In addition, Chen Hanzhang was almost helpless when he was holding Molotov cocktails or strapping grenades all over his body and trying to burrow under the tanks with meat bombs. The Japanese army deployed anti-infantry mines, mortars, and fortifications connected to the anti-tank trenches.
The firepower of the rifle machine gun restricted the movement of the infantry.
The movement of the infantry was quite restricted, so it was impossible to remove the anti-tank mines that were the greatest threat to tanks, nor to erect and open passages for tanks to pass through anti-tank trenches. It was also impossible to provide infantry cover for tanks during combat and to clear out Japanese tanks.
ammunition and anti-tank artillery threats.
Especially those Sanqi flat-fire cannons and rapid-fire cannons that are ambushing on the other side of the anti-tank trench, waiting for the tank to expose its chassis with the worst defensive performance in order to take advantage of the opportunity to attack. Therefore, these anti-tank cannons, together with those crazy meat bombs, are still needed.
The infantry went to clean it up.
Tanks that cannot pass through minefields and anti-tank trenches, in turn, cannot provide cover for infantry. They can only provide close fire support for infantry outside the Japanese minefields and on the other side of the anti-tank trenches. In this case
Under this, it is surprising that the attack speed of the troops can be faster, especially when the number of infantry responsible for the attack is insufficient.
But even though there are many objective reasons for the delay of the battle, just as Guo Bingxun judged. For a person with a strong self-esteem like Chen Hanzhang, he cannot do anything like complaining to his superiors. Even if he has a strong bone,
He will also use his teeth to nibble bits and pieces.
Fortunately, although the progress has been slower and the casualties have been higher, especially the consumption of artillery shells has far exceeded expectations. But now the troops have taken the Bayantala line, where the Japanese army used countless reinforced concrete and trenches to form a triangle.
A hole was made in the hard walnut.
The most critical thing is that the main force of the 18th Division that caught up later has recovered its strength after two days of rest. It took over the main force of the 3rd Division that was transferred to Kailu and replaced the 3rd Division that suffered heavy losses in the battle of Bayantala.
The Eighth Regiment has forcibly crossed the Xiliao River under the cover of artillery. The Motorized Infantry Regiment of the Armored Brigade has, with the cooperation of two tank battalions, cut off the road connection between Kailu and Tongliao.
The cavalry brigade took advantage of its low logistical dependence and flexible mobility to bypass the Japanese fortification area in Tongliao. After capturing Shuangliao, it entered the Horqin Sandy Land south of Shuangliao and cut off the Datong railway line. As long as it captured the adjacent A
In Kailu of Luhorqin Banner, the entire Tongliao battlefield is completely connected with the Linxi battlefield.
Although the goal is already close at hand, it is still unknown for Chen Hanzhang when it will be finally completed. Taking the Bayantala line is just a breakthrough of the entire Japanese army located on both sides of the Liao River in the west, starting from Kailu in the west and
Go to a corner of the fortification area at the intersection of the West Liao River and the East Liao River.
When can he really capture Kailu and form a pincer offensive with Wang Guangyu's troops in Linxi, or go straight east into Changtu and Kangping, can he really achieve his strategic goal. As for now,
In Chen Hanzhang's view, it was only the first step in completing the entire strategic intention.
Putting down the telegram in his hand, Chen Hanzhang's face looked quite solemn. He was aware of the telegram sent by Wang Guangyu before. But he did not expect that the progress on his side was so great. Compared with his own progress now,
It is simply too slow. This is not a matter of competitiveness, but a key issue related to the entire Western Manchuria war situation.
Chen Hanzhang walked to the observation port, raised his telescope and looked at the troops of the 18th Division who were forcibly crossing the Xiliao River. He was silent for a long time and said to Liu Yanlai, Chief of Staff of the Armored Forces, and Wang Jun, Commander of the 18th Division: "Your 18th Division is going to
Speed up the action. Both regiments must cross the Xiliao River before midnight tonight. They are equipped with the fourth armored battalion, the first armored teaching company of the brigade, and an armored vehicle platoon to seize Shuangpaozi and Kongjiawo Fort in the northwest of Tongliao, forming a pincer on Tongliao County.
form offensive."
"Order the second battalion of the armored brigade, the second teaching company, plus the armored brigade's motorized infantry regiment, the brigade's two self-propelled artillery battalion companies, and a 122 rocket launcher company. Concentrate forces to seize Zhanggutai, Sankeshu, Guanyin
No. 1 line, firmly cutting off the connection between Tongliao and Kailu."
"Whether the Japanese army in Tongliao is moving toward Kailu, or the Japanese army in Kailu is moving closer to Tongliao, they will nail me there like nails. At the same time, two infantry battalions will be assigned to a tank company, along the
Along the highway from Tongliao to Kailu, cooperate with the Kailu frontal attack troops and launch an attack in the direction of Kailu County."
"Order the seventh regiment of the third division and a strengthened battalion of the eighth regiment to shrink, together with the first battalion of the armored brigade, the third battalion and a tank company to change direction and attack in the direction of Kailu. The connection between Kailu and Naiman Banner must be cut off tomorrow morning
.And concentrate their forces to form an encirclement situation around Kailu County. All units must concentrate engineers to clear anti-tank mines, open up anti-tank trenches and open channels, and create conditions for tank troops to operate."
"I don't care whether they concentrate artillery bombardment or use continuous blasting by engineers. Those hateful earth walls in front of the Japanese anti-tank trenches must be cleared away. Otherwise, these earth walls will still have Japanese anti-tank firepower hiding on the opposite side.
It's really too much of a threat to the armored forces."
