Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 856 The Flying Swallow Carrier-based Aircraft, the Battle of Penang

"Get your fleet to Singapore port at full speed immediately!" Percival urged.

Fang Wen was secretly delighted. He was just trying, and he didn't know if it would work.

But now it's become a reality.

This prime wartime naval dockyard resource could not only rapidly arm the Taishan naval forces, but also bind the British forces to jointly contain the Japanese army.

He then used the command post's radio to send a telegram to Yangon.

Encrypted radio waves penetrated the clouds, crossed the sea in an instant, and reached Yangon.

Yangon, Taishan Airlines headquarters building.

The telegraph clerk recorded the telegraphic code, stood up, and announced in a loud voice, "It's a telegram from the general manager."

The duty officer in the telegraph room immediately took the code paper and went to find the head of the telegraph department to translate it.

Afterwards, the section chief took the translated telegram to the administration floor and reported to Fang Shouxin, who was in charge of headquarters affairs.

"General Manager's secret telegram! The Singapore negotiations have been finalized. The British military has opened the Sembawang top-class naval dry dock and ordered our aircraft carrier fleet to depart immediately and proceed to the Singapore dry dock for wartime conversion!"

Fang Shouxin's eyes lit up. Taishan's fleet was lacking a shipyard capable of military conversion. He never expected that the general manager would actually get it done after a trip to Singapore.

He suddenly stood up and made arrangements.

Three converted cargo ships that were resting in Yangon were immediately put on board and ready to go. Tai Shan’s military supply depot in Yangon was opened, and a large amount of military supplies were loaded onto the cargo ships.

The same telegram was sent to the aircraft carrier Taishan No. 1.5 on the island of Little Andaman, requesting it to wait there to rendezvous and head together to the Strait of Malacca.

We expect to depart in 3 days.

at the same time.

The battle report of the destruction of the Z Fleet off the coast of Kuantan was sent from the Japanese Combined Fleet to the Japanese forces in Malaya.

With no longer any major Royal Navy forces to block them at sea, the Japanese army and navy were completely freed from their constraints, and the original order to postpone their northward advance and reorganize their formations was immediately nullified.

Yamashita Tomoyuki immediately issued an order for a full-scale offensive. The Japanese Imperial Guard Division on the northern route abandoned rest and reorganization and disregarded logistical losses. They advanced south at full speed along Highway 1 on the west coast of Malaya, heading straight for Penang, the first choke point of the Strait of Malacca.

This island fortress, guarding the northern entrance to the strait, was the last line of defense for the British army in northern Malaya, both by land and sea.

It is also the core defensive barrier that Percival had previously deployed at the western exit of the Strait of Malacca.

The island is fortified with concrete coastal bunkers and six-inch heavy coastal artillery emplacements. The North Sea Air Force Base on the island also houses more than ten British fighter jets and is equipped with the most advanced radar observation station in Britain at the time.

The island was garrisoned by a combined British and Indian infantry brigade and Malay militia, totaling 4,200 troops, which was the last source of the British army's confidence in holding the northern front.

At this moment, the British troops on the island were unaware that Fleet Z had been destroyed, nor that the Japanese army was crossing northern Malaya and advancing towards them.

They received orders from the Singapore Far East Command to hold Penang Island.

However, a series of distress telegrams from the troops stationed in northern Malaya then caused panic among the Penang defenders.

The Japanese advance tank regiment led the way, with more than 30 Type 97 medium tanks and Type 95 light tanks crushing the defenses of the northern villages and towns. British field positions along the way collapsed at the first contact.

The Japanese air force dispatched 27 land-based bombers and 18 carrier-based fighters, which took off from the occupied southern Thai airport and flew in formation straight towards Penang's land and sea defenses, completely overwhelming the air superiority.

The British infantry, who were originally deployed along the roads, had no prior experience of engaging Japanese armored forces in direct combat.

