African Nationhood

The rearguard battalion's recoilless artillery did not fire very frequently because it was equipped with very few shells, so Weatherford instructed the gunners to fire as little as possible.

When Nanhua Company developed the recoilless artillery, it was in the company's transformation period. The output of gray cast iron was seriously insufficient, and the output of steel was controlled by the British, so the number of artillery shells could not increase.

Only after workers and equipment from the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau were transported to privately excavate iron ore on the outskirts of Jianye (now Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe), did some controllable steel production capacity emerge.

Part of this precious steel production capacity will be allocated to casting the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau's technically mature 75mm caliber mountain cannon.

After the company was stripped of white control at the beginning of the year, the company's steel production capacity became truly autonomous.

The company is already rushing to produce non-active artillery and artillery shells, and the inventory of artillery and artillery shells for the rear guard battalion has just been transferred.

The recoilless artillery was a completely black technology at this time. Although the shape was weird, the effect was really good.

The R&D team has conducted many tests on this gun and has currently developed 2 types of shells.

One is an attacking grenade specially used to attack strong fortifications, with a relatively short range, and the other is an anti-personnel grenade, with a longer range.

Attack shells are similar to ordinary cannon shells and can only be fired for about 1 kilometer, while anti-personnel grenades can be fired for 2 to 3 kilometers.

Antipersonnel grenades are mainly used to pursue fragmentation effects, so they use large charges and are equipped with steel ball lead bullets.

……

The recoilless force cannon fired less, but the effect was very good. Many British cavalry were attacked by anti-personnel grenades as soon as they formed an attack formation.

Because the splash effect of steel balls and lead bullets is very obvious, the damage caused to the British cavalry is very intuitive.

Major General Haig noticed that it was natural for the recoilless artillery. The firing sound of the recoilless artillery was indeed much smaller than that of ordinary artillery. Therefore, he naturally recognized the recoilless artillery as a mortar. .

The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to get information about the recoilless artillery.

So Major General Haig ordered: "Continue to attack, we must break through the enemy's defense today!"

The cavalry officers who received the order showed no expression on their faces and took their soldiers on a journey to their death!

……

Li Hai, who was in the main position, saw that the enemy cavalry was unable to penetrate the mine array. He couldn't help but feel a little proud, and he also had time to pay attention to his infantry.

“When you riflemen are shooting, don’t shoot randomly, just aim and shoot.

The company's bullets also cost money. If you waste it like this, what will you do after you finish shooting? "

The militiamen in the trenches felt much more relaxed after being led by their superiors. They now felt what "combat without pressure" was like.

"Deputy Li Daying, don't worry. Our brothers, except for being a little panicked when we first started shooting, have calmed down now. When we shoot, we always aim at the lone enemy who breaks through the defense line."

Li Hai ignored the ordinary militiamen and instead focused on Qin Liang and the others.

They are now using the Lee-Enfield rifle captured from the British army. This rifle, which can hold ten rounds of bullets, is different from the NH-88 rifle.

"Qin Liang, how many British guys can you shoot?"

Qin Liang giggled and said, "Report to the camp deputy that I have shot to death 3 British guys and 6 horses."

The others are similar. After all, the new rifle needs to be adapted and the bullets are limited. If it can be effective, the capture will not be in vain.

……

Li Hai nodded, and then looked at the Maxim machine gun position.

At this moment, the water tank next to the Maxim machine gun was already boiling. In addition to loading and unloading canvas belts for the machine gun, the assistant shooters also had to keep an eye on whether the water in the water tank had boiled dry.

It must be replaced as soon as it is burned out, otherwise the energy efficiency of the heavy machine gun will drop quickly.

This is a matter of life and death, so the backup shooter has a part-time job ready to replace the water tank of the heavy machine gun.

That is to say, the Maxim heavy machine gun has a long range, but the cavalry is charging on horseback, and it is impossible to shoot if it is far away.

If the cavalry were to rush 300 meters away, the cavalry's shooting would be enough for these militiamen.

……

As time went by, the British army's desperate charge battle had lasted for more than two hours.

The energy efficiency of the Maxim heavy machine gun has dropped significantly, and its range has been greatly reduced.

The firing frequency of the recoilless artillery still has limited damage, so the British cavalry charge can already break into a distance of 400 meters.

However, the British cavalry could not feel relaxed because they entered a more deadly minefield.

Landmines are cheap and highly damaging. When the Guards Battalion militia buried landmines, they deliberately increased the density of the landmines.

One meter and three meters. As long as the horse's hoof steps on a landmine during a cavalry charge, there is no hope that the horse's legs and hoofs will be intact. Once these horses fall over, the riders on them can't expect to escape unscathed.

They were in the middle of a minefield, and every step was filled with danger.

It's okay to say that it's a thunderstorm, but if it's a thunderstorm, it would be really miserable.

The jumping mine can jump up to 1 meter high. This height is exactly the distribution area between the belly of the war horse and the lower limbs of the rider.

