Rebirth of the Republic of China: The Rise of China

Air and Ground Cooperative Operations

A day passed in a blink of an eye, and with the help of a large number of manpower and vehicles, more than one hundred artillery pieces with a diameter of more than 75 mm under the Liaodong Corps were all transported outside the city of Sinuiju.

Under the manipulation of the gunners, the cannons quickly raised their black muzzles.The cannonballs exuding a gloomy cold light were also quickly moved around the cannon by the gunner, ready to be launched...

Nuoda's artillery position directly presents a busy scene to outsiders.

The former enemy headquarters of the Liaodong Corps kept ringing with the crisp sound of sending and receiving telegrams.A communications staff officer kept walking in and out, delivering the latest telegrams to Zhang Zizhong. [

"Mr. Zhou, the three artillery regiments have all moved into position..."

"Report sir, the Armored Regiment has sent a telegram: All the equipment and personnel of the Armored Regiment have crossed the river. According to preliminary estimates, in half an hour, all of them will arrive at the scheduled battlefield..."

"Reporter, the remaining two main regiments of our 75th Division have all rushed to the battlefield...>

"Reporting to the officers, the three infantry regiments under 81 are starting to cross the river according to the order...according to the current speed of crossing the river. Within five hours, all can arrive at the predetermined battlefield...>

When the communications staff reported to Zhou Xingguo and Zhang Zizhong one by one.The few combat staff officers standing by the combat sand table were not idle either.Quickly mark the content of the telegram on the huge combat sand table in the war room in various ways.

In a blink of an eye, the deployment of enemy and enemy forces around Sinuiju appeared clearly in front of the two of them.

Commander-in-Chief Zhou Xingguo first said: "Mr. Zhang, look at it from the sand table. Because of North Korea's unique mountainous terrain, if we want to take down Sinuiju, we must first take down this highland. Otherwise, our siege troops will be completely destroyed. "Exposed" to the firepower of the Kwantung Army, the little devil who stood firm on this high ground...>

Zhang Zizhong nodded in agreement, and responded: "According to the information sent back by the Frogman Squadron, there are not many Kwantung Army defenders on the high ground, and there is only one reinforced squadron. However, the only thing that worries me is that the high ground is advantageous. The defensive terrain and the various fortifications that the little devil built on this highland...>

"From the current point of view, this highland is indeed a very difficult problem to solve...>

but.The dignified expression only stayed on Zhou Xingguo's face for less than five seconds before being enveloped by a strong expression of confidence again.Facing Zhang Zizhong, he continued to speak: "However, again, no matter how difficult this battle is, we must take this high ground in a short time."

"After all, the number of little devils in the entire highland is less than 300. Our two main divisions. Even if we use human lives to fill them, we will eat all the elite Kwantung Army with less than 300 people... >

Faced with the thick murderous look on Zhou Xingguo's face instantly, Zhang Zizhong, a man from the northwest, was also infected.Facing Zhou Xingguo.He replied arrogantly: "God's, isn't it just a reinforced squadron? I don't believe it. Our two main divisions still can't win this small high ground."

Speaking of this, Zhang Zizhong's gaze.It has been quickly transferred to the combat sand table.After thinking for a while, he suggested to Zhou Xingguo: "Brother Zhou. I thought, should we not wait for the 81st Division? Use the existing troops and firepower to take this highland first and give it to the Kwantung Army guarding Sinuiju. Take a slap in the face..."

The high ground in front of the Liaodong Corps is not high, and it is only more than one hundred meters long.

In order to avoid direct shooting from the artillery fire of the Ninth Army, the more than 200 elite Kwantung Army did not build a blocking position on the top of the mountain.Instead, relying on various rocks on the mountainside, with the help of a large number of local Korean people, they built a circular defensive offensive and tunnels and anti-blasting holes that penetrated into the highlands to avoid possible artillery fire from the Ninth Army.

