Conquer Europe from the West

Chapter 95: Aerial Gunship! Boy!
Standing on the roof of a six-story reinforced concrete building, looking at the other side of the river bank and the United Kingdom troop camp less than 500 meters away, Ryan felt that the current scene was a little too absurd.

Although Ryan had already prepared himself for the possibility of not encountering even a single fighter plane or airship in this battle before entering the battlefield, when he actually saw the camp that didn't even have an anti-aircraft balloon set up, he couldn't help but be moved by these idiots from the United Kingdom.

Of course, even if the United Kingdom deployed airships here, it would not be a big problem.

Firstly, according to intelligence, the United Kingdom's airships were only equipped with machine guns for self-defense firepower, while the Empire's Wave-class airships had a corrugated aluminum hull alone that was 12 mm thick. As long as it was pulled out to meters away, no matter how the United Kingdom attacked, it would not pose a threat to the Wave-class.

Secondly, the 40mm rotary howitzer mounted on the lower part of the Wave-class airship can pour fire onto the ground at a rate of 200 rounds per minute. Although it is not as powerful as the later 25, 23, or 20mm machine guns, it has the advantage of more explosives.

In layman's terms, it is a castrated version of the AC130 that looks like an airship.

And now, the squadron consisting of ships No. 3 and No. 4 has locked onto the two Lion-class cruisers anchored in the port.

Ryan leaned against the edge of the rooftop wall, and the outlines of two other airships immediately appeared in the telescope in his hand.

The leading airship, Z331, had turned off all the lights on its fuselage, leaving only a hint of red in the bridge.

"Get everyone ready."

Ryan rolled over on the ground, and the accompanying communications officer said, "Send a letter to Z331. The content is: The enemy camp is not on alert, and the attack can be launched at any time."

"Yes."

The reserve officer of the communications department immediately took out his large flashlight from his backpack, locked onto the Z331 airship cruising in the sky with the built-in crosshairs, then turned on the switch and used the adjustable grille on the flashlight to send a message to the sky.

Ryan didn't specifically memorize the codes used for visible light communication, so after giving the order, he returned to the front observation port and reconfirmed the situation in the United Kingdom camp with Wolf, who replaced Brinkman.

Because they were at a high place, they could almost see the entire camp at a glance.

Wolfe is now using a Gw.98 with a flash hider that Ryan had urgently modified, and his auxiliary sidearm is the P08 that Ryan used at the beginning.

There were about a dozen other people with the same configuration as him. Now they were all scattered in the buildings along the south side of the river, staring intently at the United Kingdom camp.

"How's the observation going?"

Ryan leaned next to him, pretending to look through a telescope, but actually he was looking at a map.

Wolfe fiddled with the optical sight welded on the Gw.98 gun with a look of curiosity on his face. This little gadget, which looked like a telescope, was a valuable item that was locked tightly in a cabinet by the non-commissioned officers when he was in the 502nd Battalion. He had only seen it but never touched it until the battalion camp was blown up by the Farlans.

However, he did not forget Ryan's question: "These guys are very weak, they don't look like regular troops."

"The campsite being built next to the lake isn't a problem, but they forgot to set up shelters, and there's no way out of the park. I guess they're just here for tourism."

Wolfe's voice was a little unclear because he was still chewing gum: "Do you see the big door in front?"

"That entrance to the park?"

Ryan nodded: "What's wrong?"

"There are only three entrances and exits to the entire park. One is at the northernmost end, a main gate. It's locked now, but there are two guards on duty. The other is a side gate directly opposite the bridge in front of us, and there's also an unrailed river channel."

His voice paused, "These Tommys are doomed today. No one can escape from this cage."

"Then don't give them a chance to escape."

Ryan patted Wolfe's shoulder and withdrew his consciousness from the map.

This map could occasionally confirm the total number of enemies, and he was relieved only after seeing that there were almost three thousand people hiding in the park.

In history, the British first arrived in Ostend with a queue of more than 3,000 people, which was not much different from the number he saw in the system.

It is exactly the strength of a regiment.

I took the opportunity to look at my watch.

There was less than half a minute left until the scheduled time of firing.

Ryan poked his head out a little from the wall in front of him.

He saw that the soldiers on the roadside and by the river were already preparing for the attack.

Nearly seventy teams of three lined up in a long line along the river bank, completely blocking the two exits of the park.

"Countdown 15 seconds!"

Brinkman and Perris's voices came from below.

The sound was not loud and was almost completely drowned out by the sound of the river.

But Ryan still heard it clearly.

He took a few deep breaths.

Immediately afterwards, after Brinkman shouted "Five seconds left", intensive artillery fire was heard from the sky.

The four Wave-class airships launched the attack almost at the same time.

The fire from the 40mm rotary howitzer was like bright little suns, appearing and disappearing from the sky, and delivering 40mm grenades to the ground.

The third and fourth Wave-class ships, Z333 and Z334, cleverly chose to directly fire grenades at the superstructure of the Lion-class battlecruiser rather than at solid parts such as the main gun turrets.

