Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 273: Comprehensive counterattack!

Taking advantage of the smoke covering the sky and the earth caused by the continuous explosions of the Eighth Route Army's heavy mortar positions.

The remaining seven Japanese planes immediately dived from the side.

More than a dozen heavy aerial bombs were dropped on the heavy mortar positions.

The Eighth Route Army's heavy mortar positions were completely destroyed.

Then Lieutenant Colonel Junji Amano led the 1st Flight Squadron and the 2nd Flight Squadron to reunite and return to Taiyuan Airport.

The 2nd Flight Squadron had one Type 1 bomber shot down by the Eighth Route Army's anti-aircraft artillery.

More than twenty aerial bombs fell on the main peak position occupied by the Eighth Route Army.

However, the Japanese in both flying formations did not dare to dive to low altitude and fire machine guns.

The dense fire network composed of the Eighth Route Army's anti-aircraft artillery and machine gun firepower is quite powerful.

Watching the Japanese plane disappear from view through the telescope, Li Yunlong's mouth curled up slightly: "This little Japanese pilot is really not afraid of death. He directly drove the plane into our fake mortar position."

Ding Wei held up a telescope and looked towards the front battlefield: "We have been fighting the Japanese for more than a year. When have you ever seen them afraid of death?"

Li Yunlong nodded: "That's right. Putting aside other things and talking about fighting spirit alone, the Japanese soldiers can be ranked among the top three in the world's armies."

However, having too strong a fighting spirit is sometimes not a good thing.

For example, the Japanese liked to use a pig-rush attack on the battlefield. If the enemy's machine gun firepower was fierce enough, a battalion of Japanese soldiers using a pig-rush attack could be directly wiped out by machine guns.

Li Yunlong also looked at the battle at the main peak position through the artillery telescope.

Although the Japanese planes returned to Taiyuan, the bombs dropped by them caused considerable casualties to Ding Wei's battalion.

At this time, the Japanese from the 3rd Independent Mixed Brigade were launching a fierce attack on the main peak position.

The dense gunfire and explosions showed that the battle at this time was extremely fierce.

"Old Ding, can your first battalion hold off the Japanese attack? Do you want me to send another battalion to support them?"

Li Yunlong asked worriedly.

Ding Wei put down the binoculars and said confidently, "My first battalion is fine!"

Ding Wei had a rough idea in his mind. Although the combat effectiveness of the 1st Battalion of the New 3rd Regiment was not as good as that of Li Yunlong's 1st Battalion of the New 1st Regiment, Ding Wei's 1st Battalion was not Nie's, and it was the most combat-effective unit in the New 3rd Regiment.

Originally, Ding Wei wanted the troops of the first battalion to experience the deliciousness of fire support at the level of a heavy mortar regiment.

But he didn't expect the Japanese planes to arrive so quickly.

Li Yunlong nodded, his expression serious. "The Japanese planes won't be coming anytime soon. Xiao Zhao, tell Wang Chengzhu to set up all the heavy mortars and provide artillery support to the 3st Battalion of the New rd Regiment. After we repel this Japanese attack, we will launch a full-scale counterattack according to the battle plan, defeat the rd Independent Mixed Brigade, and drive the Japanese into the Xiyan Basin."

"Yes!" Zhao Gang on the side quickly called Wang Chengzhu to convey the order.

After learning that it was Zhao Gang who killed the colonel of the 1500th Regiment at a distance of 77 meters, Ding Wei and the battalion commanders of the New rd Regiment all looked at Zhao Gang with admiration.

at the same time.

On the main peak position.

Qin Hu, the commander of the first battalion of the New Third Regiment, was a fierce general. He was a big man of 1.8 meters in height, standing out among a group of soldiers whose average height was 1.7 meters.

At this time, Qin Hu was operating a Maxim heavy machine gun and firing at the attacking enemy. The dense barrage of bullets made it impossible for the Japanese and puppet troops in front of him to raise their heads.