Facing the extremely low temperature in North Korea, the entire ground was frozen as hard as steel.Even if you use a bayonet to knock, you can only knock a layer of skin on the surface.

In such a difficult environment, the Japanese Kwantung Army Zengmo hollowed out the entire mountainside.It's very simple to say, they directly used a method used by the volunteer army of later generations...

Now a few fires are being burned on the mountainside where fortifications need to be built, and excavation will be carried out after the fire has completely softened the frozen surface layer.As for the large amount of soil excavated, it is directly piled up on the edge or top of the trench for compaction, and then poured some river water... >

In this way, with the help of a large number of logs, although the Kwantung Army did not have reinforced concrete, it built more than a dozen machine gun bunkers that were almost reinforced concrete on the mountainside.At the same time, all the machine gun bunkers went deep into the interior of the highland and connected together to form a complex intertwined tunnel. [

The artillery fire of the Ninth Army came, and the soldiers of the Kwantung Army who stood on the high ground immediately entered the tunnel to avoid the artillery fire.The infantry of the Ninth Army attacked, and these Kwantung Army soldiers relied on more than a dozen machine gun bunkers similar to reinforced concrete bunkers to inflict maximum damage on the offensive troops of the Ninth Army.

Of course, even if the artillery fire of the Ninth Army destroys all the surface positions on the mountainside.The remnants of the Kwantung Army can also turn into the tunnels, and launch an attack from the ground against the Ninth Army attacking the hills for tunnel operations.

Such a tight defense system was almost the first time that Zhou Xingguo and Zhang Zizhong encountered it since they joined the army.

In order to give the Sinuiju Kwantung Army a blow, Zhou Xingguo used a howitzer battalion, a field artillery battalion, and a main force regiment to attack the high ground.

When the battle broke out, the artillery of the three battalions poured shells desperately into the Japanese positions halfway up the mountain, as if the shells cost nothing.

After continuous reinforcement, it is almost as hard as iron on the Japanese army's position.A mountain artillery shell, unless it directly hits a trench with a width of less than one meter, will blow up this trench from the inside.Otherwise, at most on the surface of the position.Leaving a white spot, even the most common crater.None were able to explode.

105-caliber howitzer: high-explosive bombs that explode continuously, seemingly powerful.On the surface of the Japanese army's position, huge fireballs were blasted into the air.But watch carefully, and you'll see.These high-explosive bombs that exploded did not cause fatal blows to the machine gun bunkers on the mountainside.

The machine gun bunker, which is less than two meters above the ground, still stands on the mountainside, as if mocking the Ninth Army's artillery fire for not being strong enough...>

Holding up the binoculars, Zhang Zizhong, who was paying attention to the battlefield solemnly, looked at Zhou Xingguo who was standing beside him.Shen Sheng said: "Brother Zhou, judging from the battlefield situation, ordinary artillery shells, even 105mm large-caliber howitzer shells, can't help the Kwantung Army's defensive positions built on the mountainside..."

Zhou Xingguo nodded, and couldn't help but let out a sigh of emotion: "I didn't expect that these machine gun bunkers built by the little devil with local materials are so strong, comparable to the reinforced concrete bunkers that the little devil built by the Yalu River...Since ordinary shells can't do anything Little devil bunker. Then switch to armor-piercing rounds..."

Putting down his binoculars, Zhou Xingguo quickly turned around, facing the combat staff officer who was always on standby behind him, and ordered decisively: "Staff Wang, order Commander Liu of the howitzer regiment to replace all shells with armor-piercing shells, and destroy all the machine gun bunkers built by the little devils on the mountainside... >

"Yes, sir……"

"Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..." A series of more piercing whistling sounds sounded above everyone's heads. The first wave totaled 12 armor-piercing bullets.Quickly passed over everyone's heads and landed on the Japanese army's half-mountain position that had been completely shrouded in gunpowder smoke.

An armor-piercing projectile that can easily penetrate even a ten-centimeter thick steel plate.Although it could not directly penetrate the permafrost around the bunker, the thickness of the permafrost was more than one meter.However, the entire armor-piercing projectile still penetrated deeply into the permafrost.

