Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 267 240mm heavy howitzer!

The 3rd Independent Mixed Brigade and the puppet army launched several waves of attacks during the day.

However, they were all repelled by the New Third Regiment using tunnel and reverse slope tactics.

At this time, the soldiers of the Independent Regiment and the New 1st Regiment were all resting and waiting for orders after a day of forced march.

After four days of seesaw battle, the fighting became increasingly intense, with casualties increasing on both sides.

However, the casualties of the Japanese puppet army were obviously more than three times that of the Eighth Route Army.

"Commander, the Jinnan Campaign is going well!"

"The Locust Army, with the 14th Division as its main force, will set out from Yuncheng and attack the troops of China's First War Zone in three directions!"

"At present, the three main forces have all broken through the defense line of the main force of the Chinese army!"

Chief of Staff Mutaguchi Ren'ya reported to the Commander of the First Army, Shinozuka Yoshio.

The 14th Division was transferred to Shanxi to fight in southern Shanxi after the Battle of Lanfeng.

"Yoshi!"

Hearing this, Yoshio Shinozuka nodded with satisfaction.

The total strength of the three divisions plus one mixed brigade and the main forces of three puppet army divisions was only 1 to 3 people.

The total strength of the Central Army in the First War Zone was about 20.

Yoshio Shinozuka was very satisfied that such a great result could be achieved with a weak force.

Such a record is obviously not comparable to that of Kazuki Seiji.

"How is the progress of the Jinzhong campaign?"

After a pause, Yoshio Shinozuka asked again.

According to the latest intelligence, the Eighth Route Army in Jinzhong has a relatively weak strength, totaling less than 10,000 men.

In addition, the Eighth Route Army lacked food harvests, and many people are estimated to have starved to death.

Originally, Kazuki Seiji's blockade plan was to continue for a few months and then send the 39th Brigade to the Jinzhong base to complete the harvest.

However, Yoshio Shinozuka was well aware that the longer the night, the more trouble one may have, so while launching the battle in southern Shanxi, he sent the 39th Brigade as the main force to reap the rewards.

An independent mixed brigade was sent to assist, as well as three puppet army divisions to cooperate in the attack.

When Yan Laoxi left, he left behind weapons and equipment for 30 brigades and the huge Taiyuan Arsenal in Taiyuan.

These weapons and equipment and the Taiyuan Arsenal were sufficient to arm a puppet army of 15 people.

Mutaguchi Ren'ya's face suddenly became a little embarrassed as he reported to Shinozuka Yoshio.

"Commander, the 39th Brigade and the 3rd Independent Mixed Brigade's attacks are not going smoothly and have not yet penetrated the Jinzhong base."

"This morning, Major General Hirata, commander of the 39th Brigade, sent a telegram saying that the 39th Brigade's field artillery battalion was attacked by the Eighth Route Army's special forces. The entire battalion was destroyed, with all 12 75mm field guns and a base of artillery shells destroyed."

"Major General Hirata requests the transfer of the 26th Field Artillery Regiment to the Jinzhong front to attack the Eighth Route Army's tunnel fortifications."

Upon hearing this, Shinozuka Yoshio's good mood about the successful battle in southern Shanxi disappeared instantly.

The commander of the 77th Regiment had just been killed, and the field artillery position had been taken over by the Eighth Route Army Special Forces. Is there any unit more useless than the 39th Brigade?

"Wait, are you saying that the Eighth Route Army Special Forces attacked the 39th Brigade's field artillery positions?"

Yoshio Shinozuka's expression suddenly changed.

"Yes, this was confirmed by Colonel Yamamoto himself. The Eighth Route Army attacked the field artillery positions using exclusively automatic firepower. They captured the 39th Brigade's field artillery positions in just a few minutes."

Mutaguchi Renya's tone was quite helpless:
"Having lost its field artillery positions, the 77th Regiment's offensive capabilities were greatly weakened, while the Eighth Route Army's artillery firepower remained strong."

