afterglow

Chapter 194 I Need to Find a Transportation Captain
In fact, due to the opposition of their own government, many people who came to Spain to volunteer for the war did not have passports and visas, but they still managed to come to Spain.

For example, hiding in the cargo hold of a train or ship; floating across the sea in a civilian sailboat; walking across the border on a rainy night and so on.

Philip, the commander of Company A of the 71st "James Hardy" Battalion, is a lieutenant in the Royal Marines. He is also an amateur sailing enthusiast and has a yacht of his own.He sailed across the English Channel with a total of 12 people, including four miners, a logger, three Cambridge University students, an iron policeman, an actor, and two retired soldiers, and successfully arrived in Cherbourg. to the south of France.

Seeing Zhou Changfeng coming, the soldiers were very excited. Someone waved their hands impatiently: "Mr. Commander! When can we go to the front line?"

His words immediately attracted a series of echoes and heckles.

"We have been training for more than a month, should we continue?"

"The No.14 and No.15 brigades wiped out [-] Italian intervention troops in Guadalajara. They really only bully weak cowards."

"Sir, we're ready to kick those ▇▇▇ asses hard!"

Facing the soldiers who were eager to fight, Zhou Chang couldn't help smiling.

He looked around, then pressed his hands together, and said loudly:

"I empathize with your enthusiasm, but now is not the time, we have to wait at least another month."

"First, the minimum training has not yet been completed. Going to the front line now is tantamount to death; second, our heavy weapons are not yet in place."

"Even if the sacrifice is inevitable, it should not be a meaningless sacrifice. I am responsible to all the staff. Now, your only task is to train patiently."

For a general, if he can have a group of subordinates who don't need to worry about morale, it is a dream that can wake up with a smile.

The high morale of the soldiers of the International Brigade can be said to have saved a lot of trouble. Volunteers who have gone through many hardships and gone to foreign countries are equivalent to having experienced a sharpening and screening. It is almost impossible for those who are not determined come here.

Now the biggest headache for Zhou Changfeng is the equipment problem. The lack of heavy weapons means that the firepower projection ability of the 50th brigade is quite weak and the combat power is limited.

For example, in fighting for 12 hours under the same terrain conditions, a unit with heavy equipment can inflict 5000 casualties on 1000 enemy troops, forcing them to withdraw from the battle; while a unit with only light weapons can only annihilate 300 people, so the enemy can continue to fight. Maintain the offensive, which may turn the balance of victory and defeat.

This has nothing to do with will, the objective gap is difficult to make up through spirit, the killing efficiency of shells must be greater than that of bullets.

The theory of spiritual victory is only applicable if the equipment gap is not too large.

On the contrary, it is impossible for the Mongolian cavalry to defeat the Soviet tank group in any case; it is also impossible for the Red Shirts to defeat the German infantry battle group.

"I need to find a transportation captain. If you don't ask for too many, you can make up a dozen guns."

At night, Zhou Changfeng, who was quite melancholy, stood on the balcony on the second floor of the villa, thinking about how to solve the problem.

Unlike Daming's subtropical monsoon climate, Albacete's Mediterranean climate is already quite hot and dry in early summer.As long as you don't drink water for a while, your lips are prone to chapping.

"Miller," he called.

"Sir!" Miller, who was reading the war briefing, answered while getting up.

"After the Battle of Guadalajara, the entire front is now in a temporary stalemate. I want to know where there is the Italian Intervention Army."

"Cordoba on the south line, Madrid on the center line, Zaragoza and Huesca on the north line..."

Memorizing maps, and even imagining the general location and terrain in their minds is almost an essential skill for a qualified commander.

Zhou Changfeng closed his eyes and thought for a while, then suddenly asked, "Where is Talavera de la Reina?"

Miller turned back into the hall, checked the map and the briefing for a while, and then replied loudly: "Yes! There is now a brigade of the National Army and a regiment-level unit of the Italian Army."

"Any more specific information?"

"Uh... it is the 96th Brigade of the National Army. It suffered heavy losses in the fierce battle a month and a half ago and has been replenishing; the other is the 38th Regiment of the 79th Infantry Division of the Italian Army. It is paired with a battalion of the artillery regiment of the division. Together, as a temporary combat task force."

Oh?Also attached to an artillery battalion?

Zhou Chang's eyes lit up when he heard the words.

Contempt for the combat power of the Italian army is second, mainly because the Italian army has a unique organization, and its units below the division level are relatively small.

Unlike the three-three system that most countries are now switching to, the Italian army uses a two-two system. The division governs two brigades, the brigade governs the second regiment, the regiment governs the second battalion, and the battalion governs the second company; but one company governs three platoons However, one platoon still has two classes under its jurisdiction.

However, the infantry squad is extremely large, with 18-20 people, while the infantry squads in other countries often only have 10-12 people.

This kind of establishment is maverick at best, and weird at worst.

"A regiment of the Italian army has two infantry battalions, a machine gun company, an artillery unit, and some service units. The total strength is less than 2000 people..." Zhou Changfeng thought about it, and pondered it with great interest.

According to known information, the combat power of the Spanish National Army should not be underestimated. The rebellion is a rebellion, but its morale and fighting will are quite high.

In Kiyona, a small unit of 300 members of the National Army was besieged by more than [-] Republicans, but they held their positions for two days and one night. They waited for reinforcements from the two flag teams of the Falange, forcing the Republicans to give up. Offensive.

In Cadena, a flag unit of the Selivian Phalange Party and two missing companies of the National Army, with a total strength of only more than 300 people, faced the attack of the two brigades of the Republican Army and insisted on holding their positions until everyone dies.

The so-called persimmons should be picked softly, Zhou Changfeng thought it best not to trouble these fanatics for the time being.

The Italians seem to be the better bullies compared to that?
Although its combat power is not as hip as it is in the interesting talk of later generations, it seems to be the most suitable target at present. As long as it can manage to deal with this regiment-level unit of the Italian army, isn't there heavy equipment?

It doesn't even need to be wiped out, just be able to defeat it.

That night, he made a rough judgment based on the map and known information, and then called the officers the next morning, and then described his analysis and considerations.

"It seemed like a good idea, the bastards withheld our weapons and we were on our own," Miller agreed.

"I also agree that it is impossible to do without artillery, and it is very difficult to even maintain the front line." Chretien used to be an artillery officer, and now he naturally serves as the commander of the artillery group of the brigade and concurrently serves as the chief of staff.

Everyone has no objection to Zhou Changfeng's idea, and now they can only rely on their own efforts.

"Sir, will the headquarters approve our initiative request?" asked the commander of the 72nd "Montmartre Heights" Battalion.

Before Zhou Changfeng could speak, Brett replied leisurely with his London accent: "Schroeder may not agree, but the Spaniard will not refuse."

(End of this chapter)