Hu Lin Xiaolei and Zhang Weichang and others Pan Chengyi lived in the Navy Headquarters

Although Pei Chengyi did not participate in the work of formulating the naval combat plan, but in the past few days. What he studied when he was studying at the National Defense University made a difference.

Compared with other branches of the armed forces, the combat operations of the Navy have both commonalities and particularities.

What is common is that the navy also attaches great importance to logistical support, and it can even be said that it attaches more importance to logistical support than any other branch of the armed forces. When formulating the battle plan, Lin Xiaolei and Zhang Weichang first considered the port support capacity. This problem alone exposes the problem of naval operations.

Although the Republic has several naval bases in the Indian Ocean region, including the port of Gwadar in Pakistan, the port of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka, the port of Chittagong in Bangladesh, and the port of Krabi in Thailand, it was difficult for the navy to use these ports in the early stage of the war due to the international situation. Returning to the South China Sea, the Sihanoukville port of Shupu Village and Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam can provide support for the naval fleet, and the mainland is Yulin Port on Hainan Island, Zhanjiang Port in Leizhou Banwu, Guangzhou Port, Santou Port, Xiamen Port and Kaohsiung Port on Taiwan Island, among which Yulin Port and Kaohsiung Port have the most favorable conditions. Without affecting normal economic activity and the opening of military ports to the Republic of Vietnam and Cambodia, the Navy has only four naval bases, of which only Yulin Port and Cam Ranh Bay have the infrastructure to support aircraft carrier battle groups.

Deployment is not the biggest problem, the East China Sea Fleet's aircraft carrier battle group can go directly south, without stopping on the way, Yulin Port and Cam Ranh Bay can accommodate the South China Sea Fleet's three aircraft carrier battle groups; The biggest problem is the investment of follow-up forces, whether it is Yulin Port or Cam Ranh Bay, which needs to transport supplies by sea. Aircraft carrier battle groups go to the Indian Ocean to fight, and they need to be replenished regularly. Under the most common combat intensity, that is, each carrier-based fighter sorties twice a day, carries ugly kilograms of ammunition to attack targets within a kilometer range of Koutian, and consumes aviation fuel and stewed ammunition on average every day, and the self-sustaining power of the "Huaxia" class aircraft carrier is 7 days," Beijing. The self-sustaining power of the class aircraft carrier is the inner sky. When performing high-intensity combat missions. The material consumption will increase the account to the batter, and the self-sustaining power of the carrier will be reduced to about a day. And so it goes. On average, aircraft carriers need to be replenished with aviation fuel and ammunition once a day. Even in the case of absolute sea and air supremacy, the supply fleet needs to make a round trip from Yulin Port to Koutian, and a round trip from Cam Ranh Bay to Jiutian needs to take 8 to Jiutian. Even if you are based in Sihanoukville, do you need to make a round trip? to the mouth of the day. To support two three-carrier battle groups, at least four fast supply fleets need to be mobilized, which exceeds the throughput capacity of any military port. Dispersed deployment, at least three fast supply fleets are needed, and it will also increase the difficulty of logistics management.

Although Lin Xiaolei and Zhang Weichang are complaining, the actual situation is much better than in previous years.

With the full "electrification" of naval ships and the full popularization of "partner charging systems". At least there is no need to supply combat ships with fuel, which alone can reduce thousands of tons per day.

Of course, the biggest problem posed by long logistical supply lines is not logistics, but security.

According to Lin Xiaolei, the Indian Navy has three classes of close-edged submarines, including at least one all-electric attack submarine aided by the United States. As long as the Indian Navy has a little boldness. Submarines will be sent to the eastern waters of the Indian Ocean and even the South China Sea to hunt down the supply fleet of the Republic Navy. Just take out the thugs and supply the fleet. can disrupt the combat operations of the Republic Navy. Lay the groundwork for victory.

In terms of the supply fleet, it is necessary to dispatch the escort warships from the mouth to the thug and deploy nearly 100 anti-submarine patrol planes along the way.

The problem of escorting battleships is not very big, the Republic Re Navy has thug-type frigates. The three carrier battle groups need to occupy all cruisers, destroyers, and ocean-going frigates. There are also 6 destroyers and an ocean-going frigate that can be used to carry out escort missions. In the South China Sea region, small frigates can also come in handy.

