Chapter 443 The Eighth Route Army’s new weapons!
"Last night, 51 gun towers and 35 bunkers were destroyed, and more than 1,100 imperial soldiers were destroyed?"
In Heyuan County, at the headquarters of the Japanese 36th Division, Jingguan Ren suddenly stood up from his chair and looked at the Chief of Staff Ishikawa Zhiji who was reporting.
The Japs' statistics were slower, but still in the afternoon, all units of the 36th Division reported their battle losses.
The lieutenant general's tone and eyes were both unbelievable.
After building a large number of reinforced concrete bunkers and gun towers, he thought he could sit back and relax for a while, but he did not expect that one-third of these fortifications were destroyed overnight.
This kind of reinforced concrete bunker and turret requires a lot of effort to destroy with a 75mm mountain gun. Only a 105mm howitzer can be easily destroyed by using high-explosive armor-piercing projectiles.
Does the Eighth Route Army have hundreds of 105mm howitzers?
This is absolutely impossible!
What went wrong?
The 36th Division has been fighting the Central Army in southern Shanxi. Although it has participated in mopping up the Eighth Route Army, it has not been much. It is not very clear that the new regiment is equipped with a large number of bazookas, and it does not know the power of this bunker can opener.
"Hi!"
Ishikawa Jisui lowered his head and said in an incredible tone: "This shows that at least 86 bunkers or gun towers were attacked and destroyed at the same time last night!"
Hearing this, Jingguan Ren looked thoughtful and soon realized something was wrong.
There seems to be something wrong with the strength of the new regiment!
How many troops and artillery are needed to attack at least 86 bunkers or gun towers at the same time and destroy so many bunkers or gun towers?
"How many troops are there in the Eighth Route Army attacking each bunker or gun tower, and what kind of weapons are used?" Jingguan Ren asked with a flash of light.
Overnight, almost another full infantry brigade was lost, which Jingguan Ren could not accept.
More than a month ago, the 36th Division lost a full infantry brigade as soon as it arrived in northwestern Shanxi. Now, before it has had time to replenish its troops, it has lost more than 1,100 people.
Although a large amount of cement and steel bars were transported by the Beitongpu Railway in a short period of time, a large number of thickened reinforced concrete turrets and bunkers were built in a short period of time.
Originally, I wanted to rely on these turrets and bunkers to hold down the New Regiment, but Jingguan Ren never dreamed that not even the reinforced concrete turrets and bunkers could block the New Regiment.
Is Li Yunlong so difficult to deal with?
Ishikawa Harishui said: "According to the summary of the various troops, the eight-way force attacking each bunker or gun tower, according to the structure of the China Army, is about one company!"
"As for what kind of weapons are used...the weapons currently known to be used by the Eighth Route Army include mortars, 75mm mountain cannons and 105mm howitzers!"
Most of the attacked gun towers and pillboxes were destroyed.
Only a few companies of recruits failed to complete their missions.
However, because it was a night attack, even from a distance of only more than 200 meters, the Japanese had no idea what kind of weapons the Eighth Route Army was using.
I only know that this weapon is very powerful, similar to a 105mm howitzer, so the Japanese subconsciously think it is a 105mm howitzer.
Jingguan Ren narrowed his eyes when he heard this. Could it be that the Eighth Route Army really has more than 100 105mm howitzers?
If this is the case, then the new group will be really difficult to deal with.
The entire 36th Division only has 9 105mm howitzers.
Jingguan Ren said in a deep voice: "The Eighth Route Army's regular establishment of a company is 100 to 120 men. Li Yunlong's department cannot calculate it according to common sense. A company is counted as 140 men. After calculation, the number of troops dispatched by the new regiment last night was at least 10,000.
2,000 people!”
The Japanese blocked the New Regiment and built bunkers and gun towers on the main roads and byways.
The New Regiment was not idle either. The Eighth Route Army was stationed on the roads and alleys outside the base area day and night.
