The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 391: Cannon Fire at Fuchi River

With such strong military force and firepower, the badly damaged Hata Shigeichi was naturally full of thoughts of revenge. Shortly after the Hata Detachment completed its reorganization, it continued to advance towards Banbi Mountain under the order of the 11th Army.

However, this time, Hata Shigeichi learned his lesson. Even though he was eager for revenge, the psychological trauma left by the loss of his vanguard troops last time was too great.

Therefore, Hata Shigekazu did not dare to launch a bold full-speed march, but instead slowed down the march and increased the search and alert efforts to prevent another attack by the Chinese army.

After resuming the attack in the direction of Banbi Mountain, the Hata Detachment carried out extremely strict alert, search and reconnaissance during the march. Whether it was the front or flank of the marching route, the Hata Detachment carried out extremely strict searches during the march.

Every time they passed a village, a river, a path, a forest, or a paddy field, they would send out troops to conduct repeated and careful searches, and even use artillery to conduct fire reconnaissance before they dared to move forward, for fear that the Chinese army would launch another surprise attack and ambush to wipe out their vanguard troops.

After the Hata Detachment was reinforced by an independent engineering regiment and a mechanized traction marching Type 96 150mm howitzer battalion, the number of heavy equipment of the unit also increased greatly.

Due to the extremely strict search on the march, coupled with the sudden increase in the number of heavy equipment, the marching speed of the Hata Detachment towards Banbi Mountain was naturally much slower than the theoretical normal marching speed.

Only a few days ago, when the detachment commander received the task from the 11th Army to reinforce the Japanese Marines who were besieged by the Chinese army on the west bank of the Fuchi River, he made an exception and ordered the troops to speed up the march. However, He Wei acted too quickly and wiped out the Japanese Marines that landed on the west bank of the Fuchi River before the Hata detachment arrived.

After receiving the news that the Japanese Marine Corps waiting for reinforcements had been completely destroyed, the Hata Detachment had to speed up its march. There was no need to continue the risk of a rapid advance. Hata Shigekazu then reverted to his old ways and ordered the Hata Detachment to slow down its march again and intensify reconnaissance and searches along the way for safety reasons.

Therefore, under the influence of various factors and the twists and turns of the battle, the marching speed of the Hata Detachment became extremely slow, and it was not until today that it finally arrived near the Fuchi River. This was also the reason why He Wei's previous fruitless search for the Hata Detachment was caused.

On the west bank of the Fuchi River, Hata Shigeichi held up a telescope and looked at the huge marching column. Infantry, mules, horses, baggage, tracked vehicles, and heavy artillery were all advancing in an orderly manner according to the combat readiness marching formation. His heart, which had been hanging in the air, was finally at ease.

The careful and cautious marching during this period had made Hata Shigekazu's spirit extremely sensitive and nervous. When he and the various units of the Hata detachment under his command safely set foot on the land on the west bank of the Fuchi River, the worry about being ambushed again was finally eliminated.

Before reaching the west bank of the Fuchi River, the route along which the Hata Detachment marched was lined with large forests, interspersed with paddy fields, and dotted with densely packed villages, all of which were ideal terrain for concealing the Chinese army's large-scale ambush forces.

However, the vast area from Fuchikou to Banbishan is different. It is adjacent to the mighty Yangtze River. Except for the Fuchi River, the rest of the land between Fuchikou and Banbishan is almost entirely flat open land. It is impossible for the large-scale ambush forces of the Chinese army to lurk in such terrain, and the small attack forces of the Chinese army are nothing to be afraid of in front of the heavy troops of the Hata Detachment with a size of nearly 20,000.

Putting down the telescope, Shigekazu Hata let out a long sigh, then turned his head to look in the direction of Banbi Mountain. His eyes became very cold, and it seemed as if a fire was burning in Shigekazu Hata's heart.

The strength of the troops under Hata Shigeichi's control is very powerful. Not counting the various baggage and logistical troops, only the organized combat troops are counted, namely, there are two Taiwan Island Infantry 94st Regiment and Taiwan Island Infantry 75nd Regiment which are fully equipped after replenishment, the Taiwan Island Mountain Artillery Regiment equipped with thirty-six brand new Type 8 8mm mountain guns, the independent Engineer 96th Regiment equipped with a full set of the latest engineering equipment and the heavy artillery battalion equipped with 150 of the latest Type mm howitzers.

Despite having such powerful strength, during the previous march, Shigekazu Hata had been acting cautiously and marching carefully for fear of being ambushed by the Chinese army. One can imagine the frustration and depression in his heart.

Now, after the open terrain eliminated the risk of large-scale ambush by the Chinese army, Hata Shigeichi was freed from the worry of being ambushed and no longer had to be cautious. All he wanted was to win a comeback battle as soon as possible, defeat the Chinese troops near Banbi Mountain in a head-on confrontation and a grand battle, and take down Banbi Mountain with his powerful firepower and fierce heavy attack.

