Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 464 Operation Scalpel Concludes Successfully, New Tactics Have an Impact

The Japanese army launched a three-pronged attack on the Jin-Cha-Ji base area, with a total of more than 2 troops. The first route started from Dingxian, the middle route from Baoding, and the lower route from Wangdu.

Now, Wangdu has been captured by a surprise force, cutting off the Pinghan Railway transport. The Japanese troops that set out to attack Quyang from the lower route had to send troops back to rescue it.

Because things were developing so rapidly, the Japanese army had not yet made any moves in other areas.

Only this 2000-strong force marched for 6 hours before returning to Wangdu County.

All these changes were probably not as clear to Fang Wen as the Japanese North China Army.

It's time to ambush this isolated force and end the operation.

The four-hour break time involves more than just refueling and maintenance.

We also need to change our combat equipment.

In the ensuing battle, with 1400 against 2000, it was no longer a matter of firing a shot and moving to a different location; Fang Wen was aiming for annihilation.

Therefore, the gunboats carried a large number of aerial bombs.

These aerial bombs were all produced by the Taishan Bomb Factory and were transported from abroad to the Fuping Airport warehouse in batches, originally intended for a major military operation.

Now it comes in handy.

At 11 o'clock, the gunboats and aircraft on both sides were ready.

Fang Wen did not order an immediate takeoff, but instead went out to conduct a reconnaissance mission alone, and then returned to explain the situation to Commander Yan of the flight squadron via radio.

"Commander Yan, our 2000 Japanese soldiers are still about 10 kilometers away from Wangdu. They are expected to arrive near the county town in about 2 hours. If we set off now, it will only take us 20 minutes to get there. Let's wait a little longer."

Yan Wenwu exclaimed over the radio, "Commander Fang, your tactics have truly opened my eyes. Warfare can be fought like this! We set off at 4 a.m. and returned to Fuping at 7 a.m. We've already attacked Baoding and Wangdu. We're about to unleash even more devastating attacks on the Japanese. If your entire plan succeeds, we can eliminate 2000 troops in a single day and counter their sweeping operations. I think if our entire Eighth Route Army were equipped and used these tactics, the Japanese won't be able to run rampant for long."

"That's what I was thinking too. I'll let you know when to leave in an hour and a half."

Fang Wen smiled and ended the call.

Yan Wenwu's words echoed in his mind: the reason why this operation was so effective was mainly because it was a surprise attack.

After today, the Japanese will probably be more vigilant and will likely take some targeted precautions.

Another problem is that Taishan Military Industry's production capacity is insufficient.

Because of the large scale of the operation, there was a severe shortage of engineering and technical personnel, and production capacity could not be expanded. Equipping the Eighth Route Army was beyond the current production capacity.

He cleared his mind, closed his eyes to rest, and awaited the final battle.

An hour and a half later, the gunboats of Taishan and the Eighth Route Army Air Regiment took off again.

The destination is Wangdu County, which is more than 80 kilometers away from the Taihang Mountains.

The two flight formations did not employ any high-level concealment and flew at the maximum speed limit for gunship aircraft.

Twenty minutes later, the flight formation appeared in the airspace west of Wangdu County.

Below, 2000 Japanese soldiers are launching an attack on Wangdu County.

The 400 paratroopers inside the city, relying on the city walls, engaged in a stalemate and exchanged fire with them.

Meanwhile, in Qilipu, southwest of the city, 1400 Eighth Route Army soldiers were hiding in the sorghum fields outside the town. The damage to these fields would be compensated to the landowners by the guerrillas later.

The sorghum stalks, which were over two meters tall, became the best way for the soldiers to hide.

They waited quietly inside.

(Before liberation, sorghum plants were generally very tall, 2-4 meters. Now, sorghum plants are much shorter because of agricultural improvements.)
Fang Wen used his mechanical senses to take in the entire situation below.

The Japanese army marched for six hours without taking any rest before launching an attack on the city, demonstrating how much they valued Wangdu City.

How could they know that this was a trap prepared specifically for them?

Fang Wen picked up the microphone.

First, call the ground.

"This is the air command, calling for paratroopers to continue holding the county town and await further instructions."

"I am the air commander. Calling for the 'Hooked Horse' (a type of cavalry), depart immediately from the concealed position, flank the city to the west, and launch an attack on the enemy's side."

Under his command, the Eighth Route Army soldiers rushed out of the sorghum fields and marched westward.

It is expected to arrive at the battlefield in 10 minutes.

Ground troops have begun their operations, and air forces followed suit.

Fang Wen ordered Zhao Junping to switch flight frequencies and call Yan Wenwu.

"Commander Yan, my unit will be conducting an air raid. Your unit must then coordinate with the ground forces launching the raid outside the city to provide air support after the bombing. The operation will take place in 10 minutes."

"receive."

The air force's gunboat formation circled overhead, while Fang Wen led the Taishan gunboat squadron into bombing.

Among the 10 gunboats, the bottom hatch in the middle of the aircraft is opened, and the gunner and ammunition handler work together to place the heavy aerial bombs on the bombing device, and then pull the bombing lever to open it manually.