After several fishing trips, the spy who tried to inform the Japanese was also found.
Although it is impossible to prevent the infiltration of special forces in the base area, there is no problem in preventing these Japanese spies from leaking information.
Jingguan Ren also received some rumors and knew that the new regiment was recruiting troops, but he had no idea how many troops had been expanded.
"Nani! 12,000 people?"
When Harishui Ishikawa heard this number, he couldn't help but take a breath.
The new regiment actually expanded to 12,000 men. According to the establishment of the Chinese army, it was already more than a division.
This force is almost the same as that of the 36th Division. The 36th Division lost more than 2,000 men and has increased from more than 15,000 men to more than 13,000 men.
"Where did Li Yunlong get so much food, weapons and equipment?"
Jingguan Ren's face was gloomy, and he suddenly slapped his hand on the desk with an angry tone.
Northwestern Shanxi is barren, and the grain produced is not enough for the common people themselves. And Li Yunlong has just moved from southeastern Shanxi to northwestern Shanxi. Where can he get so much food to feed more than 10,000 people?
The daily consumption of an army of more than 10,000 people is not a small amount.
The table was slapped and creaked, which frightened Ishikawa Zhishui:
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, some time ago Li Yunlong led his troops to capture the three counties of Heyuan, Anhua and Ping'an, and confiscated about 1 million kilograms of grain."
"In addition, it is said that Li Yunlong has external assistance and can obtain foreign weapons and ammunition, and they are all European and American weapons."
When Ishikawa Zhiyuan said this, Iguchi Ren came to his senses.
The last time the 222nd Regiment attacked Dagu Town, the weapons used by Li Yunlong were indeed European and American products, and the individual weapons had very powerful firepower.
After a pause, Ishikawa Harishui asked: "Your Excellency, division commander, will our department continue to blockade the new regiment?"
Jingguan Ren also had a headache and couldn't think of a countermeasure for a while.
"Ask for tactical guidance from the commander."
Jingguan Ren said with a gloomy face.
"Which commander?" Ishikawa Jisui asked.
"Of course it's Lieutenant General Iwamatsu Yoshio, the commander of the First Army!" Iguchi Ren glanced over with cold eyes.
"Hi!" Ishikawa Harishui's heart trembled, he suddenly paused and walked out quickly.
As soon as he walked out of the door, Ishikawa Harishui heard a chopping sound coming from the house behind him, as well as the sound of a table collapsing.
…
Taiyuan.
First Army Headquarters.
Yoshio Iwamatsu just flew back to Taiyuan from Peiping.
He was writing a letter of persuasion to surrender to Yan Xishan in calligraphy. He wrote in the letter:
Looking back on the prosperous days of Beiyang, I was still a young general. When I was the adjutant of Rihachiro Banxi, I had met with you once or twice in Peking. I felt a sudden admiration for you. You should be aware of the current situation in your heart. Apart from being silly,
There is no other choice but to be buried with the stupid policies of the Chongqing government, so what do you pray for?
At the end of the letter, under the sword of General Yan Bochuan, Yoshio Iwamatsu worshiped.
Communications staff officer Takeo Nakamura hurried into the commander's office holding the telegram and said to Yoshio Iwamatsu: "Report to the commander, Lieutenant General Iseki of the 36th Division needs an urgent telegram!"
Yoshio Iwamatsu just put the written letter into the envelope and said: "Read it!"
"Hi!"
Takeo Nakamura took the telegram and read:
"Last night in the middle of the night, the New Regiment dispatched at least 12,000 men to attack the blockade of our 36th Division. A total of 86 bunkers and gun towers were destroyed, and more than 1,100 imperial troops were killed!"
"The new regiment has strong firepower. The bunkers and gun towers built by the imperial army may not be able to complete the task of blockade. Please ask for tactical guidance!"