The problem of deploying anti-submarine patrol aircraft is more prominent. A large aviation base deploys a maximum of bay-frame anti-submarine patrol aircraft. The Navy of the Republic of China has only one aviation base in the surrounding areas of the South China Sea, namely the Kaohsiung Port Naval Air Station, the Yulin Port Naval Air Station, the Cam Ranh Bay Naval Air Station, the Sihanoukville Port Naval Air Station, and the Narathi Watao Gong Naval Air Station in Thailand. The Plated Aviation Base supports the operation of anti-submarine patrol aircraft at most. If the "segmented escort tactics" are employed. "The anti-submarine patrol aircraft deployed in various places take turns to provide peripheral anti-submarine cover for the supply fleet, and it is necessary to use the remaining anti-submarine patrol aircraft, and the six-end anti-submarine patrol aircraft can provide cover for up to three supply fleets.

In response to this problem, Pei Chengyi proposed two solutions.

It is to increase the number of escort warships, providing each supply fleet with 6 escort warships, that is, thug-type frigates. The destroyer will be deployed in the eastern waters of the Indian Ocean to escort the supply fleet entering the Indian Ocean and improve the fleet's inner anti-submarine capability and anti-aircraft and missile capability. According to this establishment, the fleet has an anti-submarine helicopter and a vertical take-off and landing anti-submarine patrol plane before entering the Indian Ocean, and a dart anti-submarine helicopter and a vertical take-off and landing anti-submarine patrol plane after entering the Indian Ocean, which can cope with a surprise attack by six submarines from three directions at the same time. The regional air defense of destroyers and ocean-going frigates is sufficient to cope with the simultaneous missile attack of 6 submarines.

Second, anti-submarine patrol planes should be deployed in rotation to ensure that the anti-submarine patrol planes are on the air at a higher rate. The prerequisite for strengthening anti-submarine patrols in the eastern Indian Ocean region is that countries such as Miandian, Shuyuzhai, and Sri Lanka allow the republics to use their military bases, or at least allow the republics to deploy anti-submarine patrol aircraft to them for defensive combat operations such as escort missions. Whether this can be done or not, Pei Chengyi said that it doesn't count. It doesn't matter what the General Staff says, it depends on whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can convince these countries.

The most important problem is solved, and other problems follow.

In the past few days at the Navy Headquarters, Pei Chengyi has heard the most complaints, and the most he has seen is sorrow.

When he returned to the General Staff Headquarters by plane, Pei Chengyi was thinking about the operational issues of the navy.

Lin Xiaolei is the kind of person who never wants to admit defeat. Naturally, it is impossible to "moan without illness" in front of Pei Chengyi. "It can make Lin Xiaolei feel tricky. That's not a small problem.

Before leaving, Pei Chengyi only got a not very solid promise.

Although he has not yet formulated an overall war plan, Pei Chengyi knows whether the navy is fighting well or not. It's about success or failure.

Back at the General Staff, Pei Chengyi didn't even return home, and directly found Yuan Chenhao, who was on the night shift. After asking Yuan Chenhao to organize the staff officers from the navy and come up with a naval battle plan belonging to the General Staff, Pei Chengyi went to find Xiang Linghui, who was also on the night shift.

"In other words, Lin Xiaolei didn't embarrass you?"

"It's not embarrassing, it's a problem. Everyone is the same Pei Chengyi sighed and said. "After a few busy days, I finally figured out some clues."

"Think about how to fight?"

Pei Chengyi nodded and said, "The navy must act in advance, at least after the outbreak of the war, before the army attacks on a large scale." ”

"Why?" Xiang Linghui brought the freshly brewed strong tea.

"Without sea dominance, there is no way to fight the battle in the future." Pei Chengyi touched the teacup and immediately retracted his hand, "Our biggest problem is logistics support, although several railways have solved most of the problems, but no one can guarantee that the scale of the war can be controlled within our predetermined range." In this case, the only solution is sea freight. In addition to sending supplies to Karachi and Gwadar, efforts should also be made to persuade Bangladesh and Burma to open a shipping route for the eastern theater. The premise of maritime transport is the right to control the sea. It is also necessary for the navy to win in advance. ”

Xiang Linghui nodded and said: "That's true, the key is that Bangladesh and Myanmar will support us."

