After just one encounter, four Japanese tanks were destroyed and dozens of Japanese were blown to pieces.
"Fire!"
The bazooka soldiers lying in ambush on both sides had already been prepared. The moment the explosion sounded, they aimed at the Japanese tank and pulled the trigger.
The rockets dragged their tail flames and flew towards the Japanese tanks below. Amidst the continuous explosions, about ten more tanks threw up huge fireballs.
The new group had 35 rocket launchers, but due to many reasons such as nervousness and unskilled operation of the operators, the hit rate in the first round was less than one-third at a distance of more than 100 meters.
There is nothing that can be done about this. Most bazooka soldiers only have one day to train and become familiar with the bazooka.
Although most of the rockets did not hit the Japs' tanks, the rockets landed near the tanks and exploded. The terrifying power also killed many Japs soldiers.
After firing one rocket, the deputy shooter quickly loaded the second one into the rocket launcher.
At the same time, 26 machine guns were evenly distributed on both sides of the canyon. The big and round shooter put his shoulders on the curved gun stock and pressed down the weight. As the machine guns shook, the machine guns roared and spat out.
Dazzling tongues of flames fired rows of 20mm shells at the Japanese tanks.
Guns fired.
Under the machine gun fire, the powerful shells penetrated the defense of the Japanese tanks, some of the Japanese tank soldiers were shot dead, or the tracks were smashed, and several more Japanese tanks lay on the spot.
However, the Japs reacted very quickly. After a brief period of confusion, the Japs on the tank jumped off the tank one after another, rolling and crawling to avoid the shrapnel and gravel flying from the explosion.
But the new group of soldiers ambushing on both sides not only had rocket launchers and machine guns in their hands.
There are also heavy machine guns, light machine guns, rifles and submachine guns.
The firepower was all out as soon as they started. The Japs reacted very quickly, but they could not withstand the intense firepower. The Japs who were shot twitched all over as if they had been electrocuted.
The Japs machine gun shooters in the tank were shooting at both sides, and the gunners were loading shells. The bullets fired at each other sent flying stones.
"idiot!"
"Who dares to ambush the imperial army here?"
Takao Maeda, captain of the 7th Tank Regiment, was in a Type 97 medium tank in the middle of the convoy, and this tank was just in the middle of the hoist connection.
Maeda Takao escaped the first wave of rocket attacks, but now he was in a panic. The machine gun shell penetrated the side armor in the cab, and the tank driver was almost cut in half by the machine gun shell.
Through the vision of the rectangular bulletproof glass of the turret, he saw with his own eyes that a Type 97 tank in front of him was hit. A dozen Imperial warriors on the tank were blown into the sky. Their limbs and broken arms fell down, and the tank suddenly burst into flames.
There was a raging fire, and he was furious, but he was also sweating profusely from behind.
He quickly turned the turret and looked to the left. Through the vision of the glass mirror, he clearly saw the identity of the ambush tank regiment on the left.
"Captain, it's the Eighth Route Army!"
"It's the Eighth Route Army ambushing us!"
Adjutant Yuan Yiyong, who was sitting on the heavy machine gun position behind the turret on the right side, also saw clearly that it was the Eighth Route Army and exclaimed.
"idiot!"
Maeda Takao, who was originally a little stunned, suddenly became furious, his eyes were red, and beggar-like troops were worthy of attacking the Imperial Japanese Tank Regiment?
"Shoot!" Takao Maeda yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Nishiuchi!" Minamoto Yoshiyong, who was sitting on the heavy machine gun position in the turret, immediately pressed the weight of the heavy machine gun, and the heavy machine gun screamed wildly.
In the field of vision of the glass mirror, tracer bullets visible to the naked eye hit the Eighth Route Army position, and two Eighth Route Army soldiers fell in a pool of blood on the spot.
There was a crackling explosion on the left side of the cab, and the machine gunner on the left side of the driver was also hit by a machine gun.
