Chapter 7, Ambush

The ocean at night is pitch black, making search operations impossible. We can only wait until dawn, when the submarine will submerge and use its periscope to scan the surface of the sea

Ron and the others were assigned to this cruiser. Once aboard, he waved goodbye to Ram—the pilot of the dive bomber who had been rescued yesterday—who was heading back to the aircraft carrier to reunite with his comrades. Although they had only known each other for a day, as fellow stranded pilots, they had established a friendship through discussions about flying in the cramped and dull submarine quarters. Although Ron's identity had yet to be confirmed, Ram was absolutely convinced that he was not lying, and it was clear that this guy was definitely an ace, as evidenced by his analysis of the Japanese aircraft and tactics.

Around 8 o'clock, the individuals who had been temporarily confined in several compartments noticed that the submarine began to tilt, accompanied by a rumbling sound—this was the noise of compressed air expelling seawater. The submarine surfaced once again, partly to use the radio to report the situation and receive orders, and partly to start the diesel engine to charge the batteries, while also replacing the air in the compartments. Being active during the night and resting during the day is a characteristic of submarines.

Due to the deployment of the small boat, the speed of the warship has decreased. Several Japanese sailors armed with rifles boarded the small boat, and amidst the sound of the elevator's motor, the small boat was lowered to the surface of the sea. Although several white individuals have now taken refuge in the cabin, it is certainly futile, as the Japanese must have already noticed something amiss. Not to mention, there should not be any sailing vessels detected in this area.

The ship that appeared on the surface of the sea was undoubtedly a Japanese warship. As the vessel drew closer, even without binoculars, one could clearly see the 16 rays of the rising sun flag fluttering on the mast. It was evident that the ship had also spotted them, particularly noting the presence of white individuals among them. Consequently, as it approached, the ship noticeably reduced its speed and began to lower small boats from its side. It was evident that the ship had also spotted them, particularly noting the presence of white individuals among them. Consequently, as it approached, the ship noticeably reduced its speed and began to lower small boats from its side

The gunfire continued incessantly, and the Japanese boat that had just drifted away was now firing at them. Everyone immediately crouched down on the deck.

However, it is no longer necessary for them to be very accurate. The submarine has already detected them and is heading this way, with the 75mm gun on the submarine's deck also aimed at the Japanese small boat. With a loud "boom," a large column of water erupted beside the boat.

Tom shouted, "We are American soldiers, and we demand to be treated in accordance with international treaties"

Underwater not far away, the U.S. Navy submarine USS Fish has just launched six torpedoes in quick succession towards its target. Half an hour ago, under the cover of a heavy rain, the submarine quietly surfaced to allow the sailors to take a bath, as enemy aircraft would not appear in the downpour. As for enemy ships, they were much more conspicuous than the gray-blue submarine, and the captain was fully confident that he could spot them first.

God, how I love You! That is our ship!" Pato shouted

The Japanese soldier shouting from the small boat clearly understood, as a look of disdain appeared on his face. He turned to say something to the sailor at the helm, prompting all the sailors to burst into a fit of laughter. Amidst this laughter, the small boat drew ever closer.

Marcos climbed up the mast and vigorously waved a Stars and Stripes flag. The submarine also noticed this and began to approach them.

Perhaps the prayers had an effect; the third torpedo that struck the hull finally detonated, followed by the fourth—still no explosion. Then the fifth struck the hull again and exploded. The sixth, living up to expectations, hit the enemy ship and split it in two; the front half sank, but the rear half remained afloat—it still did not explode! (Historically, at the beginning of the war, the explosion rate of American torpedoes was only about twenty percent.)

This is an old-fashioned warship with four smokestacks, and it is now quite close. The seven single-mounted cannons on it, as well as the eight torpedo launchers, are clearly visible. During his free time, Ron would flip through the Japanese naval ship yearbook and recognized that this is a Sendai-class light cruiser with a displacement of 7,100 tons. However, he could not identify exactly which one it was

"Oh God! Holy Mary! Thank you!" Juno quickly made the sign of the cross over her chest, then gripped the periscope handle tightly, "Are the torpedoes ready?"

At that moment, the entire small boat suddenly shook violently, and then Ron saw a massive red and black fireball rise from the Japanese cruiser across the way, followed by a deafening roar, and then another sound.

Hurry! Take out the national flag! Tom added from the side

Around 9 o'clock in the morning, the aircraft approached General Fletcher's fleet. From the plane, one could see the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, which had been hit by a bomb and was still smoking in some areas. As the plane descended and landed next to a cruiser, Ron could clearly see that its C turret had been completely blown apart. From this vantage point, the brutality of the battle was evident. As the plane descended and landed next to a cruiser, Ron could clearly see that its C turret had been completely blown apart. From this vantage point, the brutality of the battle was evident

The Japanese army lacked machine guns. Originally, with the light machine guns they possessed, Ron and his men should have been able to easily suppress their opponents. However, among them, there was a lack of individuals truly skilled in the use of machine guns. The light machine gun continuously spat out flames, but where the bullets actually went, only heaven knows.

