Chapter 186 The power of shrapnel
The south gate of Xinxian County had been blasted by a security company before. Because the gate was wooden, there was not enough time for repairs.
Of course, it could be blocked by stacking sandbags, but Chen Ziyun did not do that.
As the Lunar Army's artillery continued to shell, the South City Gate was instantly destroyed, and a gap appeared directly there.
At this time, the little devil asked if he could advance to the south gate, so that he could easily enter the outside of the city.
Major General Mitake Tsuda, commander of the Fourth Independent Mixed Brigade, personally conducted the operations. When he saw that scene, a sneer appeared on his lips.
"Is that Jinsui Army really so arrogant? They didn't completely block the South City Gate."
"Do they think that their troops will never be able to advance to the south city gate?"
"They made a fatal mistake, so let the warriors of the empire use sharp bayonets to repent in hell."
"The warriors of the empire rushed to the outside of the city and completely annihilated their troops."
Mitake Tsuda drew his saber and waved it forward.
The 3,000-man troops of the Second, Third, and Fourth Independent Field Battalions, which had already been prepared, quickly advanced toward the front.
They were organized into large groups and moved forward in three echelons, with a certain distance between each group.
Of course, when those large groups launched a charge, they also pushed forward in a swarm.
There are distances between them in front, rear, left and right, so the Moon troops are organized into squadrons to fight.
Each squadron has its own attack area. Outside the corresponding area, each squadron completely spreads out and advances.
Because those little devils had not been stationed in the Xin County area before, they were very familiar with the surrounding terrain.
Therefore, each squadron generally adopts the triangle attack formation.
One team is in front, and two teams are advancing behind on both sides.
For a time, the entire area around the southern city wall of the county was densely packed with nothing but Jaap troops.
They advanced very quickly, and as they continued to get closer, the Japs began to pause and set up various heavy weapons.
Does the Moon Army have a strong ability to summarize? They will summarize lessons after fighting to absorb the reasons for failure.
The 4th Independent Mixed Brigade has fought fierce battles with the 48th Independent Brigade several times, and so far their casualties have exceeded 1,000.
Under such circumstances, they summarized the operational characteristics of the 48th Independent Brigade and made targeted deployments based on those characteristics.
The artillery squadrons directly under the three field brigades have completely dispersed positions.
Infantry guns and rapid-fire cannons completely distanced themselves, and bunkers were actively built.
When they advanced to less than 800 meters from the outer positions, the three eastern machine gun squadrons of the three field brigade also began to set up machine gun positions.
In the past, when the Japs were attacking, their machine gun squadrons' heavy machine guns were deployed in a concentrated manner.
That way they provide covering fire and can focus their fire to launch an attack.
The Japs usually face troops that lack enough artillery. They have a machine gun squadron and twelve heavy machine guns, which can completely control an overwhelming advantage.
Twelve heavy machine guns focused their fire on different positions and launched violent suppressive fire. It can be imagined that it was almost difficult for the defenders to find an opportunity to counterattack.
Can the 48th Brigade of the Jinsui Army, which is facing the Moon Army now, have a strong firepower configuration?
The 358th Regiment has six Jinshan artillery pieces under its direct jurisdiction, and the 11th Reserve Regiment also has an artillery battalion in the east.
And if each battalion has 81MM and 82MM caliber mortars, then the Moon Army's heavy machine guns will pose a great threat.
So now the Japs' heavy machine guns no longer set up centralized positions, they are also dispersed, and they immediately build bunkers and fortifications.
"There are no peripheral positions ahead. Each squadron sent an advance team to attack, attracting their firepower and exposing them."
"The cover team paid close attention to the dynamics of the position. After discovering the Jinsui Army's light machine guns and submachine guns, they immediately launched fire strikes."
"Special-class shooting legs, light machine gun shooting legs, and grenade legs. We must ask the commander of the Jinsui Army to ask for firepower to completely kill the shooting legs!"
"Pay attention to concealed shooting of the grenade legs, and make maneuvers at any time to avoid being knocked out by the firepower of the Jinsui Army."
At about 1:15, the 12th Field Battalion advanced to a position less than 500 meters away from the outer position.
The captains of the four infantry squadrons immediately issued combat orders to the East.
