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Chapter 1284 [Bionic Manta Ray Achieves Miraculous Success in its First Mission]

On the day when the first 055 million-ton destroyer was launched, when countless Chinese people were rejoicing and excited, America could not help but make trouble.

Otherwise, why do they say that the person who knows you best is actually your opponent?

The launching of a warship does not mean that it will be combat-ready immediately. After launching, there are still many links such as sea trials and commissioning. It usually takes 20 months for it to be put into service and become combat-ready. The time required for the first 055 destroyer will not be less than two years, and it may even be three years.

America, who wanted to make trouble again this time, had the main purpose of coming for 055. She intended to enter the ship during the sea trial of 055 and obtain some important military secrets of the ship. For this purpose, America sent an oceanographic survey ship "Bowditch" to carry out the mission. This ship was similar to the electronic reconnaissance ships of the big Eastern countries.

However, the main function of the USS Bowditch is not electronic reconnaissance, nor does it have that capability. Its main capabilities are to conduct reconnaissance of the seabed and ocean hydrological conditions.

……

Ten days later, a military exercise area was designated somewhere in the country's eastern waters.

On Tuesday, July 7, the "Bowditch" had already set off and was about to enter the territorial waters of the Eastern power. At this moment, the captain of the ship was communicating with his superiors. When he received the latest action requirements, his face was full of astonishment: "What did you say? Turn off the transponder? Sir, this..."

Such an action order made the captain of the "Bowditch" curse in his heart, how could anyone come up with such a bad idea.

He immediately recalled some very bad memories. It was not the first time that the "Bowditch" had visited the Rabbit's house with the transponder turned off, but the result was terrible.

Just sixteen years ago, the "Bowditch" went to the Yellow Sea. Thinking it was safe, it did not turn on the transponder. As a result, it was surrounded by a group of fishing boats in that sea area. Those fishing boats were even more ferocious than pirates. They drove their boats straight towards it. Some fishing boats even almost climbed onto the ship with flying hooks and pulled the anchor to prevent it from leaving.

From then on, the Bowditch learned that it was necessary to turn on the transponder, otherwise it would be very dangerous.

The so-called transponder is equivalent to an automatic messaging system. Generally speaking, whether it is an airplane, a ship or a warship, it is equipped with a transponder. In non-war situations, the transponder is usually turned on. Normally, as long as the transponder receives a signal, it will automatically answer without any operation.

When a ship, especially a warship, sails into the territorial waters of another country, as long as it turns on the transponder, it means that the identity of the warship is transparent. It is equivalent to greeting the country to indicate that it wants to pass through your house, and that it is coming in a normal way, not secretly.

Turning on the transponder is an act of harmless passage and an active identification, similar to a security statement.

In this situation, the territorial country generally will not make things difficult. Even if it is an aircraft carrier, as long as the transponder is on, there will be no big problem. The territorial country will at most send a warship to follow.

Because turning on the transponder is equivalent to actively reporting your coordinates to the territorial country, and reporting your position at any time, which means that the territorial country can launch missiles to sink the ship at any time.

To put it bluntly, turning on the transponder is equivalent to raising your hands high, indicating that you will not pose any threat to you, but you can sink the ship at any time if it has any ill intentions.

In fact, domestic news reports often show that American aircraft carriers and British warships are lining up to visit, which makes many domestic netizens very angry. Some even think that their own people are too weak. They have no reaction and just watch helplessly when others are bullied at their doorstep.

The news media did not report the details, and the vast majority of netizens were also confused. Many netizens who did not know the truth were so angry after reading the news.

The truth is, they all turned on their transponders when they came here, but what would be the consequences of not turning on the transponder? What happened to the Bowditch 16 years ago was the consequence of not turning on the transponder.

In fact, America and her little brothers only learned to turn on the transponder in this century. In the last century, they never said hello. It was only after their own active phased array radar was installed on the ship that they learned to turn on the transponder.

It can be seen that strength is always the most fundamental thing in this world.

But at this moment, the captain of the "Bowditch" received such an order. He didn't want to do it from the bottom of his heart, but there was no other way. This was an order, so he could only bite the bullet and give it another try with a fluke mentality.

"Sir, we are about to reach the exercise area."

At this moment, the Bowditch was already in the territorial waters of the Eastern power, and not far from the designated performance area. After hearing the crew's report, the captain immediately said, "Turn off the transponder, and take it easy!"

He didn't want the Bowditch to repeat the same mistake it made sixteen years ago. That was not a pleasant experience.

No ships, including aircraft, were allowed to enter the designated performance area, so the Bowditch did not dare to force its way in. The transponder was turned off, so there would be no reason to blame if it was sunk.

So the captain of the ship ordered to stop in the outer area, and then ordered the release of an underwater submersible, which slowly approached from underwater and released towed sonar and other equipment.

He was on this mission just to get by with the assignment from his superiors and just try his best. After all, there was a line in a TV show that goes, "Why risk your life for a few hundred dollars a month?" Besides, the ocean is so vast that it's not necessary to complete the mission successfully, so it's fine as long as he can get the job done.

"Sir, there's something going on underwater!"

At this moment, the captain of the ship was startled when he heard his men say this, but then the crew immediately added: "It's a school of fish!"

The captain breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, but then he scolded his subordinates for stopping speaking halfway during their reports. After this little episode, he began to direct the deployment of the mission.

The people on the ship have not yet realized that there is a bionic manta ray swimming among the fish school, and its current location is only an incredible 1 nautical mile away from the "Bowditch".

It is no exaggeration to say that such a distance is right under the nose of the "Bowditch", but the towed sonar they threw into the sea did not detect it. They were completely unaware that their every move at this moment was exposed under the nose of the bionic manta ray.

Not only was the "Bowditch" completely unaware, even the fish in the sea didn't think there was anything wrong with the manta ray swimming with them. The bionic manta ray just quietly monitored the movements of the "Bowditch" in the sea.

All this information was transmitted to a 052D missile destroyer in the distance. At this moment, the commander of the ship was full of praise for the bionic manta ray. It was almost under the enemy's nose, but the enemy seemed to be in the dark and did not notice it at all.

This bionic manta ray has the capability of "reconnaissance and attack at the same time", but it does not currently have a firepower system. If it is a state of war at this moment, this bionic manta ray is also equipped with torpedoes and launches an ambush on the "Bowditch", and even if the gods come, it will be in vain.

While the commanders were bragging about the bionic manta rays, they had also given the order to take action. Two 052D missile destroyers were heading straight for the location of the USS Bowditch, while the bionic manta rays underwater were still lurking and tracking it the entire time.

As time went by, the USS Bowditch soon discovered that two warships were coming directly towards them. The captain of the ship looked closely and was suddenly shocked: "What the f***? Why are there two Luhu-class (052) guided missile destroyers?"

The 052D destroyer was code-named "Luhu-class" by China. In fact, these codes are all selfish or deliberately planned, and there has never been such a name in China.

When the captain of the USS Bowditch saw the two 052Ds approaching with great momentum, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

It was discovered already? When was it discovered? Why was there no warning?

Looking at the two approaching warships, he thought to himself that he was doomed. Facing the 052D missile destroyer "Bowditch", he had no way of escaping.

At this moment, the captain of the ship was so scared that his legs went weak, because he knew very well that his ship did not turn on the transponder. This state could be regarded as a hostile act, and even if the ship was sunk, it would be unreasonable. He immediately shouted: "Turn on the transponder quickly, quickly! Quick--!"

The crew also hurriedly turned on the transponder.

……

(End of this chapter)