Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 371: Put the anti-aircraft guns down!

After Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang determined the work direction.

Then all officers above the battalion and company level in the regiment were summoned to the regimental headquarters for a meeting.

Political Commissar Zhao Gang held a mobilization meeting for the commanders and assigned tasks to each commander.

With tasks and work goals in place, the battalion and company commanders were eager to get started and were full of energy.

The new regiment formally established a training camp, with Comrade Zhang Shuangyi as the battalion commander.

Zhang Shuangyi was originally a company commander of the Red Fourth Front Army. Later, he served as the commander of the eighth company of the third battalion of the teaching regiment of the 129th Division. He was responsible for training new recruits and was acquainted with Li Yunlong.

After further studies at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University in Yan'an, Zhang Shuangyi was assigned to the New 1st Regiment and came to northwestern Shanxi with Zhao Gang.

Li Yunlong directly promoted him to battalion commander and took charge of the training of new recruits of the new regiment.

In addition, at Zhao Gang's suggestion, the New 1st Regiment also set up a Propaganda Department, an Enemy Work Department, a Recruitment Department and a Militia Armed Forces Department.

The Propaganda Department is responsible for publicity, mobilization and condolence work.

The Enemy Work Department was mainly responsible for carrying out work against the enemy forces, winning over and disintegrating the enemy forces. Its main responsibilities included instigating the rebellion of Japanese and puppet troops, obtaining military intelligence, and conducting propaganda against the enemy.

The Recruiting Department is responsible for recruiting new soldiers and identifying enemy agents among them to prevent them from infiltrating the team.

The militia armed department is mainly responsible for the construction of militia and reserve forces within the base area.

Although the scale of the new group is still relatively small, it has all the necessary facilities.

Half a month later, Li Yunlong arrived at Chenjia Village, the headquarters of the 1st Air Defense Battalion.

The air defense battalion has now been reorganized, and a new Air Defense Battalion 2 has been formed, which is led by Comrade Liang Gang, the former deputy battalion commander of the Air Defense Battalion 1.

The former air defense battalion commander Wei Dazhong was appointed as an air defense staff officer in the regiment headquarters. Usually, the two air defense battalions trained separately, but once a war broke out, both Air Defense Battalion 1 and Air Defense Battalion 2 would be commanded by Comrade Wei Dazhong.

At the battalion headquarters, Li Yunlong looked at Wei Dazhong, whose figure was becoming increasingly solid and strong, and asked, "Dazhong, have you understood the new anti-aircraft artillery training?"

When Wei Dazhong was rescued from the prisoner-of-war camp last year, both Wei Dayong and Wei Dazhong were emaciated and unrecognizable.

Wei Dayong did the work of two people in the prisoner-of-war camp, so the Japanese did not kill Wei Dazhong who was wounded on the battlefield. The food in the prisoner-of-war camp was porridge with human reflections visible in the bowls. It was not a life for human beings at all.

"No problem. Our air defense battalion has been training day and night. They are all veterans of the air defense battalion and are very experienced. They quickly learned how to operate the new anti-aircraft guns."

"but…"

Li Yunlong nodded in satisfaction after hearing the first sentence, and then asked, "But what?"

Wei Dazhong looked at the complete set of optical rangefinders under the camouflage net and felt his scalp tingle. "A single rangefinder is not difficult. I have already learned it. But this entire set of optical rangefinders is too complicated. The air defense fire control radar and the analog mechanical computer of this thing are more difficult. I haven't learned it yet."

A complete set of optical rangefinders, which can accurately measure the distance, direction and height of the target, and calculate the elevation angle, angle and firing rate of the artillery.

After determining the target's range, flight altitude and angular coordinates, shooting data is generated and transmitted to the artillery via cable.

Very high accuracy.

It takes only 30 seconds from finding the target to firing the first shell, and the observation distance can reach 18000 meters.

But correspondingly, the technical difficulty of this thing is also relatively high, so Boss Lin gave me three sets of this thing.

"What's the main difficulty?" Li Yunlong narrowed his eyes.

Wei Dazhong replied, "This optical artillery rangefinder requires a five-person team to operate. Two of them are responsible for inputting azimuth and elevation data. The third person is responsible for measuring the range using the 5-meter-long rangefinder mounted on the top of the rangefinder. The fourth person is responsible for setting the horizontal angle. The fifth person's job is relatively simple; a general operator will suffice."

Li Yunlong and Wei Dazhong tried it themselves. After a long while, Li Yunlong's mind was still a mess. He nodded and said, "Damn it, this thing is really difficult to figure out. Azimuth angle, elevation data, distance measurement, and horizontal angle are not something that ordinary people can do. It requires advanced intellectuals who are proficient in mathematics."

Wei Dazhong does not have a high level of education. Even though he studies hard in the army, he currently only has the level of an elementary school graduate. It is obviously a bit difficult for him to cope with these high-tech weapons.

Li Yunlong estimated that the person who could handle this thing had to be an intellectual with a high school or college degree or above, and the professional qualifications had to be relevant.

Li Yunlong asked, "Didn't Boss Lin's air defense instructor teach you?"

"I did..." Wei Dazhong said bitterly, "but we don't have any high-level intellectuals in our air defense battalion. We haven't learned this stuff in half a month of training."

Li Yunlong thought about it and realized that there were indeed no intellectuals in the machine gun battalion.

Previously, the machine gun battalion's air defense relied primarily on visual observation, using massive machine guns and anti-aircraft aircraft to create a dense anti-aircraft fire network along the enemy's flight path, effectively shooting down enemy aircraft. However, this time, Boss Lin provided high-tech weapons that required specialized personnel to operate. The guns were electrically powered and automatically aimed at a given point before firing.

