Comrade, your ingredients are too complicated.

Chapter 229 Wanting a Destroyer to Enter the Yellow River

As we all know, the Eighth Route Army has three main divisions.

Among them, the main task of the 115th Division and the 129th Division is to fight against the enemy. These two divisions opened up base areas while fighting devils.

However, the situation of the 120th division is quite special, and they did not take the initiative to attack many times.It mainly undertakes the important task of defending the border area and is responsible for keeping all enemies east of the Yellow River.

In addition, most of the bases in Northwest Shanxi are mountainous, and the living conditions are the most difficult among the three bases.

In the original timeline, at the end of 1940, the main force and local armed forces of the 120th Division combined had only 5.1 people.When the 359th brigade returned to the border area, its combat effectiveness on the surface dropped by a notch.

However, after the chaos of the Yellow River, the Northwest Shanxi base has undergone earth-shaking changes.The most direct manifestation is that there is no shortage of supplies such as weapons, ammunition and food.

With a strong logistical support, the 120th Division expanded its base area while developing dully.

Although it experienced three sweeps last year, and responded to the call of the headquarters to participate in the Hundred Regiments War.But now the main force and local armed forces together have more than 8 people.

Even the sphere of influence of the base area has spread to Suiyuan, and it has achieved a true sense of defense and development. Even the army morale master praised it.

In this Zhongtiaoshan battle, the 120th Division was closest to Yuncheng.

After much consideration, the deputy commander-in-chief handed over the task of supporting the Western Front to Commander Beard.

However, the road of hundreds of kilometers is not easy to walk, mainly because the army is now larger, unlike before, there were only infantry, and it is easier to march.

In order to take care of the three artillery regiments, it took more than five days to ride a bicycle for a day and a half.

But all the efforts are worthwhile. The status quo of the 36th and 37th Divisions of the North China Front Army shows everything.

After rigorous test-firing, the three artillery regiments obtained relatively accurate parameters.

In the middle and rear of the position, there is a temporary high platform.This is the artillery command post of the 120th Division. The artillery chief commander, holding a portable communicator, took a deep breath and prepared to issue an attack order.

Beside him, a group of artillery staff officers were nervously calculating the data.

This is the brain of the three artillery regiments. Large-scale artillery battles have very high requirements for command.The trinity of artillery observation post, command post and position is required to achieve perfect cooperation with each other.

All the information sent back from the observation post is collected by the staff and then sent back to the artillery position. The entire closed loop is indispensable.

After making all preparations, the artillery commander issued the final order to the three regiments.

"put!"

Before the devil could react, the 144 shells fired in the first round landed behind the two divisions of the devil from three different angles with the scream of tearing the air.

Obviously the caliber is only 75mm, but the performance of the large chamber strong charge is still so stable.

In the eyes of the parties involved and the forward observation posts of the fruit guards, this is the effect of several 105 heavy howitzers plowing the land.

Although barrel guns have high requirements for artillerymen, they must not only understand mathematics but also be able to draw pictures.

But after nearly eight months of practice, the old and new artillerymen have touched Miss 75 from the inside out. Everyone is as familiar with her as they are with their own wives.

The rate of fire of a single gun of more than 15 rounds per minute plunged the rear of the two divisions into smoke and explosions.

The entire west side of Zhongtiao Mountain was shaking, as if the rocks on the mountain would shake down in the next second.

The soil was blown away by shells again and again, and then poured down, showing the power of modern weapons to the fullest.

Even the devils who attacked the Third Army and the No.80 Army turned their heads frequently, and the earth-shattering artillery strikes frightened the island infantry who had never seen the world.

With fire regardless of consumption, lucky enemies were constantly shot.

Blood, ashes, and stumps are irrigating the land in southern Shanxi again and again, and the vegetation next year will definitely be more lush.

In the observation post of the 120th Division, Master Beard raised the binoculars on his chest, and he had a panoramic view of the magnificent scene of the shell explosion.

The political commissar of the military region on the side shook his head helplessly. His old partner didn't think it was fun to watch the forward command post, so he insisted on dragging him here to observe.

