As night fell, on the coastal plain ten kilometers east of Mahajanga Port, the temporary field airport that the landing engineering troops rushed to repair welcomed an uninvited guest - a huge group of helicopters flew over from the Mozambique Channel in the north, one after another on the vast grassland
Up and down.
Four hours later, all the helicopters were overhauled and refueled. They took off again under the indicator light and flew towards their destination under the guidance of the airship radar at an altitude of 20,000 meters.
Among the total fleet of 220 helicopters, only three squadrons with a total of 48 armed helicopters perform escort missions. In addition, there are 120 transport helicopters carrying engineering troops. The remaining helicopters partially carry fuel and some are towed for construction.
mechanical.
Previously, based on continuous reconnaissance by the Air Force and uninterrupted monitoring by satellites and airship radars, the Japanese troops on Madagascar were seriously insufficient, and many areas far away from major traffic routes were abandoned, including Lake Alautra and the coastal plains.
Lake Alautra is the largest lake in Madagascar. It is located in the eastern part of the Central Plateau, covering an area of about 180 square kilometers. The lake surface is 750 meters above sea level. It is fed by several creeks and then flows eastward through the Maninguri River.
The plains along the Indian Ocean and Lake Alautra are extremely wide and are an important rice-producing area on the island. However, what is strange is that after two weeks of continuous investigation, no traces of human activities have been found in this area. Even many
The village also fell into complete silence.
Under this circumstance, after repeated deliberation, the theater staff department decided to use this place as an important fulcrum for this "frog-leap operation".
Due to the influence of An Yi and the main generals around him who came from the original Third Engineer Company and the Model Battalion, the engineers of An's Army not only have outstanding professional skills, but also have considerable combat effectiveness. They are a heroic unit with one specialty and many abilities.
.After arriving at their destination, the engineers will immediately repair a large field airport that can accommodate four IV airships taking off and landing at the same time. Before sunrise, they will set up blocking positions at the highway passes on the north and south wings to wait for the IV airships.
arrival.
In order to cooperate with this airborne landing, officers and soldiers from two squadrons of the Navy's "Green Fox" Special Forces Group swam ashore at Mahambu Beach in the southwest of Braha Island a week ago, and then went upstream along the Maninguri River. They used four
It took one day to travel through virgin forests and rapids canyons, and arrived at Lake Alautra. It took another two days to get a clear understanding of the surrounding situation and make a detailed report to the headquarters.
At three o'clock in the morning, the helicopter group landed smoothly under the guidance of the bonfire on the ground, and 1,800 engineers immediately went into intense construction. Three hours later, the field airport built on the abandoned rice fields was basically completed, and
At the same time, with the rapid mobilization of transport aircraft, the emergency repair work of the blocking positions at Ambuauri, a road pass in the northern part of the plain, and Andirana Tubi, an important mountain pass in the south, was also announced to be completed.
However, unexpectedly, until the first wave of four IV airships landed at ten o'clock in the morning, there was still no trace of the Japanese army. Instead, there was news of the 11th Infantry of the Fourth Group Army of the Anjia Army in the Maruwuai area southeast of Mahajanga.
News of the battle between the division and the Japanese army.
Two more days later, at noon on the 23rd, the three main divisions of the Sixth Army were quickly transported by IV airships, and it took only fifty hours to arrive, including the armored divisions.
Main battle tanks, armored fighting vehicles and delivery vehicles.
At this time, the fighting started in the western part of Madagascar. The Japanese army gradually gave up the coastal direction and retreated inland. However, from the beginning to the end, the Japanese army did not realize that there was a problem in their heartland.
Next to a small village on the south bank of Lake Alautra, Lieutenant General Wei Yihang, commander of the Sixth Army, was in high spirits. He laid the combat map randomly on a large bluestone and pressed the two corners of the map with two stones to avoid being blown by the mountain wind.
Go, and then he drew three circles in succession on the map with a marker.
“After the Japanese army occupied Madagascar, they built a railway connecting the main port Toamasina and the largest city Antananarivo. Originally, this railway would extend north to Lake Alautra to transport the products here.
, but as the war in the Indian Ocean continued to worsen, the Japanese army suspended the construction plan.
"We will go south through the simple road connecting Lake Alautra and the railway. The first target in front of us that needs to be taken is the city of Muramanga at the intersection of the simple road and the railway. This is a transportation hub
The city is like the center of a cross. Once we occupy this place, we can attack Antananarivo to the west and destroy the Japanese headquarters. We can attack the port of Toamasina to the east and connect the Marine Corps to the east.
Come ashore."
After listening to the introduction of the battle situation, the three division commanders nodded.
Wei Yihang saw that everyone had understood the current battle situation, so he issued a combat order: "Zhao Rongfa, your 17th Armored Division is the vanguard of this battle! You must move south at lightning speed and at high speed to get ahead of the Japanese army.
Before reacting, capture the train station of Murramanga City, capture this small town, and cut off the Japanese army's east-west traffic.
"Zheng Hengquan, your 18th Motorized Infantry Division must follow Zhao Rongfa closely, assist the 17th Armored Division in capturing Muramanga City, and wait for the arrival of the 16th Motorized Infantry Division led by me and An Suxiao.
. Do you understand? If you understand, go back and prepare, we will set off at one o’clock in the afternoon!”
"yes!"
Two major generals, Zhao Rongfa and Zheng Hengquan, saluted together and turned to leave. An Suxiao had an envious look in his eyes.
