Age of Rebirth

On the Bohai Sea, two 10,000+ soldiers of the Marine Corps of the Independent Division, boarded hundreds of troop carriers and landing ships, and under the escort of eight other warships with an aircraft carrier as the core, they gradually appeared at Lushunkou. In the telescopic lens, on the Japanese army's position, bursts of hasty orders were issued. The Japanese soldiers held guns, quickly walked along the trenches, entered the battle position, and then looked nervously at the sea under the sun.

Of course, in the field of vision of ordinary Japanese soldiers, there is only the sparkling white sea, and nothing can be seen. Since the Japanese Empire occupied Manchuria, this is the first time that Manchuria has been attacked. The so-called unkind people, Ordinary Japanese soldiers also understood this truth, especially when the opponent was an independent division. Even though they were the brave Kwantung Army, they couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

On the flagship of the escort fleet, Tang Qiuquan looked at the chart and said to Major General Xin Xiguo, chief of staff, "Xiguo, troop carrier formation, how far is it from the landing site? How long will it take us to launch an attack?"

Major General Xin Xiguo replied succinctly: "Commander, there are still about 38 kilometers left. It is estimated that we can launch an attack in five to ten minutes!"

"Where is the Southeast Mobile Corps attacking the Korean Peninsula on the southern front? Has it started?" Tang Qiuquan asked again.

Xin Xiguo replied: "Not yet, but according to Commander Ma Chaoyang's telegram, the troops attacking Mokpo will be faster than ours, and the troops attacking Gunsan and Incheon will be delayed by an hour to two hours. The distances between the three landing targets are not equal, which also caused the timing of the attack to be inconsistent!"

"Without prejudice to the overall situation, the three landing sites of the Southeast Mobile Corps are relatively independent battlefields. We don't insist on launching an attack at the same time. Chief of Staff, has the location of the Japanese coast defense artillery positions at Lushunkou provided by the intelligence department been determined?" Tang Qiuquan changed the subject and asked.

Xin Xiguo frowned, and replied: "Commander, it has been confirmed, but it is very difficult, you see...!"

Xin Xiguo is on the table.Spread out the military map of the Liaodong Peninsula, pointing to the line of Lao Tieshan and said: "Commander, the coastal defense artillery of the Lushunkou Japanese Army is a regiment, which has 48 [-]-caliber howitzers with a range of more than [-] kilometers. Information The information provided here is very detailed. Even every artillery position of the Japanese army is clearly marked, and the position of the coastal defense artillery positions of the Japanese army just blocked the landing field of our landing troops!"

"Once our troop carrier fleet and escort fleet enter the fire coverage of the Japanese coastal defense artillery, they will be severely hit and become living targets. The loss is immeasurable. Therefore, before the troops start landing, they must first Get rid of the Japanese Coastal Defense Artillery Wing. Otherwise, we will pay a heavy price!"

Tang Qiuquan didn't intervene. He knew that Xin Xiguo's emphasis on these difficulties was not because he was afraid of difficult battles, but from the perspective of the chief of staff. Xin Xiguo continued: "However, it is very difficult to destroy the Japanese coastal defense artillery positions. You see, The coastal defense artillery of the Japanese army was concealed in solid shelters built on the basis of natural terrain, not exposed on flat ground like field artillery positions."

"From this point of view, it is difficult for our naval guns to effectively destroy the Japanese coastal defense artillery positions. Even if bombers are dispatched, it is difficult to destroy them, or in other words, destroy them all, even if it is the Japanese coastal defense Artillery, there are only a few or a dozen artillery pieces left, which is also a huge threat to the landing force. I have been thinking about this issue since the troops started to move, but, Commander, I haven't got the best s solution!"

Seeing Tang Qiuquan's brows slightly frowned, Xin Xiguo gritted his teeth and said, "There is another solution, which is to use naval guns and bombers to suppress the firepower of the Japanese coast defense artillery, and the landing troops to land on the beach as quickly as possible. The Japanese coastal artillery firepower is shooting at a blind spot, so that we can get rid of the situation of heavy casualties, but it is still unknown whether the Japanese army's coastal artillery firepower can be completely suppressed!"

Tang Qiuquan looked at Xin Xiguo, "Is it difficult?"

"Yes, Commander, I am not very sure in my heart. If the combat plan is not thorough, or if it fails to achieve the effect, causing heavy casualties to the landing troops, I am sorry for the soldiers of the Marine Corps! I am even more ashamed of this uniform!" Xin Xiguo replied truthfully.

Tang Qiuquan patted him on the shoulder, and said in a gentle tone: "Xiguo, your perspective on the battlefield is too narrow, so, on the basis of your plan, make the following adjustments. Park out of range of artillery fire!"

"Order the escorting bombers to bomb the beachheads of the Japanese army. The carrier-based planes take off and launch into the air. The bombers are responsible for bombing the Japanese shore artillery positions. Even if the effect is not good, it will cause great pressure on the Japanese army. Carry fighter jets, fly at low altitude, do nothing else, and calibrate the impact point of the naval guns, and then, all large-caliber naval guns, carry out precise point bombardment until the Japanese coastal defense artillery is completely destroyed!"

