afterglow

Chapter 566 Chapter : Death in the last mile; textbook combat reconnaissance
The observation post has limited equipment, only telescopes and artillery scopes, and naturally there are no professional equipment such as rangefinders, steering wheels, and levels.

Fortunately, the terrain elevations have been clearly marked on existing maps, otherwise it would still be troublesome to accurately report coordinates.

In this case, only a simple method among the many indirect sighting methods can be used. The German army's densification system is the same as that of most countries, with 6400 densities per week, and no additional conversion is needed. The SF-14 artillery scope in the observation post comes with it. The ranging reticle can be used to roughly judge the distance.

Zhou Changfeng stared at the map, first confirming the approximate location of the convoy, and then looking for surrounding reference objects. He found that the location of the convoy was very close to a frontline first aid station.

Medical units such as first aid stations are non-military targets and cannot be attacked. The British army did not implement camouflage on them. Several gray and white tents and red cross identification flags are very conspicuous.

Its specific coordinates are marked on the map, so you can directly use it as a reference to simply and clearly indicate the artillery target.

Chris picked up the phone, her eyes fell on Zhou Changfeng, and she said: "This is Observation Post No. 7, transfer to the Artillery Command immediately."

After being connected, she continued: "When we discover the enemy's high-value target, immediately organize a temporary bombardment plan. Comrade Commander is here and he has approved the bombardment."

After a while, she relayed in Chinese: "There are currently four 105-centimeter mountain cannons and two 150-centimeter mountain cannons that can participate in the battle."

Zhou Changfeng said without thinking: "The target's relative coordinates are 4 degrees northeast of EH35, 13 degrees southwest of DB62 Independent Tree, viewing distance 3700, elevation 67, completed."

Major General David reminded again: "The Germans may discover us at any time, which is very dangerous."

Zhou Changfeng held the 7×56 binoculars made by Hensoldt Company, a friendly gift from Erwin, and observed the target intently.

A moment.

Seeing this, Zhou Changfeng, who was holding a telescope, immediately shouted: "Enemy officer convoy, unprotected soft targets, high-explosive bombs, two rounds!"

This slender telescope has a neat appearance and looks very good, and it can be used by Desert Fox himself!
At the same moment, on the British second-line position in the distance...

"Understood." Chrissy nodded slightly.

This is the Doppler effect - when the wave source is close, the frequency increases; conversely, when the wave source is far away, the frequency decreases.

The dull rumble of artillery was heard from the rear, which was the roar of the Le.FH26 105mm howitzer and the S.FH34 150mm howitzer.

In midair at this moment, four 4mm grenades and two 105mm grenades were flying northwest at one and a half times the speed of sound. The noise caused by the eddies and turbulence they produced spread in all directions.

Beside the woods, two Sandcon sedans were parked on the dirt road, followed by six or seven trucks loaded with supplies, and soldiers were lining up to unload the trucks.

His "order" was immediately translated into German by Chris, and a field telephone manufactured by Siemens converted the sound into an electrical signal, which was instantly transmitted to the rear several kilometers away via telephone lines.

"Hush-hush-"

Less than ten seconds seemed to slow down ten times, and it felt like two minutes had passed.

Kris immediately relayed his instructions.

Suddenly, the staff and soldiers in the headquarters began to calculate the shooting elements in a hurry. In an instant, the calculation board and slide rule were being fiddled with, and the pencils were squeaking and writing a series of data.

After a while, Chris asked with a suspicious look on her face: "The command asked back, only one cannon for test firing?"

"No, all ready gun positions will fire." Zhou Changfeng said decisively.

The cannonballs came from behind and flew forward from above their heads. Zhou Changfeng and his party heard the whistling sound that first slowed down and then sharpened, and then slowed down from sharp to sharp.

Erwin Rommel watched all this calmly.

"receive."

Major General David Evans, the new commander of the 2nd Armored Division, was now quite helpless. He tried to persuade Lieutenant Colonel George Lascelles, who came with him, not to stay here, but the latter remained unmoved.

He pointed to an entrance to a trench dozens of meters away and suggested moving there so that he could run in immediately even if he encountered danger.

However, Lieutenant Colonel George said indifferently: "The Germans will only follow the instructions. Even if they find out, it will take a long time from reporting to ordering, and we are only here for ten minutes."

This Lieutenant Colonel George has a great background, otherwise he would not be so tough. He is the eldest son of the 6th Earl of Harewood, and his mother is Princess Mary, the only daughter of King George V of England.

Seeing George Lascelles being so stubborn, David Evans said helplessly in his heart, put on a helmet, and then politely asked him if he wanted to wear it.

Then I was rejected without any surprise, as expected.

