Chapter 4899: Base defense

After settling down on the base of Diego Garcia Island, Lin Rui and others used an excuse to check their work. First visited the port.
Diego Garcia Island is a V-shaped coral atoll. The central lagoon is 24 kilometers long and 6.4 kilometers wide. It has an opening in the north and is a natural harbor.
After years of construction by the Americans, all surface ships, including the active heavy nuclear-powered aircraft carriers of the US military, can be moored, and at the same time, it can also supply the US military's nuclear submarines that are parked.
Lieutenant Hill is a very talkative man. Along the way, I will introduce some information about this base to Lin Rui and others.
Diego Garcia Island is the main island of the Chagos Islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It covers an area of ​​28.5 square kilometers. It is the only military base of the US military in the Indian Ocean. It is located at the forefront of the Indian Ocean route and has a prominent strategic position.
The island was originally under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom and the United States signed a secret agreement in 1964, deciding that the two countries would jointly develop Diego Garcia Island as a military base.
For this reason, in 1971, the aborigines on the island were forced to move to Mauritius 1,500 kilometers away. Diego Garcia began as a communications relay station for the British and American forces, but after years of expansion, it has now become an important US military base and strategic base overseas.
At present, the comprehensive facilities of this base are complete. There are 4000 US soldiers stationed. The total area of ​​the base is about 44 square kilometers. There is a runway of more than 3,600 meters long. It can take off and land B-52, B-1, B-2 and other long-range heavy bombers. , The apron reaches 370,000 square meters, and can park more than 100 fighters. There are 10 U.S. B-52 bombers and KC-135 and KC-10 aerial tankers that provide air refueling support for long-distance flights.
At the same time, there are also various equipment of a US Marine Brigade and hundreds of air-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The port has a wharf and two deep-water channels. It can berth large aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, and pre-built fleets of combat materials. It is fully equipped with the ability to protect American aircraft carrier battle groups, amphibious landing formations and strategic bombers in the Indian Ocean.
But Lin Rui didn't care about these. He turned his head and asked Lieutenant Hill. "Which ships are currently anchored in the port?"
"This..." Lieutenant Hill hesitated. "At present, it is mainly a few ships of the Nassau Amphibious Security Group ARG. The commander is Colonel John Bruning."
The Nassau Amphibious Alert Group consists of the 8th Amphibious Squadron, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Force, the Tarawa-class multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Nassau LHA4, the San Antonio-class amphibious dock transport ship USS Mesa Verde LPD19 and Whidbey Island Class amphibious dock landing ship Ashland LSD48.
What Lin Rui is most concerned about is naturally the Ashland, the ship with a terrorist prison in the legend, and it is very likely that this ship is also the main target of the secret society organization.
So he took the initiative to ask Lieutenant Hill about the Ashland. This is a huge dock landing ship.
This class of ship is characterized by its huge dock, 134 meters long, about 3/4 of the ship’s total length, and 15 meters wide. It can carry 4 LCAC air-cushion landing craft and 21 LCM propeller-propelled mechanized landing craft. The flight deck can be used simultaneously Take off and land two CH-46 medium helicopters or helicopters of the same level, and the vehicle deck can carry 22 M60 main battle tanks.
There were 340 personnel on board, including 21 officers, and there were also beds for the 450 marines to be transported.
This class of ship’s ballast tanks are arranged in the bulwark on both sides of the stern and the dock. In order to shorten the discharge time of ballast water, both compressed air and discharge pumps can be used for discharge.
In terms of weaponry and equipment, it is equipped with 1 General Dynamics RAM ship-to-air missile launcher, equipped with passive infrared/anti-radiation homing anti-aircraft missiles, and 2 MK15 six-tube 20mm "Phalanx" short-range weapon systems. Equipped with two MK88 25mm cannons.
"This ship is really big enough." Although Lin Rui heard a lot of introductions from the ensign, he was surprised when he saw the real thing.
"This is just an amphibious landing ship. The one over there is an amphibious assault ship. It looks like a small aircraft carrier." Hill said to them. "It's not too big now, and I won't know until you really go down.
Unfortunately, we cannot board the ship now. To board the two ships requires special permissions. The base commander did not have sufficient authority to approve. "
"Of course. We don't need to go to the ship." Lin Rui nodded. He naturally knew why he was not allowed to board the ship. So the conversation turned around, "How do you handle port patrols in normal times?"
"It's mainly helicopters and some small ships. The surrounding waters are very safe, but our routine inspection work has never been interrupted." Lieutenant Hill nodded.
"Helicopter?" Lin Rui asked.
"V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, and two other anti-submarine aircraft, formed a patrol formation. Well, sometimes drones are used. For patrol ships, there are several small patrol boats." Lieutenant Hill explained.
"In other words, you know very well about the surrounding waters of this base." Lin Rui nodded.
"Of course, most of the waters around this island are very clear to us. Especially for the helicopter formations and patrol boats responsible for security, they are very familiar with the surrounding waters." Lieutenant Hill nodded.
"Peripheral patrols are an important security measure for maritime bases. I would like to visit your security team to learn about some conditions in the waters surrounding this base." Lin Rui took the opportunity to say.
"Of course, but in that case we have to return to the airport. I think you can check the situation in the patrol fleet first. They are in the camp over there." Hill pointed to the barracks not far away.
"That's good." Lin Rui nodded.
Lieutenant Hill took them there and found the head of the patrol fleet. A naval officer in his thirties.
After asking where they came from, the captain's attitude towards them was fairly enthusiastic.
"Welcome, welcome, my name is Lu Qi." The officer nodded. "How can I help?"
"Captain, you know more about this sea area. I want to know, where is this sea area suitable for hiding?
I mean if a group of terrorists plan to attack ships in the port, where do you think they will hide? "Lin Rui asked.
"It's impossible." Lu Qi smiled.
"I mean if, in your opinion, if they want to launch an attack. A ship needs to be arranged to provide assistance and support, then where should this ship be hidden?" Lin Rui looked at Captain Lu Qi and asked.
"There is no suitable place to stay in the surrounding area, and their boats are not hidden. If I were to choose, I would definitely choose here." Lu Qi has not put his finger on the other side of the map.