The Japanese army's suffocating bombardment actually lasted for three rounds. Except for two intervals in between, the entire bombardment lasted more than 45 minutes!
There is no doubt that such a fierce shelling caused heavy casualties to the 769th Regiment on the frontal position!
Watching one infantry squad after another being helplessly filled into the battlefield, and then taking advantage of the lull in the Japanese artillery fire, less than half of them withdrew. The face of the young commander of the 769th regiment was full of pain, but the only thing that remained unchanged was
Perseverance!
Even his deputy regiment commander and second battalion commander asked him not to send another infantry platoon into the front-line position when the second Japanese bombardment stopped!
Before the Japanese infantry entered the battlefield, they had already lost almost a full infantry platoon!
Facing the pleading of his subordinates, the young leader's face was calmer than ever before.
Although everyone who knows him knows that the leader of their regiment, who is only in his early 20s, has a maturity far beyond his own age. The calmer his facial expression is, the more it proves the burning anger in his heart, just like a few months ago, he personally
Just like leading an infantry battalion to attack Yangmingpu Airport, several officers of the newly formed regiment thought that he was too risky.
But because of the existence of Yangmingbao Airport at that time, the Japanese army frequently transferred to the airport, which posed a great threat to the Chinese armies that were fighting the main force of the Japanese army at that time. In his words at the time: Is there any risk in a war? 100%
If we win steadily, there will be no need to fight this battle!
Perhaps, his subordinates still don't understand this young leader that well.
Although he is only 23 years old, this colonel leader has been in the army for 9 years and has been promoted to military positions that are beyond the reach of countless peers. He has extraordinary calmness and wisdom!
As a soldier, he knows why his subordinates are suffering. They are not frightened by the blood, but they don't want to die in vain. He understands the emotions among his comrades too well. No one wants to watch the precious lives of his comrades being wasted in vain.
!
So they asked themselves to reduce the number of troops on the front line, leaving only a few observation posts, so that the Japanese artillery fire would be useless!
But as a commander, he better understands what the Japanese commander is thinking. The Japanese commander is just waiting until he can no longer bear the casualties and reduces the input of soldiers. The Japanese infantry who have arrived 350 meters away from the front line are not decorations. The Japanese
Although the infantry and artillery coordination is not excellent enough, it can barely reach 200 meters!
The distance of 200 meters was really too close. Although they were rushing from the bottom of the mountain to the top of the mountain, if the Japanese artillery fire had chosen to extend and fire on the mountain crest, would the soldiers hidden behind the mountain still be able to rush in before the Japanese army arrived at the position?
Where is the position?
He must and can only maintain sufficient strength on the position under the raging Japanese artillery fire!
"The Japanese have the ability to never stop shelling, so I, the 769th Regiment, will fight with them until every soldier is killed! The squad leader is gone, platoon commander is gone, the platoon leader is gone, the company commander is gone, the company commander is gone, the battalion commander is gone, I
This regiment leader personally came and spread my words to every company! Whoever questions the military order again will be subject to military law!" The young regiment leader rejected everyone with an almost cruel military order.
The 772nd Regiment and the 771st Regiment, which had already arrived on both wings, were actually in pain looking at the frontal positions shrouded in gunpowder smoke in the distance!
In order to put all the more than 1,500 Japanese troops in his pocket, Brigadier Cheng chose the flat Beiganling as the battlefield. However, everything has pros and cons, because the battlefield is wide and the high ground on both wings is far away from the Japanese infantry. In addition to the heavy machine gun, the range is sufficient.
, the rifles on both flanks cannot guarantee the hit rate!
That also means that when the Japanese army violently attacked the frontal positions, it was almost difficult for them to attack the frontal positions on high ground, unless they used mortars!
But let’s not talk about the extremely limited reserve of mortar shells. How effective can mortars alone be in attacking infantry on a vast battlefield? Unless two infantry regiments rush down the high ground and enter the plains to fight the Japanese infantry.
