Chapter 284 Kill My Head If I Can’t Complete the Task
Yang Zhen believes that the key node of this battle is the word "quick". In order to cut off the connection between various departments of the Japanese army in the shortest possible time, the best way to achieve this goal is to use tanks to carry out large-depth penetration operations. Utilize The tank group advanced rapidly, cutting off the communication between various Japanese military units and isolating various Japanese strongholds.
According to the current deployment situation of the Japanese army, a large-scale interspersed encirclement battle will be carried out. The Japanese army around Shenyang will cut off the communication between them before reinforcements can be sent to Shenyang, and complete the encirclement of the heavy Japanese army group north of Shenyang. But the biggest headache at the moment is But it happened that there were not enough tanks.
In the battle from the end of 1943 to the beginning of 1944, the Anti-Japanese Alliance lost a considerable number of tanks in the two battlefields of North China and Northeast China. It was necessary to make up for the losses in the previous battle, and to expand the armored force. , and the needs of the feint troops, there is a huge gap in the number of tanks.
Moreover, according to the rapid assault tactics formulated by Yang Zhen, the slow-moving British tanks are basically unable to participate in flanking roundabout operations and can only push forward from the front. But this time, according to the plan formulated by Yang Zhen, it is precisely that the main focus is on rapid assault .After removing these British-made tanks, the tank gap becomes even larger.
Under the slow speed of their own production, if they want to rely entirely on their own production to make up for the gap, this battle will not be fought for at least four years. Since the end of the battle, the Americans have only given 150 dollars to the Anti-Japanese Alliance in May. Ten M-4 medium tanks, one hundred M-5 light tanks, and a group of half-track armored vehicles.
Before the start of the Normandy landings in June, the Americans had basically stopped providing tank assistance to the Allied forces. After the landing operations began, there were a large number of battle losses on the European battlefield almost every day. Not a single aircraft bullet was ever seen by the Anti-Japanese Alliance.
The Germans that the Americans are currently encountering on the battlefields of Western Europe are definitely not comparable to the Japanese in terms of tank strength or anti-tank strength. Including the 88mm anti-aircraft gun that can penetrate all tanks when fired flatly, the German army's The number of large and small-caliber anti-tank guns is complete, and the scale is quite large. The German tanks are not comparable to the Japanese tanks in terms of artillery and armor performance.
Faced with the powerful anti-tank artillery fire of the German army, as well as the counterattack of more than 2,000 Panzer IV, Panther and Tiger tanks invested by the German army, plus self-propelled assault guns. Even with the advantage of air superiority and sea artillery fire, the US military could no longer In addition to the British army, the Canadian army, and the armored units of the French and Polish armies that used American-made tanks, they still suffered heavy losses under the German army's blockade at all costs.
The M-4 tanks used by the Americans and the Cromwell and Churchill tanks used by the British were basically unable to fight back against the long-bodied No. 4 tanks, Panthers and Tiger tanks of the Germans. Coupled with the German 88mm anti-aircraft guns and a large number of Panzerfaust rocket launchers equipped for infantry, the American and British troops suffered extremely heavy losses.
In particular, the Sherman tank used by the US military is called a Langson lighter because it basically uses a gasoline engine. In the European battlefield, it faced the German 75mm or even larger caliber tank guns and anti-tank guns. , basically it is destroyed as soon as it is hit.
There was a record of one British armored division being destroyed in one day, with 170 tanks destroyed. If it were not for the overwhelming bombing by the US and British air forces, the German counterattacks would often fail halfway, or the participating troops would be abruptly attacked by air raids.
If it is destroyed, the American and British troops who might not be able to land will be driven back into the sea by the tanks of the German counterattack.
In a small-scale battle, the British lost 400 tanks and wasted tens of thousands of tons of bombs dropped by thousands of bombers to advance seven miles. Based on this loss figure, if they hit Berlin, Yang
It is estimated that the number of tanks lost by the United States and Britain is enough to pile up mountains.
