"Attack! Target Jimo County!" Half an hour later, the artillery battalion was set up to shoot Zhuyuan, the engineer company dug a simple trench, and the tank troops and infantry were also ready to attack. Kong Xiangsheng gave the order to attack with a wave of his hand.
.
"All artillery positions are available!" "Ready! Fire!"
Soon, the five 155mm heavy artillery and 20 120mm rifled heavy mortars behind the position roared loudly! Large-caliber shells soared into the sky, leaving a trail of bullet marks in the air.
Not long after, I saw numerous craters of varying depths exploding on the Japs position in front of Jimo County, and black smoke clouds rising into the sky!
The 64th Regiment of the Japanese 23rd Division stationed in Jimo County not only dug trenches and anti-tank trenches outside the Jimo County city wall, but also built a large number of bunkers, bunkers and other permanent defenses. In addition, the city wall defenses were reinforced.
From the outside, it looks quite easy to defend but difficult to attack. In the previous "Summer Offensive", the 23rd Division was completely annihilated by Jiang Qiang with blitzkrieg. This was a Japanese local defense force that had just been formed in Japan and landed on the Shandong Peninsula.
!
"Baga! The artillery fire of the Chinese army is too fierce!" "Quick, everyone hides in the anti-gun holes!" "Quick, quick, request artillery support immediately!"
The strong explosion shock wave shook the ground constantly, and the shocking sound waves of the explosion rippled in all directions, causing the eardrums of the surrounding Japanese defenders to tremble and even cause temporary deafness! "Oh, there is a war again! Listen to this sound, this time there is no movement.
Small!" After a teahouse owner heard the sound of the cannon, he quickly walked out of the house and looked to the west, but he could only see clouds of gunpowder smoke rising into the air!
At this time, several tea guests also came out. One of them, a middle-aged man wearing a patched cotton coat, said angrily: "It seems that the Jiaodong Group Army has started to counterattack. I really hope that the Jiaodong Group Army can capture Jimo County this time.
Get rid of the little devils!" Another person answered: "Yes, I heard that there is no need to pay food for farming on the Jiaodong Army's territory, and ordinary workers can earn forty or fifty yuan a month! Those days were really
Have a wonderful day!"
"Who says it's not the case! It's not like here. Not only do we live a miserable life, but we also have to worry about it all day long. The women in the family don't dare to go out on the streets. If they are not careful, they will be captured by the Japanese and used as coolies!" "Yes,
The little devils are really not a bunch of people! They destroy the people's families at every turn. It is really miserable to be a slave to the subjugation of the country!" "Yes! Yes, I heard that life is better over there! I really hope that we can live like that.
!”
As soon as the conversation started, they couldn't stop talking. A group of people looked at the western sky and started talking in random words. They were not worried about the fierce war that was going on. On the contrary, they were full of hope! "Shh! You don't want to die."
, If you let the traitor listen to this, even if you don’t lose your head, you will still be arrested and worked as a coolie, and you will have to shed your skin even if you don’t die! Don’t talk about national affairs! Don’t talk about national affairs!”
The teahouse owner hurriedly waved his hands to everyone. He knew the cruelty of the Japanese devils best, and there were also traitors who worked openly and covertly to help the tigers. People in the enemy-occupied areas would act like slaves for no reason, even if they were honest people.
Suffering disaster! The teahouse owner has seen too many things like this. He really doesn't dare to let these tea patrons talk about these "bad" and rebellious remarks in his own shop!
"Yes, yes, disaster comes from your mouth! It's better for everyone to stop talking!" "Oh! This is the way of the world!" "Hurry! Get in the house, the devil is coming!" "Ah! Hurry!" "It's over, it's not for us.
Are you coming?"
The tea patron next to him quickly kept silent and looked around nervously. At this moment, he happened to see a hundred Japanese soldiers divided into two teams and running along the street, fully armed. Everyone was frightened and immediately got into the house.
Shivering! Rustling, these Japanese soldiers were in a hurry. They didn't stop when they passed by the entrance of the teahouse, and ran directly towards the west gate.
"It's okay! They're not here for us!" "It seems like the Japs are in big trouble this time! Haha!" "Okay, everyone, hide quickly and don't let the Japs get away with their backs before they die. That would be a big loss."
!" Listening to the sound of running getting further and further away, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and raised their arms to wipe the cold sweat from their foreheads.
