Chapter 143: 142, Live-fire Exercises, Sun Debiao’s Great Wall Parachute Jump
Fang Wen requested the signal transmitter and receiving device to be made in the Tsinghua University Physics Department. The principle is not complicated, and the professors have already made similar equipment before, so making it again would be much easier.
Even to save time, Fang Wen asked them if they could modify existing equipment.
Of course this was possible. Modification took less time, and the finished product was made in three days.
According to Fang Wen’s requirements, this is a directional radio wave transmitter and receiving device.
Different from the broadcast form of ordinary radio stations and telegrams, the equipment Fang Wen wanted must continuously transmit in a fixed direction, not spread in all directions.
This requires shortwaves generated by higher frequencies.
At the same time, the parabolic antenna that Fang Wen discussed and drew can also concentrate the radio wave transmission range.
Therefore, the actual finished product resembles future radar.
It looks like an iron pot. There are several converging antennas added in the middle.
But the radio waves produced by this thing have excellent transmission effects, giving the professors in the Tsinghua Physics Department a new idea.
The professors immediately started related research.
Meanwhile, Fang Wen, with the help of the students, loaded the equipment onto a truck and transported it to Qinghe Airport.
But this equipment is not lightweight.
The receiving device placed on the airplane is divided into antenna and main body, totaling 300 kilograms.
The directional radio wave transmitting device, due to its simple structure, is lightweight, only about 20 kilograms.
Not only is it heavy, but the volume is also large, especially the external antenna for the airplane, which the Shrike Hao simply cannot fit.
He could only temporarily leave the equipment at Qinghe Airport, have his senior student watch it for him, and pilot the Shrike Hao back first.
Returning to Shanghai Airport, Fang Wen found Pan Jiafeng, Sun Debiao, and Howard, and piloted a Boeing 247 under maintenance to Beiping Qinghe Airport.
After the airplane landed, he and the three carefully loaded the equipment onto the airplane.
After the Boeing 247 took off, it went directly to Wuhan, refueled in Wuhan, and then flew to Xiangxi Airport.
At Xiangxi Airport, the simple radar equipment was unloaded from the Boeing 247.
Fang Wen instructed Pan Jiafeng: “You fly the Boeing 247 back. By the way, tell them I’m not coming back for now.”
Pan Jiafeng nodded: “Master, when bombing, don’t leave me behind.”
“Don’t worry, go ahead.”
After Pan Jiafeng piloted the airplane away.
Fang Wen and Howard began working.
The 300-kilogram airborne radio wave receiver has 200 kilograms from the external antenna.
To not affect the airplane’s flight, the external radar is installed at the aircraft tail.
Howard drilled holes at the aircraft tail.
Fang Wen had William bring the Taishan Airlines Security Team he trained to help.
William shouted in Chinese with a foreign accent: “Firearms to the rack, all assemble.”
The 100 Gan Army disciples placed their spears on the gun racks in order, each slot on the gun rack has a specific number, no one places their dedicated spear randomly.
After placing the firearms, they assembled and marched over.
“General Manager, Taishan Airlines Security Team assembled, awaiting orders.” William’s Chinese still had a foreign accent, but the words he spoke were already very Eastern.
Fang Wen pointed to those antennas. “Find a few strong and sturdy ones to come help, they need to keep holding it for a while, change people if they can’t hold, must keep it steady.”
William selected several tall Gan Army disciples.
Under Fang Wen’s command, they lifted the antenna.
Fang Wen carefully held the antenna end and inserted it into the small hole drilled by Howard.
“You stand there and don’t move.”
Saying that, he jumped down from the scaffolding and quickly ran into the airplane.
Inside the airplane, he and Howard welded the antenna tail to the main body.
To ensure the antenna doesn’t fall off during flight, one weld is not enough.
The two went out again and welded a bracket at the aircraft tail to fix the antenna.
After finishing this, Fang Wen carried a large bag and walked to Sun Debiao.
“Are your wilderness equipment and parachute pack ready?”
Sun Debiao nodded, shouldered the parachute pack, with a canvas bag hanging beside him.
Among them:
Individual weapon: one pistol, one sharp steel shovel. Less than 2 kilograms.
Living supplies backpack: food and water 30 kilograms.
Custom-sewn sleeping bag, camouflage cover, grass-colored tent, total 10 kilograms.
Parachute backpack: 20 kilograms.
Hand-cranked telegraph machine: 10 kilograms.
Plus the directional radio wave transmitter in Fang Wen’s hand: nearly 30 kilograms.
