Rockets are definitely a good thing.

Before using rockets, whether it is "Xiaotian", "Suhu Bi" or "Pili", there are always a little regrets when performing ground strike missions.

In the words of the pilot, there are not enough bombs!

Often when encountering important targets, you find that the bomb is gone.

In addition, large-caliber machine guns can deal with relatively limited targets and cannot completely replace bombs.

Before equipping rockets, a pilot suggested that the aviation machine gun on the inside of the "Xiaotian" wing be replaced with a 20mm machine gun to enhance ground strike firepower.

Although it is not technically difficult, it has not been done for logistical support.

In addition, 20mm machine guns are basically of no value in air combat.

As early as last year, the Imperial Navy tested the seized Zero War and found that the two 20mm machine guns on this fighter were purely decorations. Not only did they have a slow fire rate, but they also had a low initial speed due to the short gun barrel used, which made them almost impossible to use in air combat.

Interestingly, because the 20mm machine gun was too heavy, the Navy did not equip the Zero War with a large caliber machine gun, and used a medium caliber aircraft machine gun.

In addition, the amount of ammunition reserved by the machine gun is pitifully small, and it can fire at most a few short shots.

This is the root cause of the serious lack of firepower in Zero War.

Although "Xiaotian" is much heavier and stronger than Zero Warfare. It can use long gun barrels to increase the initial speed and increase the amount of ammunition reserves of the machine gun, it will inevitably lead to the weight gain of the fighter and will also have an impact on the supporting weapons. The overall value will not be obvious, or it will be less worth the cost.

In fact, it is just adding an airborne weapon of different calibers, which will cause big trouble when aiming.

The reason is also very simple. The ballistics of the 20mm machine gun and the 13mm aviation machine gun are completely different and cannot be used at the same time.

This means that in combat, you must select weapons according to actual conditions and switch to switch.

For experienced old birds, there is not a big problem. But in the hands of rookies, this is a huge problem.

If you cannot aim or fail to hit, no matter how powerful the weapon is, it will be a decoration.

In order to enhance the land strike capabilities of carrier-based aircraft, especially the continuous combat capabilities, the Navy Aviation Service staff have thought of many solutions.

The easiest way is to set up some hanging points under the wings that are specially used to mount small bombs.

As for small bombs, there are too many, from 15 kg to 150 kg, it can also be said to be of good quality and low price.

The most used ones are only 50 kg and 100 kg.

All "Xiaotian" fighters have 6 external plug-ins under the wings on both sides, and theoretically they can hang up to 12 small bombs with 150 kilograms. If a series hanger is used, up to 24 small bombs with 50 kilograms can be hung. However, under normal circumstances, in order to reduce the take-off weight and improve the manipulation, especially when using the belly hanging point to mount the secondary fuel tank or large bomb, the weight loading under the wings must be controlled within 500 kilograms.

In addition, the number of wing lower hanging points of the new batch of "Xiaotian" has increased to 16, but the total number of plug-ins has not changed.

It was at this time that the Imperial Navy obtained a batch of rockets from the Army and found that the effect was very ideal on tactical aircraft.

In the final stage of attacking Serbia, the Navy Air Force conducted actual combat tests on the rockets, both of which were ideal for actual test results and pilot feedback.

Before the Battle of Serbia was over, the Navy placed an order for the arms factory and then purchased a production line.

As for the purpose of rockets, they are not only used for ground strikes.

In the late stage of the war, large-caliber rockets were also a powerful tool for dealing with small warships, and they also had good results when dealing with large warships.

To be said, the most prominent advantage of rockets is actually that it greatly reduces the difficulty of hitting the ground and the sea.

Simply put, pilots do not need to undergo strict dive drop training, and they can use rocket attack tactics to use rockets!

Because the difficulty of operation and use is greatly reduced, the application scope is very wide.

Now, rockets are still mainly used on fighter jets, allowing fighters to obtain more sharp ground strike methods in addition to aviation machine guns.

At least when encountering solid targets such as bunkers, the fighter pilots will not be helpless.

In addition, compared with the use of aviation bombs, the hit rate of rockets is significantly higher.

The key is that rockets can also be used in air combat and are particularly suitable for dealing with large targets such as bombers. Therefore, they can still perform air-to-air missions after being hung after the rocket.

Good multi-purpose performance is the key to the popularity of rockets.

The second wave of attacks was still very smooth.

At around 9:30, after receiving the report from the commander of the second wave of aircraft group, Zhou Yongtao asked again whether to prepare for the third wave of attack.

At this time, the first wave of aircraft had returned to the fleet, and dozens of carrier-based aircraft were landing one after another.

According to the report, only 7 carrier-based aircraft were lost, three of which crashed during their return journey, and several were injured, which are likely to be scrapped.

Including those who stayed and did not dispatch, they could organize about 80 carrier-based aircraft to launch a third wave of attacks at around 11 o'clock.

Of course, you must start preparing immediately.

The reason is also very simple. The second wave of aircraft will definitely return before 11:30, so the third wave of aircraft must set off before this, otherwise the dispatch time will be postponed to 12:30, which is equivalent to delaying by one hour, which gives the enemy more preparation time.

Bai Zhizhan did not object to Zhou Yongtao's proposal.

Although he was worried about being attacked, especially a sneak attack, no abnormality has been found so far. Bai Zhizhan can only believe that the Newland fleet did not come.

Is the deception effective?

Or is it because there are only two small aircraft carriers, so I dare not come to the decisive battle?

Perhaps, deception really played a role.

According to the reconnaissance plane report, the Newland troops on the transit island were not prepared before the attack was launched, and even did not arrange for fighter jets to take off before dawn.

The key is that the heavy bombers deployed on the transit island are all neatly placed on the airport!

Even if you just raise your vigilance, these bombers should be ready to take off before dawn to search for the Liang Xia fleet that may appear.

All signs indicate that the Newland Navy did not expect to be attacked today.

Of course, this doesn't really need to be surprising.

The reason is that the two special mixed fleets sailed at an average speed of more than 24 knots for 6 days, which is one-third higher than the normal cruise speed.

If you are sailing at a normal cruising speed of 18 knots, you will not reach the northwest of the transit island after 2 days, that is, June 30.

Of course, there is no accident in the middle.

If something goes wrong in the middle, the arrival time will be delayed.

Usually, there are three fleets of hundreds of ships, and they are rushing thousands of kilometers, and the probability of accidents occur during the voyage is very high.

In other words, the Newland Navy may think it will not be attacked until the 30th.

According to this, today, early morning on the 28th, Liang Xia's fleet was still 2,500 kilometers away and did not enter the reconnaissance and search range.
Chapter completed!