THE STINGRAY
I. STEALTHILY
It was a moonless night and dark clouds covered the sky. Captain Salac’s boat cruised at fifteen knots heading northeast. It was confirmed that the area was patrolled hours ago, but this time he had not seen any patrol boat yet. He consulted his map, and found out that he needed few more miles to position his boat to an ideal vantage point. As the boat cruised he went inside his cabin and opened the bag that was given to him by his superior. It contained a night vision telescope and a long range infrared camera recorder. Captain Salac was ordered to spy on the naval exercise that will be conducted by the South Sea Fleet of the PLA-Navy.
He picked up the telescope and focused it outside, he made a little adjustment, and slowly the dark night became dull green. While scanning the area where the exercise will be held, something appeared on the horizon. He focused the telescope on it. It was a fast boat, a patrolling hydrofoil. It was heading toward a different direction. He was not bothered. He knew that the boat’s radar can’t find them. He knew that his boat a Balangay type spy craft is a stealth boat and can’t be detected by radar especially at long range. He scanned the whole area and found out that there was no activity yet. He was briefed that the start of the exercise will be timed base on the passing of the American military satellite. He was told that the Chinese was hiding from anybody something of great import that should not be carelessly left to the probing eyes of the American spy satellite. He patiently waited for any sign of activity until he noticed a faint light appeared at the area. He was convinced that the Chinese were now starting the exercise. He bolted the thermal camera on a secured tripod few inches away from window. He saw that the camera has unobstructed view of the area. After he was through, he switched the camera and it produced a soft whirling sound
He was briefed by his superior, days ago that the PLA-Navy was developing an advance attack flying boat. There was a speculation that the flying boat was already on its final phase of testing and evaluation. It was confirmed in the intelligence report that it was assembled in the South Sea Fleet base in Zhanjian. It was assumed that the flying boat will be tested as an integral part of their naval exercise. Captain Salac was also informed that the PLA-Navy had published a report for worldwide release that they are in the process of upgrading their antiquated flying boats. The report was credible and convincing until the U.S. military intelligence operatives discovered that one of the military factories of the PLA-Navy was churning a different kind of flying boat airframes and components. Added to this, was the discovery of a shipment of powerful jet engines not suited for fighter plane. The impression by the operatives regarding about the shipment was, it was a power plant of a new type of bomber but further evaluation indicated that China has no program to build any type of bomber. So the jet engines that were imported by the Chinese from Russia were intended to be use on their new type of flying boat. It was concluded by the operatives that Russians were cooperating with the Chinese in designing the flying boat, for they knew that Russia is the leading country in flying boat technology.
Captain Salac scanned the surrounding waters and caught a moving light heading toward them. He focused his telescope on it. It was too far to be seen. He maximized the range of his telescope and saw a thermal image triangular in shape. But the light arched and veered away from their position, negating him to observe the image at close range. For many hours he had observed the appearance and the fading of lights on the horizon as well on the air, but all he could see were flicks of lights with out any definite shape. He just trusted his thermal camera can interpret what he witnessed on that night. After the exercise was terminated, Captain Salac ordered his men to return to Pag-asa Island. The small stealth boat dashed at high speed toward the Kalayaan Group of Island.
General Bane sat beside the computer operator. They were looking at the video image generated by the thermal camera that was placed on Captain Salac’s boat the night the South Sea Fleet of China conducted their military exercise.
“Look at that flickering dot, officer. Can you give its speed?” asked General Bane.
The operator keyed a button and the program designed to interpret the input answered the inquiry.
“It was traveling at subsonic speed, at 600 knots, Sir, “said the operator.
“Low flying naval plane,” commented General Bane.
“It was firing missiles now,” said the operator as he saw two fast moving lights separated from it.
Then the camera captured a sudden flash of explosion.
“It hit the target!” said General Bane.
“General, the target is stationary. The missiles don’t have a hard time looking for it,” answered the operator.
The camera completed its 180 degrees swipe on the area as it was programmed, it automatically returned to a backward sweeping movement in repetition. As the camera returned to the area where it captured the flickering dot representing a naval plane, the dot was gone.
“We lost the plane,” commented by the operator.
“It might be just somewhere,” said General Bane.
Then the camera captured another flickering dot, moving on the horizon.
“What is that light, officer?” asked General Bane.
“It‘s an aircraft, General. It’s hugging on the surface.”
“It seems to me that it was too fast for an aircraft. It might be missile.”
The operator was astonished after the speed was imposed on the screen.
“It’s moving at 400 knots, Sir! Just above the waves. It’s an aircraft, Sir!”
General Bane was astonished. He can’t believe what was stated to him. He knew that Chinese flying boat do not fly at that speed and on a leveled flight. He knew that their flying boat hugged only the water for a limited time and that happened when it took-off or landed. When the camera captured the craft moving on the water, the general asked again the speed of the craft.
“Sir it’s traveling at ninety knots on the surface.” said the operator.
“What a craft!” commented General Bane, “It was so fast above the water and it can also fly hugging the waves for a steady flight, for a longer time. Where on hell the Chinese got this kind of technology?”
Base on the data gathered by the camera, the existence of a new type of flying boat was confirmed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The data gathered will be shipped to the U.S. for thorough evaluation and analysis.
II. REVELATION
The Popular Technology Magazine came out with an issue of a military related story bannered on its cover a title of STEALTH FLYING BOAT OF CHINA with an accompanying painting of a flying boat. The painting was done in the perspective of an observer floating on the water. The pose of the flying boat was taking-off, exposing its thin V-shaped hull. It has wings similar to that of a devilfish and under it wings laid four torpedoes, two in every wing at equal spacing. There was also an outline of round opening on both sides of its hull. The craft’s body contour was smooth its overall appearance. The control cockpit was a half ellipse bulging from the flat body fusing seamlessly with the wings making its shape to appear to be an all wings configuration Atop the wings, located the two air intakes, rectangular in shape and rising just slightly above it before it tapers off as it runs parallel to the length of its body. There’s an article written about it in the inside page.