After the shelling of the Jiaodong Group Army, 40 tanks, 5 armored vehicles, and 4 self-propelled howitzers began to advance forward, and quickly advanced to the front of the Japanese first line of defense amidst the rumbling sound of motors.
"Baga! The Chinese army is attacking, get into position quickly!" "Ready! Fire!" "Fire! Change!" After the tank group entered the effective range, the Japanese defenders hiding in trenches, bunkers and other fortifications
The army began to output wildly! More than twenty gantry frames were placed in the bunker, and the Type 94 37mm combat anti-cannon and 70mm infantry cannon on the city wall were the first to spit out tongues of fire!
Boom boom boom, more than a dozen Pershing heavy tanks rushing at the front were hit directly from the front. Clusters of dazzling flames shot out in all directions, and the hard armor was smashed into dents! Japanese Type 94 37mm combat defense
The types of ammunition used in the gun include armor-piercing explosive shells and grenades, which can penetrate 40 mm homogeneous steel armor plates within a range of 500 meters and 30 mm homogeneous steel armor plates within a range of 1,000 meters!
However, the frontal armor of the Tiger heavy tank is 114 mm, which cannot be penetrated by these small-caliber anti-tank guns! Although it caused a lot of noise and left extremely eye-catching craters on the armor, it didn't stop there.
, it has no effect at all!
The German Panzer IV tank behind the Tiger tank has only 30 mm of frontal armor and 15 mm of vertical armor on the side. It is quite dangerous to be hit by these anti-war artillery within a range of 500 meters! But obviously, the Jiaodong Group Army is
We will not easily give the Japanese army such an opportunity for shelling!
The 70mm infantry gun was one of the most successful infantry fire support firearms during World War II, and its appearance was unique. The gun was attached to the Japanese infantry brigade and used in various tactics. It was not only used for fire support, but also for
Interfering shooting. Infantry artillery is often called ghost cannon by the Chinese army, because after being dismantled, it is not much higher than a heavy machine gun. You can only hear the sound of the cannon but cannot find the cannon.
The direct fire of this gun cannot compare with the 37mm combat anti-aircraft gun, the 50mm cannon, let alone the 75/76. The direct fire cannon is heavier than the 82mm gun, and the projectile does not have the range of the 120mm gun. It cannot counter armored units and cannot break through civil fortifications. This gun is aimed at
On the Chinese battlefield, it would be useless to move it elsewhere. At this time, it can only interfere with the tanks and armored forces, and pose a threat to the infantry, but it does not have much effect!
"It's disrespectful to come back without reciprocating! Fire!" "Fuck you!" "Death to you little devil!" After the Japanese anti-tank firepower point emerged, the Tiger tank 9.
Boom boom boom, soon a series of explosions sounded, cement bricks and tiles were shot everywhere, and large holes were made in several fortification bunkers. The specific results are unknown, but at least the Japanese anti-armor artillery fire was temporarily stopped! The other four places The strong main fortress was only hit with a crater and not seriously damaged! "Haha, let us have a blast too!"
At this time, four 155mm self-propelled cannon howitzers adjusted their shooting angles and aimed at the four solid main forts outside the Japanese army's city! The deafening sound of artillery sounded, and the four heavy artillery guns arrived in an instant and accurately hit the Japanese reinforced concrete main forts. There was a violent explosion. Debris flew everywhere, and large craters were blown out of the shooting holes of the four main forts. The extremely powerful shock wave made the Japanese inside dizzy, and some even vomited blood and couldn't survive the sight of it!
But even so, there is still no substantial damage to these four main forts. It is visually estimated that the thickness of the reinforced concrete of these four main forts is at least 2 meters, and even a direct shot from heavy artillery cannot penetrate the soul! "I'll kill you! The Japanese are really willing to spend money. !”
When the self-propelled artillery gunner Jiang Jinde saw this, he immediately shouted: "Quickly, put on kinetic energy bullets. I won't believe that this turtle shell can't be penetrated!" Kinetic energy bullets refer to ammunition that relies on its own kinetic energy to kill, such as bullets. Artillery shells, this type of ammunition has the advantage of being fast, simple and difficult to defend, but has the disadvantage of not being able to kill on all sides, and the greater the kinetic energy, the greater the recoil.