But the Japanese army may have been on guard against this move for a long time. Taking advantage of the gaps in the artillery bombardment, their infantry had already dug field trenches in the hills and mountains beside the highway!
Without enough artillery fire, they have to turn from defense to attack, and the price they pay is terrifying just to think about it!
Although this situation will change after the arrival of the Fourth Army Regiment in the afternoon, it now means that the two battalions of the 769th Regiment on the frontal position must withstand the main Japanese attack.
It can be said that Goto Koshiminami, who was the supreme commander of the Japanese army at the time, was indeed a difficult opponent. After observing the battlefield, he immediately came up with the most effective tactics, which also caused headaches for the Chinese side.
Of course, all this is based on the fact that he didn't know that the Chinese army at this time still had such a strange force as the Si Xing Regiment. If he knew that the Si Xing Regiment also carried four 150-heavy mortars and 16 82-heavy mortars with the army,
Damn it, he would never make such a choice.
Coupled with the mortars equipped by the three elite infantry regiments of the 921 Division that had arrived on the battlefield at this moment, the total number of more than 30 mortars was by no means something that the Japanese infantry could withstand in the temporary field trenches dug by individual engineer shovels.
, even if the Japanese infantry were very careful, they dug out a depth of more than 80 centimeters in less than an hour!
But it has to be said that at least before the arrival of the Four Troops, Goto Koshiminami's "it's better to cut off one of his ten fingers than to hurt him" move indeed made the three Chinese infantry regiments on the battlefield feel very painful.
!
It's just like kicking the iron-headed man on the grassland——Brother Flathead, it's very tricky!
However, the young leader of the 769th Regiment was not entirely miserable. During the battle, he received two fairly good news.
The 1st Battalion, the main force under his command, fought a fierce battle with the Japanese army. Although it suffered heavy casualties, the basic skeleton was still preserved. If enough soldiers could be added from the supplementary regiment after the war, it would not take three months to regain combat effectiveness!
In addition, when the second round of Japanese artillery bombardment began, Brigadier Cheng, who had already arrived 5 kilometers away from the battlefield, keenly judged that the Japanese army would use frontal positions as a breakthrough tactic, and immediately assigned the artillery company directly under the 683rd Brigade Headquarters to
His two 37mm rapid-fire guns and four mortars were mobilized to the frontal position!
Moreover, the main gunners of the two 37mm rapid-fire guns were all instructors from the Four Rows Regiment. After hearing that the battle situation had changed and that a tough battle with the Japanese invaders was about to take place in Beiganling, the four instructors from the Four Rows Regiment
He immediately found Brigadier Cheng and asked to join the battle as a gunner.
It’s not that the newly trained gunners are incompetent, they have basically reached the level of a skilled gunner after firing more than 200 rounds of live ammunition.
But after all, this was their first time participating in the war as artillerymen. On such a cruel battlefield, it was already rare for a gunner to be able to maximize his usual training level to 50%, but that was obviously not enough.
Brigadier Cheng agreed to the request of four elite gunners of the Fourth Line Regiment to fight, and they rushed to the frontal battlefield responsible for the 769th Regiment with two 37mm rapid-fire guns weighing 400 kilograms.
Although the 37mm rapid-fire gun is too heavy and its maneuverability is far inferior to that of the 92 infantry gun, its excellent armor-piercing capability is definitely the nemesis of the 94 light tank!
After receiving this telegram, the young commander of the 769th Regiment immediately ordered an infantry platoon under his command to be responsible for the construction of its fortifications.
A large number of sandbags and felled thigh-thick trees were transported to the battlefield, and there were even tunnels made by soldiers who risked their lives by blasting and manually digging shell craters.
An entire infantry platoon was serving these two weapons that were about to arrive at the front line, but no one complained about tiredness or suffering.
Because these infantrymen are all too aware of the terror of those steel behemoths still lurking at the foot of the mountain.
Those guys are too strong, and light and heavy machine gun bullets are ineffective against them. Even mortars, unless they hit the engine position and are still useful, can only be blown up by individual soldiers carrying explosive packs or cluster grenades.
them.
