1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 3945

The Haihan Army has always been equipped primarily with firearms, so it attaches great importance to the methods of firepower strikes on the battlefield, and various military academies and units have conducted in-depth and detailed research on this.

Long-range firepower, crossfire, three-dimensional firepower, and infantry-artillery coordination are all professional skills that every Haihan officer must understand and master.

However, these "traditional" combat methods are all based on ground or water, while the emergence of aircraft has provided a completely new field for fire strikes, and true three-dimensional fire strikes with the addition of airborne fire points have finally appeared.

Even though hot air balloons are just a type of aircraft that flies very slowly and appears somewhat clumsy in the air, they have unique advantages on the battlefield.

Although it was impossible to record images of the battlefield in that era, the lecturer still tried his best to recreate the battlefield situation at that time through several paintings, as well as the various combat methods used after the hot air balloons flew over Nanchang.

Although the officers present could not be on the battlefield in person, they could imagine the situation through these paintings and quickly realized the enormous role this thing could play on the battlefield.

The practical experience of the Battle of Nanchang showed that hot air balloons were not only very useful reconnaissance tools, allowing them to patrol and observe enemy positions for extended periods, but their top-down attack methods also left the enemy defenseless. Being high in the sky, they could completely avoid enemy counterattacks, creating a one-sided advantage on the battlefield, which could easily induce panic in the enemy.

Of course, the shortcomings of this aircraft are also very obvious. Its limited payload means that it cannot airdrop large troops behind enemy lines, nor can it carry out large-scale bombing. Its actual destructive power is far less than that of artillery.

In addition, hot air balloons are highly susceptible to weather conditions, and flights are prohibited during thunderstorms and strong winds, meaning they cannot take off for combat operations anytime and anywhere.

However, these shortcomings were largely negligible in the eyes of the officers. Even as an aerial observation post, its significance was immense, and it could be said to have completely transformed traditional battlefield reconnaissance and observation methods.

When the lecturer announced that it was time for the Q&A session, some people couldn't wait to ask when they could see the hot air balloon in person.

Chen Pingliao wasn't so enthusiastic. He actually knew about this thing back in his student days. His father, Chen Yixin, had drawn all sorts of flying machines for him on paper. Some had two or even four wings, some were round like hot air balloons, and some were shaped like sticks. There were all sorts of strange and wonderful things.

Later, when Chen Pingliao was sent to Sanya to study, he learned that the local arsenal was secretly manufacturing aircraft that could carry people into the sky. He was also taken to visit the take-off and landing site of the aircraft near Yacheng. The wide and straight runway left a very deep impression on him.

But after that, there was no news of aircraft being used in actual combat. Chen Pingliao had thought that this method of warfare was a distant dream, but that day suddenly came, and it actually helped the Haihan Army capture the fortified city of Nanchang.

Chen Pingliao's first thought wasn't how to quickly deploy these aircraft in the northern army, but rather that his father would be very pleased to hear the news. After all, Chen Yixin had said that the aircraft he had drawn would eventually be built, but he didn't know if he would live to see that day.

At least the hot air balloons have made a good start, Chen Pingliao thought. Perhaps in three to five years, those winged aircraft from Sanya will also appear on some battlefield and become part of the Haihan Army's offensive.

Since the Battle of Nanchang was used as an example to introduce new tactics and methods, the lecturer did not limit himself to hot air balloons, but went on to talk about the practical application of tactics such as mortar indirect fire and city wall demolition in siege warfare. These tactics are not as new as hot air balloons; the Haihan Army's use of city wall demolition tactics in siege warfare can be traced back to more than 30 years ago when they sent troops to help fight in the Annamite civil war.

Mortars were first deployed to the Haihan Army ten years ago, but the cost of these small cannons is extremely high, so the number possessed by each unit is uncertain.

The instructor highlighted these two points because the relevant tactics have been continuously refined through actual combat. Officers need to do more than simply calculate ballistic curves or blast delay times according to formulas; they also need to adjust the use of these attack methods based on the battlefield environment.

Moreover, many officers have never actually used this equipment and corresponding tactics in actual combat, and their understanding of it remains purely theoretical. If these officers do not come to the National Defense University to learn updated tactics and methods, the combat capabilities of their troops will continue to stagnate.

Even Chen Pingliao, a second-generation officer with ample opportunities for learning and practice, only grasped the attack effects these tactics could achieve. He focused more on command than on detailed equipment operation methods, and on the battlefield, he still relied on artillery or engineers to implement them.

Therefore, for officers, studying successful battles is the best way to improve their tactical skills during periods when there are no battles to fight.

As they listened to the explanation, they secretly pondered how they would use these attack methods if they were in command of the operation.

The afternoon's lecture lasted four hours, entirely focused on the explanation and analysis of the Battle of Nanchang. There were only three short breaks during the session, allowing the officers to use the restroom, drink water, and have a smoke before the lectures continued.

Most of these officers were young and strong, but after concentrating for a long time on dismantling this large-scale siege and summarizing various experiences, they could still feel fatigued.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when the lecturer announced the end of the day's class.

Before they could close their notebooks, the lecturer gave them a serious assignment: "After class, you will need to write a battle plan. If you were to command the Battle of Nanchang, you would explain how you would deploy and allocate your forces, and how you would capture Nanchang with even greater efficiency than in actual combat."

"Considering your situation, we will divide you into two groups to complete the assignment, each submitting a battle plan. The groups will be separated by seating arrangement, with one group for odd-numbered seats and one for even-numbered seats. This assignment has a three-day deadline; the faster you finish, the better."

Someone raised their hand and asked, "Are the available equipment and troops exactly the same as in actual combat?"

The lecturer nodded and said, "Of course, otherwise if you bombard the city with ten thousand cannons, or blow Nanchang into the sky with one hundred thousand catties of explosives, what would be the point of a battle plan!"

Everyone burst into laughter, but they knew in their hearts that this assignment was not easy.

The generals who commanded the Battle of Nanchang were no ordinary men. The tactics they used were very suitable for the combat environment at the time, and the actual results were quite good. To formulate a more efficient combat plan based on this, three days might not be enough.