Furthermore, the Malayan jungle positions lacked anti-tank ditches, anti-tank guns, and anti-tank mines; their meager field fortifications were no match for the tracks of Japanese tanks.

The British army did not deploy a single tank in the Malay Peninsula.

The war situation is extremely critical.

Singapore, Sembawang Naval Dockyard.

Fang Wen, accompanied by British military officers, visited docks No. 1 and No. 2.

He was very satisfied with the place. With the resources, equipment and professional personnel here, his Taishan fleet really had a chance to complete the transformation in a short time.

Halfway through the tour, an officer came over and gave us the latest battle report.

"Mr. Fang, I'm afraid your fleet upgrade opportunity will be canceled. The Japanese army has suddenly accelerated its offensive and is heading towards Penang Island."

Fang Wen's face darkened.

Penang Island guards the Strait of Malacca, and the island's cannons can attack ships entering and leaving the strait.

If the Japanese army were to capture this fortified island, our Taishan fleet would not be able to enter the Strait of Malacca at all.

We absolutely cannot allow the Japanese army to capture Penang Island, otherwise all our plans will be ruined.

Therefore, Fang Wen immediately requested to return to headquarters.

He got into a military vehicle and drove all the way back to the British Far East Command Headquarters at Corning Fort.

Upon entering the command post, Fang Wen met Commander Percival.

He volunteered: "Commander, I request to participate in the defense of Penang Island."

"you alone?"

"Of course not, they are my private army."

Commander Percival was aware of the victories Fang Wen had achieved with his private army.

The current situation definitely requires a decisive force to change it.

Aside from Fang Wen's troops, he couldn't think of anyone else who could provide timely support to the Penang Island fortress.

In all of Asia, only Fang Wen's private army possesses the capability for rapid response warfare.

He immediately agreed.

"I grant you special permission to join the defense of Penang Island. We must not allow the Japanese to occupy Penang Island."

"Definitely." Fang Wen gave a military salute.

Once the matter is settled, proceed immediately.

The British sent a secret telegram to the Penang garrison, demanding that they hold their ground and promising to send a force to assist in the defense in a very short time.

Fang Wen also sent a telegram to the base in northern Myanmar.

This operation was carried out suddenly, and the Japanese army had already cut off the land routes.

Therefore, it is impossible to mobilize too many troops in a short period of time.

Fang Wen's plan was to deploy 10 gunships and aircraft, along with all special forces members, to participate in this defensive battle.

To ensure combat effectiveness, he required that the deployed gunships and aircraft carry the latest weapons and equipment, and that special operations personnel carry as much high-intensity combat ammunition as possible.

Upon receiving his order, the troops at the northern Myanmar base immediately took action.

The gunboat pilots of the 1st Air Battalion, who were on leave after returning from Hanoi, were given orders.

A large amount of ammunition was loaded onto the plane, and 200 special forces soldiers also boarded the plane fully equipped.

Ten gunboats took off two hours later.

The fleet transited through Yangon's sea airport, more than 700 kilometers away.

It then took off for the next transit point, Little Andaman Island, more than 700 kilometers away.

Then it flies southeast, crossing 1000 kilometers of sea, to Penang Island.

The special operations team boarded the plane and departed.

The entire journey takes 2500 kilometers and more than 8 hours.

Fang Wen didn't have time to wait for them; he needed to go to Penang Island first to conduct military reconnaissance for the local garrison and to learn about the Japanese army's situation in advance.

However, the civilian seaplane he was piloting was of little use in the subsequent operations.

Therefore, Fang Wen requested Commander Percival: "My private troops will take at least 8 hours to reach Penang Island, but I can go to Penang Island in advance to conduct aerial reconnaissance and understand the situation of the Japanese army. Please give me a military aircraft."

“We currently have a limited number of aircraft, only a portion of carrier-based aircraft,” Percival said with difficulty.

“Carrier-based aircraft are also fine; the Fairey Fulmar I saw over at the shipyard would be good enough.”