Shigekazu Hata not only wanted to avenge the ambush he suffered earlier, but also wanted to gain the honor of capturing the Yangtze River and defending the last line of defense in Wuhan through this battle.

A staff officer ran to Hata Shigekazu with a telegram and reported: "Report to the detachment commander, all our troops have arrived at the west bank of the Fuchi River. The first infantry regiment sent a telegram saying that they have advanced to the Fuchi River and found a Chinese army field position in the center of the west bank of the Fuchi River. Based on the size of the enemy's position, the enemy's strength is estimated to be no less than a brigade, and they are currently under observation."

Hata Shigeichi asked in a deep voice: "What is the progress and deployment of each unit and the specific situation of the First Regiment?"

"Report to the detachment commander. After all of our detachment crossed the Songchuan River, we are marching in the order of the 8st Infantry Regiment, the nd Infantry Regiment, the Mountain Artillery Regiment, the Heavy Artillery Battalion, the Baggage Corps, the Transport Corps, and the Motor Vehicle Corps. All units have accelerated their marching speed in accordance with your order. The vanguard st Infantry Regiment has advanced to its full position at a rapid march and is now confronting the Chinese troops on the east bank of the Fuchi River. The units of the th Independent Engineer Regiment are dispersed throughout the detachment's marching columns to ensure the marching of all units."

"The First Infantry Regiment has arrived at the Fuchi River. While observing the Chinese troops on the other side, they have also formed a standoff with them and are preparing for a river crossing attack. It is expected that the preparations for the river crossing assault will be completed within half an hour. The Chinese troops stationed on the east bank of the Fuchi River seem to have also discovered the First Infantry Regiment, but the two sides did not engage in combat."

After hearing the officer's report, Hata Shigeichi showed a look of satisfaction. After the troops arrived at the west bank of the Fuchi River, Hata Shigeichi put aside all his concerns and ordered his troops to speed up the march. The principles of careful vigilance and repeated vigilance and search that had been strictly implemented in the previous march were quickly abandoned and replaced by a rapid march that could be described as a mad gallop.

The 1st Infantry Regiment of Taiwan Island under the Hata Detachment rushed to the Fuchi River less than an hour after all of them had crossed the Songchuan River and formed a confrontation with the Chinese troops on the east bank of the Fuchi River. Such a speed of advance really made Hata Shige, who was eager for revenge, feel very satisfied.

"Has the 18st Infantry Regiment determined the number of the Chinese troops facing it across the river?" The staff officer was stunned for a moment, then said, "Captain, the st Infantry Regiment did not report the enemy's number, but according to the intelligence obtained from the navy forwarded by the army headquarters, the th Division of the Chinese Army deployed near the Fuchi River was severely damaged by the landing Marine Corps. Its combat effectiveness is not strong, and it almost collapsed in the battle with the Marine Corps."

Hata Shigeichi thought for a moment, without dwelling too much on the unfamiliar designation of the 18th Division. Then a cold light flashed in his eyes, and he raised his hand and ordered: "Order the heavy artillery battalion to speed up and merge with the 8st Infantry Regiment as soon as possible. The th Independent Engineer Regiment should also quickly gather and advance to merge with the st Infantry Regiment. After the two divisions arrive, immediately use artillery fire and engineer operations to cover the st Infantry Regiment to launch a crossing attack on the Chinese troops on the east bank of the Fuchi River! Defeat the enemy on the east bank of the Fuchi River as soon as possible!"

Just like Hata Shigeichi who was eager to fight, the Japanese troops under Hata Detachment also had a strong desire to fight at this moment. Less than forty minutes after Hata Shigeichi issued the attack order, the 150mm heavy artillery battalion and the 8th Independent Engineer Regiment under Hata Detachment had arrived at the west bank of the Fuchi River and joined the st Infantry Regiment of Taiwan Island that was ready to cross the river and attack.

Preparations for the attack on the Chinese army on the other side of the strait also began immediately. The 1st Infantry Regiment of Taiwan Island, as the main force of the attack, was the main infantry unit for the assault. Various assault preparations and attack plans must be made before the formal crossing of the river for the attack. The 8th Independent Engineer Regiment also needed to undertake various support tasks for the 1st Infantry Regiment of Taiwan Island during the river crossing attack, including clearing mines, boarding boats, and building pontoon bridges.

Naturally, it was impossible for the 8th Independent Engineer Regiment and the 1st Taiwan Infantry Regiment to carry out their various combat preparations before officially starting the river crossing attack without any scruples under the noses of the Chinese troops on the other side of the strait.

All combat readiness work and all preparations for river crossing attacks need to be carried out under the cover of continuous artillery fire, and this cover mission is naturally undertaken by the 150mm howitzer battalion under the Hata Detachment.

