March 4th, 1931. In order to have a possible foothold in the event of an Anti-Soviet campaign, the Imperial Japanese Navy constructs a new naval base in the Bering Strait.
May 15th, 1931. An unknown metal hulk is discovered during the construction of the base. Opening the hulk reveals equipment far too advanced for its time. The Navy hides the discovery for fear it may be abused by the Army.
August 20th, 1931. The Naval Arctic Research Facility is completed.
September 18th, 1931. The Imperial Japanese Army invades Manchuria. First successful combat use of the Airship since the First World War. Navy decides to construct new class of Airships in response to Army successes.
July 1st, 1944. Following a number of US bombing raids on the Japanese Home Islands, factory machinery, materiel, and workers are shipped to the NARF.
July 10th, 1944. I-404 arrives at NARF. Work on I-403 resumes at NARF.
August 11th, 1945. A prototype of the Navy's Nakajima J9Y Kikka arrives at NARF. The first Army personnel also arrive, along with blueprints of the Ki-201 Karyu.
August 12th, 1945. J7W Shinden interceptors arrive at NARF. First Enryu-class Airship completed.
August 15th, 1945. Japan surrenders.
October 31st, 1945. Imperial Japanese forces arrive at a military base located in between Russia and Alaska. They rendezvous with Japanese forces already present in the area and form the Imperial Japanese Arctic Fleet.
May 31st, 1950. Admiral Tendo Uesugi, commander of the Arctic Fleet, announces the existence of the Arctic Fleet to other Imperial Japanese remnants. Imperial Japanese remnants leave the Philippines to join the Arctic Fleet.
June 18th, 1950. The USAF sends another Air Fleet to Alaska in order to locate the Arctic Fleet's base of operations.
Arctic Fleet Central Operations Base
Briefing Room
June 18th, 1950
"Pilots," the commander began. "We have received intelligence that a large scale enemy force is heading in this direction. They seem to be bringing in their newest mass-production models."
The slideshow on the wall shifted to another picture.
"The enemy units are as follows," the commander continued. "The entirety of the 71st Air Fleet will be upon us. They have old Z-class airships, so they should be no problem. Its escorts are the 44th Bomber wing, equipped with B-29s, the 89th, 74th, and 45th Fighter wings, equipped with F8F Bearcats, and the 10th Fighter wing, equipped with P-80 Shooting Stars."
"Reppu squadrons will destroy the F8Fs. The Kikkas will strike the airships and B-29s."
The commander shifted his attention in Yorha's direction.
"The Suiryu's First and Second squadrons will handle the P-80s. This will be your first headon jet-vs-jet combat. You guys up for it?"
Yorha and her squadron mates stood up and saluted.
"Yes sir!" they chorused. The commander nodded.
"Good," said he. "To your planes! Do NOT let the enemy touch our fleet!"
"Ensign Mizuchi!" a mechanic exclaimed. "Over here!"
Yorha ran over to the mechanic and stopped upon reaching her aircraft.
"It's all ready to go," the mechanic said. "Good luck out there."
Yorha nodded.
"Right."
She climbed into the fighter and locked the cockpit down over her. The engines of her Ki-201 Karyu screamed to life, flames liking themselves out of the exhausts. A runway operator waved Yorha towards the catapult.
The forward hook of the Ki-201 latched onto the main catapult, steam rising from the surrounding ice.
"This is 2-2, Ensign Mizuchi here," Yorha said. "Ready to launch."
The intercom crackled to life.
"Bridge to 2-2, you are cleared to launch, Ensign!"
"Affirmative," Yorha replied. "Yorha Mizuchi, 2-2, launching."
Somewhere over the Bering Strait
71st Air Fleet, Flagship Harrisburg
June 18th, 1950
"Admiral Peterson," an officer said. "We are about to enter possible enemy airspace. Shall we deploy the fighters?"
Peterson nodded. The officer saluted in return.