The shell exploded, although it failed to destroy the bunker built entirely of frozen soil and logs.However, the shells that penetrated into the permafrost layer still easily bloomed in the center, blasting a huge gap in this permafrost layer.

Armor-piercing projectiles can completely blow through Japanese bunkers. The news spread to the artillery regiment through the artillery observers.The first battalion of the artillery regiment participating in the attack was all encouraged.Under the order of the regiment commander, hundreds of gunners, in the cold late autumn, even bare their arms, and poured armor-piercing bullets halfway up the mountain at their fastest rate of fire.

One shot...two shots...>

"Okay, good artillery...>

After 10 minutes of artillery fire, a total of [-] rounds of armor-piercing shells poured into the Japanese positions on the mountainside.The entire position, which was still as hard as iron just now, was directly blown out of a layer of floating soil with a thickness of more than half a meter.As for all the machine gun bunkers exposed on the surface, without exception, they all turned into a pile of ruins...

One battalion and one company of the 75 regiment of the 224th division, almost 150 infantry, slowly appeared at the foot of the mountain.Along the rugged mountain road, according to the standard offensive formation, a group of three, covering each other, slowly advanced towards the blocking position of the Kwantung Army that had been blown into a white field halfway up the mountain.

At 300 meters, the Kwantung Army's position on the mountainside did not move at all... At 200 meters, the Kwantung Army's position on the mountainside did not move at all...

Seeing the attacking troops getting closer and closer to the halfway up the mountain, a gleam of joy quickly appeared on Zhou Xingguo's face.In Zhou Xingguo's eyes, at such a short distance, there was no counterattack fire on the mountainside, which was enough to prove that the artillery attack just now wiped out the elite Kwantung Army defending the mountainside. [

However, the confident smile just lasted less than a minute on Zhou Xingguo's face.A sudden burst of gunfire from the middle of the mountain made Zhou Xingguo's confident face suddenly turn pale.

Facing the sudden counterattack of more than 200 Kwantung Army, also because of self-confidence, it seems a bit too much.In the first round of the Japanese counterattack alone, at least 50 casualties were paid.

As an old unit under the Ninth Army, the combat effectiveness of a company of more than 100 people is undoubtedly the highest in the entire army.When the gunshots sounded, although everyone held the idea of ​​​​underestimating the enemy.but.Years of combat career still let the remaining officers and soldiers who were not hit by bullets.Subconsciously lay down on the ground, ready to raise his gun to fight back.

but.Because the Kwantung Army defenders are condescending, they can calmly carry out precise aiming strikes on the Ninth Army under their feet.Although the company of officers and soldiers lying on the ground has an absolute advantage in firepower.However, in the process of shooting against the Kwantung Army on the mountainside, instead of gaining any advantage, they suffered heavy losses.

As a last resort, the [-]st Company, which had already lost more than half, had to withdraw from the battlefield in embarrassment in order to avoid the fate of being wiped out.End this failed attack.

Faced with the sudden exchange of fire on the battlefield, faced with heavy losses, and quickly retreated.Zhou Xingguo, who was still full of confidence just now, quickly showed a dumbfounded expression.Facing Zhang Zizhong beside him, he subconsciously exclaimed: "This, how is it possible, the Kwantung Army on the mountainside has no losses...>

When Zhou Xingguo's heart was covered with one after another doubts and shocks.Zhang Zizhong is by his side.Also lost in thought.

From the bottom of his heart, Zhang Zizhong was even thinking: If he allowed himself to stick to the blocking position halfway up the mountain and face the fierce artillery fire 10 minutes ago, how could his subordinates escape.And there is basically no loss.

However, as one idea after another was rejected by himself, Zhang Zizhong had to admit it.I definitely can't be as good as the commander of the Kwantung Army.

Thinking of this, there was a helpless curse.Protruding directly from Zhang Zizhong's mouth: "The little devils of Gou Ri, are they all gophers? Hiding in the ground..."

