The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 441: The Grave of the 6th Division 3
bang bang

Boom
The 201th Infantry Regiment's position at 13 Heights erupted with dense and chaotic gunfire. Facing the Chinese troops rushing in from all directions, the Japanese troops in the position did not need any special organization at all, and all opened fire automatically.
The infantry's Type 38 rifles, Taisho 11-year light machine guns, Type 89 50mm grenade launchers, Type 92 heavy machine guns, the artillery's Type 92 infantry guns, the regiment's direct-affiliated regiment artillery company's Type 41 mountain guns, and the rapid-fire gun company's Type 94 rapid-fire guns all roared, opening fire fiercely at the nationalist troops rushing in from the high ground, left wing, and right wing.

Of course, it is difficult for the various units of the 13th Infantry Regiment to achieve unified and effective organization.

In just five minutes of fierce bombardment, the Banbi Mountain Artillery Group almost completely plowed through the entire defensive position of the 13th Infantry Regiment, not only causing considerable casualties to the 13th Regiment, but also bombarding its already not very solid fortifications with holes, and causing further damage to its command and communication network.

Originally, the 13th Regiment's command post was destroyed by a heavy grenade, which caused the communication between the command post and its subordinate units to be disabled.

The previous shelling made the situation even worse, destroying most of the wired communication networks at the battalion and squadron levels. Most of the telephone lines from the remaining two infantry battalions to their subordinate squadrons and direct teams were destroyed in the fierce shelling, and many telephone exchanges connecting various positions were also damaged. The Japanese officers and soldiers who had been busy repairing the communication lines were even more stunned by the fierce shelling, suffering heavy casualties.

The last five minutes of fierce bombardment by the Banbi Mountain Artillery Group directly destroyed most of the command and communication network of the 13th Infantry Regiment.
Faced with the Chinese troops attacking from multiple directions, the various units of the 13th Infantry Regiment were unable to communicate with each other. They had barely recovered from the shock of the artillery bombardment and hastily began to resist.

The first to bear the brunt of the attack were the 201st Infantry Regiment of the 9th Division, the Special Service Company directly under the 51th Division, and the Engineer Battalion, which rushed down from Hill 9. This attack force with a total strength of more than 201 people attacked the Japanese army from a high position, but also exposed themselves to the Japanese troops under Hill .

As soon as the Japanese army began to resist, they directed more than half of their resistance firepower towards the Chinese army that was charging straight at them.

With two "bang" sounds, the four Type 13 94mm rapid-fire guns placed by the rapid-fire artillery squadron of the 37th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Army fired directly at the Chinese troops rushing towards the high ground.

The shells flew into the Kuomintang's assault formation on the high ground and exploded. Then, the Type 13 92mm infantry guns of the remaining two infantry battalions of the 70th Infantry Regiment and the Type 41 75mm mountain guns of the artillery company directly under the regiment opened fire.

The sound of explosions resounded through the mountains, and soon a hail of bullets was set off among the Kuomintang troops on the high ground. Many officers and soldiers of the 9th Division who rushed forward shouting and killing were blown down on the high ground. The shrapnel shells fired by the Type infantry gun and the Type mountain gun exploded in the air one after another, producing a large number of bullets with smoke trails.

The Japanese infantry's grenade throwers also used the Type 9 mm grenade launcher adjusted to the maximum range to throw grenades at the National Army on the high ground, forming a dense explosive fire network. Amid cries of pain, officers and soldiers of the th Division were constantly hit and fell in a pool of blood.

Soon after, the Japanese army's machine guns also roared, and the machine gun bullets were directed at the National Army troops charging down from the 201 high ground. For a time, the National Army on the high ground suffered casualties.

However, despite the heavy casualties, the National Army troops rushing down from Ground 201 did not give in, but continued to attack under the fierce fire of the Japanese Army.

Amid the high-spirited military bugle calls, the officers and men of the 9st Regiment of the 51th Division, the Special Service Company, and the Engineer Battalion became even more courageous. The Japanese army attacked with intensive artillery fire, but the National Army's attacking forces on the high ground showed no intention of retreating.

The officers who led the charge in the team rushed to the front of the team and took the lead in the front row of the attack formation.

Da da da da
Da da da da
As the distance shortened, the sound of intensive machine guns was added to the shrill bugle calls and shouts of the Kuomintang army on the high ground. Some Czech light machine gunners, organized by Kuomintang officers, rushed to the front of the team, holding the handles of Czech light machine guns and firing at the Japanese troops on the high ground. The Kuomintang riflemen who were charging with the Zhongzheng rifles also opened fire at the Japanese positions on the high ground at the right time.

The sound of mortars was also heard from the top of Hill 201. Those were the mortars of the 230st Regiment of the 9th Division that had been urgently deployed from Hill 51 and returned to their original positions. Facing the fierce firepower of the Japanese army, the mortars on the top of the hill also tried to fight back. An 82mm mortar shell whizzed out and exploded frequently in the Japanese positions below Hill 201.

