Sparsely populated, Socotra had a single airstrip on the northern coast that had been kept deliberately empty of military assets. That night, however, two ships had hovered off shore near the northern tip of Ras Karma Airfield, which was just two miles over flat open terrain to the sea. The vessels had slipped out of the port of Aden the previous day, moving all night and through the dark early morning to reach the coast of Socotra well before sunrise. Running dark and in EMCON mode, they had arrived undetected, a pair of Type 079 amphibious ships, carrying a company of Chinese Marines, six Army HQ-9A batteries, with mobile radar sets.
That same morning, the Chinese had been patrolling with their AEW assets, and instead of sending them home to bases in Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, they landed at Socotra. Those amphibious ships were also disgorging equipment to create a military FOB, or Forward Operating Base. The munitions delivered were exclusively the PL-10, 12 and 15 air to air missiles, and reserve HQ-9A’s for the SAM batteries.
The base had appeared deserted on US satellite imagery, but all the airborne assets from Yemen were now landing there instead of flying home. Four J-20’s had already landed to refuel, and six more were able to take off from the repaired field at Riyan on the Yemeni coast. Another half dozen had flown through the early morning darkness, all the way from Gwadar in Pakistan. They would all be reassigned to Ras Karma, which had tarmac space for about 16 fighters and medium sized planes like the KJ-200 AEW assets. So like a magician pulling a rabbit out of his hat, Admiral Sun Wei had produced an operational airfield within 250 miles of his mustering fleet, while the fields in Yemen were between 450 to 800 miles away. Though the base had limited capacity, the Admiral would hot rack planes there while others were airborne, and when they had to land, the sleepers would awaken and take off to make room.
Now six Mighty Dragons rigged for long range operations were heading southeast toward the Allied Fleet, fanning out as they went, their radars dark. Four were forward, with two farther back in reserve. At the assigned time, they would switch on radars and attempt to fix the position of the enemy ships for targeting data.
Before they could reach the desired point, they were going to have to pay the road toll. The US had a patrol of three F-35’s up, being joined by six more from Prince of Wales. US Ranger Flight spotted the incoming J-20’s and put their AMRAAM’s in the sky to stop them.
All the J-20’s switched on radars when that attack alarm sounded, but they saw no enemy planes—only those missiles, which danced out and quickly killed two of the four fighters. The remaining two forward J-20’s went to military speed, and darted forward at 1000 knots. Ranger Flight saw them, and already had two missiles out after the nearest. As it was caught and died, the two reserve J-20’s also charged forward at 1000 knots—but they could see nothing on their radar screens now, and just empty sky ahead.
Dragon six was the southernmost plane in the recon fan, and it was just seconds from being able to paint the Roosevelt group with its long range AESA radars when it ran into the six British F-35’s in Toba Flight. The Mighty Dragon never saw them, but it had fired a PL-15 at the US Hawkeye, which failed to get a kill, even as Toba Flight engaged it with Meteors. The J-20 died, but just after its radars sent home a position reading on the US carrier group.
Those last two reserve J-20s finally saw the British fighters when they fired their Meteors, about 140 miles to the south. What they did not see was Ranger Flight, just 60 miles away, and putting AMRAAM’s in the air. As the J-20’s closed to engage the British, they were suddenly under missile attack, and they would not live another five seconds….
Chapter 29
All six of Admiral Wei’s Mighty Dragons had died in that hot engagement, but one, Dragon #6, had managed to paint the Roosevelt carrier group. He knew he had to act at once, and put some pressure on that carrier, possibly preventing it from launching. Yet the Americans were 385 miles away, and only the YJ-100 had the range to attack them. The Gwadar group had 16 of those missiles, Colombo Group had 32, and his own Flag Group had 60, so he had over 100 javelins to throw, but he had to act immediately.
“General fleet order!” he shouted. “All Type 055 ships carrying YJ-100 will immediately fire half their inventory at the newly discovered targets.”
It was a long shot, he knew, and more to disrupt the enemy than to hurt him. For the US Captain had plenty of ways he could defend his carrier. As soon as the Vampires were spotted, Ranger Flight was already turning to engage with their remaining AIM-120’s. A scramble order to send up six more F-35’s was immediately sent to the Air Boss, and Archer Flight would soon be up to provide yet another layer of defense. Behind them, Captain Simpson had six more Super Tomcats loaded for heavy BARCAP, and they would be the inner defensive line.
That wasn’t all. His screening escorts were always there if any Vampires eluded the fighters, but he could make their job a little easier by simply maneuvering. A carrier could be anywhere in a 900 square mile circle in 30 minutes when it cranked those screws. Roosevelt was already pointed southeast, and the Captain just poured on the power and moved. So as the Chinese Admiral threw his punch, Captain Simpson would either block it, or just lean back like Ali and evade it.
“Archer, Bertha. Cleared Hot. Mad Dog, you’re off the leash.”
“Roger, Bertha. Mad Dog barking.”
The Tomcats were ready to cut those missile streams to pieces. Archer flight had split its fire between two groups, and ran dry, going Winchester at 08:05 that morning, and turning for Roosevelt. The Mad Dog took over, F-14’s carrying many more AIM-152’s. Only one Vampire of more than 50 escaped harm, and for that, there was SM-6. At 08:20 the all clear sounded, and Captain Simpson sent the Air Boss his orders—go get them.
Roosevelt would slow to 15 knots as the flights started catapulting off the deck. It would be a repeat performance of yesterday’s strike, aiming to neuter one more chosen TF of the Chinese fleet. There were two flights of six F-35’s carrying the GBU-53, for a total of 96 bombs. Then there were two more flights of Super Toms, one with Slammers, the other with the LRASM. Looking at the enemy dispositions, the Colombo group was 100 miles east of the remaining enemy TFs’ and so it was chosen for that day’s mission, being more isolated. Admiral Wells then ordered HMS Victorious to put up two flights of six F-35’s each for escort duties. Toba flight was still up there with Meteors off Prince of Wales, and it would be relieved.
With a 430 mile range, the LRASM’s were released almost immediately, the Toms turning for home. The Slammers would close to 160 miles and make the second release. As they approached, the F-35’s climbed to 50,000 feet and accelerated to 740 knots.
“Bertha, Mainswing. Call the pitch.”
“Roger Mainswing. Hot stuff, right down the middle. Swing away. Over.”
From the Chinese perspective, the only thing they saw on their radars were the Tomcats carrying Slammers, which had now turned for home. None of the F-35’s were detected, and then their alarms went off warning of a low sea skimmer, 20 miles out. It was the first of the LRASM’s.
The F-35’s now opened their weapons bays and started letting the GBU-53’s fly. Seconds later they turned for home, and the Chinese saw those two bright red fists on their radar screens. There were two Type 055’s in the group, Heshen, the River God as a forward picket, and Tianlong, the Heavenly Dragon guarding the three ASW frigates in the center with two other destroyers. Three more destroyers were fanned out to the rear. That formation now let go a torrent of missile fire, all HQ-9’s with an 80 mile range, and as before, they hunted down those GBU-53’s with merciless vigor.