At the end of September 1938, the Akol Armored Corps desert hill training base was located on the side of Talos City and Karatau Mountain.
With the low roar of the motor, clouds of light yellow sand rose from the desolate Gobi hills. The Seventh Tank Company of the Second Regiment of the 180th Armored Division of the 60th Group Army was conducting an assault formation drill on hilly terrain. Six soldiers
The assault team composed of three tanks lined up in a row, kicking up the billowing sand and dust, like a yellow wave on the ground, and swept toward the Alcor base.
"The formation is maintained pretty well, but I don't know how it will perform during live-fire shooting in a few days." On a hillside in front of Alco Base, Yue Chengzong, the training director of the 180th Division, put down the telescope in his hand and turned around to look at the man next to him who was concentrating on it.
The lieutenant colonel who was observing the progress of the tanks said that a few kilometers away, a dozen tanks were looming in the clouds of yellow dust.
"These are what we are today because of the good guidance of Director Yue. Three months ago, when the armored division was first formed, these guys made the training ground a mess." Tank Battalion Commander
Lieutenant Colonel Feng Jianjiang put down his telescope and turned to look at Yue Chengzong, with a happy smile on his face.
Due to its outstanding performance in the Battle of Bukhara, the 180th Division became the first unit of the Sixtyth Army to be reorganized into an armored division. Each army group of the Republic of China was equipped with one armored division and two infantry divisions, and the armored division organization was cancelled.
A brigade-level unit generally has three armored regiments or tank regiments.
The armored divisions of the Republican Army are divided into two types: heavy armored divisions and light armored divisions. The armored divisions under the jurisdiction of the 1st to 18th Group Armies that were first organized by the Republic of China are heavy armored divisions, and the armored divisions organized by other group armies are light armored.
The difference between the two divisions is the number of tanks equipped. Heavy armored divisions generally have two tank regiments and one armored infantry regiment, while light armored divisions generally have one tank regiment and two armored infantry regiments.
The tank regiment has three tank battalions and one armored infantry battalion, with a total of 112 tanks and 38 armored infantry fighting vehicles. The armored infantry regiment has one tank battalion and two armored infantry battalions, with 42 tanks and 72 armored infantry fighting vehicles.
.Heavy armored divisions generally have 315 tanks, while light armored divisions generally only have 315 tanks.
It has 204 tanks. After the Republican Army abolished the cavalry establishment, the original 1st to 7th Cavalry Divisions were also reorganized into light armored divisions. The heavy army groups that originally had cavalry divisions such as the 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 9th
, the 13th, 18th and 21st Group Armies became a heavily armed group army with two armored divisions.
Nowadays, domestic monthly tank production has increased to 1,500 vehicles. The main factor restricting operations in the northwest is logistics and transportation problems, especially armored units. The equipment and supplies required by armored units are about three times that of ordinary infantry divisions. Fortunately, mechanized units need more than 1,500 tanks per month.
Oil is supplied by the Republic of Siberia, otherwise such a huge logistics cannot be fully guaranteed by just two railways and a few roads.
The sweet watermelon juice melted in his mouth. Yang Haiming, who was wearing a training uniform that was stained with oil and had several holes torn in, finally regained his luster on his unshaven face, which had been covered in sweat from intense training.
"Hey, have you heard? The new tanks equipped in the division have been shipped to Talas. We will also use the same tanks as the 13th Army." Lu Yongjiang, the third squad leader, came from the direction of the base office building and saw
Everyone said a little mysteriously.
"You're beautiful, we are stepmothers. We don't know who these things are for, when will it be our turn." At that time, the 60th Group Army took shells in the trenches every day, and faced the enemy with the 79 rifles used by the militiamen.
Fighting while jealously watching the brother troops equipped with new artillery and Type 30 semi-automatic rifles, we had such a dream in the trenches.
After finally retreating from the front line to rest, the newly formed armies have just been replaced with 6.8mm Type 30 semi-automatic rifles issued by the unified Republican Army. Up to now, the number of artillery pieces of the 60th Army has not reached the establishment required by the Republican Army.
