tc.redstormrising-第47章

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　fleet　doctrine。　So；　the　carrier　group　was　right　about　。　。　。　here。　The　Badgers　were　heading　right　for　it。　They　would　encounter　the　American　radar　coverage　in　。　。　。　two　hours。　Good；　he　said　to　himself。　Everything　is　going　according　to　plan。

USS　NIMITZ
Toland　watched　the　aircraft　plot　in　silence。　The　radar　picture　from　the　Hawkeyes　was　being　transmitted　to　the　carrier　by　digital　radio　link；　enabling　the　battle　group　mander　to　follow　everything。　The　same　data　went　to　the　group　air　defense　boss　on　Ticonderoga　and　every　other　ship　fitted　with　the　Naval　Tactical　Data　System。　That　included　the　French　ships；　which　had　long　since　been　equipped　to　operate　closely　with　the　U。S。　Navy。　So　far　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen　except　the　tracks　of　American　military　and　mercial　aircraft　ferrying　men　and　supplies　across　the　ocean；　and　dependents　back　to　the　States。　These　were　beginning　to　swing　south。　Warned　that　an　air　battle　was　possible；　the　pilots　of　DC…10s　and　C…5As　were　prudently　keeping　out　of　the　way；　even　if　it　meant　having　to　land　and　refuel　on　the　way　to　their　destinations。
The　group's　forty…eight　Tomcat　interceptors　were　now　mostly　on　station；　spread　in　a　line　three　hundred　miles　across。　Each　pair　of　Tomcats　had　a　tanker　aircraft　in　attendance。　The　attack　birds；　Corsairs　and　Intruders；　carried　oversized　fuel　tanks　with　refueling　drogues　attached；　and　one　by　one　the　Tomcats　were　already　beginning　to　top　off　their　fuel　tanks　from　them。　Soon　the　Corsairs　began　returning　to　their　carriers　for　refills。　They　could　keep　this　up　for　hours。　The　aircraft　remaining　on　the　carriers　were　spotted　on　the　decks　for　immediate　takeoff。　If　a　raid　came　in；　they　would　be　shot　off　the　catapults　at　once　to　eliminate　the　fire　hazard　inherent　in　any　type　of　aircraft。
Toland　had　seen　all　this　before；　but　could　not　fail　to　be　amazed　by　it。　Everything　was　going　as　smoothly　as　a　ballet。　The　aircraft　loitered　at　their　stations；　tracing　lazy；　fuel…efficient　circles　in　the　sky。　The　carriers　were　racing　east　now　at　thirty　knots　to　make　up　the　distance　lost　during　launch　operations。　The　Marines'　landing　ships　Saipan；　Ponce；　and　Newport　could　make　only　about　twenty　knots；　and　were　essentially　defenseless。　East　of　the　group；　carrier　S…3A　Viking　and　land…based　P…3C　Orion　antisubmarine　aircraft　were　patrolling　for　Soviet　submarines。　They　reported　to　the　group　ASW　mander　on　the　destroyer　Caron。　There　was　as　yet　nothing　for　anyone　to　direct　his　frustration　against。　The　old　story　known　to　all　fighting　men。　You　wait。

