Chapter 189: We Have Radar

"Submarines." Chen Feng walked back to the control console and pulled up the submarine deployment map around the Japanese archipelago. "There are twelve submarines on standby outside Japanese ports now. I'll dispatch six more, positioning them around the ambush zone in the East Sea."

He marked six points on the chart, distributed in the east, south, and west directions of the anticipated combat zone.

"These submarines are not to join the main battle; they will monitor and intercept on the periphery. If the Japanese fleet defeats the Revival, or heavily damages it and it retreats, the submarines will sink the wounded Japanese ships. If the Japanese fleet is beaten by the Bismarck fleet and tries to flee, these submarines will block their retreat."

Li Te calculated quickly: "That makes eighteen submarines… almost two‑thirds of our submarine force. Such a large redeployment—will it affect the defense of other sea areas?"

"We can temporarily reduce submarine patrols around Borneo and make up for it with surface ships and aircraft," Chen Feng declared resolutely. "In this battle we must be flawless. Not only must we win, we must win decisively, shatter the backbone of the Japanese navy, and keep them from daring to threaten us for ten years."

Zhou Tieshan recorded all the orders but still voiced some worry: "President, what if… what if we lose this battle? What if the Revival is sunk and the Bismarck fleet fails to turn the tide…?"

"Then we'll activate the contingency plan," Chen Feng replied unexpectedly calmly. "All remaining vessels will fall back to Borneo, relying on shore‑based aviation and coastal defense artillery for protection. At the same time we will present evidence of Japan's unprovoked attack on our friendly visiting warship to the international community and seek diplomatic support."

He looked at Li Te and Zhou Tieshan: "But that is the last resort. I trust our navy, I trust Lin Hai, I trust the commanders of the Bismarck fleet. In this battle we will not lose."

The orders were relayed. Soon, six U-IX class submarines slipped out of the Borneo base, heading toward the East Sea. They will reach their assigned positions within forty‑eight hours, lurking like ghosts in the deep sea, awaiting the appearance of prey.

South Sea, Revival battleship‑cruiser, 10 a. m.

Lin Hai stood on the bridge, holding the freshly received Encrypted Telegram. The telegram was lengthy, detailing the Japanese Combined Fleet's deployment, the anticipated ambush site, and the latest operational orders.

After reading it, he handed the telegram to Political Commissar Zhao Wenyuan and then walked to the chart table.

Navigation Officer Zhou Zhiwei had already marked all the information on the chart: the Revival's current position, its projected course, the possible location of the Japanese fleet, and the sea area that will be shrouded in dense fog three days later.

"Captain," Zhou Zhiwei's voice was a bit tense, "if the intelligence is accurate, four Kongō‑class… can we really handle them?"

Lin Hai did not answer immediately. He picked up a compass, measuring Distance on the chart and calculating the time.

"Navigation Officer Zhou, from our current position to the designated sea area, how much Distance remains?"

"About twelve hundred nautical miles, Captain. At fifteen knots, it will take three days and four hours."

"What if we increase speed to twenty knots?"

"Fuel consumption would rise by forty percent, and mechanical wear would increase, but we could arrive within two and a half days."

Lin Hai thought for a few seconds: "Then we'll raise speed to eighteen knots. Faster than the original plan but not too fuel‑hungry. Tell the Chief Engineer to begin a gradual acceleration from noon."

"Yes!"

Zhao Wenyuan, after reading the telegram, walked to Lin Hai's side, his expression grim: "Captain, Headquarters is treating us as bait. And a bait that is very likely to be eaten."

"I understand," Lin Hai said calmly, "but bait can also be barbed."

He pointed to the dense‑fog region on the chart: "See, Headquarters judges that the Japanese will choose to attack in the fog. Why? Because fog conceals their approach but also limits their observation and aiming. In thick fog, the firepower advantage of four ships may not be fully realized, as coordinated salvos become difficult."

"But our situation is the same," Zhao Wenyuan noted, "we can't see clearly either."

"That's why we must prepare in advance," Lin Hai turned to Communications Officer Li Jing and said, "Notify the entire ship: today at two p. m., hold a pre‑battle preparation meeting. All department heads must attend. We need a detailed operation plan covering every scenario from worst to best."

"Yes, Captain."

At two p. m., the officer's conference room aboard the Revival was packed. The atmosphere was heavier than when we set sail three days earlier, because everyone already knew what we were about to face.

Lin Hai stood at the head of the table, cut the small talk, and went straight to the point.

"Everyone, according to the latest intelligence from Headquarters, the Japanese Combined Fleet has already deployed: four Kongō‑class battleships, six cruisers, and eight destroyers. Their objective is clear—sink the Revival in the East Sea before we reach Qingdao."

A collective gasp of cold air rose in the conference room.

Gunnery Officer Wang Zhen guo was the first to stand: "Four Kongō‑class… Captain, we…"

"We have the Revival," Lin Hai interrupted, his voice firm, "45,000 tons, eight 381 mm main guns, armor up to twelve inches thick. The Kongō‑class is 32,000 tons, eight 356 mm main guns, armor thickest at only eight inches. Ship‑for‑ship, we have the advantage."

"But they have four!" Chief Engineer Liu Ming de couldn't help but say.

"So we need tactics," Lin Hai said, moving to the chart on the wall, "Headquarters predicts the Japanese fleet will launch an attack in thick fog. For us, that is both a challenge and an opportunity."

He lifted the pointer and indicated the chart: "In dense fog, long‑range gunfire is pointless. For the Japanese to ensure Hit Rate, they must close to within ten thousand meters. That distance falls right within the optimal range of our Main Gun."

"But Captain," Navigation Officer Zhou Zhiwei asked, "in the fog, how will we detect them? By the time we see them, we may already be too close."

"Use radar," Lin Hai replied. "Our fire‑control radar is still immature, but in fog it can detect up to fifteen nautical miles, far beyond optical observation. The Japanese have no radar, or even if they do, its performance is far inferior. That's our technological edge."

He looked at Radar Officer Zhang Hao: "Radar Officer Zhang, is your equipment ready?"

"Ready, Captain," Zhang Hao stood, "we have completed a full inspection and calibration of the radar. In simulated tests, detection range for large surface targets reached eighteen nautical miles, ranging accuracy ±200 m. In dense fog the performance drops, but we still expect an effective detection distance of twelve nautical miles."

"Very good," Lin Hai nodded, then turned to Gunnery Officer Wang Zhen guo, "Chief Gunnery Officer Wang, if the radar supplies target data, how quickly can you complete aiming and firing?"