Under the vast blue waves, the "Swordfish" was like a whale that had just surfaced on the surface and changed its breath, and plunged headlong into the dark abyss. Seeing that the reading on the depth gauge changed to "240", Hua Jianfeng patted the helmsman's shoulder to keep the submarine at this depth.

"I just received the news that the task force has departed from Zhanjiang Port and is heading south." Hua Jianfeng looked at the officers gathered in the command center, "Three hours ago, the Indian fleet, which has been operating in Kempard Bay, turned southward, and there are two aircraft carrier battle groups, not one aircraft carrier battle group. ”

Le Jiacheng displayed the orders and relevant information received on the large screen of the fire control computer.

The officers looked surprised, excited, and vaguely worried.

To everyone's surprise, the Indian Navy's two aircraft carrier battle groups headed south together. This can only show that India would rather give up the opportunity of blockading Pakistan's ports and annihilating the Pakistani navy, and concentrate all its efforts on intercepting the Chinese navy's task force, even at the expense of fighting to the death with the task force.

To everyone's excitement, there will be a valuable opportunity to ambush two aircraft carriers.

What worries everyone is that the anti-submarine warfare capabilities of the two carrier battle groups are more than twice that of the one aircraft carrier battle group. In addition to doubling the group's own anti-submarine strength, India will also send shore-based anti-submarine patrol aircraft to escort the battle group, and even send submarines to carry out anti-submarine combat missions.

Ambushing an aircraft carrier is not the same thing as ambushing a nuclear submarine.

The whereabouts of nuclear submarines are the top secret information of the navy, and when carrying out combat readiness patrol missions, the navy only arranges general patrol areas and entry and exit routes, and will not plan detailed patrol routes for nuclear submarines. With the exception of entry and exit from the port and extremely special circumstances, the nuclear submarine remained below the surface of the sea for the entire duration of the mission, and even rarely used periscopes. Before the creation of the "Swordfish", only nuclear submarines were capable of ambushing nuclear submarines. The battles of nuclear submarines take place below the surface of the sea, which is blocked by sea water and is often unknown. Even if there is a battle between nuclear submarines, as long as the countries concerned are unwilling to allow the situation to escalate, they will use the attitude of "calming the situation and calming the people" to make a big deal a small thing and a small matter. During the Cold War, the U.S. Navy's Thresher Shark was discovered while tracking a Soviet strategic nuclear submarine and was rammed and sunk. In the aftermath, the Soviet Union remained silent, and the United States used the "accident" as an excuse to cover up the thrilling conflict that almost detonated a world war.

Aircraft carriers belong to surface warships, and in the era of reconnaissance satellites all over space, there are no secrets about their whereabouts. If the aircraft carrier is sunk, the situation will certainly not be calmed down, and it is impossible to explain it with an "accident". To date, not a single aircraft carrier in the world has been sunk as a result of an "accident". The aircraft carrier will not act alone, and from the day it was born, it has been surrounded by a large group of "bodyguards" who operate in groups. It is easy to take out an aircraft carrier, but it is absolutely impossible for the "Swordfish" to take out an aircraft carrier battle group.

In the final analysis, the officers headed by Hua Jianfeng had to consider two issues.

One is to sink an Indian aircraft carrier. Will it lead to India declaring war on the republic. Draw the republic into the war. The second is after the sinking of the Indian aircraft carrier. Will the "Swordfish" be able to get out of it all right.

On the way to transfer positions. "Swordfish" rises to periscope depth every four hours. Stick the satellite communication antenna out of the sea. It is hoped that more accurate orders and more detailed information will be received.

Along. Hua Jianfeng is also thinking about the first question.

Tasks pre-arranged by the General Staff. "Swordfish" after completing the "strategic mission" of ambushing the "Destroyer". Switch to free hunting. Focus on dealing with Indian naval ground combat vessels. No new land orders were received. It shows that the General Staff has not adjusted its previous deployment. There is also no clear mention of an ambush of an Indian aircraft carrier battle group in the ground intelligence just received. It shows that Hua Jianfeng can be the captain of the boat. Make decisions based on facts.

It's a bit far-fetched though. But in Hua Jianfeng's opinion. The first problem no longer exists.

The second issue that needs to be focused on is discussed. That is, the ambush of Indian aircraft carrier battle group tactics.

"At least we don't have to fear being ambushed by Indian submarines." Le Jiacheng broke the silence. As always, before making a decision, he will sing against Hua Jianfeng, and after making a decision, he will unconditionally support Hua Jianfeng. "The speed of the Indian aircraft carrier battle group exceeds twenty knots, and the conventional submarines of the Indian Navy cannot keep up with the pace of the aircraft carrier battle group. In addition, the Indian aircraft carrier battle group turned south only after we had made the decision to send a task force, and it was impossible for Indian submarines deployed in the Arabian Sea to go south ahead of schedule, and Indian submarines deployed in the Bay of Bengal could only reach the waters west of Sri Lanka in 48 hours at the earliest. As long as we do it in two days, we don't have to think about the threat of Indian submarines at all. ”

"The threat of anti-submarine ships and anti-submarine helicopters cannot be ignored." The question of the chief engineer is acute.

"We should have faith in the Swordfish." Hua Jianfeng put aside this question and said, "First of all, decide to ambush the sea area, the Octave Strait, or the southwest sea of Sri Lanka Island?" ”

There is no doubt that this is a very critical question.

