Chapter 26: 26, Bombing The Warship, Zhabei Air Combat
High-altitude bombing in the 1930s was all visual bombing.
Altitude usually did not exceed 5000 meters, because at higher altitudes, the pilot and bombardier in the air might not be able to see the target clearly.
But at 5000 meters altitude, accuracy also dropped significantly, and there were many more variables and errors to consider compared to 2-3000 meters.
Without a computer, Fang Wen couldn’t calculate these things precisely either.
But he had mechanical perception.
Through mechanical perception fusing with the airplane as one, he could maximize the use of personal experience.
After several high-altitude airdrops, he found the feeling.
This feeling was like an eagle keenly spotting a target from high in the sky; as the number of drops increased, he mastered some small skills that only he could apply.
For example, under different wind speeds and wind directions, he could make corresponding advance flight adjustments, thus achieving a high hit rate during bombing.
In two days, from hitting two out of ten at the beginning to hitting five out of ten later.
Fang Wen knew this was already his current limit; the rest would depend on on-the-spot performance and luck on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the cluster bomb urgently developed by the Jinling Arsenal was completed and transported to the airport the day before the action.
As the action pilot, Fang Wen listened to the other party’s introduction.
“This time we were also cramming at the last minute, but luckily we made it. This is a parent-child structure; the parent bomb contains multiple sub-bombs composed of shells. These sub-bombs are distributed and fixed inside the parent bomb by brackets, and will detonate simultaneously upon explosion, concentrating the blast. The parent bomb is a container with a delay fuse; the explosion time needs to be determined, and the fuse ignited in advance.”
A bomb one point five meters square, similar to a fireworks box, but with power thousands of times greater than fireworks.
Afterward, people from the Jinling Arsenal introduced some details about bomb operation. Howard, Pan Jiafeng, and that gunman listened carefully; this was no child’s play, only one chance, and nothing could be taken lightly.
The first half of the night was spent learning how to detonate the bomb.
The second half of the night, no one was in the mood to sleep; the entire aviation team was in an excited state.
Fang Wen was the same; he sat quietly in the cockpit waiting, and when he really couldn’t sit still, he jogged around the airport.
At three in the morning, canteen staff came over with food boxes to provide the last pre-battle meal for the participants of this air action.
Taking the wooden box, Fang Wen gulped down the food, though he had no appetite, he needed to ensure nutritional supply.
Pan Jiafeng, the student, actually ate with relish; his own box wasn’t enough, so he asked the canteen for another serving.
After eating, it was four in the morning.
The aviation team gathered for a briefing and warm-up exercises; the gunman from Fang Wen’s side also joined the ranks.
As for Fang Wen, Howard, and Pan Jiafeng, the three of them watched from the side.
After a round of warm-ups, everyone returned to position; Fang Wen also sat back in the cockpit to wait.
At five in the morning, the sky was just barely bright.
A military officer in front of the runway blew a whistle and waved a flag; the first military aircraft took off.
Then, seven airplanes flew into the sky.
They circled in the air, waiting for Fang Wen.
Not long after, the Rhine NYP-2 also joined the formation.
Seven military aircraft in a V-formation in front, Rhine NYP-2 behind, flying toward Shanghai.
To prevent the Japanese Army from monitoring radio signals, all airplanes had their radio voice communication devices turned off; everything was done through tacit understanding and cooperation.
An hour and a half later, the airplane arrived over Shanghai.
Only then did the sky brighten, with a red sun rising from the seaside.
According to plan, radio silence ended.
A call came from the radio station on the Rhine NYP-2.
“Iron Bird, if you hear this, please respond.”
“Received.” Fang Wen replied.
“According to plan, we will leave two fighter jets to follow; the other airplanes will execute the feint attack tactic. Do you have anything to add?”
“No, I will act according to plan.”
“Good, let’s begin.”
Immediately, the airplanes in the air split into two teams.
One team of five fighter jets dove down, launching an attack on the Japanese Army positions in the Zhabei war zone, and dropped their carried bombs.
The other team flew at 5000 meters altitude, with two fighter jets guarding the Rhine NYP-2 one on each side.
A few minutes later, the Rhine NYP-2 flew over the Huangpu River.
Fang Wen used mechanical perception to lock onto the target; this ability allowed him to see more clearly than with the naked eye.
The warships below were moving!
Clearly, the unusual activity in the air had prompted their reaction.
But it wasn’t targeted at Fang Wen.
These warships actually approached the shoreline, firing shells toward Zhabei District.
This was the best bombing opportunity; even if it didn’t hit that warship, it might accidentally hit another.
Yet Fang Wen did not immediately give the bombing order.
The more urgent the situation, the calmer he became.
The experience and skills gained from two days of training were applied in real time at this moment.
He felt that bombing from this position would likely miss by eighty percent.
The reason was that the morning wind was actually very strong, with light rain.
This was a harsher environment than encountered during training.
He had to change the advance amount; Fang Wen turned the nose, circled in the air, and flew along the original direction again.
At this time, over a dozen Japanese airplanes flew in from over the sea surface.
The fighter jets on both sides hurriedly urged.
“Iron Bird, can we start? They’re coming.”
“Two minutes.” Fang Wen replied affirmatively.
Air combat was about to erupt in the sky.
Seventeen Japanese Army airplanes launched a siege on five Guangdong Air Force airplanes.
In terms of aircraft performance, the K-47 fighter jet was comparable to the Japanese side’s Type 3 carrier fighter, but they were at a great disadvantage in numbers.
Japanese Army airplanes formed combat groups of three, separating the five K-47 fighter jets and engaging in fierce air combat.
Bullets fired from onboard machine guns streaked through the air, forming trails of bullet marks.
Once hit, with this era’s airplane defense, it was very likely to result in the aircraft being destroyed and crew killed.
This air combat, which originally hadn’t happened, took a dramatic turn.
A K-47 fighter jet was damaged in the air, smoke billowing from one wing, yet it persisted in combat, turning its fuselage and charging fiercely at the enemy.
Two airplanes collided; a huge flash of fire erupted in the air, followed by two fireballs plummeting to the ground.
Casualties on both sides ignited ferocity in the pilots, making the combat even more intense.
At the same time, Fang Wen, fully focused, completed the bombing judgment.
He said the pre-planned words: “Bomb after countdown of 5.”
This was time prepared for the bombardier.
5
Howard immediately opened the hatch.
4
Pan Jiafeng crouched down, gathering strength behind the bomb.
3
The gunman activated the delay fuse.
2
The three prepared simultaneously.
1
Facing the strong sea wind, the three pushed the heavy bomb out of the hatch.
The bomb plummeted rapidly in the sea wind, and under factors like wind speed and flight range vectors, it fell in a diagonal line toward the Huangpu River surface.
Below, soldiers on the Japanese Army warship unknowingly carried shells, madly firing toward Zhabei District.
A few seconds later, occasionally an officer looked up.
He saw the last scene of his life: a huge black shadow descending from the sky, smashing onto the warship.
The massive impact smashed a large hole in the deck.
Before the soldiers on the warship could react, huge explosions occurred successively inside the ship.
The chain of explosions even detonated the ammunition depot, splitting the warship in two, gradually sinking to the river bottom.
This scene was seen by the fighter jets in the air.
“Action complete, everyone disengage combat and return to base.”
With the order given, for Fang Wen, the most dangerous part was about to come.
How would the Rhine NYP-2 shake off those faster Japanese Army fighter jets and return to Nanjing Airport?