If he hadn't stopped him, maybe the opponent would have slipped to the frontline artillery observation post.

Fortunately, the portable communicator has been popularized to the regiment level, and the telephone line has been connected long ago, otherwise he would never let a division commander leave his post.

Mr. Beard also looked more and more energetic, fully explaining what it means to gradually increase the firepower, and the corners of his mouth began to rise.

He pulled out his beloved revolver with his right hand and pointed his mouth upwards, and picked up the phone with his left hand to give orders to the commander of the artillery one by one, as if he had returned to the days when two kitchen knives started his business.

"It's the gun that almost broke Zhang."

"It's fine if you can't see the point of impact, it's a depression! There are two artillery groups in the east and west! Concentrate your firepower! Hit his command post and logistics support center!"

"Push all the guns in! Push me as far as you can! Even on the shoulders of commandos!"

"Do you know what it means to put a bayonet on a cannon and beat a dog in the water? Aim and shoot straight! Beat these bastards for me!"

After hanging up the phone, Mr. Beard took out his pipe and took a big swig happily.

After seeing the expression of his political commissar, he stroked his beard a little embarrassedly.

However, Political Commissar Guan also understood the other party. After all, no matter what period it was, the army did not have such powerful firepower.Even he, who had drunk foreign ink, had never seen the scene just now.

"Haha, there are three artillery regiments. If you count according to the organization of preserved fruit, it is a Type A artillery brigade!"

"I didn't dare to think about this kind of wealth battle before. Last year in the Hundred Regiments War, our division was the last in record. Although we specialize in martial arts, I just don't feel happy!"

"It's all right now, we fired the first shot in support of the battle! It's fun! It's fun!"

It is a pity that the current artillery regiment of the Eighth Route Army is a bit single, equipped with only the M1897 75mm cannon.

Although the number of guns is not less than that of the Guizi Class A Division, it lacks 105 or even 155 guns with larger calibers, and there is still a gap in power compared with European military powers.

However, it can only be used at present. After all, the weight of more than 1 ton has reached the carrying limit of the Eighth Route Army.

Even if Huang He uses the scientific research tank to get 105 and 155 points, the troops can only look at it with greed.What's more, the power of the current artillery is very good, as long as Taiyuan is not attacked, it is definitely enough.

Judging from the current road conditions in Shanxi, it is almost impossible to do without a tractor like Confucius in Shandong.If you really want the Eighth Route Army's field troops to use heavy artillery, you have to wait until the recovery of Jin Province to build more roads.

Political Commissar Guan looked at his watch. From the beginning of the battle to the present, the bombardment had lasted for 2 minutes.

The gunpowder smoke and fire in front of him made him unable to see the enemy's position clearly.

"Beard, the three regiments fired at least 4300 shells. Calculated by weight, it's almost 26 tons."

"Should we let the artillerymen slow down, don't be so wasteful. After all, our opponent this time has two divisions."

This is not because the political commissar Guan is stingy, but mainly because the change of mentality takes some time.

Just like when the soldiers first came into contact with magic weapons, they got used to it after using it more often.

However, the devils were originally the attackers, and there were no trenches or anti-gun holes under them.All the fortifications on the first position of the Third Army were destroyed in previous battles.

Coupled with the fact that the 120th Division attacked suddenly, with no defense and super density, the enemy would definitely have no good fruit to eat under such shelling.

What's more, it's not just the army that is attacking now.

Above the heads of the 36th Division and the 37th Division, a hundred fighter planes of the First Air Division are still licking the ground immersively.

"What are you in a hurry for? People can't break their promises. They have to do what they say they will fight one-third of the time. Let the artillerymen practice their hands more. Such opportunities are rare."

"It's my first time fighting with the air force, and I feel very comfortable. In just one and a half years, we have surpassed the Japanese army in terms of firepower. I have to thank Huang He when I go back."

"I even doubt one thing. If the Battle of Zhongtiaoshan was two years later, maybe on the Mother River, there will be destroyers of our Eighth Route Army providing artillery support, and the army, navy and air force will go directly together."