Based on the previous combat summary, did the little devil change his combat tactics?
When each squadron approaches the position, they will send a squad to serve as the advance squad.
The leader of the advance team was responsible for luring the Shanxi-Sui Army into firing positions and exposing the location of his own firepower points.
The two remaining squads in the east would otherwise serve as a cover squad. They would quickly launch a fire attack after the Shanxi-Sui Army exposed its position.
The 48th Independent Brigade gave full play to its weapon advantages in several battles.
They waited until the Japs assault troops were approaching, then concentrated each squad's light machine guns and submachine guns to fire violently.
Each row of grenade launchers, each battalion's heavy machine guns, and mortars provide no cover.
All the rifle legs will start shooting around the light machine guns and submachine guns.
Many little Japs followed the old routine and charged with rifles with bayonets attached, hoping to start a red-blade battle.
Could it be that from a distance of tens of meters, a firepower network composed of a large number of light machine guns and submachine guns could easily suppress their advance and cause them heavy losses.
Various other weapons cannot suppress the light machine guns, grenade launchers and other weapons in the rear of the Lunar Army, making them unable to effectively support the infantry of the Lunar Army in front.
After summarizing, the little devil found a way to deal with the mistake.
They sent a small number of troops to attack and lure the defenders to expose their firepower in advance, while the main force launched an attack from the rear.
In this way, will the Moon Army be able to fully utilize their individual shooting skills, thereby causing heavy losses to the defenders?
As we all know, the little devil's rifle legs, machine gun legs, and grenade legs all have a high hit rate.
What matters most is whether the Moon Army's hit rate can be achieved in training, but whether it can be perfectly displayed in actual combat.
The independent mixed fourth brigade is organized according to field troops. Not all of its soldiers are new recruits, but there is a certain number of veterans.
And even if the Little Japanese recruits are 40 years old now, that means they have enough time to train.
It was not until the later stages of the war that the Moon Army would recruit soldiers at will and quickly replenish them to the front line.
In the early stage, all their new recruits will undergo rigorous training before being added to each military station.
And when they are in the military station, the new recruits will be arranged to see blood.
The little devils are very cruel. They will select prisoners of war and let the new recruits undergo bayonet training.
Therefore, from dozens of meters away, the Jinsui Army could rely on its firepower advantage to fire violently, thereby causing casualties to the little Japanese.
But whether it exceeds the missed shot at 100 meters, not to mention the second theater, but all theaters, no unit can miss the Moon Army.
The four eastern infantry squadrons of the 12th Field Brigade sent four advance teams, and more than a hundred little Japs quickly advanced towards the outer positions.
Two hundred meters, one hundred meters, fifty meters, the closer the little devils are to the position, the more cautious they become.
A large number of little Japs behind were hiding in different locations, holding different weapons and paying close attention to the situation in the outer positions.
Just ask the outer positions to start shooting, and they will launch fire suppression immediately.
The major captain raised his telescope from behind to observe, with a solemn expression on his face.
He knew that the battle was of great importance, and if he could win, his morale would be improved.
But if you continue to lose the battle, your morale will continue to drop.
"Contact the artillery unit and heavy machine gun unit and ask them to prepare for cover."
"If you want to waste some ammunition, please ensure that they can easily capture the outer positions."
"Signal Corps, contact the 13th and 14th Field Brigade Headquarters, explain their ideas, and ask their troops to cooperate."
The major captain took a deep breath and immediately gave the order.
All the weapons of the little Japanese were ready for covering fire, but there was no movement at all from the outer positions.
When more than a hundred little Japs from the 12th Field Brigade advanced into the position, they did not encounter any firepower.
Has Chen Ziyun completely given up on the deployment of peripheral positions? Has all the little devil's caution been in vain?
The Major Captain saw his troops entering the position without encountering any attack. He frowned and showed a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Nani? They actually gave up their outer positions. Do the Jinsui Army want to fight outside the city?"
"Doesn't it mean that they have no intention of defending the county seat of Xinxian? Once attacked by them, do they show symbolic resistance and quickly evacuate?"
"Order the attacking troops to continue advancing. If the Jinsui Army is found to be showing signs of escaping, a full blockade will be carried out. They must not be allowed to escape!"