At 11:2 am on November 7, 49km south of Merida in southwest Spain, the position of the British 55nd Armored Division had a relaxed and comfortable scene, because the new division commander was accompanied by members of the royal family, and they brought There were plenty of cigarettes and various snacks that the soldiers looked forward to.

But while everyone was chatting enthusiastically, someone heard the familiar sound of shells breaking through the air.

The sound that heralded a crisis was heard, and before his head could react, his body was already subconsciously making a lying down motion.

As soon as many people lay down, they heard the faint rumble of cannons from the distance, and then everyone heard the deafening violent roar.

"Boom boom boom!"

A total of six explosive points, including four small ones and two large ones, exploded near the convoy.

Just seconds later, a second round of shelling followed.

The much-anticipated convoy was swallowed up by the smoke from the explosion in an instant, and the soil kicked up by the shock wave surged around!

A dozen rounds of 105㎜ and 150㎜ high-explosive bombs basically covered the location of the convoy, but the impact point deviated greatly. One 150㎜ high-explosive bomb exploded next to the penultimate Austin truck, and countless candies and fruit cans were left behind. Like a goddess scattering flowers, they fly up to the sky and fall to the ground.

The closest impact point to the two Sandcon cars was about 105 meters away, and it was a mm high-explosive bomb.

In front of the shock wave, the car windows and windshields shattered like crispy crackers, while thousands of high-speed fragments burst out from the shells swept in all directions.

Seeing that the shelling stopped after only two rounds, a brave corporal got up from the ground, rushed to the car and found the division commander, Major General David Evans, and dragged him towards the entrance and exit of the trench.

"Stop! Stop!" Major General David shouted loudly, "Get Lieutenant Colonel! Take Lieutenant Colonel Lascelles!"

Some people took the lead, and others followed. Soon, several soldiers found Lieutenant Colonel George Lascelles and began to drag him, covered in blood, away from this place of right and wrong.

At this time, Zhou Changfeng immediately asked for three more rapid fire rounds because he saw that the impact point of the shells was basically correct.

The cannonballs were quickly smashed down amidst the roaring sound of the cannons, and the smoke that had not yet dissipated became thicker in the flickering firelight...

Most of the cigarettes and candies that the British soldiers were looking forward to were damaged by the shelling. Afterwards, many people went to pick up the scattered candies, but they could feel the faint smell of gunpowder smoke in their mouths. Major General David Evans was hit by multiple fragments, but his life was not in danger. The steel helmet he was wearing blocked his head from a fatal high-speed fragment.

Lieutenant Colonel George Lascelles was seriously injured. The blood oozing out from six or seven wounds almost stained his uniform red. After emergency treatment at the field hospital, the bleeding was temporarily controlled and nearly 1,000 milliliters of blood were transfused.

However, his life was still in danger. The field hospital opened by the 2nd Armored Division had limited medical conditions. Military doctors requested that the royal member be immediately sent to a hospital in Lisbon for more complete surgical treatment.

In the afternoon, a Mumbai transport plane took off in a hurry and sent him to Lisbon in time.

However, while rushing to the hospital at high speed, the convoy collided with a jeep belonging to the U.S. Army Air Forces at an intersection.

The car accident killed one of the three drunk pilots in the Jeep and injured two others. It also directly contributed to the death of the unlucky Lieutenant Colonel George Lascelles - he died in the last mile to escape the pursuit of death.

Zhou Changfeng and his party did not yet know the follow-up situation. After witnessing the successful bombardment of the convoy, Erwin made a decisive decision to implement the trial plan in advance.

After learning of the recent unusual situation here, the superior headquarters approved the implementation of the trial plan he applied for, and a combat reconnaissance that was hastily organized in a short period of time began.

Combat reconnaissance is essentially a feint attack, or even a serious attack. The difference is that its purpose is to find out the enemy's situation rather than to achieve victory results.

It was also in the evening, when the car accident in Lisbon occurred, the offensive starting position of the German 12th Motorized Infantry Division was already in a posture of being ready to go.

The units scheduled to participate in the battle are in their positions.

Several artillery observation posts were opened.

Temporary communication telephone line arrangement is completed.

The backup command post has been opened.

Wind direction, temperature, and humidity are determined.

War briefings were issued step by step.

Fireworks, lights, radio communication codes and code words confirmed.

The entire division's barrel suppressed artillery suddenly fired a salvo, and dozens of howitzers began to fire at a constant rate at the target area according to the predetermined fire plan.

The German army is known for its flexible combat formations and is accustomed to temporarily forming various combat groups to carry out specific operations. For example, this time it used an infantry battalion with a combat engineer platoon and an assault gun company.

In order to block the enemy's sight and cover their own actions, the smoke canisters deployed by the German army upwind released gray-white billowing smoke. At the same time, sporadic mortar smoke bombs were also hit on both sides of the attack area.