This allowed Ryan to immediately confirm that the sailors stationed in the bridge were instantly incapacitated by the glass fragments and air currents caused by the small-caliber grenades.

One of the unlucky Lion-class battlecruisers was hit in the attack on the lifeboat in front of the No. 3 rear turret. The fuel in the boat was ignited almost instantly by the explosion, causing a raging fire.

But their crew was well-trained. When they found that the bridge was inaccessible, the sailors in the engine room immediately overran the control authority of the bridge and increased the output of the ship's engine.

They wanted the warships to retreat immediately so that they could enter the ocean where they could fight, instead of being stuck on the shore and unable to move.

Thick black smoke spewed out of the chimney, turning into gray smoke with a hint of white.

But their actions were seen clearly by everyone because of the fire.

This made the gunner of Z334 immediately turn the muzzle and continuously bombard the main chimney of the Lion-class strategic cruiser with 40mm grenades.

the other side.

The two Wave-class ships, Z331 and Z332, also began bombarding the United Kingdom camp at almost the same time.

The 40mm grenade easily blew all the trees in the park into disarray, and the soil that was kicked up also dyed many tents black.

The United Kingdom soldiers, awakened from their sleep, rushed out of the tents like crazy. Most of them were not even wearing military uniforms, but only a white vest and shorts, and ran for their lives in the park in military boots.

Only a few soldiers had the opportunity to arm themselves, but when they emerged from their tents fully armed, hoping to find the enemy who had attacked them without knowing what was good for them, they were horrified to discover that the enemy was not on the ground at all, but in the sky...

At the other end of the park, across the lake from the campsite.

It was supposed to be the office of the park rangers, but now it is the command post of the United Kingdom Marine Corps Command.

Major General George Bernardiston, the commandant of the Marine Corps, practically rolled out of his cot.

He wore a woolen nightcap on his head and looked at the camp across the lake from him, his eyes reflecting a sea of ​​hellish fire.

"Major General! The Imperial Army is attacking us!"

An adjutant touched his collar, pushed the tie on his uniform to the top, and ran to George Bernardiston, shouting in horror: "Our battleship is also being attacked by their airship forces. The bridge of the Queen Mary is seriously damaged. It is currently parked in the outer harbor, but it cannot move because the engine is overheating!"

"I'm not blind, I can see, Major Johnson!"

George Bernardiston lowered his voice and whispered to his adjutant, "How's the Tiger? Can it support us?"

"No! They are in the inner harbor, we can't open fire!" the adjutant said hurriedly.

"Hold!"

George Bernardiston kicked the chair in front of him away, then immediately turned and ran to the clothes rack, hurriedly changing into his military uniform. As he changed his clothes, he cursed: "That pig Churchill didn't tell me before he set off that the Imperial Army would send airships to attack!"

Just yesterday, the First Lord of the Admiralty Churchill came to him, and after much persuasion he succeeded in getting George to agree to lead his troops to Perigueux to carry out this long-distance mission.

According to Churchill, their job was simple: to arrive in the Kingdom of Perigueux and help spread the word so that the media could hype them up.

It would not be until a week later, when all the United Kingdom's warships were in place, that George Bernardiston's troops would join up with other units of the Marine Division and head for Antwerp to fight.

On the side, seeing that George had already exchanged the payment, Adjutant Johnson quickly handed the armed belt on the table to George and asked, "Major General, should we contact the mainland?"

"Not right now."

George strapped his gun belt around his body, stood by the window, and looked up at the sky.

Although the size of the airships could not be seen clearly from here, George still judged based on his experience that the airships in the sky were the Empire's Wave-class combat airships.

This large airship, which is comparable in length and width to a cruiser, has amazing combat endurance, but not much firepower.

The 40mm howitzer does not have much spare ammunition. Although the exact number is unknown, it will definitely not exceed 300 rounds.

"Let them continue to fight. These imperial airships won't be able to stay so arrogant for long."

"Go and have someone gather the troops immediately and disperse the survivors out of the camp. As long as they aren't all caught in one fell swoop, we won't have to worry about what happens next."

As soon as he finished speaking, the four Wave-class ships in the sky stopped firing.

George Bernardiston immediately looked at his adjutant and said, "See, I told you they wouldn't be so arrogant for long."

"Now, gather the troops immediately. We must rush to the cruiser before they launch the next wave of attacks!"

And in the sky.

In the bridge of Z331.

Colonel Schmidt sat in his high-hanging captain's seat, looking through the floor-to-ceiling glass curtain walls on both sides at the United Kingdom Marine Corps camp below, which was already covered in flames, and the Lion-class cruiser with its superstructure on fire.

This was the first actual combat of the Wave class, and he was very satisfied with the effect it could produce.

He looked at his first mate: "How much ammunition is left?"

"There are still fifty rounds of high-explosive shells left, and two hundred rounds of armor-piercing shells."

The first mate stood in front of one of the floor-to-ceiling glass walls, looking down at the ground, muttering to himself, "It seems we really should add two more howitzers. If they were deployed on the front lines, they could almost instantly suppress the enemy lines."