"This is a secondary issue, the key is that we must seize sea supremacy."

Xiang Linghui pondered for a while and said, "Yuan has promised to set up a front-line command and let you go to Pakistan as soon as possible

Pei Chengyi was stunned for a moment and said, "You have already decided to fight?" ”

"At the end of the month at the earliest. At the latest at the beginning of the month. ”

"So we don't have a lot of time left. Hatchet man.

"It's not much, so you'll have to hurry." Xiang Linghui sighed and said, "I'll help you arrange a plane and go to Pakistan tomorrow." I'll arrange things for you at home. You don't have to worry. ”

"No problem, I'll be out early tomorrow morning

"What else do you want?" Xiang Linghui glanced at Pei Chengyi and said, "Whether it's a business or a private matter, bring it up as soon as possible, and I'll help you arrange it." ”

"It's nothing personal, there's still a problem that needs to be solved

"What?" Xiang Linghui picked up a cigarette.

"Thailand, and preferably Sri Lanka, must be persuaded to open their military bases to our military, and at least allow our military to deploy defensive military forces such as anti-submarine patrol aircraft at military bases within its borders."

Xiang Linghui frowned slightly, and said, "You're talking about escort operations?" ”

Pei Chengyi nodded and said, "I have discussed it with Lin Xiaolei, Zhang Weichang and others several times. The biggest problem in naval operations is logistical support. The biggest problem of logistical support is the security of the supply fleet. The Indian Navy has a sizable submarine force, and the war has begun. Indian submarines threaten our forces more than aircraft carrier battle groups. If sufficient security cannot be provided for the supply fleet, the combat operations of the Navy will inevitably be affected. ”

"I don't count what I said, I must let Yuan make a decision

"So it's going to be resolved as soon as possible."

Xiang Linghui nodded and glanced at his watch. "It's too late today, I'll go to Yuan early tomorrow morning and let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs take action as soon as possible."

"Nothing else, I'll go back first."

"Okay, take a good rest, I'll ask Dongfang Wen to pick you up tomorrow morning

Pei Chengyi got up to say goodbye, he must not have had a good rest this night.

Early the next morning, Pei Chengyi got up while the whole family was still asleep, took the luggage that had already been packed, and followed Dongfang Wen to the air base in the suburbs.

As the commander-in-chief of the front, Bae Chengyi must reach the front-line command before anyone else.

Strictly speaking, it was Wazirabad, who set up the front command.

According to Xiang Linghui's arrangement, the engineering unit responsible for the construction of the front command had already taken a flight to Wazirabad on the night of 8 July, that is, the night when Pei Chengyi returned to the General Staff. Pakistan will provide the Republic's engineering troops with engineering equipment and supplies, as well as all the facilities for the construction of the Forward Command, as promised.

Pei Chengyi first arrived in Lahore by transport plane, and then took a car to Wazirabad.

Seeing the construction scene, Pei Chengyi was also taken aback.

Forget about a few pieces of engineering equipment, there are at least Dankou people in the engineering troops who come. After asking the major officer in charge, Pei Chengyi learned that in addition to building the infrastructure of the front-line headquarters, it was also necessary to build large-scale projects such as thugs and troubles...... Intend. However, in order to make use of the "front-line command", it is necessary to build supporting infrastructure, such as warehouses for stockpiling materials, camps for stationed troops, and so on.

On the afternoon of Pei Chengyi's arrival in Tijirabad, a train full of supplies and equipment arrived in Lozirabad.

In just 2 days, the engineering corps built most of the infrastructure of the front-line command.

The infrastructure can be built so quickly. In addition to the excellent quality of the engineering troops, it has a lot to do with the early preparations. The tactical command center, the communications center, the staff officer camp, the guard unit camp, etc., are all built with pre-made panels, and even the runway is built from prefabricated parts. There is only one thing that the engineer needs to do. That is to assemble a wide variety of prefabricated parts in place accurately.

When Pei Chengyi was busy forming a front-line command. There was a big event in the world.

