513: Chapter 509: Learning from Actual Combat 513: Chapter 509: Learning from Actual Combat It seemed that the Mirage was indeed intending to fly beneath the transport aircraft, an action that was undoubtedly mocking Gao Yang and his team.
Nate had already launched a Sam-7, and the Mirage had deployed infrared flares as a result, so there was no doubt that the pilot was aware the enemy on the ground had the capability to strike back.
“F**k, what do you think you’re doing!”
The ignored and mocked Nate seemed to calm down, but his action scared Gao Yang out of his wits because, instead of firing the missile at the Mirage as soon as it appeared, Nate aimed and launched the missile at the transport aircraft flying above their heads.
Nate wasn’t the only one to do this, and Gao clearly saw two more plumes of smoke rising into the air.
In total, three anti-aircraft missiles ascended, all seemingly directed at the transport aircraft.
Just then, the Mirage fighter jet swiftly passed beneath the transport aircraft, and as it crossed over the clearing, it performed a barrel roll, somersaulting repeatedly over Gao Yang and their heads.
The missiles took off, and the Mirage passed under the transport aircraft almost simultaneously.
In Gao’s horrified gaze, the three missiles made a sharp turn in the air and, instead of continuing towards the higher-flying transport aircraft, headed towards the Mirage 5 fighter jet.
Nate dropped the launcher from his shoulder, shaking his fist at the passing aircraft and shouted loudly, “Bastard, here’s your gift!”
Although shocked, Gao realized what Nate and the others had done.
The transport aircraft was slow, so after Nate used the missile to lock onto the transport aircraft and launched it, when the missile reached mid-air, the Mirage 5 streaked past.
Because the Mirage 5 fighter jet’s turbojet engine produced a very high tail flame temperature, much higher than that of the propeller-driven transport aircraft, it had a much more distinct infrared signature.
Consequently, the Sam-7 missile deviated from its intended target and was attracted to the heat source emitted by the Mirage 5, effectively becoming a decoy flare for the transport aircraft.
The principle was simple, but there were very few who dared to do it, because timing had to be perfect.
If the missile launch timing was off, the moment the Mirage 5 flew away the missile couldn’t be distracted, or the missile might hit the transport aircraft before being diverted by Mirage 5.
Nate was truly confident, and although Gao did not know who fired the other two missiles, there was no doubt that they all timed their launch with extreme precision.
Timing could not be measured in seconds; a half-second difference would have produced a completely different result.
Both the aircraft and missiles rapidly disappeared from sight, and Gao did not know if the missiles would hit the Mirage, whether they would be distracted by the aircraft’s flares as before, or if they would succeed in bringing down the aircraft.
“Nice work!
Two hits!”
While Gao and the others couldn’t see it, the transport aircraft above had a clear view.
While Gao was staring blankly at Nate, he was startled by a loud shout in his headset and hurriedly asked over the radio, “What’s happening?”
“Two missiles hit their target, a direct hit, the Mirage 5 is down, the pilot ejected, buddy, that was beautiful work!”
After nodding subconsciously, Gao said to Nate, “You guys shot down the plane, um, nice work, buddy.”
Nate gave a cold smile and said, “Mocking me, he picked the wrong target.”
After swinging his fist again with force, Nate bellowed, “Bastard, you knocked down my coffee, I’ll knock down your plane, go to hell!”
Gao thought for a moment and decided not to tell Nate that the pilot had already ejected, thinking it might make Nate feel a little better.
“Ram, great job, thank you for helping us break the siege.
We’re leaving now before any other planes arrive.
Good luck to you, and goodbye.”
Gao didn’t say that it was he who had fired the missile.
After recovering from the brief shock, he said gravely over the radio, “I wish you good luck too, goodbye.”
As the transport aircraft flew away, Gao quickly changed the radio frequency back.
Over the radio, Nate contentedly said, “Inventory and secure the anti-aircraft missiles, prepare for the next attack.”
While the people of the Angel Mercenary Corps hurried to collect and organize the scattered anti-aircraft missiles, Gao’s phone rang again.
After answering the call, Uriyangko rushed to say, “Buddy, there are planes heading your way, six Super Tucano aircraft, and two Mirage 5, loaded with ordinary bombs and rockets.”
“We’ve already been attacked from the air.
A Mirage 5 hit us.
Buddy, didn’t you say you could give us advance notice if any planes were coming in?”
Uriyangko sounded helpless as he responded, “I already know about it.
This was an accident, really just an accident.
A Mirage fighter pilot saw our airdrop, and without any orders, flew over.
It was the doing of a pilot acting on his own, in defiance of orders.”
Gao was also exasperated.
A pilot who hadn’t followed orders had caused them significant trouble; it was truly an unexpected incident, no wonder there had been no advance intelligence.
