Chapter 1472 Find a cell to lock me up
Xiao Peng asked Parli, "Ms. Parli, what do you mean when you say it 'crashed and disappeared'? I'm not a military fanatic and I don't know much about naval knowledge, but even so, I know that nuclear submarines generally travel at low speeds downstream on the seabed to reduce the chance of being discovered. Although there have been many submarine collisions, they can usually return to port or seek rescue on their own. Even if they were sunk by a collision and sank to the bottom of the sea five thousand meters like the former Soviet Union's K-129, they would still be discovered. What do you mean when you say the submarine disappeared? Even if they lose power, they will still be able to contact you, right?"
Submarines have many means of communication on the seabed, such as satellite communication, blue-green laser communication, extremely low frequency communication system, long wave communication and sonar communication. Even if a collision occurs and the submarine loses power, it should be able to send out a distress message in time. How could it disappear?
Moreover, if a collision really occurred, there would definitely be traces left at the collision site. The Americans were able to find the K-129, which sank 5,000 meters below, half a century ago. So why can't France find a "Suffren" now? Isn't this an international joke?
Parli replied, "Xiao, that submarine was only 'delivered' and not officially commissioned. A lot of data is still under testing. The accident happened when we were testing the submarine's high-speed submersion."
Xiao Peng nodded. The Barracuda-class is considered the smallest "mini" of the world's nuclear attack submarines, with a full load displacement of just over 5,000 tons. Compared to today's nuclear submarines, which often displace 10,000 tons, it's incredibly small. Its hallmarks are high speed, low noise, and agility. The French call the Barracuda's water pattern "the voice of the ocean." While that's a bit of an exaggeration, its pump-propellant technology is undoubtedly the most advanced in the world.
"What did he hit?" Xiao Peng asked.
But Parli said, "I don't know."
"I don't know?" Xiao Peng was a little confused: "What do you mean by 'I don't know'?"
Parli said, "To you, I can say that I bumped into something, but we won't admit it to anyone else."
Xiao Peng whistled. This was considered a hit-and-run. "Where's the victim?"
Parli said, "No one has made any public announcement, but the British Ministry of Defense has been quite active recently, so we suspect we have collided with another British nuclear submarine."
Xiao Peng's eyes widened: "Did you sink their submarine?"
Parli spread her hands and said, "How should I know? Submarines are supposed to be on the seabed, right?"
After hearing this, Xiao Peng didn't know how to respond. Only then did he remember Parli's position: Minister of Defense!
There is a reason why a woman can serve as Minister of Defense. She is tougher than Xiao Peng imagined!
"Because nuclear submarines are top secret, even if something happens, it won't be made public," said Parli.
Xiao Peng nodded. He believed this. The Russian Northern Fleet's sudden "exercise" in the Baltic Sea was specifically about that American nuclear submarine. So much time had passed, and there was no news. This must be the problem.
"Xiao, we need you to help us find that submarine!" said Parli.
Xiao Peng said, "I guessed it. But I don't understand why you don't look for the submarine yourself? I told you that you should be able to find traces of the submarine, right?"
Parli said, "How can we possibly go searching for that submarine with such fanfare after something like this? Wouldn't that mean everyone knows we did it?"
Xiao Peng said helplessly, "Ms. Parli, you're putting me in a difficult position! You know, I don't even have an offshore engineering vessel right now. How can I salvage a sunken ship?"
Parli said, "We don't need you to salvage it. We just need you to find it, and then we'll do the salvaging. Mr. Xiao, please forgive me for being frank, but we're not confident in leaving it to you to salvage. After all, it's a nuclear submarine. I hope you understand."
Xiao Peng nodded. "I understand, of course I understand. But here comes the question. You know it wouldn't be difficult to find the submarine after a collision, right?"
Parli shook her head. "We don't know where it is. We don't even know if there was a collision. This is all based on our best guess."
"WHAT?" Xiao Peng was a little confused: "What does this mean?"
Parli explained, "The Barracuda-class submarine has a cruising range of 70 days and can remain submerged at a depth of 350 meters for 50 days! Crucially, the submarine was carrying two M51 missiles with warheads. We speculated based on the British Ministry of Defense's response that something had happened to the submarine. Of course, this is our best guess. If the submarine had escaped with the M51 missiles, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Xiao Peng covered his face and said, "I regret agreeing to you! Didn't you say it was just training? Why did you install a nuclear bomb on it? Are you planning to start a world war?"
The M51 is France's most advanced submarine-launched intercontinental strategic missile, with a range of 6,000 kilometers! Combined with the Barracuda-class nuclear submarine, it could strike anywhere on Earth.
Parli said, "Is there any problem with a strategic nuclear submarine carrying strategic intercontinental missiles? Even if it's for training, it's a nuclear deterrent. But you don't have to worry. After all, they don't have the nuclear missile launch code. And there are 58 people on the submarine. It's impossible for them all to have the same idea, so the chance of defection is not high. But no matter what, this submarine must be found!"
After hearing this, Xiao Peng lit a cigarette and fell silent. After a while, he looked up and said, "No wonder you'd rather offend Gao Li than ask me to help you. This matter is indeed quite serious. Can I pretend to know nothing now?"
Parli asked back, "What do you think?"
Xiao Peng scratched his head. "Now I understand. You don't even know if there was an accident with the submarine. How can I help you find it?"
Parli said, "To prevent accidents, our country's strategic nuclear submarines sail silently according to pre-set routes. I can give you a route map so you can search along the way!"
"Damn it!" Xiao Peng jumped up as if someone had stepped on his tail. "If you don't like me, just say it! You want to kill me? I can't do that! Ms. Parly, please find someone else. De Perrin! Old De! Are you out there? Find a cell and put me in it! I'd rather go to jail than die!"
Xiao Peng is not stupid. Let him see the cruise route of your country's nuclear submarines? After that, you will kill me to silence me!
Parli hurriedly said, "Xiao, you really don't need to be so nervous. After we give you the nuclear submarine cruise route, we will abandon it regardless of whether we find the nuclear submarine or not. Besides, how could our country have only this one submarine cruise route? You don't seem like an idiot who doesn't have a backup plan. If we really do something to you and you make this matter public, how will we face it? In fact, we are much more nervous about this matter than you are."
"Hmm?" Xiao Peng blinked: "What you said seems to make sense!"
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