The corresponding explosive anti-personnel ammunition relies on the fragments generated by its own explosion to kill, such as hand grenades and grenades. The advantages of this type of ammunition are high lethality against soft targets, large damage area, and small recoil. The disadvantage is that it cannot target hard targets. Effective killing. "Okay! Let the little devil have a taste of our artillery shells!"
Soon the loader loaded a 155mm artillery shell into the barrel. Bang, followed by another loud noise, and the powerful recoil made the huge body of more than 30 tons tremble. The artillery shell moved at a speed invisible to the naked eye. , with a bang, it accurately hit the large crater of the Japanese main fort again, and then saw a big hole in the Japanese main fort!
The shell directly penetrated the half-broken Japanese main fort and shot into the interior of the Japanese bunker. Although the specific effect is not clear, the combat anti-cannon is definitely doomed! "Haha, well done! Let's try it too, quickly. Replace with kinetic energy bullets! Penetrate the Japanese turtle shell!"
Seeing this scene, the other three self-propelled artillery immediately followed suit and replaced it with kinetic energy bombs! Boom boom boom, and then a new round of shelling began, and the three reinforced concrete bunkers were all blasted out. Although the extremely deep pothole has not completely penetrated, it will only happen sooner or later!
"Baga! What is this? The Chinese army actually has such a mobile heavy artillery?" The Japanese captain Makino Takashi was observing the battle situation in a bunker above the city wall. He was shocked to find that the Jiaodong Group Army's armored troops actually appeared. The self-propelled artillery was suddenly shocked and his eyes were straight. "Yes, the Jiaodong Army is too powerful! How could the Empire encounter such a difficult opponent! Without the fire support of the Imperial Air Force, we would not be able to hold on for a long time!"
Another Japanese captain, Kanta Abe, felt a chill in his heart. He originally thought that with the extremely strong group of bunkers and city fortifications, he would be able to hold on and wait for reinforcements. Even if he could not hold on in the end, he would at least be able to defeat the Chinese tigers.
The army paid an unbearable price of casualties! However, at this moment, Abe Ganta realized that if there is no powerful air force dispatched, this can only be a luxury hope! "We must report this new situation to the division commander as soon as possible and make a strong request
Air Force support!”
Makino Takashi frowned. He had just landed in Shandong Peninsula from China and encountered such a powerful opponent. He didn't want to die in Jimo County like this!
"Brothers, it's our turn to play!" "Kill the Japanese!"
The tanks and armored troops approached the front of the Japanese position and suppressed the heavy firepower and firepower points, making the Japanese unable to lift their heads. The infantry and engineer troops behind them began to advance forward! The engineers crawled to the front of the anti-tank trench,
First, a bunch of grenades were thrown into the tank trench!
Boom boom boom, only a violent explosion was heard, like fried beans. Sure enough, a large number of mines were buried inside! After detonating all the mines in the anti-tank trench, the engineers jumped into the anti-tank trench with explosive bags in their hands.
, carry out blasting! "Baga! Kill these Chinese engineers!" "Quickly! Shoot!"
At this time, the Japanese also saw the Jiaodong Army engineers holding explosive bags, and quickly fired from the turned gun. A string of bullets were fired, causing flowers to bloom on the dirt ground. There were several engineers.
He was bitten by a bullet and injured! "Covering fire!" "Kill these beasts!"
The tank's main gun and heavy machine gun fired instantly, and the infantry hiding behind the tank and armored vehicle picked up the M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle and fired accurately at the enemy's firepower point! The long and short guns opened up their firepower instantly, and the enemy's firepower was all over the place in one fell swoop.
It was suppressed.
At the same time, the fighting in Linyi County, Fei County, Xintai County, Laiwu County, Yidu County, Shouguang County, Ye County and other directions was also quite fierce, especially in Linyi County! "Nani? Jiaodong Group Army began to carry out a large-scale campaign again.
A large-scale military operation? Bagya Road! This is really a big trouble!"
Shunroku Hata, who was far away in Wuhan, soon got the news, and he was so angry that he couldn't even bother to fight back to annihilate the Jiaodong Group Army. Instead, the rear area would face great military pressure. Tsukada nodded and said: "Indeed
So! But it doesn’t matter much, the empire only needs to lock the Taishan defense line and a few ports, even if they expand their territory, it won’t have much effect!”
Shunroku Hata frowned and muttered: "How can things be so simple! If this corruption continues, it is likely to cause a series of big problems! For example, the Jiaodong Group Army has regained a large amount of lost ground, which will definitely greatly boost the morale of the Chinese army!