“I understand.
The incident didn’t cause us much damage.
There might be some missile damage, but thankfully, the number should be small.
Do you know when the planes will arrive?”
“Two Super Tucano aircraft that were patrolling in the air have already passed, and the other planes have just taken off from the airport.
They should arrive in half an hour, all of the aircraft are expected to act together.”
After hanging up the phone, Gao Yang said to Nate, “More planes will be coming soon.
This time, it’s an attack squadron.”
Nate nodded and said, “I’m aware of that.
It’s fine.
Now we have plenty of SA-7s.
It doesn’t matter how many planes come.”
Gao Yang cleared his throat and said, “Well, I don’t know how to use an anti-aircraft missile.
Could you teach me?”
After looking at Gao Yang, Nate asked in surprise, “You don’t know how to use one?”
Gao Yang laughed awkwardly and said, “I’ve never been a soldier, haven’t seen an anti-aircraft missile, let alone shot down a plane.
It’s pretty normal for me not to know how to use it, right?”
Nate nodded and said, “Alright, I can teach you.
It’s actually very simple, just like a point-and-shoot camera.
You’ll learn it in no time.”
The anti-aircraft missiles were quickly tallied.
In the recent bombing, eight missiles had been destroyed by bombs and rockets dropped from planes.
Four more were damaged when they hung up on trees and were smashed as the trees fell.
The rest were still fine.
The missile storage boxes were sturdy; even those that fell from trees were basically undamaged.
Excluding the four used missiles and the twelve damaged ones, there were still forty-four anti-aircraft missiles left.
This quantity was still considerable, definitely enough for Gao Yang and Nate’s use.
With the anti-aircraft missiles, outdated as they were, at least they weren’t completely helpless against aerial strikes anymore.
The missiles were swiftly distributed.
A set of anti-aircraft missile launchers weighed fifteen kilograms, and a combat team could carry two sets without affecting their combat abilities.
As the missiles were being distributed, the people who had gone to transport supplies to the temporary camp returned.
Li Jinfang contacted Gao Yang via walkie-talkie, and after receiving Li Jinfang’s report on the walkie-talkie, Gao Yang had a thought and said, “Toad, do you know how to use an anti-aircraft missile?”
“No, I haven’t learned.
What’s up?”
Gao guessed that Li Jinfang wouldn’t know either; his training didn’t include using anti-aircraft missiles.
Cui Bo and Frey definitely wouldn’t know either.
Lucica probably didn’t, and as for Tommy, Glolov, and Bruce, whether they knew how to use anti-aircraft missiles, he wasn’t sure.
Gao immediately said, “Who came back with you?”
“Rabbit, Worker Bee, and I.
Big Dog and Test Tube stayed at the temporary camp.”
According to plan, after the anti-aircraft missiles were airdropped, Gao and his team were to move some to the temporary camp just in case.
Now that they had the anti-aircraft missiles, Gao was supposed to head to the temporary camp, but he wasn’t in a hurry to leave.
“Ask Worker Bee if he knows how to use anti-aircraft missiles.
If he doesn’t, don’t rush back.
Planes will be arriving soon.
We can use this opportunity to learn how to use the anti-aircraft missiles.”
Gao was using a public frequency to communicate with Li Jinfang, and right after Gao finished speaking, they heard Tommy say, “I also don’t know how to use anti-aircraft missiles.
I’ve never dealt with such high-end stuff before.”
“Alright, all of you come over here.
We’ll learn how to use anti-aircraft missiles with Nate.”
Gao didn’t intend to keep it a secret.
They were all fighting side by side, and learning something from the members of Angel Mercenary Corps was something they were likely not to refuse.
Besides, Nate had already agreed to teach him how to use the anti-aircraft missiles, and now it was just a matter of teaching a few more people.
After ending the conversation with Li Jinfang, Nate looked at Gao with a helpless expression and said, “Buddy, you really don’t miss any opportunity to learn, do you?”
Gao replied confidently, “Of course.
We need to learn what we don’t know.
We have a lot of anti-aircraft missiles, right?
Even if we waste a few while learning, it’s no big deal.
Besides, when we use up these missiles, we can always have more sent to us.
The next delivery should be newer models.
Right now, someone is paying for us to train with live ammunition.
We can’t waste such a good opportunity.”
Nate shrugged and said, “Fine, go grab a few anti-aircraft missiles, and I’ll show you how to use them.”
After speaking, Nate shook his head involuntarily and said, “When I was learning how to use anti-aircraft missiles, we used simulators and shot at targets.
We hardly had any chance to fire live ammunition.
You guys, on the other hand, start with live ammunition and are targeting real fighter jets.
Guys, you’re pretty lucky.”(To be continued.
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