The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 268 Battle of Annihilation 1
The 48th Division, the front line.

After the 48th Division's counterattack stopped, the battlefield suddenly fell into a brief silence. Although the 48th Division did not regain the lost position after paying a heavy price of casualties, this round completely ignored the cost of casualties. The counterattack also caused a lot of deterrence to the Japanese troops who invaded the position.

After the 48th Division stopped attacking, the Japanese troops in the position also ceased fire one after another, and temporarily stopped continuing to break through the 48th Division's deep positions. After this extremely tragic counterattack, the two sides once again started to attack and defend their positions. It turned into a temporary confrontation. For both armies, both sides needed a chance to breathe.

The attacking 48th Division paid a heavy price in casualties and had to reorganize. Although the Japanese troops guarding the newly captured positions successfully repelled the 48th Division's counterattack, their advance command The station had just been recently established, and the two mountain artillery brigades that had come up for follow-up support were still moving in and were not in place.

Therefore, the Japanese army also needs a short stagnation to reorganize and accumulate strength.

"Quickly, fill in the trench!"

"One, two, throw it away!"

"hurry up!"

Different from the main position of the 48th Division that gradually returned to silence, the corner of a traffic trench at the 142nd Brigade of the 48th Division on the flanks of the main position was bustling with activity. Hundreds of soldiers of the 48th Division were shouting their trumpets loudly. Working in groups of two, they threw huge sandbags into the wide traffic trench.

These sandbags filled with sand were originally piled on the shooting arm bases on the outer edge of the trenches, as well as on the openings and gaps of the concealed parts and bunkers to strengthen defenses. Now they were randomly thrown into the large traffic trenches.

The extremely porcelain sandbags filled with sand were smashed heavily by the soldiers one after another at the bottom of the traffic ditch that was supposed to be used for maneuvering. The muffled impact caused a billowing of dust.

Not far behind the traffic trench, more than a dozen No. 1 tanks from the Army Armored Corps were all covered with camouflage nets and hidden in several semi-underground civil structure bunkers. The combat vehicle soldiers of the Armored Corps carried various tool boxes and oil barrels and carried out various mechanical inspections around the combat vehicle.

The two German-made mg13 light machine guns equipped on the turret of each tank were also disassembled and placed on the tank for maintenance by the tank soldiers. Boxes of mm heavy-pointed bullets were also replenished. into the turrets of each tank.

Obviously, this tank company is making final preparations before the attack.

At this time, Major Zhao Huzhen and He Wei, the company commanders of the tank company, were standing at the rear of a No. 1 tank, holding binoculars and looking into the distance through the billowing dust ahead.

"Company Commander Zhao, the military situation is extremely urgent now. There are too many Japanese troops invading. It is very difficult for us to attack from the front. I estimate that there are thousands of infantry at least, and the firepower is also very fierce. With our troops and firepower, we cannot attack them from the front." "Move, the only ones who can take advantage of him now are you. A Japanese artillery unit is moving in here. Your mission is to kill them!"

He Wei pointed to the horizon in the distance and said to Zhao Huzhen.

Zhao Huzhen, who had not been on the battlefield for a long time, patted his chest, looked at He Wei and replied: "Don't worry, I will definitely find them and get rid of them!"

"You don't need to pursue total annihilation, but you must make the movement louder so that the main force of the Japanese army in the position has some scruples. It is best to mobilize the main force of the Japanese army in the position. But once you feel that the fighting situation is not favorable, then immediately Bring your troops back, don't get yourself involved!"

"There is no infantry to cooperate with you in this operation. Your tank troops are attacking alone. You must also pay attention to protecting yourself! This time you attack and engage the Japanese artillery, the significance of it is more important than severely injuring or even destroying them. ”

"When you find something is wrong, you must stop when it's time to stop. Don't let the mutton go uneaten and end up with a bad taste."

He Wei warned earnestly.

"Don't worry, our tank troops can fight without the cooperation of infantry. Besides, what we are fighting this time is Japanese artillery, not Japanese infantry. I will act by ear. If there is a dangerous situation, we will It’s okay for a dozen tanks to run away.”

Zhao Huzhen said to He Wei with an expression that said you can rest assured that I will do the work.

"Okay, then make preparations as soon as possible, and attack as soon as the trenches in front are filled!"

Just now, when He Wei was racking his brains in the command post of the 48th Division to think about how to drive away the Japanese troops in the position, a phone call from the 142nd Brigade of the 48th Division gave him hope of breaking the situation. According to the report of the 142nd Brigade, a Japanese artillery brigade seemed to be galloping towards the 48th Division's position. Based on this enemy situation, He Wei had a tactical idea of ​​taking the initiative.

At present, the 48th Division has just been defeated, suffered heavy losses, and is in need of reorganization. The troops of the 103rd Division are still being transported and have not yet arrived, and their firepower is not as good as the Japanese army.