Immediately, the safety latches on the bottom hatch opened, and one hundred-kilogram aerial bomb after another fell.

Bombs rained down from the sky, crashing into the Japanese positions.

It suddenly burst into a huge flame, scattering numerous fire points.

The first round of bombing used napalm bombs, and the large, continuously burning flames divided the Japanese troops into several areas, causing chaos.

The Japanese troops, stunned by the aerial bombardment, only then realized that enemy planes were overhead.

The Japanese officers drew their swords and brandished them, urging their soldiers to converge on them.

This will allow us to concentrate troops from various regions and form new combat capabilities.

With the Eighth Route Army's raiding force about to arrive, Fang Wen couldn't let this happen, so he immediately ordered a second round of bombing.

This time, a high-explosive bomb was used.

The explosion generated a large number of high-speed flying debris, causing widespread damage within a 70-meter radius.

Japanese soldiers within the blast radius were hit by shrapnel from all directions, collapsing to the ground in agony and groaning.

This scene of being unable to die, yet suffering double the pain, is quite thrilling.

When the officers saw this, the morale of the soldiers they had painstakingly assembled plummeted.

They never expected that what they thought was a guerrilla force taking advantage of the situation to seize the county town would result in such a devastating air attack.

But the battle is not over yet.

The Eighth Route Army troops appeared in the southwest, and accompanied by the bugle call, the Eighth Route Army soldiers bravely charged forward.

The chaotic Japanese army was still trying to salvage the situation, with junior officers working hard to direct their soldiers to block the Eighth Route Army's charge on the spot.

Fang Wen picked up the microphone: "Commander Yan, it's your turn."

The Eighth Route Army's air regiment's 10 gunboats lowered their altitude and circled around the Japanese positions to fire.

With bullets raining down from the sky at such an angle, there was no way to find cover.

Large numbers of Japanese soldiers fell in the hail of bullets, and their attempt to stop the Eighth Route Army's advance failed.

They had no choice but to force their way across the fire zone and retreat.

The enemy is trying to escape; now is the time for a full-scale attack.

Fang Wen picked up the microphone: "The paratroopers should immediately leave the city to pursue them." The paratroopers in Wangdu County rushed out of the city gates and charged in the direction the Japanese army was fleeing.

Closer still, 1000 Eighth Route Army soldiers were in hot pursuit of the enemy.

The Japanese troops, who had lost several hundred men in the bombing, were still numerically superior, but their morale was extremely low.

In order to allow the main force to escape, they chose to leave behind a small group of Japanese soldiers to act as expendable pawns to block the pursuers.

However, this tactic was doomed to fail. Once a Japanese soldier stopped, the air squadron's gunboats would target him and launch an attack.

If one batch is left behind, another batch will be eaten up.

Meanwhile, the Taishan gunboats led by Fang Wen flew over the Japanese troops and circled ahead, waiting.

A dozen minutes later, the Japanese soldiers who had finally escaped entered the bombing zone that had been set up for them.

After another round of bombing, the Japanese troops were completely routed and scattered in all directions.

This method of escape would prevent further bombing and air strikes, but it would also deprive them of the ability to continue fighting the Eighth Route Army.

On the plains southwest of Wangdu County, a high-speed chase unfolds.

The enemy's complete defeat also means that the entire deep-penetration air-ground coordinated operation behind enemy lines is about to come to an end.

In the ensuing pursuit, the short-statured Japanese soldiers were no match for the Eighth Route Army, who were skilled in mobile warfare. One by one, they were caught up, some resisted stubbornly and were killed, while others gave up resistance and surrendered.

Everywhere on the land, soldiers could be seen carrying spoils of war and escorting prisoners.

Fang Wen checked the time.

An hour and a half has passed since the battle in Wangdu County began.

Most of the Japanese troops had been annihilated or captured, and the remaining small number were hiding in nooks and crannies unknown to him, making them difficult to find.

Therefore, Fang Wen, in the name of air command, issued the final order.

All ground troops were ordered to assemble with captured supplies and prisoners.

What to do next is no longer something Fang Wen needs to consider.

He looked at Zhao Junping.

"Switch to the Eighth Route Army headquarters radio frequency. I am reporting in the name of the commander of this operation."

Zhao Junping switched frequencies and waited.

After thinking for a moment, Fang Wen spoke up.

"Telegram to the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region: Operation Scalpel Strikes a Success. At 4:00 AM on the 4th, the Independent Regiment, the Flight Regiment, the Yan'an Air Force, and a part of the Eighth Route Army jointly conducted an airborne operation behind enemy lines: attacking Baoding, destroying barracks outside the city and railway station supply warehouses, paralyzing the enemy's supply hub, killing and wounding more than 300 Japanese and puppet troops in the barracks outside the city, shooting down 8 Type 97 fighter planes and 3 Type 95 biplanes; later, capturing Wangdu, ambushing and annihilating 2000 returning Japanese troops, and seizing a quantity of supplies and ammunition. Please advise on the next steps."

His task was complete; what he needed to do next was no longer his concern.

