Chapter 5 The war started, and the military division became an army (18)
In the Japanese Concession on the east bank of the Haihe River in Tianjin, in the Japanese military camp built on the site of the former famous temple Haiguang Temple, in the military conference room that was temporarily opened as a command room, Doihara was holding a phone and talking to the frontline commander Kawabe Masami. call,
The battle started at nine o'clock in the morning. The reason why Doihara chose this time to start the battle was because he knew that the training division would hold a promotion celebration meeting at nine o'clock today.
There is no doubt that he chose to start the battle at this hour to create a psychological deterrent for the officers and soldiers of the Xuebing Division. For this battle, or to gain control of Tianjin, both Nanjiro and Doihara spent a lot of money. , Nanjiro not only allocated 24 Kawasaki 92 bombers from two squadrons, but also allocated all the 54 "Chilo" newly shipped from Japan to Doihara, which stunned the 108th Division from a The second-rate division was reorganized into a first-rate division,
At nine o'clock sharp, following an order from Doihara who was staying at the headquarters, an artillery unit of the 108th Division launched an attack first. First, eight 150 mm caliber heavy artillery rumbled, followed by hundreds of large and small caliber artillery pieces. The cannons fired at the same time, immediately covering the exposed frontline fortifications of the 38th Division in fireworks.
The confrontation between the 38th Division and the Japanese army started a week ago. What is interesting is that perhaps neither side wanted Tianjin to be reduced to ruins after this battle, so they had a tacit understanding to place the battlefield outside the city in the eastern suburbs of the 38th Division. Near the "Qilihai" military camp, both sides deployed a total of no less than 60,000 troops, including about 20,000 Japanese troops and 40,000 troops from the 38th Division. In Tianjin City, the Japanese and Israeli troops, mainly the Huabei Tun garrison, The police-led 38th Division affiliated troops used the Japanese Concession as a gathering place. Both sides deployed heavy troops around the border line of the Japanese Concession. They both looked like they were facing a formidable enemy. This only made the Tianjin people living nearby feel confused and uneasy. Don't know what disaster is going to happen,
As for the 108th Division, it was still the 25th Brigade that was responsible for the first offensive mission. The difference was that the commander was not the brigade commander, Major General Naozo Nakano, but his subordinate Kaori Takaki.
In the battle of Wen'an, although the 108th Division had to return in vain because Zhang Zizhong stabbed him in the back, it was considered a victory for Gao Shujiayi. Because of his calm and outstanding commanding ability in this battle, he was favored by Kanto With the commendation from the Military Headquarters, not only was the military rank promoted by one rank from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel, but I also received an autographed photo from His Majesty the Emperor.
It's a bit incredible to say that it's just such a palm-sized black and white photo. The person in it is neither a beauty nor a star. But when guys like Gao Shujiayi see him, they are like drug addicts seeing opium, and their eyes light up. The one with so much passion wanted to rub the knife into his stomach immediately to feel comfortable and to be able to show his loyalty...
After the battle started, the early artillery bombardment was carried out in accordance with the combat plan formulated by the headquarters. The purpose of conducting artillery bombardment first instead of aircraft bombing was to draw out the opponent's artillery team and then destroy it with the air force. Once the limited 38th Division's If heavy weapons were destroyed, then under the cover of aircraft, artillery, and tanks, it would be much easier for the infantry of the 108th Division to capture the "Seven Mile Sea" and capture Zhang Zizhong alive.
When the 150mm heavy artillery fired first at the 38th Division's defense ground, Gao Shujiayi picked up the telescope and began to check the effect of the artillery fire.
Part of the 38th Division's fortifications were built before. The materials used in this part are cement, thick wooden piles, and sandbags. Therefore, the construction is relatively strong. As long as it is not directly hit by heavy artillery shells, it can be well preserved; just now The construction part is not so lucky. Most of them are made of sandbags. Since there is no cement reinforcement, no matter what caliber of artillery shells hit, they will often collapse immediately or scatter in all directions.
"The artillery unit did a good job." Gao Shujia put down his telescope and said to Ebi Mingrong: "Ebi Mingrong, wait a minute, which one is our Akita Regiment, or your 132 Regiment."
Ebi Mingrong said respectfully: "You are the commander of this battle, so it is up to you to issue this order." After speaking, he bowed slightly and said,
Gao Shujia smiled reservedly, and habitually stretched his hand to his left chest and touched his shirt pocket. There, the Emperor's signed photo was lying leisurely. He thought to himself: The honor of having the Emperor's signed photo is indeed extraordinary, not only Being able to command a brigade in combat as a colonel, and even Ebiomei Mingei, who is so arrogant, now treats me respectfully. He said: "Then let's let the Akita regiment go first."
"Hai."
Suddenly, the roar of artillery came from the opposite side, and the artillery unit of the 38th Division finally showed up. Gao Shujia felt happy and quickly picked up the telescope and looked ahead.
The commander of the artillery unit of the 38th Division is obviously a good gunner. The artillery brigade of the 108th Division has only fired about a hundred or so shells. He has accurately calculated the opponent's defenders based on the impact point of the shells, and then, hidden About sixty cannons in a mountain forest about ten kilometers away from the "Qilihai" military camp roared. Later, the exhausted Japanese artillery positions were accompanied by bursts of rumbling ammunition explosions, and people shouted Horse neighing (heavy artillery is usually pulled by horses),
"The Chinese artillery fire is very accurate." Gao Shujia's face turned pale and he mumbled. When the artillery of the 38th Division first appeared, he was relatively happy, because in this way, our own air force would soon After the attack, it was time for their infantry to appear. He originally thought that this would speed up the process of the battle. Who knew that the firing of the opponent's artillery would actually bring such disastrous consequences to his own side? The artillery unit of the 38th Division had to Unreasonable, two rounds of concentrated fire were followed by a quarter of an hour of free fire. After these two rounds of fire, there were not many cannons left on the Japanese artillery position that could be fired.
"How could this happen?" When Doihara first heard the news, he immediately went crazy and even forgot to send out the air force.
Why is this happening? Maybe Zhang Zizhong can help him answer this question. It's a simple matter. Before that, he asked the surveyors of the artillery force to measure and calibrate the shooting elements in various places in Tianjin. This is No wonder the artillerymen of the 38th Division can become sharpshooters.
Speaking of which, the artillerymen of the 108th Division did not complain at all. So, without the artillery, how will the Little Japanese's Tianjin strategy be adjusted? Next, facing the Little Japanese's aircraft and tanks, Zhang Zizhong will again What’s a good way to deal with it?