Chapter 502 Death Line
Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Sidra.
The sky is clear and cloudless, and the water is blue.
With such good weather, it should have been a good time to visit the scenery, but at this time, fighter planes roared in this calm bay, and three aircraft carrier battle groups of the US Navy were conducting military exercises in this largest bay in the southern Mediterranean.
The Gulf of Sidra is the largest bay in the southern Mediterranean, located in the north of Libya, stretching from Benghazi in the east to the Port of Misrata in the west, with a width of about 300 nautical miles and a maximum depth of about 100 nautical miles.
Since August 1981, the U.S. 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean has held annual routine exercises here.
This is also a demonstration to Libya and Gaddafi.
Although Gaddafi had previously declared the Gulf of Sidra to be Libya's territorial waters, the United States and its allies did not recognize it and only recognized that it had an internationally recognized territorial waters of 12 nautical miles.
Gaddafi is not a vegetarian and has a very tough attitude. Recently he once again emphasized that the entire Gulf of Sidra is part of his sacrosanct territorial waters. He even introduced Gaddafi to the Soviet Union so that Soviet naval warships could move freely in the Gulf of Sidra. In and out.
This undoubtedly made the United States jealous and angry.
What makes the United States even more angry is that Gaddafi was so arrogant that he drew a "death line" in the Gulf of Sidra.
The so-called 'death line' refers to Gaddafi's declaration that the 200-meter sea area off the coast of the Gulf of Sidra is Libya's territorial waters, and the area south of the 32°30' north latitude is the 'death line'. Any US military aircraft or ship must cross this line. line enters the Gulf of Sidra, Libya will 'fight back' mercilessly.
At this time, on the Gulf of Sidra, the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea of the U.S. Sixth Fleet cut through the waves and sailed in the bay. Under the protection of the escort fleet, this powerful aircraft carrier sailed into the Gulf of Sidra unscrupulously to show force to Libya.
This time, the United States mobilized three major aircraft carrier battle groups to the Mediterranean. It was not just for vacation.
On the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea, with a scream, the catapult emitted a large cloud of white steam, and the yellow cedar guide on the deck was immediately covered by the white clouds. The 25-ton F-14 'Panda' fighter jet vibrated violently and flew high along the ejection trajectory towards the blue sky and the boundless sea.
The yellow-shirted conductor reappeared, looking like a magician in a wisp of smoke. He gave the following aircraft a wingspan signal, followed by a wide gesture. He waved his hand downwards forcefully, and the pilots felt their blood surge, just waiting to fly into the sky again and become the invincible king of the air.
The United States' RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft is currently conducting non-stop patrols over Libya, and it has also dispatched SR-71 high-altitude supersonic reconnaissance aircraft to conduct night reconnaissance, with the intention of monitoring Libya's air defense firepower deployment, terrain, and the location of the Libyan command authorities. Find out clearly and use this to plan the route for air strikes.
In addition, the U.S. military has also arranged a large number of auxiliary combat aircraft groups, including more than 30 KC-10, KC-135 tanker aircraft, and EF-111 electronic jammers. In addition, the U.S. Navy has also provided sufficient auxiliary assistance, led by the U.S. Three aircraft carrier battle groups composed of the USS Coral, USS Saratoga, the E-2 early warning aircraft and EA-6B electronic jammer carried on the aircraft carrier perform auxiliary work, and the F/A-18 carrier-based fighter jet that has just entered service , cooperate with F-14 carrier-based aircraft, A-7, and A-6 attack aircraft to implement fire suppression tasks.
It can be said that the United States is very well prepared for this "Prairie Fire" action plan.
"What's the situation now?" Anderson, the commander of the Coral aircraft carrier battle group, turned to the combat staff beside him and asked.
"None of the Libyan fighter planes dared to take off. Our Panda fighters and Prowlers both crossed the so-called death line, but the Libyans did not react at all and just used radio to protest to us!" the combat staff replied.
"This won't work. We have to force them to fight with us!" Anderson said solemnly.
The maximum range of the F-14 'Panda' fighter jet is 2,570 kilometers, but its combat radius is only 700~900 kilometers! The F/A-18 fighter jet has a maximum range of 3,700 kilometers, a ground attack combat radius of 1,060 kilometers, and an air combat combat radius of 740 kilometers.
The maximum range is the maximum range, and the combat radius is the combat radius!
When a plane takes off for combat, it is not rushing away and never coming back. It is going back to the aircraft carrier.
The deepest point in Libya is almost 900 kilometers away. If the aircraft carrier can be on the coastline, it can almost return after fighting.
However, for safety reasons, the aircraft carrier fleet is 100 nautical miles away from the coastline at this time, which is 185.2 kilometers.
The Navy is very wary of the 'Eagle Strike' anti-ship missiles equipped in Libya.
If Libyan aircraft can be forced to fight along the coastline or over the sea, then all the advantages will be with the US military.
After all, Libya is equipped with a large number of MiG-23 and MiG-25 fighter jets. It is not equipped with the Soviet Union's most advanced Su-27 and Su-29 fighter jets. MiG-23 and MiG-25 fighter jets are not F-14'Pandas. 'A rival to the fighter jet, the F/A-18 fighter jet.
"Also monitor the opponent at any time. Once the target is discovered, intercept it immediately!" Anderson said.
In order to effectively protect the aircraft carrier attack group, the US military established an anti-ship protection network 120 kilometers away from the aircraft carrier, consisting of 8 destroyers and frigates equipped with the "Aegis" ship-to-air missile system. The ships maneuvered under the cover of the carrier-based aviation, and the intelligence reconnaissance support work was completed by 4 E-2C "Hawkeye" early warning aircraft operating over the patrol area.
Although very confident in its own strength, the US military also appears to be very cautious.
After all, the "Eagle Strike" anti-ship missile is like a sword of Damocles hanging over its head, forcing the US military to pay attention.
After all, an "Eagle Strike" anti-ship missile is enough to sink a destroyer!
Except for aircraft carriers, no frigate or destroyer can withstand an "Eagle Strike" anti-ship missile.
As long as it is hit by an "Eagle Strike" anti-ship missile, even if it is not sunk, it will be severely damaged and lose its combat effectiveness, and the loss is too great.
And even if it is an aircraft carrier, if it is hit by an "Eagle Strike" anti-ship missile, even if it will not be sunk, it will be damaged.
The US military attaches great importance to the defense force this time, which can be said to be the most important in history.
There are early warning aircraft and carrier-based aircraft in the sky for protection, and frigates and destroyers on the sea provide a protection network with the help of the "Aegis" to intercept the "Eagle Strike" anti-ship missiles that may attack Libya.
The British experience in the Falklands War is not far away, and the US military must learn from it.
The radars of various warships are constantly searching to ensure the safety of the aircraft carrier formation.
Even electronic jammers are flying in the sky to conduct electronic jamming on incoming air targets.
There are also nuclear submarines lurking in the sea, ready to show their fangs at any time to give the enemy a devastating blow.
The US Navy shows amazing professionalism. Compared with the US Army, the US Navy is much more powerful and more feared.
At this time, the US Navy showed no damage to its reputation as the overlord of the ocean.