The speaker has no intention, but the listener does.Standing beside Zhang Zizhong, Zhou Xingguo, who had been frowning all the time, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed in surprise: "Under the ground, yes, it is under the ground...>

Speaking of this, Zhou Xingguo suddenly thought of the scene when the Ninth Army had not yet grown and was facing the Japanese superior artillery attack.At that time, didn't our own troops just rely on the battlefield to dig holes to escape round after round of Japanese artillery attacks.In the end, will the battle be won?

Now, the strength of the enemy and our troops has been reversed.It is easy to understand why the always proud Kwantung Army adopted this style of play in order to keep their positions.

Now that he has figured out the Kwantung Army's combat strategy on the mountainside, how to solve the problem posed by the Kwantung Army has become Zhou Xingguo's current delay.

Thinking of the bloody battle he had experienced, a sentence the commander-in-chief said to him on the battlefield slowly came to Zhou Xingguo's mind.

"If the little devil is equipped with an airplane and throws aviation incendiary bombs at our position, the anti-gun holes we built on the battlefield will be completely useless. As for why, when we equip ourselves with incendiary bombs in the future, you will witness the burning After the power of the bullet, it will be clear...>

Zhou Xingguo's eyes lit up, and he didn't bother to discuss with Zhang Zizhong, who was still frowning beside him. He turned to the combat staff behind him and ordered decisively: "Commander Li, immediately send a telegram to the staff, requesting the Air Force's support. In addition, to the Air Force The troops attached a sentence: During the bombing process of the Air Force, aviation incendiary bombs must be used, and I will let the Japanese positions be covered by fire for at least half an hour..."

Looking at the combat staff officer who left quickly, Zhou Xingguo looked expectant, and said to Zhang Zizhong: "Mr. Zhang, in a moment, I will let you watch a good show: look at the little devil Kwantung Army on the mountainside, how is it?" Under our attack, they turned into roasted 'beggar chickens'..."

Time passed by, and the Kwantung Army, which won the first round, did not show the slightest attitude of underestimating the enemy on the battlefield.In order to avoid possible retaliatory shelling by the Ninth Army.As soon as the battle was over, the strengthened squadron of the Kwantung Army, which had lost less than 30 people, quickly went underground and disappeared in the surface position halfway up the mountain.

More than 200 Kwantung Army elites hiding in the tunnel held their breath and waited for the artillery fire to strike when an accident happened that all Japanese troops did not expect.

After waiting for half an hour, I did not wait for the Ninth Army to counterattack, but instead waited for a squadron with a total of 12 light bombers fully loaded with aerial bombs...

"Buzzing..." A huge roar of engines whizzed past less than 200 meters above the position of the Kwantung Army. Ten napalm bombs weighing [-] kilograms fell on the mountainside with great precision like rain. Japanese positions.

One bomber after another continuously supplemented the bombing effect of the previous fighter.

The six bombers had finished dropping the ammunition they carried, and the entire surface of the Japanese position had been completely covered by a sea of ​​flames.After completing the bombing mission, the six fighters quickly returned to replenish their ammunition.As for the remaining six bombers, they continued to cruise over the battlefield.As soon as you find signs of extinguishing the sea of ​​fire on the ground, immediately drop a few incendiary bombs to keep the fire going...

The raging fire burning on the Japanese positions lasted for more than half an hour under two consecutive rounds of bombing by a bomber squadron before it was slowly extinguished.

In the telescope, I saw the Japanese army positions that had been burned into a pitch black.A sneer quickly appeared on Zhou Xingguo's face, and he ordered: "Consultant Wang, no accident, the little devils on the mountain will either be burned into a pile of black charcoal, or roasted into chickens. Order 224 regiments Immediately dispatch a company, no, a battalion, and send out all the recruits in the regiment to take over the Japanese positions. By the way, let these recruits truly experience the cruelty of the battlefield...>