The huge battle losses on the French battlefield, coupled with the counterattack launched by the Soviet army since the end of 1943, caused huge casualties and equipment losses. The Soviets needed to contain the Americans on the eastern front who could not transfer German troops to the west. The tank supply to counter the Allied forces was released.
At the last place. Starting from April 1944, the number of tanks arriving in the Northeast became smaller and smaller, until there was a complete interruption at the end of May.
After the Belarusian campaign, the Soviets also handed over more than 300 German Panzer IV tanks as trophies, but these quantities could not make up for the needs. On the contrary, the captured light weapons and ammunition they handed over were enough for the North China Army to use for three rounds.
year. However, the number of tank gaps has never been able to be replenished to the required number.
The Germans fighting on three fronts were unlikely to invest more tanks in one battlefield. The German army's tenacious resistance to the Soviet attack, as well as the overwhelming artillery fire invested by the Soviet army during the attack, also reduced the amount of Soviet loot and
It did not increase significantly as the war progressed.
After the Battle of Falaise, the Americans finally breathed a sigh of relief. Under Yang Zhen's firm request, all German tanks and artillery captured by the United States and Britain on the Western Front, except for the Tiger tanks, were handed over to
It was given to the Anti-Japanese League. In addition to the 280 tanks that the Anti-Japanese League had produced with all its strength within a few months, and the Americans gave another batch of 140 M-4 tanks in early August, this was enough.
the required quantity.
However, the last batch of American-made tanks was only shipped in August, that is, the Fourth Armored Division participating in the war did not truly form combat effectiveness until October 18th. And these tanks were also the penultimate batch of German tanks received by the Anti-Japanese Alliance from the Americans.
American-made tanks and American-made M IV medium tanks.
By the end of 1944, in November, after the Americans had handed over more than 200 German Panzer IV tanks and more than 100 150 howitzers, they had completely stopped transferring German trophies to the Anti-Japanese Alliance. And American-made tanks also
Only at the end of the year, another batch of M5 light tanks and 200 medium tanks were given.
Fortunately, by this time, the German tanks in the front-line units were basically all Panzer IV and Panther tanks. Although the structure was a bit more complicated, the power was really amazing. It could hit a target with one shot.
Wear two Japanese Type 1 tanks side by side.
A total of 120 Panther tanks obtained by Yang Zhen's east and west fronts were organized into a heavy tank battalion for each armored division. As for the remaining Panzer IV tanks, they were supplemented by armored tanks one and two.
division as supplementary tanks, and several independent tank regiments were formed.
The arrival of these tanks, and his feints in Tanggu and North Korea, achieved satisfactory results, and Yang Zhen really made up his mind to take action. Yang Zhen, who arrived at the Guojiadian front line to open a frontline command post on October 17, held a meeting
A combat meeting at the column level. This was also the only combat meeting held by Yang Zhen during the strategic decisive battle in South Manchuria.
Looking at the senior generals below, Yang Zhen looked at each other with General Lin, the military representative sent by the central government, the deputy commander of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region who was cooperating with the anti-alliance operations on the western front, and Guo Bingxun, and then omitted the usual concise words.
In the opening remarks, he turned around and faced the large combat map hanging behind him, and Guo Bingxun, chief of staff of the Anti-Japanese Alliance, began to assign tasks.
After receiving Yang Zhen's look indicating to start, Guo Bingxun walked to the map and picked up the baton and said: "For this battle, the headquarters is very determined. There is only one goal, and that is to completely capture the entire South Manchuria. For this battle, the headquarters has mobilized
All troops that can participate in the war are divided into four major strategic groups."
"The Western Cluster is commanded by Wang Guangyu, who uniformly commands eight divisions plus an armored brigade, three independent tank regiments, and local troops of the Jehol Military Region to launch an attack from the Songtoumen and Yangshan lines toward Jinzhou and Jinxi.
