Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 824 Special Operations: Atlantic Offensive, Assault on the Bismarck

Early May 1941.

As the monsoon season began to pick up in the northern Indian Ocean, the semi-aircraft carrier "Taishan" passed through the port of Colombo but did not stop, instead crossing the Bay of Bengal directly to the Little Andaman Island.

The boat docked at a secret pier on Little Andaman Island.

Workers wearing lead protective linings began unloading the goods.

The more than 100 tons of pitchblende ore transported from Africa were transferred box by box to a fully lead-sealed protective warehouse built in advance on the island under the smooth operation of the crane boom. No one directly came into contact with the ore throughout the entire process.

Two researchers specially dispatched by the Nuclear Physics Project Team of the Taishan Academy of Sciences had already arrived on the island to wait. They brought a complete set of primary extraction equipment, protection procedures and operation manuals. As soon as they took over the ore, they immediately implemented closed-loop management, and even the warehouse key was managed by two people with double locks.

However, due to the lack of core equipment, the project team is temporarily unable to complete uranium enrichment and purification. They can only start the most basic extraction process to process and purify the crude ore into ammonium diuranate, which is the primary raw material for the nuclear industry, 'yellowcake'.

Seeing that the project was progressing smoothly, Fang Wen immediately set off to return to the headquarters in Yangon.

Yangon Taishan Airlines Headquarters.

Fang Wen told Gong Xiu to go and put his personal belongings at home.

He then convened a meeting directly with the company's senior management.

During the meeting, the company's senior management explained the current situation in Southeast Asia to Fang Wen.

After two setbacks in French Indochina, the Japanese army finally gave up on a third attempt to forcefully land in northern Vietnam.

The Japanese General Staff quickly adjusted its Southeast Asia strategy, abandoning the stalled Gulf of Tonkin landing plan and instead using its naval fleet to blockade the Gulf of Tonkin. Its main warships and transport fleets fully loaded with army divisions set out in droves, heading straight for the resource-rich and poorly defended South Pacific islands.

The Kingdom of Sarawak was the first to be hit, becoming the first target of the Japanese army's southward advance. The flames of war quickly swept across the west coast of Borneo, forcing the termination of the civilian waterway between Sarawak and Singapore that Taishan had previously opened, and the sea route in northern Southeast Asia was completely cut off by the war.

Looking at the Japanese arrows on the intelligence map in front of him, Fang Wen remained calm, showing no intention of sending troops to intervene.

He understood better than anyone else in his time that the earth-shattering storm that would truly rewrite the course of World War II and determine the world order for the next decade was not in the rainforests of Southeast Asia.

In less than two weeks, the German army will launch Operation Barbarossa, sending a million troops to launch a full-scale attack on the Soviet Union. The Eastern Front will become the core meat grinder of the entire World War II.

That is the real battlefield where the power structure can be reshaped and massive amounts of technology, equipment, and strategic interests can be reaped.

At this point, Taishan's resources are limited enough to hold onto the territory in the Indochina Peninsula. Sending troops to fight the Japanese in Southeast Asia would only waste manpower and cause them to miss the golden opportunity to soar to new heights.

The most important thing right now is to go to the United States before the Soviet-German war breaks out and the global situation completely spirals out of control, to get the physical centrifuge acceleration device, which is indispensable for the nuclear industry, and to make the purification process of nuclear materials run smoothly.

Just one day before Fang Wen had packed his bags and was about to depart for the United States, a British officer stationed in Rangoon came to his door with a secret telegram from the British Far East Command requesting an audience.

The British had a clear purpose: first, to place a large additional order for military voice radio communication equipment from Taishan Military Industry to make up for the communication shortcomings of the British fleet and air force; second, to make a request that surprised Fang Wendu, inviting him to personally lead a team to join the Royal Navy's military operations and participate in the Atlantic naval battle.

Fang Wen raised an eyebrow slightly and replied in a calm tone, "I am not a member of the British Commonwealth and have no obligation to join your British military operations."

The colonel, the highest-ranking officer in the Yangon military camp, quickly apologized and then explained the situation.

Ten days ago, when the British escort fleet returned to Asia from the African route, they rescued a group of German survivors floating on the sea. They were the remaining crew members of the raiding ship "Atlantis" that had been sunk by Fang Wen.

The British military reconstructed the air raid from the prisoners' confessions, personal belongings, and traces of battlefield debris: six warplanes launched a surprise attack, one of which was particularly fierce, launching a solo attack that crippled the ship's air defenses, and then flying low over the sea to accurately drop torpedoes, sending the 10,000-ton raiding ship to the bottom of the sea.