The article reads as follow.
Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, two hundred miles southeast of Taiwan an American aircraft carrier and its supporting ship were cruising speedily under strict emission-controlled environment. Their destination was the Taiwan Strait which was put under control by the Peoples Republic of China naval forces. They had set up naval blockades with mines on certain areas. The Taiwanese democratic government asked the United States of America government to intervene against the Peoples Republic of China hostile action in the Taiwan Strait as well as in South China Sea. The U.S. government without any hesitation sent its Seventh fleet to the area. The scenario reminded them of the early 50’s when the Nationalist was threatened by an all out invasion of the mainland Communist government. The U.S. sent its mighty Seventh Fleet crossing the strait that silenced the threat of invasion. At this time there was no threat of invasion, but only naval blockades against Taiwan, but still the U.S. government sent its military forces to the area. This was done to protect its interest and of its allies in the region. The U.S. government decided to project its military power in the region by sending its Seventh Fleet, not only to defend Taiwan against the mainland but also to allay fears of its allies, which are now nervous about China’s aggressive action. Its secondary purpose is to contain the crisis not to spill to other part of Asia. Despite of Chinese warning, that U.S should not intervene on domestic problems, still the U.S. disregard the message.
As the days passed by, the tension escalates because the U.S. military forces exerted so much pressure on China. The United States of America does not recognized the claim of China that Taiwan was a renegade province and it was proper for the mainland government to impose its authority on them. Added to this, the U.S. also restricted the movement of Chinese forces in the area by imposing a no-fly zone of one hundred miles away from their forces in the area. China was angered by the arrogance shown by the intruding forces and issued its ultimatum to the U.S. government. The U.S. forces must leave the area without any condition.
The tension grew and all the patience and restraint they were holding suddenly snapped when a Chinese bomber provoked the U.S warship by ignoring the exclusion zone. Instead the bomber came nearer into it and challenged the warship’s warning. The ship perceived it as an attacking plane and in self defense, it shoot down the provoking bomber.
After the incident, China condemned the action of the Americans and issued a stern warning- China will retaliate in defense of their sovereignty which was trampled by the U.S In the scenario of posturing China cordoned the U.S. Naval forces in the area. Most of the warship of the Americans was just around the vicinity of Taiwan.
In this kind of situation the China got the edge. It has a secret weapon unknown to his enemy- the stealth flying boat. The craft was so advance that it was presumed that it can penetrate the carrier formation without being detected. The flying boat was advance in its design and its stealth technology could be compared to the technology of the U.S B-2 bomber. The craft was low- observable at close range and it could not be detected at long range because it has a small cross-section aided by its radar absorbing skin and paint. It has low infrared signature too because its main engine was enclosed in layered metal jacket with fluid running on it that absorbed the generated heat.
The electronics carried by the craft was superb. It has low- wattage radar that emits signals weak enough to be picked-up by enemy’s electronics support measures. It can also run passively without emission yet it can still monitor its surroundings by using long-range infrared detection system. And when it comes to explosive power, it has an awesome wallop that can knock out anything that crosses its path. Its main weapon- nuclear armed torpedoes. It was wire-guided with a range of twenty-four miles.
The night was dark, an ideal setting for the flying boat to stealthily attack its unsuspecting target. Guided by the coded signals of their own version of AWACS plane, the flying boat crept on the waves undetected. It passed by an escort frigate eight miles to its starboard unnoticed, twenty minutes later it acquired the aircraft carrier through its infrared sensor. The hulking carrier was an easy target for the flying boat. It was a lumbering behemoth, with straight-running course, with no capability for evasive maneuver. The craft prepared for attack. Revving hard its main engine, the craft gained speed. Another boost of power, it slowly took-off from the water. But instead of continued ascent, the flying boat leveled its flight after fifty feet of altitude. It gained speed at that height until it speed reached 300 knots.
The craft chalked up the distance easily that separates it from the carrier. Few minutes passed it continued its closure still undetected. At close range it released its torpedoes with four minutes of time to impact. The signatures of the incoming torpedoes were picked up by the carrier’s sonar trailing on its wake. Scramble and panic occurred at the control room. They knew that there was no maneuver that can evade the torpedoes. The carrier threw out its available sonar decoys to lure the torpedoes away. The torpedoes angled toward the decoys, hundred meters on its wake. The torpedoes homed onto it and exploded.
But it was a nuclear explosion!
Awesome force bombarded the carrier. The area around the carrier was bathed with blinding flash, followed by instantaneous destruction within the radius of half mile from ground zero. Most of the carrier’s escorts who were not affected by the impact suffered damaged on its electronics equipment.
After the explosion the flying boat left the area unaffected for it attacked its target from a safe distance. It simply turned back and headed toward the direction of its escape.
This scenario was incredible and cruel but this could happen if the U.S. government does nothing about this threat. China has the capability to build this kind of weapons. This scenario was based on the accounts of various eyewitnesses who actually saw the existence of the said flying boat and bolstered by the intelligence compiled and analyzed by the espionage network. Based on the facts gathered, our sources summed up these specifications.
The shape of the flying boat resembles to that of the stingray. It has a very thin V-shaped hull. Its wing span presumed to be 136 feet in length with overall body length of 63 feet. It has an assumed weight of 79,000 pounds. And when loaded, it is capable of carrying stores up to 110,000 pounds. To counter its weight it was designed to carry two powerful jet engines with individual thrust of 49,000 pounds. It also assumed to possess an auxiliary drive, a water jet coupled to a lightweight turbo-prop engine.