Originally, He Wei wanted to mobilize the naval guns and artillery in the Xiaguan defense circle to bombard here, but the current actual situation is that after the Japanese army captured the first line positions of the 48th Division, and the 48th Division The divisions formed an almost staggered situation. In this case, He Wei did not dare to use those naval guns for fire support.

After all, no one can predict the firing dispersion of those old naval guns produced forty years ago. If a damn near-missile missile hits one of our own, something big will happen. You know, the caliber of those naval guns The smallest one is only 105 mm, and can easily destroy an infantry platoon with one shot.

Since we do not have the basic firepower and troop strength conditions to launch a counterattack against the Japanese army in the front, it is better to attack the advancing Japanese artillery marching column first.

First, this Japanese artillery marching column marched alone in a potentially dangerous tactical area without the protection of infantry. Faced with such an act of seeking death, He Wei felt that it would be a waste not to do it. A waste of valuable fighter jets.

Secondly, if we launch a fierce attack on this Japanese artillery march column, we may be able to mobilize the main force of the Japanese army guarding the 48th Division position. Once the main force of the Japanese infantry is mobilized and changed, we can launch a counterattack and regain the lost position. Fighters may appear as a result.

Of course, He Wei could not guarantee that the main force of the Japanese army occupying the front line of the 48th Division would be mobilized due to the attack on the artillery unit. However, on the battlefield, no one could guarantee that the expected situation would happen.

Decision-making, determination and disposal on the battlefield are essentially just a kind of gambling, a big gamble.

Therefore, after finalizing the attack plan, He Wei immediately transferred Zhao Huzhen's tank company. Facing the brigade's Japanese artillery marching column and the fact that the assault was taking place under the enemy's nose, he could only have the ability to maneuver quickly. The chariot unit is the best choice for the attack force.

In order to save time, He Wei decided that the attacking tanks would not take a detour, but would drive directly from the 48th Division's position, maneuver forward in a straight line, and launch the attack as quickly as possible.

Zhao Huzhen's tank company was equipped with a small No. 1 tank. The traffic trenches and various trenches in the 48th Division's position were extremely wide, and the No. 1 tank could not pass through them.

Therefore, after coordinating with the 48th Division, He Wei adopted an extremely simple and violent method, which was to directly fill a traffic trench with sandbags and forcefully open a passage for the tanks!

As a result, there was a scene where the officers and soldiers of the 48th Division in the position filled sandbags into the traffic trenches used for motorized transportation.

Whizzing-
Ten minutes later, a fiery red flare flew over the newly filled traffic trench, trailing a trail of white smoke and slowly falling from the sky.

After seeing the signal flare that represented the completion of the passage, a dozen No. 1 tanks from the tank company filed out, followed the urgently opened passage, and drove out of the 48th Division's position toward the The moving Japanese artillery column rushed over. At this time, the two artillery brigades under the Third Independent Mountain Artillery Regiment of the Japanese Army were neighing and horses were neighing. More than a thousand officers and soldiers and more than a thousand horses from the two mountain artillery brigades formed a grand marching column to try their best to Marching at a fast marching speed towards the position they just captured.

However, the marching speed of the Huashan Artillery Corps, which was carried by horses after being disassembled and carried by mules, was ultimately limited. In addition to the twenty-four disassembled Type 94 mountain cannons, there were also a large number of artillery and ammunition auxiliary vehicles, artillery spare parts, and various observation equipment and Carts carrying horses, fodder and medicine followed. The marching column of a mountain artillery squadron was longer than a Japanese field infantry brigade.

Therefore, even though the two artillery battalion captains who commanded the advance continued to urge, and the Japanese artillery driver who led the horse kept waving his whip to urge the horses to move, the two artillery brigades were still moving slowly. The infantry just used only a dozen Minutes into the impact zone, the two mountain artillery brigades were walking like turtles.

The mobility of the Luomashan Artillery was destined to be slow. In fact, during the Anti-Japanese War, many Japanese Luomashan Artillery units could only march a dozen or even a few miles a day.

In the marching column of the Japanese artillery, the pack horses carrying mountain artillery parts screamed in pain under the urging of the Japanese drivers. From time to time, a few stubborn horses fell to the ground and fell to the ground, allowing the Japanese troops to advance. No matter how hard the soldiers beat him, he remained unmoved.

Among this rolling queue, a few horses that suddenly fell ill during high-intensity marching fell to the ground and died. The entire marching column was in chaos.

The marching columns of the two artillery brigades were filled with shouts of people and horses neighing, stretching out for more than ten miles, and billowing dust was stirred up during the march.

At the front of the marching column, Major Imada, the first captain of the Third Independent Mountain Artillery Regiment, was waving a whip on his war horse and directing the troops to advance. Various marching orders were issued in his hoarse command voice. was communicated to each squadron to which it belonged.