"His Majesty the Emperor is on board, and the Imperial Japanese Army is on board!"
"Nani?" Yoshio Iwamatsu stood up suddenly, his expression and tone full of disbelief.
It doesn’t matter if the brick and stone turrets can’t block it. Even the reinforced concrete fortifications can’t block the new group?
When constructing the fortifications, Yoshio Iwamatsu specifically ordered them to be thickened, but he never expected that one-third of the fortifications would be destroyed overnight.
Is it really necessary to build a fortress like the Maginot Line to block the new group?
That kind of fortress is indeed rough and thick, with a thickness of four to five meters, which can withstand the attack of a howitzer. But the materials used to build one of that kind of fortress can be used to build five ordinary gun towers or bunkers.
if.
If the bunkers and gun towers around the Xinyi Regiment bandits were built into such fortresses, the materials for building permanent fortifications around Taiyuan would be greatly insufficient.
Immediately, Iwamatsu Yoshio quickly summoned the Japanese officers in the headquarters to discuss countermeasures.
At present, the battle plan for mopping up the new regiment has not yet been made, and the troops and supplies have not yet been arrived. Otherwise, Yoshio Iwamatsu would have sent a large army to suppress the border.
As the order was issued, senior officers of the First Army, including the chief and deputy chief of staff, Nori Shimizu, Tadamichi Kuribayashi and Kazuki Yamamoto, came to the conference hall.
After performing the military salute, Yoshio Iwamatsu first asked Takeo Nakamura to briefly report on the situation currently facing the 36th Division.
Then he asked: "What are the best solutions for this situation?"
All the Japanese officers looked thoughtful, but no one spoke first.
Seeing this, Yoshio Iwamatsu had no choice but to name him. He looked at Kazuki Yamamoto: "Yamamoto-kun, what do you think?"
"Report to the general!"
Yamamoto Kazuki stood up, his expression and eyes did not waver at all, he lowered his head slightly and said: "As far as I know, the Eighth Route Army has a new weapon with a short range but very powerful power. This time the Eighth Route Army night attack on the 36th Division relies on it.
It should be this new type of weapon!"
"What kind of weapon?"
Yoshio Iwamatsu asked hurriedly.
"General, please allow me to make a phone call!" Kazuki Yamamoto looked at the phone table and said.
Iwamatsu Yoshio raised his hands and indicated that he could make a call.
Kazuki Yamamoto walked to the phone, picked up the phone and quickly shook the handle, then put the phone to his ear and said a few words before hanging up.
"Report!" Not long after, Xiaolu Goro's voice sounded outside the door.
Yamamoto Kazuki walked to the door and took a picture bucket from Oga Goro's hand.
All the Japanese officers, including Iwamatsu Yoshio, looked at each other in confusion, wondering what Yamamoto Kazuki was going to do.
Yamamoto Kazuki walked to his desk, took out a roll of paper from the drawing bucket, then spread it out on the table, pressing the corners with a cup.
"General, please look at this. The pictures on the picture are the new weapons of the Eighth Route Army."
Yamamoto Kazuki raised his hands and said.
Not only the new regiment was equipped with the bazooka, but many troops of the 386th Brigade and the 129th Division were equipped with it. Many Japanese soldiers had seen this powerful new weapon in frequent battles.
The Japanese wanted to seize it and find out what was going on, but the Eighth Route Army issued a death order. Even if they died, they could not let Bazooka fall into the hands of the Japanese.
So until now the Japanese have not been able to capture a single bazooka.
However, Yamamoto Kazuki had already ordered his subordinates who were proficient in sketching to draw this weapon through the oral descriptions of Japanese soldiers who had seen this weapon.
"This is a new weapon of the Eighth Route Army..."
Iwamatsu Yoshio and a group of Japanese officers looked at the big trumpet-like thing on the paper and fell into deep thought.
There will be another chapter later, it may be very late.
(End of chapter)
This chapter has been completed!