NORTH　ATLANTIC
The　raid　mander　was　rapidly　accumulating　data。　He　now　had　positions　on　four　American　Hawkeyes。　The　first　two　had　barely　been　plotted　when　the　second　pair　had　showed　up；　outside　and　south　of　the　first。　The　Americans　had　unwittingly　given　him　a　very　accurate　picture　of　where　the　battle　group　was；　and　the　steady　eastward　drift　of　the　Hawkeyes　gave　him　course　and　speed。　His　Bears　were　now　in　a　wide　semicircle　around　the　Americans；　and　the　Badgers　were　thirty　minutes　north　of　American　radar　cover；　four　hundred　miles　north　of　the　estimated　location　of　the　ships。
〃Send　to　Group　A：　'Enemy　formation　at　grid　coordinates　456/810；　speed　twenty；　course　one…zero…zero。　Execute　Attack　Plan　A　at　0615　Zulu　time。'　Send　the　same　to　Group　B。　Tactical　control　of　Group　B　switches　to　Team　East　Coordinator。〃　The　battle　had　begun。
The　Badger　crews　exchanged　looks　of　relief。　They　had　detected　the　American　radar　signals　fifteen　minutes　before；　and　knew　that　each　kilometer　south　meant　a　greater　chance　that　they　would　run　into　a　cloud　of　enemy　fighters。　Aboard　each　aircraft　the　navigator　and　bombardier　worked　quickly　to　feed　strike　information　into　the　Kelt　missiles　slung　under　each　wing。
Eight　hundred　miles　to　their　southwest；　the　Backfire　crews　advanced　their　throttles　slightly；　plotting　a　course　to　the　datum　point　supplied　by　the　raid　mander。　Having　circled　far　around　the　American　formation；　they　would　now　be　controlled　by　the　strike　officer　aboard　the　first　Bear　to　make　electronic　contact　with　the　Hawkeyes。　They　had　a　solid　fix　on　the　NATO　formation；　but　they　needed　better　if　they　were　to　locate　and　engage　the　carriers。　These　crews　were　not　relieved；　but　excited。　Now　came　the　challenging　part。　The　battle　plan　had　been　formulated　a　year　before　and　practiced…over　land　exclusively…five　times。　Four　times　it　had　worked。
Aboard　eighty　Badger　bombers；　pilots　checked　their　watches；　counting　off　the　seconds　to　0615　Zulu。
〃Launch！〃
The　lead　Badger　launched　eight　seconds　early。　First　one；　then　the　second；　aircraft…shaped　Kelt　dropped　free　of　its　pylon；　falling　several　hundred　feet　before　their　turbojet　engines　ran　up　to　full　power。　Running　on　autopilot；　the　Kelts　climbed　back　to　thirty　thousand　feet　and　cruised　on　south　at　six　hundred　knots　indicated　air　speed。　The　bomber　crews　watched　their　birds　proceed　for　a　minute　or　two；　then　each　of　the　bombers　turned　slowly　and　gracefully　for　home；　their　mission　done。　Six　Badger…J　stand…off　jamming　aircraft　continued　south。　They　would　stay　sixty　kilometers　behind　the　Kelts。　Their　crews　were　nervous　but　confident。　It　would　not　be　easy　for　American　radar　to　bum　through　their　powerful　jammers；　and　in　any　case；　the　Americans　would　soon　have　many　targets　to　concern　them。
The　Kelts　continued　on；　straight　and　level。　They　carried　their　own　electronic　equipment；　which　would　be　triggered　automatically　by　sensors　in　their　tail　fins。　When　they　entered　the　theoretical　arc　of　the　Hawkeyes'　radar　range；　transponders　in　their　noses　clicked　on。

USS　NIMITZ
〃Radar　contacts！　Designate　Raid…1；　bearing　three…four…niner；　range　four…six…zero　miles。　Numerous　contacts；　count　one…four…zero　contacts；　course　one…seven…five；　speed　six　hundred　knots。〃
The　master　tactical　scope　plotted　the　contacts　electronically；　and　a　pair　of　plexiglass　plates　showed　another　visual　display。
〃So；　here　they　e；〃　Baker　said　quietly。　〃Right　on　time。　ments？〃
〃I…〃　Toland　didn't　get　a　chance。
The　puter　display　went　white。
〃Clipper　Base；　this　is　Hawk…Three。　We're　getting　some　jamming；〃　reported　the　senior　airborne　control　officer。　〃We　plot　six；　possibly　seven　jammers；　bearing　three…four…zero　to　zero…three…zero。　Pretty　powerful　stuff。　Estimate　we　have　stand…off　jammers；　but　no　escort　jammers。　Contacts　are　lost　for　the　present。　Estimate　burn…through　in　ten　minutes。　Request　weapons　free；　and　release　to　vector　intercepts。〃
Baker　looked　over　to　his　air　operations　officer。　〃Let's　get　things　started。〃
Air/Ops　nodded　and　picked　up　a　microphone。　〃Hawk…Three；　this　is　Clipper　Base。　Weapons　free。　I　say　again；　weapons　are　free。　Release　authority　is　granted。　Splash　me　some　bombers。　Out。〃
Svenson　frowned　at　the　display。　〃Admiral；　we're　ing　about　to　clear　decks。　Remend　the　formation　stays　together　now。〃　He　got　a　nod。　〃Clipper　Fleet；　this　is　Clipper　Base；　e　left　to　two…seven…zero。　Launch　all　remaining　aircraft。　Execute。〃
On　the　single　mand；　the　formation　made　a　hundred…eighty…degree　left　turn。　Those　ships　that　did　not　as　yet　have　missiles　on　their　launchers　rectified　this。　Fire…control　radars　were　trained　north；　but　kept　in　standby　mode。　Thirty　different　captains　waited　for　the　word　to　activate。