Takao Maeda quickly stuffed a grenade into the barrel of the gun.
The main gun of the Type 97 medium tank is a 57mm barrel gun, which can fire grenades and armor-piercing projectiles. It can carry 80 rounds of armor-piercing projectiles and 40 rounds of grenades.
Then he slowly rotated the turret, aimed at an eight-way machine gun position on the left, and immediately fired the shells.
The eight-way machine gun position was blown into the air along with the machine guns and gunners.
In less than a second of joy, the sharp-eyed Takao Maeda saw in the lookout glass a shell trailing flames towards the tank he was riding on.
"Baga!" Maeda Takao exclaimed and subconsciously covered his head with his hands.
There was only a loud bang in my ears. The bomb, which was no less powerful than a 105-mm howitzer shell, landed in front of the tank and exploded.
In the lookout mirror, Maeda Takao saw several little Japs lying on the ground on the left front being blown up.
Takao Maeda had another brush with death, and cold sweat flowed down his back and into his buttocks. What kind of weapon was in the Eighth Route Army's hand that was so powerful?
…
On a hillside 1.5 kilometers away from Hulugou.
Fang Ligong's whole body froze when he heard the thunderous sound of cannons.
The Eighth Route Army's ambush target was actually the Japanese tank regiment? Are you crazy? Why?
Not only Fang Ligong, but also Chu Yunfei and Sun Ming were also shocked.
"I just made a guess. I didn't expect that the Eighth Route Army would really dare to do it."
Sun Ming had a hint of admiration on his face. Regardless of the outcome, the Eighth Route Army dared to take the initiative to attack the Japanese tank regiment. This courage was admirable enough.
"The courage is commendable..." Fang Ligong came back to his senses and sighed, "But it's just a useless sacrifice. I'm afraid this Eight Route Army is about to end."
"I don't think so. Take a closer look at what the guy on the Eighth Route Army is holding." Chu Yunfei, who had been holding a telescope to observe the dynamics of the battlefield, said.
Sun Ming didn't have a telescope, so Chu Yunfei handed him the telescope in his hand, and he took it and looked quickly.
Fang Ligong had already looked over when Chu Yunfei finished speaking.
"That's...a machine gun?" Fang Ligong lost his voice and asked, "How is this possible?"
There are not even a few machine guns in the Second Theater Command, and they are now used for air defense in Kenanpo. Fang Ligong once applied for the transfer of two machine guns to the 358th Regiment, but was rejected by the commander.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! The Eighth Route Army is actually equipped with machine guns, and there are so many of them?
Sun Ming also said: "No, the Eighth Route Army has another weapon, a weapon like a big trumpet."
"That thing?" After hearing Sun Ming's reminder, Fang Ligong also noticed the rocket launcher, with a look of surprise on his face, "Could it be a cannon invented by the Eighth Route Army itself?"
"It seems that the Eighth Route Army has been prepared for a long time." Chu Yunfei said solemnly, "The outcome is still unknown."
…
In Taiyuan, the war room of the First Army Headquarters.
Commander Yoshio Shinozuka, Chief of Staff Hideyoshi Kusuyama, Intelligence Staff Officer Takeo Andeng and other combat staff are all busy.
By this time, Southeast Shanxi had turned into a pot of porridge.
Japanese troops from Qinxian, Taigu, and Laiyuan counties had already dispatched to support the Baijin Railway and exchanged fire with the blocking troops of the Eighth Route.
However, the Eighth Route Army had no intention of withdrawing from the Baijin Railway, and seemed to intend to tear off the entire track of the Baijin Railway.
The Japanese Fourth and Ninth Brigades have been dispatched to assist the Baijin Railway.
However, due to the destruction of roads and railways, even with a forced march, it would still take at least one day for the two brigades to reach the Baijin Railway from Yangquan and Taiyuan.