However, the Japanese launched a battalion-level attack, and infantry guns, mortars and grenade launcher shells continuously hit the main peak position.

But the Eighth Route Army soldiers did not receive the order to retreat. Even if they died in battle, they would never take a step back. They endured the deafening roar and the shrapnel flying at them at any time, and scattered one barrage after another.

"Battalion Commander, the enemy's firepower is too strong!"

The company commander came to Qin Hu with a submachine gun and said.

"Have the artillery observer call for artillery support!"

Qin Hu's face was full of ruthlessness. While killing the enemy with bursts of fire, he spoke to the company commander.

"The artillery observer was killed! Killed by an aerial bomb!"

The company commander reported with a grim expression.

"Send a signalman to the regimental headquarters and ask them to send another artillery observer!"

"Yes!"

The company commander turned around and went to arrange for the signalman, but the signalman had only bent down and ran more than a hundred meters when he was hit by a mortar shell and fell in a pool of blood.

……

"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, the headquarters just sent a telegram saying that the aviation unit has destroyed the Eighth Route Army's heavy mortar positions and ammunition dumps!"

At the headquarters of the 3rd Independent Mixed Brigade, Tatsuo Yamazaki finished reading the telegram in his hand and reported to Shigeharu Yanagishita who was observing the battle situation through the artillery telescope.

"Yoshi."

Yanagishita Shigeharu nodded:

"The aviation unit destroyed the Eighth Route Army's heavy mortar position, which can be regarded as revenge for the 7th Infantry Battalion."

When the air force attacked before, Yanagishita Shigeharu and Yamazaki Tatsuo did hear a series of violent explosions coming from the Eighth Route Army, like a series of thunderous explosions.

It turned out that the aviation force not only destroyed the Eighth Route Army's heavy mortar positions, but also destroyed the Eighth Route Army's artillery shells.

comfortable.

Yanagishita Shigeharu only felt that even his breathing became smoother.

Without heavy mortars and artillery shells, what can the Eighth Route Army use to fight the locust army?
"Who is the commander of the Eighth Route Army across the way? Has the headquarters replied to the telegram?"

Yanashita Shigeharu asked again.

Yamazaki Tatsuo looked at the second telegram. "I've replied. According to the intelligence provided by the First Army's intelligence department, the ones fighting against the locust army are the New Third Regiment of the Eighth Route Army's Jinzhong Base. The regiment commander is named Ding Wei. Before the July 7 Incident, he was a little-known figure in the Chinese Communist Army."

There is no more information.

At the beginning, neither Yanagishita Shigeharu nor Yamazaki Tatsuo took the opposing Eighth Route Army commander seriously.

It was not until the Eighth Route Army completely wiped out the 3th Infantry Battalion of the 7rd Independent Mixed Brigade and severely damaged the Mountain Artillery Battalion that Yanagishita Shigeharu became interested in the Eighth Route Army commander and asked Yamazaki Tatsuo to send a telegram to the First Army Headquarters, asking the headquarters to find out who the other commander was.

"Ding Wei?"

Yanagishita Shigeharu narrowed his eyes slightly, and he vowed to chop off this man's head with his own hands:
"It's a disgrace that an infantry battalion, with air support from the aviation unit, couldn't capture the enemy position!"

"Order!"

"The 6th Infantry Battalion is withdrawing to rest!"

"Replace the 8th Infantry Battalion and continue the attack!"

The Eighth Route Army lost its heavy mortar positions and artillery shells, so Yanagishita Shigeharu dared to use battalion-level attacks unscrupulously.

"Hi Yi!"

Tatsuo Yamazaki suddenly lowered his head, turned around and quickly conveyed the order.

As the brigade headquarters issued the order, the Japanese 6th Infantry Battalion quickly retreated, and the 8th Infantry Battalion gradually entered the base.

The Japanese changed their attacking forces, which also gave the First Battalion of the New Third Regiment a chance to catch its breath.

"Commander, this is the commander of the New 1st Regiment's Machine Gun Battalion, Wei Daxun."