The fragments of jumping mines can effectively help war horses and riders experience the feeling of life being worse than death. There are a large number of internal organs in the chest and abdomen of war horses, while the cavalry's lower limbs are basically incapacitated by the fragments.

A new death charge line is formed between 200 and 400 meters. The militiamen huddled in the trenches can easily aim and shoot the enemy without worrying about the enemy's counterattack.

This is already a disguised massacre!

……

Unable to break through the defenders' defenses, the British cavalry officers gradually lost their will to charge.

No one can be full of enthusiasm for a fatal battle, and Major General Haig also clearly noticed the fear of his soldiers.

To prevent the cavalry team from losing morale, he decisively pulled the reins and said, "Charge with me!" The deputy next to him said anxiously, "Commander, you are irresponsible to us by doing this. You need to stay behind and command the battle."

Major General Haig shook his head, "No, at this moment, we must show our determination and courage.

Once the soldiers' will to die is relaxed, it will be a disaster if it spreads.

I must rush forward and lead them to victory! "

……

The general's style can easily influence the lower-level soldiers, but Major General Haig's style is to fight to the end and fight to the death!

When the British cavalry saw that their general had come out, their determination to fight to the death was once again strengthened.

Reorganize your formation and continue the death charge.

This time the British army charged faster and with the most determined will during the charge.

……

Major General Haig's movements attracted the attention of Wu Dayi, who was hiding and observing. Since the British cavalry general had moved, it was time for them to dispatch.

The fast-moving infantry still couldn't catch up with the charging speed of the cavalry, and it would take some time to attack from the front and back.

……

At this moment, the shooters in the rear guard battalion clearly felt the sharp decline in the efficiency of the Maxim heavy machine gun.

At this time, unless a new machine gun is installed, it will be easy for the enemy to break through the line.

The area of ​​​​the mine array has been almost consumed. At this time, it is truly a matter of life and death.

After summarizing the information from all parties, Wei Defu's entanglement was relieved.

If the enemy breaks through the defense line, these artillery equipment will be given to the enemy cheaply.

It's better to use it. Killing the enemy will also reduce the pressure on the front line.

Wei Defu immediately ordered: let the gunner of the recoilless artillery fire freely.

All the spare new machine guns in the warehouse were carried out, and others were ordered to take the mortar grenades and go to the front line.

……

The militiamen of the rear guard battalion thoroughly felt the pressure of the battlefield, and their defensive actions began to make frequent mistakes.

When the soldiers at the main position in the northeast corner were replacing the Maxim heavy machine gun, the shooter was so nervous that he directly touched the hot barrel of the Maxim heavy machine gun with his hand.

Such mistakes are normal on the battlefield, but they have a great impact on the battle situation.

Just because of the heavy machine gunner's mistake, there was a mistake in the blockade and connection of the crossfire.

The British cavalry had a gap, and there were temporarily too many British cavalry to cross the fire blockade.

The heavy machine gunner who made the mistake was moved aside, and the new machine gun had not yet been installed in place. Although Li Hai was angry, he couldn't care less.

"Listen to my command, anti-infantry directional mine, blast!"

……

Major General Haig, surrounded by his cavalry, finally broke through the fire blockade of the Maxim heavy machine gun. The defender's camp was already in sight.

He could almost see the faces of the defenders clearly. His spirits were lifted and he shouted directly: "Brave soldiers, charge for the British Empire!"

The cavalry following the general were like a buff, shouting: "Charge for the British Empire!"

At this moment, a violent air wave suddenly erupted in front of them. This air wave was mixed with a large number of broken steel, steel balls and lead bullets.

"Puff~~~~"

The powerful explosive power of TNT and picric acid directly overturned the cavalry phalanx approaching the front line. At this moment, both men and horses suffered penetrating injuries.

Red blood gurgled out, and the ground beneath them quickly turned red.

"Ah~~~~hiss~~~"

The human howls of pain and the neighing of war horses intertwined again.

Before the following cavalry could figure out what was going on ahead, their forward momentum was curbed again.

The blockade firepower of the Maxim heavy machine gun took shape again, and their leader was now dead or alive.

Without the general, the cavalry no longer had the confidence to fight to the death.

They reined in their horses and wanted to turn around and leave, but an unusual howling sound came from the sky.

"Bang bang~~~"

Wu Dayi's main battle platoon finally caught up. They fired light grenades while charging at the cavalry with their submachine guns.

……

At the end of the Battle of the Guards Camp, the British 1 cavalry suffered a death rate of 6300, 2200 were captured, and the rest ran away.

In this battle, the rear guard battalion received a large number of war horses and British weapons.

This battle completely shocked both parties involved. Boss Shi immediately gave instructions after receiving the battle report: This battle must be well publicized and let everyone know that the British regular army attacked our militia camp. Not only did they not win, they also fled miserably.

This is a victory for Nanhua Company and a victory for all the weaker parties!

Just people will surely be favored by God! (End of chapter)