The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 96 Attack and Defense 2
boom

boom

Outside Yanzhuang, at the main position of the Sixth Company, smoke and yellow sand rose straight into the sky. The Japanese army's temporary artillery group's four Type [-] mountain cannons and four Type [-] [-]mm howitzers were poisoning the place. In this position, one shell after another opened up the position of the sixth company.

From the Type 75 [-]mm caliber grenade, to the Type [-] [-]mm caliber large-caliber sharp grenade, [-]mm shotgun, [-]mm shotgun, instant signal tube, delayed signal tube, the Japanese artillery seems to be Conduct a live-fire shooting demonstration, firing all types of ammunition from the two types of artillery on the main position of the Sixth Company.

In the command post of the Sixth Company, the thunderous sound of artillery outside and the billowing smoke coming from the machine gun firing holes did not interfere with He Wei's work that was extremely boring in the eyes of others. He was still fighting against the pot of wine and pouring it out. Pour it out from the kettle, and then pour the wine into the kettle, as if you are not in a battlefield of blood and fire, but in a quiet room.

boom

Suddenly, a shell landed on the top of the command post and exploded with a violent explosion. Although He Wei was as calm as if the mountain had collapsed, others were not as calm as him.

As soon as the shell exploded, other soldiers in the command post fell to the ground one after another. Tao Heiwa, the messenger, turned pale and hid behind He Wei.

"Don't be afraid, it's okay. This is a 75mm artillery shell. It looks like it is a mounted instant-fire signal tube. It will explode as soon as it hits the earth on our bunker. If you scratch your itch, get up."

He Wei was reassured, and the soldiers got up from the ground. In fact, before the Japanese artillery fire reached the main position, He Wei basically judged the caliber of the enemy's artillery shells by the sound of the shells exploding.

Most of the artillery shells fired by the Japanese army were 75 mm caliber mountain artillery shells. Among the 120 mm artillery shells were mixed some larger caliber artillery shells, but their caliber would not exceed 150 mm. Based on the current field position of the Sixth Company Given the strength of the fortifications, as long as the artillery shells did not exceed a caliber of [-] mm, they would not be able to cause any substantial damage to the Sixth Company's position.

Now, no one is stationed on the sixth company's position. The officers and soldiers are either hiding in strong bunkers or hidden in reinforced concealments. All bunkers and concealments can completely withstand Japanese artillery fire. attack, which is why He Wei is so calm.

The fierce artillery fire is still continuing. Under the guidance and cover of fifteen tanks, more than 16 infantrymen of the Infantry No. 1000 Regiment have fully deployed and are slowly advancing behind the tanks. Since they have not yet broken through the Chinese army's In the obstacle area, the infantry and tank attacks have not yet entered the rapid impact stage, and the slow enough forward speed gave Toshikichi Hyakutake in the tank good observation conditions.

At this time, he was looking out of the observation window of the Type [-] tank. The direction he was looking at was not the main position of the Chinese army, but in front of the outermost obstacle area of ​​the Chinese army's position.

There, the Chinese army laid out a large number of anti-tank traps and anti-tank pits. Through the observation window, Hyakutake Shukichi saw two tanks that fell into the pits at a glance. These destroyed tanks were all tanks. The losses of the Fourth Brigade in the first attack, with their charred shells and dismantled weapons, indicate that these tanks were damaged again by the Chinese army at some unknown time. It reminds me of the damage suffered by the Fourth Tank Brigade during the first attack. The heavy losses and the tragic sight of the dead officers and soldiers being shot to death by Chinese army machine guns on the tank made Toshiyoshi Hyakutake feel a chill in his back.

After artillery bombardment, many of the hidden anti-tank pits deployed by the Chinese army have been blown out. These traps, which are covered with topsoil and straw on the door panels, can withstand the weight of infantry, but cannot withstand the artillery bombardment. Despite this, Perhaps the disastrous failure of the first attack cast too great a shadow on Hyakutake Shukichi. Although the artillery bombarded him once, he still felt uneasy.

Hyakutake Toshiyoshi immediately got out of the turret and waved the command flag to each vehicle.

After a series of semaphores from Toshikichi Hyakutake, the fifteen tanks that were originally running in parallel suddenly stopped. Then, a Type [-] light armored vehicle on the far left side of the queue moved forward from its original position and turned to the right. Turn, turn right and then suddenly accelerate. This light armored vehicle with the nickname "Bean Chariot" suddenly drove in front of the Chinese army's obstacle area at an extremely fast speed from left to right and from right to left, and from time to time it continued. The small angle of shaking from side to side seems to show off its maneuverability in exchange for almost no armor protection.

