The blockade lost its anti-aircraft firepower, and anti-ship missiles broke through one after another, piercing into the 8,000-ton destroyer.
Many crew members trying to escape by jumping into the sea hadn't even reached the edge of the ship when they saw white anti-ship missiles crashing in. The next second, the massive TNT explosions tore their bodies apart and hurled them into the sky.
Amidst the continuous explosions, metal twisted, leaving hideous, frightening holes on the hull of the Paknan Destroyer, which completely sank into the sea in just 5 minutes and 18 seconds, leaving only a whirlpool on the surface.
Out of 457 sailors from the Country A Navy, only 22 survived.
The sinking of the Paknan Destroyer served as a signal; this strongest destroyer endured the most anti-ship missile attacks and served as the strongest anti-aircraft shield in this sea area.
Its sinking at this moment left a huge gap in the firepower network of the India carrier battle group.
It was like a tightly-knit military formation being pierced, and once a gap appeared, it would quickly expand.
Unable to fill the gap in anti-aircraft firepower left by the Paknan Destroyer, more anti-ship missiles broke through.
The close-in weapon systems and naval guns had blind spots, and the anti-ship missiles rushing in from the direction of the Paknan Destroyer's gap made it impossible for many destroyers and escort ships to adjust their positions in time for defense.
The 7,500-ton Kochi-class Destroyer was hit midship by a Flying Fish Anti-ship Missile, severely damaging the radar and electromechanical equipment above.
Without radar, those computer-controlled close-in weapons and naval guns lost their flexibility, becoming akin to a blind person; though manually controlled, humans couldn't match a computer.
The Kochi-class Destroyer's anti-aircraft firepower was downgraded by several levels, and two more anti-ship missiles successfully hit.
One anti-ship missile struck the rear of the ship, explosively destroying most of the destroyer's power system, while another exploded at the waterline, causing a huge breach as seawater poured in, making the Kochi-class Destroyer list.
Even though the captain immediately ordered damage control and pump water for balance, it was to no avail; the warship slowly capsized on the sea surface, with many Country A sailors clinging to the ship's side, falling into the sea with a splash.
But after falling into the water, many Country A sailors hadn't even started swimming when darkness suddenly enveloped them.
The overturned Kochi-class Destroyer covered them underneath, dragging them into the cold ocean amid their desperate screams.
The 3,800-ton Brahma-class Frigate was right next to the Kochi, witnessing its sinking.
At this point, chaos reigned on the Brahma-class Frigate because, without the Kochi-class Destroyer's air defense, a significant anti-aircraft firepower gap appeared at the rear of their ship. Ironically, their air defense missiles were exhausted, allowing them to watch helplessly as over a dozen anti-ship missiles, like iron pins attracted by a magnet, stabbed one after another into the stern.
With over a dozen powerful anti-ship missiles, let alone this 3,800-ton small frigate, even an aircraft carrier couldn't withstand it.
The Brahma-class Frigate became the third warship to sink in the battle, and its sinking speed was even quicker. The entire warship was blasted into scrap metal, with superstructures completely blown away, the hull torn into several pieces, and it sank into the sea in less than a minute.
Yet, the Brahma-class Frigate wouldn't be lonely, as several more destroyers and escort ships were sunk in quick succession. The overwhelming missile barrage left their carrier battle group's firepower network utterly defenseless.
And when the gap appeared, the Vikrant aircraft carrier, tightly protected at the center of the fleet, inevitably became the target of attack.
A Swordfish Anti-ship Missile passed through the carrier's air defense network, embedding itself into the carrier deck.
The steel strength of a deck capable of accommodating the takeoff and landing of aircraft seemed impressive, but it was insufficient against the armor-piercing warhead of the Swordfish.
It pierced through the flight deck, then continued through the hangar, engine room, and finally exploded in the desalinization chamber.
The massive explosion shook the Vikrant Aircraft Carrier repeatedly, flames erupted from within, and thick smoke billowed from its flanks.
On the aircraft carrier's bridge, Kumar hit the edge of a table amid the tremors, gashing his forehead, causing blood to flow freely.
"Never mind me, go check on the carrier, now!"
Markuer shoved the medics aside and looked out from the bridge. Over the sea, escort ships and destroyers were either sinking or heavily damaged by anti-ship missiles.
The battle had only just begun, yet seven or eight warships had already sunk in quick succession. Meanwhile, the assault of anti-ship missiles persisted relentlessly, with no end in sight.
Kumar felt despair but quickly remembered something, staring intently at the electronic screen.
The anti-ship missiles counterattacked by their carrier fleet not long ago were now reaching the five Stealth Cruisers, becoming his last hope, like a drowning man catching the final straw.
"Sink into the ocean with us."
Markuer's face contorted with rage; he knew his fleet would be annihilated here today, but he intended to drag those cruisers down with them.
However, the footage relayed from the drone reconnaissance perspective shattered Markuer's last bit of hope.