Major General Mitake Tsuda, commander of the brigade, was also surprised, but he immediately sent the battle order.
After the 12th Field Brigade received the order, the Major Captain did not hesitate and ordered the troops to quickly advance outside the city.
The Jin-Sui Army and other troops defended the town, and the Lord requested that the city walls be used for defense on the periphery.
Once the outer perimeter and city wall positions are breached, fierce street fighting rarely occurs outside the city.
Therefore, when the Lunar Army attacks a town, it basically enters and fights outside the city, which means that it captures the town.
Chen Ziyun gave up the outer positions, which made Mitake Tsuda suspect that the 11th Reserve Regiment was preparing to abandon the county seat of Xin County.
The commander of the major general brigade had such thoughts, and the little Japanese attacking in front would inevitably have such speculations.
"Warriors of the empire, advance quickly to prevent the Shanxi-Sui army from quickly escaping the county."
"Hahaha, did you see that those cowards also know that they cannot bear the main attack of their brigade, and they must be asking for a retreat now."
"Kill them, quickly attack outside the city, leave them no chance to escape, and completely eliminate them."
"The Jinsui Army has never defeated the Jinsui Army. They have achieved some results, but it cannot change the fact that they are timid and afraid of war."
Several lieutenants and squadron leaders of the 12th Field Brigade waved their sabers and shouted orders.
A large number of little devils began to accelerate towards the city wall. They were preparing to pass through the city gate and quickly enter the outside of the city to start fighting.
There was a distance between them and the 13th Field Brigade and the 14th Field Brigade were following behind. They also accelerated to follow.
Of course, the two brigades were quite far away from the city wall, so their formation was not fully deployed.
At this time, outside the city, Chen Ziyun was directly hiding on the city wall to observe.
Even if Chen Ziyun, the acting commander, is like this, Shi Yujie, the commander of the 6th Battalion who is responsible for the defense at the south city wall, will naturally not hide behind.
"Signal Corps, contact the artillery battalion and ask the observation team to provide data on the Japanese troops in the rear. The artillery battalion will conduct shrapnel shelling."
"Captain Shi, did you see that the Japs' tactics have changed? Fortunately, we did not deploy defenses on the outside."
"Otherwise, we would have suffered a loss in that battle. We will immediately contact the first defensive position and start shooting from a distance of two to three hundred meters."
Chen Ziyun saw the actions of the Moon Army troops through the telescope, and then he quickly issued orders eastward.
The signal corps contacted the artillery unit immediately, but Shi Yujie rushed to arrange for the messenger to convey the order.
At about 1:40, a large number of Japs were advancing towards the city gate.
But at that moment, without any warning, the artillery battalion began to launch an artillery bombardment.
Li Yang commanded six Bofors mountain guns, and Sun Xiong commanded five Type 94 mountain guns to start firing.
The Artillery Observation Post is stationed to conduct precise measurements and provide relevant shooting data.
If there is a detailed firing parameter table for the five Type 94 mountain cannons in the second company of mountain artillery, they need to find the corresponding paper card so that they can quickly adjust the artillery to accurately hit the target.
A battery of six Bofors mountain guns has continued to operate, and it has not gained enough experience by now.
According to the regulations, Li Yang did not hesitate to direct the continuous test firing.
One shrapnel shot was fired first, and then the other five mountain cannons started verification firing.
Six rounds of shrapnel were fired at the 13th Independent Field Brigade of the Moon Army.
The shrapnel warheads were timed, and each shrapnel fell on the Moon troops and exploded in the air.
As the explosion sounded, the thin shell of the shrapnel shattered instantly.
The shock wave generated after the explosion of the external gunpowder instantly releases countless small steel balls and small steel arrows outside the shrapnel.
For a moment, there was a cry outside the little Japanese army, and those small steel balls and small steel arrows instantly penetrated the bodies of many moon soldiers.
Many injured little Japanese fell to the ground and rolled back and forth, their faces full of pain.
The mountain artillery battery completed its firing, and as the artillery observation post conveyed the news, the artillery battalion began to launch effective firing.
Shrapnel shells were fired one after another from Bofors Mountain Cannon and Type 94 Mountain Cannon.