Its strategy was to run silently above the waves until it reached the position where it can fire its weapons effectively, while concealing itself from its enemy’s sensor because of his stealth characteristic. Above the water, its structure protrudes to only ten feet, and the rest of its body submerged underwater. In order to support the craft’s stealth characteristic, its electronics components must also be impervious to detection by the enemy’s electronics support measures. With regards to these matters, the assumptions were; the flying boat has an advance infrared tracking system, it has also passive sonar device and the most important is its low-wattage radar system that emits signals that were weak enough to be detected.
The threat of stealth flying boat was plausible and could not be simply ignored. It was a direct threat to the U.S. forces in the region as well as to its allies. The U.S. government should be in the position to counter this new threat. The flying boat warfare countermeasure has not been the priority of the U.S. Navy, nor does it have the plan to conduct exercises against flying boat attacking tactics even the threat comes from the outdated models.
How much more if it was facing a more advance flying boats?
The U.S. military was ignorant about this kind of war machines. They may possess a little knowledge about it, but this little knowledge was too obscure to be trusted.
The article ends.
III. ENCOUNTER
Darkness of an early evening night blanketed the whole of Pag-asa Island. It has been a week since the last time Andro went out to the sea. Continued rain and bad weather prevented him to go out fishing. Now, the storm has gone. Andro has been living in Pag-asa for many years. He left his family in the island of Palawan, more than two hundred miles away. The opportunity to earn a living in Pag-asa was considerable compared to that of his hometown. There were many civilian residents living in Pag-asa and some of them brought all their family members with them and settled on this island they called, the Promised Land. There were military troops stationed on the island. The military fortified the island, developed an airstrip, deep water pier and established a logistics depot, serving the whole Philippine held territory.
Pag-asa Island is the biggest island of the Philippine held territory called Kalayaan Group. The other islands were smaller and scattered. Some islands have no fresh water. The Kalayaan Group also forms part of the group of islands, islets, cays and reefs most widely known as The Spratlys. The Philippine government claimed that Kalayaan Group is not a part of the Spratly chain of islands because the Kalayaan Group of Islands is much nearer to the main island of Palawan than that of the center of the Spratly.
Diego, a diver by occupation was one of the permanent residents of Pag-asa. One of his lucrative sources of income comes from sea cucumbers, which abound the surrounding coral reefs. Andro was ahead of him in their stay on the island. He recruited him from his hometown in Cavite. He enticed Diego to come to the island because of good opportunity offered by the bountiful sea. Diego agreed and joined him. Now he had proven that it was indeed rewarding to work on this remote island of their country. He left behind his family but they have comfortable lives compared to the other residents of their village whose main occupation were fishing. Diego even sent his children to a private school.
The permanent stay of Andro, Diego and together with all the civilian residents was one of the many reasons why the government garrisoned the whole island of Pag-asa. They were told that they were legitimate citizens of the Republic of the Philippines; together with the islands they must be protected. Since Pag-asa island is a sovereign territory of the Philippines, the residents also voted on the last held presidential election complete with media coverage to show to the international communities that the citizens of the island were doing their sacred right as a citizens of a democratic country.
After reaching their destination, Andro stopped the boat. He looked around then looked back at the island. It was not visible anymore. The only visible landmark that can be seen from their position was the steel tower, a communication antenna with a blinking red light atop of it. They have no navigation instrument that is why a landmark is essential in their navigation. They would simply target the blinking light in heading toward their home base. Just a simple straight route is what they need in going home.
A battery powered lamp glowed steadily. It was the only visible light in a wide expanse of darkness. A Philippine flag floated in front of the boat, attached to a meter long pole. The flag was their identification to what nationality they belong because sometimes when patrol boat of other claimants happened to passed by on them and saw the flag, they simply passed by.
There was an overlapping claim of territorial sea. Between Philippine held Kalayaan Group and the Chinese occupied reef. The Philippine government observed this unsettled claim by not intruding the disputed area. But the Chinese showed arrogance. They blatantly patrolled the waters of Pag-asa Island.
The two prepared their gear. They used hand line in fishing for frigate tuna that abound the area. Then from the horizon, they saw a light appeared.
“Ship approaching,” cried Diego pointing to the direction of light, heading toward the island of Pag-asa. “Could it be our ship?” asked Andro.
“It might be. It was so slow. Considering that kind of speed, it is our ship. No doubts about it” commented Diego.
Later, the ship passed by few meters away from them, revealing its marking. It was a Philippine Navy ship, a World War II vintage landing tank ship. The crew of the ship noticed them and they flooded their boat with searchlight upon seeing the flag. They blinked their light and sounded their horn in acknowledgement.
Andro was bothered by the sudden arrival of the ship. All those years of their stay in Pag-asa the ship always arrived on schedule, in exact monthly intervals. Now the ship changed its routine. They never knew the reason of the unscheduled visit but felt that the situation had changed.
“The ship was loaded with construction materials,” commented Andro. “They are constructing again. Maybe they will build another bunker for us.”
“With these things coming, I could smell that trouble is brewing in the area.” added Diego.
“There might be. Our soldier might have knowledge about this. If not, why are they not allowing us anymore to venture to our former fishing ground which was claimed by the Chinese?”
They decided to sail home, when they found out that all the Styrofoam boxes they brought were all filed. Then from the east, Andro noticed a different kind of craft slicing the water violently. It was fast. The craft’s shadow resembles that of a speedboat and it was creating enormous waves on its both sides. In front of the craft waters splashed upward few meters above the height of the craft. The direction of the craft was toward them.
“What kind of craft is that?” asked Andro.
“It might be a Chinese hydrofoil,” guessed Diego. “They used that kind of craft in patrolling their territory before. I’ve seen a lot of them.”
Later they noticed that the craft did not alter its direction. It was directly heading toward them and it was closing rapidly.
