Chapter 256: Battle Cloud

Albert Edward stood on the bow of the "Invincible" aircraft carrier facing the sea breeze. The setting sun reflected the waves and dyed the vast sea blood red.
Looking far away, with two aircraft carriers "Sports God" and "Invincible" as the core, a huge expeditionary task force composed of more than 40 ships including destroyers, frigates, and supply ships is breaking through the huge waves, day and night. Hurry to the battlefield thousands of miles away.
In the invisible depths of the ocean floor, several nuclear attack submarines, known as the treasures of the country, have already set off in advance to perform the task of breaking the blockade.
There, there is a small island that is drawing the eyes of the world at this moment.
Falkland Islands, located in the South Atlantic, between 57 degrees to 62 degrees west longitude and 52 degrees to 53 degrees south latitude, is an archipelago composed of 346 small islands with an area of ​​only more than 15,000 square kilometers and a population of less than 3,000. The British mainland is more than 13,000 kilometers away.
The sovereignty dispute between Argentina and Britain has a long history, and can be traced back to the early 16th century, the era of great voyages.
Leaving aside the dispute between the two sides over the discoverer of the island, it is said that in 1770, West Bengal occupied the entire territory of Falklands, and in 1816, after Argentina broke away from Spanish colonial rule and declared independence, it should have been. Believe that he should inherit the sovereignty of Sibanga Island.
Unfortunately, it was the peak of the empire when the sun never set. Under the threat of the huge ship and artillery, the heroes bowed their heads. It took a fancy to this place and sent troops to occupy the island forcibly until March 19, 1982. day.
On this day, Argentina’s current military government’s President Gatieri fought undeclared in order to divert domestic doubts and anger about his failed economic policy. He sent troops to occupy the South Island, the subsidiary island of Falkland Islands, and subsequently In the past few days, he occupied the entire territory of Falklands.
The Falklands War officially broke out.
Britain's response was immediate and swift. The current Prime Minister Iron Lady quickly formed a wartime cabinet and dispatched this task force after racing against time to prepare.
This is a huge fleet, which brings together almost all the maritime military forces that Britain can dispatch immediately. Watching this fleet move forward through the waves, Elbert's pride spontaneously arises.
Above this blue star, apart from Dugu's ally who is seeking defeat, who else has such power? Even Soviet Russia, known as the polar bear, can't do it, their aircraft carrier? Haha, that's a joke!
In the eyes of the soldiers on the expedition, Elbert was a newly joined naval aviation force, a highly skilled helicopter pilot, and an ordinary soldier, but only he and Major General Sandy, the highest commander of the fleet, knew that. He has another more noble identity.
He is the second son of the current Queen Eliza of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the younger brother of Prince Charles, and the second in line to the empire, His Royal Highness Duke Andrew!
This is his home, this is his country, and this is his territory. Although the "empire that does not set the sun" is not as good as it used to be, what is Argentina? How dare you come to stroke the tiger's whiskers in Britain?
Elbert's chest is full of pride, the strong bow has been wound, the sharp blade has been out of the sheath, dissatisfied with drinking the blood of the enemy, and vowing not to return!
On April 3, 1982, when Tan Zhenhua was still racking his brains in Wenzhou to plan the Canton Fair to rob money, the task force of the British Empire bid farewell to Portsmouth Naval Port and set off to the battlefield thousands of miles away.
The international financial market immediately reacted to this action. On the same day, the pound sterling, which fell all the way due to the attack and occupation of the Falklands by Argentina, rose. Within a day, the exchange rate of the pound to the dollar rose from 1:1.50 to 1.50 1:1.66, the increase was close to 10%, and it maintained its upward momentum for several consecutive trading days.
In fact, although both sides have their own strengths in this battle, from the comparison of real strength, Britain, one of the five permanent members of the United Nations, still has a clear advantage.
As far as the fleet on this expedition is concerned, Britain sent two aircraft carriers, carrying the world’s first vertical take-off and landing jet fighter "Harrier" type more than 20; 8 destroyers, including the latest 5 ships of class 42 have entered service; as for frigates, it has reached 15 ships, 9 other surface combat ships, including 2 amphibious assault ships full of helicopters; surface combat ships reached a staggering 34, on which The total number of helicopters equipped exceeds more than 40!
As for other auxiliary ships, more than 20 ships were mobilized.
In order to play a great power in World War I, Britain did a real fight this time. It did not hesitate to send out the attack-type nuclear submarines that are the treasure of the country, and it sent 4 ships at a time!
Of course, Argentina, who is known as one of the hegemons of South America, is not without the power to fight back, because he also owns an aircraft carrier named after the National Day "May 25". With it as the core, it consists of 7 ships. Cruisers, 6 destroyers, 7 frigates, 6 submarines, and other small ships, a total of 42 combat ships, are also quite large. At least, compared to China at that time, such a fleet can only exist in a dream.
What's more, Argentina, who has the home field advantage, has the help of shore-based combat aircraft.
However, ironically, the "May 25" aircraft carrier, which was used as the core by Argentina, was attacked by the rice-made "A4 Skyhawk" and the Gallic "Super Banner" on it. The aircraft's combat power cannot be underestimated, but as far as the aircraft carrier itself is concerned, its origin is actually Britain!
This is a third-hand cargo that was retired from Britain, was taken over by the Tulip Country, and then retired until it was bought by Argentina!
The keen international capital market can see from the size of the expedition fleet Britain’s determination to war and the ambition to rejuvenate the power of the great power. After comparing the combat power of the two sides, they bet most of the chips on Britain. Therefore, London The stock market and the British pound rose.
On April 22, 1982, the day after Tan Zhenhua and Yu Pengxia met Guo Zhaode, with the help of Guo Zhaode, Tan Zhenhua opened an establishment in HSBC under the names of Huaqing Investment, Yu Pengxia, Yu Pengchun and Yu Haichuan. Established 4 capital accounts, and began to gradually establish short-term short-term contracts in sterling in accordance with Tan Zhenhua’s decision and Guo Zhaode’s strategy.
On the same day, the fourteen members of the British Special Air Service Group SAS jumped from the C-130 transport plane, parachuted first, then boarded the submarine that came to support, and finally swam ashore and landed 716 nautical miles from the core island of Falkland Islands. Island South Island.
They subsequently carried out a series of activities to ascertain the strength, equipment, and firepower configuration of the Afghan Army on the South Island, and selected landing sites for the follow-up troops, and even cleared the minefields at the scheduled landing sites on the island.
What's ridiculous is that the 156 Afghan troops stationed on the island did not know anything about it.
The victory and defeat began to tilt towards Britain.