Reborn South Africa as a police officer

Chapter 943 Constantinople

The vanguard of the attack on Constantinople was the [-]nd Cavalry Division, which had just arrived in the Mediterranean.

Speaking of street fighting, there may be no troops in this era who are better at it than the mercenaries of the Umbrella Company. After sending the Anzacs to the Western Front, most of the troops of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force were replaced by Southern African soldiers. The Second Cavalry Division is absolutely Ace, the troops that have just joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force also include the 11th Division, the 12th Division, and the 23rd Division, plus the 13th and 19th Divisions that were previously in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force's battle sequence. The Mediterranean Expeditionary Force has become the strongest in the Allies big troop.

In addition to the troops in southern Africa, the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force also included five divisions sent by the Kingdom of Italy, the newly added 35th Division of the United Kingdom, the 29th Division in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force before, and two divisions from France, and two divisions from the East Indies, and one division from the Najd Sultanate, with a total strength of more than 30 men.

Before the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force launched an attack on Constantinople, the Mediterranean Fleet blocked the Bosporus Strait, cutting off the connection between Constantinople and Asia Minor Peninsula, making Constantinople impossible to obtain through Asia Minor Peninsula. Personnel and material supplies, the defenders of Constantinople have been consumed in the previous stage, and the total force is less than 5. It is like a balloon that is about to be blown. The defense line will collapse.

Unlike the British Expeditionary Force, which lacks shells, the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force does not lack shells. The 23rd Division is an artillery unit that has just arrived in the Mediterranean. Like the two French artillery units, they are equipped with 36 150mm howitzers and 72 120mm howitzers. mm caliber howitzers, which laid fire on Constantinople for six hours before the [-]nd Cavalry Division launched its attack.

As far as the artillery shell reserves of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force are concerned, even if there is another six hours of firepower strikes, the shells will not be used up.

But that's not necessary. After six hours of firepower strikes, there were no complete buildings within the line of sight of the attacking troops. The reconnaissance plane conducted a reconnaissance of Constantinople and found that half of the city of Constantinople had been destroyed by artillery fire. , It is meaningless to continue the bombardment, and ground troops must be invested in order to complete the occupation of Constantinople.

The attacking forward of the Second Cavalry Division is still the notorious "Muscat Pirates". If the name of the Muscat Pirates is not very nice, maybe the King of England will give the Muscat Pirates the honor of adding "royal" to their name.

Although the British Army is not the Royal Army, individual units that have performed well can add "Royal" to their names, such as the "Royal Lancers" who fought alongside Rock during the Boer War.

Coming to the Mediterranean from France, Hank is still the company commander, but his rank has been promoted to lieutenant. His partner Oscar was unlucky and died in the counterattack of the German spring offensive. Now his partner is Second Lieutenant Hood, who also came from the Umbrella Company.

Hood is a senior Chinese veteran who participated in a series of military operations after the establishment of the Umbrella Company. When the Second Cavalry Division first arrived in France, Hood was wounded in a battle and has just returned from his injury.

When the artillery attacked Constantinople, Hood had a complicated expression on the starting position.

"If we also had artillery to cooperate at that time, we wouldn't have suffered heavy losses." Hood was in a sad mood. When the Second Cavalry Division was first established, there was no artillery.

"Not bad, I still hope to have armored vehicles and tanks, but it's a pity that the gentlemen in the military department don't pay for it—" Hank is already pessimistic about life and death. Now that the war has progressed, it is inevitable that several close friends will die. of.

Rock has accumulated more than 1000 tanks in southern Africa, but the British and French allied forces have no intention of buying them.

But Rock is not in a hurry. Winston has been appointed as the Minister of Military Supplies, which has more power than the Secretary of the Navy. Kitchener has always hoped that Rock will transfer the Rhodesian Northern Division or the First Cavalry Division, the trump card in southern Africa, to the Europe is at war, but doesn't want to pay for the equipment of the Northern Rhodesian Division and the [-]st Cavalry Division, which certainly won't work.

Both the Rhodesian Northern Division and the 162st Cavalry Division have a brigade converted into an armored force. Each brigade has [-] "Ranger" light tanks. The larger "Light Cavalry" medium tank has been successfully developed, but not yet Production, compared with the cheap light infantry, the cost of mechanized troops is too high, Winston has not yet made up his mind.

The funds for building a dreadnought can be used to build ten light infantry divisions, but can only be used to build one mechanized division. With the development of weapons, the army can spend more and more money. Can't stand it.

In the second year of the World War, Britain allocated 9700 million pounds to the navy this year, compared with only 5800 million last year.