The Eighth Route Army headquarters has been closely monitoring the progress of the operations behind enemy lines.

Upon receiving Fang Wen's report, they immediately replied, ordering ground troops to remain in Wangdu and sabotage local railway facilities to create the illusion of a long-term occupation of the area.

Meanwhile, Quyang launched an attack on the remaining Japanese troops.

With the addition of gunboats from the air corps, this group of Japanese troops fled in panic.

Thus, the Japanese army's three-pronged campaign to sweep through the base areas lost its meaning due to the defeat on the Wangdu line.

The Japanese army is now more worried about whether the Pinghan Railway will be lost as a result, and therefore they urgently need to recapture Wangdu.

The other two armies immediately withdrew, assembled in Baoding, and marched towards Wangdu along the railway line.

Meanwhile, multiple batches of aircraft took off from Tianjin to escort the troops attacking Wangdu County.

The day after Operation Scalpel ended, Japanese troops arrived in Wangdu.

Two kilometers from the county seat, the Japanese troops stopped and took precautions.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen planes circled overhead, ready to engage.

Through the commander's binoculars, a figure could be seen standing on the distant city wall.

They must be soldiers guarding the city.

But when they cautiously and cautiously approached the county town, they discovered that those on the city wall were nothing more than scarecrows dressed in tattered Japanese military uniforms.

The Japanese army was not happy that Wangdu County, an important station area on the Pinghan Railway, was regained.

They meticulously documented the entire operation and sent it back home for specialized study.

Before the German blitzkrieg in World War II, a stunning blitzkrieg on the land of North China in the East alarmed intelligence organizations around the world.

The international intelligence network in Shanghai became active again, transmitting information about the battle back to Europe and the United States.

In Fuping, Fang Wen had not yet led the Eighth Route Army's flight cadets back to Yangon.

Surgical tactics also garnered attention from the Eighth Route Army.

In order to better understand the combat process and Fang Wen's military thinking, they wanted Fang Wen to write a written report.

Therefore, Fang Wen organized his thoughts and wrote a document in his office at Fuping Water Airport.

This tactic combines elements of Germany's Blitzkrieg tactics from World War II with modern military thinking from the future.

However, Fang Wen has not theoreticalized it.

He pondered for a long time before finally picking up his pen to write.

[Post-war analysis and summary of Operation Scalpel]

I. Daytime surprise attack to defeat the enemy quickly.
Abandoning traditional night raid tactics, they launched daytime air-ground coordinated attacks with the support of gunboats and aircraft. With overwhelming force, they paralyzed the Baoding supply depot and airfield, leaving the Japanese army unable to react in time and overwhelmed.

II. The essence of mobile warfare: a series of breakthroughs
Following the Eighth Route Army's mobile tactics, they captured Baoding and Wangdu in a single day, cutting off the Pinghan Railway and luring the enemy back to reinforce. Furthermore, they used paratroopers to launch two blitzkrieg attacks, causing the Japanese army to collapse after being encircled from three directions.

III. Winning through Technology, Three-Dimensional Combat

A three-dimensional command network composed of multiple radio devices forms a closed loop of battlefield military information. Combined with artillery and aircraft fire support, and individual rocket launchers for assault operations, bunkers are breached with lightning speed, resulting in the annihilation of over a thousand enemy soldiers with minimal casualties.

IV. Employing a combination of deception and reality, with psychological warfare as the top priority.
A feigned attack on Baoding was intended to tie down the main force, while a surprise attack on Wangdu was planned to cut off the enemy's retreat. A show of force in the air was used to intimidate the Japanese, causing them to misjudge the situation as a major Chinese offensive and retreat without a fight.

Fang Wen stopped writing at this point.

A summary should include not only strengths but also weaknesses.

After all, this tactic is flawless when used by oneself, but it has some problems when used by others.

For example, Fang Wen relied on radar to identify, evade, and ambush Japanese warplanes, making the air units in the Battle of Baoding invincible.

Furthermore, the meticulous observation of the ground situation is something that ordinary air commanders cannot do.

It seems that we need to accelerate the development of radar technology; otherwise, having only mobile combat capabilities without the ability to anticipate the enemy's moves will greatly reduce the effectiveness of this tactic.

Therefore, Fang Wen continued writing.

Air-to-ground mobile warfare can be considered an advanced version of traditional guerrilla warfare, leveraging mechanical technology to maximize mobility and break through the limits of army movement speed. However, this tactic is not yet perfect. I discovered some flaws during the process, such as the inconsistent effectiveness of the radar equipment, which needs improvement before it can be officially used in military operations. I will make improvements upon my return.

After writing this, Fang Wen put it into a brown paper bag, intending to have it handed over.

He opened the door and went out, only to run into Bai Yunfei.

Bai Yunfei explained his purpose for coming: "Your combat methods are very much to the liking of our Eighth Route Army. We wanted to invite you to give a talk, but you refused, so we could only ask you to write something. But theory alone is not enough; we need more good equipment and aircraft. I came to ask you if you have any way to improve the economy of our base area, so that we can have more money to buy your equipment."

(End of this chapter)