artillery arc

Chapter 443 Hot Sand Front ③

A few minutes after Erwin's order was issued, another explosion occurred in the direction of the port.

The mushroom cloud created by the shallow-water gunboat had not yet dispersed when a new mushroom cloud rose into the sky again.

The shock wave turned into a gust of wind, hitting Admiral Irwin's face like a knife, directly blowing his hat off. Fortunately, he was quick-witted and grabbed it.

Erwin's adjutant also held his hat and lowered his head, shouting, "It's over! Look at the explosive yield. Our ammunition is gone!"

"Kill these bugs!" Admiral Erwin shouted, "We can't let them get away unscathed! We're betting on Proson's honor! Surround them and kill them!"

"Yes!"

The adjutant turned to deliver the order.

At this time, Admiral Erwin heard a guard outside the headquarters shouting, "Ah, pain!"

He suddenly became nervous: "Go see what's going on! What are the guards shouting!"

The next moment, machine gun fire rang out.

Both the Plossen infantry and armored grenadiers were equipped with a large number of machine guns. A total of five heavy machine guns with tripods were deployed around the headquarters. The one that opened fire should be the one at the main gate.

The next moment, the sound of a grenade explosion forcibly cut off the sound of gunfire.

Then the sound of gunfire was heard. This sound was obviously different from the MP38/40 submachine guns equipped by the Plosson Army, and it sounded more dry.

The adjutant came in hurriedly from outside and reported loudly: "The enemy is attacking the main gate. It seems that there is a platoon of soldiers! General, move from the back door!"

"No," Erwin shook his head, "We are most vulnerable during the transfer. Don't be afraid, we still have tanks here!"

Just as he finished speaking, there was another explosion outside. Everyone in the room turned their heads and saw the turret of the Type 4 tank belonging to the African Army Corps flying into the air.

This is a short-barreled No. 4.

The African Army's equipment was very poor, and some troops were even still driving Type 37 tanks equipped with mm guns.

The admiral's adjutant's face turned pale: "It's not safe here anymore. I don't know how many people will come to attack us. The special forces of the United Kingdom have achieved many victories in the northern countries. We can't underestimate them! Let's go, General!"

Erwin pursed his lips and hesitated for a moment, but still grabbed the camera on the table and said, "You are right, transfer to the headquarters of the 15th Armored Division, let's go."

The adjutant was overjoyed and immediately called over three guards, who escorted the general to the back door of the headquarters.

As soon as they walked out of the back door, the guard walking in front suddenly fell down, holding his neck.

The admiral heard no gunshot, only the sound of "whoosh" breaking through the air.

Before everyone could react, the second "whoosh" sound came! The adjutant reacted quickly and pushed the admiral away, but he himself was shot in the shoulder by a one-meter-long arrow!
Erwin stared at the arrow with wide eyes, and subconsciously opened the button of the camera box, intending to take a picture.

However, the remaining guards rushed over and pinned him to the ground, completely covering him with their bodies.

At the same time, the adjutant who was shot in the shoulder picked up the Sten submachine gun with one hand and fired into the darkness.

The third feather arrow hit his throat accurately, and the shooting sound stopped abruptly.

The adjutant tried to speak, but only the sound of leaking breath came out.

At this time, the sound of machine guns tearing canvas was heard, and a Type 3 command tank drove over with full firepower and used its body to block Admiral Irwin and the guards.

Erwin: "Turn on the headlights! Turn on the headlights and show the enemy!"

The commander of tank No. 3 had half of his head exposed on the turret. Upon hearing Erwin's order, he immediately ordered the lights to be turned on.

The tank's headlights lit up, illuminating the pitch-black yard as if it were daytime.

The United Kingdom soldiers holding longbows and about to shoot were also illuminated.

When Erwin saw the soldier, he wanted to take a picture immediately, but the soldier disappeared in a flash like a frightened mole.

The tracer bullets from the machine gun immediately shattered the floor tiles where the enemy was standing.

A Molotov cocktail flew in from somewhere, but it was thrown too far away and just landed on the tank track, then set the track on fire.

The tank itself was not affected and its machine gun continued to fire.

Erwin heard someone shouting something in the Ansa language.

No sooner said than done, a three-wheeled motorcycle used by a messenger of the army headquarters rushed into the yard. The driver lowered his head, and both the man and the vehicle passed through the coaxial machine gun fire line of the tank turret and rushed towards the back door of the headquarters yard.

When passing the guard post at the gate, the "archer" just now ran out and jumped into the car.

The man put the bow and arrow on his back, took out the bagpipe and began to play some unknown tune.

Amid the melodious sound of bagpipes, the soldiers of the United Kingdom stopped fighting and turned into the darkness.

The gunshots quickly died down.

Admiral Erwin: "Alright, let me up, both of you!"

