"We have finished swinging our three-axe, let's send infantry and tank troops to conduct a probing attack!"
After artillery fire salvos and aircraft and aerial bombs took turns, Li Yunlong finally sent out infantry and tanks.
Li Yunlong wanted to see how successful the Japanese had learned from the Eighth Route Army's tunnel tactics.
In front of the Japanese position, many minefields, anti-infantry mines, anti-tank mines, and even a small number of anti-tank cones were deployed.
However, in the recent shelling, the artillerymen of the new regiment had plowed the Japanese minefields and anti-tank cones in front of the Japanese position.
Not much else, the new regiment has a lot of shells.
After the order from the regiment headquarters was issued, the infantry and tanks of the new regiment immediately drove from the attack position towards the Japanese position.
Although this time it was just a trial attack.
But the new regiment still invested 3,000 infantry and 1 battalion of tanks.
Attack the five Japanese tunnel positions.
More than 60 Leopard tanks and Joffre tanks led the infantry towards the Japanese positions with murderous intent.
After the bombardment by aerial bombs and artillery shells, the Japanese soldiers emerged from the tunnels and entered the positions that had been reduced to rubble.
The Japanese raised their guns in the direction of the Eighth Route Army, pulled the bolts, and aimed at the Eighth Route Army 300 meters ahead.
but.
The formation of the Eighth Route Army soldiers was widely spread out. They all walked coquettishly and hunched over, running from one bunker to another, and many of them were hiding behind tanks.
The Japanese were preparing to move the Eighth Route Army closer and then attack.
But they should not be placed too close, because if placed too close, the tanks of the Eighth Route Army would be able to attack the Japanese positions in an instant.
Some Eighth Route Army soldiers stepped on mines that were not blown up by artillery shells, and some tanks ran over anti-tank mines, causing their tracks to be blown off.
But the other Eighth Route Army tanks and soldiers looked calm as usual and continued to attack.
There are health workers rescuing the injured.
When they were 100 meters away from the Japs' forward position, the Japs finally opened fire.
The gunshots rang out like popping beans, and many Eighth Route Army soldiers were unable to escape and fell into a pool of blood.
The tank guns and tank machine guns of the new group at the front began to work while advancing.
The infantry of a new regiment of the Eighth Route Army in the rear looked for bunkers and exchanged fire with the Japanese infantry.
Intensive firepower suppressed the enemy's machine gun firepower throughout the entire process.
On the reverse slope of the mountain, the Japanese mortars, infantry artillery and mountain artillery also began to operate, and dense explosion waves rose up among the Eighth Route Army's attacking troops.
The tank was parked 100 meters away from the Japanese forward position.
Then, the artillery observers of the new regiment following the infantry immediately guided the 75mm and 105mm artillery groups in the rear to shell the Japanese positions.
At this distance, artillery observers would not dare to call the 150mm artillery group, the 203mm artillery group and the Katyusha rocket group.
Because these three types of artillery are so powerful, they are very likely to accidentally injure one's own soldiers.
Even the 75mm artillery group and the 105mm artillery group are very dangerous at this distance. Even the Japs from the Class A Division would not dare to play this easily.
However, by this time, the new regiment of artillery and artillery observers had already been transformed into the top artillery force in the world.
The artillerymen are of excellent quality and technology, and are proficient in all kinds of precise guidance of artillery strikes.
After several test rounds, the artillery observer ordered the 75mm and 105mm artillery groups to fire a salvo.
A dense explosion wave rose up on the Japs' position, and the Japs' death squads who entered the position were immediately killed and wounded.
At this time, the Japanese death squads were all shooting at the Eighth Route Army in their positions, and they happened to be blown up.
Although the Japanese artillery positions on the reverse slope opened fire at the attacking Eighth Route Army soldiers, it was obvious that the Eighth Route Army's artillery firepower was stronger.
Even if the Japs were hiding in bunkers, the Japs' casualties would be considerable.
About 20 minutes later, the new regiment's probing attack ended, and the tanks and infantry retreated with the wounded.
The infantry and tank troops of the New Regiment had just withdrawn 200 meters away from the Japs' forward position. The New Regiment's 105mm howitzers, 150mm howitzers and Katyusha rocket launchers fired simultaneously at the Japs' position.
Large-caliber artillery shells and rockets fell into the Japanese positions like meteors, completely shrouding the Japanese surface positions in the smoke of artillery fire.
Some Japanese soldiers who were rescuing casualties and those who did not have time to enter the tunnel were blown up in an instant.
A wave of probing attacks resulted in considerable casualties on both sides. Most of the casualties on both sides came from the other side's artillery fire.
…
"Have you actually learned 70% to 80% of the Japs' tunneling tactics?"
In the new regiment headquarters, Li Yunlong frowned slightly, and suddenly felt that this battle was a bit tricky.
The Japanese not only learned tunnel tactics, but also reverse slope tactics.
The infantry shot at the infantry of the Eighth Route Army and against the tanks of the Eighth Route Army in the fortifications built on the front slope.
The artillery bombarded the attacking Eighth Route Army infantry and tank troops on the reverse slope.
Isn't this the tactics of the new regiment back then?
only……
At present, the Japanese tactics are not yet mature, the anti-slope artillery shelling effect is average, and when the Eighth Route Army retreats, some of the Japanese infantry did not withdraw into the tunnels in time.
But as the battle progresses, the Japs will definitely become more proficient in using tunnel tactics.