At this moment, communications staff officer Toshimatsu Kasai walked in quickly, his steps hurried and his face ugly, as if something had happened.
Walking up to Yoshio Shinozuka, Toshimatsu Kasai spoke urgently:
"General, there is a call from the North China Front Army Headquarters. The Seventh Tank Regiment was ambushed by eight groups at Hulugou on the Tongpu Highway. The North China Front Command ordered our troops to immediately dispatch aviation and infantry reinforcements!"
Although the 7th Tank Regiment has established telegraph contact with the First Army Headquarters.
However, the 7th Tank Regiment is under the direct command of the North China Front Army Headquarters.
Therefore, we first requested tactical guidance from the North China Front, and the North China Front Army Headquarters issued orders to the First Army Headquarters.
"idiot!"
Yoshio Shinozuka was a little angry. The war in southeastern Shanxi had already made him a little anxious.
The 7th Tank Regiment came to join in the fun again.
Chief of Staff Kusuyama Hideyoshi also frowned and said: "Even if the 7th Tank Regiment was ambushed by the Eighth Route Army, couldn't they with more than 50 tanks still be unable to cope with the Eighth Route Army?"
Kasai Toshimatsu said: "The telegram said that the Eighth Route Army is equipped with a large number of anti-tank weapons. The seventh tank regiment is currently trapped in Hulugou and has suffered heavy losses!"
"Nani?" Yoshio Shinozuka suddenly turned his head and said in an unbelievable tone, "The Eighth Route Army is equipped with anti-tank weapons? A lot?"
Kasai Toshimatsu paused: "Hi!"
Yoshio Shinozuka, who did not believe in evil, took the telegram and looked at it. Sure enough, it said that the Eighth Route Army was equipped with a large number of anti-tank weapons.
There was no time to think about why the Eighth Route Army had such good weapons and equipment, because Yoshio Shinozuka knew that if something happened to the 7th Tank Regiment in his defense area, he would not be able to shirk responsibility no matter what.
"Kusuyama-kun." Yoshio Shinozuka turned around and asked, "How many planes are there at Shinjo Airport now?"
"Most of the planes have gone to the southeast of Shanxi to support the Baijin Railway." Kusuyama Hideyoshi said, "There are still three planes, including two Nakajima fighter jets and one 96 attack plane!"
"Only 3?" Yoshio Shinozuka, who found Hulugou on the map, raised his head and frowned slightly.
From the map, Hulugou is only 50 kilometers away from Taiyuan, and it takes less than 20 minutes to get there by plane from Xincheng Airport.
If all the planes were there, these fighter planes and attack planes alone would be enough for the Eighth Route Army to drink a big pot.
"Hi!" Kusuyama Hideyoshi said helplessly, "Currently there are only 3 fighter jets and attack aircraft on mission, and it will take about 40 minutes to return to the airport!"
Something is better than nothing. Yoshio Shinozuka looked at Toshimatsu Kasai: "Order these three planes to take off immediately and rush to the rescue of the 7th Tank Regiment. Order Heyuan County, Anhua County, and Xinzhou garrison to rush to Hulugou immediately!"
"
"Hi!" Kasai Toshimatsu said, then walked quickly to the communication room.
…
Just when the Seventh Tank Regiment sent a telegram to shake people, the battle in Hulugou had entered a fierce state.
Half of the Japanese tanks were hit, igniting a raging fire. As the fire spread, the shells in the tanks exploded one after another, and the sound of violent thunder-like explosions was heard endlessly.
Some tanks were hit by machine guns and were unable to move.
Seven or eight of the new regiment's machine gun and rocket launcher positions were also destroyed by Japanese tank guns.
There are also a small number of mobile Japanese tanks that are firing and firing at the slopes on both sides while slowly moving towards the slopes.
The Japanese grenadier soldiers following the tanks fired several smoke grenades in the direction of the slope.
Boom boom boom…
The smoke spread, obscuring some of the soldiers' shooting sights.