“It was too fast. It’s going to ram us!” exclaimed Andro in controlled panic.
Diego staggered upon seeing the fast approaching craft.
“Start the engine now!” shouted Andro to Diego who is much closer to the engine.
Diego obeyed him nervously. He grappled on the body of the boat as he searched for the ignition key. The craft was steadily closing on them, and they can hear now the muffled roar of its engine.
“Diego, by gosh…. Start the engine now! What are you doing?” shouted Andro in panic as he rushed toward Diego.
The engine started and roared to life. Diego immediately revved hard the engine and the boat leaped and rushed away from the path of an unknown craft that was speeding up toward them.
Their boat was tossed as it felt the surges of the wave created by the passing craft just few meters away. The two grappled hard on the boat as it swayed dangerously. The craft almost overturned the boat.
“Devilfish!” exclaimed Diego. “It’s a devilfish boat!”
“What a powerful craft!” commented Andro as he shook his head. “It almost sinks us.”
Andro focused his handy searchlight toward the passing craft and caught its dark-colored skin reflecting in the dark. The shape of the craft resembled to a devilfish, a kind of stingray with sharp triangular body shape and pointed nose, unlike the ordinary stingray with rounded body and nose. When the craft was too far away to be acquired, he switched off the light. They looked at each other, wondering about the nature of the craft they had encountered. Each one has a question on its eyes.
“Is it our craft, Andro?” asked Diego with mix feeling of fright and panic.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen this kind of craft before, “said Andro calmly. “Probably that was a Chinese flying boat,’ he added.
“Look at it now, Andro,” said Diego as he pointed the distant craft. “It’s slowing down. I think it’s going to stop.”
The craft stopped. Its occupants knew that somebody had seen the craft at close range. That somebody had seen their secret flying boat on a secret test mission- stalking a Philippine Navy ship in the open sea. The occupants knew that they were in enemy’s territory and the boat they encountered accidentally belongs to the enemy. They knew that it must be silenced to preserve the secrecy of their craft.
The craft maneuvered back and headed toward the boat.
“It’s turning, Andro. It’s coming back to us!” shouted Diego.
“Shit! They saw us. They are enemy,” cursed Andro.
“Hold on! I’m speeding away,” shouted Diego.
Diego throttled the engine and the boat speeded away, creating a lot of displacements because they were loaded now. Andro hugged the boat to secure himself from the sudden burst of speed. Andro looked back; the craft was closing on them like a predator chasing its prey. He knew that they were the prey.
“Turn to hard right!” Andro ordered.
Diego shifted the rudder in sharp angle and the boat arched violently from its straight course and nearly capsized. The pursuing craft overshot past them like an arrow lost its target. Unable to anticipate their move, the craft lost them momentarily. The boat now was speeding, and heading toward the direction of their island.
The craft decelerate, turn to the direction of the boat and prepared for another attack. Its engine roared as if it was in anger chasing the evading prey.
“It’s coming again! It’s very fast!” exclaimed Diego
”Shit!” cursed Andro. He knew that their boat’s speed was no match to that of their attacker. A hard turn to either left or right will veer them away toward the wrong direction, much farther away from Pag-asa. And in danger like this, their only protection is the refuge of the island. He was also thinking of a straight course to lessen the distance that separated them from the island but he was also exposing them to be an easy prey for their assailant.
Then he thought of the grenade that he brought, that was safely kept inside the boat’s wooden compartment. He knew it can help them. Then he thought of a possible maneuver to position the boat to an attacking angle. He decided to go zigzag but still toward the direction of their island. Sensing the zigzag maneuver the pursuing craft slowed down in anticipation of their next move. Its speed was slowly chalking up the distance that separates them.
“Damn you, devilfish. Come closer to me now!” cursed Andro.
This time he was prepared. He has only one alternative on his mind. He wanted to fight back. He ordered the boat to slow down. As they slowed down the craft at their back gathered speed upon sensing its opportunity to rammed them. But it didn’t know that its would-be prey has a violent preparation. The craft caught up with the boat, now almost at its grasp, without any means of escape. It was akin to a whale, open-mouthed, where its prey was almost at the tip of its tongue. All it needs to do was to close its mouth and swallowed the prey in whole.
Then Andro threw the grenade forcefully to the rushing craft. The grenade exploded at the nose of the craft, and shattered the glass of its cockpit. They saw its shards scattered in all direction. Andro and Diego leaped in exultation. They hit the craft and it staggered then stopped. Later it turned back to them. The two sensed their opportunity to escape and immediately speeded toward their sanctuary, the distant Pag-asa Island.
IV. TRIPWIRE TO WAR
The oil tanker Rajah Lakandula, a Philippine registered ship was navigating the Spratly loaded with oil from the Persian Gulf. It was heading toward the island of Luzon where a refinery is located. Without the crews’ knowledge, the ship had been marked up as target since it entered the area. A propeller-driven flying boat called the Shuinghong is shadowing it and tracking its movement. The flying boat can easily attack the ship for it was unescorted, but the situation does not called for. The tension in the area had been steadily building and specter of war pervaded in the area since China occupied again a Philippine claimed Ayungin reef. The flying boat knew that their strategist has another plan for the intruding tanker. It must be sunk in a classic way, in a passive action like mines. They knew that mines had been successfully employed in Persian Gulf, wreaking havoc on international shipping as well as on modern U.S warships operating in the area. And the strategist found out that the U.S. government did not directly retaliate because they had been warned in advance yet they ignored it. Since mines were passive weapons, reacting onto it by directly bombing the perpetrator could only be interpreted that you are responsible for starting the shooting war.
Now, the scenario was repeated again in South China Sea. There has been warning to the international community that China placed mines on strategic location of their claimed area in South China Sea as part of the forward defense of their territory.
