Chapter 36: The Paradise at the End of the World

  New Caledonia has a total area of approximately 19,000 square kilometers and consists of one main island and several smaller islands. The capital and largest city is Nouméa.

  It stretches out its slender figure in the center of the South Pacific, it is an island at the end of the world, quietly lying in the vast emerald green waters.

  New Caledonia has the world's largest lagoon, is one of the islands in the Pacific with the greatest variety of plants and is one of the richest tropical forests in the world.

  New Caledonia is known as the paradise at the end of the world, located between Australia and New Zealand in the central South Pacific, with a temperature range of 20-28 degrees throughout the year, surrounded by beautiful coral reefs and dense primary forests, and is popular among tourists from all over the world.

  In fact, the Confederate Navy of South Vietnam had been preparing for large-scale combat with France in Southeast Asia since the Battle of Madagascar.

  On the night of December 10, 1963, a task force consisting of the Victorious and Janina escort carriers of the South Vietnamese Federal Navy suddenly received a secret order to set sail for Southeastern Pacific in preparation for combat.

  After a period of preparation, this aircraft carrier battle group began secretly approaching the southeast Pacific Ocean at 22:00 on December 12.

  In addition to 2 escort carriers, 5 destroyers, 6 frigates, 2 minesweepers and 2 large supply ships, the convoy also included 32 merchant ships loaded with South Vietnamese Marines and supplies.

  The South Huafederation escort carrier task force, after a clever disguise, arrived in the waters 210 nautical miles from the main island of New Caledonia on the evening of December 15, and began preparations for large-scale combat operations.

  At 0200 on December 18, 1963, the sky was still gray and overcast, when the South China Sea Escort Carrier Task Force finally opened the curtain of large-scale military operations against France in Southeast Asia.

  Air superiority is a necessary condition for modern warfare.

  Generally speaking, in order for either side to win a war, they must seize air superiority. Without gaining air superiority, the outcome of modern warfare is often tragic.

  In the Southeast Pacific War, the Federal Republic of South Hoa was on the offensive overall due to its strong air combat capabilities.

  However, due to some problems, the troops of Nanhua Federation also suffered heavy losses.

  On December 18, as soon as it got dark, the 18 old-fashioned carrier-based aircraft of the South China Sea Escort Aircraft Carrier Fleet began to fly towards the French military base and barracks on the island. As the warplanes dropped bombs one after another, many airports and buildings on the island were shrouded in smoke.

  December 20th, the sky began to darken, and the French Air Force on the island, after careful preparation, launched a counterattack.

  The French Air Force believed that the enemy was celebrating their victory at this time, and the enemy fleet must be off guard, which is an excellent opportunity for the French Air Force to launch a surprise attack.

  Therefore, the French Air Force fighters began to frantically pounce on the South Vietnamese Federal Navy fleet. However, what greeted them was the intense anti-aircraft fire from the escort carriers, and some of the French Air Force fighters instantly became targets, plummeting into the sea with black smoke trailing behind them.

  The French Air Force did not lose heart and considered it an accidental phenomenon, so on the evening of the 21st, they continued to carry out air raids, trying to wipe out the South Vietnamese Federal Navy fleet.

  Then, the only 10 French Air Force planes on the island during World War II roared into the sky one after another and attacked the South Vietnam Federal Navy's escort aircraft carrier fleet.

  However, the South Vietnamese Federal Navy's escort carrier fleet seemed to have been waiting in ambush, and a dense anti-aircraft firepower quickly formed a tight interception net, causing some French air force planes to never return.

  The French Air Force has been beaten for two consecutive nights and finally found that the surprise attack not only failed to destroy the South China Federation Navy's aircraft carrier fleet, but also lost 23 fighter jets itself. There are only 26 on the island now, and it is no longer capable of launching a counterattack.

  The French Air Force finally realized that they had been deceived! The South Huafederation was just consuming the last air force of France here, and the French Air Force had to change its strategy and no longer take attacking the South Huafederation's naval escort aircraft carrier formation as its main task. Unfortunately, only three planes were left.

  The French Air Force began a surprise attack on the South Huafederation Navy's aircraft carrier fleet, mainly targeting transport ships and support vessels.

  In combat, there were many other problems with the South Huafederation Navy's escort carrier fleet.

  In the naval and air battles, the anti-submarine aircraft of the South China Federation Navy's escort carrier fleet had been searching continuously at sea, but they could not find any trace of the French Navy submarines.

  As a result, a French Navy submarine surprisingly sank one of the large destroyers in the South Huahai Federation Navy's escort aircraft carrier fleet, leaving the South Huahai Federation Navy heartbroken.

