Chapter Thirty-Five: Sea and Sky

  There was a message from Chen Shaokuan asking me to go to the Navy Department.

  "Take care, and good luck!"

  Seeing Chen Shaokuan calm and composed, I was anxious and flustered, still not stable enough!

  "Look at you, everything is normal, 4 German Type II submarines have arrived at the secret base opposite your factory."

  "Ah! That's great! And there are two Type III as well?"

  German Type II submarine, displacement 254/303 tons (surfaced/submerged), range surfaced 1,050 nmi at 12 knots, range submerged 35 nmi at 4 knots, speed surfaced/submerged 13.0/6.9 knots, torpedo tubes forward 3

  German Type VII submarine, displacement 626/745 tons (surfaced/submerged), range 4,300 nautical miles at 12 knots surfaced and 90 nautical miles at 4 knots submerged, maximum speed 16.0 knots surfaced and 8.0 knots submerged, armament four bow torpedo tubes and one stern tube.

  Looking back on history, it is really a pity that China was unable to complete the import of these six submarines before the outbreak of the war due to various aspects of mutual dragging and delaying.

  "Has passed through the Suez Canal."

  "That's great, that's great!" I exclaimed excitedly, "We finally have our own submarine! It's too good to be true!"

  "Alright, calm down, I'd also like you to give a lecture on tactics to the submarine officers."

  "Me?"

  "Of course it's you! The German Navy high-level is very admired by you!"

  "Alright!"

  "Please!"

  Navy Department War Room

  "Gentlemen, hello everyone, I am Song Zian."

  I gazed at these dozen young naval submarine officers, thinking of the hundreds of submarine soldiers, and my heart ached, almost unable to look straight. With a total of less than 3,000 tons of six medium-sized submarines, how many times can they return after going out to confront the Japanese Navy with over 1 million tons?

  "Everyone has just returned from training in the German submarine fleet, I believe you all know more about submarines than me. In terms of submarine technology, I can only learn from everyone."

  "Mr. Tōan is too modest, we'd like to hear more about your tactics for the German Navy's submarine warfare."

  "Although German submarines are not yet numerous, they will have a great development period in the next few years, expanding from dozens to hundreds of ships, and their wolf pack tactics do not suit us; we will only have these six submarines for a fairly long time in the future, and single-ship operations will be our main mode of action."

  "How exactly should we proceed?"

  I turned to Chen Shao-kuan, and after he nodded, I said: "First, the targets of attack, similar to those of the German U-boat fleet, are as follows: troopships and liners, aircraft carriers, tankers, ammunition ships, cruisers, and other cargo ships. Unless absolutely necessary, attacks on small warships, especially antisubmarine vessels carrying depth charges, are prohibited."

  "Wouldn't even attack if encountered with a battleship?"

  "Unless the only thing in your attack range is a Japanese battleship! Second, the method of attack, mainly nighttime attacks, cutting into the target from the front or side-front; the distance for large targets is 1000-1500 meters, and for medium-sized targets it's within 1000 meters. What is the safety lock distance for torpedoes?" I turned to ask Chen Shaokuan.

  "What? Mr. Song, you're mistaken! The German submarine fleet's regulation is 3,000 meters!"

  "Has the German instructor told you the reason?"

  "Because within 3,000 meters is the effective working range of enemy sonar."

  "Haha, your grades aren't good enough! It should be 'Within 3000 meters is the enemy of Germany, that is, the British and French sonar effective working range!' What about Japanese sonar? 1000-1500 meters!"

  "Ah!"

  Chen Shaokuan interjected, "Deputy Director Song's words are my words. The closer you get to the attack, the higher your hit rate! Especially when the enemy lacks anti-submarine capabilities! Zi An, the German 533 torpedo insurance lock distance is 700 meters."

  "Minister Chen, I suggest lowering the insurance to 500 meters; have they been informed of several designated combat areas?"

  "It has been issued, everyone's attention is required, it is top secret!"

  "We continue, I ask who has heard that the G7 torpedoes provided by Germany during our training in Germany are outdated, they also have a new type of torpedo?"

  "I knew it, I even asked the instructor and they said it's prohibited from being exported."

  "Magnetic Attraction?"

  "Hehe, seems like it."

  "Alright, remember the third point, it's a top-secret insider message. Our torpedo depth setting is reduced by 1 meter compared to the standard, and for Type III boats on long-distance operations, the depth setting is reduced by 2 meters."

  "You can't be serious? This is renowned German-made goods known for their precision?"

  "Hehe, so it's a secret? But it's just a defect caused by the lack of communication between design, production and use. One last thing, when attacking high-value targets such as large troop ships or aircraft carriers at night, if you can't keep up with the speed, you can adopt surface or semi-submerged mobile attack mode. However, don't use this action mode casually, saving yourself is more important! After all, there are hundreds of targets, but we only have 6 submarines!"

  "Understood?! Save yourself, annihilate the enemy!" Chen Shaokuan asked sternly, "No problem, then it's settled. Zi An, follow me."