"Notify all pilots," said he. "Prepare to launch the fighters."
An alarm sounded as pilots scrambled to get into their aircraft.
"Admiral," the officer said. "The 44th Bomber wing has arrived."
"Very good, Captain," Peterson replied. "Send the 45th to escort the 44th. The 89th and 74th will stay with us. Tell the 10th to clear the path ahead of us. We need as many of those Jap fighters shot down as possible."
"Yes sir."
The clacking of latches echoed outside as squadron after squadron of fighters detached themselves from the airships. Fifteen aircraft screamed forward, trailing clouds as they did so.
The fifteen P-80 Shooting Stars skimmed the clouds, gradually approaching the Arctic Fleet's base.
"ETA to target, 30 seconds. All planes report in."
"1-2, present."
"1-3, here!"
"1-4, ready when you are, sir!"
"1-5, good to go!"
"Second squadron, report in."
"2-2, present."
"2-3, ready!"
"2-4, let's do this."
"2-5, here."
Yorha sighed. A slight amount of static accompanied everyone's response, and Yorha disliked static. It reminded her of those who fell. She briefly touched her eyepatch in reaction to the static. Suddenly, another transmission crackled through the intercoms.
"This is your Airborne Warning and Command Aircraft, callsign Denkou. All squadrons, be advised. We have detected fifteen aircraft heading in your direction at high speed, most likely the 10th Fighter Wing's P-80 Shooting Stars. Your mission is to destroy these jets; make sure they do not present a danger to our fighter squadrons."
A familiar voice.
Yorha looked behind her and found a twin-engined aircraft behind her. The Ki-74 slowly climbed above the two squadrons before leveling out, just below the clouds.
Yorha smiled at the sight, before looking around at the squadron's' equipment. Excluding the two squadron leaders, who flew J7W2 Shinden-kai jet fighters, everyone flew Ki-201 Karyu jet fighters, including herself.
She sighed.
"All aircraft, prepare yourselves. We are going to climb straight into the enemy. Once you see the enemy, destroy them all. Clear a way for our airships."
One of the Shinden-kais punched their throttles forward.
"Charge!"
Tracers pierced through the clouds, tearing through one of the P-80 Shooting Stars like butter. Ten aircraft punched through the clouds, causing the P-80s to scatter.
"What the hell!?"
"Jap jets!?"
"Don't panic! Shoot them down!"
"AAAAAG-*static*"
Already, two out of fifteen jets had been destroyed.
"Alright," Yorha said to herself. "Thirteen more to go."
"Denkou to 2-2," the AWCA said. "Behind you. B-29s."
"2-2, affirmative."
Yorha's Karyu looped around, firing a number of potshots at the B-29s, causing one of them to explode.
"2-1 to 2-2, leave the B-29s; the Kikkas will handle them."
"Yes sir," Yorha replied. "2-2, to Denkou, please refrain from giving me unnecessary targets."
"Um, sorry ma'am," the operator replied. Then he gasped. "Denkou to 2-2! Above you!"
Yorha rolled left and pulled up, narrowly missing the stream of tracers.
"Thanks, W.O. Murata," Yorha said.
"Don't mention it… 1-4! Enemy aircraft to your three-o'clock! P-80s!"
"Affirmative! 1-4, moving to intercept!"
Kikkas flew into the fight, destroying a large number of B-29s and their escorts. A P-80 latched onto the tail of one of the Kikkas, destroying the Japanese jet. Yorha clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Damn it," said she. "Those things are expensive, you know."
Her Karyu dived down on the P-80 in question, tearing it apart with 30mm and 20mm cannon shells.
"That's ten," Yorha muttered. "Five more to go."
Yorha's Karyu looped around, heading for three of the remaining five aircraft. Jamming the throttle forward, Yorha gunned the fighter toward the American planes, immediately gunning one down in the process.
"Four."
"Dear God!" Peterson exclaimed. "We are going to lose them all! Quick! Pull the 10th and 44th Wings back! Bring the fleet forward; we will destroy the enemy base ourselves!"