"Our biggest advantage is that the escort fleet is out of the range of the Japanese coastal defense artillery firepower, while our naval guns can bombard the Japanese artillery positions. Also, how to fight, how long to fight, and the rhythm of the battlefield are all controlled by us. There are large-caliber naval guns on the sea, bombers in the sky, and fighter jets as bombardment correction machines. Are you afraid that you won’t be able to kill the 48 coastal defense guns in the Japanese military area?"

Tang Qiuquan's words were like enlightenment, and opened a window in Xin Xiguo's heart. All worries and anxieties disappeared in an instant, "The commander's plan is definitely the most correct. There are no Japanese planes in the sky. Moreover, the Japanese artillery was out of the range of the Japanese coastal defense artillery, and the Japanese artillery had nothing to do but to fight back! Moreover, the division commander did not request that they must land on the Liaodong Peninsula today, that is to say, The teacher has fully considered the actual situation!"

Xin Xiguo relaxed all over, and said with bright eyes: "Commander, your plan is really wonderful, you might as well call it an acupuncture attack, and I will deploy it immediately!"

The troop transport fleet and escort fleet of the Independent Division appeared darkly on the distant sea. Under the bright sun in the morning, they lined up in a long row, with a terrifying momentum, oppressing the Kwantung Army lying in the trenches The soldier couldn't help swallowing his saliva with difficulty, and his scalp felt numb. This battle is too scary?Even the solid fortifications under them did not bring them much sense of security.

Lieutenant General Aso, the commander of the No. 30 First Division under the Kwantung Army’s Seventh Army, put down his binoculars, and picked up the phone, "I, Lieutenant General Aso, the commander of the No. 30 First Division, take me to the army headquarters. Find the Commander, His Excellency Yokoyama!"

"Dinglingling!" In the Seventh Army's underground command post, the phone rang one after another, making it very noisy, but when this red phone rang, Lieutenant General Hengshan immediately picked it up, "Your Excellency, I am Aso, I would like to report to you that at the position of my headquarters, I can clearly see the formation of troop carriers of the Independent Division with a telescope, and now, all our divisions have entered the position!" On the phone, Aso's division came long movement.

The muscles on Lieutenant General Hengshan's cheeks twitched a few times, "Yoxi, Mr. Aso, order your troops to continue to hide and don't act rashly. My shore artillery unit will teach these Chinese people who don't know how to live or die, a profound lesson. Mr. Aso, the defensive position of the 31st Division is very important. It is directly related to the safety of the Lushunkou defense line. You must be mentally prepared. Once my order is issued, the No. 30th Division will launch a counterattack across the board and drive the Chinese people out. Go to Bohai Bay! I believe that Mr. Aso's troops will be able to do this!"

On the other end of the phone, Commander Aso stood at attention and replied in a loud voice: "Your Excellency, please rest assured, the No. 30 [-]st Division will definitely show the prestige of the Imperial Japanese Army!" Although he said so, after putting down the phone, Aso The lieutenant general also murmured in his heart, not as optimistic as lieutenant general Hengshan.

He felt that the battle at Lushunkou might not be as easy as Commander Hengshan imagined. The independent division dared to cross the sea to attack because they had made full preparations. Just looking at the formation of hundreds of ships on the sea showed that the coming Unkindness, how can it be said that if you are driven out of the Bohai Bay, you will be driven out?

However, in the heart of the commander of the Aso division, he was also looking forward to what miracles the shore artillery regiment, which made Commander Hengshan full of confidence, would create?Of course, it would be best if a miracle could be created. The No. 30 First Division would not have to face the enormous pressure of the independent division's landing force to drive the Chinese out of the Bohai Bay, because it is not impossible?

"Convey my order, Coastal Defense Artillery Regiment, prepare for the bombardment! After finding that the troop carrier fleet of the Independent Division has entered the effective range, the regiment leader can order the bombardment to start, without asking the headquarters!" Lieutenant General Hengshan issued an order, Then, he boarded the watchtower of the command post, raised the binoculars, and observed the sea. His heart was full of strong expectations and nervousness, but he was not demanding. The first round of shelling killed one-third of the troop carriers of the Independent Division. That's enough, of course, sending all the damned Chinese people to the bottom of the sea, that would be the most ideal!

Behind the Japanese beachhead at Lushunkou, there was a burst of shouting, and a series of large-caliber coastal defense guns were pushed out from hidden gun holes along the track. The artilleryman was busy nervously, using a trolley to send the shells that required two people to lift them to the side of the artillery. "Boom!" The position is ready! The second artillery position is ready!  …!

The sound of the reports of the preparation of each artillery position was gathered at the headquarters of the Japanese Coastal Defense Artillery Regiment. The commander of the regiment, Colonel Kiyosaki, with bloodshot eyes in his gloomy eyes, muttered, "Yo Xi!" He raised his binoculars and observed sea ​​surface.

(to be continued) (to be continued..)