Chamsuri-class patrol boat 711 sped across the water, kicking up white spray in its wake.
In the past, they would have had to stand on an open bridge, exposed to the sea wind and sun, operating the vessel with their whole bodies out in the elements.
But the newer Chamsuri-class patrol boats featured a fully enclosed bridge, sparing them from the harsh sea breeze and scorching sunlight.
As the hull sliced through the waves and lurched forward, shaking violently, Captain Seo Jeong-hoon remained steady at his post, gripping a metal handrail with one hand.
Beneath his bulletproof helmet, secured with a chin strap over his orange life vest, his eyes were calm and composed, betraying no sign of panic.
"Twelve o'clock! North Korean patrol boat!"
At Lieutenant Chu Song-ryeol's shout, Captain Seo Jeong-hoon lifted the binoculars hanging around his neck and scanned ahead.
A dark shape was rising over the horizon, bearing down toward them.
"SO-1 Deungsan-got–class patrol boat!"
The SO-1 class, known by its NATO designation, was a patrol craft with a full-load displacement of 215 tons, originally developed in 1955 during the Soviet era.
As with most Soviet-made weapons that found their way into North Korea, the SO-1 patrol craft had been introduced there as well. Beginning in 1968, North Korea started building the vessels domestically under the name Deungsan-got class, and they became a mainstay of the North Korean Navy.
They had a long and troubled history with the Republic of Korea Navy, frequently crossing the NLL and provoking clashes, including the First Battle of Yeonpyeong in 1999.
Lowering his binoculars, Captain Seo Jeong-hoon spoke.
"Confirm the enemy patrol craft's position!"
Lieutenant Chu Song-ryeol checked the console screen in front of him and responded at once.
"1.1 kilometers south of the NLL."
Having come this far down, it was clearly no accident. The North Korean patrol craft had deliberately crossed the NLL. Captain Seo Jeong-hoon bit down on his lower lip.
"Store the GPS coordinates so they can't deny it later."
"Yes, sir."
He immediately issued his next order.
"Broadcast a warning toward the North Korean patrol boat!"
"Yes, sir!"
Lieutenant Chu Song-ryeol brought the handset close to his mouth and delivered the warning.
"You are currently violating our jurisdiction. Do not escalate tensions and immediately head north! I repeat, you are violating our jurisdiction. If you fail to withdraw northward, you will bear full responsibility for any consequences that follow!"
The warning was broadcast repeatedly over the loudspeakers mounted on the patrol boat and through the shared frequency. The opposing vessel, however, showed no response and continued heading south.
"It looks like they have no intention of backing down."
In that instant, Captain Seo Jeong-hoon's mind flashed back to the conversation he had had that morning with Squadron Commander Major Joo Yong-hoon before departing on the mission.
[It feels like they're testing how we respond… Make sure we're prepared to handle any sudden situation at any time.]
"If this were just a simple provocation, that would almost be better…"
"Sir? What did you say?"
"Ah. Nothing."
Waving one hand lightly, Captain Seo Jeong-hoon fixed his gaze on the North Korean patrol boat, now close enough to be identified with the naked eye, and issued his command.
"Begin a blocking maneuver. Turn ninety degrees to port and cut off their course!"
"Yes, sir. Port ninety degrees!"
As Helmsman Sergeant Han Jae-jun turned the wheel, 711, which had been speeding ahead, swung its bow sharply and executed a wide turn.
At the same time, Communications Sergeant Choi Hyun, wearing his headset, shouted urgently.
"Another North Korean patrol boat has crossed the NLL. Squadron 253 has begun response maneuvers!"
Captain Seo Jeong-hoon quickly raised his binoculars and looked to starboard. The two Chamsuri-class patrol boats of Squadron 253, which had been on standby to the rear, were now pushing their engines to full power and racing forward.
"It looks like they came down today fully prepared."
Nodding grimly, Captain Seo flipped on the internal broadcast switch, picked up the handset in front of him, and brought it to his mouth.
"This is the commanding officer. All hands, prepare thoroughly for the possibility of an armed clash. That is all."
"Captain."
Lieutenant Chu Song-ryeol looked at him with a tense expression, and Captain Seo Jeong-hoon replied without changing his expression.
"We're preparing for the worst-case scenario."
"…"
Lieutenant Chu started to say something, but closed his mouth when he saw the sharp gaze Captain Seo was fixing on the North Korean patrol boat.
Even after executing a blocking maneuver across its path, the North Korean vessel did not halt its southward advance.
If this continued, it would soon push down to the area where the fishing boats were still operating.
Although an urgent withdrawal order had been issued, many boats had yet to clear the area. Anxiety flickered across Captain Seo's face.
At that moment, Squadron Commander Major Joo Yong-hoon's voice came through the radio speaker.
[711, do you copy!]
Captain Seo Jeong-hoon quickly took the radio handset from Sergeant Choi Hyun and responded.
"Go ahead."
[The enemy vessel must not make contact with civilian fishing boats. In accordance with the rules of engagement, I will take the lead and initiate a blocking maneuver. Follow behind me!]
"Understood."
Turning his head, Captain Seo spoke to Sergeant Han Jae-jun.
"You heard him. Maintain a distance of 300 yards and execute a close blocking maneuver with 712."
A wave of tension swept across the faces of the crew inside the wheelhouse.
Though it was called a close blocking maneuver, in reality, it meant drawing up alongside the enemy vessel and physically pushing it back beyond the NLL. It was an extremely dangerous action, one that could easily result in a collision.