The empire is now at a very critical moment, and Wang Jingwei is already interested in surrendering!
We really can't cause trouble at this time, otherwise we will really fail!" Tsukada nodded and said: "This is indeed a big trouble. What I am most worried about is the Soviet government, which will continue to increase its assistance to the Chinese government! By then, the Soviet Union will
Aided weapons and equipment will continue to enter China, and there may even be large-scale aid to the Air Force!
After receiving these weapons and equipment and air force assistance, the combat effectiveness of the Chinese army will be greatly increased, coupled with their high morale and fighting spirit, and the Jiaodong Group Army as a powerful opponent! It is not impossible for the situation of the Japan-China War to be completely reversed!"
Nani?”
Muto Akira's eyelids twitched, and he suddenly turned his head to look at the serious Tsukada and asked: "Is it so serious? The empire now has an absolute advantage, how could the situation be reversed because of a local army?" "Yes, I am most worried about it.
This is the only thing. If they echo each other from a distance or even connect with each other, it will definitely be a disaster!
You might as well imagine how much the morale of the Chinese army will be boosted if the Jiaodong Army is allowed to continue to grow and even regain the entire Shandong area?" Shunroku Hata looked extremely solemn, and then continued: "In order to avoid such an unfavorable situation,
I think the empire must make up its mind to mobilize a heavy force group of at least ten divisions and annihilate the Jiaodong Army quickly, and cannot delay it any longer!
Because I have a strange feeling that the opponent of the Jiaodong Group Army cannot be deduced by common sense. It is not just a military blockade and an economic blockade that can stop them from growing. The longer it goes on, the more dangerous it will be!" Okamura Neiji nodded in agreement.
: "What Hata Toshi-san said is absolutely true, and I feel the same way! In this case, we might as well jointly remonstrate to His Majesty the Emperor and change the war strategy appropriately!" "Yoshi! This is how it should be!"
Shunroku Hata nodded, then stood up and walked to the window, looking at the urban area of Wuchang that had just experienced the war, and said quietly: "Since ancient times, heroes have been judged by their success or failure. The empire is facing the best historical opportunity in a thousand years. If such a great river and mountain can
If we cannot fully integrate into the empire, we will be the eternal sinners of the Yamato nation!" "Hai! It's true what Hata Shunsang said. The winner is a prince and the loser is a bandit. From the moment the war begins, the Yamato nation still has no way out, only
Keep moving forward on this path!”
"Yo Xi! For the eternal foundation of the Yamato nation, we must work together, even if we shed the last drop of blood for the empire!" Old devils such as Okamura Neji, Tsukada Gong and Muto Akira nodded heavily!
Although they were still frightened by the bloody battle in Wuhan and the heavy casualties paid by the Japanese army, these old devils became increasingly restless and cruel and bloodthirsty deep in their hearts! After a pause, Okamura Neiji said in a deep voice: "However, I
We still think that our most important task at the moment is to capture Nanchang and cut off the Zhejiang-Jiangxi railway line connecting China’s third theater and ninth theater!”
On November 1, 1938, Okamura Neiji, surrounded by his staff and guards, entered the city of Wuhan as a victor. Okamura Neiji established the headquarters of the Eleventh Army in the former Hubei Province in Wuchang
In the government compound, where you can stay and work, it happens to be the official residence of Chen Cheng, the commander-in-chief of the Ninth War Zone of China and the governor of Hubei Province before the fall of Wuhan.
Not long after Okamura Neiji entered Wuhan, he felt a sense of crisis. After the Wuhan Battle, he became the commander of the Eleventh Army. Because he was eager for quick success and quick success when he took office, which resulted in the loss of troops and poor progress, he felt deeply guilty for this.
Later, he sent the Matsuura Division to advance alone, which made the emperor anxious about the 30,000 Japanese troops trapped in the siege of Wanjialing. General Hata Junroku personally intervened and took command, but still failed to save an entire division from being eaten by Xue Yue. Naturally, Okamura
They were greatly stimulated and became cautious. After the battle, the Japanese army achieved its strategic goal of occupying Wuhan, but the Japanese army actually only occupied a narrow strip of land along the Yangtze River in central China.
