This is hardly a pirate organization’s base; it’s an entire military installation.
Moreover, this military base must have been meticulously set up by someone with extensive experience in positional warfare, covering all blind spots. The firepower from each stronghold is interconnected, allowing for mutual support in case of an attack!
Could a motley crew of pirates have conceived and implemented such a setup?
It's impossible! Absolutely impossible!
In fact, the level of security at this military base is no less rigorous than that of some Western powers.
Seeing this, Qin Feng’s expression grew even more solemn.
With such tight defenses, the difficulty of rescuing the hostages was imaginable.
Swish, swish, swish…
As if an electric wave emanated from his mind, Qin Feng scanned the mountain ahead, conducting a carpet-like search.
In an instant, the entire island was enveloped by Qin Feng’s consciousness.
Soon, Qin Feng discovered a defensive stronghold at the entrance of the canyon, equipped with at least four six-barreled heavy machine guns.
Vulcan cannons!
These are killing machines on the battlefield, capable of firing three thousand rounds per minute.
Once unleashed, they create a torrent of steel, as if tearing the very space apart, determined to annihilate the target.
With four Vulcan cannons at just one entrance stronghold, what does that imply?
It means that once the shooting starts, without heavy firepower support, no one could possibly charge in, not even Qin Feng could afford to face their might head-on.
The Vulcan cannons’ firepower covered the surrounding area, forming an dense web of fire that no one could withstand.
This is no longer a group of ordinary pirates; it’s an army.
Qin Feng continued to scan forward.
Holy crap!
There are even anti-aircraft guns deployed, heavy machine guns even more powerful than Vulcan cannons, primarily used to engage fighter jets or helicopters.
These anti-aircraft guns are equipped with locking systems, allowing them to automatically acquire targets and then launch fierce attacks autonomously. Such equipment is truly extraordinary.
If calculated in terms of money, it would cost at least tens of millions of US dollars, and some of it is simply not available for purchase.
This place is practically equipped with the military strength of a nation, and now it’s set up on such a small island.
This is truly…
Soon, Qin Feng continued his scan.
At a platform in the center of the base, Qin Feng discovered an Apache attack helicopter. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
One must remember, Apaches are standard equipment for the US military, hailed as the kings of low-altitude combat.
How could a group of pirates afford such expensive equipment? Furthermore, the US strictly controls the export of Apache helicopters, selling them only to a select few countries.
Now, its presence in a pirate stronghold, what does that signify?
But that's not all!
Looking further, Qin Feng’s expression suddenly tensed.
“Hmm?”
He uttered a slightly surprised sound because, under a camouflage net on the left side of the canyon, there were several heavy coastal defense guns mounted on armored vehicles.
Anyone with an understanding of military equipment knows that coastal defense guns, leveraging their geographical advantage, can engage in direct artillery duels with naval ship cannons without being at a disadvantage.
During World War II, coastal defense guns played a crucial role, posing a significant threat to naval warships, and many ships were even sunk by them.
Of course, this primarily applied to smaller vessels in coastal waters.
In modern warfare, with the development of various short-range missiles and their increasing destructive power, the importance of coastal defense guns has gradually diminished, and their status has declined. Many countries have even phased out such equipment.
However, countries like Russia and Ukraine still retain this type of combat equipment because they are sufficient for engaging warships at short ranges, making it unnecessary to expend greater resources.
Although coastal defense guns are not as prominent as before, no one dares to underestimate these heavy weapons that can engage warships.
Precisely because of this, even warships, without overwhelming superiority, will not proactively engage in artillery duels with coastal defense guns. This is what it means for a cluster of coastal defense guns to be able to take on warships.
Imagine the intensity of the firepower when a dozen or even dozens of coastal defense guns simultaneously attack a warship along a continuous coastline!
In a direct engagement, it would be a sky filled with flying shells.
Even a steel warship cannot withstand continuous attacks!
To have even this deployed on this island, one can only imagine the terrifying true strength of these pirates.
Anti-aircraft guns provide air defense, complemented by attack helicopters like the Apache. Simultaneously, coastal defense guns capable of engaging warships are deployed. On the ground, there are numerous visible and hidden sentries monitoring at close intervals.
This is a truly comprehensive military base, providing defense across land, sea, and air.
If Qin Feng hadn't personally observed all this, who would have imagined such heavy firepower deployed on this island?
Who said these were a bunch of disorganized pirates!
Seeing this situation, Qin Feng’s brow furrowed.
The defensive capabilities of the enemy far exceeded the information provided in the intelligence reports.
This significantly increased the difficulty of the rescue operation.
Even Lei Zhan, observing with binoculars nearby, noticed several critical points. His brow also furrowed, and he muttered, “Damn it, this is a military base!”
He now understood why Qin Feng had been observing for so long without speaking – the situation before them was vastly different from the intelligence provided.
Finally, Lei Zhan lowered his binoculars, looking at Qin Feng with an anxious expression. They had undertaken many missions before, but this was their first time attempting to infiltrate a defense as formidable as a military base.
Most importantly, this was a hostage rescue operation, not a strategic offensive. They had to ensure the safety of the hostages.
This situation was the most challenging.
It could be said that the moment the alarm sounded here, it would be like poking a hornet's nest.
“Qin Feng, what do we do? The defenses here are too tight, it’s difficult to attack!” Lei Zhan whispered to Qin Feng again, “Moreover, the fortifications here are even more rigorous than those of an ordinary military base. These pirates are definitely not simple; they’ve likely received the most stringent military training, and they’re probably no different from regular troops.”
“I've conducted a preliminary observation. They have at least three layers of visible strongholds, and it’s certain they are interconnected. If we engage in combat, this entire island will undoubtedly erupt. We don't fear a swift strike, but we’re worried about the hostages’ safety.”
As the captain of the Thunder Commando, Lei Zhan was highly sensitive to battlefield changes. He could keenly perceive that the risks presented here far exceeded any previous operation.