The tanker did not alter its course because to abide to the dictatorial whim of china can only be interpreted as submission. The tanker has been ordered to continue traversing its former route, the open water between the Chinese held Subi and Gaven reefs, where they construct manmade islands on both of it. The gap between the two reefs was heavily mined by the Chinese. The mines they used were encapsulated and bottom-dwelling type. The mines were also linked to underwater cables with control stations situated on both of the island.
When the tanker came nearer to the gap, the flying that shadowed it, called the nearest control station informing them that the tanker enters into their laid trap. The nearest post of the Subi-Gaven defensive line of China relative to the bearing where the tanker was heading was activated. The pre-positioned sonar placed on it goes active and the information it gathered were received and determined. Then the station worked for a firing solution and fed it back to the encapsulated torpedoes of that post. Two torpedoes received the fed and immediately its guidance system goes active. Two torpedoes burst from its encapsulation and headed directly to the target guided by wire. When the two acquired the tanker on its own sensor the wire was terminated and the torpedoes homed at the tanker. The tanker exploded after being hit. It did not survive the attack. Massive oil spill engulfed the surroundings as the tanker sank, releasing its cargo as it went down.
Few hours passed after the incident, China issued the official statement to the world, covered by all segment of mass media and was destined for international consumptions.
The official statement:
The government of Peoples Republic of China regrets the sinking of a Philippine tanker in the vicinity of our Chupi-Pi Chiao Island. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to help and had picked up some survivors which are now taken cared by our qualified personnel based on the island of Chupi-Pi Chiao.
The tanker had strayed into our defensive zone and hit the mine. All the countries that use South China Sea had been sufficiently notified and warned about the danger of mines on various strategic locations. The commercial shipping community abided to our warning without any question because our act of defending our territory is a sovereign duty of every citizen of our Motherland.
As a peace-loving people, we abide to the code of conduct which we both ratified. As evidence to it, we never sent any of our naval craft to intercept the tanker because we do not want to violate the code even the tanker posed as a dangerous threat to our naval establishment. But the tanker went too far for a commercial ship without ulterior intention. The passage assigned to commercial shipping is the natural navigational route with respect to the nature of underwater terrain of the area.
The Philippine tanker disregarded our warnings and blatantly violated our territorial sovereignty. We fear that the real motive of the tanker is intelligence gathering as manifested by the electronics equipment it carried. We urged the government of the Republic of the Philippines to rein the action of their shipping and refrain from any combative posturing so as not to create incident conducive to eruption of conflict.
They must abide to the request of Peoples Republic of China if they are sincere in seeking peaceful solution in the Nansha.
The statement ends.
The Philippine government issued also their official statement regarding about the sinking of the tanker.
The statement:
Attacking innocent civilian shipping on international water is an act of terrorism. The international water belongs to the human race. It has been there before any countries existed. Our ancestors sailed on this sea before, and we continued using it until now because the sea will always be there for the benefits of the human race, and not just as an exclusive domain of Communist China. Our civilian shipping had been sailing on this route for many years without any untoward incident until China started its creeping invasion in the Spratly, until they proclaimed to the whole world that the reefs they occupied by the use of military might was rightfully belongs to them. The sinking of the tanker had brought no marvel to our government as well as to the citizens of the Republic of the Philippines because Chinese government had shown before to the whole world their modern brand of cultured brutality. Now, they’re using it again. This incident is fearsome, to Republic of the Philippines as well as to the international community who uses the water of South China Sea. The Philippine constitution denounces war as an instrument of national policy, but the government of the Republic of the Philippines was mandated also by our highest law to protect its citizens from any act of terrorism.
The statement ends.
The corvette BRP Iloilo and the fast attack craft BRP Basilan that was armed with four torpedoes were trailing the wake of mine hunter boat BRP Bangued. Their mission is to keep the Balabac Strait open to international shipping. The former route that was used to traverse the center of South China Sea was shunned by the shippers favoring the safer passage through Balabac Strait, and then traveled through the inland sea of the Philippines before heading toward their destination.
BRP Iloilo was one of the modern warships acquired by the Philippine Navy. It was small, fast and compact. It can perform anti-submarine warfare and was also armed with anti-shipping missiles. It can defend itself from any air threats. The ship suited well to a Third World county like the Philippines where the cost of acquisition always depended on the availability of the budget. The corvette fits the requirement of the Philippine Navy. The navy had ordered twelve of it and the delivery was in progress, after the completion of four units. BRP Iloilo also carries anti-submarine warfare helicopter on its deck. It was the Lynx helicopter that carries two lightweight torpedoes. It also carries dipping sonar for its antisubmarine work.
The other ship, the BRP Basilan was a hydrofoil, designed by British compny and was constructed locally. It was armed with lightweight MK-46 torpedoes. The craft could be employed as submarine chaser in tandem with the corvette hence the corvette possessed an advance sonar that can direct the hydrofoil towards its target. The corvette together with the hydrofoil and its attending helicopter can project an effective anti-submarine network in a definite area of operation.
The mine hunter boat was sailing leisurely at ten knots, followed by the corvette, a mile away, which was also trailed by the fast attack craft in a single file formation. After crossing the imaginary boundary with Malaysia, the mine hunter boat slowly arched toward South China Sea, then headed back toward the direction of their base in Ulugan Bay in Palawan. They were sailing unaware that the Chinese mined the area. Then, something hit the hull of the mine hunter. It exploded in an instant ripping the metal skin of the boat and the inside structure. The blast was so powerful that it broke the keel of the boat.