No one responded. The admiral could only push the two people who were holding him down away. Only then did he realize that both guards had been shot in the back with an arrow, and their backs were completely soaked in blood.

Erwin pulled out an arrow and examined it carefully.

Although the style of this feather arrow is ancient, it can be seen that the manufacturing process is very advanced and it is processed using modern technology.

Erwin dropped the arrow, stood up, and looked at the four bodies lying around him.

The adjutant still had his eyes open, looking unwilling.

Erwin squatted down, took out the letter that had not been sent yet and the photo of his fiancée from his adjutant's pocket, put them solemnly into his own pocket, and then gently closed his eyes with his hands.

At this time, the Chief of Staff rushed over and said, "We can burn the maps and move to the 15th Armored Division Headquarters soon."

"No need, the enemy has retreated." Erwin waved his hand, "Count the personnel and bury the dead."

As he said this, he put his hands behind his back and turned towards the riverside pier where flames were blazing.

To be honest, this danger and the death of his adjutant had a huge impact on this "most promising new star in the empire."

After a brief thought, he said: "We may not be able to take Alexander. We must retreat to Tobruk before the enemy launches a counterattack."

The chief of staff nodded: "I agree. In fact, I have long wanted to suggest retreating. After all, the equipment of our main armored divisions has been severely damaged, and the enemy's Seventh Armored Division disappeared from the front line two months ago. It should have rested and replenished its weapons and equipment by now.

"We only have 88mm guns and a few long-barreled Type 2s to deal with Matilda II tanks. If they launch an attack, the situation will be very bad."

Erwin nodded: "You are right. Retreat, I will handle His Majesty's side."

The Chief of Staff shook his head: "No, no, General, His Majesty never expected you to cut off the canal. He probably just wanted you to hold back the United Kingdom's army in Mamluk.

"It's better for them to be far away in North Africa than to land on the island of Silili and threaten the southern borders of the empire."

Erwin frowned. He actually saw the emperor's intention, but he was not willing to carry it out. Pinning down the enemy's forces was not in line with his military philosophy.

What Erwin advocates is attack, continuous attack, beating the enemy back step by step, making them cry for their parents.

Unfortunately, he could no longer attack. The overly long supply lines and the weak navy and air force forced his attack to come to an end.

Erwin turned around and looked at Alexandria, where many parts were still burning.

He took out his camera and framed the city, but did not press the shutter.

Because the cameras of this era do not have AI compensation algorithms, you can’t take any pictures at night without a flash - no, even with a flash, you can’t take any good pictures.

Erwin put down his camera and used his naked eyes to imprint everything in front of him into his memory.

"We've been to Alexandria before," Admiral Erwin told his chief of staff. "We've been there!"

The Chief of Staff also looked towards the city and nodded vigorously: "Yes, we have been there."

----

The next morning, General Mago arrived at the 7th Armored Division assembly camp in a jeep.

The 4th Armored Division had just been replenished with a large number of M Sherman tanks, and the troops had also rested for several months in Loquet, the largest Mamluk city, and now their morale was high.

Seeing the general's car coming, the tankers who were doing the final check stopped their work and shouted: "General! When will you send us to beat up the Prosen people?"

Mago stood up in the jeep and shouted to the soldiers: "Now! Damn it, you have received the order!"

The jeep drove all the way to the front of the queue.

The commander of the 7th Armored Division, Smith, came forward, saluted, and then asked, "General, do you want to jump into the tank and lead us to charge like Erwin did?"

Mago shook his head: "No. Erwin from Proson would do this, Rokosov from Ant would do this, and George from the United States would probably do this too. But I won't, no. First of all, I'm an infantry officer..."

Commander Smith: "So did Erwin. He even wrote a book on coordinated infantry and artillery attacks."

Margo: "But he is now regarded as an outstanding armored commander, as the Prosun newspaper says. The same goes for Rokossov, and as for George the Younger, he was the one who built the armored forces of the United States.

"But look at me. I can't drive a tank. Not at all."

Smith: "General, a tank commander doesn't need to be able to drive a tank, he just needs to be able to give orders. Do you want to give it a try?"

General Mago raised his eyebrows: "Really? Then I'll think about it..."

But he immediately shook his head: "No, forget it."

Smith: "Well, you can go into Sherman, half of your body exposed outside, holding a telescope, and a reporter from the Times happens to be here and can take a picture of you."

General Magor stroked his chin and thought for a few seconds, then nodded: "Okay, that's good. Let's pick a Sherman in good condition."

"All the Shermans are in good condition, General, and we are preparing to attack the Plossoms."

General Mago took off his officer's coat covered with medals and said, "Come, lend me a tanker's uniform. Let's take a picture as a commemoration of driving the Prosens out of Alexandria!"

(End of this chapter)