Zhao Gang and Wang Dehou on the side also looked surprised.
The Japanese's use of tunnel and reverse slope tactics has something to say.
In the probing attack just now, the new group of soldiers, guided by artillery fire and tanks, will definitely be able to attack the Japanese positions.
But after storming the Japanese position, the tanks and infantry will be greeted by hand-to-hand combat.
The Japs must have hidden death squads in the tunnels.
According to the reconnaissance plane's reconnaissance, the Japanese also built a lot of reverse slopes and tunnel fortifications like this on the way to Taiyuan.
The tunnels built by the Japanese are relatively deep, and the new group of fire-breathing tanks and flamethrowers will probably not work.
Wang Dehou's eyes flashed, he looked at Li Yunlong, and suggested: "Commander, since we are attacking head-on, it will be difficult to capture the Japanese position, why not go to the Goblet?"
Zhao Gang looked at Li Yunlong and nodded: "Old Li, didn't you say it's a mule or a horse? Pull it out for a walk. I think you can pull the goblet out for a walk. It's time to try this new model.
The power of aerial bombs.”
"Don't be anxious yet, the Goblet aerial bomb will be used sooner or later..."
Li Yunlong first looked thoughtful, then narrowed his eyes and said:
"Since the Japanese artillery is deployed on the reverse slope, we will dispatch bombers and fighter jets. When the Japanese fire, we will blow up the Japanese artillery position on the reverse slope. This way the battle will be much easier to fight!"
Li Yunlong also considered whether to use this Goblet aerial bomb now.
If this goblet is so powerful that it can kill a large number of Japs in the tunnel, then the Japs in other tunnels will definitely be extremely afraid of it.
Although the tunnel tactics have been cracked, the Japanese from other tunnels will also be driven into Taiyuan City.
By then, tens of thousands of Japs will be fighting in the streets with the Eighth Route Army in Taiyuan City, and the Eighth Route Army's casualties will be huge.
As the former enemy commander-in-chief, Li Yunlong must find ways to reduce the Eighth Route Army's casualties.
So before using the Goblet aerial bomb, Li Yunlong wanted to see if he could crack the tunnel and reverse slope tactics.
Li Yunlong issued the combat deployment: "For the second attack, after our plane took off from the airport, the artillery group immediately started shelling. When we were still 10 minutes away from our place, the shelling ended. The infantry and artillery pressed up to attract the Japanese counterattacks.
The artillery fire on the sloping position was opened, and the planes were specially used to bomb the Japanese artillery position."
The artillery firepower of the new regiment could not reach the Japanese artillery positions.
But it's not a big problem.
Li Yunlong also has a plane.
…
Japanese Fifth Division Headquarters.
The commander of the Fifth Division, Matsui Tataro, the chief of staff, Hamajima Yanro, and a group of combat staff were also summarizing the battle.
"This tunnel and anti-slope tactics are indeed powerful..."
Chief of Staff Hamajima Yanro said with emotion that he actually blocked the Eighth Route Army's attack.
Matsui Tataro and all the combat staff nodded in agreement.
Even if the Fifth Division's combat effectiveness is first-rate, in the face of the heavy firepower of aircraft, heavy artillery and tanks of the Eighth Route Army, the Bushido spirit will definitely be ruthlessly crushed.
Fortunately, the tunnels withstood the aerial bombs and heavy artillery shells of the New Regiment of the Eighth Route Army.
"The Eighth Route Army will definitely organize the next wave of attacks."
Matsui Taitarou looked calm:
"In this attack, the Eighth Route Army will definitely dispatch aircraft to bomb our anti-slope artillery positions."
"Send my order and all the artillery and artillery will take cover in the tunnels."
Hamajima Yanlang was slightly startled: "Your Excellency, Division Commander, what will happen if the tanks and infantry of the Eighth Route Army attack the position without anti-slope artillery fire support?"
Matsui Tataro smiled slightly: "This is the effect I want. This time the Eighth Route Army attacks, I want to put the tanks and infantry of the Eighth Route Army into hand-to-hand combat."
This time, Matsui Tataro predicted Li Yunlong's prediction.
To be able to become the division commander of the fifth division, Matsui Tataro is naturally not an ordinary person, and is even very capable.
Hamajima Yanlang suddenly realized that the division commander's action not only preserved the artillery unit, but also narrowed the weapons gap with the Eighth Route Army in hand-to-hand combat.
The soldiers of the Fifth Division are definitely top-notch in hand-to-hand combat.
Moreover, putting the tanks of the Eighth Route Army into the position also gave the Type 4 anti-tank mines room to play.
"Hi!"
Hamajima Yanlang suddenly lowered his head.
…
More than two hours later.
Forty planes from the New Regiment Flying Group took off from the airport in northwestern Shanxi.
The artillery groups of the new regiment immediately began to fire on the Japanese positions.
Various large-caliber and small-caliber artillery shells fell on the Japanese positions, erupting with rumbling explosions.
The Eighth Route Army Airport in northwestern Shanxi is about 200 kilometers away from the front line. Fighters and bombers arrived less than half an hour after taking off.
As the plane was about to arrive at the battlefield, the artillery immediately stopped firing, and the infantry and tank troops lined up in battle formation to attack the Japanese positions.
But this attack was beyond Li Yunlong's expectations.
The infantry and tank soldiers were almost 50 meters away from the Japanese front line, but the Japanese artillery in the anti-slope position did not fire.