Colonel Schmidt said slowly, "Don't dream. This is simply because the United Kingdom hasn't sent out any combat boats. A sneak attack might work, but it won't work on a real battlefield."

Then he changed the subject: "How's the major doing?"

"They haven't attacked yet. They seem to be preparing an ambush."

"Okay, pass on my order. The entire fleet is on surveillance mode. Do not open fire until the ground forces begin a firefight."

"Yes!"

------------

a few minutes ago.

As the airship began its bombardment, the enemy attack alarm instantly resounded throughout the harbor.

These alarm sounds were carried by the sea breeze and drifted across Ostend. For a moment, everyone was awakened from their sleep.

They looked at the airships in the sky in horror and hid in their houses in panic, praying that the shells would not fall on their heads.

Ryan also heard the enemy attack alarm sounded at the port, but he waited.

He would wait until the moment when the British troops began to gather up and file out of the park camp after the bombardment ended.

The soldiers of the assault company also received orders to wait.

As the shelling stopped, the United Kingdom soldiers began to regroup on the shore of the lake in the park, just as Ryan had expected.

These Marines, dressed in dark blue uniforms, sailor caps, and gray-green leggings, assembled as quickly as possible, but they were now clearly illuminated by the street lights in the park.

Ryan could even see the appearance of the leading officer through the telescope: a pale face, sweat-soaked hair sticking to his forehead, frightened blue eyes, thin and bloodless lips, and a high nose bridge.

The second lieutenant was holding a picked-up, dirt-covered Lee Enfield rifle in his hand. The pistol on his belt had disappeared, and his tie was gone. Only a Marine Corps badge remained on his body.

"Want to fight? Major!"

Wolfe was also looking at the guy, but his expression was a little hesitant at the moment.

Because Ryan had just told him not to shoot so early.

And Ryan was also thinking.

If he opened fire now, he would be able to completely destroy the enemy's fighting will to a large extent, but he still had not found the supreme commander of this Marine Corps.

According to the United Kingdom's military standards, this Marine Corps of less than 3000 people should be a brigade-level force, but Ryan could not find their commander - he should be at least a major general.

He lowered the telescope and checked his watch.

It's two o'clock in the morning now, and there are at least three hours until sunrise...

"Forget it, fight."

He thought for a moment and said to Wolfe, "Choose the most conspicuous one to attack. We still have two warships to capture, so we don't lack commanders for these infantrymen!"

"All right, Major!"

Upon receiving the order, Wolfe immediately raised the Gw.98 in his hand, simply adjusted the knob of the sight, and pulled the trigger.

The Gw.98, equipped with a four-piece flash suppressor, barely emitted a single flame. The brass bullet almost instantly shattered the Marine lieutenant's head. Only after the man fell did the sound of Wolfe's gunshot reach the ears of the United Kingdom soldiers.

The rest of the assault company soldiers lying in ambush in the building immediately understood after the gunshots that this was an order given by Ryan to Wolfe.

They silently recited the rule Ryan had given them at the beginning: "Only shoot soldiers, warrant officers and second lieutenants," then locked onto their targets and pulled the trigger.

The riverbank was instantly filled with the sound of continuous gunfire, but the United Kingdom's Marines were horrified to find that they could not find any muzzle flashes.

Even if they were lucky enough to see the little bit of light left after the flash suppressor was removed, they would be locked and shot dead the moment they raised their guns to shoot.

The troops that had been organized with great difficulty fell into disarray again. Major General George Bernardiston almost immediately asked his adjutant to stop the car. He climbed out of the car with agile movements that were not at all like those of a middle-aged man and leaned behind the huge front of the car.

But what frightened him even more was yet to come.

In the sky, the Wave-class airships Z331 and Z332, upon discovering that a battle had already begun on the ground, adjusted the direction of their guns almost on the spot.

Two rotary 40mm machine guns, driven by electric motors, locked onto the fleeing soldiers and began a second round of shooting.

About ten kilometers away from them in the sky, Z333 and Z334 lowered their altitude. They came to a position of 300 meters and began to fly in a clockwise manner with the two Lion-class cruisers as the center.

The ship's 40mm howitzer was the same machine gun as the Apache and Hind in Ryan's memory. It bombarded the superstructures of the two cruisers mercilessly. The small-caliber machine guns and open-air artillery deployed around the island instantly lost their combat capability. All enemies who wanted to board the deck to fight back were blown to pieces by the grenades.

Soon, the two Lion-class cruisers completely lost the ability to fight against airships.

After confirming this, the captain of Z333 immediately sent a message to Schmidt to allow him to descend in pursuit.

Then, the United Kingdom soldiers and their commanders, who had almost completely lost their desire to fight due to the shells from the sky and the darkness, and could only lie helplessly behind trees and bushes, saw the most terrifying scene in their lives.

Two mechanical behemoths that were even larger than the Lion-class battlecruisers, spewed out flames that could devour everything, crushed the heavy clouds, and smashed down towards their camp, trailing streams of white smoke!

(End of this chapter)