As the signal flare took off, this combat reconnaissance was launched on time.

Zhou Changfeng saw countless gray figures leaving the offensive starting position. Behind them were six No. 3 assault guns.

The British army on the opposite side was not a vegetarian and quickly responded with fierce artillery fire. A large number of artillery shells were poured into the German forward and second-line positions in an attempt to disrupt the German army's actions and block the connection between the front and rear.

However, due to the sudden nature of the German action, the British artillery efforts had little effect and did not prevent the German participating units from continuing to advance.

Some mortars began to attack the obstacles in the British forward position. Under the cover of machine gun fire, the combat engineer platoon also rushed forward in a hail of bullets, blasting away all kinds of barbed wire, roadblocks, and landmines.

Combat engineer units in many infantry divisions have been lucky enough to receive pre-production ballistic vests - canvas-textured gear with steel ballistic inserts.

The Germans used high-hardness armor steel (HHA) with a thickness of 7mm to make a bulletproof insert. Although it weighs 3.8kg, it can withstand 50mm Enfield rifle bullets at a distance of 7.7m.

In actual use, soldiers have discovered a problem with the steel insert plate - after the bullet smashes into the steel plate, it will fly around along the flat surface, thereby injuring the neck and chin. Therefore, some people cleverly made a homemade one. Steel gorget.

"Boom!"

The assault guns assisting the infantry to advance continued to fire, and every time the muzzle flash burst out, a Vickers heavy machine gun would be hidden under the collapsed civil engineering works.

The German army is still using a series of short-barreled guns. Both the Type III assault gun and the Panzer IV tank are equipped with the Kwk37 (Sutk) 75mm, 24-diameter tank gun. The slight demand for anti-armor power has led to the mass production of long-barreled guns. Progress is slow.

Different from the sudden encounter with the T-34 crisis in history and the hurried installation of the 75mm, 43-caliber tank gun into the Panzer IV tank, this time the Germans do not need to panic to solve their urgent needs. They are developing a specialized " Medium anti-armor battle tank".

Zhou Changfeng likes the performance of the No. 3 assault gun very much. It needs to be armored and passable. It is much more reliable than the wheeled assault gun used by the Ming army.

He believed that a small 4×4 vehicle such as the Type wheeled assault gun should be used for reconnaissance and patrol. It was really difficult to force it to take on the role of infantry accompanying artillery.

The ammunition reserve is only 22 rounds, while the No. 54 assault gun has 12 rounds; the protection is weak, the 50mm frontal armor can only withstand infantry machine rounds, while the No. assault gun has mm, which can withstand small-caliber anti-tank guns. .

Obviously, cheap things have all the disadvantages in addition to the advantages of being cheap.

From this point of view, it is urgent to equip more tracked armored vehicles, and production capacity must be fully utilized. The Ming Dynasty's military industry department can no longer be allowed to be leisurely and complacent in the context of the war.

"... Strengthen the deep artillery bombardment of the enemy. The reserve team will set off now and move to the starting position." Erwin gave the latest instruction.

Lieutenant Colonel Lange repeated the confirmation and saluted: "Yes! Comrade Commander, the order has been issued."

Even though the British army continued to block artillery fire, the 12th Motorized Infantry Division was equipped with dozens of Sdkfz250 half-track armored vehicles, and the German infantry could ride them calmly through the blockade.

The probability of being hit directly by a shell is very small. Statistics show that it takes an average of one to two hundred rounds for a howitzer unit to destroy a tank. Correspondingly, the density of bombs to block artillery fire is often even lower, and the risk of being blown up is no less than winning the lottery.

【Picture】

There was no suspense in the ensuing battle. As the obstacles were cleared, the German infantry, supported by direct fire from assault guns, moved forward unimpeded.

The British army resisted desperately, but unfortunately the QF 2-pound anti-tank gun could not penetrate the front armor of the No. assault gun. They could only see the bright sparks when the shell hit the armor, and heard a sound by the way.

When the German infantry approaches, how can the only Bren light machine gun be the opponent of the MG34? The British troops were suppressed in the trenches and had no power to fight back. They were quickly driven away by the alternating attacks of MP38 submachine guns and M24 grenades.

After riding the Sdkfz250 armored vehicle through the artillery blockade area, an infantry company came in as reinforcements to consolidate the occupied British positions, and the battle situation stabilized.

This is a textbook combat reconnaissance!

But what is ironic in the end is that after all this trouble, the captured British officers and soldiers were very confused. The interrogation results proved that they did not prepare any offensive, it was just that the new division commander was coming to take office.

Asked: "Who is your division commander? What kind of commander do you think he is?"

He replied: "I don't know. He was injured by your artillery shells as soon as he arrived."

(End of this chapter)