The Black Sea in October was already a little cool, with a dazzling sun hanging above the sapphire sea.∽↗The weather is fine, and the 4th special mixed fleet consisting of the USS Macedonia and the USS Moravia are conducting training cruises in the Black Sea. This is the first time they have conducted formation training since the two heavy aircraft carriers were put into service in early September.

The aviation corpses on both warships have actually completed all the training subjects of carrier-based aircraft. After more than a month of intense adaptive training, most people have been able to perform combat missions. The high-speed rotating propellers stir up the deep blue sea water. Behind the huge hull like a floating island, two white signs of sailing stretching out on the sea like a white road.

The fleet's flagship is located on the battleship "Grand Duke of Frederi". After modernization and modification, the speed of this "Markensen-class battleship" that was in service in 1918 has been increased to 31 knots and has been incorporated into the 4th Special Mix Fleet as a escort. However, due to the complete communication facilities on it and the living conditions are more comfortable than on an aircraft carrier, Admiral Yankell, the commander of the 4th Special Mix Fleet, is still accustomed to using this battleship as his flagship.

The fleet sailed out of the Sevastopol Naval Base in the morning and sailed on the sea about 50 nautical miles south of the Crim Peninsula. Then it began routine fighter takeoff and landing training. The fighter took off from the ship in turn, then flew to the airport of the Sevastopol Base, and then returned to the warship after refueling.

These fighter jets were in a panic while landing. When a bomber landed, they hit the rear flight deck of the Moravia. The entire fuselage immediately disintegrated and fell into the sea. An escorted destroyer quickly sailed to the accident site, busy salvaging two pilots who fell into the water.

Admiral Yankel stood on the bridge of the "Grand Duke of Frederi" and watched the training on the aircraft carrier. When he saw the accident, he just frowned and did not say anything else. Such accidents were not uncommon in aircraft carrier training. In the past month, the Fourth Special Mixed Fleet had lost 7 aircraft due to the accident, and two pilots were killed.

"General, will you start returning now?" Major General Amin Spashici, chief of staff of the fleet, came over and asked.

"Oh. We need to wait for the Chinese aircraft carrier formation to come and have a maritime confrontation drill with them in a few days." Yankel said, "It would be a bit embarrassing if we lose to the Chinese."

He looked up at the sea. The Macedonia and Moravia were surrounded by two battleships, four cruisers and more than a dozen destroyers, and were sailing eastward at a cruising speed of fifteen knots. The Austro-Hungarian Navy had no enemies in the Black Sea, and most of the crew had nothing to do.

By noon, two Chinese aircraft carriers appeared on the sea, two cruisers and six destroyers guarding them, and rushed to the Black Sea to meet with the Austro-Hungarian fleet. The two aircraft carriers carried the hopes and dreams of the rise of the Chinese navy. According to the plan, they will form a formation with the Austro-Hungarian 4th Special Mixed Fleet in mid-November and return to the Far East.

The two aircraft carriers "Jiangsu" and "Fujian" equipped by the Chinese Navy are improved models designed based on the drawings of the Austro-Hungarian Navy's "Atila". They are medium-sized aircraft carriers according to the Austro-Hungarian Navy's classification. However, in the eyes of navies around the world, they are still large aircraft carriers, with 23,700 tons of drainage, which is the same size as the German Zeppelin-class aircraft carrier and the British "Glorious" aircraft carrier. However, due to the optimization of the hangar structure and the increase in the flight deck area, the number of carrier-based aircraft aircraft has increased to 72. It is much stronger than that of the British aircraft carrier in combat.

The aircraft carrier is actually a floating airport on the sea. The design of the Austro-Hungarian warship inherits the advantages of the German navy, focusing on the resistance of the warship to sink, and designs about 600 watertight compartments in the underwater part of the hull. However, due to the strength and stability of the hull, the hangar is designed as a semi-open type and does not have much armor defense. In fact, the upper hangar, flight deck and single body of the aircraft carrier are two separate parts. The advantage of this is that it can equip more fighter jets, but when attacked, the flight deck and hangar are easily broken down.

The concept of Austro-Hungarian ship designers is that carrier-based fighters on aircraft carriers are the main force in air defense, and anti-aircraft artillery is placed in a secondary position, and superstructures can be destroyed. However, warships will not be sunk. This forms two ideas from the concept of British aircraft carriers focusing on armored defense of superstructures. No one can judge the advantages and disadvantages of the two ideas before actual combat inspection.

In order to save space in the hangar, the Chinese Navy's "Jiangsu" class aircraft carrier was equipped with four dual-mounted 105mm anti-aircraft guns below the four corners of the flight deck, instead of the 127mm high-level dual-purpose gun originally designed. The medium and short-range air defense firepower is sufficient, but the long-range air defense firepower is insufficient.

However, this is already the optimal configuration that can be achieved on an aircraft carrier with a displacement of 23,000 tons.

Since it was the final modification project completed in an Italian shipyard, the Chinese aircraft carriers were equipped with Italian-made fighters, each aircraft carrier was equipped with 32 Makimc.202 fighters with two squadrons, 2 squadrons of 28 Breda Ba.201 dive bombers and the B.22 twin-engine carrier-based bombers/torpedo aircraft produced by Fiat.

The Chinese aircraft carrier fleet was commanded by Lieutenant General Chen Shiying, and Colonel Chen Changming, who graduated from the third phase of the Fuzhou Naval Scuba School, served as aviation commander. The captain of the "Jiangsu" was Colonel Cheng Yaoheng, and the captain of the "Fujian" was Captain Sa Shijun Navy.

General Chen Shiying and Colonel Chen Changming were invited to the "Grand Duke of Frederi" to discuss the details of the confrontation exercises between the two sides. While the two sides were discussing, the communication officer of the Austro-Hungarian fleet entered the conference room and handed General Yankel a telegram.

"It seems that our plan is going to be ruined." Yankel spread his hands and said to General Chen Shiying. "The war on Suhumi to the Batong-line is very tense. The Imperial Base Camp sent a telegram asking if we can provide air support to the army. I think we should be able to do it, and I am really sorry."

"We can also participate in a rare practical opportunity," Chen Shiying said. "Anyway, we have been in a state of war with the Soviet Union for a long time, so we don't need to ask for instructions in China."

"How is your pilot training?" Yankel asked.

"It shouldn't be worse than you. We have been training for nearly three months, so there should be no problem in carrying out the mission." Chen Shiying said, "I think the pilots should be given some practical opportunities."

"Okay, I have to ask for instructions on the base camp first." Yankel nodded and said, China has more than 140 aircraft, which is indeed a large-scale air strike force.

Soon, the base camp responded and agreed to the Chinese fleet to participate in the support operation to the Caucasus.
Chapter completed!