"It's no use sir!" an operator exclaimed. "We lost all of the 10th! The 44th is suffering casualties of… nearly ninety percent!"
"What the hell is the 45th doing!?"
"They are being torn to pieces, sir! They're completely outmatched!"
"Admiral! Incoming! Enemy aircraft heading for us fast! They're targeting our escorts!"
Out of the blue, a massive swarm of A7M3-J Reppu-kais pounced on the fleet, immediately tearing apart one of the escort squadrons. Aircraft snaked their way through the airships, machine guns blazing. Plane after plane, both American and Japanese, plummeted to the ground in flames.
"Anti-aircraft batteries!" Peterson ordered. "What are you doing!? Shoot those damn Japs down!"
"Admiral!" an operator suddenly exclaimed. "Radar signature! Twelve o'clock low! This.. this looks like an enemy airship!"
"Suiryu to all flights," a voice crackled through the intercom. "Well done. The enemy is exactly where we want them to be. Fall back at once for refuel and resupply."
Below the clouds, large shadows grew in size, becoming clearer by the second. Suddenly, massive objects burst out from the clouds. Airships, bristling with guns of various sizes, flames licking their way out of the jet exhausts, rose slowly towards the American fleet.
"Helium ballasts online. All ships currently ascending." Admiral Uesugi nodded in response to the report.
"Good," said he. "Perhaps we should join the battle as well."
He turned to a man standing next to him.
"Captain Matsudaira," the Admiral said. "If you will?"
Matsudaira nodded.
"Men!" he said. "Light up those engines! The Suiryu shall launch!"
"All ships, be advised," a commander said. "Our objective is to keep the enemy airships occupied until the Suiryu manages to take off."
The Japanese Airships lined their guns on the American air fleet, steam rising from the gunbarrels. With a whirring noise, the ships' turrets rotated themselves, finally facing the American airships.
"Enemy in sight!" a crewmember exclaimed. "Range: 1000 meters! Speed: 20 knots! Load High Explosive!"
A scratching sound accompanied the shells as the crew loaded them into the guns.
"Advancing volley! Prepare to fire!"
In a moment of panic, the American ships fired sporadic shots, their 90mm shells harmlessly falling short of the Japanese Fleet.
"Fire!"
With a deafening roar, the guns of the Japanese airships came to life, 100mm shells screamed their way into the American fleet, tearing apart the lightly armored airships.
One of the airships exploded, sinking below the clouds in a ball of flame.
The Reppu-kais continued to gun down enemy Bearcats, adding to the metal hulks plummeting through the clouds.
Peterson stared in disbelief.
Already, five of the ten airships in his fleet sank below the clouds. Alarms blared in his ear, deafening his hearing. The captain screamed something at Peterson, but Peterson could not hear.
An explosion shook the airship.
More shells pierced through the clouds, smashing into the American airships, sending another one down to the ground. A large shadow darkened the clouds below, before bursting out into the open sky.
The gunfire temporarily stopped in response.
"Finally," Peterson said. "I can hear shit."
"Admiral!" a crewmember said. "Look!"
Peterson turned his head in the direction the crewmember pointed.
His jaw dropped in an instant.
A massive aircraft, not an airship, but an aircraft, emerged from beneath the clouds. Its wingspan alone stood out. Its size rivaled that of an aircraft carrier. Two distinct catapult decks extended themselves from the floats. Guns, slightly smaller than that of airships, bristled out of the aircraft.
The Suiryu had risen.
"Helmsman," Uesugi said. "Maintain altitude. We will pummel the enemy from here."
"Aye sir," the helmsman said.
"Captain Matsudaira," Uesugi called. "Let us test the Funryus out, shall we?"
Matsudaira nodded.
"Fire Control Officer!" the captain ordered. "Prepare the Funryu rockets for launch! Target the remaining American ships!"