"Order the cavalry brigade to leave some troops to guard the rear, and the main force to immediately go north to cooperate with the 18th Division's attack on the Tongliao front line. Order the 9th Regiment of the 3rd Shuangliao Division to strengthen one battalion of the 52nd Regiment of the 18th Division, and the 3rd Armored Division
There is one company in the battalion, one mountain artillery company in the 18th Division Artillery Regiment, one 100mm howitzer company, and one 107 rocket launcher company. We immediately seize the time to repair the fortifications and prepare to block the Japanese reinforcements east of Shuangliao."
"Tell the head of the ninth regiment and the political commissar that if Japanese reinforcements appear in the area east of Shuangliao, they will stop them at all costs. Even if their entire regiment is wiped out, they cannot let the Japanese reinforcements enter Tongliao. Tell them that they will stop them at all costs.
No matter how many Japanese reinforcements come, they must hold on. Even if a division comes, they must not retreat even half a step."
"All units must arrive at their designated positions before seven o'clock tomorrow morning. At ten o'clock in the morning, a general attack will be launched on Tongliao and Kailu at the same time. All units must control the rhythm of their respective units' attacks and do not get carried away.
He will hit and charge regardless."
"We must instruct the troops not to compete with the Japanese troops one after another, let alone to push forward in a straight line. The little devils have built such a dense group of fortifications in this triangle area. If we attack them one by one, it will not be possible even if it freezes.
We can hit the edge of the county seat."
"All troops must dare to ignore the threat of enemy forces in the rear during the attack, and abandon the enemy forces on both wings to concentrate the main force and penetrate directly into the two counties. Our infantry firepower is absolutely superior to the Japanese army. There are also tanks on all sides to cooperate with the operation. The Japanese army wants to cut off
Our army's retreat is never that easy. If the Japanese army really got out of their mouse hole, it would actually save us a lot of work."
"When conducting offensive operations, we must learn from the lessons learned some time ago. Each unit must issue recoilless rifles, rocket launchers and 12mm anti-aircraft machine guns to each company, and ensure that each platoon has a recoilless rifle or rocket launcher.
, a fire support group composed of anti-aircraft machine guns. The regiment's 14mm machine guns are strengthened to the company, and each infantry company must ensure at least one. If it is not enough, the 23mm anti-aircraft guns of the division's anti-aircraft artillery battalion are also strengthened.
Infantry company."
"The tactics of four groups and one team that we usually train do not have to be used in urban battles. In such a situation where the density of Japanese military fortifications is so high, can't it also be used? What, in such a situation?
Will we stop fighting once the war is over?"
"The previous offensive was slow. In addition to the Japanese army, many reasons were because our own tactics were too rigid. Don't always look for objective reasons, let alone put all the blame on the Japanese army. If the progress is not smooth, first of all
Start with ourselves.”
"Didn't we fight very well when we broke through the Songhua River? Didn't the multiple arms cooperate with each other in a tacit understanding? All kinds of tactics were used well. Why didn't we get to the battlefields of Tongliao and Kailu when the battlefield conditions were much better?
Have the tactics been used? There are also armored brigades. If there are more anti-tank trenches, they will not be able to fight? Where have the daily training been thrown? "
"Will the self-propelled artillery battalion, self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery battalion, as well as the mechanized infantry regiment and engineer battalion assigned to them fight in the field with the Japanese army? Who told them that the anti-aircraft artillery battalion can only defend against the air? In order to not be able to use anti-aircraft artillery
With the advantages of long range and strong penetrating power, it can carry out fire strikes on Japanese military fortifications from a long distance?"
"Haven't they been practiced many times on how to fight fortified battles and how to break through? When they arrived in Tongliao, they were trapped by several anti-tank trenches and anti-tank mines? Or they only learned how to attack in groups and how to cooperate with infantry tactics.
Is it in the back of my head? If I say this, wouldn’t it become a big joke?”
"We can't delay any longer, and we don't have time to fight steadily with the Japanese army. If the delay is too long, it will affect the implementation of the entire combat plan of the headquarters. The content of this telegram sent on the 3rd, you also
I see it. This is a disguised warning that we must speed up."
"There is no other way. At this time, we can only adopt the tactic of forcibly penetrating into the heart of the enemy. First capture two counties, disintegrate the enemy's command system, cut off their supply sources, and then turn around and eliminate them one by one.
The remaining enemy forces. This is certainly risky, but we can strive to end the battle as quickly as possible."
After thinking about it, Chen Hanzhang said to Liu Yan: "You can find a way to allocate a batch of flamethrowers to the main attack force, and try to equip each main attack group with as many as possible. To deal with these Japanese troops who love to dig into dog holes, then
The stuff is the best. Since they built that kennel thicker than the city wall, let’s burn them out.”
Hearing that Chen Hanzhang wanted to mobilize a batch of flamethrowers, Liu Yanlai frowned: "Commander, judging from the weapons and equipment of our army, the number of flamethrowers is relatively small. Even for an old unit like the Third Division,
One division and one chemical defense company were equipped with twelve flamethrowers. The 18th Division was a later division, and the number was even smaller, with only six flamethrowers in total."
"Of the twelve flamethrowers of the Third Division, five of them were left behind and were not carried. According to this number, even if the heavy flamethrowers that are not suitable for infantry use are included, the average of the four main attack regiments is only
It can be divided into three parts. The most critical thing is the thickened gasoline used in the flamethrower. The quantity we have on hand is insufficient and we can only ensure that four of them are fully used."
"It's okay to say that the Japanese army has fortifications outside the city, but now we find that they have also built a large number of fortifications in villages and market towns. These fortifications are connected to the residential buildings in villages and market towns, and we don't even dare to use artillery. If this is the case
Use a flamethrower to spray it, and the people here will be dead. There are also two counties in Kailu and Tongliao, and they are not all Japs."