  I cast a sorrowful glance at the submarine officers who were in heated discussion and followed Chen Shaokuan into the minister's office.

  "Zi An, they all volunteered."

  "I know that unless they venture deep into enemy harbor, their chances of survival are still not small." I comforted myself.

  "The names of these four submarines are: Jing Ke, Nie Zheng, Zhuan Zhu and Yao Li." Chen Shaokuan said bluntly.

  I was shocked and speechless.

  "The two Type 3 boats being prepared are named: Houying, Zhangliang. Compared to the submarine force which still has several chances to attack the enemy, the torpedo boat force's raid can only be said to be a one-time thing. You know, the Torpedo School (the combat unit is mainly under the Torpedo Squadron, also known as the Torpedo Boat Squadron) and our Navy have never gotten along, although the Chairman has ordered that during wartime I will be in command, but it's not wartime yet..."

  "I understand, where I go to communicate." I took a file bag from Chen Shaokuan's hand.

  "Several factories' produced naval mines have all been concentrated to predetermined points in the Yangtze River, and the mine-laying troops have also been formed and equipped. We've had multiple drills already, just waiting for the order to start laying mines comprehensively. Is this war?"

  "It's late summer and early autumn!"

  "Actually, there's another difficult thing - those old warships that are preparing to scuttle themselves, it's tough!"

  "The old warships' big guns deployed to the various fortresses along the river are still useful, and can be used to persuade them; the rest of the personnel can join the mine-laying fleet."

  "It can't be helped."

  At this critical juncture, I should have been preparing to become a father-to-be, accompanying Yunyan at Song Gongguan. But somehow, Yunyan didn't show any signs of pregnancy, and her already slender waist didn't reveal anything unusual. As it happened, the 40th birthday banquet for Third Sister at the official residence was attended as usual, with all the eating, drinking, and merriment; only the sisters-in-law were frightened, hastily "escorting" her back to her room.

  A few days later, my third sister went to inspect the air force with Old Jiang, and I accompanied her. Watching her enthusiastically chatting with the handsome pilots in fluent American English, and even exchanging kisses with the overseas Chinese pilots, I couldn't help but sweat for my brother-in-law, haha.

  "Mr. Chairman, Minister Chen plans to scuttle some of the old and worn-out warships that are unable to fight during wartime as blockships in Jiangyin, forming a solid blockade line, which can effectively block the Japanese Navy's attack along the river to the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River for a long time; The large cannons on the ships will be dismantled and added to various fortresses."

  "What ship does he want to sink?"

  "Two old training vessels of the Practice Fleet, several small warships of the 1st and 2nd Fleets, and... the Four Seas Squadron (Hai Chi, Hai Tien, Hai Yung, Hai Chouan, and the previously wrecked Hai Tien were cruisers purchased by the Qing court after the defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, with a total displacement of over 18,000 tons, also known as the five mainstays of the late Qing Navy)."

  "Hmph, I knew Hou Fu was planning to deal with Hai Kan and Hai Chen! (Hai Kan and Hai Chen originally belonged to the Northeastern Navy, but later defected to the Guangdong Navy, and then again defected to the Central Government, but because of their discord with the Min-Keel Central Navy, they were directly under the Military Affairs Department) Zi An, what do you think we should do?"

  "These old warships are useless in naval battles, let them scuttle themselves! However, the cannons on those ships can be dismantled and greatly enhance the firepower of each fortress."

  "Let him be then! Inform the Military Affairs Department."

  "There is also an electric thunder school."

  "Didn't I order them to return during wartime?"

  "It's time to get ready now."

  "Tell Hou Fu, to be just in matters and not personal; I will take care of Jiuyuan (Ouyang Ge, alias Jiuyuan, head of the school education department, actual person in charge, directly under the general staff)."

  "Air Force's 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment!" San Jie said proudly. "A brand new German-made anti-aircraft gun, this team is much more disciplined than those sloppy guys in the Air Force; don't say I said that!"

  In the sound of military music, I watched as Old Chiang inspected the neatly marching air force troops on the rostrum, and the distant rows of anti-aircraft guns. Particularly eye-catching were the 24 heavy anti-aircraft guns, also known as the famous "88" guns of World War II and later years, which combined the functions of anti-aircraft guns, anti-tank guns, and Tiger tank guns! Together with the large group of 37 anti-aircraft guns, the air force military expenses that had been wasted in the Hong Kong banks finally turned into real military equipment.

  I'm very satisfied.

  Watching the rapid and neat artillery drill of the anti-aircraft gunners, are they new recruits? I looked at San Jie with suspicion.

  Third sister smiled and whispered in my ear, "How about it? Except for the remaining officers and men of the Air Force's southern stations, they were brought by me from the Northeast Army. Aren't they demobilized?"

  Is everything okay? I really admire Soong Mei-ling!

  Finally, it was June, and Yunyan's belly slowly showed up. We still held hands and strolled around, enjoying the last peaceful moments.