The Japanese army's offensive tactics were to bombard the artillery followed by the infantry charge, and then bombard the infantry followed by the artillery charge.

Without artillery and cannons, the combat effectiveness of the infantry will naturally be affected.

The battle in southern Shanxi is the assisting direction of the First Army's operation, and air support cannot be deployed around the clock to reinforce the 39th Brigade.

"What is Colonel Yamamoto doing?"

"The Yamamoto Special Forces were also on the Wangjiawan front. Their field artillery positions were also attacked by the Eighth Route Army's special forces?"

Yoshio Shinozuka was very surprised that the Eighth Route Army had special forces.

But what made him even angrier was that Yamamoto Ikki, an expert in special operations, was actually subjected to special operations by the Eighth Route Army's special forces.

Just rubbish.

Taking a deep breath and suppressing his anger, Shinozuka Yoshio asked in a deep voice, "What are the Eighth Route Army's underground tactics?"

Mutaguchi Renya then presented the summary of the Eighth Route Army's tunnel situation, pointing to the sand table in front of him while demonstrating to Shinozuka Yoshio: "Your Excellency the Commander, the Eighth Route Army's so-called tunnel tactics are somewhat similar to air-raid shelters. They dug tunnels in the mountains. When the Locust Army fired artillery, the Eighth Route Army officers and soldiers hid in the tunnels. When the Locust Army and the Locust Support Army infantry attacked, the Eighth Route Army troops entered the position and fought against the Locust Army!"

"The Eighth Route Army's artillery positions are located on the reverse slope and several kilometers away from the positions. They provide artillery support for the Eighth Route Army's infantry when the Locust Army and the Locust Alliance attack!"

"Most of the soldiers of the Locust Army and the Locust Alliance were killed by the Eighth Route Army's artillery shells!"

After listening to Mutaguchi Ren'ya's story, Yoshio Shinozuka basically understood the Eighth Route Army's underground tactics.

Yoshio Shinozuka had to admit that the person who invented the tunnel and reverse slope tactics was truly a genius!

The tunnel and reverse slope tactics were invented entirely to target the Japanese artillery and infantry's coordinated attack tactics.

This almost caused the Japanese army to lose its air and artillery superiority.

The Eighth Route Army's artillery positions on the reverse slope and in the distance prevented the locust army from fully utilizing its superb individual skills.

It can be said that this set of tunnel and reverse slope tactics completely controlled the Japanese artillery and infantry coordination tactics.

but.

As Lieutenant General of the Imperial Army and Commander of the First Army of the North China Front, Yoshio Shinozuka would not admit defeat.

"It's not difficult to crack the Eighth Route Army's tunnels and reverse slope tactics!"

Shinozuka Yoshio narrowed his eyes and thought for a while, then said in a deep voice:

"As long as the Locust Army and the Locust Alliance can fire their artillery simultaneously during their offensive charge, the Locust Army's artillery firepower advantage can be fully utilized."

Yoshio Shinozuka is still something.

He knew very well that since the Eighth Route Army built air-raid shelters, even heavy aerial bombs would not be able to destroy the Eighth Route Army's underground fortifications.

Then we will fight a war of attrition, and see which side has more infantry, more cannons and artillery shells.

The Eighth Route Army, which had been living in the mountains for a long time and had no industrial foundation at all, how could they fight against the Japanese Empire, which had developed its industry for decades?

In a battle of attrition, do the Eighth Route Army have the strength to do so?
"Your Excellency the Commander is wise. I admire you!"

"However, the 39th Brigade has lost its field artillery battalion, so this tactic cannot be implemented for the time being. The 77th Regiment's infantry guns, mortars, and grenade launchers cannot pose an effective threat to the Eighth Route Army's infantry positions."