This occupied area extending from Haizhou to Wuhan along the waterway is directly threatened by the millions of troops between the Chinese Army's Third War Zone, Fifth War Zone and Ninth War Zone. Okamura Neiji has always been worried about the Chinese Army's Third War Zone and Ninth War Zone.
The theaters responded to each other and launched an offensive together. The fifth theater responded in Jiangbei, potentially trapping his Eleventh Army in Wuhan. Nanchang, the provincial capital city where the Nanxun Railway and the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Railway intersected, made Okacun feel like he was stuck in his throat.
Not only because the Zhejiang-Jiangxi railway line is the main transportation line connecting the Third War Zone and the Ninth War Zone, but also because the Nanchang Airport of the Chinese Air Force directly threatens the Japanese army’s rule over Wuhan and the occupied areas along the Yangtze River. Therefore, Okamura Neiji has been planning
He asked for a battle to eradicate the huge threat of Nanchang, and at the same time, he also wanted to gain some capital on the Nanxun line battlefield that had embarrassed him.
At this time, the Jiaodong Group Army far away in Shandong began to cause trouble again. Okamura Ningji was extremely worried that if this tiger broke out of its cage and connected with Li Zongren's troops in the fifth theater, it would be an unimaginable catastrophe.
disaster!
Although Jiang Qiang's "warlord" nature is extremely strong, and he seems to be incompatible with other Chinese military groups, Okamura Neiji knows very well that Jiang Qiang is a Chinese who is determined to resist Japan. Once there is a suitable opportunity to fight, he will
I will never let it go! "Okamura-kun, what you are worried about is what I am worried about, but the time is not right now. Not only do we need time to rest and mobilize our troops, we also need to formulate a new combat strategy for the Jiaodong Group Army!"
Shunroku Hata sighed extremely helplessly. As the scale of the war of aggression against China expanded step by step, Japan's disadvantage of being a small country with a small population and poor resources gradually became apparent! After several major battles, the Japanese army's strength was already stretched thin, and a large-scale war was going on in the country.
Mobilization, new divisions are being formed in large numbers, but it will take a long time to form the strongest combat effectiveness.
Due to the principle of confidentiality, the official media did not publicize the "icebreaking operation" launched by the Jiaodong Group Army at the first time, but such a big movement cannot be hidden! The general public, newspapers and enemy and friendly agents near the war zone all paid attention
When this happened, all kinds of news quickly spread like wildfire through various channels.
"Mother Xipi, Jiang Qiang really knows how to choose the right time. I hope the noise can be louder so that the little Japs don't dare to continue to advance towards Nanchang!" The fierce battle lasted all day, until it got dark at 7 o'clock in the evening.
, the Jiaodong Group Army called Jin to withdraw its troops and temporarily stopped the attack.
Due to fear of the mysterious and powerful Flying Tigers of the Jiaodong Group Army, the Japanese navy and land aviation groups have never participated in the battle. Instead, the helicopter brigade of the Flying Tigers frequently dispatched guest bombers, putting great pressure and damage on the Japanese positions! The Japanese troops cruising offshore
The fleet was restricted by both range and coastal defense artillery, and was also unable to defend the city. The Japanese troops in the fortress provided effective fire support!
Therefore, the Jiaodong Group Army, which had air superiority, heavy artillery, tanks and armored forces, had absolute battlefield initiative from the beginning, while the Japanese defenders relied on fortifications and geographical advantages to resist! After a day of fierce fighting, the Jiaodong Group Army made great progress.
, in Xintai County, Shouguang County, Ye County, Yidu County, Jimo County and other directions, multiple lines of defense were broken through, and heavy troops gathered near the county seat!
Although the Jiaodong Group Army showed great ambitions, the Japanese army did not react violently. It seemed that it had foreseen this!
The Japanese defenders everywhere adopted a passive defensive posture. Although they did not take the initiative to confront the Jiaodong Army, they persisted in key defense areas! Unlike the flat Shandong Plain, most of the counties and cities attacked this time were hilly and mountainous areas.
, limited by the terrain, tanks and armored forces cannot display their true strength!
The Japanese army is also well aware of the Jiaodong Group Army's field capabilities in the plains, so it has been vigorously building fortifications on a large scale a few months ago, especially in hilly and mountainous areas! Therefore, although the initiative in combat is firmly in the hands of the Jiaodong Group Army
, but it is not that simple to achieve the strategic goal of the icebreaking operation!