Below the surface of Balabac Strait a Chinese submarine cruised silently. Its battery was fully charged and was armed with torpedoes. Its mission is to patrol the area that serves as an entrance to the South China Sea, which the Chinese considered as their inland sea. The submarine was positioning in advance even though war had not yet started. It was guarding the entry point of South China Sea where a possible Philippine Navy coastal submarine might used in order to enter the area. It acts like a sentry guarding the entrance of a cave, in order to intercept any intruder who wished to enter their domain. The submarine occupants heard the distant explosion. They knew that one of their newly laid defenses had found its target. It was an explosion of mine and not a direct attack or handiwork of any war machine. They have every reason to put the blame on the intruder who trespassed on their territory. China had given them ample warning that any vessel who is going to transit the area must ask first their permission so that their vessels will be directed to a safe passage. They have sufficiently informed the international communities that the Peoples Republic of China has the right to establish any defense network on its sovereign territories to protect its boundaries and safeguard the interest of the state. But there are entities that didn’t heeds to its warning and violated its sovereignty. The trespasser stumbled on one of their defensive weapons, the advance torpedo mine.
BRP Iloilo received the distress massage of the mine hunter and immediately rushed to the site. It went active with its sonar while the helicopter took off and headed toward the area in advance. It dipped its sonar in search pattern around the vicinity of the incident. It did not take a long time for the helicopter to get a contact. Its sonar picked up the signature of a submarine patrolling nearby.
“Rafter I’ve got contact on bearing two five zero,” radioed the helicopter to the corvette, BRP Iloilo.
“Trail your contact, Spearhead I’m heading to the area. Charger will assist you in due time, “answered the corvette. I’m heading toward the area. Charger will assist you in due time,” answered by the corvette. The hydrofoil attack craft BRP Bangued, called Charger arched toward the position of the now sinking mine hunter. After throwing its available rescue equipments to the survivors, it went offensive. It lashed its sonar. It picked up the position of an unknown submarine.
But the helicopter got it first. “Rafter I got for bull’s eye,” said the radio.
“Sink it Spearhead! Sink it,” ordered by corvette.
“Roger Rafter.”
The Lynx helicopter hovered above the waves; its dipping sonar is lashing the escaping submarine. Then it shuddered as it ejects its two torpedoes. The torpedoes splashed on the water and dashed in straight line toward the target below. Its guidance is the echo return of the active mode of the sonar before it shifted into its own sensor after gaining sufficient range. The submarine tried desperately to lure the torpedoes away from them but the lock-on of the torpedoes can’t be fooled. It homed on its trget and exploded violently.
“Rafter, I hit the target!”
“Yes, Spearhead, good work. Search for more and secure the area.”
After scouring the area and found nothing is around, the helicopter returned to the deck of the corvette, BRP Iloilo which is now active in assisting the hydrofoil in rescuing the survivors of the sunk mine hunter boat. The corvette after thorough search of the area for any possible survivors for many hours, and convinced that no more survivors to be rescued, decided to sail back to their home base together with the hydrofoil, for further possible mission to be conducted.
After the incident the Philippine government issued declaration of war against the Peoples Republic of China, with international press covering the press release.
The declaration:
The government of the Republic of the Philippines condemns the treacherous attack of our naval vessel in our own territorial sea by an intruding Chinese submarine.
In this incident, China has committed an open act of aggression. Their inherent policy of reliance on the use of force in solving the disputes is very dangerous. Their egocentric behavior shows their lack of neither respect nor conformity to the principles of international laws covering our seas.
The Peoples Republic of China should have stopped their military adventurism and precisely the creeping invasion long time ago if they are really sincere in seeking peace, stability and cooperation in the region. But what they have shown is deception. They have pretended to seek peaceful solution but deeply harbored a motive of claiming the whole South China Sea by the use of force.
The government of the Republic of the Philippines will not allow this deception to flourish. It will not allow China’s creeping invasion goes unhampered. The act of treachery that resulted to the lost of innocent lives and property could not be justified anymore by a mere dialogue that was devoid of sincerity.
The Republic of the Philippines declares war against the Peoples Republic of China. The Armed Forces of the Philippines stands ready to protect its citizens, defends its sovereign territories and pursue its national interest.
The statement ends.
Hours later, China also declares war. The Chinese Foreign Minister announced it in his press conference with international press covering it.
The Peoples Republic of China has the right to deploy its defenses through out its sovereign territories. Any military movements within its boundaries are a defensive action and its sovereign rights. Pre-positioning of its military forces is essential to the defense of its territories.
The sinking of PLA Navy submarine patrolling our territorial waters is an act of war against peace-loving citizens of the Peoples Republic of China. In this incident, our sovereignty was grossly violated in aggressive manner, without respect to our undisputable claim to the whole of South China Sea which was internationally recognized.
The armed forces of the Peoples Republic of China belong to the people; their duty is to safeguard the gains of the people’s revolution no the achievements of national construction, and to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity end security of the country.
This constitutional mandate to our armed forces is sacred.
The Peoples Republic of China declares war against the Republic of the Philippines.
Our government warns any foreign nation not to intervene in this regional dispute that has no bearing on their own national interest because the armed forces of the Peoples Republic of China will defend its sovereign territories against any illegitimate claimants as well as those countries which were promulgating false assertions.
The statement ends.
V. THE FIRST FORAY
“Synergism tactics,” said Gou Xing, the head of South Sea Fleet Maritime Special Warfare Command. He was standing at the center of rectangular table inside the conference room. Seated facing him were the crew of the flying boat called the Stingray and the personnel of its supporting elements. He briefed the group about the special mission that they are going to carry. It was considered special because the outcome will influence the next war plan to be promulgated by the strategists. It was a test, a probing to the system of defenses employed by the enemy who is now controlling the vicinity of a major choke point of South China Sea, the Balabac Strait and the surrounding waters.
