Iron Cross

"Sir, we hope to participate in the night battle." Just after Ridgway deployed the overall tactics and arranged the team for execution, the adjutant unexpectedly led the aviation commander Colonel Ron to find him and made a request to join the battle.

In addition to the safe return of long-range transport aircraft and heavy bombers, the Army aviation aircraft that went to Bermuda today to fight, Arnold also sent a large number of P-51, A-26 and other aircraft to provide aerial fire support. By the evening, these pilots who had exhausted their fuel had Abandoning the plane and parachuting, and then being collected by the airborne division one after another, this move alone caused the Army Aviation to lose nearly 300 aircraft (voluntarily giving up, being shot down by the Germans, crashing in accidents due to various reasons, etc.), but everyone believed that It's worth it. Without the cover of aerial firepower, the 82nd Airborne Division is afraid of being directly beaten into a swarm by heavy German firepower.

More than 200 crew members escaped safely after landing and were rescued by ground forces. The rest either fell into the sea and drowned, or were captured or shot dead by the Germans. Only a few lucky ones landed in German-controlled areas, but because of the support of the people, Cover and hide. .

"You?" Li Qiwei looked at them with hesitant eyes. Before leaving, General Arnold told him that he must protect these pilots and prevent them from being harmed.

"Although we don't have planes now, at least we are still an army and can shoot and fight. We also have to compete with the Germans. We don't want to sit around waiting for you to save us, and we don't want you to distract us."

"But..." Ridgway told Arnold's arrangement and comforted him, "You have fought hard all afternoon. Let us airborne divisions handle the ground battle."

"I understand that we volunteer to join the Airborne Division. As long as you give us weapons and supplies, I promise not to cause you any trouble."

Li Qiwei thought for a while and felt that it was not appropriate to refuse help from others at such a critical juncture, and if they were defeated, the final fate of these pilots might not be good - even though he had told the skydiving pilots before coming that they could immediately report to the parachute pilots if the situation was unfavorable. The Germans surrendered, but on the whole, no one wanted to be taken prisoner.

He immediately stretched out his hands and shook each other tightly: "Welcome to join the 82nd Airborne Division temporarily. It is an honor to fight side by side with you. During the day, you are in the air, we are on the ground, and at night we are on the ground together to fuck the Germans!"

"Yes, sir! It was so cool to see you fighting in the afternoon. You are different from those generals who are fat-bellied and only gesticulate in the office. You are a real general."

After learning that all the pilots had joined their team, the remaining soldiers of the 505th Regiment cheered loudly and their morale was high. However, the good times did not last long. After 10 o'clock, Lieutenant Colonel Baker's fatal blow began.

The German army knew that they had few people and limited time, so they had to choose smart ways of attacking. Night fighting was a new topic for everyone, but for the German Marines, who were mainly veterans, they adapted quickly and effectively.

With a "boom", a high-explosive bomb exploded on the US defense line, and then the unique weaving sound of MG42 began to sound, mixed with the firing sound of G43 and Garand rifles. At the same time, a large number of The flares also flew over, illuminating the central area of ​​Bermuda Island in a pale white light, and the figures running on the airborne division's position could be clearly seen.

Not to be outdone, the U.S. military immediately responded with ferocious firepower. Several machine guns fired out long tongues of flame, desperately suppressing the advance of the German troops on the opposite side. The recoilless rifles fired as if for free, regardless of whether they were aimed at the target. They fired first - this This is the firepower doctrine that the US military has always emphasized. .

"Have you seen the target clearly?"

"You can basically see it clearly."

"Okay." Captain Lindemann waved his hand fiercely, "Fire 5 rounds quickly, let go!"

Hearing the "whoosh" sound coming from the sky, Li Qiwei's expression changed drastically. Of course he knew what it was - it was the unique roar of a mortar, the king of firepower in close combat support.

The two German infantry battalions have a total of 12 80mm long-barreled battalion-affiliated mortars. They play little role in daytime operations and have few opportunities to show up. After being attacked by air raids, there are still 9 mortars left. At night, Baker immediately formulated the first tactical strategy: first use tanks and infantry to feign attacks to lure the enemy to reveal their firing points, and then let the assembled mortar units carry out covering fire. After five rapid fire rounds, the officers and soldiers at the newly exposed forward position of the US military were completely enveloped in the explosive air wave and flying shrapnel.

"Damn it!"

The US military knew that the German Marines did not have any other barrel artillery except 88mm guns and tank guns. At most, they had some recoilless guns. Therefore, they could not help but take it lightly. They forgot that the German army was still equipped with mortars at the battalion level, and the density was very high. It's quite high, with 9 guns mounted at once. What's even worse is that these mortars are pushed directly to more than 1,000 meters away and fired. They are bullying the US military for not having long-range suppressive firepower.

