The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 247 Melee

Boom boom boom-

On the position of the teaching corps, the sky was full of fire, and the bullets fell down like raindrops. Amidst the booming sound of artillery shells, densely packed 75mm caliber mountain artillery blasting grenades exploded on the position of the teaching corps, mixed with some dangerous bombs. Smoke bomb with yellow and white smoke.

As if in retaliation for the thunderous blow the Chinese naval guns had just given to the Japanese army in the Shimonoseki defense circle, the fully deployed Kunisaki detachment also concentrated all its firepower and opened fire on the teaching corps' position in a rapid fire manner.

Boom boom boom-

咣咣

Above the thick smoke that filled the sky, amid the roar that tore the air, dozens of milky-white Japanese naval aviation bombers also flew to the Xiaguan defense circle after the bombardment began. Under the guidance of the mountain cannon smoke bombs, dozens of Like an old hen laying eggs, the bombers dropped hundreds of aerial bombs on the teaching corps' position.

Fierce fire and thick smoke have already surrounded the position of this most elite unit in the Chinese Army.

The position guarded by the teaching corps is located at the forefront of the Xiaguan defense circle. Qiu Qingquan, the acting commander of the teaching corps, arranged the first, third and fifth regiments with the strongest combat effectiveness in the position in a line.

Although the Japanese army's bombing and artillery fire were very violent, and the entire defense area of ​​the teaching corps was covered with thick smoke and flames were rising everywhere, but fortunately, a sufficiently strong defensive position had been built in advance. Except for the most basic observation posts, all the defense positions on the first The officers and soldiers of the frontline teaching corps were all hiding.

Although the construction of these fortifications led by the military police was very hasty, fortunately, they spared no effort in using materials, including all kinds of cement and steel plates. Therefore, even though the Japanese army's artillery bombing was extremely fierce, it was not possible to deal with the 70-year-old Japanese army. These fortifications can still withstand five-millimeter mountain artillery shells and most aerial bombs, and the officers and soldiers of the teaching corps and their combat effectiveness have been preserved to the maximum extent.

The violent bombardment continued for another fifty minutes after the Japanese planes dropped bombs. The officers and soldiers of the teaching corps endured the bombardment for more than fifty minutes in the concealed area.

Most of the officers and soldiers of the three regiments on the front line did not take this seriously. Among the officers and soldiers of these three regiments, there were quite a few veterans who came down from the Songhu front line. Compared with the Japanese artillery bombardment on the Songhu battlefield, the two artillerymen of the Guozaki detachment today The cluster bombardment of the brigade's twenty-four 75mm caliber mountain guns, although it can be said to be fierce, is still within the tolerance of this group of battle-hardened officers and soldiers.

In response to the fierce air raids and artillery shelling of the Japanese army, the teaching corps did not make any counterattacks.

In the sky, only the anti-aircraft artillery shells fired by the garrison's anti-aircraft artillery unit in the Xiaguan Defense Circle exploded among the Japanese aircraft clusters from time to time. Even the most elite training corps of the Chinese army did not have any decent air defense force. The artillery used for air defense was only The 20mm Sulotong machine guns directly under the small artillery companies of each regiment had only a better than no air defense effect against the intensive cluster bombing of the Japanese army.

Even this group of elite officers and soldiers of the Chinese army could only look at nothing and sigh in the face of the Japanese aircraft.

Of course, the anger generated by the officers and soldiers of the teaching corps after being bombarded and shelled will eventually be retaliated against the Japanese army in another form.

After the high-intensity shelling, the artillery fire preparations of the Kunisaki detachment gradually became sparse. The sparse artillery fire preparations were the prelude to the enemy infantry attack.

At the same moment, trumpets and whistles sounded from the position of the teaching corps. Urged by the battle commands of officers and veterans, the officers and soldiers of the 1st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Regiment and 5th Infantry Regiment of the Teaching Corps came one after another. Leaving the hiding place, we got out of the fortification.

The infantrymen of the infantry companies of each regiment carried Mauser standard rifles and Czech light machine guns and maneuvered along the traffic trench to the designated position and entered the position. The officers and soldiers of the heavy machine gun companies of each battalion also carried the Jinling Type 24 heavy machine gun. The machine gun entered the heavy machine gun firing position with a reinforced concrete structure. The officers and soldiers of the 82nd Mortar Platoon of the battalion also calmly prepared for battle in the preset mortar firing fortifications.

The combat companies directly under the three infantry regiments also entered their respective combat positions. The 75mm howitzer company directly under the regiment set up artillery in the shooting fortification bunker position, and the 37mm tank defended the Pak 37mm tank of the artillery company. The defensive artillery and the 20mm Sulotong machine gun were also leveled in the fortifications, preparing to face the Japanese tanks that appeared.

The infantry of the Kunisaki Detachment also appeared in front of the teaching corps position before the Japanese artillery fire ended. The basics of the Kunisaki Detachment were related to the 41st Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Brigade of the 5th Division. In order to quickly After taking the position of the teaching corps, a complete infantry brigade was launched in the first attack.