“Officers, let me refresh your awareness about the incident east of Balabac Strait. As we all knew, one of our submarine was attacked and sunk by our enemy in our own water. It was hard for us to accept this kind of information but that is the truth. It was sunk by a single torpedo fired from a helicopter that was stationed on the deck of the corvette which was escorted by a fast assault craft where a mine hunter boat cleared the course. As you can see their defenses were interlocking. Each one protects the other. But the corvette got a major role in the group. In this incident, Synergism tactics is well implemented because the vulnerability the less capable craft was compensated by the corvette while its detection capability was expanded by the capability of the helicopter. So, gentlemen the priority of our mission is to take out this modern corvette out of our territory. Once it was taken out, our fast attack crafts will take care of the rest of the members of the group. The helicopter will become worthless because it has no landing platform to rely on. Considering its limited endurance in operation, it will simply retreat towards on one of their islands for sanctuary. If not it will crash on the sea for lack of fuel.”
After the briefing the crew of the flying boat prepared the craft. The flying boat called the Stingray was now fully armed and equipped. It was now ready for its first attack mission.
The Stingray was the product of their long research about the possibility of applying the theory of wing-in-ground effect to a flying boat. The Stingray is the first Chinese flying boat to put into use the wing-in-ground effect theory successfully. At three hundred knots speed, at standard sea level pressure, the lift generated by the wings of the flying boat is nearly equaled to the total weight of the craft, thereby creating a steady altitude course-hugging the waves like a gliding stingray. When the Stingray is loaded with weapons and fuels, its own computer calculates its intended speed to counter the added factors.. The primary purpose why the Stingray was developed is to counter those high-technology warships of Taiwan and the U.S. who has vested interest in the region. These nations have warships that possess sophisticated sensors that can detect incoming enemies at long range. These warships can also effectively track the enemy and engaged them before they can come nearer into their position.
Now, the Stingray came into its existence. Their counterforce has arrived and the playing field became even. The Stingray that was capable of hugging the waves at high speed, with a very small radar cross-section, was impossible to be detected at great distance. This characteristic creates in element of surprise making its enemy unaware of its presence. Its image can only be detected at short range. At the range that it will presumably acquired by the enemy, the makers of the Stingray have assumed that the craft can attack its enemy with greater efficiency compared to them. And in the cases that both target and the attacker fire with each other in exchange at close range, the target will suffer most hit. The probability of hitting the Stingray moving at high speed on the near surface has yet to be tested and proven. Most of the anti-ship missiles hit its target because the ships are lumbering targets and they are bigger to be acquired by the missiles’ sensor. The Stingray is very different from those common sea crafts. It is stealthy and it can dash at high speed in escape by hugging the water. All these capabilities made the Stingray an elusive target but a potent attacker.
The Stingray slowly emerged from its hardened concrete hangar. All eyes were trained on it. The spectators looked at the craft with admirations. Its poise was superb to them as the light flooded the entranced of the structure as well as the driveway leading to the runways of the South Sea Fleet base. For the first time the Stingray was revealed outside the confines of few individuals who made the Stingray. Now the flying boat was exposed to different individuals but its secrecy will be preserved for these selected persons came from the high hierarchy of the PLA organizations representing various commands. The Stingray followed the path toward the common runway in slow pace. When it entered into the runway it accelerated as the spectators glued their eyes in silent applause. Upon seeing how it performs. As the Stingray accelerated, slowly it lifted its body, barely touching the ground now. It retracted its wheels in orderly fashion as its enormous wings angled to a climb. Few minutes later it was completely airborne. In high altitude its silhouette is like a U.S. B-2 bomber, prowling the dark night seemed like looking for its prey.
“Stingray, this is Dragon Eyes,” radioed the AWAC, a reconnaissance and communication plane that was based on Ilyushin aircraft, is one of the many high technology weapons acquired by China from Russia. With this kind of plane, China can now monitor the wide area of South China Sea for any possible intruders before it can reach the mainland territories.
“Yes, Dragon Eyes,” acknowledged the Stingray.
“Stingray, your target is nine-five-three miles bearing one-nine-five. Proceed to engage your target,” radioed the plane.
“Roger. Stingray is executing now,”
Then Stingray gathered speed like that of a plane and reached its maximum speed at higher altitude. It flew like a loaded bomber, lumbering at cruising speed. But the Stingray is not a bomber. It is an attack flying boat designed to attack high-value maritime targets.
The Stingray carries assorted types of weapons. In its body in separate bays settled the two wire-guided torpedoes, with heavy warheads. Other lightweight torpedoes, enclosed in pairs were located on each wing. Incorporated to its wings shoulders are series of eight tubes containing different types of missiles. Four of them housed the medium range radar-homing missiles and the other four contained the dual-seeker missiles that use both the infrared and active radar signals to home on its targets. All the warheads of the missiles were lightweight. These warheads are capable of damaging the upper deck structure but could not inflict a major damage on the hull especially those ship with tough steel hull. The main objective of the lightweight missiles is not to sink the ship but to cripple it electronically by destroying its sensitive sensors which are located in the upper structure. After the ship lost its sensors, the flying boat will move in and attack the using the heavyweight torpedoes at close range.
The Stingray flew toward the Spratly at half of its maximum subsonic speed. There was a relax mood of the crew inside the craft’s cabin. There was a steady hum of electronics equipment but the radio was silent. They are under strict emission control so as not to reveal their position. The Stingray reached the Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly by non-sop high latitude flight. Its fully loaded tank of fuel were almost consumed. But the crews were confident that the Stingray can refuel once they reached the area. There is refueling facilities on Fiery Cross Reef on the other nearby islands which belongs to China. The Stingray reduced its subsonic speed as it slowly dived to a lower altitude. It continued descending until it was just few meters above the water. Above the water, its enormous wings created a great lift that made it impossible to touch the water at its present speed of three hundred knots. At this speed its wing configuration was constructed so as not to produce a lift capable of making the craft to soar. It will only make the craft to level its flight at the current altitude. It will hug the water like the gliding flight of the stingray fish. Then the flying boat slowly reduced its current speed. It slowed down, the lift generated by its wings were reduced thereby bringing the craft to glide downward. The craft’s body only partially touched the water but still its acceleration was too fast. Then the craft switched off the main jet engine and it slowed down on the water creating a splash of displacements. After touchdown with few meters of acceleration the Stingray stopped and settled on the water like boat, gently rocked by the waves.