Total 100 kilograms weight, which is also very challenging for a paratrooper.
Fang Wen looked serious: “Today’s parachuting will be in the Western Hunan Mountains. The environment is similar to the Great Wall side, even more dangerous. Can you do it?”
Sun Debiao replied confidently: “General Manager, my bandit name in the Northeast was Mountain Piercer, the mountains are my home turf, no matter north or south.”
“Good then. I’ll teach you how to use this thing.”
Fang Wen opened the handbag, took out items one by one, and explained to Sun Debiao.
“This pot-like thing is the transmitter. I had them add a sighting sight on it. Look out from the sight, align it with the tip of the antenna at the front of the transmitter, then aim at the target, three points in a line.”
“Aiming at the target isn’t hard. Before that, you need to assemble it. It has three parts: the transmitter you’re holding, the main body, and the hand-cranked generator. Connect the three things to use normally.”
“The plan is this: on the bombing day, every hour, activate the equipment and transmit the signal. I’ll receive the signal in the sky to confirm the air raid target.”
Hearing Fang Wen’s explanation, Sun Debiao’s eyes lit up.
“General Manager, you mean, I point this thing there, and you bomb there?”
“Yes, practice first, start tomorrow night.”
After speaking, Fang Wen went to the bomb factory.
Since it’s the last exercise before bombing, live ammunition must be used.
But there are many bushes in Western Hunan, can’t really use full-load napalm.
He asked Huo Duanyang to configure a simulated bomb with good light and shadow effects that won’t produce sustained combustion.
This requirement is just a large snapdragon toy.
Loud sound, but no power, and won’t ignite trees.
Huo Duanyang immediately made a batch with the chemistry team members and had the loaders fill them right away.
Simulated bombs ready.
Shortwave receiver installed.
Sun Debiao also learned how to use the signal transmitter.
At night, f.220 took off.
Fang Wen piloted this large bomber, circling at high altitude.
Entered mechanical perception state.
He, transformed into a night owl, sensed something unusual.
Gained an indescribable new ability.
But because the shortwave signal receiver did not receive signal echoes at the specific frequency, it was not obvious.
He exited the mechanical perception state and turned to look at Sun Debiao preparing in the cabin.
Sun Debiao carried the parachute, with a large bag and a small bag hanging on both sides of his body, looking somewhat bulky.
“Ready?”
“Ready, General Manager.”
“Howard, open the door, start parachuting.” Fang Wen gave the order.
Airplane hatch opened, strong wind poured in.
Sun Debiao jumped out against the strong wind and pulled the parachute safety rope in the air.
His parachute was specially for night parachuting and easy to hide after landing, grass green in color, invisible at night.
Under the parachute’s cushioning, he drifted in the air.
Sun Debiao, already with some parachuting experience, controlled the parachute to circle in the air.
This ensures he won’t drift too far from the designated drop zone, a little trick he figured out.
Ten minutes later, Sun Debiao landed in the Western Hunan Mountains.
The bushes and vines here hooked the parachute. To leave quickly, Sun Debiao used the sharp edge of the steel shovel to cut the branches hooked on him, then pulled down the parachute and buried it on the spot.
After doing this, an hour had passed.
He carried the large bag on his back, hung the small bag in front, found a place with few bushes and vines, sat on the ground, and waited.
A few hours later, the sky gradually brightened.
Sun Debiao then stood up and surveyed the surroundings.
He was now at the mountainside of an unknown barren mountain. To learn more, he needed to go to the mountaintop.
He found a fir forest as the path up the mountain.
The fir forest is tall, blocking sunlight, with sparse underbrush below, much easier than other mountain paths.
Sun Debiao climbed to the mountaintop and surveyed the surrounding scenery.
He learned from Fang Wen how to read contour maps. The topographic map formed by different height lines creates a three-dimensional image, combined with the actual terrain to identify the current location.
Just follow the mountain ridge forward to the target area of this exercise: Xiangxi Airport.
He took out rations and beef jerky from the backpack, chewed vigorously, walked toward the target area, and when thirsty, untied the hose knotted at the collar and drank a couple mouthfuls.
Over half an hour later, he arrived at the destination, on the high mountain west of Xiangxi Airport.
He took off the small bag containing the signal transmitter and took out the components.
After a while, the setup was complete. Sun Debiao covered his head with the camouflage cloth and aimed using the transmitter’s sight.
The signal transmitter pointed at the airport runway. He cranked the hand-cranked generator and turned on the transmitter switch.