Shinozuka Yoshio pushed up his black round-framed glasses, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent. "Then send another field artillery battalion from the 26th Field Artillery Regiment, along with two 2mm heavy howitzers. Send a telegram to Colonel Yamamoto, warning the newly arrived artillery units on the front lines not to be subjected to special operations by the Eighth Route Army's special forces."

(Disassembled and towed 240mm howitzer)
Mutaguchi Ren'ya was shocked. The commander actually used the Meiji 45-year-old 240mm heavy howitzer!

The Japanese army provoked the September 45th Incident and first launched an artillery attack on the Northeast Army's Beidaying with two carefully arranged Type 240 mm howitzers. These two guns were originally heavy artillery used by the Japanese army to defend their homeland. In order to gain an advantage on the Northeast battlefield, the Japanese army moved all their treasures to Northeast my country.

This gun is mainly used to destroy enemy fortress fortifications and is equipped with the siege heavy artillery squadron of the field heavy artillery brigade.

When the Japanese army attacked Taiyuan, they dismantled these two heavy artillery pieces and transported them to Taiyuan by road and rail.

However, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army was too weak and the Battle of Taiyuan ended in just 5 days.

During the Battle of Xuzhou and the Battle of Wuhan, the North China Front Army planned to transfer these two heavy artillery pieces to the front line.

However, since the railways and roads were constantly attacked by the Eighth Route Army, the two heavy artillery pieces were left in Taiyuan.

This thing is a strategic-level weapon for the Japanese army.

"Hi Yi!"

Mutaguchi Renya suddenly lowered his head and said confidently:

"With the Type 45 heavy howitzer, our sacred weapon, we will surely be able to annihilate the Eighth Route Army without a single piece of armor remaining!"

……

Yangquan.

39rd Brigade Headquarters.

"General."

The communications staff officer held the telegram in his hand and reported to Kenkichi Hirata:
"Just received a telegram from Lieutenant General Shinozuka, Commander of the First Army. The First Army Headquarters has dispatched the 26th Field Artillery Regiment and a heavy siege artillery squadron to support our 39th Brigade and an elite infantry battalion for protection. They have already departed from Taiyuan and will stop at Shouyang Station in a few hours to unload their artillery."

"Order your department to prepare for the reception."

"Your Majesty the Heavenly Locust, embark! The Great Japanese Locust Army, embark!"

"Nani?"

Kenkichi Hirata suddenly turned his head, his face full of surprise.

Kenkichi Hirata served as the commander of the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade directly under the North China Front Army.

The Japanese Army Field Artillery Brigade was composed of two field artillery regiments, equipped with heavy artillery such as 150mm heavy cannons, 240mm heavy cannons, 305mm heavy howitzers and 320mm mortars, with very strong firepower.

During combat, the Japanese military high command would also increase the number of artillery and heavy artillery in the field artillery brigade to strengthen the heavy artillery firepower.

Kenkichi Hirata's expression became serious and he gave an order.

"Immediately order the brigade guard battalion to Shouyang Station!"

"Order the 78th Infantry Battalion of the 4th Regiment to return to Yangquan immediately and rendezvous with the brigade headquarters!"

This time, Kenkichi Hirata planned to personally go to the Wangjiawan position to command two heavy howitzers to attack the outer defense line of the Eighth Route Army's Jinzhong base.

He also planned to use the strength of an infantry regiment to protect the field artillery battalion and two heavy howitzers to the front line.

"Hi Yi!"

The communications officer suddenly lowered his head and turned away.

……

at the same time.

In the northwest of the Jinzhong base area is the Jinzhong base area front headquarters.

"Captain, Boss Lin just sent me intelligence that the Japanese army deployed 240mm heavy howitzers."

Radio operator Zhang Zhilian held a telegram and reported to Li Yunlong, who was staring at the map, with a serious expression.

"240mm heavy howitzer?"

Li Yunlong took the telegram, narrowed his eyes slightly, and his throat rolled.

(End of this chapter)