Fiery Cross Reef is a Chinese occupied territory. It serves as a small naval facility of their forces operating in the Spratly area. The manmade island has fuel depot. It has also repair facilities for ships as well as for the flying boats and helicopters. It has also storage facilities for foods and fresh water. It also serves as communication center. The Fiery Cross Reef facilities was designed and built for the purpose of war. It was solidly built. Massive concrete buildings up to four-storey high dotted the reef formations. Some are clustered together, while others were scattered on the large expanse of the reef. The buildings have stored missiles and guns in it. Other buildings have landing platforms for helicopters, the Z-9 naval helicopter armed with torpedoes and missiles.
The Stingray landed few meters away from one of the structures. A flat-bottomed boat came to its position and settled on its side. From under the wing of the Stingray a tube emerged. It elongated sideway toward the direction of the boat. Halfway toward the position of the boat it stopped. Then from the end of the tube a valve opened. It was now ready to receive the fuel. From the boat a feeding tube craned toward the extended tube of the Stingray. After few adjustments the two tubes coupled and the feeding started. The boat fed it with fuel until its requirements were met. Then the two tubes detached from their coupling automatically. The Stingray’s receiving tube retracted and slid back to its concealed position, buried under one of its wings.
The Stingray’s mission is to attack and sink the Philippine corvette patrolling the shipping route that leads to Balabac Strait that was used by the international shipping as a passage before heading to their destinations. The heart of South China Sea was avoided by the commercial shipping for fear of being caught in the crossfire. They also fear the dangers of mines that were laid on strategic locations. The Philippine corvette with attending ASW helicopter in tandem with the hydrofoil torpedo boat are not a small fry targets, those are decent warships employing advance armaments end sensors. The Stingray was very eager to test its capability on these new warships. Inside, the crew of the Stingray were busy updating the various information about the corvette. They found out that it was still roaming around its patrol zone, one hundred sixty miles away from their position. The Stingray prepared for take-off. Its two jet engines growled to life. The Stingray slowly moved away. It gathered speed for few minutes. When its engines came into full throttle the craft’s sharp V- shaped hull sliced the water violently. Then few minutes later its humongous wings immediately acquired the necessary lift to propel the craft to take –off from the water. The Stingray took-off from the water but it did not soar. Instead, it leveled its flight after reaching fifty feet altitude, cruising at two hundred knots.
The BRP Iloilo corvette patrolled its assigned zone, the area between Rizal Reef and Balabac Island. Together with BRP Basilan, a torpedo-armed hydrofoil, they patrolled the area in radial pattern while the Lynx helicopter of the corvette patrolled the inner zone of the radius. The patrol was implemented so as to insure a safe passage of international shipping from any naval attack, either it be carried by submarines or surface crafts of the enemy. The purpose of the patrol is to safeguard the Balabac Strait that serves as entrance to the inland sea of the Philippines. The patrol denies enemy’s submarine access to the inland sea where inter-island shipping routes lies. The other entry points of the inland sea, located north of Palawan were all patrolled and guarded by the newly squired submarines called the SWTS. SWTS is an acronym for shallow water attack submarine because the inland sea was secured, it mode the inter-island shipping impervious to attack. Unhampered domestic shipping facilitated the movements of basic goods and also goods with strategic military value. In war this movements are critical to the defense of the country.
Inside the BRP Iloilo corvette, Martin has just completed his duty. While lying on his bed he fell into reverie. He reminisced the past and the progression of his life. He traced it with emotional terrain seemed like a slow ride on a boat, battling the summer waves way back to his childhood days. Then his memories dwelled on it, as time froze on his thought. Having grown up in a typical fishing village, Martin had witnessed tragic death brought upon by the sea. Drowning of fishermen due to bad weather almost occurred yearly in the village. The incident seemed like a natural occurrence and the frequency it happened had desensitized his sympathy. He does not want to be an ordinary fisherman mired in poverty. Hopelessness made him to leave the place in search of better life other than fishing, the only thing that the village could offer to him. Now, he belongs to the navy. For his love of the sea and adventure, the navy satisfied his ambition.
Tonight he felt differently. His body rhythm betrayed him of inconvenience. He can’t sleep and his thought was slipping toward his past. Memories of drowning incidents he witnessed kept flashing on his thought He assumed that it was just a spark of wild thought. He did not want to entertain that the flashback was a morbid warning. Later he felt asleep.
The Stingray acquired on its radar the corvette as well as the hydrofoil traveling at leisurely pace. They have no knowledge that they were being observed by the enemy.
“Corvette is 17 miles bearing 046,” announced by the electronics officer.
“Bring the Stingray closer to it. We will attack using the torpedoes,” ordered by Captain Sun.
The corvette sonar operator was alarmed. There’s a faint echo return registered on their short range sonar while going active for short duration of intermittent sweeping. On passive mode, there was nothing in the area He thought that there might be an elusive submarine lurking beneath the waves and waiting for the right moment to attack. He informed his officer about it and was acted immediately by sending the Lynx helicopter to confirm the contact.
The incoming helicopter was picked up by the Stingray.
“Aircraft incoming,” alarmed by the radar operator.
“An obstacle. This craft can find us if we stayed long enough. Prepare to launch the torpedoes,” ordered Captain Sun.
“Torpedoes are ready, Captain,” said the weapon officer.
“Fire one.”
“Torpedo one, fired.”
“Fire two.”
“Torpedo two, fired.”
“Prepare to take off after termination of guidance.”
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