On the afternoon of July, a large-scale demonstration was held in Gangtok by a number of armed organizations and political groups jointly organized by the Sikkim Freedom Liberation Army, the Sikkim Independent Guerrillas, the Sikkim National Struggle Party, and other armed organizations and political groups aimed at fighting for independence, demanding that India immediately withdraw its troops from Sikkim, recognize Sikkim's sovereign statehood, and apologize for its occupation of Sikkim for decades.

The Indian army did not relent, and immediately dispatched military police to suppress it.

During the riots, Indian military police opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in hundreds of casualties. Subsequently, Indian military police stormed the headquarters of the Sikkim National Struggle Party in Gangtok and arrested dozens of members, including the party's top leader. Arrest in progress. The Indian military police again opened fire on the civilians who had come to stop them. Hundreds of casualties were caused.

That night, Indian patrols and military camps in Tangu, Rachong, Sinjik and Sintam were attacked.

The fighting was not fierce, with the exception of an Indian patrol unit that was attacked by guerrillas north of Rachong and killed and wounded, while the Sikkim guerrillas and independent armed groups fired only a few mortar shells and rockets at the Indian barracks, and fled into the mountains before the Indian army could react.

The next morning, the Sikkim Free Liberation Army (LA) and the Sikkim Independent Guerrillas claimed responsibility for the attack that took place the night before, and claimed that as long as the Indian army remained entrenched in Sikkim, the attack would not end and that the Sikkim army and civilians would eventually use artillery fire to drive away the invaders.

In response, the Indian army reacted even more strongly.

Less than two hours after the statement by the two Sikkim guerrilla groups, the Indian Air Force dispatched several fighter jets and the Indian Army dispatched several old helicopter gunships to bomb a guerrilla camp in the Sikkim mountains. Subsequently, the Indian military claimed to have killed hundreds of illegal fighters in the bombing campaign

Child.

In the afternoon, India's ambassador to the United Nations made a statement to the Security Council calling for the Sikkim Free Liberation Army and the independent guerrilla detachment to be designated as terrorist organizations. Because the republic voted no! It also claimed that the Indian army's strike actions undermined the UN General Assembly resolution on the restoration of Sikkim's membership. The Republic would not sit idly by, and that was why the resolution proposed by India was not adopted in the Security Council. Negotiations between China and India on the Sikkim issue have also been temporarily suspended.

Before the Security Council's discussion was over, Ye Zhisheng, executive vice premier of the State Council and concurrently minister of national defense, said at a press conference that the Republic would take necessary measures, including dispatching troops, to help Sikkim establish itself and restore Sikkim as an independent and sovereign state.

The war is on the verge of exploding.

The outside news media didn't notice. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Yan Shanglong after leaving the United Nations. Instead of returning directly to Beijing, he took the opportunity to travel through Thailand and stayed in Bangkok for one night before taking a special plane back to the Republic.

On July, the runway in Wazirabad was put into operation.

In the evening of the same day, four personnel transport planes converted from Xiao Lao sent Yuan Chenhao and hundreds of other staff officers to Wauzirabad.

Pei Chengyi did not let the staff officers idle, and organized all the staff officers into a whole department that night. That is, campaign planning, tactical command, intelligence management, logistical support, and joint command, each department has a few to dozens of senior staff officers, and each senior staff officer manages several low-level staff officers. Because the management mechanism is basically based on the Operations Department of the General Staff. So Pei Chengyi didn't put much effort into this.

After finishing this matter, Pei Chengyi asked Yuan Chenhao to gather all the staff officers and start planning the war overnight.

The Navy Command has already reported on the afternoon of the Crackers Day that Thailand has made a commitment to open its military facilities to the Republic, provided that only defensive and support combat forces can be deployed. This result is much better than Pei expected, because it means that the naval air force and air force can deploy "non-combat" combat aircraft, including early warning aircraft and long-range patrol aircraft, to several air bases in Thailand, rather than just the anti-submarine patrol aircraft required by the navy, thus expanding the deployment range of the air force and navy's shore-based aviation.

With this prerequisite, there are also basic conditions for drawing up war plans.

According to Pei Chengyi's division of labor, Yuan Chenhao was in charge of the air and ground combat plans, and he himself was personally responsible for the sea combat plan.

If Xiang Linghui is right to say that the war will break out at the end of July or early August, then Pei Chengyi must come up with a complete war plan within Litian.

This is not an easy task for anyone.