artillery arc

Chapter 680 Bloodstained Adriatic Sea
Erwin took the camera specially made for him by Leica and pressed the shutter at the beach full of wreckage and surrendering soldiers.

The highest commander on the beach hurried over and saluted Erwin: "Congratulations, Marshal, on your brilliant victory."

Erwin nodded and looked at the sea: "Where is the enemy fleet?"

"The Imperial Academy of Sciences deployed new anti-ship missiles and launched a total of 200 missiles, of which 6 successfully resisted the enemy's interference and hit the target. Then the enemy fleet retreated."

Erwin snorted, "Six out of 200. Any kid in a scout camp wouldn't have such a bad shooting score!"

All the generals present looked embarrassed.

The liaison officer of the Imperial Academy of Sciences was also embarrassed. After all, this hit rate was really ugly. Only Technical Lieutenant Colonel Oliver May of the 603 Technical Test Squadron, who was responsible for the missile launch, defended loudly: "The enemy released interference chaff and adopted other interference measures. The fact that we were able to hit the enemy ship among so many chaffs shows that our weapons are reliable and efficient!"

Erwin turned his head and pointed at the sea: "But I didn't see any Allied ships being sunk. Is it because these ships are out of sight? Your Excellency Air Force Colonel Franz, has the Air Force seen the results of the Imperial Academy of Sciences? As far as I know, it takes several hours for a large warship to sink!"

The Air Force Colonel shook his head. "Our observation aircraft clearly saw the Allied cruiser that was hit evacuate the battlefield safely. In addition, Technical Lieutenant Colonel Oliver May was wrong just now. It is true that many missiles were interfered by chaff, but the number of missiles shot down by enemy anti-aircraft guns was almost the same as the number of missiles that lost their targets due to interference."

Lieutenant Colonel Oliver May: "What?"

Air Force Colonel Franz: “The missiles of the Imperial Academy of Sciences are too big. Although they are very fast, their ability to penetrate the enemy’s air defense firepower network using VT fuses is quite low.

"To be honest, if the Air Force had deployed 200 Stukas, they would have scored more than six hits."

Oliver May: "But if a Stuka is shot down, a pilot and a rear gunner will be lost. If our army completely loses control of the sea, these valuable talents will become prisoners."

The naval officers present were all embarrassed.

The Plossen Navy had just lost its last large ship in the Sardinian war zone, and now only had destroyers and torpedo boats available.

Moreover, the Plossen Navy's air defense capability was very weak and it was very afraid of Allied aircraft, so it could only operate under the cover of the Air Force.

Colonel Franz wanted to argue, but Marshal Erwin raised his hand and said, "Well, the enemy fleet has been driven away, and it is true that we cannot provide naval gun support. We were originally going to use the K5 railway gun to drive away the enemy's battleships, but unfortunately the firing rate of the railway gun is too slow and cannot effectively strike the enemy warships that are constantly moving on the sea."

"General," the marshal's adjutant stepped forward, "We have already built the artillery in Navarone, using radar to provide firing parameters. The artillery position is built inside the cliff. Unless the enemy's bomber pilots sacrifice themselves to crash into the cliff, it is impossible to destroy these two cannons! Within the range covered by the artillery, the enemy cannot launch a landing operation."

Marshal Erwin: "Whether the enemy lands or not, and no matter where they land, we will drive them into the sea."

He handed the camera to his adjutant, and with his hands behind his back, he looked at the rough Adriatic Sea: "In the Mamluks, supplies limited my ability! Now we have sufficient supplies. Mary and Ike from the Allies are no match for me!"

After a brief pause, Erwin said, "I would like to go to the Eastern Front and meet Rokossov. Should he be promoted to marshal?"

Adjutant: "According to the latest news, he was indeed promoted to marshal."

Erwin: "Very good, I believe it will be very pleasant to play against him!"

At this time, the communications staff came running over, stood at attention and saluted: "Your Excellency Marshal, His Majesty is calling."

Erwin: "The telephone line was installed so quickly?"

Communications Staff Officer: "We have been leaving people to pull telephone lines on the way here to ensure direct communication with Eagle's Nest."

Erwin nodded and strode towards the command vehicle. Another staff officer was already waiting for him at the door of the command vehicle with a phone in hand.

Marshal Erwin took the receiver and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, salute you and congratulations on your victory again!"

"It's your victory, Lord Erwin. Or should I call you teacher? You taught me infantry attack tactics."

Marshal Erwin: "Are you still bothered by the B- I gave you?"

The emperor was obviously in a good mood and laughed: "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten it."

Emperor Plossen had to receive military school education. Erwin was the school's new infantry instructor. However, as the old instructors did not dare to teach the emperor, they threw this task to him.

After the greetings, the emperor's tone suddenly became serious: "Marshal Erwin, let me ask you, if I appoint you as the commander-in-chief of the Western Front Command, commanding the Plossen Army of the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Kingdom of Carolingian, are you confident that you can do the job?"