But if they hesitated out of fear, the civilian fishing boats behind them would be left exposed. Without pause, the crew moved exactly as ordered.
Following 712, which had taken the lead, 711 kept pace at a distance of 300 yards, roughly 274 meters, and once again cut across the North Korean patrol boat's path.
This time, they closed in far tighter than before, so much so that the enemy personnel standing on the deck were clearly visible to the naked eye.
Meanwhile, the combat information center located below the bridge was also in a flurry of urgent activity.
On the older Chamsuri-class patrol boats, automation was minimal, which meant crew members had to operate weapons dangerously while exposed on deck.
In contrast, the newer Chamsuri-class vessels were designed so that not only the 76mm main gun but also the 20mm Sea Vulcan cannons mounted on both sides could be operated safely from within the armored combat information center.
However, parts of the old combat doctrine had yet to be revised. As a result, sailors had come up onto the deck with K2 assault rifles, taking cover behind ballistic shields in preparation for small-arms fire.
Private Eom Gi-sik, who had chambered live rounds and aimed his rifle toward the North Korean patrol boat, muttered a complaint, his body stiff with tension.
"Shouldn't we just fire a warning shot first to stop them from coming any farther?"
Sergeant Oh Chan-hyung, standing beside him, replied sharply, his face devoid of its usual humor.
"Don't you know the rules of engagement? If they still don't withdraw after the blocking maneuver, then we fire a warning shot."
"But what if they fire first?"
For a split second, Sergeant Oh felt a chill run through him, but he forced himself to brush it off.
"If they did something like that, it would mean immediate war. They'd have to be insane to go that far."
"But three years ago, didn't things escalate just like this before the North opened fire first?"
Private Eom Gi-sik replied, still looking uneasy.
"Then we just crush them hard. Our ship's far better than it was back then, and we've got two to their one. What's there to worry about?"
"But still…"
As Eom continued to fidget, Sergeant Oh Chan-hyung's expression hardened. He smacked the gray ballistic helmet on Eom's head with his palm.
"Hey! Combat doesn't break out that easily. And even if it does, we win!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"If you don't want to freeze up and catch a stray bullet, get your head straight!"
"Yes, sir! Understood!"
Private Eom Gi-sik shouted his reply and fixed his gaze forward. Sergeant Oh Chan-hyung let out a silent sigh.
He pulled back the charging handle, chambered a live round, and shouldered his K2 rifle firmly. His palms were slick with sweat.
Then Eom suddenly widened his eyes.
"Uh? Sergeant Oh. Doesn't that look a little strange?"
Sergeant Oh, assuming it was more pointless chatter, responded curtly.
"What is it now?"
"Look over there. The main gun on the bow… doesn't it look different from the other North Korean patrol boats?"
"…!"
Furrowing his brow, Sergeant Oh Chan-hyung took a closer look at the North Korean patrol boat, now extremely close, and his eyes widened.
It was not the usual 45mm autocannon. A much larger-caliber main gun was mounted on the bow.
"Doesn't it look like a tank gun?"
Now that he looked carefully, it really did resemble the turret of an old, outdated tank crudely mounted onto the deck.
A chill ran through him, deepening the lines in his forehead. At that very moment, Private Eom Gi-sik cried out in alarm.
"Uh? They're turning the barrel toward us!"
"Damn it."
***
At the same time.
Inside the wheelhouse, they too sensed that the situation was taking a dangerous turn. The air was taut with tension.
"It looks like they removed the original main gun and mounted an 85mm tank gun instead!"
Captain Seo Jeong-hoon remained silent, his eyes fixed on the enemy vessel. Lieutenant Chu Song-ryeol pointed toward the North Korean patrol boat and pressed urgently,
"If we keep moving like this, we'll be fully within the effective range of their main gun!"
Biting down on his lower lip, Captain Seo replied,
"I know. But you also know we have no choice but to act according to the rules of engagement."
Lieutenant Chu was about to argue further when Sergeant Han Jae-jun suddenly shouted in alarm.
"The enemy vessel has suddenly reduced speed!"
"What?"
Just as 712, which had taken the lead, crossed diagonally in a blocking maneuver, the North Korean patrol boat abruptly slowed down. 711, following close behind, was thrown into immediate danger of collision.
Through the bulletproof window, the North Korean vessel loomed so near it seemed ready to crash into them at any second. Captain Seo Jeong-hoon reacted instinctively.
"Hard starboard! Emergency turn!"
At his shout, 711 swung sharply to the right.
Moving at high speed, the vessel struggled against its own inertia. The hull tilted dangerously, as if it might capsize at any moment.
"Argh!"
As the crew staggered, nearly thrown off their feet, Captain Seo Jeong-hoon steadied himself and gripped the control panel handle so tightly it seemed it might snap.
"Hold on to something! Don't let yourselves fall!"
Sergeant Han Jae-jun braced the wheel against his chest and clung to it, while Lieutenant Chu Song-ryeol and the others grabbed safety rails to steady themselves.
The sudden maneuver sent a massive spray of water into the air, and the starboard deck tilted until it was nearly perpendicular to the sea's surface.
Thankfully, the vessel did not capsize. But the real crisis struck 711 almost immediately.
"Th-the enemy vessel has fired its main gun!"
"What?!"
At Communications Sergeant Choi Hyun's scream-like shout, Captain Seo snapped his head around and saw the North Korean patrol boat's main gun, aimed directly at them, erupt in flame.