Chapter 323

Chapter 323: It Would Be Rude Not to Return the Favor

Not long after the J-15 "Dark Sabre" formation spotted the coastline of Malaysia, they saw 18 American attack helicopters flying in from 500 meters above.

“Let’s go say hello to them!”

Lin Mo shouted over the radio channel.

The six "Dark Sabres" scattered in formation, splitting into two groups of three, forming a triangular array as they approached the 18 AH-1Z "Viper" helicopters.

The AH-1Z "Viper" attack helicopter, an advanced version developed by Bell Helicopter for the U.S. Army in the mid-1960s, was an upgraded model of the previous W version. Its performance was even comparable to that of the AH-64D "Longbow Apache."

The AH-1Z "Viper" was equipped with new short wings designed for weapon mounting, allowing it to carry AIM-9 "Sidewinder" air-to-air missiles on its wingtips, enhancing its aerial combat capabilities.

Continuing the emphasis on coastal operations and protection since the AH-1J/T/W series, the AH-1Z "Viper" was designed with anti-corrosion features and focused on its ability to withstand physical damage, making it a new model specifically developed for the U.S. Marine Corps.

However, such a powerful combat aircraft completely ignored the Chinese carrier-based aircraft. Once the AH-1Z "Viper" helicopters spotted the "Hampton" on the sea, they immediately lowered their altitude and surrounded it, protecting it in the center.

The six "Dark Sabres" circled around the cocky AH-1Z "Viper" formation, allowing pilots from both sides to clearly see each other’s movements in the cockpits.

The Chinese pilots could even see the American helicopter pilots arrogantly giving them the middle finger.

But what did that matter?

With just one round of fire, the six J-15 "Dark Sabres" could send those 18 "Vipers" to the depths of the Malaysian coast forever.

No matter how formidable helicopters were, they had an inherent disadvantage against jet fighters.

Colonel Marshall Hoover, commander of the Kota Kinabalu port military base, issued strict orders prohibiting any conflict with the Chinese. He knew that a world-class pilot was on that Chinese aircraft carrier, and he wouldn’t let his helicopter squadron participate in a humiliating encounter.

Two F-35s and a squadron of F-18s had already suffered significant embarrassment; it was unrealistic to expect the "Vipers" to perform miracles.

Sometimes, even the Americans recognized that their arrogance needed to be selective.

But Lin Mo had no intentions of excessively teasing these slender, well-proportioned "Viper" beauties. He simply said, “Mission accomplished! We’re heading back!”

The belly and underwing of the lead aircraft from the two three-plane formations were mounted with three specialized electronic reconnaissance pods, leaving the Americans helpless. They were indeed just here to observe, and what was even more infuriating was that they were glancing over with sidelong eyes.

From the start, the command center had no plans to let Lin Mo and his team fly directly into the U.S. military base to show off, as it was entirely unnecessary.

However, despite this, their trip was not in vain.

The "Shilang" aircraft carrier training group had gone to great lengths, consuming massive resources and money for this deployment, and had effectively recouped their costs with significant gains that made the South China Sea fleet taste sweet success.

As the largest combat fortress currently known to humankind, aircraft carriers possess a formidable deterrent capability in both offensive and defensive power, making even the Americans think twice. Furthermore, after multiple embarrassing encounters in front of the Chinese lately, they felt increasingly insulted.

Moreover, the small South Asian countries that relied on American support nearby realized that aircraft carriers were not to be trifled with. They might have previously dismissed China’s claims in the South China Sea, but when the Chinese "Shilang" carrier training group anchored at their doorstep, they didn’t dare act rashly.

Forty-five Filipino fishing boats were sent fleeing in panic after being targeted by Chinese carrier-based aircraft. Clearly, the Chinese Air Force pilots were not as conciliatory as their Foreign Ministry; they hit and didn’t look back. Three Filipino warships retreated in embarrassment, followed closely by a string of hurriedly fleeing fishing boats.

Not long after, the Filipinos who had occupied Scarborough Shoal promptly withdrew.

Just days earlier, the Philippine President had ordered the Philippine Navy to abandon Scarborough Shoal. The reason was simple: once the Filipinos departed, the PLA had landed directly on the island. Perhaps the common folk in China were surprised to learn that those Filipino civilians had even plagiarized their previous protest rhetoric, presenting it identically.