"hurry up!"

"Ammunition truck, follow up quickly!"

"Ignore the sick horse and move on!"

In the midst of the chaos, Major Imada and his soldiers had no idea that a huge crisis or disaster was about to strike on the seemingly safe tactical territory beneath their feet.

One kilometer away, Zhao Huzhen was lying on the cold turret of the No. 1 tank, and the German-made tank anti-collision cap on his head was swaying from side to side by the biting cold wind.

With Zhao Huzhen's company commander's car as the forerunner, more than a dozen high-speed German-made No. 1 tanks have fully deployed in battle formation. The drivers of each tank have driven the tank's horsepower to the maximum, with the fastest speed. advance at a rapid speed.

"Report to the company commander, a telegram has been sent from the second platoon, the target has been found on the right front!"

Suddenly, a radio operator's report came from the turret. Zhao Huzhen immediately raised his telescope and looked to the right front, and saw an extremely large Japanese marching column appearing in the right front.

"Order the entire company to accelerate forward, advance at full speed, and attack freely in platoon units!"

Zhao Huzhen was overjoyed and immediately issued an attack order, and then got into the turret. Immediately, the entire tank company turned around and attacked the Japanese artillery marching column in the front right.

The engines of more than a dozen No. 1 tanks spewed out clouds of thick black smoke. Amidst the violent roar, the tracks were running at high speed. A dozen gray steel tanks with blue sky and white sun military emblems formed a torrent of steel, heading towards The Japanese artillery column galloped away on the right side of the march.

Then it turned again like a dragon wagging its tail, turned the front of the car, and drove straight into the marching column of the Japanese artillery from the flank.

For the chaotic Japanese artillery marching column, the appearance of these dozen tanks was very sudden. They did not advance with the two mountain artillery brigades. The field artillery brigade still staying in the rear was still intermittently attacking the 48th Division in depth. The position was undergoing artillery bombardment, and scattered and irregular artillery sounds continued to be heard.

The sound of artillery and the noise of the artillery column's march almost covered up the roar of the engines of more than a dozen Chinese tanks that were attacking.

The firepower and protection of these dozen No. 1 tanks are actually not much better than the Japanese Type 94 light armored vehicles, but they are better than them because of their speed.

Therefore, when the hurriedly marching Japanese artillery discovered something strange around them, Zhao Huzhen's tank group had already rushed towards the marching column of the Japanese artillery. What followed was a collision of steel and flesh.

"Hurry up, tell them to hurry up, pull the ammunition and artillery cart first, and put the baggage and horse materials behind!"

In the chaotic marching column, Major Imada was still directing his brigade to move forward responsibly. Suddenly, the marching column behind him burst out into exclamations and shouts.

"Enemies! There are enemies!"

"It's Chinese!"

Major Imada didn't know what was happening behind him. He just relied on the instinct gained from many years of battlefield experience to bend down and turn the horse's head while bending down on his mount. As a result, before he could turn around, a dozen flashes appeared in the distance. The bright trajectory of machine gun fire and the crackling sound of machine gun fire.

Major Imada was lucky. Although he still didn't understand what happened, his timely reaction still allowed him to escape the disaster. However, the officers and soldiers around him did not have such good luck. They were attacked by the sudden machine gun fire. was knocked down.

More than thirty machine guns on more than a dozen No. 1 tanks fired intensively and fired machine gun bullets one after another. The Japanese artillerymen around Major Imada suffered heavy casualties and screamed repeatedly. Some were killed on the spot, while others fell to the ground. On the ground, some were moaning or wailing in a pool of blood, crawling around holding their wounds.

The messenger of the brigade who was also riding a military horse next to Major Imada was hit in the head by a bullet, and half of his face was torn open by the bullet.

The screams of the war horses also came one after another. Many of the war horses were hit by the intensive bullets and fell to the ground wailing. From time to time, 13mm heavy-pointed bullets fired from the German mg machine gun hit the war horses. The barrels and mantlets of the carried mountain cannons erupted with little golden sparks amidst the tinkling sound.

Several war horses pulling carts were killed by bullets. When the horses overturned, they also overturned the carts. Boxes of 75mm mountain artillery shells rolled to the ground, loaded with fodder and rifles in sacks. 6.5mm bullets were also scattered everywhere.

It wasn't until he completely turned the war horse under him that Major Imada figured out what happened, and the scene in front of him also made him unbelievable.

I saw a dozen gray Chinese army tanks rushing over from the flank like tigers descending a mountain, rushing straight from the flank of the Japanese artillery marching column.

And at the moment when Major Imada was stunned, his good luck seemed to have run out at this moment, and another round of blazing machine gun bullets hit.

This time, Major Imada had no time to escape. He only felt a sharp sound ringing in his ears. Then, the horse under him also shook. Major Imada also felt a sharp pain in his lower abdomen.

(End of this chapter)