And sent a force out of Qinghemen to seize Yixian County, complete the division of the Japanese army in western Liaoning, and finally seize the Jinzhou line and cut off the Beining Railway."
"At the same time, the first and third columns of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region, plus the independent first, second and third brigades of the Jidong Military Region, are attached to the independent tank regiments of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region and are directly under the howitzer regiment, from the Shanhaiguan line to Xingcheng and Huludao.
Launch an attack and cooperate with the Western Cluster to launch an attack in the direction of Jinzhou."
"The Central Cluster is under the direct command of the headquarters and is divided into two tactical corps, the east and west. The western corps is commanded by Chen Hanzhang, with six infantry divisions, the first armored division, the fourth armored division, the first independent cavalry brigade, the third pontoon regiment, and the engineer corps directly under the headquarters.
The 3rd, 6th, and 8th regiments went straight from Kangping and Zhangwu to the direction of Xinmin."
"After the Corps completed the forcible crossing of the Liao River, it used one armored division to strengthen four infantry divisions, seize the Xinchengzi and Hushitai lines, and cut off the Japanese retreat north of Shenyang. At the same time, it used the strength of two divisions to seize ***zi and cut off Xinmin
The connection with Shenyang. The department also has a mission, which is to seize the city of Shenyang completely before the Japanese army reacts."
"The Western Front Corps is under the unified command of Du Kaishan, with the 3rd and 5th Armored Brigades, the 1st Mountain Infantry Division, and seven infantry divisions rapidly advancing southward from Xifeng along the Xifeng-Shenyang Highway. With the Western Group at
The front lines of Xinchengzi and Hushitai converged to complete the encirclement of the Japanese troops north of Shenyang."
"The East Cluster is equipped with two armored brigades, a cavalry brigade, and five infantry divisions under the unified command of Wang Xiaoming. The entire East Cluster has only one goal, which is to concentrate all forces, ignore the Japanese obstruction along the way, and go all out to Anshan and Benxi Lake.
Advance at high speed in each direction. In a word, if you can reach Anshan, Benxi Lake, and Miyahara within the specified time, you will be considered to have completed the strategic rectification mission."
"This line is located in the hilly areas of Liaodong, with mountains and forests everywhere. It is a very difficult thing for the East Cluster to face. The road conditions in the mountainous areas are extremely bad, and there are layers of enemy troops blocking the way. It is necessary to
It is undoubtedly a very difficult task to reach Anshan and Benxi Lake in the shortest possible time and cut off the Anfeng-Feng Railway and the Zhongchang Railway."
Having said this, Guo Bingxun put down the baton in his hand, looked at Wang Xiaoming who was somewhat hesitant and said: "The headquarters also knows that this task is not easy to complete, so No. 1 and I will give you a chance to choose. Can you promise to do it?"
At this point, if you can't make it to the headquarters, you can consider replacing someone."
"Anshan and Benxi Lake are the two largest steel bases built by Japan in southern Manchuria. These two places must be recaptured completely. The terrain along the way is quite complex, and they are basically fought in mountainous areas. When things are crucial,
Under the circumstances, the headquarters will not force a commander to complete such a task."
Hearing that the headquarters doubted whether he had the determination to complete the mission, Wang Xiaoming's face suddenly turned red, stood up and said: "No. 1, No. 3, the old rules of the Anti-Japanese Alliance, the orders of superiors must be completed at all costs.
Since the headquarters has entrusted this direction to me, I have only one sentence: If you fail to complete the task, you will kill my head."
"But I have two requests. I hope that the headquarters will transfer Cao Yafan to me as deputy commander. He is an old man of the First Army. He participated in the Southern Expedition of the First Army. He is quite familiar with the mountains and rivers of Liaodong. Let him take command of the vanguard.
The troops will be quite convenient for our operations. Also, there is a Soviet-style 160mm mortar regiment at the headquarters. I hope this mortar regiment can also be transferred to me."