The company commander led Wei Daxun to Qin Hu, the commander of the first battalion of the new third regiment.

In the trench, Qin Hu grabbed Wei Daxun's hand and said, "Haha, hello, Captain Wei. The Japanese planes just attacked, and it was all thanks to your machine gun battalion that provided us with air defense support. Thank you very much for shooting down a Japanese plane. You guys fought really well."

If it weren’t for the 20 20mm machine guns of the machine gun battalion’s air defense.

The attack of these eight Japanese planes alone could cause heavy casualties to the First Battalion of the New Third Regiment.

"Captain Qin, you're too polite!" Wei Daxun, a man of similar stature to Qin Hu, spoke quickly and got straight to the point. "The Japanese are gathering their next attack force and are about to begin. I've received orders from my regimental commander to send 20 machine guns from our artillery battalion to assist your battalion in defending its position. New artillery observers and infantry support are on their way!"

The machine gun battalion had a radio that could communicate with the regiment headquarters at any time. Wei Daxun promptly reported the situation of the main peak position to the command center and received new orders.

"Haha, that's great!" Qin Hu's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Oh my goodness, isn't this too rich?"

The company commander standing by felt emotional.

The New Third Regiment also has 20mm machine guns, all given by Li Yunlong, but the New Third Regiment has few machine guns and not many shells. They are usually used for air defense in critical moments, and it seems a bit of a luxury to use them to attack enemy infantry.

The New 20st Regiment directly used 20 mm machine guns to attack enemy infantry.

What a rich man!

It’s worthy of being the new group, so rich!

Wei Daxun continued, "Our regimental commander has instructed that after repelling this enemy attack, our troops will launch a counterattack across the board, drive the enemy back to the Xiyan Basin, and then fight a final battle of annihilation."

"Great!"

Qin Hu felt even more excited.

Time was tight and the task was heavy, so the two of them quickly communicated about the deployment of the machine guns, and then Wei Daxun quickly left.

Twenty 20mm machine guns were mainly deployed on the top of the mountain to suppress the Japanese infantry and machine gun fire points and provide fire support.

After the reorganization, the new regiment's machine gun battalion has a total of 40 20mm machine guns, 20 of which are on the fake heavy mortar side, and the other 20 are here.

The advantage of placing 20 machine guns on the top of the mountain is that, in addition to having a better field of view and firing range, if the machine guns are targeted by the Japanese artillery, the soldiers of the machine gun battalion can also quickly pull the machine guns to the reverse slope position to avoid the artillery fire.

The Japanese began their attack before the 20 machine guns were deployed.

The Japanese's offensive tactics were still the same old ones. After the artillery bombardment, the infantry charged forward. The puppet army served as cannon fodder in the front, while the Japanese machine gunners and grenade throwers set up light machine guns, heavy machine guns and grenade throwers in the back to provide fire support and suppression. The riflemen attacked while looking for cover to shoot.

As soon as the new Japanese infantry battalion arrived, they suppressed the positions of the first battalion of the new third regiment with firepower.

The firepower of the 1st Battalion of the New 3rd Regiment was not strong. In the enemy's last wave of attack, the position was hit by more than a dozen aerial bombs, and nearly half of the soldiers were killed or wounded.

But! When 20 20mm machine guns were deployed and provided fire support.

The Japanese puppet soldiers were stunned on the spot. They could still keep their bodies intact if hit by machine gun and rifle fire, but they would be torn into pieces if hit by 20mm machine guns.

Not only were the Japanese puppet army's infantrymen fired upon, but even the Japanese's light and heavy machine guns and grenade launcher fire points were attacked by 20mm machine gun fire.

The powerful firepower not only smashed the Japanese machine gunners, but also broke the Japanese light and heavy machine guns into pieces.

The Japanese artillery observer who was secretly observing the battlefield noticed the Eighth Route Army machine gun position on the top of the mountain.

The Japanese artillery observers immediately used flag signals to guide the mortar and infantry artillery positions to fire at the Eighth Route Army machine gun positions.

