Chapter 1345 Cutting off the retreat, Ilxia defensive operation (3)

"The enemy fleet has entered the range of the bombardment."

"The railgun is firing, interfering with the shooting."

"Understood, the electromagnetic weapon is fully charged."

One of the two secondary guns of the Swan was originally a 210mm gunpowder cannon, but the Swirlwater Federation has modified it, dismantled the gunpowder secondary gun, and replaced it with the triple railgun they have been promoting recently.

The advantages are long range, sufficient kinetic energy, and strong armor-piercing ability. The disadvantage is that the damage ability is not good. It can make a hole when hitting the ship, but it will not explode.

Shoot a few solid iron lumps first. Anyway, the cruiser can't help much in the main fleet's artillery battle, so just treat it as a show of support.

The turret on the upper part of the Swan's hull rotated, and the rail coils lit up with bright electric light one after another, aiming at the target and firing three rounds in a row.

Alyssa looked at the bombardment position, and kept thinking about where the enemy would release the fleet to try to capture the fortress.

Normally, at the current speed, it would take at least an hour for the enemy to get close enough to launch carrier-based aircraft, with the cruiser leading the charge to escort the armored transport ship.

This was the standard tactic used by the Rotating Water Federation when attacking the fortress before.

But the difference is that the Red Maple Republic fleet is afraid of being surrounded, and they don't have much time to act with standard tactics.

In this case, they are likely to use some crooked tricks and take risks to open a way out.

Since the fortress will prevent jumps, the enemy troops in front of the fortress will never be able to jump to the back of the fortress. The places the enemy can choose are either above or below the fortress.

In fact, because the bottom was hit by a nuclear bomb, artillery cannot be deployed at all, and it takes a long time to build and repair before it can be used.

The Rotating Water Federation also knows this, so in addition to deploying a lot of cruisers.

Of course, now it is almost playing an open card. The Red Maple Republic fleet can see the tight defense below the fortress as soon as it comes.

So, will they choose to attack from the top of the head to break through the artillery system that has been repaired during this period?

As soon as Alyssa had this thought in her mind, An Yun reported:

"We have found a jump signal 50 kilometers above us, 134 in number, of cruise ships or ships of the same tonnage."

They actually came from directly above!

"Notice to all ships, all anti-aircraft gunners, prepare for air defense!"

Alyssa closed the internal communication and said to Carlos:

"Emergency surface, horizontal angle 75 degrees, intercept enemy cruise ships and carrier-based aircraft."

"Understood, emergency surface, attitude adjustment."

The attitude control nozzles of the Swan, which was behind the space fortress Ilxia, were activated, and the engine pushed the bow of the more than 300-meter-long warship to raise its bow and maintain an angle of about 75 degrees to rise.

It was not only the Swan that discovered the enemy's traces, but other cruise ships also adjusted their attitudes and rose, but their speed was still not as fast as the Swan, the fastest legend in the void. Now it looks like the Swan is leading the charge.

"The enemy's jump is over. The ship's shadow has been clearly seen. The radar signal is normal. They have released the carrier-based aircraft!"

"According to the firing parameters detected in advance, the trajectory is adjusted, and free firing is carried out."

The advantage of having time to prepare is that the firing parameters can be calibrated in advance. No matter where the enemy appears around the space fortress Irsha, there is data to rely on.

This is just like the defenders conducting advance reconnaissance and division of the area that can be covered by the artillery before the two armies confront each other on the ground. As long as the enemy appears, they can quickly shoot according to the shooting mark without the need for test shooting and aiming.

The Red Maple Republic's move was indeed unexpected, but if it is not done well, it will not be a surprise victory, but a surprise will surely kill itself.

Now they are equivalent to jumping to the face of the Xuanshui Federation. If they succeed, they will indeed gain a lot, but if they fail, these warships will not be able to escape, which is indeed a risky move.

Led by the Swan, the cruiser formation aimed at the enemy ships that appeared above, and countless shells and ion beams smashed over.

In almost one salvo, nearly ten orange flashes were visually confirmed.

Waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out, they also hit the muzzle, and losing ten on the spot was considered a small loss.

"Database comparison completed, enemy 51 cruisers, 33 mobile aircraft carriers, and the rest are modified transport ships."

Villania held the headset and said:

"The fleet commander ordered the carrier-based aircraft to set off."

"Let Hall and Li Chengxi attack."

"The enemy fleet adjusted its posture and confirmed the counterattack barrage."

"Emergency evasion, shield activation."

Maintaining the firing state, the Swan and friendly warships maneuvered irregularly in a small range.

Although the enemy had jumped onto the muzzle, they were not without the ability to fight back. They tilted their ships to fire back. Even in the light brought by the ion beam, a large group of densely packed carrier-based aircraft flashing with metallic colors could be seen swooping down.

"Air defense!"

The anti-aircraft guns of the Swan were the first to fire, just like a starting gun, and the surrounding cruisers followed suit.

At this time, the artillery that had just been repaired recently on the space fortress Ilsha also joined in the event, and anti-ship ion beams flew towards the fleet.

However, the time was too short, and the number of repaired anti-ship ion beams was not large, but the anti-aircraft gun was relatively simple.

Anti-aircraft guns do not need the energy of the fortress. The transport ship delivers the anti-aircraft guns, and then the engineers place them in the designated position and fix them. That's it. At most, the ammunition needs to be moved nearby. From firing to loading, everything is done manually.

So compared to the anti-ship ion beams that are difficult to repair, the quantity and quality of anti-aircraft guns are very high, ranging from 13mm anti-aircraft machine guns to 128mm anti-aircraft artillery.

The disadvantage of not being connected to the base system is that there is no machine soul assistance, so the reaction is slow and the aiming is inaccurate, and all the air defense is visual.

However, this number does not need to be accurate, anyway, the number is up.

Mixed in the ion beam is a literal rain of bullets. Time fuses or proximity fuses are equipped on different shells. Even if you miss, you have to set off fireworks to hear the sound.

Alyssa looked at the main display of the bridge, which was projected by the optical sighting equipment.

A thought came to her mind.

Something is wrong.

The enemy is indeed taking a risky move, but they will not consider the possibility of encountering a strong interception. With only more than 100 ships, even if they all release carrier-based aircraft at the first time, there are less than 500 or 600 of them.

It is almost impossible to break through the firepower network with this number. After all, the meteorite belt torpedo operation has proved that if carrier-based aircraft want to threaten the fleet, they must increase their number.

This number of carrier-based aircraft simply cannot break through the firepower network of the cruise ship, not to mention the anti-aircraft guns of the space fortress.

Will the enemy make a mistake?

Yes, but they will not make such a stupid mistake.

Alyssa's grandfather, Mr. James, is right. There are as few fools as geniuses in this world, not to mention that fools can get to the level of fleet command.

So, why did the enemy send carrier-based aircraft that can't threaten the fortress at all?

Alyssa turned the viewfinder, and this time she finally saw where the feeling of something wrong came from.

There are no armored transport ships among the ships that jumped over!

It is impossible to capture the fortress without infantry. At most, they can just circle around the periphery of the fortress.

"Direction 203, attitude control, we turn!"

Almost at the same time as Alyssa gave the order, An Yun reported:

"New jump signals appeared, more than 300 in number, 40 kilometers behind us!"

Sure enough, they were attacked from both sides!