British intelligence meticulously investigated the flight path, eyewitness accounts, and aircraft characteristics, ultimately pinpointing the only answer: this swift and decisive hunt was orchestrated by Fang Wen.

The core reason why the British truly humbled themselves and made a special trip to seek their help was Fang Wen's textbook-level ultra-low-altitude sea-skimming torpedo attack.

At that time, the Royal Navy's main torpedo attack aircraft was still the old Swordfish biplane. Most pilots could only drop torpedoes at a stable altitude. Ace pilots who could control their aircraft stably at a height of 5-10 meters above the waves and accurately hit moving ships were few and far between in the entire navy.

Faced with the German main battleships, which were heavily armored and heavily armed with anti-aircraft fire, only such extreme low-altitude penetration could bypass the anti-aircraft fire and hit the ship's vulnerable steering gear, engine room, and waterline armor.

Fang Wen's achievements are exactly the kind of ability that the British desperately need and lack at this moment.

"We are about to face a decisive battle in the Atlantic," the British military attaché said in a low voice, revealing top-secret intelligence. "Our intelligence system has confirmed that the German naval flagship, the Bismarck battleship, has completed its assembly in the Baltic Sea and is about to enter the Atlantic to cut off our supply lines to the mainland."

Upon hearing the words "Bismarck," Fang Wen instantly understood.

History has changed, and the Bismarck, which should have been sunk by the British Navy two weeks ago, is still there.

They departed from Germany half a month later than planned, which gave the British time to prepare.

Even with preparations, the British were not confident in dealing with the German Navy's most powerful battleships.

Fang Wen immediately had an idea.

Even though history has changed, the Bismarck's weaknesses remain obvious. Since even slow-moving biplanes like the Swordfish torpedo bombers can cause it great damage, why not end this battleship that should have been sunk by itself this time?

Participating in the sinking of the Bismarck would bring him immense honor and fame, and would also add a halo to his trip to the United States, which would be beneficial to his trip.

Thinking of this, he immediately nodded in agreement: "I can participate in this operation. But you have to agree to one condition: after the operation, help me purchase a batch of equipment in the United States."

To ensure that Fang Wen would become the key weapon against the Bismarck, the British were already prepared to make concessions. After consulting with their superiors via telegram, they agreed to Fang Wen's conditions.

That afternoon, Fang Wen piloted his private seaplane westward along the British-controlled routes through India, the Middle East, and North Africa, traversing the war-torn Mediterranean airspace, avoiding the interception range of German patrol aircraft, and after two days of long-distance flight, arrived at London Airport in the UK.

However, the Atlantic Fleet's base was not here. After a brief stop, Fang Wen determined a new route and continued taking off.

Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland.

This is the main base of the British Royal Navy's Atlantic Fleet.

Fang Wen piloted the seaplane, circling in the air and calling the ground using the communication frequency provided by London.

"Special mission personnel, codename Tea, requesting landing."

Ground response: "Identity confirmed, you are cleared to land. Ground personnel will release guidance smoke; please land on the runway where the smoke is located."

Fang Wen looked down.

Yellow smoke was rising from the right runway of the military base's two runways.

He then adjusted the aircraft's position, lowered the altitude, and landed steadily on the runway.

The plane taxied to a stop, and ground staff waved flags to guide Fang Wen to park the aircraft in the adjacent parking area. After parking, two ground crew members pushed over a boarding ladder and set it up. Fang Wen opened the cockpit canopy and stepped down onto the boarding ladder.

His plane was one that neither the airport staff nor the pilots had ever seen before.

Immediately, people gathered around and started commenting on the plane.

"It looks beautiful."

"I like it."

At that moment, an officer rushed over, pushed through the crowd, and squeezed his way in.

He approached Fang Wen and extended his hand: "Lieutenant Colonel Sroeder, I'll take care of your reception."

Fang Wen shook hands with him and briefly introduced himself: "Fang Wen from Mount Tai."

Upon hearing Fang Wen's name, one of the pilots exclaimed, "It's him!"

Those who didn't know couldn't help but ask, "Who is he?"

"An ace pilot from the East, who is said to have shot down more than a hundred planes over the years!"

“I remember now. His battle examples are in the school's lesson plans.”

“Those are all combat cases from a long time ago. He participated in the Normandy air battle. My cousin fought alongside him. It was amazing.”

Fang Wen couldn't help but look at the person speaking. He had asked the British to keep the Normandy air battle a secret, so how did someone here know?

Lieutenant Colonel Sroeder immediately went over, ordered everyone to disperse, and then brought the pilot over.