It's a pity that Mr. Huzi's idea is about to come to nothing. The destroyer must be useless in terms of the water level of the Yellow River.The width is indeed enough, but the depth is far worse.

Switching to a small gunboat with a very shallow draft, maybe it really helped to fire two shots.

From the start of the test firing to the end of the shelling, the three artillery regiments were busy for 4 minutes.

The troops at all levels of the 120th Division looked shocked at the hail-like shells, and their morale was not high.

Even the veterans who have walked through the grass and climbed the snow-capped mountains have never seen such a scene.

After the last round of artillery fire stopped, the 36th and 37th Divisions seemed to be divided into two sections.One side is where the living people stay, and the other half is where the ashes are buried.

It's a pity that the soldiers don't know how many devil officers died under their own shelling.

Inside the observation post, Commander Beard picked up the phone on the table and began to issue offensive orders to the brigades and regiments.

"Everyone starts attacking according to the plan, but remember not to rush!"

"We have plenty of time this time, wait for the friendly army on the opposite side, and try to double-team the devils!"

As soon as the order came out, several red flares rose into the sky.

There were also rousing and hasty charges from various positions, and the familiar voice made the soldiers' blood boil, and they took up the weapons in their hands and launched an attack on the enemy.

"kill!"

······
The time goes back to 120 minutes before the 10th Division's attack, in the Japanese West Front Joint Command Post.

At this time, the atmosphere in the shed was very harmonious. Lieutenant General Iseki Ren of the 36th Division, Lieutenant General Adachi 37rd of the 23th Division, and Major General Wakamatsu Heiji of the independent 16th Brigade gathered together.

In order to deal with the third army like brown sugar, their two divisions and one brigade assembled a full 5000 people.

When the attack was not going well before, Okamura Ningji would send a telegram every half an hour to inquire about the battle situation. It was true that it tortured the three of them.

Now that the first position of the defenders on the western front has been breached, the pressure from the superiors is finally a little less.

Although the casualties of soldiers were serious, the 16th Independent Mixed Brigade, which had the smallest number, had more than half of its casualties.

But what does the life and death of his subordinates have to do with these officials? Anyway, after the victory, there will be supplementary soldiers, and the three of them have contributed a lot.

After discussing the next offensive tactics, Anda 23 looked at the two colleagues in front of him, and said with some depression:

"I don't know what happened in Taiyuan. Why hasn't the new batch of supplies arrived? It's an hour late."

"Our division's consumption is very high. There is only one day's worth of ammunition reserves left, and a lot of weapons have been lost. The food is better, and it can barely last two days. The situation of medicines is far worse. Even the bandages are not enough. Run out."

"That newcomer, Yoshio Iwamatsu, doesn't want to get kickbacks?"

The two ignored each other's last complaint, and then nodded in agreement.

Since the First Air Division of the Eighth Route Army often visited the battlefield, the three field troops who did not have a maintenance company suffered serious equipment losses, and there was even a shortage of heavy machine guns on the front line.

It is also reasonable to have more food reserves, after all, dead people don't need to eat.

The situation of the 36th Division and the independent mixed 16th Brigade is not much better. If the supplies are not in place tonight, they will have to stop their offensive.

Jing Guanren waved to the staff officer on standby, and then casually said:
"Send a telegram to the rear to remind me later, I don't want to spit out the line of defense that I finally broke through."

"By the way, is there any change between the Eighth Route Army and the Jinsui Army? This battle has been fought for five days, and up to now it is still one-on-one. I am not used to it."

"By the way, how many Yellow River crossings have been occupied by the 41st Division? This is related to how many prisoners we can capture."

In fact, the three of them could no longer wait for the so-called supply. When the deputy commander-in-chief decided to attack the North China Front Army, he sent reconnaissance troops in advance to find out the enemy's supply line and supply time.

An hour and a half ago, the five transport lines of Zhengtai, Tongpu, Baijin, Pinghan and Pingsui were attacked simultaneously.

It was still a familiar sabotage battle. The local armed forces of the Palu Army, who were familiar with the road, led the militia and ordinary people, and had already destroyed or seized all the supplies transported by the First Army to Zhongtiao Mountain.