On that night, the submarine received the following order: to search the nearby waters and rescue any naval pilots who might have parachuted or made an emergency landing in the area. This was because, on that very day, the navy had engaged in a decisive battle with the Japanese—the Battle of Coral Sea

Let me take a look as well. The chief sailor has also come.

Cody crawled on the deck, dragging his brother toward the cabin with one hand

Upon reaching the deck, Ron discovered that dawn was just breaking, the morning star hung low, and a thin layer of pale blue mist covered the surface of the sea. The surroundings were silent, with only the gentle sound of waves lapping against the submarine, producing a soft rustling noise. After a while, the faint sound of engines could be heard in the sky. Suddenly, two bright golden stars appeared in the sky. Ron knew that these were airplanes—now high above, the sun had risen, and the golden sunlight was making them shine brilliantly. Although the sea remained dark for the time being.

However, the current situation is beyond the capacity of a few individuals on a small boat to influence. The cruiser is tilting increasingly severely, with one side of the hull already touching the surface of the sea, and the deck nearly vertical to the water. From Ron's side, the yellow-brown anti-corrosive paint on the hull is fully exposed above the water, reflecting a unique reddish-brown halo in the setting sun. The hull is covered with large patches of black spots, which are the dark blue barnacles that have attached themselves to it.

Over there, just under one thousand meters away, a small fishing boat and a Japanese military dinghy are engaged in a fierce battle

Commander, let us go up and show everyone.

The sudden turn of events not only caught everyone who had been prepared to spend time in the prisoner camp by surprise, but also left the Japanese sailors on the small boat dumbfounded. After a while, these individuals finally reacted, frantically turning the boat around and rowing back, seemingly intending to offer assistance

Indeed, just as the heavy rain was about to cease, the submarine detected a target—a Japanese cruiser. The submarine urgently dove and prepared for an attack. However, this vessel was not an easy target; its speed was exceptionally fast, reaching as much as 25 knots, while the submarine, the USS Salmon, could only manage a little over 10 knots underwater, making it impossible to secure a suitable ambush position in time. The commanding officer—Naval Major Juno—was almost ready to issue the order to abandon the mission. However, this vessel was not an easy target; its speed was exceptionally fast, reaching as much as 25 knots, while the submarine, the USS Salmon, could only manage a little over 10 knots underwater, making it impossible to secure a suitable ambush position in time. The commanding officer—Naval Major Juno—was almost ready to issue the order to abandon the mission.

At that moment, a gunshot suddenly rang out, and then Marcos swayed and fell from the mast.

The warship swayed and then began to flip over. This process started slowly, but once it began, it accelerated rapidly, and finally, the entire ship capsized onto the surface of the sea, creating waves that soared several dozen meters high. Even Ron and his small fishing boat were rocked violently. Then, it began to sink from the bow, accompanied by the crackling sounds of explosions and a wailing noise reminiscent of a train whistle— the former being the sound of some structures inside the ship breaking apart, while the latter was the sound of air being forced out through certain gaps in the ship as it was compressed by the seawater. Amidst these ominous sounds, the stern of the ship lifted high, with two massive bronze propellers raised aloft, glinting in the sunset. Then, with a tremendous roar, the ship broke in two— the keel, which had been damaged long ago by a torpedo, finally succumbed to the strain. The stern crashed down onto the water's surface, once again stirring up enormous waves, and then, almost in an instant, the ship vanished from the sea, leaving behind only a massive whirlpool at the spot where it had been.

Although the enemy ship was already severely tilted and certainly lacked the capability to retaliate, out of caution, Juno decided to wait a little longer before allowing the submarine to surface

"Damn it, missed!" The gunner was quite dissatisfied. However, he had no chance for remedy. The Japanese sailors under bombardment jumped overboard. Staying there was clearly waiting for death

The first torpedo struck the bow of the enemy ship, but it did not explode. The second one also hit—yet it did not detonate either

Just as Ron was climbing down from the hatch, he heard someone say to Juno: "Sir, what should we do about these Japanese?"

What is the "old method"? Ron had not seen it with his own eyes, as there were still others who needed to come down, and he had to climb down. But soon, from the hatch that had not yet been closed, the dull and rhythmic sound of the M2 machine gun firing came through

... ...

Quick, Cordis, help him into the cabin! The others, grab your weapons immediately!" Ron shouted

Seeing the captain leave the periscope, the first officer immediately took over, watching intently while exclaiming, "Haha, it's over, the little Japanese are finished!"

... ...

Old method

At that moment, the ship slowed down and turned its helm, heading directly towards them—a small boat captivated her, leading her down a path of no return

At the same time, Ron received a message that the fleet commander, General Fletcher, wanted to meet with him

Marcos fell on the deck; fortunately, the ship was small and the mast was not high, so this incident did not cause him serious injury. Marcos covered his shoulder with his hand, from which bright red blood was flowing.