This complete infantry brigade did not leave a reserve team in preparation for the attack. Instead, it deployed three infantry squadrons in one line and devoted all of them to the attack on the teaching corps position. Not long ago, it was completely destroyed by Chinese naval gunfire. The heavy losses of killing an infantry squadron and a cavalry squad in one fell swoop did not discourage the Japanese officers and soldiers of the Kunisaki Detachment of the Fifth Division of the Japanese Army, known as the Steel Army. Instead, it inspired the ferocity and hunting in the bones of these Hiroshima fishermen. Bloodthirsty habits.

Therefore, before the artillery cover had stopped, a large group of Japanese troops launched a charge against the teaching corps' position.

The first to bear the brunt was still the Fifth Regiment of the Training Corps, which had just severely damaged the Japanese army. In the command post of the Fifth Regiment, Major General Ma Weilong, the leader of the Fifth Regiment, had just entered the command position when he heard the cries of ghosts and wolf howls coming from the front of the position. Voice.

When he raised his binoculars, the battle formation of the Japanese skirmishers quickly came into view. Looking at the Japanese infantry rushing wildly within the dangerous distance of the shell impact point, Ma Weilong immediately felt the menacing force of the Japanese army and faced it head-on. This group of Japanese infantry that attacked happened to be the position of the 1st Battalion of the 5th Regiment.

"Tell the regimental howitzer company to send me a platoon of seventy-five-step howitzers to support the first battalion. Ask Battalion Commander Zheng of the first battalion to hold it for me and beat these devils hard. Then tell the tank defense cannon The company and the small artillery battery, asked them to keep an eye on whether there are any Japanese tanks, and if they find them, they will open fire for me."

Ma Weilong shouted orders to the major regiment commander behind him.

Following the call order from the Major Regiment, a platoon directly under the 75th Infantry Howitzer Company of the 5th Regiment quickly left the fixed artillery firing fortifications. Dragging a platoon of soldiers, it drove directly to the center of the 5th Regiment's position. The first battalion position.

"Batalion Commander Zheng, under the order of the regimental commander, our platoon has come to support your battalion."

In the battalion command post of the first battalion of the fifth infantry regiment of the teaching corps, a young infantry grenade company second lieutenant platoon leader saluted and reported to the first battalion major commander Zheng Huiran. Zheng Huiran put down his binoculars, nodded, and then ordered the platoon of howitzers Get into position.

"You two cannons are deployed on both sides of my battalion's position. Set up a telephone line to my battalion headquarters. The firing command and observation post is also located near my battalion headquarters. Follow my orders and fire!"

"Yes!"

The second lieutenant platoon leader immediately left and organized two artillery pieces to occupy the firing position. The soldiers of the artillery platoon easily dragged two le.IG18 75mm light infantry guns manufactured by German Rheinmetall into the position.

This kind of gun is very light, with a total weight of 433 kilograms. It can be moved by 1 horse pulling or 5 horses carrying it. The height range is -10 degrees to 73.5 degrees, the direction range is 11 degrees, the muzzle velocity is 212 meters/second, and the maximum range is At 3500 meters, it is one of the few infantry units in the national army that can be accompanied by direct-fire support artillery. Among the national armies, only the teaching corps can be equipped with infantry regiments.

After the infantry howitzer platoon was in place, Major Zheng Huiran, commander of the 1st Battalion, felt a little more at ease. When he raised his binoculars again, the Japanese army's shouts of killing became louder and louder. The three Japanese infantry squadrons also advanced together, in full accordance with the three lines and three advances. The battle formation unfolded and rushed towards the first battalion's position.

The momentum was not bad, but after the infantry artillery was in place, Zheng Huiran considered the combat power in his hands and felt a lot more at ease. His battalion had three infantry companies, one equipped with eight Jinling-made Type 24 heavy machine guns. A machine gun company and a mortar platoon equipped with two 82 mortars.

If you include the reinforcements of two 75mm infantry cannons and the direct fire support from other regiments, Zheng Huiran feels more and more confident that he can win this battle!

"Onboard, onboard!" "Baga!"

In the command post of the first battalion, the shouts of the attacking Japanese troops could be clearly heard, and the muffled sound of machine gun firing also sounded in front of the first battalion's position. Zheng Huiran knew that it was the Japanese army's Type 92 heavy machine gun that was firing cover. , suddenly, several artillery shells flew over with a rumble and exploded on the first battalion's position.

Boom boom-

These shells were not anti-personnel explosive grenades, but smoke grenades fired by the attacking Japanese infantry brigade's 92 Infantry Artillery Squadron and the Type 41 Mountain Cannon of the 41st Infantry Regiment's Wing Artillery Squadron. , after the artillery shell landed, the ignition device in the warhead began to work, igniting the smoking material in the warhead, followed by a large amount of yellow and white smoke gas and high-temperature heat energy.

The thick smoke, blown by the strong wind, quickly spread to the entire position of the fifth regiment of the teaching corps.

