Chapter 108 Mixed Feelings
"Twenty-four thousand, they have climbed to twenty-four thousand!" The radar officer in the rear cabin almost smashed his fist on the display. Damn, these hateful Soviets!
The Tomcat fighter, as the most powerful carrier-based aircraft of the US Navy, its primary mission is to build an air defense circle 500 kilometers away from the aircraft carrier. But now, it can only watch the enemy flying towards it, helpless!
If it was any other plane, they would be able to intercept it, engage in a dogfight with it, and bite each other's tail to scare the opponent. Relying on the excellent performance of the Tomcat fighter, George fully believed that he could gain the upper hand!
But what about now? We can only watch!
Soon, the radar operator behind reported that the target was lost.
This was not because the other party had flown away, but because as the two sides continued to approach, the height difference increased, causing the radar antenna to reach the highest elevation angle! Although the radar antenna was the most advanced flat slot antenna, it was still a mechanical antenna after all, and needed to be rotated to change the beam direction. Now, it had reached the highest elevation angle!
George looked up and saw three shining points of light in the sky from a distance, almost flashing by.
"Boxer, Boxer, prepare to return." The order from the aircraft carrier came through the headset.
Intercept? Facing the high-altitude and high-speed MiG-25, the Tomcat fighter was defeated. Now, even if the aircraft carrier launched more fighters, it was powerless to change the status quo, so it could only let the other side fly over!
Fortunately, although the MiG-25 has combat interceptor and reconnaissance bomber types, it does not have an anti-ship type. It is impossible to carry powerful anti-ship missiles. Moreover, due to the size of anti-ship missiles, they cannot be mounted on the MiG-25. At this time, anti-ship missiles can only be carried by bombers.
"Boxer received." George shouted on the radio. He took off his oxygen mask and pushed the control stick. The wing sweep angle was adjusted to the minimum, and he turned around in a graceful arc and a very small turning radius.
Return! Go half a circle around the aircraft carrier formation, and at the same time go around the rear of the aircraft carrier, and then land!
"Ura!" The roar of the engine continued to be heard in the sky, and the reconnaissance plane pilot's shout could still be heard in the headphones. It was great!
Although the reconnaissance MiG-25 did not carry radar, it was still able to get news from the two accompanying MiG-25PD aircraft. The radios were on the same channel. The pilots of the reconnaissance aircraft also felt the tense atmosphere when they spotted American fighter planes and were even locked by them. After all, although they knew they were safe, being locked by radar was not fun. And now, the American planes were left far behind and the enemy was disappointed!
This Soviet steel fighter is really amazing!
Andre also felt a sense of pride in his heart. It was a great feeling to be admired by all Americans!
At this time, the altitude had risen to 30,000 meters and the speed had reached Mach 2.8. The American aircraft carrier formation was already in front and below the three fighter planes!
The air radars of each warship in the aircraft carrier formation were fully turned on, and countless radar waves were scanning the sky. At this time, the Americans felt extremely complicated.
Soviet planes were conducting reconnaissance over their heads. It could be said that the enemy had already broken through their air defense circle! If it was during a war, those MiG planes would be able to swoop down from the sky at any time!
Although the MiG-25 can only drop ordinary bombs, it can still hit targets accurately when it dives down, especially at high altitudes. Even if it is a small bomb, the speed will give it a very high energy. If it is a nuclear bomb...
Right in front of the formation is the CG-11 heavy cruiser USS Chicago.
This is a heavy cruiser with a standard displacement of 14,500 tons and a full load displacement of 17,000 tons. It belongs to the Baltimore class. It was originally a heavy cruiser built by the US Navy during World War II. Unfortunately, the first Baltimore was not commissioned until April 1943. A total of 14 ships were built. Due to its large hull, sufficient firepower, and air defense capability second only to that of fast battleships, it was mainly used to escort fast aircraft carrier fleets after entering service.
The USS Chicago was the last Baltimore-class cruiser. Its keel was laid on July 28, 1943, it was launched on August 20, 1944, and it was commissioned on January 10, 1945. It barely caught up with any war as World War II ended.
The naval battles of World War II confirmed that the battleship had come to an end. The era of ship-to-ship gun bombardment was over. Future naval battles would belong to aircraft carriers. Therefore, the Chicago was converted into a missile cruiser between June 1959 and May 1964, and its hull number was changed to CG-11.
The two triple-mounted 55-caliber 203mm main guns on the front deck were all removed and replaced with the Brass Knight system, becoming the main force of long-range air defense in the aircraft carrier formation.
The appearance of this heavy cruiser still retains the characteristics of the World War II era, with the tall straight chimney and the same elliptical bridge, all of which have strong characteristics of World War II. However, the deck space in front has been occupied by the Brass Knight system.
Two huge missiles and launchers stood at the position of the front gun, and the position of the second gun was occupied by various radars, and the mast was also full of radar antennas. From the front, it also looked like a missile cruiser, especially now, the two huge 11-meter-long missiles were looking up at the sky, as if they could take off at any time.
"Damn, this kind of plane can fly to an altitude of 30,000 meters!" On the bridge, Lieutenant Commander Johnson, the captain of the cruiser Chicago, said angrily.
Thirty thousand meters! Even the latest standard missiles that the military is currently developing can only reach a height of twenty-four thousand meters, but the enemy can fly to thirty thousand meters! In the navy's arsenal, there is actually no weapon that can counter it!
Now, the Brass Knight missile system on our warships has become the main force of the US Navy's regional air defense. Facing the Soviet aircraft flying at three times the speed of sound, it is helpless.
The Americans were in a very unhappy mood, but at this moment, the three pilots flying high in the sky were in a happy mood.
MiG-25, the most advanced aircraft of the Soviet Union, the Americans simply have no means to shoot it down! Altitude and speed are the magic weapons!
At this time, it had already flown above the American aircraft carrier formation. The camera of the MiG-25R reconnaissance aircraft in front had been turned on, and it was continuously and automatically taking picture after picture. After returning, through study and analysis, we could understand the status of the American aircraft carrier formation!
"027, I have an idea." High in the sky, breathing the oxygen delivered by his helmet, Andre suddenly broke the radio silence.