However, these steel behemoths that cannot be penetrated by bullets possess not only two 7.7mm heavy machine guns, but also at least one infantry squad of Japanese infantry following them. It would be very costly to get close.
So far, the number of 94 light tanks destroyed by the 769th Regiment in actual combat is still limited to one. That is because the Japanese army was too arrogant. The tank tracks crushed the occupied trenches, and a wounded soldier was disguised as a corpse.
, with more than 6 grenades strapped to his body before blowing it up.
The Type 94 light tank is naturally not only strong. The two 7.7mm heavy machine guns can approach the ground unscrupulously up to 300 meters or even 200 meters. It is a nightmare for the infantry, not to mention the infantry who don’t have much cover, those who have sandbag fortifications.
Even heavy machine guns cannot compete with this steel behemoth.
Every time the Japanese army brought out this thing, the probability of the Chinese position being breached was higher than 80%. This was really because there were no heavy weapons to deal with this kind of tank.
But if there is a 37mm rapid-fire gun with armor-piercing capabilities, perhaps the myth of the Type 94 light tank's invincibility will become a thing of the past.
The Japanese army used artillery fire to test the will of the Chinese soldiers, and at the same time it also provided time for the Chinese artillery to arrive on the battlefield.
At least, while the Japanese artillery fire was raging, an artillery platoon consisting of 20 pack horses and 50 men had already arrived behind the 769th Regiment's position.
The young group leader, whose face was so calm that it was almost cold, showed excitement for the first time!
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Finally, the sharp sound of bamboo flutes came from the front line, and everyone knew that the Japanese army had begun to attack.
There is no modern high technology. The Chinese army's tool for sending messages is a bamboo whistle made of local materials, made of green bamboo in the mountains. The sound is sharp and can be transmitted hundreds of meters. Even the sound of gunfire cannot cover it up.
The soldiers bent over and carried their guns, braving the gradually extending artillery fire from the Japanese army, and rushed up the mountain crest in a frenzy. Amidst the clouds of gunpowder smoke, they rushed down at high speed. Two hundred meters away, there was a first-line position deployed halfway up the mountain.
At this time, gunshots were heard on the position, and nearly 30 rifles were firing on the position thousands of meters away.
With the relentless bombardment of the Japanese artillery, the front-line positions were filled with craters. This was also the main reason why the survival rate of Chinese soldiers who were continuously replenished to the front-line positions continued to increase.
A crater that is 70 to 80 centimeters deep is more protective than those simple stone fortifications.
On a defense line of nearly a kilometer, the firepower fired by 30 rifles was not even sparse, but it was enough to suppress the Japanese army's high-speed advance.
Everyone is afraid of death. No matter how brave the Japanese infantry is, they will not actively seek death. This also leads to the fact that when the Chinese soldiers rush into the position, the Japanese infantry with infantry and artillery coordination are still at least 150 meters away from the front-line position.
Goto Koshiminami's initial attempt to defeat the Chinese army with artillery bombardment failed, but the Japanese army's left face, who had been observing the battlefield with a telescope, was not very disappointed.
Because, he also has another big killer in his hand - the Type 94 light tank.
Yes, in the first round of the attack, he sent four of the 10 94 tanks he had, which meant that there would be 8 heavy machine guns that could provide cover for the infantry at a distance of 300 meters.
Counting the 4 heavy machine guns he placed 600 meters away and the 6 light machine guns following the infantry.
In addition, there are four 92 infantry guns at a distance of 700 meters, providing artillery support to the front line at any time, which are specially designed to attack the firepower points of China's heavy machine guns.
Under such a terrifying hail of bullets, what can the Chinese do to resist?
The Chinese soldiers who entered the position felt equally nervous when they saw the battlefield in front of them clearly!
This time, it was not the familiar Japanese infantry formation, but the 94 Xiaodudin tank at the head, followed by the infantry.
The tank engines roared heart-breakingly, and black smoke billowed out from the rear. There were as many as four of them.
No, it’s a full five cars!
On the central main position, there was actually a big guy.
