The War of Resistance Against Japan: Special Operations Battalion Traverses Shanghai and Slaughters

A few minutes later, the observer excitedly shouted: "Report! We have spotted the Japanese aircraft carrier Fengxiang at 11 o'clock, 730 meters away!"

"Adjust course, prepare for launch."

Xu Peng was slightly nervous, and he gritted his teeth and gave the order in a deep voice.

This time, the commando team was much more skilled at operating the submarine, and their teamwork was much better.

The submarine was quickly positioned, and Xu Peng ordered it to launch.

"Torpedoes No. 3 and No. 4 are aimed at the middle of the Fengxiang and launched immediately."

Just as the two torpedoes shot like arrows towards the Japanese aircraft carrier Hosho.

The Japanese naval vessels have received orders to turn on their searchlights and begin searching the sea surface.

Vice Admiral Kiyoaki Kawatani, commander of the Japanese fleet, was fast asleep on his flagship, the Izumo.

He was suddenly awakened by a huge explosion and quickly got up and ran to the deck to observe.

He soon received a report that the Ryujo aircraft carrier had been attacked by a torpedo, broken in two, and was sinking.

"What?! A torpedo attack? How is that possible? The Chinese navy has already retreated. Besides, they don't even have submarines."

Kawatani Kiyoaki was right; at that time, the Nationalist Navy really did not have submarines.

Although the Nationalist government had ordered two U-boats from the Hans in 1937, construction would not be completed until 1939.

What's most infuriating is that the submarine should have been delivered to China immediately after its completion.

Unexpectedly, because the Hans Kingdom needed to meet the needs of its own military, it was incorporated into the Hans Kingdom Navy before it was even launched.

"Reporting to the general, we have received a telegram from the Ryujo confirming that they have been attacked by two torpedoes."

Kawatani Kiyoyun squinted at the dark sea, wondering if China had requested submarines from other countries to participate in the war, or if they had temporarily leased submarines from a third country.

Kawatani Kiyoaki would never have imagined that his fleet's submarines had been taken over by the enemy and then turned around to attack them.

What he didn't expect was that the attack had only just begun.

Kawatani Kiyoyun pondered for a while but still had no clue, so he decided to wait until dawn to figure it out.

He understood that the most important thing now was to find the submarine and sink it.

"Order: All personnel in the fleet, immediately enter combat readiness, turn on searchlights, locate the enemy, and eliminate him."

"Furthermore, order the Kinu and Yura to immediately approach the Ryujo and rescue the personnel on board."

Shortly after, the Japanese flagship Izumo sent a telegram to the submarine I-68, conveying Commander Kawatani Kiyoaki's order to locate the enemy submarine and sink it immediately upon discovery.

Although the Japanese communications officer on the submarine had been killed, the commando team managed to find the codebook in time and decipher the message.

“Reply immediately and say that we will resolutely carry out General Kawaya’s orders.”

With the mission only halfway complete, Xu Peng didn't want to expose himself prematurely, so he needed to send a telegram back to mislead the Japanese.

The Hosho was the first specially designed aircraft carrier in the history of the Japanese Navy. It was commissioned on December 23, 1922, and had a displacement of only 10,000 tons.

The Ryujo, with a larger displacement than the Hosho, was still sunk by two torpedoes. So when the Hosho was accurately hit by the third and fourth torpedoes...

Although it did not break in two, the gap in the hull that was blown open was much larger than that of the Ryujo.

So, in just over ten minutes, the Fengxiang began to list due to taking on a large amount of water.

Shortly afterward, due to losing its balance, the Fengxiang capsized on the sea surface and then sank rapidly.

Meanwhile, the observers had located the Japanese third aircraft carrier, the Kamui.

The Shinwei was built in 1922 and was originally an oil tanker. It was converted into a seaplane carrier in 1933.

This aircraft carrier carries only a dozen or so Type 90 seaplanes for reconnaissance.

Xu Peng immediately ordered the loading of the No. 3 and No. 4 torpedoes and adjusted the submarine's direction, aiming the stern at the Shenwei.

Xu Peng had his reasons for making this arrangement.

The submarine used two torpedoes from its stern to attack the Kamui, and then used all four torpedoes from its bow to attack the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga.

Xu Peng knew that of the four Japanese aircraft carriers that participated in the war, only the Kaga had the largest displacement, reaching 40,000 tons, and carried more than 70 carrier-based aircraft.

Xu Peng worried that two torpedoes would not be powerful enough to sink the Kaga.

Shortly after, the fifth and sixth torpedoes at the stern were successfully launched and hit the Shenwei.

The observer watched the Shenwei slowly sink and reported to Xu Peng from time to time.

"Forget about the Kamui, focus all your efforts on finding the Kaga. We must sink this behemoth to the bottom of the sea to feed the fish."

"Yes……"

After the observer agreed, he immediately resumed the search.

The Kaga was anchored at a distance on the sea, and due to the limited visibility in the early morning, the observers searched for a while but could not find the Kaga.

Xu Peng glanced at the time; it was almost four in the morning. Dawn would break soon, and he began to feel anxious.

"Order: Proceed at low speed. Observers continue to search for the Kaga."

The commandos worked together, piloting the Japanese submarine across the sea.

However, the Japanese warships' searchlights, when illuminating the submarine, did not detect anything unusual.

Finally, after the submarine reached an area about three kilometers from the coast, the observer spotted the aircraft carrier Kaga not far away.

"Everyone, hurry up and adjust the submarine's position immediately. Launch right away."

A few minutes later, four torpedoes from the bow torpedo tubes one through four were launched one after another towards the Kaga.

Four more loud explosions followed. Although the Kaga was severely damaged, it showed no signs of sinking.

Because the Kaga was originally designed as a battleship, it was later converted into an aircraft carrier, and it is the second largest aircraft carrier in Japan.

Therefore, the Kaga's hull and deck were all reinforced, making it extremely resistant to torpedo attacks.

The I-68 submarine carries a total of fourteen torpedoes, ten of which have already been used.

Xu Peng knew that if he loaded the remaining four torpedoes immediately, it would take at least an hour.

By then it would be broad daylight, and the likelihood of being exposed and attacked would be extremely high.

In order to complete the mission while ensuring the safety of the assault team.

Xu Peng had a bold plan.

"Order: Lower the remaining four torpedoes from the mounting brackets, then aim at the Kaga and proceed at full speed."

After receiving the order, one of the commandos paused for a moment, then looked at Xu Peng with a question in his mind.

"Deputy Battalion Commander Xu, do you intend to ram the Kaga with a submarine?"

Xu Peng looked up and laughed, saying with great bravado, "That's right, I want to ram and sink the Yoshino just like Deng Shichang of the Beiyang Fleet back then."

Upon hearing the order, the commandos all displayed a fearless and resolute spirit.

They thought Xu Peng was going to lead everyone in delivering the final blow to the Japanese, and then they would all die heroically for their country.

After the torpedoes were deployed and the course was adjusted, Xu Peng ordered the hatches to be opened, and all personnel immediately boarded the deck and then quickly jumped into the sea to leave the submarine.

Just as Xu Peng and his assault team were struggling to swim towards the shore.

The I-68 submarine, at its top speed of 23 knots, rammed straight into the port side of the Kaga.

The four torpedoes placed on the submarine floor were propelled forward by the inertia generated by the enormous impact.

The trigger fuse placed on the torpedo's nose instantly detonates the torpedo.

How could the Kaga, already severely damaged, withstand a second blow?

The area that had been blown open earlier was completely torn apart by the impact of the submarine and the explosion of the four torpedoes.