This vehicle performed this strange maneuver five times before returning to the queue and stopping. After another half minute, the queue of fifteen tanks continued to move forward. At this time, even if the vehicle stopped behind The infantry also understood the intention of this strange tactical move. It was obvious that Shunkichi Hyakutake was still afraid of anti-tank traps that had not been cleared, so he sent a Type [-] light armored vehicle to test it in the most primitive way. Although primitive, But it is the most effective. Even if this tank detects an anti-tank trap and falls into it, it is only a Type [-] light armored vehicle after all. Among these tanks participating in the war, it has the lowest fire protection and cost. , the loss will not have a big impact on combat effectiveness.

"A bunch of cowards."

Although the two infantry captains of the No. 16 Regiment who witnessed the tank troops parking for reconnaissance were not in the same place, they cursed the tank troops in unison. Many ordinary infantrymen of the No. 16 Regiment also lowered their voices. Swearing angrily.

After the tank troops leading the way resumed their advance, they walked forward only a dozen meters, and then stopped again, because going further forward was an obstacle area set up by the Chinese army. This area was also bombed by artillery, but the first After all, the [-]th Division Engineer Battalion had accumulated a large number of prefabricated Juma and Luzhai, as well as a large number of sandbags. Even though it was bombarded, the accumulated sandbags were two meters high. How could they be blown up in one go?

With the size of the Japanese tank, it was impossible to rush over directly, so the tank stopped again, which tormented the infantry behind. The infantry followed behind the tank, and the tank stopped and stopped. You also have to stop and go.

Of course, it is not just the tanks that are blocked. The infantry attack of more than 1000 people needs to open up a large area of ​​​​breakthroughs in the obstacle area of ​​​​the Chinese army. It is definitely not possible as it is now, although the artillery has been opened Several openings were opened, but those breaches opened by artillery could only meet the impact needs of an infantry squadron at best.

Terada Akizo, captain of the First Infantry Battalion, saw the situation ahead, and the artillery fire on the main position of the Chinese army began to weaken at this time. Terada Akizo knew that the infantry should push forward at this time.

"Send a signal to the artillery, tell them the infantry is ready to attack, order the first squadron to start blasting, and open up a path for the tank and the group to attack as soon as possible."

Terada Akizo endured the noise of the tank engine and loudly ordered to the adjutant of the brigade beside him.

After receiving the order, the adjutant of the brigade took out the flare gun that had been prepared. After firing twice, two flares, one red and one blue, flew into the sky. Soon, two flares with the same meaning flew into the sky above the second brigade. Sky.

"dash forward."

"Explode quickly."

Almost at the same time that the signal flare was fired into the sky, the sabotage operations of the two infantry brigades began at the same time. More than 200 Japanese troops rushed out of the attack queue and began to blast in the obstacle area under the command of the non-commissioned officers and officers. The No.16 Regiment learned from the experience of the failed attack by the dike detachment. The attacking Japanese infantry carried a large number of blasting tubes and explosive bags. Soon, dense explosions appeared in the obstacle area, and most of the soldiers who rushed up to perform the blasting and sabotage mission were They were the new reinforcements. These new recruits who only wanted to win the war and make war fortune rushed forward very bravely. They did not need the encouragement of the veterans. They scrambled one by one and volunteered to rush forward carrying blasting tubes and explosive packs.

Explosive tubes one after another, as well as whole packages of explosive blocks, were stuffed into the barbed wire fence in front of the Sixth Company's position. Under the Luzhai, Juma, and earth bags, after one after another explosions, gaps appeared in the obstacles. At the edge of the area, the blasting Japanese troops adopted a wheel battle, rushing forward row by row, and continued to place more blasting tubes and explosive packets in the blown gaps, continuing to blast and expand.

boom

boom

"Ah, it's a grenade."

Among the loud explosions of blasting tubes and explosive packs, there were also several explosions of grenades and screams. Perhaps the Japanese soldiers in charge of the blasts rushed too fiercely and detonated several 16th Company equipment during the blasting process. The booby-trapped grenades on the Luzhai and barbed wire fences. Although the Di detachment has reminded the No. [-] Wing that the Chinese army has deployed booby-trapped grenades on the obstacles, it is still difficult to remove the booby-trapped grenades in the scattered obstacle areas. It is not easy, it requires a lot of patience and time, not to mention that the main force of the Japanese army's blasts are basically new recruits who have been recently recruited. Extreme fanaticism and excitement are filling the minds of these recruits. In this case, how can we eliminate the problem? And avoid booby traps?