That's not the Type 94, but the Type 89 medium tank!
Not to mention that the hundreds of officers and soldiers of the 1st Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 769th Regiment were all going numb when facing this big man in the central position. Even the young commander of the 769th Regiment, who had a calm mind, twitched violently from the corner of his eye.
He had seen the Type 89 medium tank before, during the Battle of Xingokou. Although the tank was not the main attack on his position, its power was so powerful that the young general who witnessed it would still be unable to forget it.
The dead weight of fifteen tons is very flexible, and the 30 mm thick frontal armor is much stronger than the Type 94. What is even more terrifying is its attack power. Its turret is also equipped with a 57mm small cannon, which can easily destroy a solid fortification.
exist.
Without steel plates and concrete for support, the fortifications made of logs and sandbags are just cannon fodder in front of this kind of cannon!
During the Battle of Xingkou, in order to deal with them, the two regiments of the Jinsui Army had no choice but to carry explosive packs and cluster grenades as human bombs. Otherwise, they had no other choice.
Unexpectedly, the Japanese army was really willing to spend money and even sent out this thing.
Yes, in order to reinforce Shentouling and Licheng, Xiong Yuan also risked his life. The tank squadron directly under his division headquarters was originally to protect the safety of the division headquarters. The only two Type 89 medium tanks were not suitable.
Logically speaking, the battle in the mountains should be left in Lucheng, but after giving the military order, this man thought about it again and actually sent out two bottom-of-the-box Type 89 medium tanks.
If he didn't have such a powerful weapon, His Excellency Koshi Minami Daizuo Goto might not have the determination to fight against the 769th Regiment, which already had the geographical advantage.
The mountainous terrain with a slope of no more than 30 degrees also gave the Type 89 tanks enough room to move, leading the infantry to charge directly, with fire cover from two Type 94 light tanks on both sides.
Two small tanks poured 7.7mm machine gun bullets into the position 300 meters away unscrupulously, causing only smoke and dust to rise from the position. The infantry did not dare to raise their heads. The Japanese infantry bent down and accelerated upward.
Several heavy machine guns were protected by sandbag fortifications. As soon as they opened fire tentatively, the Type 89 medium tank swaggeringly placed itself on the hillside blasted past. Although the 57mm short-barreled artillery is not very powerful, it can hit light and heavy machine guns.
Temporary fortifications surrounded by sandbags are still fine.
Fortunately, the Beiganling Mountains are not dangerous. After three rounds of crazy artillery fire, the boulders on the hillside have been blown away but many huge craters have been left.
With a small engine of only 32 horsepower, it is not easy for the Type 94 Little Douding Tank to cross the somewhat complicated environment on the battlefield. Even though its body is equally small, its total combat weight is only 3.3 tons, and its length is only 3.12 meters.
It's a little shorter than the future Alto sedan's 3.2 meters.
Not to mention the larger Type 89 tanks, Japanese tanks basically stayed 300 meters away from the front line positions.
To be honest, the Japanese army actually had no experience in cooperating with armored forces. The tanks were patrolling back and forth on the hillside with black smoke and could not move forward. The infantry simply shook off the tanks and attacked upwards, treating the tanks as close-range enemies.
Fixed turrets and machine gun fire points.
But that's it. The Japanese tanks, which seem to be scumbags in European and American countries, are definitely not weak in power, and the defenders on the mountain are really helpless against such steel monsters three to four hundred meters away.
The eight mortars placed behind the mountain may be the only weapon that can threaten them at present, but the Japanese tanks are not stupid. When several mortar shells exploded not far away, their tanks began to move.
, using mortars to hit such moving targets is not easy for expert gunners, so they can only rely on luck.
The Japanese army was so arrogant that they could reach a charging distance of 120 meters.
However, because of the unexpected appearance of the Japanese Type 89 tank, the young commander of the 769th Regiment looked cautious, but his face remained calm.
Is it great to have a tank? It is great, but now I am also replacing a gun with a cannon!
I also have a cannon, a cannon designed to shoot tin turtles!