Then silently waited.
To ensure the exercise’s realism, the bombing still had to take off at night.
Sun Debiao could only stay in the wilderness for a day.
The second night, f.220 took off again.
At high altitude, Fang Wen entered mechanical perception state.
He felt it.
Directly below, continuous radio wave reflections were received by the aircraft tail antenna.
Because the distance was very close, it was very clear.
Combined with mechanical perception ability, Fang Wen had confirmed the target’s exact position.
He only needed to pilot the airplane overhead and give the bombing order.
But Fang Wen did not do so immediately. He flew the airplane away from Xiangxi Airport and perceived in a farther range.
The received radio waves weakened a bit but could still serve as guidance.
This was great.
Fang Wen thought of too many applications.
As long as there is this stealthy, highly accurate guidance method, he could pilot the airplane to any destination.
Perform airdrop, airborne, bombing, landing, and other operations.
All it takes is sending one or two special forces proficient in wilderness survival and combat.
Very good, a huge breakthrough.
Fang Wen piloted f.220 back and, through the received signal feedback, accurately flew over Xiangxi Airport.
To cooperate with the exercise, not a single light was on at the airport below, pitch black. Except for Fang Wen, no one knew it was the airport below.
“Begin bombing.” Fang Wen gave the order.
Shunzi, Huo Duanyang, and Howard unhesitatingly pulled the levers without hesitation. The safety pallet opened, the bomb pallet latches released, and the 6*6 simulated bombs poured down.
Ten seconds later, below burst into light, with huge snapdragon toy sounds.
Success.
Everything ready, only owing the east wind.
The Great Wall stretches continuously, can only choose one location for bombing.
Best if it’s the fiercest combat spot, also where Japanese Army heavy troops gather.
Fang Wen waited at Xiangxi Airport for intelligence feedback from Shanghai.
Radio waves sent the latest battle situation.
【Since Rehe fell, Great Wall defending troops are attacked on multiple fronts.】
【Three defense points have particularly intense warfare.】
【Namely, around Gubeikou, around Xifengkou, around Jielingkou and Yiyuankou】
Fang Wen took out the map and marked the three locations.
From the Great Wall topographic map, all three positions are very important.
Around Gubeikou, left is Rehe Province and the protruding part of the left defense line. Now with Rehe fallen, enemies everywhere except behind.
Xifengkou is similar, key central area of Great Wall defense line, also protruding part of the front, suffering multi-sided enemy forces attack.
Jielingkou and Yiyuankou adjacent to the fallen Shanhaiguan, facing no light pressure.
These three directions, can only assist one.
Fang Wen felt very conflicted.
Strategic bombers are indeed powerful, but can only be used on the blade.
How about Xifengkou?
After all, it’s the Great Wall midpoint, most likely Japanese Army assembly point, bombing effect might be better.
Just as he was about to decide, another telegram came from Shanghai.
【Latest intelligence from Shanghai Concession source: Japanese side suddenly stopped secret negotiations with National Government, launched full offensive.】
【Great Wall defense line right wing, Japanese Army 6th Division, Mixed 14th Brigade broke into inside the Passes from Shanhaiguan, implementing pincer attack strategy.】
【Defending Troops 57th Army retreated west of Luan River for river defense.】
Entered the Passes, hit here first then.
He told this decision to Sun Debiao.
Sun Debiao had no objection, as long as he could bomb the little devils, he’d go anywhere.
Immediately, Fang Wen piloted f.220 for the official behind enemy lines airdrop.
f.220 took off that night.
Flew northeast 1400 kilometers, arriving near Shanhaiguan late at night.
Fang Wen used mechanical perception to look below.
Though it was night, below still had constant fire and explosions.
This showed how intense the fighting on both sides was.
Fang Wen turned and instructed: “Sun Debiao, after landing, confirm position first. If in enemy territory, hide in place, find enemy dense bombing point. If near our position, don’t act rashly, lest be mistaken for spy and shot. Anyway, act according to circumstances, be careful.”
Sun Debiao nodded seriously: “Got it, General Manager. I don’t want to die here, will be careful.”
“Good then. Begin airdrop, Howard open the door.”
Howard opened the hatch, northern cold wind poured in, but Sun Debiao felt like coming home.
Shouted loudly: “Sun Dewu is back. Little Japanese wait to be bombed.”
Amid the shouting, he had already jumped out of the airplane.
This time he was very bold, opening the parachute only after descending some height.