After several explosions of Gong-made grenades, the Japanese army began to suffer casualties. Some blasters were killed, and more were injured by fragments produced by the grenade explosion. Some had their arms injured, and some were injured. Eyes, since most of the booby-trapped grenades deployed by the Sixth Company were deployed on the wooden Juma and Luzhai, these grenades also brought up a large amount of sawdust after the explosion. The sawdust was mixed with the fragments generated by the explosion of the grenade itself, further increasing the number of The destructive power of the explosion.

One after another, more than a dozen Japanese soldiers fell to the ground, or sat on the ground holding their bleeding wounds and wailing in pain. The Japanese medical soldiers accompanying the team were busy, and they rushed up to pull these injured soldiers down for emergency treatment. , the tragic situation of injured companions around them did not scare the Japanese soldiers who performed the demolition mission. With red eyes, they sent up one blasting tube and explosive pack after another.

boom

boom

After the fierce explosion lasted for nearly 10 minutes, three large gaps of more than ten meters in length were finally opened in the obstacle area set up by the Sixth Company. The Japanese infantry on the front line did not need the command of the captain. Automatically following the attack plan drawn up before the war, they crossed the chariots and swarmed in along the opened breach.

The [-]st Squadron of the [-]st Infantry Battalion was the first to open the breach, and was also the first to rush in from the breach. After rushing in, the Japanese officers and soldiers of the [-]st Squadron did not launch a crazy attack, but followed the order of the squadron leader Xiong Guwu. Everyone lay down and crawled forward.

Xiong Guwu personally led an infantry squad to crawl forward. What they were about to face was not the firepower network of the Chinese army, but the wide anti-tank trenches dug by the officers and soldiers of the Sixth Company.

"Prepare grenades and follow my orders to throw them."

Xiong Guwu held a tortoise box, and while crawling forward, he ordered an infantry team behind him. The small team of Japanese soldiers behind him took out Type [-] grenades from the ammunition box, pulled out the safety, and nervously Waiting for the squadron leader's order to throw, even the light machine gun shooters who were not equipped with grenades set up their light machine guns, loaded them, and aimed at the anti-tank trap ahead.

"All bombs."

Kumagai Takeshi roared loudly, and the Japanese soldiers behind him who were already prepared either banged grenades on the ground or slammed the helmets above their heads with grenades. Dozens of grenades were accurately thrown into the anti-tank ditch in front.

boom boom boom

Dozens of grenades exploded one after another. After the violent explosion, Kumagai Takeshi and the Japanese squad behind him jumped up in an almost uniform movement and rushed into the anti-tank trench where the smoke and dust had not dispersed.

"Clean out the enemy's hidden troop hiding holes."

The Japanese troops who rushed into the anti-tank trench immediately searched and advanced in the trench. Once they found a cat-ear hole, they immediately served with grenades. Many Japanese soldiers may be afraid that the grenades would not be cleared cleanly. After throwing grenades into the Tibetan Soldier Cave, Then he shot into the hole with a [-]-meter cover.

boom

bang bang

boom

In the anti-tank trench, the explosion of grenades and the gunfire of rifles were intertwined for a while, and it was not just the first squadron that did this, but the four infantry squadrons of the two infantry brigades in the front-line assault were doing this. , every inch of the anti-tank trench was carefully cleaned by the invading Japanese army. The reason why the Japanese army did this was due to the combat experience of the embankment detachment's previous attack.

In the last attack, Hu Zhaowu's platoon of the Sixth Company, which was ambushing in the anti-tank ditch, made a surprise attack and cut off the attacking infantry detachment's retreat, which directly led to the complete annihilation of the Japanese attacking force.

How could the No. 16 Wing not learn from this valuable combat experience gained with blood?Unfortunately, apart from wasting a lot of grenades and bullets, they did not achieve any substantial results.

Some tactics can be used repeatedly, but some tactics can only be used once. He Wei, who knows this well, completely gave up deploying troops in anti-tank trenches during this battle, leaving only large open spaces for the Japanese army. The cave for hiding soldiers is open and empty on all sides.

(End of this chapter)