"Aye sir!"
"Prepare the Funryu rockets! Target the enemy fleet!"
"All rockets locked onto target!"
"Rockets ready Captain!"
Matsudaira turned to Uesugi, expecting a response.
Uesugi nodded.
"Fire."
Flames erupted from the Suiryu's central fuselage. Five Funryu anti-aircraft rockets screamed through the air, heading for the American airships. Anti-aircraft fire carpeted the sky, but the gunners failed to intercept the rockets.
The rockets struck, destroying the remaining enemy airships.
"Enemy fleet destroyed. All planes, return to your ships."
A sense of relief blanketed the crewmembers.
"Admiral," Matsudaira said. "Was that wise? Neither the Americans or the Soviets have considered us to be a threat, but the sinking of this fleet may change their opinions."
Uesugi sighed.
"The reason the Americans and Soviets practically ignored us is because we have been attacking both sides," Uesugi explained. "With the sinking of that American fleet, we have gained further Soviet support, and with the next stage of the operation, the Americans will support us."
He smiled.
"If either of the two sides threaten the independence of ANY of the new nations in Asia, it is our job to make sure they do not. Is that understood!?"
The bridge crew saluted.
"Good," Uesugi said. "Have our planes returned yet?"
"Yes sir," an operator said. "All planes have returned to their designated ships."
"Admiral!" another operator said. "We have a message from the base."
"Read it."
"Yes sir. 'All noncombat personnel have been evacuated to the submarines. They will depart for Indonesia as scheduled. We pray for your success. Transport Fleet Commander Ichiro Okita. P.S. Once you rendezvous with us, bring me a bottle of Russian vodka. Maybe a couple of T-34s too.' That is all sir."
Uesugi chuckled.
"Tell Okita to make sure he doesn't sink himself," Uesugi said. "And try not to bring any uninvited guests."
"Yes sir."
Uesugi switched his attention to the first operator.
"Message to the fleet," said he. "Set a new course. Destination: Vladivostok!"
Chapter 2: The Arctic Fleet
END
Nakajima J9Y Kikka
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 9.25 m (30 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 10.00 m (32 ft 10 in)
Height: 2.95 m (9' 9")
Wing area: 13.21 m² (142ft²)
Empty weight: 2,300 kg (5,071 lb)
Loaded weight: 3,950 kg (8,710 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 4,088 kg (8,995 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Ishikawajima Ne-20 turbojets, 4.66 kN (475 kgf) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 696 km/h (432 mph)
Range: 1778 km (1105 mi)
Service ceiling: 12,303 m (39,370 ft)
Rate of climb: 387 m/min (1,237 ft/min)
Armament
Guns: 2 × 30 mm Type 5 cannon
Bombs: 1 × 500 kg (1,102 lb), or 800 kg (1,764 lb) bombs
Nakajima Ki-201 Karyu
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 11,5 m (37 ft 8¾ in)
Wingspan: 13.70 m (44 ft 11⅜ in)
Height: 4.69 m (13 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 25.0 m² (269 ft²)
Empty weight: 4,500 kg (9,920 lb)
Loaded weight: 7,000 kg (15,400 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Ishikawajima Ne-230 turbojet, 8.7 kN (1,951 lbf) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 852 km/h (592 mph; 514 kt)
Range: 980 km (609 mi)
Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,400 ft)
Rate of climb: 774 m/min (2,540 ft/min)
Armament
Interceptor: 2 × 30 mm (1.18 in) Ho-155 cannon and 2 × 20 mm Ho-5 cannon
Fighter bomber: same as interceptor, plus 1 × 500kg (1,102 lb) or 800 kg (1,764 lb) bomb
Author's notes: Hello. I am Karl the Arty. Welcome back to the next chapter of Holdout. Now it has been brought to my attention that some bits and pieces of this story make little sense. No worries, everything will be explained in due time.
I pray that you stay with this story until it is finally concluded.
Regards,
SPSH Karl