Because the hydrology of the waters between Lakshadweep and the Indian mainland is very complex and an ideal ambush location for a regular submarine captain who believes that there are seventy-seven virgins waiting for him in heaven, it is likely that the Indian carrier strike group will move south from the west of the Lakshadweep Islands, then sail east from the Octave Strait between Miniköy and Ihavandifulu Atoll, and finally bypass the island of Sri Lanka and enter the Bay of Bengal. The Paulk Strait is too narrow and shallow, and it is difficult for the aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya" with a large draft to pass through, and the Indian aircraft carrier battle group will not take the Paulk Strait.

"It's best to start at the eastern end of the Octave Strait." Le Jiacheng called up a chart from the fire control computer. "When entering and exiting the Octave Strait, the aircraft carrier battle group has to turn twice, and we don't need to pursue the aircraft carrier battle group, we only need to occupy the most advantageous attack position in advance."

"How do you evacuate after an attack?" The Ordnance Commander mentioned the key issues.

"If the attack is taken by surprise, the Indian aircraft carrier battle group will be in disarray and help us create an opportunity to retreat." Hua Jianfeng paused slightly, and then said, "Retreat south as far as possible, as long as we can enter the deep water, we can escape." If we encounter difficulties in retreating southward, we will do the opposite, going into shallow water and trying to sink on the continental shelf; The Indian Navy does not know our identity and will even think that we are regular submarines of Pakistan, and the search will last up to two days; Two days later, when India let its guard down, we left the shallow waters. ”

"It is also possible to retreat to the Arabian Sea." Le Jiacheng complemented Hua Jianfeng's tactics. "It would convince India that we are Pakistan's conventional submarines."

"There's no way around it." Hua Jianfeng did not deny Le Jiacheng's tactics. "Any questions? If not, we'll head to the Octaves Strait and wait for the Indian aircraft carrier battle group to come to our door. ”

After letting Le Jiacheng take charge of resetting the course, Hua Jianfeng left the command center and returned to the captain's cabin.

Not long after, Le Jiacheng came to "visit the door".

"There's one thing you didn't mention and no one else brought it up." Le Jiacheng dragged the chair to the side of the bed and sat next to Hua Jianfeng. "However, I can see that everyone thought about it, but they didn't bring it up."

"American submarines?" Hua Jianfeng said as he took out a cigarette and handed one to Le Jiacheng first.

After taking the cigarette, Le Jiacheng was not in a hurry to light it. "Before the outbreak of the war, all four U.S. submarines deployed in Diego Garcia left port and went to sea. We only know of the three 'Agosta 90B' that helped the Indian Navy find the Pakistan Navy in the Arabian Sea, and there is no news of the other two so far. ”

"One of them is the USS New Hampshire." Hua Jianfeng rolled over on the bed, "I have thought of this question for a long time, and I know that after we ambushed the 'Destroyer', it is very likely that the 'New Hampshire' entered the Bay of Bengal and began to search for our traces. ”

Le Jiacheng was secretly surprised, he never saw that Hua Jianfeng would have such worries.

The USS New Hampshire, the fifth of the Virginia-class attack nuclear submarines, numbered SSN778, entered service seven years ago and deployed to Diego Garcia three years ago, becoming the most advanced attack nuclear submarine of the US Navy in the Indian Ocean. As a replacement for the "Los Angeles" class, the "Virginia" class is not only an attack nuclear submarine that the United States began to build in large quantities after abandoning the continuation of the "Seawolf" class, but also the most advanced attack nuclear submarine in the US Navy and even in the world's navies.

"According to my guess, the New Hampshire and another submarine were previously operating at the western end of the Strait of Malacca and south of the Sunda Strait, respectively, to search for and monitor our attack nuclear submarines sent to the Indian Ocean." Hua Jianfeng flicked off the ash of his cigarette and took another puff. "After the 'Destroyer' is finished, the US Navy will definitely take emergency measures. If the captain of the New Hampshire had been a little smarter, he would have thought that not only would we not leave the Indian Ocean, but we would also go to the western waters of the island of Sri Lanka in search of opportunities, and even enter the Arabian Sea to attack the Indian aircraft carrier battle group. Now that the Indian aircraft carrier battle group is heading south, it is very likely that the 'New Hampshire' will go to the Octave Strait to wait for an opportunity, just like us. ”

"If you've already thought about it, why take the risk?"

"Adventure?" Hua Jianfeng smiled faintly and said, "We had an encounter with 'Virginia' in the Okinawa Islands, and not only was it not discovered, but we collected the characteristic noise of 'Virginia' and filled in the gap. Even if we encounter it again, we will not be left behind. ”

Le Jiacheng's brows jumped slightly, what he lacked most was Hua Jianfeng's richest confidence.

"The fact that the American submarine came to intervene will only make the situation more chaotic, and we are also fishing in troubled waters." Hua Jianfeng extinguished the cigarette butt and yawned. "Don't worry, I've already figured it out. After this ticket, let's go back to enjoy the sun, the beach, the beauty, and everything else, to hell with it. ”

Le Jiacheng hesitated for a moment, got up and prepared to leave.

"Call me four hours later." Hua Jianfeng pulled up the quilt, "You are the deputy captain, and you will become the captain in the future, don't make a fuss about it, let the officers and soldiers below see it?" ”

Regarding Hua Jianfeng's "advice", Le Jiacheng could only respond with a wry smile.

He is not Hua Jianfeng, and he also knows that he will never be able to become a captain like Hua Jianfeng