SFS Chapter 160: The Concept of Building an Ocean-Going Navy and the CL-50 Helena (Seeking 5-star praise
Chapter 160: The Concept of Building an Ocean-Going Navy and the CL-50 Helena (Seeking 5-star praise
After developing the level III [F6F-5N fighter] and [P-61C heavy fighter], two fighters equipped with the first generation of air-to-air radar, and pairing them with the level IV [B-29A-BN 'Super Fortress' bomber], Zhang Chi can even launch a bombing raid on the Japanese in the entire Southeast Asia.
At the same time, the unlocking of the V-level technology tree also gave Zhang Chi an entry ticket to the Jet Club. Although there are still nearly 60 experience points on the road to developing the V-level [F-80A-5 Fighter] (nicknamed "Oil Picket" by the Volunteer Army, as the first generation of actual combat models, its actual performance is average), at least there is hope.
金币载具方面，白鹰科技树V级只有【F-89B截击机】这款装备了6门20mm机炮，专门针对毛熊带核弹图-4的全天候截击机（初代喷气机的全天候得打个折扣。）和装备了涡桨发动机（用螺旋桨的燃气涡轮发动机）的【A2D-1‘天鲨’攻击机】。
Both aircraft require 200 kilograms of gold to purchase.
Since Zhang Chi has unlocked the P-51 and F6F and is no longer at a disadvantage compared to the Japanese Zero, he is no longer prepared to spend precious gold to buy gold coin machines. After all, buying gold coins from the system to build a navy and buy "Little Boys" will require a lot of gold.
Therefore, Zhang Chi plans to use mainly Silver Lion Coin vehicles on the technology tree as vehicles for his army and air force.
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Rubbing his hands in anticipation, Zhang Chi opened the blue water navy technology tree.
As the largest river in Bago, the main channel of the Irrawaddy River is 9 meters deep during the flood season, and destroyers with an average draft of 3 meters and light cruisers with a draft of 7 meters can easily pass through.
After taking Myitkyina, Zhang Chi's current boat forces, as well as the anti-submarine boats, destroyers and light cruisers he planned to purchase, could go directly south along the river and attack Rangoon by both land and sea.
Then you can just sail south along the Irrawaddy River to its estuary and into the Andaman Sea.
Once you enter the sea, you can go west to the Sindhu Ocean and east to the Pacific Ocean.
Of course, if Zhang Chi really wanted to send a fleet into the sea, he would have to destroy the Japanese artillery at the estuary and the Japanese navy on the sea.
It is said that the vast ocean is a gambling place. Now Zhang Chi is preparing to form his own ocean-going navy to join this game of "human admiral".
白鹰蓝水线的初级舰船是“克莱门森”级的【DD-336“里奇菲尔德”号驱逐舰】（图），其装备了4门102毫米MK9型舰炮与4组三联装（12具）533毫米鱼雷发射管，单条价格只需要7000银狮币。
You should know that even though DD-336 is an old ship that was launched 19 years after the war, its actual value in 1943 was no less than 50,000 US dollars. After all, it is also a large ship with a standard displacement of 1138 tons, four 76 anti-aircraft guns, two depth charge throwers, and can run at 35 knots.
Now, with the help of the system, Zhang Chi can spend 7000 oceans to get a utility ship that can perform torpedo strikes, air defense, and anti-submarine functions. I'm afraid that the fat guy at 10 Downing Street will be envious to death.
Zhang Chi looked at the DD-336 in the system, and wanted to laugh when he thought about how the John people had signed the "Destroyer-for-Bases Agreement" in exchange for 50 of the same "Clemson" class destroyers with White Eagle in exchange for small islands in the South Pacific and the Caribbean in order to counter Hans' Sea Wolf.
However, Zhang Chi also knew that although he could buy 50 destroyers with a wave of his hand, he would definitely not be able to find enough manpower to operate 50 destroyers.
After all, as a proper destroyer, the DD-336 uses a large steam engine, which is not as simple as the small diesel engine used in torpedo boats. It requires at least dozens of enginemen to keep it running normally. In fact, a DD-336 requires more than 140 sailors to start and operate all weapons normally.
Zhang Guangjun's navy is nominally a navy, but in reality it is a speedboat unit, and there are very few sailors with real ocean-going experience.
Even after unlocking level V, Zhang Chi could directly spend gold to buy gold-coin ships, the Brooklyn-class [CL-50 "Helena" light cruiser]. However, none of his subordinates could operate this new and good ship with air-to-surface radar.
"Helena, you're a super meritorious ship with seven battle stars. Even though you just sank in battle last month, I'll definitely prioritize purchasing you once I have qualified sailors."
Zhang Chi is still very optimistic about the Helena light cruiser.
Historically, many of its ships of the same class were bought by the three South American powers ABC to serve as battleships after the war. Because they have a full load displacement of nearly 14,000 tons and excellent power supply capacity, they have sufficient redundancy for modification of various post-war radars and first-generation anti-ship missiles.
Zhang Chi even planned to use it as the navy's main battleship in the early Cold War.
After all, compared to battleships, aircraft carriers and other large ships with high maintenance costs, cruisers are more economical and affordable.
If battleships and aircraft carriers are the country's heavy weapons to deter others, then cruisers and destroyers are the "Sha Monk" who work hard, patrol the sea every day, and maintain the maritime borders on a daily basis.
In the end, Zhang Chi decided to buy three DD-336s as teaching aids and have them delivered to the river by the system. He then used gold to exchange for sailors and officers in some key positions, so that Zhang Guangjun's sailors could first become familiar with the operation and division of labor of modern large ships, and quickly build up combat effectiveness.
"If I only buy three, the Japanese shouldn't target my fleet for Kamikaze attack, right?" Zhang Chi rubbed his chin and muttered to himself.
If more than a dozen were purchased at once, it would indeed be a big deal, but Zhang Chi was afraid that if too many destroyers were purchased, there would not be enough sailors to operate them. What if the Japanese navy set their sights on their fleet and launched an air attack at all costs? Wouldn't all these ships stuck on the river and unable to move be sunk by the Japanese planes using "kamikaze" attacks?
As for spending gold to buy a synth navy?
If Zhang Chi of the Air Force could still use hundreds or thousands of kilograms of gold to buy dozens of synthetic pilots who could fly any aircraft to form an elite fleet, and then pair them with a group of trainees who could quickly get on the plane after only 100 hours of flying, he could quickly build a usable aviation force.
That means each warship requires at least a hundred sailors. If key positions rely entirely on buying synthetic humans with gold, Zhang Chi estimates that he would need dozens of tons of gold to put together a usable fleet.
Therefore, Zhang Chi decided that it was not urgent to expand the navy rapidly, but to develop it slowly.
"We still have to send someone to study abroad in White Eagle. Since we have a lot of knife music in our account, we might as well spend some money and let Uncle Sam train the sailors."
Zhang Chi called his secretary Zhang Guangsong and was about to speak when he suddenly thought of a good idea to get White Eagle for free and immediately changed his words:
"Send a telegram to Stevenson and ask if the White Eagle's escort fleet, which travels all over the world, needs fleet trainees. I have quite a few sailors ready to go on board for two and a half years of internship. Their salary and other things can be lower than that of normal White Eagle sailors. Ask him to help ask if the White Eagle Navy is interested."