Wei Dazhong breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Fortunately, this thing is prepared for quadruple anti-aircraft guns and larger caliber anti-aircraft guns. Twin 40mm anti-aircraft guns and 20mm machine guns don't need this thing yet."

"We have to learn how to use it," Li Yunlong said. "Boss Lin will be doing business with us for larger caliber anti-aircraft guns in the future. With this thing, our air defense efficiency will be higher. The more Japanese planes and pilots we shoot down, the more money we will make."

Wei Dazhong nodded, feeling a little depressed.

"so……"

"I'll find some high-level intellectuals to operate this thing for you."

Li Yunlong solved the problem for him and patted him on the shoulder and said comfortingly:
"You are the commander and should stay in the command position. You only need to understand the principles and it is not necessary for you to operate it yourself."

After Wei Dazhong served as the air defense company commander and air defense battalion commander, he commanded the air defense forces to shoot down dozens of Japanese planes.

He earned more than a hundred mountain cannons, which can be said to be a great military achievement.

The telegram written by Zhao Gang on behalf of Li Yunlong calling on intellectuals across the country to come to Yan'an and northwest Shanxi has been sent out.

It is said that it has caused a good response across the country, and many intellectuals want to go to Yan'an and northwest Shanxi. Li Yunlong estimated that it should be able to attract some senior intellectuals to join the New 1st Regiment.

Although the Kuomintang government secretly obstructed and even sabotaged them, there was definitely a group of intellectuals who arrived in Yan'an, received military training and passed the review in Yan'an, and then came to northwestern Shanxi.

"Yes."

Wei Dazhong was very touched and thought to himself that his regimental commander was a really good leader who was far better than those leaders of the National Army.

Wei Dazhong said to Li Yunlong: "Captain, I will never forget your kindness in saving my life and your generosity in recognizing my talent."

If Li Yunlong had not captured the Daixian prisoner-of-war camp and carried him back to the base from Daixian, he might have died in the camp.

"We in the Eighth Route Army don't practice that."

Li Yunlong nodded:
"I came here today mainly to see if your air defense battalion can skillfully use the twin-mounted anti-aircraft guns. I have a mission for your two anti-aircraft battalions."

The quadruple 40mm anti-aircraft gun plus the base weighs nearly 10 tons. It is too heavy and difficult to maneuver even with a large truck.

Therefore, Li Yunlong planned to place the quadruple anti-aircraft gun on the city wall of Ping'an County, or to build several anti-aircraft towers around Ping'an County according to Lin Feng's suggestion, which could be used for both air defense and attacking the invading Japanese infantry.

Li Yunlong continued, "Boss Lin has sent me intelligence that the Japanese are planning a surprise attack on Northwest Shanxi. The 1th Flying Squadron stationed at Datong Airport will cooperate with the Japanese First Army in the attack. I plan to severely damage the 2th Flying Squadron stationed in Datong before the Japanese launch their attack. At that time, your st and nd Air Defense Battalions will play the leading role."

Ping'an County is not far from Datong, only about 100 kilometers away. Li Yunlong sent the Sharp Blade Commando to Datong Airport for reconnaissance.

But the defense of the Japanese and puppet troops around Datong was really a bit abnormal.

It is not realistic to bombard Datong Airport like the bombardment of Taiyuan Airport.

However, Li Yunlong still had a way, which was to lure out the 54th Flying Squadron. Even if he could not completely wipe them out, he would at least severely damage them.

When the Japanese attacked, the planes in the sky posed a great threat to the artillery units of the New 1st Regiment. The air threat had to be eliminated before the New 1st Regiment could exert its full artillery firepower.

Wei Dazhong straightened his body and shouted, "Air Defense Battalion 1 and Air Defense Battalion 2, be ready for orders at any time!"

Looking at Wei Dazhong's statement, Li Yunlong nodded with satisfaction.

After a pause, Wei Dazhong looked at Li Yunlong and said expectantly, "Captain, I have a request."

Li Yunlong looked at the 40mm anti-aircraft gun: "What's your request?"

Wei Dazhong said, "If the Japanese planes were shot down before they attacked, and they had no air support when they attacked, could our 1st and 2nd Air Defense Battalions participate in the ground battle and use anti-aircraft guns to attack the Japanese infantry?"

Li Yunlong glanced sideways. Why is this guy just like me, always thinking about using anti-aircraft guns to attack the Japanese infantry?
But Li Yunlong just thought about it, it would be exciting to use anti-aircraft guns, especially 40mm anti-aircraft guns to attack infantry, and the scene should be very beautiful!
Generally speaking, anti-aircraft shells are too precious to be wasted on enemy infantry.

However, the situation of the New 1st Regiment is special. Boss Lin can reimburse the ammunition consumed on the battlefield. He will reimburse the entire amount consumed. If the amount consumed is less, Boss Lin will not be happy.

"No problem. As long as you can severely damage the Japanese flying squadron in this operation, I will approve your Anti-Aircraft Battalion 1 and Anti-Aircraft Battalion 2 to participate in the battle against the infantry." Li Yunlong nodded and agreed without hesitation, but the prerequisite was to kill the Japanese flying squadron.

Using anti-aircraft guns to attack Japanese infantry can not only kill a large number of Japanese infantry's manpower, but also increase the soldiers' proficiency in anti-aircraft guns, and they don't have to carry out ammunition themselves. It's really killing three birds with one stone. Why not do it?
Wei Dazhong's expression brightened: "Yes."

(End of this chapter)