My client Li Yunlong

Late May.

Wuxiang.

Brigade Headquarters.

"How many are left?"

The brigade commander was a little curious and asked the staff of the tank unit in the Taiyue base area.

May,

The front line was lively.

After three months of training and April's training, the army has accumulated a group of tank logistics maintenance personnel and tank crews.

Although he is not proficient enough, he can at least complete the maintenance of the tank reluctantly without making serious mistakes, and implement the infantry-tank coordination tactics - Sherman's operation is relatively simple, and the infantry-tank coordination tactics are also described in detail in the book. All it takes is step-by-step training.

Although the price is a bit high.

More than a hundred engines were damaged, as well as thousands of tons of fuel, an unknown number of parts, and 38 tanks were lost. The loss of personnel was actually very small.

Minimal.

Therefore, in May, after acquiring a hundred Shermans, the troops launched a series of attacks, using tanks as cover and tanks as fire support, to attack the Japanese positions.

First, train tank crews, hone infantry-tank coordination, and explore tank tactics that suit you.

Although in military textbooks, it is best to use tanks together to achieve maximum attack and breakthrough capabilities, the army does not have enough infantry transportation capabilities unless Taihang trucks are pushed to the front line.

But Taihang trucks are too important.

It is the blood of the development of the base area.

Losing one car is enough to feel distressed for a long time.

Even the headquarters couldn’t bear to part with it.

Therefore, the superiors decided to use tanks as fire support and as a mobile bunker.

It turns out.

Although this set of tactics cannot bring out the maximum effect of tanks, it is very suitable for the current situation of the army.

After all, the Japanese lacked anti-tank weapons.

The terrain in southern Hebei is very suitable for tank operations.

Secondly, it is to eliminate the effective forces of the Japanese. With the cover of tanks, the Japanese must pay more than ten times the price if they want to repel the attack wave.

in May,
According to incomplete statistics, at least one brigade of Japanese soldiers was killed on the front line.

A brigade.

Kill!

There are at least 7,500 Japanese in one brigade of Japanese soldiers.

As for the wounded Japanese, the current staff estimate is that there are two brigades - this is a conservative estimate.

As for the losses of the troops themselves, no more than one battalion was sacrificed, which was still an old-formation battalion. Considering the battalion size of the year before last, when a battalion consisted of about 300 people, it was equivalent to two companies now.

The actual number of sacrifices was only 290 people.

The battle-loss ratio was almost twenty-seven to one. Every time twenty-seven Japanese were killed, one soldier would be sacrificed.

There are more wounded soldiers.

More than three thousand.

There is no way, the infantry-tank collaborative tactics require very high military quality of soldiers. The troops are not yet proficient in collaborative tactics, and there are many loopholes. Moreover, the Japanese counterattack is also very fierce. Many Japanese are hiding in foxholes and suddenly carrying explosive bags. Rushing over, caught off guard, too late to respond.

Even if the Japs were killed, the explosion of explosive packs at close range would easily cause casualties - many soldiers were injured by the Japs' explosive packs.

Moreover, cooperative training between infantry and tanks is more likely to cause accidental injuries, and training casualties are very high.
Fortunately, the medical level in the base area is now very high. Recently, the headquarters hospital has obtained a batch of very advanced medical equipment, especially a large number of surgical and examination equipment, which has been of great help.

Yunwu's wounded transport aircraft can also transport the wounded to the headquarters hospital in a timely manner.

Even seriously wounded soldiers rarely die.

However, compared with the death of at least one Japanese brigade and the injuries of two Japanese brigade, the casualties of the army's mere 3,300 people were actually very few.

Even taking into account those injured during training, the casualties outnumbered the Japanese deaths by one to two.

of course.

This incredible casualty ratio comes at a price.

The cost is the loss of tanks.

"Twelve more."

The staff officer spread his hands:

"There are only twelve left in the training camp."

There were twelve vehicles left in April.

The offensive wave ended in May, and now there are only twelve vehicles left.

"The loss is so big?"

The brigade commander frowned.

One hundred tanks!

Although the attack strategy formulated by the headquarters is to minimize casualties, there is no need to sacrifice human lives for technical weapons. Anyway, they will be replenished every month, but losing a hundred tanks a month is indeed too much.