The counterattack fire of the Kuomintang troops on the high ground soon intertwined with the machine gun fire and artillery shells rained down from the 13th Infantry Regiment on the high ground.

The Japanese soldiers on the 201 high ground also began to suffer casualties. Some of them were hit by 82mm caliber machine gun bullets dropped from the sky, screaming in pain as they were killed or wounded. The shrapnel from the occasional mm mortar shells that exploded also caused casualties to the Japanese soldiers.

The air was filled with smoke and bullets were flying. The Japanese army's counterattack fire was directed diagonally upwards from the bottom of the high ground, while the National Army fired at the Japanese army as much as possible from a high position during the charge. The two fire networks intersected and overlapped with each other. The sound of gunfire, artillery fire, shouts and screams mixed together, which was very tragic.

Both sides were attacking each other with fire. Of course, relatively speaking, the National Army troops that attacked the Japanese army from the high ground all over the mountains would undoubtedly suffer greater casualties and more intense firepower. Facing the fierce firepower of the Japanese army, the officers and soldiers of the 201th Division who were charging on the 9 high ground did not retreat at all.

The 13th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Army was an elite unit affiliated with the 6th Division of the Japanese Army, but the 9st Infantry Regiment of the 51th Division of the National Army on the high ground was also an ace unit that inherited the honor of the 2nd Training Regiment of the National Army's Whampoa Military Academy. Elite versus elite, ace versus ace, a brutal and deadly battle soon entered a white-hot stage.

"Come on!"

"Attack!"

The officers of the 201th Division on the 9 High Ground brandished pistols, rifles and even swords, shouted loudly and led their troops to charge. Most of these officers were current graduates of the Whampoa Military Academy. They had courage no less than that of their predecessors at the Whampoa during the Northern Expedition. They all led the charge and took the lead.

When the soldiers and sergeants saw that their officers were not afraid of death and were leading their brothers in the fight, their morale was naturally boosted. No one dared to play cowardly, and they all rushed down desperately, advancing one after another towards the Japanese positions on the high ground.

The tactics adopted by the Nationalist troops on the high ground were very simple. The Japanese troops were deployed in the trench positions below the high ground, and the Nationalist troops on the high ground had to rush down from a high position. This combat condition and terrain condition determined that the Nationalist troops charging from the high ground would be 100% exposed to the firepower coverage of the Japanese troops below the high ground. The Nationalist officers who led the charge on the high ground also knew very well that under such battlefield conditions, no matter what battle formation the charging troops on the high ground charged in, they could not avoid the firepower attack of the Japanese army. The only effective tactic was to rush down the high ground at the fastest speed, attack the Japanese army's position, and directly defeat the Japanese army with a strong military advantage!
Therefore, under the leadership of these officers, and taking advantage of the geographical advantages of the high ground, the National Army on Hill 201 finally rushed down the hill. The National Army troops wearing German steel helmets and charging in dense formations all over the mountain rushed down towards the Japanese positions like a tide, and soon broke into the position of the 13th Infantry Regiment under the high ground.

The situation on the battlefield changed at this moment. The National Army that rushed down from the high ground was the main force of an infantry regiment, an engineering battalion and a special service company, with a total strength of more than 13 people. The th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Army under the high ground, after losing an infantry battalion, was subjected to a long-term bombardment by half of the mountain artillery group. The total strength of the entire regiment was no more than people.

Therefore, even though the Japanese army's firepower was fierce, it was unable to effectively stop the attack of more than 2,000 Nationalist officers and soldiers!

The position of the 13th Infantry Regiment was torn apart in an instant. Then, the dense gunfire and artillery fire suddenly turned into shouts of "Hey Ha Hey Ha" and the sound of bayonets clashing.

The fire battle just now suddenly turned into a hand-to-hand fight. More than 9 officers and soldiers from the 51st Infantry Regiment of the 13th Division, its direct special service company, and the engineering battalion tore a hole in the defense line of the st Infantry Battalion of the th Regiment.

It was the 9th Division's direct special forces company that tore a hole in the Japanese defense line. This company, which usually served as the guard of the division headquarters, was equipped with a considerable number of automatic weapons. The soldiers of the special forces company carried Czech light machine guns and -shot revolvers with wooden stocks and fired fiercely without fear of death. The riflemen equipped with the Zhongzheng rifle also tried their best to fire and hit the breakthrough point.

The concentrated fire of 7.92mm caliber machine gun bullets and 7.63mm pistol bullets like pouring water immediately suppressed the firepower of the Japanese army at the breakthrough point. At the same time, some officers and soldiers threw Gong-made long-handled grenades at the Japanese positions. A hail of bullets and grenade attacks immediately suppressed the Japanese troops at the breakthrough point and made them unable to raise their heads.