"Battal Commander, the first company reported that the Japanese army released smoke grenades in front of our battalion position. Now the target cannot be seen clearly. The mortar platoon and the attached infantry howitzer platoon called to ask if they should open fire?"

Captain Ying Fu, who was behind Zheng Huiran, asked.

The Japanese army's shouts of killing were getting closer and closer. Although the Japanese soldiers in the Kunisaki detachment were crazy, they were not stupid. They were still quite afraid of the Chinese army's large-caliber artillery that they didn't know where they came from.

Therefore, the attacking Japanese army chose the tactic of using smoke bombs to cover the attack. Under the cover of thick and spreading smoke, the artillery observation efficiency of the Chinese army would be reduced to the greatest extent. The Japanese army of three infantry squadrons launched a front-line attack The low-profile combat attack formation, 200 meters wide and meters deep, quickly got into the smoke. At the moment when the smoke bombs landed and exploded, all the Japanese infantry on the front line of the charge put on gas masks.

The Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun Squadron directly under the Japanese brigade, which served as cover, also took the risk of accidentally injuring its own personnel and continued to fire at the position of the 1st Battalion of the 5th Regiment of the Teaching Corps in a burst-fire manner.

And this trick was indeed effective. After a large amount of smoke began to spread, the observation of both the Bofors Mountain Cannon of the Artillery Battalion of the Teaching Corps and the naval gun located in the core area of ​​the Xiaguan Defense Circle was affected. The Japanese smoke The release timing was also well grasped. The current wind direction was greatly unfavorable to the officers and soldiers of the teaching corps. It didn't take long at all before the thick smoke was swept everywhere.

In the thick smoke, gunpowder smoke, and firelight, the weapons, positions, and military uniforms of the officers and soldiers of the training corps seemed to be covered with a layer of smoke and dust.

Zheng Huiran, the commander of the first battalion of the fifth regiment in the battalion command post, certainly understood the Japanese intention. He sneered and said to the battalion subordinate behind him: "Tell the brothers, this is the Japanese who are afraid of our artillery. Tell everyone not to panic, each company Mount your bayonets and follow my orders to fire. Since they want to release smoke, let them get closer and hit them. Once they get closer, send them to the west."

"Inform the mortar platoon and infantry artillery platoon that once they open fire, they will concentrate their firepower and fire at me using swing fire tactics."

Following Zheng Huiran's order, orders to fix bayonets rang out one after another from the position of the First Battalion of the Fifth Regiment.

"Go on the bayonet!"

"Prepare to fight with bayonets!"

The officers and soldiers of the first battalion took out the German short bayonets from the bayonet scabbards from their waists and installed them on the Mauser standard rifles. The crisp sound of bayonets and bayonets jamming together sounded in the trenches, and in the smoke The Japanese troops, howling like ghosts and charging, were getting closer and closer to the first battalion of the teaching corps.

Due to limited visibility, the officers and soldiers of the first battalion could only rely on the looming Japanese figures in the smoke to observe the distance between the enemy and ourselves. The officers and soldiers of the first battalion could only see the white smoke all over the sky, and occasionally in the white Emerging from the smoke, looming figures of Japanese soldiers wearing shit-yellow military uniforms.

"Report to the battalion commander, the third company reported that Japanese troops were found 200 meters away from the third company's position."

"Report to the battalion commander, the first company reported that Japanese troops were found one hundred meters away from the first company's position."

"Report to the battalion commander, the second company reported that Japanese troops were found eighty meters away from the second company's position."

Listening to the captain's report in a trembling voice near the camp, Zheng Huiran tightened the telescope in his hand. Listening to the shouts and footsteps of the Japanese troops approaching close at hand, Zheng Huiran had already begun to count down in his mind the time to fire.

The officers and soldiers of the first battalion on the position still maintained a stable combat alert posture. Although the elite officers and soldiers of this Chinese army suffered heavy losses in the Songhu battlefield, they still maintained good combat shooting discipline, that is, they did not shoot without orders.

"Battal Commander, the second company reported that Japanese troops were found fifty meters in front of the position!"

The captain looked at Zheng Huiran and shouted.

"Open fire across the battalion!"

The position of the first battalion exploded in an instant like fire cooking oil. Three infantry companies opened fire at the same time. Hundreds of Mauser standard rifles and twenty-seven Czech light machine guns spurted out tongues of flame at the same time.

Then, the eight Jinling-made Type 24 heavy machine guns that strengthened each platoon's battalion heavy machine gun company also opened fire, forming a dense cross-fire network.

On the infantry artillery position, the platoon leader of the 75mm infantry artillery platoon assigned to the first battalion also boldly shouted a command to fire in a swinging battle.

The gunners of the two Rheinmetall 75mm infantry cannons immediately pulled the match ropes. A cloud of white smoke came out of the muzzles of the two 75mm infantry cannons. With a bang, they began to fire at the fastest speed. A swing attack that creates a fragmented fire killing surface.

(End of this chapter)