As soon as the Japanese artillery conducted a test firing, Wei Daxun immediately ordered the soldiers to move the machine gun positions.

The firepower of the First Battalion of the New Third Regiment suddenly decreased after losing the support of machine gun fire.

The Japanese firepower immediately suppressed the position of the 1st Battalion of the New 3rd Regiment.

"attack!"

"Kill him!"

Major Takeno Mata'o, commander of the 8th Infantry Battalion, waved his command sword fiercely and ordered the troops to continue the attack.

If nothing unexpected happens, this wave of attack will definitely recapture the main peak position captured by the Eighth Route Army.

Seeing that the Japanese attack was too fierce, Wei Daxun was afraid that the 20st Battalion of the New rd Regiment could not withstand it, so he quickly ordered the soldiers to pull the mm machine gun to the top of the mountain and fire at the attacking Japanese and puppet troops.

As a result, the machine gun position on the top of the mountain was targeted by the Japanese artillery fire.

The soldiers provided fire support to the brother units despite the shrapnel flying at them at any time, the deafening explosions, and the terrifying shock waves. The Japanese artillery fire directed at the machine gun positions also relieved a lot of pressure on the brother units.

As the soldiers of the machinery battalion fought desperately to provide fire cover and share the firepower, the Japanese offensive was firmly contained.

The Japanese battalion commander, Major Takeno, was furious and ordered the Japanese and puppet army infantry to launch round after round of attacks.

But the Japanese and puppet soldiers were either shot into sieves by the Eighth Route Army's machine guns and submachine guns, or turned into piles of minced meat by machine guns.

Five minutes later, a 120mm shell landed in the attacking Japanese formation.

However, this artillery shell did not attract the attention of the Japanese puppet army, and the Japanese puppet army continued to attack despite casualties.

but!

More than ten seconds later, when 30 120mm mortar grenades fell almost simultaneously into the attacking Japanese puppet army formation, causing a huge shock wave and explosion, and countless Japanese puppet soldiers were killed or injured, the enemy finally realized the seriousness of the problem.

"Baga, heavy artillery!"

Major Takeno's face changed drastically, and he brandished his command knife and roared loudly:

"Retreat, retreat!"

However, it was too late. The order had just been issued when the second round of 120mm artillery shells came.

"Boom boom boom..."

Another large explosion and shock wave rose among the Japanese and puppet army formations.

"Haha, it's our heavy mortar!"

On the main peak position, Qin Hu put down his Maxim heavy machine gun. His left arm was hit by shrapnel and was bleeding profusely, but he didn't frown. He refused to leave the front line despite the minor injury. Watching the dense explosions rising in the enemy formation, a happy smile appeared on his face.

Heavy artillery fire support, though late but arrived...

The company commander and the soldiers immediately showed excitement on their faces.

The attacking enemy was bombarded, which meant that the artillery observers had arrived, and the arrival of the artillery observers meant that the main force was also nearby!
……

"idiot!"

"Nani?"

"How can this be?"

"..."

In the headquarters of the 3rd Independent Mixed Brigade of the Japanese Army, the Japanese officers stared with their eyes wide open as they watched the dense and huge explosions continue to rise in the offensive formation of the Japanese and puppet troops, and rang out in disbelief and curses.

Didn’t the Air Force say that the Eighth Route Army’s heavy mortar positions had been destroyed?

Why did the Eighth Route Army's heavy mortars continue to fire?
Does the Eighth Route Army have two heavy mortar regiments?

That's a heavy mortar brigade!
Are the Eighth Route Army so rich?
Yanagishita Shigeharu said with a sullen face, "Send a telegram to the First Army Headquarters immediately to report the situation and inquire about what is going on!"

"Hi Yi!"

Yamazaki Tatsuo lowered his head suddenly with an ugly expression, and took out a notebook and pen to prepare a telegram.

Yanagishita Shigeharu saw this and cursed, "Idiot! Just use the radio!"

"Hi Yi!"

……

Taiyuan.

inner city.

