Arc of Gunfire

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 produced by the shallow-water heavy gunboat had not yet dispersed, and a new mushroom cloud rose into the sky again.

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

Erwin's adjutant also pressed his hat and shrank his head, shouting: "It's over, look at this explosion equivalent, our ammunition is finished!"

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

"Yes!"

The adjutant turned around to convey 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, the machine gun sounded.

Both the Plosson infantry and armored grenadiers were equipped with machine guns in large numbers. There were a total of five heavy machine guns with tripods around the headquarters. The one that fired should be the one at the main gate.

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

Then the sound of strafing came, which was obviously different from the MP38/40 submachine guns equipped by the Plosson Army, and sounded more dry.

The adjutant hurried in from outside and reported loudly: "The enemy is attacking the main gate, and it seems that there is a platoon of troops! General, transfer from the back door!"

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

As soon as the voice fell, there was another explosion outside. As soon as the people in the room turned their heads, they saw the turret of the No. 4 tank belonging to the African Army Corps flew into the air.

This is a short-barreled No. 4.

The equipment of the African Army is very poor, and some troops are even driving the No. 3 tank with a 37mm gun.

The adjutant's face was livid: "It's no longer safe here. I don't know how many people will come to kill 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!"

Elvin pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and grabbed the camera on the table: "You are right, move to the headquarters of the 15th Armored Division, let's go."

The adjutant was overjoyed and immediately called three guards to escort the admiral to the back door of the headquarters.

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

The admiral didn't hear the gunshot, only the sound of "whoosh" breaking through the air.

Before everyone could react, the second "whoosh" came! The adjutant reacted quickly and pushed the admiral away, but he himself was shot in the shoulder by a one-meter-long arrow!

Elvin stared at the arrow with wide eyes, subconsciously opened the button of the camera box, and planned to take a picture.

However, the remaining guards rushed over and pressed him to the ground, covering him completely 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 at the darkness.

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

The adjutant wanted to speak, but there was only the sound of leaking air.

At this time, the sound of machine guns tearing canvas sounded, and a No. 3 tank command type drove over while firing at full power and blocked Admiral Irwin and the guards with its body.

Irwin: "Turn on the headlights! Turn on the headlights to show the enemy!"

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

The headlights of the tank lit up, illuminating the dark courtyard as bright as day.

The United Kingdom soldier who was holding a longbow and about to shoot was also illuminated.

When Irwin saw this soldier, he also wanted to take a photo as soon as possible, but he disappeared like a frightened mole.

The tracer bullets of the machine gun immediately broke the floor tiles where the enemy stood.

A Molotov cocktail flew from nowhere, but it was thrown too far away and only landed on the tank tracks, which then set the tracks on fire.

The tank itself was not affected, and the machine gun continued to spit out flames.

Elvin heard someone shouting something in Angsa.

In a flash, a tricycle used by the messenger of the army headquarters rushed into the yard. The driver lowered his head, and the man and the car drilled through the coaxial machine gun fire line of the tank turret and rushed to the back door of the headquarters yard.

When passing the guard post at the door, the "archer" just ran out and jumped on the car.

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

In the melodious sound of the bagpipe, the soldiers of the United Kingdom stopped fighting and turned into the darkness.

The sound of gunfire quickly fell silent.

Admiral Elvin: "Okay, let me get up, you two!"

No one responded.

The admiral could only push the two people who were holding him down away. Only then did he realize that the two guards were shot in the back by an arrow, and their backs were completely soaked in blood.

Erwin pulled out an arrow and looked at it carefully.

Although the arrow was made in an old style, it was obviously made with advanced technology and processed using modern technology.

Erwin threw the arrow down, 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, as well as the photo of his fiancée from the adjutant's pocket, solemnly put them in his pocket, and then gently closed his eyes with his hands.

At this time, the chief of staff came over: "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 to the riverside dock where the flames were soaring.

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

After a short thought, he said: "We may not be able to take down Alexander. We must retreat to Tobruk before the enemy starts to 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 7th Armored Division disappeared from the front line two months ago. It should have rested and replenished its weapons and equipment.

"We only have 88mm guns and a small number of long-barreled No. 4s 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 deal with His Majesty. ”

The chief of staff shook his head: "No, no, General, His Majesty didn't expect 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 in faraway North Africa than to land on the island of Cilicia and threaten the southern borders of the empire."

Elvin frowned. He actually saw the emperor's intention, but he was not willing to execute it. It was too inconsistent with his military philosophy to tie down the enemy's forces.

Elvin advocated attack, continuous attack, and defeated the enemy step by step, crying for his parents.

It's a pity that he really can't attack now. The overly long supply lines and the weak navy and air force forced his attack to come to a halt.

Elvin turned around and looked at Alexandria, where many places were still burning.

He took out his camera and framed the city with the viewfinder, but didn't press the shutter.

Because the cameras of this era don't have AI compensation algorithms, you can't take pictures at night without a flash - no, even if there is a flash, you can't take any good pictures.

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

"We have been to Alexandria," Admiral Erwin said to the chief of staff, "We have been there!"

The chief of staff also looked at the city and nodded vigorously: "Yes, we have been there."

————

The next morning, General Mago came to the assembly camp of the Seventh Armored Division in a jeep.

The Seventh Armored Division had just added a large number of M4 Sherman tanks, and the troops had rested for several months in Lokay, the largest city of the Mamluks, and now their morale was high.

Seeing the general's car coming, the tankmen who were doing the final inspection 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 already received the order!"

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

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

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

Commander Smith: "Erwin is also, and he has written a book about the coordinated attack of infantry and artillery."

Mago: "But he is now regarded as an outstanding armored commander, as the newspapers in Prosun say. Rokosov is the same, and as for George, the armored forces of the United States were established by him.

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

Smith: "General, a tank commander does not need to be able to drive a tank, as long as he can 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: “In this way, you can get into the Sherman, expose half of your body outside, hold a telescope in your hand, and the reporter from the Times is here, so he can take a picture of you.”

General Mago touched his chin and thought for a few seconds, then nodded: “Okay, that’s good. Choose a Sherman in good condition.”

“All Shermans are in good condition, General, we are preparing to attack the Plossons.”

General Mago took off his officer’s coat covered with medals: “Come, lend me a tanker’s uniform, let’s take a picture as a commemoration of driving the Plossons out of Alexandria!”