SWDnovel Chapter 203: The Motorized Infantry Detachment's Flanking and Rear Attack on the Japanese Suppl
Chapter 203: The Motorized Infantry Detachment's Flanking and Rear Attack on the Japanese Suppl
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"That's true."
I observed them during the day; the enemy's fighting spirit is strong, but their weaponry is too poor, and they have almost no artillery support.
"I really can't understand how Isoya Rensuke could have failed to defeat an enemy like that?"
Yoshio Shinotsuka's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression, as he reminded him:
"The main problem is that Li Jianghe's armored forces are too difficult to deal with."
Their weaponry is excellent, their personnel are of superior quality, and they possess a very advanced set of combat concepts.
"It's a pity that his main force was tied up at Fujin Mountain this time and didn't have a chance to fight him. Otherwise, I would really like to see just how capable this legendary army really is."
Upon hearing this, Tani Hisao immediately gave a disdainful sneer.
"I think most of those rumors are exaggerated."
If his troops dare to run into our 6th Division, I'll make sure they see how formidable our 6th Division is.
No sooner had the two finished speaking than a deafening explosion and a barrage of gunfire suddenly erupted from behind the command post, carried by the night wind.
"What's the situation behind us?"
The leisurely expression on Yoshio Shinotsuka's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp question.
The communications soldier standing nearby quickly stood up and hurriedly replied:
"Reporting to the Division Commander, the explosion came from the direction of Longtan Town. It should be... a sneak attack by a small enemy force."
"Nonsense!" Tani Hisao's face darkened. "If it were just a small group of enemy troops launching a sneak attack, how could there be such a violent explosion?!"
Before he could finish speaking, the telephone in the command center rang.
Yoshio Shinotsuka rushed over and grabbed the receiver.
On the other end of the phone, there were explosions and screams all around.
"Reporting to the Division Commander! Longtan Town has been attacked by enemy armored forces! The firepower is extremely heavy! It is very likely the main force of the Third Column!!"
"What?!" Yoshio Shinotsuka's pupils constricted, and he exclaimed in disbelief, "This is impossible! Aren't the Third Column troops currently fighting the Imperial Guard Division and the 13th Division on the southern front at Fujinyama?!"
"I don't know! What's attacking us is an enemy armored formation, at least a hundred tanks! And there's heavy artillery bombardment! We can't hold on much longer!"
The platoon leader on the other end of the phone sounded utterly desperate and terrified.
Longtan Town was the most important logistical reserve base for the Japanese army on the northern front, and also the garrison of the supply regiment.
Ammunition and fuel transported from places like Lu'an and Huainan are all stockpiled here, and then transferred to various attacking units according to the needs of the front lines.
If this area is destroyed, the entire Japanese offensive on the northern front will be affected.
Gu Hisao stood aside and said in a deep voice, "It seems that the enemy armored forces from Fujinsan have rushed over overnight to reinforce Gushi."
"Taking advantage of our focus on the siege front, they launched a surprise attack on our flank and rear—that's Li Jianghe's consistent fighting style!"
Yoshio Shinotsuka gripped the receiver tightly in his hand, then turned and gave the order:
"Immediately dispatch reserve teams and rush them to the aid of Longtan Town!"
"Order the garrison at Longtan Town to hold off this enemy force at all costs! They absolutely cannot be allowed to destroy the supply depot!"
Before the gunfire at the Gushi front had even ceased, the Japanese troops that were launching a fierce attack on the county town received an emergency relocation order.
Infantry, artillery, cavalry, and tank units all hurriedly changed direction and rushed towards Longtan Town to provide reinforcements.
Deep in the Dabie Mountains, in the temporary command post of the Third Column.
Li Jianghe was staring at the battle map surrounding Gushi County.
Just then, the communications officer stepped forward and handed over a reconnaissance telegram that had just been sent back from the front.
The forward-deployed reconnaissance teams are all equipped with radios or telephones, ensuring unimpeded battlefield communication and enabling them to transmit enemy information from the front lines back to the rear command post in the first instance.
Yang Ruifu quickly scanned the telegram, adjusted his glasses, and said in a deep voice:
"The Japanese reacted quickly and have already dispatched a large number of troops to support Longtan Town."
Li Jianghe tapped the mark of Longtan Town on the map with his fingertip, smiled calmly, and gave the order.
"Concentrate artillery firepower to delay the Japanese reinforcements."
"Dispatch another tank battalion to harass and contain the enemy along the way, buying time for the main force to capture Longtan Town."
He was determined to take Longtan Town.
A Japanese supply regiment was stationed here.
Although both were regimental units, the size and combat effectiveness of a supply regiment were vastly different from those of a regular Japanese infantry regiment.
The main force responsible for the attack on Longtan Town was the Third Motorized Infantry Detachment under Wang Dayong.
The unit consists of two motorized infantry battalions, one supply battalion, one artillery battalion, one engineer battalion, one anti-tank battalion, one air defense battalion, and one directly subordinate communications company.
In addition, a heavy artillery battalion was attached, consisting of a total of 12 105mm howitzers.
One of the motorized infantry battalions alone was equipped with 108 trucks, 81 armored personnel carriers, 27 Puma fighting vehicles, and various auxiliary vehicles.
The most lethal of these are the 81 armored personnel carriers and 27 Puma armored vehicles.
These Puma armored vehicles have generally been equipped with 50mm long-barreled cannons.
The shells had higher initial velocity, longer range, and their armor-piercing and explosive power far exceeded that of conventional Japanese tank guns.
At this time, the outer perimeter of the Japanese supply corps in Longtan Town was in complete chaos.
The motorized infantry battalion's Puma tanks, along with their modified armored personnel carriers, were rampaging through the Japanese defenses, crushing them to pieces.
The battlefield was littered with the corpses of Japanese soldiers, their dark red blood soaking into the soil.
The supply warehouse, ignited by artillery shells, was billowing black smoke and flames reaching into the sky.
In the areas captured by our army, the ammunition, food, and fuel stockpiled by the Japanese army became the first targets to be destroyed.
Explosions continued, and the entire town of Longtan trembled amidst the artillery fire.
Deep within Longtan Town, in the command post of the Japanese army's supply corps.
The platoon leader slammed down the phone, and a hint of confidence finally appeared on his tense face.
"Reinforcements have already set off! The nearest unit should arrive in at least an hour!"
He shouted at the top of his lungs, partly to encourage himself and partly to calm the panicked staff officer beside him.
But the regimental staff officer beside him remained pale-faced, his brows furrowed, and said urgently:
"Colonel, even if reinforcements arrive soon, our forward defenses are about to crumble! Many positions have been overrun by enemy tank units!"
The regimental commander slammed his fist on the table, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace as he roared:
"Hold on! Hold on tight! Reinforcements are on their way!"
To the west of Longtan Town, an infantry regiment under the Japanese 10th Division was the fastest of all the reinforcements.
They were originally stationed in Quanhepu Town, which is only a few kilometers away from Longtan Town.
Upon receiving the order to provide assistance, they immediately rushed to the scene at full speed along the highway.
Just as they were about to reach Longtan Town, several flares suddenly rose into the night sky.
"Whoosh whoosh!!!"
The magnesium strips inside the flare burned fiercely in the night sky, their blinding white light instantly illuminating the entire highway.
It also illuminated the bewildered and terrified faces of the Japanese soldiers.
Immediately afterwards, a deafening roar of artillery fire erupted.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!!"
The heavy artillery battalion, with its firing parameters already set, along with the anti-aircraft battalion's 88mm guns, simultaneously unleashed devastating fire on the Japanese marching column.