Japanese First Army Headquarters.

Yoshio Shinozuka looked relaxed, and even a little happy in his heart.

Although the First Army's attack on the Jinzhong base was not successful, the battle lasted for four or five days but failed to break into the Jinzhong Eighth Route Army base.

but.

The aviation units destroyed the Eighth Route Army's heavy mortar positions and destroyed their artillery shells.

This is very comfortable.

If Yamamoto-kun was in Taiyuan, Yoshio Shinozuka would even like to have a drink with Yamamoto-kun to celebrate this victory.

"Without the firepower support of a heavy mortar regiment, the Eighth Route Army is absolutely no match for the 3rd Independent Mixed Brigade."

Thinking of this, Shinozuka Yoshio said to Mutaguchi Renya with a leisurely expression:

"Mr. Mutaguchi, immediately draft a telegram to General Terauchi Hisaichi, commander of the North China Front Army, stating that the First Army's aviation unit destroyed the Eighth Route Army's heavy mortar unit in Jinzhong, destroying over 30 mortars, detonating over a thousand Eighth Route Army shells, and killing over 500 Eighth Route Army artillerymen."

"Hi Yi!"

Mutaguchi Ren'ya bowed his head and smiled slightly. He understood that the commander was trying to take credit from General Terauchi.

This was his first victory against the Eighth Route Army since he took office as commander of the First Army, so naturally he had to take credit for it.

It was also a great victory, which must have caused immeasurable losses to the Eighth Route Army.

The annihilation of a heavy mortar regiment-level unit was a heavy loss for the Japanese army, not to mention the poor and beggarly Eighth Route Army soldiers.

Mutaguchi Ren'ya quickly drafted a telegram. After reading it, Shinozuka Yoshio signed it and smiled slightly.

"Send this telegram immediately to the North China Front Army Headquarters."

If nothing unexpected happens, after this telegram is sent to the North China Front Army Headquarters, General Terauchi's commendation telegram will arrive soon.

"Hi Yi!"

Mutaguchi Renya was about to take the telegram to the telecommunications room when the communications staff hurried in:

"General, we just received a radio call from the 3rd Independent Mixed Brigade. They've once again come under fire from the Eighth Route Army Heavy Artillery Regiment, suffering heavy casualties. Major General Yanagishita requests tactical guidance!"

"Nani?"

Yoshio Shinozuka and Mutaguchi Ren'ya both turned their heads suddenly, with expressions of disbelief on their faces.

"Who can tell me what is going on?"

"Didn't Lieutenant Colonel Amano report that the Eighth Route Army's heavy mortar positions had been destroyed?"

Shinozuka Yoshio asked in a cold and deep voice.

But no one present could answer his question. Mutaguchi Ren'ya held the telegram in his hand with an awkward expression, feeling that it was a little hot.

"Immediately ask Lieutenant Colonel Amano what is going on!"

Mutaguchi Ren'ya looked at the communications staff officer.

"Hi Yi!"

The communications staff quickly turned and walked towards the telegraph room.

……

at the same time.

The pilots of the 6th Flying Squadron of the Japanese 14st Army had just returned to Taiyuan Airport with aircraft.

On the secondary runway, Junji Amano got off a Type 96 bomber.

Although this flight mission blew up the Eighth Route Army's heavy mortar position, there was not much joy on Junji Amano's face.

Because another three Locust pilots and four crew members died.

A staff officer hurried over to Junji Amano and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Amano, I just received a call from headquarters saying that the 3rd Independent Mixed Brigade is under fire from the Eighth Route Army Heavy Artillery Regiment again. Lieutenant General Shinozuka wants to know what's going on."

"What?" Junji Amano raised his eyebrows with an expression of disbelief.

The pilots beside him also stood up suddenly, unable to believe what was happening.

Junji Amano recalled the details of the bombing of the Eighth Route Army's heavy mortar position, and suddenly his face changed, looking extremely ugly.

"idiot……"

"It's the Eighth Route Army's evil plan..."

(End of this chapter)