SWDnovel Chapter 62: Tiny Tanks That Can't Be Dealt With Without a 45mm Anti-Tank Gun
Chapter 62: Tiny Tanks That Can't Be Dealt With Without a 45mm Anti-Tank Gun
It's a pity that the Japanese soldiers who killed each other cannot be counted among his merit points.
Otherwise, the merit points obtained would definitely exceed 100,000.
Even after accounting for losses and personnel replenishment, Li Jianghe still gained an additional 45,000 merit points.
With the merit points he had left, Li Jianghe had even more confidence in the inevitable street battles to come.
Whether we can hold out is unclear, but at least we can buy some more time.
The next morning, the Japanese 114th Division had regrouped.
However, compared to before, they suffered heavy losses and their total strength has been reduced considerably.
Originally, Hisao Tani intended to take over the 114th Division and continue the attack on Yuhuatai, but Shigeharu Suematsu refused.
Hisao Tani thought it was a good idea and agreed to his plan to continue the attack, while also indicating that he would provide full support from artillery and armored forces.
This time, Shigeharu Suematsu completely abandoned his underestimation of the enemy, realizing that this was an extremely formidable opponent.
Therefore, this time his attack is not intended to focus on the front, but rather to find a way to attack the flanks.
"The frontal attack will be carried out with only a small number of infantry, while armored forces will be concentrated on the flanks. Their flank positions will inevitably have less firepower than the frontal ones."
Saburo Isoda said with great certainty.
"However, there is one thing to worry about: if we attack from the flanks, the enemy on the city walls may also open fire on us."
Suematsu Shigeji said coldly:
"Then let the artillery fire continue to suppress the enemy troops on the city wall, so as not to give them a chance to counterattack."
After saying that, he gave the order to attack.
The shelling came again, and even those hiding in the tunnels could feel the vibrations overhead.
Compared to before, this Japanese bombardment was obviously much more ferocious, and even Zhonghua Gate was within the range of the Japanese bombardment.
After unleashing thousands of shells, the Japanese ground forces resumed their advance.
Unlike before, this time the Japanese army was mainly composed of infantry on the front, while armored units were attacking from the flanks.
The attack was launched by two Japanese tank companies, plus two infantry companies.
The observer at the front of the position, looking through the observation hole of the bunker at the tanks slowly approaching amidst the smoke, couldn't help but shout.
"Tanks!!! The Japanese tanks are coming!!!!"
This shout was filled with fear of the Japanese tanks.
On the Shanghai battlefield, due to the lack of anti-tank weapons, Chinese troops often had to use their flesh and blood to resist the attacks of Japanese mechanized forces.
Sometimes, it takes an entire platoon or even an entire company to sacrifice their lives, and it's still difficult to take down a single Japanese tank.
Zhu Chi picked up his binoculars and ran to the flank position. He saw Japanese tanks moving with a roar, and a large number of Japanese soldiers approaching the flank position.
"Immediately organize a suicide squad, armed with cluster grenades, and get ready to blow up my tanks."
Zhu Chi roared.
He knew very well that the only way to deal with Japanese tanks was to wait for them to get close and then use cluster grenades to destroy them.
Of course, the 88th Division was also equipped with anti-tank guns before.
However, all of these anti-tank guns had disappeared during the retreat.
Moreover, even if there were anti-tank guns, the Japanese army would destroy them as much as possible during one or two assaults.
While Japanese tanks and armored vehicles could be replenished, the Nationalist army's anti-tank guns were much harder to replace.
In the end, they still could not escape the fate of using their flesh and blood to fight against Japanese tanks.
Just as Zhu Chi was preparing to fight to the death to block the Japanese tank offensive, soldiers from the Provisional 3rd Regiment rushed over.
"Brigade Commander Zhu, our regimental commander said that the Japanese have tanks, and they will be difficult for you to deal with."
These tanks can be given to us.
The speaker was a company commander, but his company was not an ordinary infantry company; it consisted of anti-tank squads and rocket launcher squads.
It's a perfect match for dealing with armored targets.
"Do you have enough?"
Zhu Chi asked.
He knew that Li Jianghe was also equipped with anti-tank guns, but Zhu Chi didn't know exactly how many.
"Don't worry, the commander said it'll definitely be enough."
"That's what the company commander of the 3rd Provisional Regiment said."
Outside, five 45mm anti-tank guns and ten Panzerfaust 60 tanks had already been brought over by the soldiers.
They were ordered to support the 262nd Brigade's positions and assist in resisting the attack of the Japanese armored forces.
On the city wall, Sun Yuanliang, the commander of the 88th Division, naturally saw those speeding tanks.
"It's over, this time it's completely over."
Even Gao Zhisong, the brigade commander of the 264th Brigade, showed worry on his dark face.
"We still have two anti-tank guns. Should we attack the Japanese tanks from the city wall? It would be better than doing nothing here."
They were also equipped with two PAK anti-tank guns, but they didn't have many shells; the two guns had a total of 20 shells.
Sun Yuanliang thought for a moment, then waved his hand and said:
"After the Japanese army takes Yuhuatai, they will definitely attack Zhonghuamen next. Let's save the shells to defend the city gate."
He wanted to preserve some strength, whether it was for a later breakout or to actually defend Zhonghua Gate, it was better than having nothing at all.
Gao Zhisong's face turned a dark red.
"Commander, are we just going to stand by and watch? There are not only Li Jianghe's troops on Yuhuatai, but also our brothers from the 88th Division."
"Obey orders!!!"
Sun Yuanliang's gaze was icy, and his tone showed no sign of compromise.
"yes!"
Gao Zhisong answered loudly, looking towards the Japanese tank unit outside the city wall, which was moving forward with the roar of its engines.
It seems... Yuhuatai really can't be defended now...
Just as he was worrying, a Japanese Type 97 tank that was moving forward suddenly exploded.
"Huh?"
Gao Zhisong was stunned, wondering what was going on? Why were the Japanese tanks self-destructing?
When I picked up the binoculars again, I saw artillery roaring on the flank.
It's a 45mm anti-tank gun, firing at Japanese tanks.
This was still on one side of the 262nd Brigade's defense, the flank where Li Jianghe's troops were located, where 10 45mm anti-tank guns roared simultaneously.
It cost him 5000 merit points to acquire so many anti-tank guns.
Of course, there were also rocket launcher teams for close-range engagement with Japanese tanks, and 10 of them were temporarily summoned, costing another 4000 points.
All merit points that can be contributed will be reported.
A single salvo from anti-tank guns destroyed three Japanese tanks that were moving forward.
Shigeharu Suematsu was also using binoculars to observe the positions ahead.
Previously, Li Jianghe's anti-tank guns had not been fired, but were instead hidden to prevent the Japanese army from focusing their attacks.
Now that it was pulled out, it destroyed three tanks in the blink of an eye. Shigeharu Suematsu's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Where did they get their anti-tank guns?"
Suematsu Shigeharu couldn't help but wonder, since the enemy's anti-tank guns hadn't been seen surfacing during yesterday's battle.
Saburo Isoda said with a hint of helplessness:
"According to the information, Li Jianghe's troops had been equipped with anti-tank guns before. Who would have thought that they would bring those artillery pieces from Shanghai to Nanjing?"
No...not only that, this time the enemy has even more anti-tank guns, more than at Sihang Warehouse.