Did you see? Even the American attack submarines looked like naughty children being escorted back after a mistake; what could be expected from those smaller countries? Their meager military forces trembled in their nests.

Even when the "Dark Sabre" formation appeared in Malaysian airspace, the Malaysian high command learned from the Americans about the Chinese presence. However, to them, it made no difference whether the Chinese came or not; they could not match the Chinese power, nor did they have the courage to protest.

“Data received, starting 3D modeling! Compiling information!”

In the command center of the "Shilang" aircraft carrier training ship, the data team immediately became busy analyzing the information collected from various reconnaissance systems, including the side-looking radar.

The complete layout of the Kota Kinabalu port U.S. military base was virtually laid bare before the Chinese, even without needing to fly fighter jets for reconnaissance. With modern high-tech capabilities, they could collect crucial intelligence without being detected.

Indeed, it would be rude not to return the favor.

You come to scout me, so I might as well take a look back at you.

Once again, it was reaffirmed that China does not seek dominance!

They arrived with good intentions, and the "Shilang" aircraft carrier even sent a telegram of goodwill to soothe the startled U.S. military base and the Malaysian government.

In any case, the "Hampton" wouldn’t dare pass through the South China Sea anytime soon, and it was likely that even the Pentagon knew this conclusion. As for other ships attempting to cross the South China Sea, they would need to think twice; they might find themselves required to have tea one day.

The military-grade hard drive collected from the "Hampton" was being decrypted on a secure computer that was disconnected from the network, indicating a significant gain.

If the American submarine captain was foolish enough to deliver an old hard drive, technicians might even find unexpected rewards from previously deleted sections of the drive.

Sometimes, a thorough cleanup in military technology doesn’t necessarily mean safety; acquiring data could simply be a bait.

…

The operation of an aircraft carrier revolves entirely around the aviation crew. As the primary assault force, all departments support the carrier-based aircraft, from combat planning, logistics support, equipment maintenance, to medical care and entertainment. Before boarding the carrier-based aircraft, pilots enjoy the best treatment.

Once they leave the flight deck, however, it signifies that the life-and-death moment has arrived. Having trained their personnel for a thousand days, they now need to deploy them. Every pilot understands their importance to the entire carrier group; once in combat mode, they completely forget life and death and fully launch their attacks.

Attack, attack, and attack again – this is the soul of a fighter jet and the principle of action for pilots.

Except in peacetime, pilots constantly hone their combat skills during training.

Flying a fighter jet involves various maneuvering stances, from graceful to breathtaking, dazzling to deadly, and swift as lightning, akin to a martial arts master, reaching levels ordinary people can only dream of.

Ordinary onlookers soon lose the mystery; essentially, it becomes a display of creative flying – one moment in an S-shape, the next in a B-shape, all within the parameters allowed for fighter jets, having fun in the air.

Especially for professional pilots with more than 2,000 hours of flight experience, they may become somewhat numb, but the passion for flying is deeply rooted within them.

Aside from land and sea attack training, carrier-based aircraft also regularly engage in thrilling adversarial training, particularly through coordinated formations against a common foe.

“Never fear opponents resembling gods; fear teammates resembling pigs.” This saying also applies among fighter pilots.

In addition to routine training, the aviation crew occasionally takes on additional tasks. For example, while the "Shilang" aircraft carrier training group heads toward the Sino-Thai joint base in Songkhla, they must also fulfill resupply tasks for troops stationed at various islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

Maintaining the supply stations distributed across numerous islands and reefs in the South China Sea makes the round trip to the homeland quite challenging, so each resupply becomes a significant undertaking.

In the Spratly Islands, China effectively controls no fewer than 22 islands, reefs, shoals, and sandbars, including Huayang Reef, Meiji Reef, Anda Reef, and Half Moon Reef.

Many of the areas around these islands are shallow waters, making them prone to grounding. Supply ships find it difficult to approach, relying mainly on fishing boats, fisheries patrol boats, or maritime surveillance ships with onboard helicopters for air transport.

As the "Shilang" aircraft carrier training group passes by, it can leverage its capacity for large-scale material transport to provide soldiers on these islands with essential provisions.

Carrier-based helicopters depart with cargo containers, while the instructor team keeps busy, loading special airdrop pods with supplies to practice aerial delivery training. They also pack items that helicopters cannot transport all at once and drop them directly.