Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 418 An artillery unit the size of 20 artillery regiments!

Taiyuan.

inner city.

Early morning, Japanese First Army Headquarters.

"This tactic of the Eighth Route Army is really good. Why didn't the Locust Army think of it?"

Shinozuka Yoshio handed the telegram back to Yamamoto Ikki: "Yamamoto-kun, send this tactic to the North China Front Army Headquarters immediately."

"This tactic can only be used at night, and it consumes too much ammunition."

Yamamoto Ikki took the telegram and immediately saw the drawbacks of this tactic:

"However, compared to having no other options, this tactic is pretty good."

The tactic is a good one, but it consumes a lot of ammunition.

However, this is not a tactical shortcoming, but a shortcoming of the Japanese army.

The two divisions and two brigades of the North China Front Army that attacked the Jinzhong base had a total combat supply of only 3000 tons, which was less than that of the First Army, and it could not be said that they had sufficient combat supplies.

3000 tons of combat supplies were only enough for two Japanese divisions and two brigades to fight for more than half a month, and that was on the premise that they were used sparingly.

"How's the battle going at the Eighth Route Army's Jinzhong base?"

Shinozuka Yoshio looked at Yamamoto and asked.

Yesterday, Yamamoto Ikki was on wartime duty again. Yoshio Shinozuka is old and staying up late is a bit too much for him.

"The battle situation isn't going well."

Yamamoto Ikki replied:

"Although Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomoyuki mobilized the field siege heavy artillery battalion, but..."

Shinozuka Yoshio frowned and asked, "But what?"

Yamamoto Ikki replied, "However, the main force of the Eighth Route Army in Jinzhong used 150mm caliber howitzers in the battle. These howitzers have a long range, great power, and a high rate of fire. The field siege artillery battalion directly under the North China Front Command was suppressed."

"Currently, in the battle in Jinzhong, the Locust Army has suffered over 3000 casualties, and the Locust Alliance has suffered no less."

Shinozuka Yoshio asked briskly, "150mm howitzer? Which country is it from? What model is it?"

Upon learning that the combat performance of the troops directly under the North China Front Army was not very good, Yoshio Shinozuka felt a little secretly happy.

If the locust army's battle in Jinzhong goes smoothly, it will prove that the First Army Command is too incompetent.

Now everyone's offensive is not very effective, which proves that it is not the incompetence of the First Army Command, but that the firepower of the Eighth Route Army Artillery is too strong.

"It's not clear yet."

Yamamoto Ikki replied:

"The Eighth Route Army's heavy artillery was housed within sturdy concrete fortifications, protected by 20mm machine guns. It's said that the reconnaissance aircraft only captured the muzzle of one gun. This cannon's muzzle is equipped with a muzzle brake. The Jinzhong Eighth Route Army was equipped with at least 150 of these 20mm howitzers."

“另外，晋中八路还有20门以上的105榴弹炮，30门以上的75毫米山炮，20门以上120重迫击炮，以及大量60毫米和82毫米迫击炮。”

Shinozuka Yoshio suddenly realized: "No wonder the firepower of the North China Front Army was suppressed."

Yamamoto had dark circles under his eyes. He'd been up all night, but he was still full of energy. "General, 1000 tons of combat supplies have been sent to Jiangjunling in northwest Shanxi. They'll probably arrive tomorrow afternoon. Should we transfer the field siege artillery battalion to Jiangjunling in northwest Shanxi?"

"The siege heavy artillery battalion will not move for the time being. Wait until the first and second locust army troops arrive at Jiangjun Ridge and see what the situation is." Shinozuka Yoshio said after thinking for a moment.

The siege heavy artillery battalion was equipped with four 4mm Type 240 heavy howitzers and four Type 4 150mm cannons. Although the latter had a good range and great power, they were too few in number.

These heavy artillery pieces were strategically important to Shinozuka Yoshio, and he was quite cautious until the battle situation became clear. Furthermore, Li Yunlong of the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi possessed a heavy artillery division-level artillery firepower. Even if the field siege artillery battalion was transferred to northwestern Shanxi, it would likely be ineffective.