This 150mm artillery battalion can be said to be the strongest trump card in Hata Shigeichi's hand. The Type 96 150mm howitzer equipped by this unit is Japan's newest 150mm artillery. Its design prototype is the French Schneider m1917 155mm howitzer, with a combat weight of 4140 kg, a barrel length of 3252 mm, a caliber of 150 mm, a vertical firing range of -5°~+65°, a horizontal firing range of 15° on each side, a maximum range of 11900 meters, a muzzle velocity of 540 meters/second, and a firing rate of 3-4 rounds/minute. It is the standard equipment of the Japanese Army's future field heavy artillery brigades and independent heavy artillery regiments. It has only just been put into mass production at the Osaka Artillery Factory, and its output is only a few dozen.

This artillery battalion was equipped with the most advanced howitzers of the Japanese Army. In addition to two howitzer squadrons equipped with four howitzers each, its subordinate units also included a traction squadron equipped with tracked tractors and an observation squadron equipped with large calibration balloons. Its equipment was excellent.

The original combat sequence of this battalion was the 3rd Battalion of the Artillery Regiment of the Japanese Army's China Garrison. It participated in the Battle of Wanping City during the July 7 Incident, and also performed well in the subsequent Battle of Xinkou and Battle of Xuzhou. From officers to non-commissioned officers to soldiers, they all have rich professional command qualities and combat experience. It is no exaggeration to say that it is the most elite field heavy artillery unit in the Japanese Army.

At the artillery position of the Japanese 150mm heavy artillery battalion, the battalion commander, Major Akamatsu Tomoichiro, was in the newly opened firing command post. He observed the outline of the Chinese army's position on the east bank of the Fuchi River through the artillery telescope. He snorted contemptuously, and after leaving the artillery telescope, he said to the adjutant beside him: "Have all the squadrons completed their combat firing preparations?"

The adjutant immediately stepped forward and reported: "Report to the commander, the first and second squadrons have completed combat shooting preparations, and the ground observation station has also completed the calculation of the shooting parameters. They are ready to open fire at any time."

Akamatsu Yuichiro nodded, waved his hand casually and said: "Then start the bombardment."

The adjutant continued, "Sir, the balloon team just called and asked if we could use the calibration balloon to observe the target?"

"No need to do that. Just use the ground observation station. In front of our 150mm heavy artillery, the Chinese army's position on the other side is completely vulnerable. It is a complete waste to use the calibration balloon for observation. Order each squadron to use the firing parameters calculated by the ground observation station as the basis. First, fire into the river. Before the engineers clear the mines in the river, help them use artillery shells to bomb them. After each gun fires rounds of mine clearance, quickly transfer firepower and bombard the Chinese army positions in front of them. All squadrons open fire immediately!"

"Yes!"

The adjutant stood at attention, then dialed the phone to each artillery position and shouted, "Start firing! Start firing!"

Almost at the same time, a deafening roar came from the artillery positions of the eight Type 96 150mm howitzers of the two artillery squadrons. The eight guns fired almost simultaneously, and the sound of propellant detonating and the whizzing sound of shells leaving the barrels suddenly rang out. The dense shells fired by the eight guns soon fell on the surface of the Fuchi River in front of the Japanese Army's First Infantry Regiment on the Taiwan Island.

The powerful 150mm delayed-fuze blasting grenade fell into the river and penetrated more than ten centimeters into the water before exploding, instantly creating a towering water column more than meters high on the river surface.

Immediately afterwards, a 150mm grenade equipped with high explosives exploded in the river, quickly detonating the sensitive trigger mines in the Fuchi River, causing a series of large explosions on the river surface.

When He Wei led his troops to withdraw from the west bank of the Fuchi River, he also took back the naval mine squadron that was temporarily supporting the 18th Division. However, before withdrawing, the naval mine squadron, in accordance with the principle of disgusting Japan as much as possible, used up all the mines they carried and deployed them all in various places in the Fuchi River.

The most numerous of these mines are trigger-type mines. Now, under the intensive bombardment of the river surface by the Japanese army's 150mm howitzer delayed-fuze grenades, these sensitive trigger-type mines were obviously unable to continue to "lurk" in the river, but were detonated one after another under the bombardment of high-powered grenades.

The delayed-explosion 150mm grenades and the exploding mines created columns of water mixed with black smoke in the river, which were then blown by the river breeze into drifting yellow-brown water curtains, flying everywhere. Eight 8mm Type 150 howitzers, with a single gun using 96 rounds, fired 20 160mm delayed-explosion grenades at the designated river crossing area of ​​the Taiwan Island 150st Infantry Regiment, forming a tight, accurate and rapid round of artillery mine-clearing shooting.

After the mine-clearing shooting, before the water column stirred up by the last round of shells in the Fuchi River fell, the Japanese heavy howitzer battalion began to transfer firepower. Eight Type 8 96mm howitzers formed a huge barrage at a faster shooting speed, and advanced towards the 150th Division's defensive positions on the east bank of the Fuchi River amid earth-shaking explosions.

(End of this chapter)