"Very good! Little darling, just like that, slower." In front of Juno, the Japanese cruiser was growing larger and larger. Juno felt confident that she could hit all six torpedoes ahead of her on it. "Torpedoes one to six, fire in sequence!"

In the following days, the submarine continued to sail eastward. Every night, it surfaced to ventilate. However, the telegram confirming the identities of Ron and his team had yet to arrive. This was actually quite normal; everyone was currently overwhelmed with tasks, and no one had the time to attend to such matters.

All six torpedoes hit their target, but only two detonated successfully. However, these two heavy torpedoes not only tore a massive gash in the hull but may have also damaged the enemy ship's keel. The vessel erupted into flames and began to tilt to the left. Through the periscope, it was clear to see the chaos on the enemy ship, with countless sailors scurrying about like ants in a frantic and futile manner. The Japanese may have hoped to salvage their warship, but it was evident that the ship was beyond saving. Through the periscope, it was clear to see the chaos on the enemy ship, with countless sailors scurrying about like ants in a frantic and futile manner. The Japanese may have hoped to salvage their warship, but it was evident that the ship was beyond saving

The distance between the two parties is actually quite far, and with the swaying of the ships, the bullets fired by everyone are essentially flying wildly. However, the flag from earlier and the current small-scale gunfight have caught the attention of the American troops on the submarine

No need, this ship is definitely sinking!" Juno left the periscope and said, "I still need to take two of these damn torpedoes back to show those bastards!"

The search in the early morning went very smoothly. In less than two hours, the submarine had rescued three pilots. They were from two Avenger dive bombers. The search for the remaining pilot proved to be much more difficult. By evening, there were still no results. Perhaps he had already been rescued by another submarine or seaplane, or perhaps he had met with misfortune long ago

The small boat rowed over to the little ship, and a Japanese soldier on board shouted in somewhat broken English: "Everyone in the cabin, come out— we see you! Put your hands on your heads!"

After the battleship completely sank, Ron saw a submarine moving slowly on the surface in the direction that had just been blocked by her

The hatch on the deck was opened, revealing several Springfield rifles at first. After a while, a Browning automatic rifle (as referred to by the U.S. military, though it is actually a light machine gun) was handed to several individuals who had already collapsed on the deck.

"Commander, look over there!" a sailor said, pointing towards the small boat.

In the early hours of the next day, Ron was suddenly awakened by a sailor who informed him that they could take a seaplane to the United States Navy fleet. The conditions there were better than here

Damn it! Those damned arms dealers deserve to be hanged! ... ... Oh God! Oh Jesus!

The fleet was sailing northwest, and Ron knew they were heading to Pearl Harbor. Two days later, he received news that their identities had been confirmed; as long as the fleet returned to Pearl Harbor, they could report to the army aviation unit on the island and await assignment. Perhaps, considering their legendary experiences along the way, the army would grant them a leave to relax on the North American continent.

In the cabin, everyone looked at each other. Clearly, there was no way out through resistance, and the idea of becoming martyrs did not excite anyone. Thus, everyone placed their hands on their heads and obediently filed out in single file.

"Go closer and see what is happening with that ship," Juno commanded

The tilt of the ship seemed to have paused, but everyone understood—there was no hope for her. The order to abandon ship had been given. Apart from the captain, who had tied himself to the helm in preparation for going down with the ship, the first officer and several other officers also decided to sink with her. A large number of sailors, clutching life rings, wearing life jackets, or having nothing at all, jumped into the sea in a rush, swimming away from the warship. The farther they were from the warship, the better, for otherwise, shortly after, the massive whirlpool created by the sinking ship would pull those still nearby down to the depths of the sea.

They boarded the rubber raft, and several people paddled across

The sound of the engine grew louder, but the golden light that enveloped the aircraft had already vanished. The plane descended in altitude, once again flying into the darkness. Soon, the sound of a float breaking the surface of the water could be heard from not far away. Two aircraft landed on the sea, one after the other.

The first torpedo is ready

Several jubilant Americans were disarmed and taken aboard a submarine. Under supervision, they presented various documents to the captain, confirming their identities. They were then confined to a small cabin, awaiting the submarine's verification of their identities

The fate of being captured is inevitable, and almost everyone thinks this way

Unit 2 is ready

The distance was very close, and the enemy ships were moving at a slow speed, to the extent that there was no need to adopt the common fan-shaped firing method to improve the hit rate. Juno saw one torpedo after another trailing white wakes as they rushed toward their target through the periscope. With no escort vessels, he did not have to dive into the deep sea immediately after launching a torpedo as he usually did. He could enjoy watching through the periscope, as such opportunities were rare

"Captain, should we turn the stern of the boat? There are still two torpedoes there," said the first mate.