lively, and many officers and men were pointing fingers, especially as the two fleets approached each other, and the officers and men became even more lively. Suddenly, the terrible battle siren sounded, and all the officers and men were startled, and then they returned to the inside of the battleship. According to the Navy's combat regulations, all officers and men on rotational leave will act as damage control personnel during the battle and will stay close to their posts.
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