If the Eastern Front gathers 9 mortars together in such a big way and uses them in advance, it will not take long to store them and attract long-range artillery fire or air strikes from the opponent. But now the 82nd Airborne Division has nothing to do with mortars, and the German artillery fire The location is at least 1,000 meters away. Although theoretically the US military's own 18 recoilless rifles can cover this distance, the aiming requirements are too high, and it is impossible to see clearly in the dark. And if the US military dares to fire flares to expose its position, more intense mortar fire will immediately follow.

This round of coverage shooting cost the US military more than 60 people, and the forward defense line suddenly became sparse. Taking advantage of this opened gap, the German troops who initially feinted to attack immediately rushed over under the cover of tanks. The war seemed to have degenerated into World War I mode - -The infantry charges behind the tank.

Colonel Carney discovered the crisis on the front line and immediately adjusted his tactics. He did not rigidly fill the gap with people. Under the firepower of German tanks and mortars, no matter how many people there were, they could not block the gap. He asked the troops to move out of the way. Passage, allowing the German troops to come in and engage in close combat.

Sure enough, when the German infantry and tank troops advanced to more than 200 meters in front of the defense line, the German army stopped the offensive, and the mortars that had moved their positions fired rapidly according to the target instructions again - the tank commander had already informed the target location through the radio. to the mortar company behind.

The results of this battle were much smaller. The well-trained US military did not fire in an orderly manner, but in a piecemeal manner. It seemed that troops were deployed in every corner - the center of Lieutenant Colonel Baker, who was commanding from behind, suddenly sank. This not only meant that It seems that the enemy has more trouble than he thought, and the enemy has adapted to the rhythm just now, and there will be big trouble in the next attack.

Sure enough, as the two sides fought hand-to-hand, the U.S. military began to gain continuous results. Although the tanks tried their best to cover the infantry assault, the bazooka or recoilless rifle could not be stopped by the No. 4 tank. Two brave American soldiers hid in the dark during the day. The heavy bomber hit the German tank in the crater only 10 meters away. Although they were quickly torn into pieces by the accompanying German soldiers, the tank was helplessly scrapped.

The most frequent explosion on the battlefield is the explosion of the American melon grenade. This thing is much more explosive than the long-handled grenade commonly used by German infantry. It can be thrown in various postures. The disadvantage of short throwing distance is no longer obvious in close combat. What's more terrible is that throwing melon grenades is the specialty of the 82nd Airborne Division. They are so skillful in using it that the officers and soldiers are almost conditioned reflexes. Whether it's a tank, an armored vehicle, or a German infantryman, it's a grenade when you spot it.

The No. 4 tank is not afraid of grenades, but armored vehicles are in trouble when encountering them. One of the open-top SDK.251 compartments was poured directly into the compartment, killing all the German soldiers on it.

Time passed by, and the German attacking troops had changed three waves, but they were still unable to break through the US defense line, let alone separate and encircle it. The brave American soldiers also got angry, gritted their teeth and resisted, fighting to the death. The German army suffered a lot with the endless side firepower.

From 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock, although the German army advanced the front line about 1,800 meters and killed (injured) at least 600 American soldiers, it also paid the price of more than 200 casualties, the loss of 4 tanks, and almost all armored vehicles being scrapped, and 82 The airborne division's resistance continued.

If Lieutenant Colonel Baker had enough time, he would definitely not choose to fight such a battle. As long as he delays the opponent and uses long-range firepower to slowly consume the opponent, he believes that he will be able to defeat the opponent at a lower cost. But the problem is that he The most lacking thing is time. As soon as the sky breaks out, the US military air attack will come roaring. He cannot afford to waste it or wait.

"The troops will shrink first, adjust the attack route, and separate a company to detour to the left wing." Under the dark night, he turned his attention to the right wing of the US military, where the firepower seemed less intense. He wanted to cut off the US military in front of him by outflanking him. retreat.

"But this way, the pressure on facing the enemy head-on is too small, and the enemy can easily detect our movements."

"The mortar company came forward, used up all the ammunition, and used the explosive barrage to cover the assault force's actions..."

Pieces of artillery shells fell again, and the German troops began to retreat slowly. The surviving American officers and soldiers on the position were all relieved. The attack just now was really thrilling. The ferocious firepower and nowhere of the German army The lack of tactical penetration put great pressure on them. Although their troops were twice as many as their opponents, they felt as if they were being suppressed and beaten by the Germans without even a chance to breathe. In order to destroy the enemy's heavy equipment, the paratroopers who came one after another paid a heavy price.

"Sir, the enemy cannot be defeated..."

Li Qiwei shook his head: "Far from reaching this point, the enemy is planning the next attack."

"What do we do?"

"Let the frontline troops retreat and move to the third line position."

"Ah...why?"