With such firepower being weaker than the enemy, everyone has had enough days of being on tenterhooks on the battlefield.
"Come on, Lao Lu, don't talk in your sleep in this broad daylight." Yang Haiming stuffed the chewed melon rind between the tracks like a prank, stood up and knocked on the Type 28 tank behind him, "We can pick up some
Things that people don’t want are already good.”
The veterans with disheveled military appearance burst into laughter. These soldiers who had come off the battlefield had experienced too much life and death. They had long forgotten about military appearance and discipline, and withdrew to the rear, bringing with them the new recruits who had just joined the army.
The officers had no choice but to turn a blind eye to this situation.
"I just heard what Staff Liu said at the regiment headquarters. The tanks are being unloaded at the station right now. Believe it or not, who dares to bet with me that the battalion commander will call everyone to assemble in a while." Lu Yongjiang stamped his feet and said.
Most of the officers and soldiers of the 60th Group come from military reclamation farms in the northwest. The mechanization level of the Production and Construction Corps is still very high in the country. It is relatively easy to find more than 2,000 tractor drivers in the entire army. The 60th Group Army is
120 brand-new Type 28 tanks were discovered in Markand's military warehouse. After receiving the report, the group army commander Zhang Yi'an decided to privately seize the equipment and form his own tank unit.
Zhang Yi'an, who was born in the 13th Group Army mainly composed of the Shaanxi People's Army, had seen the power of tanks very early. Although he was jealous when he saw the tanks equipped by the main force, he was anxious but had no choice. The Republican Army now has armored vehicles.
Due to insufficient production, priority can only be given to equipping the main force. The newly formed "second-rate units" like the 60th Army will have to wait at least a year for their turn to be re-equipped.
The tanks in the Samarkand warehouse were gifts given to the Khiva Army by the Republic two years ago in order to strengthen the "traditional friendship" with the Khiva Khanate. However, the cavalry on the steppes seemed not to be interested in these tanks.
Da, has been keeping these things in warehouses and has not formed its own armored force.
The Russians returned to Central Asia. The Khiva Army, which had only 12,000 people, collapsed in the battle with the Soviet Red Army. Members of the Khiva government, including Khiva Khan, had long fled to Tashkent. Now Samarkand only has
They could rely on the Republican Army and the low-level officials who remained in the city to maintain order.
The Republican Army discovered a large amount of unopened heavy equipment in a large arms warehouse outside Samarkand. This large amount of military equipment assisted by the Republic included 60 105mm howitzers, 120 75mm howitzers, and 120 Type 28 tanks.
and 60 Type 28 tracked armored vehicles. Zhang Yi'an, who was suffering from a shortage of heavy equipment, was overjoyed and ordered the artillery to be immediately equipped to the artillery units of each division, and used these tanks to form his own armored regiments.
The Republican Army only began to equip a large number of tanks in 1931, but most of the armored personnel with excellent skills remained in the army. Zhang Nian searched all over the army and found 62 officers and non-commissioned officers who had served in the armored forces. In desperation,
Tractor drivers were selected from among the entire army to form armored units.
The operation of tanks equipped by the Republican Army is not much different from that of agricultural crawler tractors. After simple training, these drivers can master the preliminary skills.
Fortunately, Zhambul has a certain amount of oil reserves. The tank troops of the 60th Army, cobbled together from scratch, are intensifying training at the training ground of the former Khiva Army outside the city. The weather in July is extremely hot, and General Zhang is personally at the training ground.
They served tea and water to the sweating soldiers, which made the officers and soldiers who were roasting uncomfortable in tin cans miserable.
It was not until August that the official order from the Military Command was issued. The 180th Division was reorganized into an armored division. The 60th Group Army received 140 Type 28 light tanks and armored vehicles from the 3rd Cavalry Division from the Theater Logistics Department.
The formation of the armored division was completed, and training has been carried out at Alcor Base.
Lu Yongjiang was discussing the amount of the bet with several people, and company commander Luo Qi blew his whistle from the side, "Gather, gather at the playground immediately!" Luo Qi shouted loudly while blowing the whistle.