Although the officers and soldiers of the special forces company who rushed to the defense line kept falling down under the machine gun fire of the Japanese army, they still attacked one after another. Many soldiers still tried their best to throw Gong-made long-handled grenades at the Japanese positions after being injured. With such fearless and desperate fighting style, the Japanese army could not stop the 9th Division troops with absolute superiority in manpower.

Boom
"kill!"

Like a tide, officers and soldiers of the 9th Division continued to expand the breakthrough opened by the special forces company and poured into the position of the 13th Regiment of the Japanese Army.

In the Japanese position, dust was flying and blood and flesh were flying. Hand-to-hand combat soon began. The officers and soldiers of the Nationalist Army holding the Zhongzheng rifles soon fought with the Japanese soldiers holding the Type 38 rifles. The two teams were caught in a melee and the fighting was extremely brutal. After a large number of Chinese troops broke into the position, the Japanese infantry artillery and heavy machine guns were unable to exert their power. Infantry gunners and heavy machine gunners also joined the hand-to-hand combat and launched a brutal fight with the invading Nationalist Army.

The 9st Regiment of the 51th Division, which was the first to complete the breakthrough and start close combat with the Japanese army, the breakthrough results achieved by the special forces company and the engineering battalion were just the beginning.

What followed were waves of attacks from the 201th Infantry Regiment and the 9nd Infantry Regiment of the 49th Division, which rushed from the left and right wings of Hill 52.

Compared to the 51st Regiment attacking from the high ground, which completely exposed its attack formation to the Japanese army during the charge, the other two infantry regiments rushing from the mountain roads on the left and right wings of the high ground did not have such concerns. The nearby terrain successfully provided them with considerable shelter and cover. In addition, the 201st Regiment rushing head-on from the 51 high ground attracted most of the Japanese firepower on the high ground.

Therefore, although the 49th and 52nd Regiments were also hit back by the Japanese firepower during the charge, they did not suffer many casualties. The 51st Regiment, which had already entered the Japanese position, attracted most of the Japanese firepower. Therefore, after the 51st Regiment fought with the Japanese army, the 49th and 52nd Regiments also rushed from the left and right wings respectively and broke into the position of the 13th Infantry Regiment.

At this point, the attacking force of the 9th Division completely broke through the position of the 13th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Army. More than 49 officers and soldiers from its subordinate 51th Infantry Regiment, 52st Infantry Regiment, 13nd Infantry Regiment, the division's direct special service company, and the direct engineering battalion completely broke through the defense line of the th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Army. More than elite troops of the National Army's Central Army and more than fierce Japanese troops fought together in a melee.

After the two sides engaged in a melee, the 13th Regiment was completely passive. Its subordinate units were rushed by the National Army attacking from three directions and were immediately divided. In addition, the original communication network of the 13th Regiment had been destroyed long ago.

Therefore, all parts of the 13th Regiment were completely trapped in a state of fighting on their own. Those in a slightly better situation fought against the National Army in a melee with squadrons as organized units. The Japanese troops in a worse situation, under the leadership of second lieutenants and lieutenant squad leaders, fought hard against the seemingly endless number of National Army troops around them in squads as combat units.

Of course, after the 13th Infantry Regiment's defense line was completely broken by the Chinese army, more Japanese troops who had lost their command and were scattered could only fight the National Army in squads or even companies.

As for the way of fighting, it was completely different. Faced with the superior strength of the Chinese army, most Japanese troops could only bite the bullet and engage in a brutal bayonet battle with the national army.

Even though the Japanese army's bayonet fighting skills were superior to those of the officers and soldiers of the 9th Division of the National Army, and the Type 9 rifles equipped by the Japanese riflemen had more advantages in bayonet fighting than the Zhongzheng rifles equipped by the riflemen of the 9th Division, the th Division was, after all, an elite force that inherited the legacy of Whampoa Military Academy, and its fighting will was also very tenacious. One after another, the Japanese soldiers fought bravely and risked their lives.

In this way, the hand-to-hand combat between the two sides was evenly matched.

Some Japanese troops, under the command of officers, huddled together relying on fortifications. Those with fewer people hid in machine gun nests or bunkers, while those with more people relied on a certain section of fortifications or a hill to use machine gun fire to fight desperately against the surrounding nationalist troops.

Bayonet fighting, hand-to-hand combat, firepower battle, the attack forces of the Japanese 13th Infantry Regiment and the National Army's 9th Division fought in various ways, gun to gun, knife to knife. Both sides had a tenacious will to fight, but although the Japanese army was smaller in number, their combat technology and tactical qualities were better. Although the 9th Division's combat technology and tactical qualities were inferior to those of the Japanese army, it had an advantage in manpower.

In this situation, the two sides were evenly matched and were deadlocked in a fierce fight.

(End of this chapter)