Upon hearing Fang Wen's words, Percival agreed and wrote a special approval note, instructing his adjutant to take the note to the quartermaster department for stamping.

Then, Fang Wen took the note and set off with his guard Gong Xiuneng.

They arrived at the small runway next to the dock.

Several identical carrier-based aircraft were parked beside the runway.

Gong Xiuneng asked curiously, "Is this the plane we're going to take?"

Fang Wen explained, "Yes. In Chinese, it's called the 'Tsubo-Swallow' carrier-based aircraft. It's a two-seat aircraft with 1300 horsepower, an empty weight of 4000 kilograms, a speed of 450 kilometers per hour, eight machine guns, and two 110-kilogram aerial bombs."

"Then what am I supposed to do in the back seat?" Gong Xiuneng asked nervously.

“The rear seat is for the communications officer and navigator; they don’t need to control the weapons,” Fang Wen replied. This disappointed Gong Xiuneng somewhat; he was an excellent gunner for the gunship aircraft, but unfortunately, he couldn’t showcase his skills again this time.

At that moment, a British naval officer came over and led them toward a fighter jet.

"That's it. We've inspected it, and it's in good condition. But the problem is, you've never flown this type of aircraft before. Can you handle it?"

Fang Wen nodded: "I can."

As he spoke, he climbed onto the plane, activated his superpowers, and merged with the plane.

Instantly, he had a complete grasp of the aircraft's situation.

He skillfully operated the aircraft and started the engine.

The British naval officer below asked in surprise, "You've really never driven one before?"

Amidst the roar of the engine, Fang Wen replied, "I've driven it now."

Then, he beckoned to Gong Xiuneng to come up.

After Gong Xiuneng boarded the plane, he gestured to the ground, requesting takeoff.

The officer stepped back and waved to signal that takeoff was possible.

The gull-nose carrier-based aircraft accelerated down the runway and took off into the sky.

The plane departed from Singapore and flew northwest.

One hour and forty minutes later, the plane arrived over Penang Island.

Fang Wen picked up the microphone: "Supporters have arrived and are requesting a landing."

A joyful voice came through the onboard Taishan radio: "The runway has been cleared, and you are ready to land."

Immediately afterwards, Fang Wen piloted the plane to a lower altitude and landed on the runway of the island's airport.

The plane came to a stop, and an officer walked over, while other soldiers pushed over the boarding stairs.

Fang Wen opened the cockpit canopy and got off the plane.

He shook hands with the officer and introduced himself: "Taishan Fangwen, my troops will arrive in 6 hours."

The officer introduced himself: "Lieutenant Colonel Terry, commander of Penang Island. In six hours, the Japanese will probably have reached the coast."

Fang Wen nodded: "Please have the ground crew refuel my plane. I will conduct aerial reconnaissance of the Japanese army."

Lieutenant Colonel Terry immediately ordered the plane to be refueled.

Fang Wen did not take off immediately.

He was very familiar with the aircraft's condition and waited for half an hour for the engine to cool down naturally before boarding the plane again for takeoff.

The plane flew out of Penang Island and headed towards the airspace of the northern part of the Malay Peninsula.

Fang Wen activated his supernatural abilities to the fullest, observing the situation below.

He saw it.

The British army's destroyed and abandoned fortifications.

We also saw the movements of the Japanese army.

The Japanese army replicated the German army's Battle of the Bulge.

Thousands of lightly armed infantrymen broke away from the main road and entered the coastal rainforest, bypassing the British army's frontal bunker defenses.

Fang Wen was very clear about their purpose.

The intention was to quietly maneuver into the heart of Penang Island's inland logistics supply camps, freshwater reservoirs, and ammunition depots.

Once these areas are captured, the Penang garrison will no longer be able to land and interfere with the Japanese army's subsequent operations.

In response, Fang Wen immediately returned to his base and used a radio device to contact those below over Penang Island.