  Some French Foreign Legion soldiers on the outlying islands maintained their excellent tradition, refusing to surrender to the enemy until their commander came in person.

  It was not until a week later that General Hatazo Adachi, resplendent in his white uniform, was able to stage the formal surrender ceremony on the main island.

  He surrendered in the name of the South Pacific Union at the ceremony, and more than 1,500 French soldiers and civilians were taken prisoner.

  Although the French Foreign Legion conducted a valiant defense, resulting in over 800 deaths and more than 100 missing soldiers of the South Vietnamese Federation, President de Gaulle praised them for their "courageous, historic defensive battle" during his commendation.

  Headlines in newspapers across France praised the exemplary fighting spirit of the French army, but all the praise could not conceal another fact - this defeat was unavoidable.

  The 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment of France excels in tasks such as amphibious assaults, seizure of airfields and urban warfare. Despite its small size and lack of heavy equipment, it can easily handle a mechanized infantry company and pin down a mechanized combat battalion.

  To maintain combat effectiveness, subordinate combat units must participate in 11 deep jungle missions arranged by the legion command every year.

  In peacetime, the main task of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment was to organize jungle training courses at the Equatorial Jungle Training Centre in Cayenne.

  "Whoever can survive in the Amazon jungle, he will be able to win in any other jungle. Whoever can win a battle in the Amazon jungle, I don't think there's anything that could stop him!" - Commander of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment

  But this is not jungle warfare.

  For a well-prepared nation, individual combat capability is just a boat in the ocean, which cannot conquer the turbulent waves.

  After leaving a camp of Marine Corps, the South Pacific Allied Naval Escort Carrier Task Force advanced to the next target.

  In 1946 it was set as the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands of French Polynesia, mainly inhabited by Polynesians, with Chinese, French and British.

  Produces coconut oil, spices, copra, sugar cane, pearl shell and phosphate rock.

  Papeete is the main city and port.

  An unexpected event occurred here.

  On Uwaea Islet, just off the northwest coast of Lipari, all is silent, with waves gently lapping against the rocks along the shore.

  Suddenly, a burst of urgent gunfire pierced the sky. In front of the French gendarmerie barracks, more than a dozen black shadows beat the sentry to death, opened the gate and rushed in quickly.

  Dozens of French gendarmes, awakened from their dreams, had no time to react before these masked, dagger-wielding, pistol-carrying bandits rushed up to them.

  Several French soldiers panicked and grabbed their submachine guns from their beds, but before they could even touch the triggers, they fell into a pool of blood.

  The camp was in a state of chaos, with many men stripped to the waist and wearing only shorts being taken prisoner.

  The masked men rushed about and killed in the barracks, beating the French gendarmes so that they fled in all directions.

  Lieutenant Orr, the head of the garrison, sprang out of bed and rolled over to the desk in the dark, grabbing the phone that connected directly to the French gendarmerie headquarters on the island.

  At this time, although he still didn't know the specific situation of the change, he had already guessed a few points in his heart.

  He pressed the buttons on the phone with trembling fingers and said nervously: "It's finally happened, it's finally happened!"

  "What happened?" he asked loudly.

  But Captain Orloff had no time to answer the question, a cold gleaming short knife was pressed against his neck, that tall and ferocious masked man, snatched the phone, shouted into the receiver in fluent French:

  "You will soon understand that unless you agree to our terms, we'll make you disappear!"

  After a brief skirmish, the masked raiders killed four French gendarmes and captured 27 others. The prisoners were tied together in pairs or triplets and quickly disappeared into the dark forest under the prodding of their captors, leaving Lieutenant Aulard stunned.

  Commander Jacques Vidal and the territorial military authorities would soon share Lieutenant Aulard's sentiment - it had finally happened.

  In the Society Islands, 17 km from Tahiti, lies Moorea, separated by a deep bay, with its elegant volcanic peaks reflected in the calm waters of the lagoon.

  There are 12 small islands, and it only takes 15 minutes to get there from Haixi by plane. The quiet island has beautiful beaches and colorful coral reefs that shine brightly.

  Hua Hin Island is 175 kilometers northwest of Da Xi, a primitive island with magic power, perfectly preserving mysterious customs.

  Raiatea and Tahaa are endowed with lush valleys, the two islands being connected by a coral reef, making it an ideal place for sailing.

  Today, it welcomes the roar of propeller-driven aircraft engines, which is so heavy.

  The waters around Bora Bora are home to a diverse array of marine life, showcasing an almost surreal beauty. The small motus (islands) surrounding the lagoon, with their white sandy beaches and coral gardens, are its elegant adornments.

  Such a beautiful view couldn't even catch the pilot's eye, and Papiti sounded an ear-piercing alarm that hadn't been heard in years.