Wei Yihang patted An Suxiao on the shoulder: "I know you are not convinced. According to the latest military rank regulations, you have just been promoted to senior colonel. You will have to accumulate a lot of military exploits before you can be promoted to brigadier general... But, there must be someone to accompany me.
How about marching together? I promise you, your division will be the vanguard next time, how about that?"
An Suxiao's eyes lit up, but then he scratched his head in embarrassment:
"Our group army has never won a big battle. The two eldest brothers Zhao and Zheng have been major generals for many years. This time I went to Chang'an for a meeting and saw so many brothers who were promoted. I must have felt bad! In the past few years, I have
By training troops and leading troops to perform reconnaissance missions, etc., I have accumulated meritorious service, and have been promoted three levels in a row from a colonel to the current senior colonel. I am almost catching up with the two brothers, how can I compete with them for credit?"
"Go, go, you kid, don't pretend to be stupid with me!"
Wei Yihang curled his lips: "Chairman An Yi has said long ago that soldiers who don't want to be generals are not good soldiers. Seeing that the classmates from the Boy Scout Military School have become generals, you kid can't be tempted? Our Xia
The boss is Chairman An Yi’s confidant, and he has obtained a promise. Our front army will have many battles in the future! What do the top students from the Military Academy and the National Defense University think of the next war?"
"I think we should capture the port of Toamasina first!"
When An Suxiao heard the name of his adoptive father An Yi, his expression quickly became solemn: "Antananarivo is a mountain city, which is very unfavorable for the deployment of mechanized troops, let alone encircling such a city. If we want to
Is it easier said than done to wipe out all the top Japanese military leaders? As long as Kotaro Nakamura has a slightly normal mind, he will not stay in Antananarivo and wait to die. In this way, we have to pay a huge sacrifice and gain nothing but a vain reputation.
!
"The attack on the Port of Toamasina is different! From the location point of view, the Port of Toamasina is the most important outlet in the central region. As long as we capture this natural harbor, our Marines can continuously come ashore.
, the combat aircraft of the Air Force and Navy can use this place as a base to cooperate with us in our operations and reduce the pressure on us when we attack difficulties.
"The most important thing is that with this port and the convenient transportation of railways and roads, the supplies needed for combat can be delivered promptly and quickly through the port without fear of losing supplies. In addition to turning around and attacking Antananarivo
.Our mechanized troops can also move north or south at high speed along the plains near the coast, and together with the troops to the west, drive the Japanese troops inland from the coastal areas completely, and then slowly strangle them!"
"What you said makes sense, and the headquarters meant the same thing, but it didn't put a tight spell on us!"
Wei Yihang raised his wrist and looked at his watch: "It's getting late, go back and get ready. When the 17th Armored Division and the 18th Motorized Infantry Division set off, we will follow suit!"
An Suxiao left respectfully.
In the evening, a huge convoy of one hundred tanks, two hundred armored fighting vehicles and more than one hundred troop-carrying trucks were lined up in a long snake on the road south from Lake Alautra to Muramanga City.
Formation. Keep moving forward.
Because the road was bumpy and bumpy, the vehicle bumped violently and the engine roared loudly.
Five hours have passed since the departure. Based on the convoy's speed of 25 kilometers per hour, the troops have marched more than 120 kilometers and are not far from the city of Muramanga.
In a command vehicle modified from a Leopard II tank in the middle and rear of the convoy, Major General Zhao Rongfa, commander of the 17th Armored Division, carefully observed the surrounding situation and was on guard against Japanese troops appearing at any time.
Another hour later, as the sky gradually darkened, after the tank team passed through a forest, fierce gunfire suddenly rang out in front.
"Division Commander, our regiment has arrived near the train station and is attacking the Japanese defense line!"
Hearing the voice of the commander of the first regiment from the earphones, Zhao Rongfa turned his head and said to the chief of staff, Colonel Li Zhengxing: "How far are we from the first regiment?"
"It's about four kilometers and can be reached within a quarter of an hour."
Zhao Rongfa nodded without saying anything. He looked towards the battlefield in the south again. The sound of explosions had become much clearer and much denser.
Ten minutes later, the command vehicle in which Zhao Rongfa was located arrived at the periphery of the battlefield. The explosion that came through the hundreds of millimeters of armored steel seemed very dull, but it was extremely shocking.
The scene of a hundred tanks and two hundred armored fighting vehicles charging together was extremely spectacular. The Japanese defense line melted quickly like ice encountering the scorching sun.
The Japanese army only deployed three infantry squadrons in the non-frontline town of Muramanga. Facing the Anjia Army's assault, the Japanese army's resistance was extremely weak. One hundred tanks and two hundred armored fighting vehicles were useless as they were in an uninhabited land.
How long did it take to reach the defense line before being torn to pieces by tanks?
By ten o'clock at night, the 17th Armored Division completely occupied the train station and thoroughly sorted out Muramanga, a small town of less than two square kilometers. Just like other places, the Anjia officers and soldiers did not find a single indigenous person.
People, it seems like there is no one else on this island except Japanese.
At two o'clock in the morning, the 18th Motorized Infantry Division arrived. By 8 o'clock in the morning of the next day, the headquarters of the Sixth Army and the 16th Motorized Infantry Division also arrived at Muramanga.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ps: Thank you hima for the big reward of 10,000 points!
Thank you Nanqiao Zhusou and Jin Mu Canchen for your persistence in giving rewards. The emperor is grateful!
Affected by the weather, my father's condition suddenly worsened today, and the emperor was busy running around. He didn't have time to type until after dinner, which delayed the brothers' reading. I'm sorry!
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