“Calling Lieutenant Colonel Terry, calling Lieutenant Colonel Terry.”

“I am Lieutenant Colonel Terry.”

"Our aerial reconnaissance just now detected significant enemy activity. The Japanese have dispatched infiltration units to bypass your main defenses and prepare to attack your camp on the coast. If they succeed, your communication with the ground forces will be completely severed."

There was silence from the radio.

After a short while, Lieutenant Colonel Terry's voice came through.

"What should I do?"

Fang Wen replied, “Send troops to the coastal camp to stop them. At their marching speed, it will take them more than two hours to arrive. If you can hold out for an hour, my troops will be able to come and support you. By then, they will definitely not be able to take the camp.”

Fang Wen's words were filled with a strong sense of confidence, which Lieutenant Colonel Terry could also sense.

Lieutenant Colonel Terry asked again to confirm, "How many enemies are there?"

“1000 light infantrymen, they are marching through the jungle, without heavy weapons or tanks,” Fang Wen replied.

Upon hearing that they were light infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Terry felt that they could indeed put up a fight.

He then agreed to Fang Wen's proposal.

With Fang Wen's aerial reconnaissance intelligence, Penang Island began to get busy.

At the eastern pier of Penang, British soldiers carrying rifles, ammunition boxes, and light mortars boarded three military landing craft.

The speedboat engine roared as it sped toward the coastal logistics camp in Malaya.

Soldiers were sent to the other side in batches.

Half an hour later, the British reinforcements joined up with the original two hundred garrison soldiers in the camp.

Temporary trenches and sandbag fortifications were immediately erected around the camp, light mortars were set up at the highest points of the position, machine gun squads guarded the main road at the jungle exit, and a crossfire network was constructed along the entire line.

All the soldiers lay prone, their guns fixed on the distant rainforest.

Time ticked by, and the soldiers remained tense and on high alert as they waited.

At the edge of the jungle 2000 meters away, the sound of withered leaves snapping could be heard.

Amidst the dappled shadows of the trees, waves of Japanese soldiers dressed in khaki uniforms appeared.

These are jungle infiltration infantry from Yamashita Tomoyuki's elite Imperial Guard Division.

They emerged from the rainforest as expected, just as Fang Wen had predicted.

These lightly armed Japanese infantrymen, carrying only Type 38 rifles, Type 92 grenades, and portable grenade launchers, did not immediately launch an attack on the distant camp after leaving the jungle.

They are gathering.

When the number of troops reached several hundred.

The operations commander raised his silver-inlaid command sword, the tip pointing directly at the British camp ahead, and issued the attack order in a stern voice in Japanese.

"Advance, eliminate the British supply camp, and cut off Penang's land and sea connections!"

Hundreds of Japanese soldiers crouched low and charged toward the camp.

After they came into the British army's line of sight.

"Fire!"

At the command of the British position commander, the silent defensive line instantly unleashed its full firepower.

Maxim machine guns spat fire, rifle platoons took turns firing bursts, and mortar shells soared into the air, crashing into the Japanese assault group.

Caught off guard, the Japanese assault team fell in droves on the spot.

The Japanese commander's expression changed drastically as he realized that his actions had been discovered by the British. He immediately ordered the assault troops to retreat and prepare to launch an assault.

And just as the land battlefield broke out.

The roar of engines could be heard approaching from afar, high in the clouds northeast of Penang.

Twenty Japanese Type 99 carrier-based bombers and Zero escort fighters were assembled and carried out low-altitude raids.

This Japanese naval air squadron took off from the airport in southern Thailand, with its target being Penang Butterworth Airport.

They thought that, as before, a single dive bombing run would completely destroy the northern airport, wipe out all of Penang's air power, and give them complete control of the airspace over the northern section of the Strait.

But that's no longer possible.

With Fang Wen's arrival, all British warplanes on Penang Island took off and charged towards the Japanese aircraft. (End of Chapter)