Suddenly, the sound of air defense sirens resounded over the joint command post.

The three old devils picked up their belongings reflexively, and ran towards the nearby blast hole.With such proficient movements, one can tell at a glance that he has been bombed a lot.

"Baga! Didn't the people at the headquarters say they could buy half a day?"

"Why did these damn planes come back after only four hours!? When will the incompetent Army Aviation regain the air supremacy? Are we going to be shitted on our heads all the time?"

"Go, go, go!"

When the three of them first arrived at the entrance of the anti-blasting hole, several shells fell one after another.

Some shells hit the position, and some shells even fell into the rest of the reserve team.The troops, which had been rioting because of the air defense alarm, immediately became chaotic.

They stopped and looked at each other, feeling a strong sense of fear.

Seeing their own officials blocking the door in a daze, the staff who was afraid of death pushed the old devils into the cave under the pretext of safety first.

"Gentlemen, if I read correctly just now, it seems that the enemy's artillery is trying to fire."

"According to the trajectory of the shells, the opponent's artillery position seems to be far away from us. I don't know if it's my illusion, but those shells seem to have been fired from our north."

As soon as Anda 23 opened his mouth, the atmosphere in the bomb defense cave suddenly dropped to freezing point.

The lowest rank of all the people here is the Colonel. Judging from their combat experience, if there is an enemy in the rear, the opponent will have at least three artillery groups.

Not to mention how scary it is to be touched behind silently, the unknown number of cannons alone is enough for them to drink a pot.

Sure enough, a few seconds later, there was an endless sound of violent explosions above the blast hole, and soil began to fall from the originally solid roof of the hole.

Boom boom boom!
Reason gradually disappeared from the eyes of the devils, leaving only a deep sense of powerlessness and fear.

Just listening to the sound of the explosion, Anda 23 was sure that the opponent's artillery used at least 105mm large-caliber heavy artillery.That thing is no joke, a single shell can take out a unit of soldiers.

Two minutes later, the shelling still hadn't ended.

At this moment, the devils began to wonder if the bear from the north had gone south.

······
The Zhongtiao Shanxi line position, in addition to the third army, also has the No.80 army to assist in the defense.

Although this army is the central army, its combat effectiveness is very poor, and it can only be regarded as a third-rate army.

The 27th and 165th divisions under the army are both newly established units.Whether it is an officer or a soldier, they have almost no combat experience, and it is conservatively estimated that more than 7% of the recruits are recruited.

With such a force, not only the friendly forces do not trust them, but even the enemy looks down on them. .

When the 36th and 37th Divisions stormed the Third Army with heavy troops, the only enemy who attacked the No.80 Army was the independent and mixed 16th Brigade.

This independent mixed brigade was originally a local garrison. Although it was urgently assigned artillery, heavy troops and other troops before the war, its combat effectiveness was not very strong.

However, Wakamatsu Heiji is good at attacking the mind. He specially obtained the information of the 27th Division from Tegao Ke, and mastered the personal information of all the officers of the entire division.

When attacking the first position, the devils forced the puppet army to persuade them to surrender while attacking fiercely.

Fortunately, the high-level officials did not retreat, and a group of officers led the recruits to resist desperately.But Naihe's own strength is weak, and he cannot stop the enemy's advance for a long time.

In the end, the division commander, deputy division commander, and chief of staff were all killed. Without effective command, the regiment commanders could only lead the soldiers back from the first line of defense to the second line of defense.

However, the independent and mixed 16th Brigade was also uncomfortable. They suffered nearly 3000 casualties and were seriously injured.

On the 27th Division's position, several regiment leaders were gathering to discuss whether to flee or fight.

But at this moment, the devil's position was under heavy artillery fire.They saw with their own eyes that many devils were shot, and their morale, which had been sluggish, recovered a lot in an instant.

Red supplies, small grass flowers, even if you look at it with a bald head, you must praise it.The weakness of the enemy gave the remnants of the 27th Division the courage to break through to the Third Army.

　It's still hell, my speed is really slow...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)