"Yes, at least we have enough grenades now." Hood adjusted his mood, no matter how elite the light infantry was, they were also cannon fodder. More grenades would at best make the cannon fodder more effective.

In order to deal with the Ottoman soldiers lurking in every corner of Constantinople, the Second Cavalry Division obtained enough grenades before departure. The grenade boxes at the supply base behind the departure position were piled up as high as a hill, allowing the soldiers to take whatever they wanted. , Hood's tactical vest was covered with more than 20 grenades.

In addition to grenades, Hood also carried rifles and pistols. Although in an indoor environment, the short barrel Lee Enfield with a bayonet is still more than 1.3 meters long, but the rifle is still standard equipment.

Under normal circumstances, the average weight of infantry is more than 70 pounds. Taking the British army as an example, soldiers have to carry ten-pound rifles, at least 150 rounds of ammunition, grenades, water bottles, spare clothes, blankets, sapper shovels and other supplies, in addition to these Among other things, a soldier might carry a portable kerosene gas stove, a toolbox containing cups, cutlery, underwear, razors, toothpaste, books, and medical supplies.

Before the outbreak of the World War, southern Africa optimized the carry-on items of soldiers. Basic rifles and bullets were essential. Food and medicine had been standardized. Soldiers in southern Africa would not carry so many bullets, and generally carried about 70 rounds. , but more grenades are added, and the load is only a lot more than [-] pounds.

Of course, soldiers will not carry so many things when attacking. Except for the necessary bullets, grenades and food, water bottles, engineering shovels, and medical kits, there are very few other things. Wearing a baggy backpack that doesn't seem to be full at all, the use of the remaining space is self-evident.

"Be smart, bend down as much as possible when moving forward. At this time, you will not be praised for being tall. If you are resisted, don't rush to attack. First call for help from your comrades. Remember how to attack the bunker. Throw the grenade in first. Then call out the flamethrower, the same goes for attacking the house, remember to use the grenade to clear the way, use all the weapons you carry reasonably, do everything possible to kill your enemies, trust your comrades, anyone who can pick up a weapon can kill you ——” Hank made a final reminder, this is a lesson in exchange for blood and life.

When they first arrived in Europe, the mercenaries of the Umbrella Company were relatively civilized. Although the old Europe was declining, Europe was still the nest of colonial countries, and the mercenaries of the Umbrella Company were bound to fight.

When fighting in Belgium, there were accidents in which locals protected German soldiers and caused casualties to officers and soldiers of the Second Cavalry Division.

This is normal, leading parties can be found everywhere, but it is still very rare to lead the way for this sake.

Afterwards, the Second Cavalry Division learned a lesson and never let go of any house. Especially when fighting in cities, they must check room by room to ensure that no enemy is missed.

If civilians are encountered during this process, accidental injury is naturally inevitable.

Of course, the murderer who caused the accidental injury must not be found. In Belgium, the British and French allied forces accused the German army of killing innocent people indiscriminately, causing a large number of civilian casualties.

The German army in turn accused the British and French allied forces of disregarding human lives, claiming that all the casualties of civilians were caused by the British and French allied forces.

In the final result, whoever wins must be justified, and all the scapegoats belong to the losing party.

On the Garibaldi Peninsula, all civilian casualties during the war were caused by the Fifth Army and the Second Army of the Ottoman Empire. The Mediterranean Expeditionary Force was a peace envoy to maintain justice.

The shelling began at six o'clock in the morning. At 11:12 noon, the troops preparing to attack gathered at the starting position and had a collective meal. At [-] o'clock sharp, the offensive officially began.

By the time the bombardment ended, the attacking force had set off early and reached the edge of the city of Constantinople.

After the shelling stopped, countless officers and soldiers in iron-gray uniforms swarmed towards Constantinople like quicksilver. The defenders who survived the shelling sporadically could not cause trouble for the attacking troops. Incurring the blows of grenades and flamethrowers, mercenaries have never had such a luxury before. In the past, the weapons and ammunition they used were purchased by themselves. Now all supplies are paid by the Allied Powers. The grenades don’t need to be thrown casually like money. The combat efficiency is not good. Generally high.

The large-caliber heavy artillery dealt a heavy blow to the defenders. Many houses had been turned into ruins. Soldiers and civilians walked aimlessly through the ruins as if they were lost. Their spirits were greatly traumatized and they may never recover.

The Muscat Pirates are making rapid progress. The officers and soldiers have been baptized by the French station and the Belgian battlefield. They are all experienced veterans. City of Constantinople.

(End of this chapter)