NORTH　ATLANTIC
She　was　pissed　off。　Sure；　she　thought；　I'm　good　enough　to　fly。　I'm　good　enough　to　be　an　instructor　pilot　for　the　Eagle。　Engineering　test　pilot；　assistant　project　officer　for　the　ASAT　program…I'm　good　enough　to　get　an　invite　to　Houston；　even…but　will　they　let　me　fly　bat？　No；　there's　a　war　going　on　and　I'm　nothing　but　a　Goddamned　ferry　pilot！
〃Shit。〃　Her　name　was　Amy　Nakamura。　She　was　a　major；　United　States　Air　Force；　with　three　thousand　hours　of　jet　time；　two…thirds　of　it　in　F…15s。　Short　and　stocky　like　many　fighter　pilots；　only　her　father　had　ever　called　her　beautiful。　He　also　called　her　Bunny。　When　her　fellow　pilots　found　that　one　out；　they　shortened　it　to　Buns。　She　and　three　men　were　ferrying　four　brand…new　Eagle　fighters　to　Germany　where　others…men！…would　get　to　use　them　properly。　They　each　carried　fast…pack　conformal　fuel　tanks　to　make　the　trip　in　one　long　hop；　and　for　self…defense　a　single　Sidewinder　missile；　plus　their　usual　load　of　20mm　cannon　shells。　The　Russians　let　women　fly　bat　in　World　War　II！　she　thought。　A　couple　even　made　ace！
〃Hey；　Buns；　check　your　three　o'clock！〃　called　her　wingman。
Nakamura　had　phenomenal　eyesight；　but　she　could　scarcely　believe　it。　〃Tell　me　what　you　see；　Butch。〃
〃Badgers　。。。　？〃
〃Fuckin'　Tu…16　Badgers…tallyho！　Where's　the　Navy　supposed　to　be？〃
〃Close。　Try　and　raise　'em；　Buns！〃
〃Navy　task　force；　Navy　task　force；　this　is　Air　Force　ferry　flight　Golf…Four…Niner。　We　are　eastbound　with　four　Foxtrot…One…Fives。　We　have　a　visual　on　a　Russian　bomber　formation　position…shit；　do　you　read；　over？〃
〃Who　the　hell　is　that？〃　a　Hawkeye　crewman　asked　aloud。
The　munications　technician　answered；　〃Golf…Four…Niner；　we　need　authentication。　November　Four　Whiskey。〃　This　could　be　a　Russian　playing　radio　games
Major　Nakamura　swore　to　herself　as　she　ran　her　finger　down　the　list　of　munication　codes。　There！　〃Alpha　Six　Hotel。〃
〃Golf…Four…Niner；　this　is　Navy　Hawk…One；　say　your　position。　Warning；　we　are　calling　in　the　clans　on　those　Badgers。　You'd　better　get　clear；　acknowledge。〃
〃Like　hell；　Navy；　I　got　visual　on　three…plus　Badgers　northbound；　position　forty…nine　north；　thirty…three　east。〃

〃Northbound？〃　the　intercept　officer　said。　〃Golf；　this　is　Hawk…One。　Confirm　your　visual。　Say　again　your　visual。〃
〃Hawk…One；　this　is　Golf；　I　now　have　a　dozen　Badger；　say　again　Tango…Uniform…One…Six　bombers　visual；　south　of　my　position；　heading　towards　me　and　closing　fast。　We　are　engaging。　Out。〃
〃Nothing　on　radar；　boss；〃　the　radar　operator　said。　〃That's　way　the　hell　north　of　here。〃
〃Then　what　the　hell　is　he　talking　about？〃
Major　Amelia　〃Buns〃　Nakamura　reached　down　without　looking　to　toggle　up　her　missile　and　head…up　display　to　tactical。　Then　she　flipped　the　switch　for　her　air…intercept　radar。　Her　IFF　system　interrogated　the　target　as　a　possible　friendly　and　came　up　blank。　That　was　enough。
〃Frank；　take　your　element　east。　Butch；　follow　me。　Everybody　watch　your　fuel　states。　Charge！〃
The　Badger　pilots　were　a　little　too　relaxed；　now　that　the　most　dangerous　part　of　their　mission　was　behind　them。　They　didn't　spot　the　four　American　fighters　until　they　were　less　than　a　mile　away；　their　robin's…egg…blue　paint　blending　them　in　perfectly　with　the　clear　morning　sky。
Buns　selected　her　cannon　for　the　first　pass　and　triggered　two　hundred　rounds　into　the　cockpit　of　a　Badger。　The　twin…engine　bomber　went　instantly　out　of　control　and　rolled　over　like　a　dead　whale。　One。　The　major　howled　with　delight；　pulled　the　Eagle　up　into　a　five…g　loop；　then　over　to　dive　on　the　next　target。　The　Soviets　were　alerted　now；　and　the　second　Badger　attempted　to　dive　away。　It　had　not　the　slightest　chance。　Nakamura　fired　her　Sidewinder　from　a　range　of　less　than　a　mile　and　watched　the　missile　trace　all　the　way　into　the　Badger's　left…side　engine；　and　blast　the　wing　right　off　the　airplane。　Two。　Another　Badger　was　three　miles　ahead。　Patience；　she　told　herself。　You　have　a　big　speed　advantage。　She　nearly　forgot　that　the　Russian　bomber　had　tail　guns。　A　Soviet　sergeant　reminded　her　of　it；　missing；　but　scaring　the　hell　out　of　her。　The　Eagle　jerked　in　a　six…g　turn　to　the　left　and　closed　on　a　parallel　course　before　turning　in。　The　next　burst　from　h