To know,
The Japs do not have qualified anti-tank weapons, and there are very few 37mm anti-tank artillery that can penetrate the Sherman from the side and rear.

You can only rely on explosive packs.

"According to post-war statistics."

The staff officer explained:
"One-third of the tanks lost were due to improper maintenance, malfunctions occurred during combat, and they were forced to be abandoned."

"A large part of it is because the crew and the accompanying logistics personnel were unable to repair the malfunctions in time, and they had to be abandoned, destroyed themselves, or were blown up by the Japanese."

"In fact, no more than thirty-three vehicles were destroyed by the Japanese in the battle."

"I see."

The brigade commander was immediately able to accept it.

The huge losses are due to insufficient training.

Got it, got it.

This is understandable.

Among today's tank crew members, some of them only learned to drive a car for a few months before joining the tank unit. The most experienced ones are only dozens of people who came from the preserved fruit unit.

These people need time for political education and tactical training, and they also need time to master the application of the Sherman - even a skilled old mechanic will need several months to master the repair and maintenance of the Sherman.

This is a tank.

The most advanced technological weapon in the Army.

And although the technology is simpler than that of Taihang trucks, it has many problems and a high failure rate because of its simplicity.

"One hundred vehicles this month is enough."

"Loss should decrease in the future."

"Even if the Japanese come up with new anti-tank weapons, and even if the tank crews and logistics personnel in the army grow very slowly, they will still maintain the current loss data at most."

The brigade commander immediately felt relieved.

···
"General."

"Here are the casualty figures for April."

Shimen.

Early June.

The combat staff officer handed a copy of the casualty statistics to Neji Okamura.

"understood,"

The moment he received the casualty statistics from his staff, Neji Okamura hesitated.

Because he knew that this would be a very scary data.

In the end, Okamura Neji took over the casualty statistics form.

Reality always has to be faced.

"How many enemy tanks did we destroy?"

While looking at the casualty statistics report and before accepting the execution, Okamura Neji suddenly asked.

He wanted to hear some good news first.

"Ninety-five vehicles were confirmed to have been seized, including damaged wreckage."

The staff officer replied.

"Yoshi."

Okamura Neji suddenly smiled.

In one month, 85 tanks were destroyed on Tubal Road. These 95 tanks can be absolutely confirmed, and even the wreckage was dragged out. Even if there are some casualties, it is worth it.

"There are fifteen more vehicles that are suspected of being destroyed, but no wreckage has been found."

The Japanese's final figure was one hundred and eleven taels, which was ten vehicles behind the army.

This is normal.

The locust army is also an army.

As for the military, you can't avoid lying about your results.

Bushido, absolute loyalty to Locust, just listen to it.

If it weren’t for the fact that the Eighth Route Army had always launched the attack and the Japs defended, and the troops considered training the troops, the Japs had very good penetration capabilities, so they rarely occupied positions, and the tank results were difficult to conceal and fake. The Japs estimated that the numbers would have to be Pulled more than two hundred vehicles.

"Yoshi."

Okamura Neji felt much happier.

Confirming the destruction and capture of ninety-five vehicles was an absolute victory.

No matter how many tanks there are on Tubal Road, the pain will be endless.

With such a large number of tanks, let alone the empire, even the United States would feel distressed.

He didn't believe that the power behind Tubal Road, even tanks, was unlimited.

"Have new anti-tank weapons arrived?"

Okamura Neji still didn't open the report.

He continued asking for good news.

Although the losses were heavy, it was not without gains. With the proficiency in anti-tank tactics, the Locust Army had already developed proficient infantry anti-tank tactics.

How to dig hidden positions, how to select and train members of the death squads, and how to inspire the courage of the members of the death squads before setting off are all very proficient, otherwise they would not be able to destroy more than a hundred tanks.

If domestic individual anti-tank weapons arrive, it will definitely greatly increase the chance of success and reduce the casualty rate.

"The newly developed anti-tank mines in China have arrived at the port."

"It is expected to arrive at Shimen on June 2nd. The training is also very simple. The method of use is the same as that of the bayonet, and it can be put into battle immediately."

The staff officer replied.

"The method of use and the bayonet have the same origin?"

"?"

When Ishihara Wanji heard this sentence, a series of question marks appeared in his mind.

Can anti-tank weapons be used in the same way as bayonets?