“I’ve looked into it. His cousin did indeed participate in the Normandy air battle with you. I’m very sorry for this leak. I assure you, he will never tell anyone again.”

The pilot also assured him, "I will not mention this again."

Fang Wen nodded, not too concerned. After all, he had recently sunk a German warship and a U-boat, and now he had participated in the British attack on the Bismarck, so it was impossible for him to remain neutral.

Lieutenant Colonel Sroeder then dismissed the pilots, while he continued his conversation with Fang Wen.

"You may not have time to stay at the base. The fleet departs this afternoon, and we need to hoist your aircraft onto the aircraft carrier. Adaptation training will also take place after the carrier departs. Can you accept this arrangement?"

Other pilots might not have accepted this hasty decision, but Fang Wen agreed.

After only half a day of rest and recuperation, the base, as agreed, used a heavy-duty crane to lift Fang Wen's fighter jet onto the flight deck of the main aircraft carrier "HMS Ark Royal".

Fang Wen also boarded the aircraft carrier, where he was introduced to the ship's captain and flight squadron leader by Lieutenant Colonel Sroeder.

"This is Fang Wen, a pilot specially invited from the East to participate in the operation. He will pilot his own aircraft."

The captain shook hands with Fang Wen: "Welcome to this operation."

Then, Lieutenant Colonel Sroeder said to the flight squadron leader, "He is also the engineer who installed radio voice equipment on your Swordfish torpedo bombers. Don't you often complain about why, even though you are both fighter pilots, you can't get advanced communication equipment because your aircraft are old? He can solve this for you."

The squadron leader shook hands with Fang Wen: "I really look forward to working with you."

After the handover was completed, Lieutenant Colonel Sroeder left the HMS Ark Royal.

Fang Wen stayed on the aircraft carrier and began pre-operation familiarization training.

The British Swordfish torpedo bomber pilots on the aircraft carrier were initially full of doubt and contempt for this foreign pilot from the East who was flying a single-seat monoplane.

In their eyes, the take-off and landing of carrier-based aircraft is a skill that Royal Navy pilots have been honing for years. Someone who has never trained on a fleet aircraft carrier simply cannot adapt to the demanding requirements of a short deck, rough seas, and take-off and landing against the wind.

But the next day, everyone was completely won over.

With his advanced flight awareness, extremely stable control, and his ability to see through the sea surface airflow, the aircraft carrier's course, wind speed and direction, Fang Wen completely figured out the Royal Ark's deck length, arresting gear characteristics, and takeoff distance in just three touch-and-go maneuvers.

Starting from the fourth attempt, each landing was smooth and precise, and the takeoffs were even more decisive and efficient, with a smooth takeoff after only a hundred-meter run, which was better than that of veteran pilots who had served on the aircraft carrier for many years.

Within a single day, they mastered all the skills required for taking off and landing aircraft carriers, with zero errors and zero incidents.

When the British pilots learned that the young man before them was the legendary pilot who had swept across Southeast Asia against the Japanese forces, all their previous contempt and doubt vanished instantly, leaving only heartfelt respect and admiration.

The easy pre-war period did not last long.

The German Navy has been deployed!

Early May 41.

The German battleship Bismarck, together with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, attempted to break into the Atlantic Ocean via the Denmark Strait from the North Sea.

The German fleet encountered a British intercepting fleet in the Denmark Strait.

In a mere seven minutes of naval combat, the Bismarck's 380mm main guns hit the ammunition magazine of the British battlecruiser HMS Hood.

This flagship, the pride of the Royal Navy and a symbol of the British Empire's naval power, was blown up and sank on the spot, killing all of its more than 1,000 officers and men.

Upon learning of this situation, the Atlantic Fleet rushed to the location of the engagement to intercept the German naval fleet.

Fang Wen's HMS Ark Royal carrier strike group is the only core force in the encirclement that possesses air strike capabilities.

Two days later, in the evening, British patrol aircraft finally located the Bismarck in the Atlantic Ocean.

At this time, the Bismarck was sailing at full speed toward the French port of Brest. After sailing for another ten hours or so, it would be within the cover range of German land-based aircraft, and all of the British encirclement plans would completely fail.

On the flight deck of HMS Ark Royal, red lights flashed and engines roared.

Swordfish torpedo bombers took off one after another, while the old biplanes bounced in the sea breeze as they flew toward the Bismarck.

Fang Wen's current squadron is in the second batch. He sat in his own cockpit, fastened his seatbelt, closed the canopy, started the engine to warm up, and waited for takeoff.

(The British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, and its carrier-based Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers) (End of this chapter)