"Hi."

Yamamoto lowered his head, paused and said:

"It's hard to imagine that only a year and a half after the July 10 Incident, the Eighth Route Army's artillery units have reached this size. The Eighth Route Army's bases in northwestern Shanxi and central Shanxi already have more than artillery regiments, at least four of which are heavy artillery units."

There were four artillery battalions in the Jinzhong base area, Li Yunlong in northwest Shanxi had four artillery battalions, and Ding Wei and Kong Jie each had two artillery battalions.

Each artillery battalion is of regimental size and equipped with cannons of 75mm or above caliber.

Of course, except for a few elite artillery battalions, the individual artillery quality of each artillery battalion is still not as good as that of the elite artillery units of the Japanese army.

but!

If you lack quality, you can make up for it with tactics and numbers.

In terms of the number of artillery fire and the precise method of determining the shooting parameters, the artillery of the Japanese army was far superior.

"This does not include the main artillery units of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi, and the 54th Flight that destroyed two heavy artillery regiment-level units of the Eighth Route Army in battle."

After hearing Yamamoto's analysis, Shinozuka Yoshio's expression gradually became solemn and gloomy:
"If we add the main artillery units of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi, the size of the Eighth Route Army's artillery units is probably close to 20 artillery regiments."

Before the war, the Japanese army did not know how many artillery pieces the Eighth Route Army had and the caliber of its artillery.

However, once the fighting broke out in central and northwestern Shanxi, the 129th Division in southeastern Shanxi moved north to attack the Zhengtai Road, and the number and size of the Eighth Route Army's artillery units were fully exposed.

"20 artillery regiments..."

Yamamoto's cheeks twitched. Even the entire North China Front Army could not provide 20 artillery regiments.

Taking a deep breath, Yamamoto Ikki said:
"Commander, it seems that the only way for the Locust Army to defeat the Eighth Route Army now is to suppress them with artillery firepower. This requires the deployment of at least 12 artillery regiments, including at least four field heavy artillery regiments, to defeat the Eighth Route Army one by one."

"The Eighth Route Army's artillery units are in a dispersed state and lack artillery training and combat experience."

“Although I don’t know where the Eighth Route Army’s artillery came from.”

"But according to the current situation, in a year or two, there will probably be at least 40 artillery regiment-level units in the Eighth Route Army."

"By then, the locust army might lose Shanxi and even the entire North China."

Yamamoto and Yoshio Shinozuka both knew this very well.

Even if the first and second armies arrived at Jiangjunling, they would probably not be able to completely wipe out the New 1st Regiment.

The Eighth Route Army’s artillery firepower was too strong and they had plenty of ammunition.

If we can destroy some of the main forces of the New 1st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army and rescue the 4th Brigade and the Guards Mixed Brigade, it will be a victory.

"After this battle, I will submit a truthful report to the North China Front Army."

Shinozuka Yoshio nodded solemnly:
"But Yamamoto-kun, don't get your hopes up too much. In the grand strategic scheme of the East, the Shanxi battlefield is just a small chess piece, and central and northwestern Shanxi are just two even smaller chess pieces. The headquarters will probably not devote too many military resources to our First Army to deal with the Eighth Route Army."

"I understand." Yamamoto Ikki lowered his head. "Who would have thought that a group of Eighth Route Army soldiers wearing straw sandals could actually develop so many artillery units. However... Major General Sakurada Takeshi is right. If Li Yunlong and his troops are not eliminated, he and the New 1st Regiment will become a serious threat to the Locust Army."

"Your Excellency the Commander, Colonel Yamamoto."

At this time, a communications staff sent a telegram:
"Major General Sakurada Takeshi sent a telegram, saying that the main force of the New 1st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army in Northwest Shanxi has launched an attack on the Locust Army and the Locust Alliance Army in Jiangjunling!"

Yamamoto and Shinozuka Yoshio stared at each other.

Now, it depends on whether the Guards Mixed Brigade and the 4th Brigade can hold out at Jiangjunling for two days!

(End of this chapter)