Marshal Erwin: "I would rather go to the Eastern Front where the situation is very critical and fight with Marshal Rokossov."

"Grandma grandma! (Proson language means 'no')" The emperor raised his voice an octave.

"Once you arrive at the Eastern Front, it will take at least a few months to familiarize yourself with the situation, and Rokossov's next offensive is imminent." The generals believed that Rokossov might launch an attack when the muddy period ended and the river was frozen, and they also argued that Rokossov liked to take advantage of the advantages that winter brought to Ant!
"Their opinions make sense militarily, but they don't take Rokossov into account! I know that very well!"

The emperor sounded very confident.

"Rokossov will definitely attack in September. If the generals all think that he will rest until early November and attack by taking advantage of the ice, then he will definitely cross the river in September!
"He has been using this method to tease our well-trained Junker officers and achieve great victory again and again!

"I am convinced that Rokossov will cross the Tiber in September!"

Marshal Erwin frowned slightly. In fact, he did not quite agree with the emperor's speculation. It was too outrageous to judge based on "understanding of the enemy generals" no matter how you thought about it.

But he did not refute: "But if we attack in September, there is not much we can do except changing the generals, right?"

"Of course." The emperor paused. "We have a total of nine armored divisions in Carolingia and Sardinia, and you have four of them. If I appoint you as the commander-in-chief of the Western Front, are you confident that you can withstand the Allied attack with only four armored divisions?"

Marshal Erwin's brows twisted into knots: "Four armored divisions? To defend Sardinia and Carolingia?"

"Yes, you have fought against the Allies. Before you, Marshal Catherine also dealt with them in Sicily. The 29th Armored Division caused great trouble to the Allies."

Marshal Erwin sighed, "Your Majesty, this cannot be done."

"Why? You have only two Mamluk armored divisions and one light armored division and have reached the outskirts of Alexandria!" The emperor's tone became serious.

The marshal did not give in: "That's because the Mamluks look vast, but in fact the main settlements are very concentrated, and the actual combat area is not large. But the battlefields of Carolingia, Flanders and Burgundy are quite vast, and it would take at least three armored divisions to defend the Carolingian Empire.

"The Kingdom of Sardinia also needs at least three armored divisions!"

After a brief silence, the emperor said: "Five armored divisions, no more. I want to transfer four fully equipped armored divisions to the Eastern Front and give Rokossov a head-on blow at the Tiber River! This is much simpler and more effective than transferring you here!"

Marshal Erwin: "Okay, when will these four armored divisions be back?"

"After defeating Rokossov's winter offensive, they will be transferred back to the Western Front. By that time, the armored divisions on the Eastern Front will have been replenished, and they will have enough Leopard tanks and King Tiger tanks. We should also be able to manufacture the 'Steel Helmet' tanks targeting Rokossov!" the emperor promised solemnly.

"Understood." The marshal stood in front of the phone with his head held high and his chest puffed out. "I promise to complete the mission."

"Very well, I have other things to do, that's all."

The emperor hung up the phone on his own initiative.

When the marshal handed the microphone back to the communications staff, the adjutant asked with concern: "What's wrong?"

"Your Majesty appoints me as the commander-in-chief of the entire Western Front, commanding our armies in Carolingia and Sardinia."

The officers immediately applauded: "Congratulations, Marshal!"

"Congratulations!"

Erwin waved his hand and said, "Don't be too quick to congratulate me. His Majesty will soon transfer two of our four armored divisions, and two of the five armored divisions from the Carolingian direction!"

The adjutant frowned. "How could this happen? Previously, your Majesty had always given high priority to the replacement of the armored divisions on the Western Front. But this year, new tanks were provided to the Eastern Front first. The improved versions of the Panzer III and Panzer IV were also supplied to the Eastern Front first. Now, you want to transfer the armored divisions on the Western Front again?"

Erwin returned to the rock overlooking the beach, put his hands behind his back and looked at the Adriatic Sea. "Maybe my success made him feel that the Allies were not to be feared, so he decided to withdraw forces from the Western Front."

The Chief of Staff of the Sardinian Army Group muttered, "We have galloped across the Carolingian Plain before, and it is too difficult for three armored divisions to defend it. Especially in the Norman region, there are hedges everywhere, which is not suitable for armored units to fight, but armored units are necessary for counterattacks."

Erwin: "His Majesty said that we only need to hold out until the end of this year, and then we can bring the troops back after stopping Rokossov's offensive on the Eastern Front."

All the officers present were silent, because since the beginning of the war, whenever Rokossov attacked, Prosen's army had never stopped him.

Yes, not once - even though Rokossov has always been called the Iron Wall of the Empire by the Ants.

Erwin looked at the Adriatic Sea again and found that the sea surface was dyed red by the setting sun.

He suddenly smiled: "Now the confrontation with the Allies is getting interesting. Right?"

The generals looked at each other.

(End of this chapter)