The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 360 China-Laos-Cambodia Railway
For the front-line troops, the results of the past two months can be described as brilliant.

In just two months, the enemy suffered more than 30,000 casualties and more than 1,000 prisoners, while their own casualties were only more than 3,000 and less than 4,000.

You have to know that on the battlefield, our troops totaled less than 2.8, while the enemy had more than troops.

In addition to the ground forces, more than a dozen enemy fighter jets and two reconnaissance planes were destroyed.

Due to the heavy casualties, the enemy fighter planes and reconnaissance planes on the battlefield are almost afraid to take off.

The air defense missile positions have established a solid no-fly zone on the battlefield.

Any military aircraft appearing within a hundred kilometers to the south will be shot down directly.

Even high-altitude, high-speed aircraft are helpless against the Aegis air defense missile system.

The Huben Camp achieved brilliant results in the battle, liberated Huangshupi County, greatly changed the surrounding situation, and turned the advantage to our army.

However, the consumption of weapons and ammunition is also very large.

A total of 3200 rockets were consumed, more than 3 grenades and mortar shells of various calibers were consumed, and more than 100 million bullets of various types were consumed, almost catching up with the total consumption of other troops.

Although part of the artillery shells were used to provide artillery support for brother units, it must be said that a big reason why the Huben Battalion was able to inflict heavy damage on the enemy was due to its fierce firepower.

In two months, all the weapons and ammunition prepared by Panshan Group for the Huben Battalion were used up, and it was still not enough, so they had to be transported from the rear.

However, the brilliant results achieved by the front-line troops this time were not only in terms of destroying the number of enemy troops, but also in terms of controlling the area of ​​the battlefield. The entire army occupied six more high ground and ten more important transportation points than last time.

At present, a large area of ​​the enemy has been besieged, and supply is very difficult. The enemy wants supplies, but the previous roads are no longer accessible and airdrops are impossible. They can only transport supplies on a small scale over mountains and hills.

It won't be long before this part of the high ground position will be captured.

Once these positions are captured, it means that half of the 3000 square kilometers on the western battlefield will fall under the control of our army.

In addition to Huangshupi County, the troops have already threatened Xinmajie County, Guanbo County and other places.

This is also why the enemy will launch a frantic counterattack in an attempt to retake strategic locations.

Because now, on the western battlefield, the entire Lao Cai Province, Lai Chau Province, and Dien Bien Province may be lost.

Now Laos and Cambodia are also fighting with Annan on a small scale.

Although the intensity is not great, Annan cannot ignore it.

It can be said that the strategic advantages gained in the past two months have absolutely made the enemy extremely uncomfortable.

The Huben Battalion was transferred back for rest and reorganization, but the heavy combined brigade 'Hu Ben Brigade' also transferred another heavy combined battalion to the battlefield. In addition, there was an artillery battalion, and the medium combined brigade also sent an artillery battalion to the battlefield for support.

The current main combat force comes from the 1nd Division of the 2st Army, assisted by an infantry division and an artillery regiment, a total of 2.7 troops.

The current scale of rotation warfare is about once every two months, with two infantry divisions plus an artillery regiment each time, totaling 2.7 troops!
The combined battalion is an additional component and is carried extra.

In this way, 16.2 troops receive actual combat training every year.

Some of these troops have already completed their equipment changes, while others have not yet completed their equipment changes. They will complete their equipment changes during training at the Tianzhu Mountain and Malong training bases.

After two months of training, they were sent to the front line to take over the defense of the original troops. As for which unit could win the honor on the battlefield, it all depended on its real ability on the battlefield.

Some soldiers and cadres were honored, but some were punished.

The problems exposed on the battlefield will also become areas for the troops to summarize and correct.

Of course, there were also troops that had just left the front line and were then streamlined. It was not uncommon for entire companies and even regiments to be streamlined.

In particular, those troops with average or even poor performance are often the first to be streamlined.

The rotation troops for the entire year are arranged in a certain order and are carried out according to the rotation order and schedule.

For example, now, not only has the 1984 rotation schedule been drawn up, but even the 1985 rotation schedule is already being produced.

For the three combined brigades directly under the Panshan Group Armed Forces Department, Liu Tao and his team's goal was to have each battalion rotate in combat at least once before 3, and preferably twice.

It would be great if the entire brigade could be rotated.

Artillery battalions, reconnaissance battalions, special forces, and air defense battalions will stay on the front line for a long time. Other combined battalions will rotate every two months, while these battalions will rotate every four to six months.

The current fighting is mainly concentrated in the area from Hekou to Masupo, but the special forces are active in the northwest of Annan, and the territory they control is constantly expanding.

The Miao and Yi people there are very enthusiastic, and they are supported by Laotian troops.

Although there are not many Laotian troops now, only about 10 people, but these 10 people all have rich combat experience, and Laos still remembers the evil that Annan did in Laos.

Being able to strike back at the Vietnamese invaders is definitely what these people want to do most.

Late at night, when having supper, Liu Tao, Li Fuguo, Zhao Guoping and others were together.

"Next, the armed forces will have to send a group of people to Laos and Cambodia to help train their troops and teach them how to fight guerrilla warfare and defensive warfare." Liu Tao said, "You can seek cooperation with the military region in this regard."

"Road construction, especially railway construction, must also be carried out. We will cooperate with them to develop resources," said Liu Tao.

Laos and Cambodia have now established their own political regimes, both are socialist, and the relationship between the two sides is very close.

Most of Laos is mountainous and hilly, with mountains accounting for about 80% of the country's area. The terrain slopes from northeast to southwest. The Mekong River runs across the country from north to south and is the largest river. There are several small plains along the river.

Cambodia's territory is a saucer-shaped basin, surrounded by hills and mountains on three sides. The central part is a vast and fertile plain, accounting for more than three-quarters of the country's area. The country has the Mekong River and the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, Tonle Sap Lake.

Laos now has a population of about three million, less than 350 million; Cambodia's population is about four million.

Both countries have vast land and sparse population, so they can develop easily even if they only develop resource mining and agriculture.

The two countries have already formed new regimes, and the next step is naturally to build and develop the economy. To do this, they need to build reservoirs, hydropower stations, roads, railways and even ports to facilitate the transportation of agricultural products and mineral resources.

If all goes well, Yunnan Province's first seaport will be realized on the route to Laos and Cambodia. In the future, exports to the Middle East, Africa or Europe will no longer need to go to Yangcheng Port.

However, this route is not the best one. The best route should be through Myanmar. The railway line is shorter, the sea distance can be shortened by 4200 kilometers, and there is no need to pass through the Strait of Malacca.

But if both lines are opened, it will undoubtedly be better.

(End of this chapter)