Those shrapnel shells all used timed fuzes and exploded in the air at the Moon troops.
A large number of small steel balls and small steel arrows quickly spread in all directions, and the 13th Independent Field Brigade adopted a relatively dense formation at this time.
In an instant, countless little devils fell to the ground one after another, screaming like pigs.
A lieutenant squadron leader had just drawn out his saber and was about to command the troops to disperse, but a small steel ball hit him in the eye instantly.
Bright red blood flowed from his eyes, and the lieutenant squadron leader let out a painful cry.
He couldn't help but drop his saber and cover his injured eyes.
At that time, a shrapnel exploded near him.
Small steel balls and small steel arrows hit him instantly, and the lieutenant and squadron leader opened his mouth.
He wanted to cry out, but he didn't have any strength left.
Blood flowed out from his wound. After a while, the squadron leader's whole body was covered in blood, and his body fell to the ground softly.
Six Bofors guns fired a full 60 rounds of shrapnel.
Five Type 94 mountain guns could have fired forty rounds of shrapnel.
One hundred rounds of shrapnel caused heavy casualties to the 13th Field Brigade.
Of the four squadron leaders, two were killed and one was seriously injured.
The only squadron leader who was not hit was probably because Budong fought tooth and nail to protect him, otherwise he might not have survived.
Could the artillery battalion's precise shelling have caught the little Japanese off guard?
In the area where the 13th Field Brigade is located, there are corpses everywhere, and there are many little devils crying Han Xuan in pain.
They had more than 100 dead and more than 200 wounded.
As for the more than two hundred people, because small steel balls and steel arrows could not be hit from mid-air, they wanted to avoid being injured on the face or half of the body.
Many people suffered injuries to their eyes and legs and completely lost their ability to fight.
When the 14th Field Brigade behind saw that scene, they immediately dispersed and took cover. They were too frightened to continue advancing.
The major captain of the 14th Field Battalion was completely stunned at the rear. He stared at his troops in disbelief with his eyes wide open.
It means that when the artillery battalion stopped firing, the 12th Field Battalion was less than 300 meters away from the city wall.
The two infantry companies deployed there by the Sixth Battalion assembled eighteen Czech-style light machine guns.
As Chen Ziyun discovered that the main attack of the Yue army was placed on the southern city wall, the Sixth Battalion's machine gun company, all four Jin-made heavy machine guns, were mobilized to join the battle.
Twenty-two light and heavy machine guns dug shooting holes in the city wall, and battalion commander Shi Yujiandong gave the firing order.
The Jin-made light and heavy machine guns started firing, and strings of flames spurted out.
The dense 6.5MM bullets hit the little devil like heavy raindrops.
The little devils from the 12th Field Brigade were completely dumbfounded.
First of all, they thought that the Jinsui Army outside the city would flee, and secondly, they thought that the Jinsui Army would follow the previous routine and wait until they advanced dozens of meters before shooting.
However, now the distance is more than 200 meters, and a large number of light and heavy machine guns are firing through the shooting holes.
A dense bullet attack came, and a little Japanese who was pushing forward was instantly hit by the bullet.
The 6.5MM bullet is not very lethal, but it has very high accuracy.
Bullets hit the little devil's body one after another, and one of the little devils instantly fell into a pool of blood.
"Hide, hide quickly!"
"Grenade launcher, launch smoke grenades, cover their shooting sight."
"Light machine gun, suppress their firepower, rifle legs advance quickly."
The little Japanese officer quickly took command, and they quickly conveyed the order.
The light and heavy machine guns of the Sixth Battalion were firing hard, and the Japs continued to suffer casualties.
As grenade launchers rapidly fired smoke grenades, the city wall was instantly filled with red smoke.
The shooters' sight was blocked and they were temporarily unable to shoot.
At the same time, the Little Japanese light machine gun continued to launch suppressive fire, and a large number of rifle legs began to accelerate.
At this time, the Moon Army's tactics resumed their previous routines.
A captain of the Mingyue Army quickly installed a bayonet on his rifle, and they looked towards the city gate.
In their opinion, when they entered the outside of the city from there, the battle meant that it was over.
(End of chapter)
This chapter has been completed!