"Found the target." The radar officer said, and when he saw a light spot flashing on the screen, he couldn't help but yelled.
But then, he was disappointed: "No, it's ice floes."
As they headed south, the melting ice floes on the Antarctic glaciers were already drifting towards this side.
The radar can only scan things on the surface of the sea, and at most can filter out the clutter of the waves, but it will never filter out the ice floes. This is entirely based on the experience of the radar officer.
If there is an aircraft carrier, the light spot is too small, and the radar reflection of the aircraft carrier is very strong.
Suddenly, Pugachev understood something, yes, the other party must be in the southern waters, wanting to hide their whereabouts by relying on the floating ice here. Sure enough, the British are also very cunning!
Unfortunately, they are still destined to be disappointed, even in the floating ice, oneself will find them!
Keep flying and search in this sea area!
The fuel is constantly being consumed. Now, their remaining flight time is less than half an hour, and they will definitely not be able to fly back.
However, they will never give up. As a famous old man, they have never feared death, just like now. Keep flying and find each other!
It is already two o'clock in the morning.
On the deck of the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, a row of deck lights lit up. When viewed from a distance, the row of lights flashed, and it was still so fuzzy on the sea.
Clive steadily operated his fighter plane and accurately entered the glide line. They were tired after a long patrol. Now, it was time to return.
As he landed, on the bow deck, the carrier-based aircraft that replaced him had already hooked the ejection slider.
"Take off!" Following the action of the deck ejection officer, the pilot fully opened the throttle, but the fighter did not leave the deck as quickly as usual.
"The No. 1 catapult is faulty." The catapult officer shouted: "Waiting for the No. 2 catapult."
It’s too cold here. After the last ejection, although the deicing operation was carried out, the piston inside the catapult was still frozen. However, the No. 2 catapult on the angled deck has not been used, and it is definitely still usable. .
In fact, the No. 1 catapult can also be used, but it takes about ten minutes after the steam melts it.
As long as the recovery operation of the carrier-based aircraft is completed on the angled deck, the ejection and take-off operation can be carried out.
On the aircraft carrier’s bridge, a three-coordinate antenna is constantly rotating, searching the surrounding airspace. Although in accordance with the general operational regulations, the new carrier-based aircraft is required to eject and take off. After reaching the patrolled airspace, the old Carrier-based aircraft can only be recovered. However, in this icy waters, the release operation of carrier-based aircraft was delayed. They spent ten minutes preheating the engine of the carrier-based aircraft on the deck, which resulted in the previous batch of ships. The carrier has returned.
They don’t have much oil.
Although Clive was very tired, he still cheered up. The night landing was dangerous, and he didn't know the icing on the deck, so he landed first and let his wingman wait for him.
Clive's Tomcat fighter steadily approached the aircraft carrier, and the runway lights became clearer and clearer.
On the bridge, Nathan was also looking at Clive.
Because of the communication with Emily, Nathan was also very worried, and couldn't sleep anymore in the middle of the night, so he ran up to the bridge.
Lieutenant Colonel Brown has gone back to sleep. On the bridge, Nathan’s position is the highest. He watched the landing of his carrier aircraft. In this dark night, under the airflow from the South Pole, Clive’s The landing is also quite beautiful.
Suddenly, the radar soldier shouted: "Found a target, 400 kilometers away from us, heading toward us!"
The radar soldier's shout suddenly made the entire bridge tense, and Nathan looked at the landing Clive's fighter plane with hesitation on his face.
The next batch of carrier-based aircraft did not eject. It’s best to let the Clive crew intercept it. However, their aircraft is running out of fuel. If they intercept, there may not be enough fuel to return. Once they crashed, parachuted, in the cold sea, at night, it was almost dead.
As a commander, it is cruel, because in some cases, even though he knows that his orders will send his troops to death, he still has to do so, and he has no choice.
Like now.
Nathan just hesitated for a moment, and then issued an order: "Chisel, pay attention, find an unknown target, 270 direction, 400 distance, go and intercept immediately!"
"The chisel is received." After receiving the order, Captain Clive did not hesitate to pull up his plane, and opened the afterburner without hesitation.
There are enemies! The distance is four hundred.
For the aircraft carrier, this is a terrible distance. Many of the Soviets’ anti-ship missiles can be launched at a distance of 400 kilometers. If they can reach the airspace as soon as possible, they can also expel the opponent’s aircraft, if they can’t arrive as soon as possible. , He can only intercept missiles fired by the opponent. In contrast, fighters are of course easier to intercept. After all, the opponent's missiles will often hit several Mach, and interception is not easy.
Captain Clive was accelerating, and the wings of the Tomcat fighter swept back. Soon, it exceeded the speed of sound and continued to accelerate its climb.
The radar officer in the back seat had already turned on the AWG-9 radar and activated the mounted Phoenix missile.
On the aircraft carrier, the atmosphere instantly became tense, and everyone knew what it meant.
The two fighters of one's own side have already rushed towards the target, while the other side is still continuing to approach one's own side.
"The distance is three hundred."
When the opponent flew to a distance of three hundred, the two Tomcat fighters were less than two hundred kilometers away from each other.
At this time, on the Tu-22M bomber, the radar officer was also excited: "I found an aircraft carrier, yes, it must be an aircraft carrier!"
"Instantly attack." Pugachev shouted.
Everyone was excited. They had been flying for nearly 20 hours and their lives were about to end. However, they finally found each other's aircraft carrier!
Among the icebergs, the huge aircraft carrier clearly appeared on the radar screen, he was absolutely sure.
Attack!
Since the radar at this time was in the sea search mode, the beams were all downward, so at this time, they did not find the interceptor flying from high in the sky at all.
Activating the missile is a complicated process. It takes time to activate the missile-borne gyro, input target data, and warm up various electronic devices.
At this time, the distance between them was also rapidly approaching.
"Lock the target." Here, on the Tomcat fighter, the radar officer behind Captain Clive has completed the mission.
Distance one hundred kilometers, lock the target, launch the Phoenix! (End of this chapter)