What kind of anti-tank weapon is this?

Swapping bayonets for heavy explosives?

Can you pick it up?
Ishihara Kanji didn't know the principle of hollow charges, so he stubbornly believed that only explosive packs could effectively destroy tanks. The tanks of the Eighth Route Army had thick armor, so heavy explosives were needed to blow them up.

"Yoshi."

Compared to Ishihara Kanji, Gangcun's idea is much simpler and more practical.

Since it has passed the inspection and acceptance of the military industry department, it means that it can be used, but it is just difficult to use. But no matter how difficult it is to use, how can it be difficult to use with explosive bags?

As for death during combat.

That's not what he, a front commander, needs to do.

What he needs is to complete the order from the base camp - to fight the forces in North China. The bigger the better, the longer the duration the better.

Gangcun understands why China has to do this.

And, in this battle, train a sufficient number of elite soldiers.

His superiors gave him only one requirement regarding casualties - no more than the monthly replenishment of troops.

In May, the number of supplementary troops he received was - two divisions, 35,000 men, and 15,000 men who recovered and returned to the army after being injured, a total of 50,000 supplementary troops.

Hearing this, Okamura Neji finally opened the casualty report.

"Twelve thousand dead, twenty-one thousand on hand."

Although he had predicted it, when the actual number of casualties appeared in front of him, Okamura Neji's eyes still darkened.

In May, his casualties exceeded the size of two divisions. Yusui alone reached the number of one division, with 12,000 men, which equals the price of 120 men for every tank destroyed.

call···

After being shocked by the huge casualties, Okamura Neji breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the casualties were heavy, they were still within the tolerable range.

In June, full-scale mobilization began in the country, and he received more than two and a half additional divisions with 40,000 troops, which was enough to make up for the losses and even have a surplus.

Weapons and ammunition are also abundant.

This battle can still go on.

"Gather all the captured tanks to take pictures, and then let the newspapers say that we destroyed two hundred enemy tanks."

Okamura Neji took a deep breath and said.

In this battle, the problem is no longer about soldiers and supplies. With the empire's abundant funds and sufficient resources, these are no longer problems.

The problem is that the huge casualties caused a serious loss of morale.

To solve this problem, we must find a way to promote it.

Destroying two hundred enemy tanks will surely boost the morale of the troops.

"Hold a military meeting immediately and invite all the captains of the front lines to discuss how to deal with the enemy tanks."

Okamura Neji said.

The enemy's tanks have risen to the point where the front army is required to organize tactics.

···
May 1st.

clear.

As soon as the brigade commander got up, he couldn't wait to call the staff of the independent regiment.

"How many tanks this month?"

he asked.

No wonder the brigade commander was so concerned.

In fact, the tank is really a good thing.

What did the huge victory in May depend on?
The Japanese still have an absolute advantage in artillery, and the artillery troops are no match at all.

Although the Japanese aircraft dare not approach the base area, the troops still lack qualified pilots, and the J-1 also lacks ground attack capabilities, so it poses little threat to the Japanese artillery.

Actual fight.

If it is an army attack, the casualty ratio is actually about the same.

But last month it was twenty-five to one.

Why?

And it's not because of the tanks.

The Sherman tank's artillery is more powerful and accurate than the Japanese mountain cannon. Its armor is thicker than the largest Japanese bunker. It is faster, has strong loading capacity, and can carry enough supplies.

The troops relied on tanks and fought the Japanese to the point of crying.

Because of the tanks, the morale of the troops became stronger and stronger.

Tactics are also becoming more and more perfect.

Therefore, the brigade commander attaches great importance to the number of tanks.

"Get Sherman tanks this month, two hundred."

replied the staff of the independent regiment's staff.

'What, two hundred cars? ! '

The brigade commander jumped up happily.

He thought it would be the same as last month.

It turned out to be two hundred vehicles.

Two hundred cars!
Two hundred cars!
That’s one hundred more cars than last month.

In May, one hundred tanks, each of which killed almost seventy Japs, and a total of one brigade of Japs were killed. So, in June, two hundred tanks, couldn't... be able to kill two brigade groups? Japs?

It can also train more tank crews and logistics personnel.

"Hahaha··"

"Order each regiment to convene a military meeting immediately." (End of this chapter)