Originally, the Huangpu River that passed through Songjiang was not very wide, but because the river turned a corner here, the 2-kilometer-long river was 1,000 meters wide, and the water flow became gentle. Otherwise, the Japanese gunboat formation would have
I wouldn't want to find a landing place here.
The hill where the artillery unit is located is more than 300 meters away from the river, and about 800 meters away from the three Japanese gunboats that have slowed down and are approaching the shore.
For various types of firearms, this distance is definitely a humongous distance, but for artillery, it is by no means far, especially for artillerymen who have calibrated for five or six minutes.
But unfortunately, the accuracy of artillery strikes is not what you want, especially if you want to aim at moving targets.
The first shell fired by the 37mm rapid-fire gun did not hit any gunboats. In Tang Dao's telescope, a splash of water was seen on the river about 20 meters away from the gunboats.
But immediately after, the other three rapid-fire cannons also opened fire one after another, all exploding around the Japanese gunboat.
The three Japanese gunboats were obviously stunned by the sudden "blow" and did not react for half a minute. They probably did not expect that there would be Chinese, let alone that the Chinese would dare to fire at them in the middle of the river.
It is also sad to say that in this Songhu Battle, both China and Japan invested their elite forces. In addition to the 200,000 elite army, Japan also invested in a naval fleet including two aircraft carriers, battleships and heavy cruisers. It originally planned to
China's weak navy was wiped out in one fell swoop and China's coastline was completely blocked.
However, the Japanese navy failed to find the Chinese navy for a decisive battle, and their strategy came true.
The weak Chinese Navy has no aircraft carriers or heavy cruisers. The only light cruisers on the Yangtze River were sunk by Japanese Navy aircraft. The remaining frigates could only cry in order to prevent the Japanese Navy from entering the Yangtze River.
Self-sinking of the Yangtze River waterway.
Since then, the Chinese Navy has become more powerful than the Air Force.
It can be said that since the war began, the proud Japanese Navy has not suffered threats from the water or the ground except for being attacked by the Chinese Air Force with machine guns and bombs.
Unexpectedly, they were shelled by the Chinese here. Although the shells were not accurate, the spray splashed all over them, which was quite scary.
The proud Japanese navy were confused at first, but after more than thirty seconds they realized that the Chinese had deployed flat-firing cannons on the shore to attack them.
The angry, proud Japanese navy was angry.
The 80mm main gun turret on the bow of the ship quickly adjusted its angle and fired violently at the coordinates where the commander roared.
Although it was completely white there, the mist rising from the river and the dense woods and vegetation seriously hindered their sight, it was not as clear as Tang Dao's view of them from the river bank.
Neither the machine guns nor the mortars spoke, and only four rapid-fire cannons continued to bombard.
Shells from the Japanese ship's 80mm artillery exploded dozens of meters away from them.
Obviously, neither side is the legendary artilleryman who can hit accurately from the very beginning.
This is actually a routine operation. At a distance of nearly a thousand meters, even a super sniper like Tang Dao must have a high-precision sniper rifle and judge based on comprehensive factors such as temperature, humidity, wind direction, etc. to ensure a hit.
If a big thing like an artillery wants to accurately hit a five-meter range, it is impossible to even think about it without test firing and continuous calibration by experienced gunners.
Of course, the Japanese navy is not stupid and will not stay in the center of the river to serve as a living target for the Chinese artillery. The three gunboats were each separated by at least 150 meters and performed a snake-like maneuver in the river.
Both sides were going back and forth, three 80mm naval guns versus four 37mm rapid-fire guns. On one side was a fort that could continuously maneuver, and on the other side was a hilly and dense forest where the Japanese army could not see clearly. Both sides had their own advantages and disadvantages.
The water on the river kept rising into the sky, and the trees on the shore were constantly blown away by the rising fireballs.
This made the cavalry major who had been accompanying Tang Dao extremely anxious.
He probably knew what Tang Dao was thinking. The rapid-fire cannon was just a cover to make the Japanese gunboats think they only had these few cannons. When they relaxed their vigilance, the machine guns and 150 mortars that had been hidden would attack them in groups and hit them.
caught off guard.
There is nothing wrong with this tactics, but the stalemate itself is not a problem for the Japanese army, but it is a big problem for them.
The six cavalry companies made some kind of "big stick" plan for Tang Dao, but they tried their best and brought out a total of 1,100 horses together with the spare horses. They were now hiding in the woods four miles away.
What if the Japanese planes flew in and dropped a barrage of bombs, and no one else was fine, but the horses were frightened by the bombs, then it would be completely over.
Men, horses, and artillery, no one can escape.
In fact, in his opinion, Tang Dao's action was just a dance on the tip of the knife. The results may be brilliant, but if he is not careful, the outcome will be tragic.
From the perspective of the cavalry battalion commander named Gong Shaoxun, he would rather have a quick victory, concentrate all his firepower, and capture a gunboat. Even if he only sinks one, it would be a great achievement.
That is to say, the arrogance of the Japanese invaders was successfully suppressed, and everyone's safety was also guaranteed.
The cavalry! It must be this kind of warfare that invades like fire and comes and goes like wind.
Several times, the words came to his lips, but when he saw that Tang Dao, who had been carefully observing the battlefield, still had no intention of letting mortars and machine guns join the battle, Gong Shaoxun had no choice but to endure it.
Not only is it clearly written in the military command that the entire army is under the command of Tang Dao, but a man who can lead more than 100 lone soldiers to fight a bloody battle with an infantry regiment of the Japanese army for a day and night can finally escape from the Japanese hinterland with his subordinates.
An army lieutenant colonel is by no means a simple man.
It's okay for him to occasionally express his thoughts, but if he keeps raising different opinions, people won't tolerate him.
This is a smart man.
Although Tang Dao did not look back at his deputy, his eyes changed, but just by listening to the intense heartbeat in his chest, he knew that the excitement in his heart was by no means as calm as it was now without saying a word.
"Battle Commander Gong, have you always wanted to persuade me to concentrate my firepower and make a quick victory? I can kill every ship I can?" Tang Dao put down his binoculars and looked back at the cavalry major who was holding a piece of tree stick in his mouth to calm his inner anxiety.
"That's right, but it's not that we are afraid of death, but that if the three cavalry battalions of our 67th Army are not damaged here, they can cause greater damage to the Japanese army." The cavalry major nodded and answered directly.
"We spent so much effort and only killed one small gunboat. Isn't it too easy for them?" Tang Dao shook his head and sighed softly. "In Jiangyin, our Chinese navy was destroyed in one battle. If we don't give the Japanese navy another attack,
Lesson learned, they really thought they were invincible.
I want them to know that the land belongs to China, and the rivers also belong to China."
Of course Gong Shaoxun would not understand the heartache of the little butterfly from the future about the Chinese navy being forced to sink the Jiangyin Yangtze River section. The army's failure, Tang Dao had enough time to regain his position, but for the sea and rivers, except for today, Tang Dao
There won't be that many opportunities anymore.
Tang Dao must leave three Japanese gunboats here today to let the Japanese navy save some blood.
Tang Dao said so, and as his deputy, Gong Shaoxun could only listen to him.
Ten minutes passed. After all, the rate of fire of the Chinese rapid-fire cannon was more impressive, hitting the gunboat several times in a row.
The 20-30mm steel plate on the Toba-type gunboat hull is fine for blocking a heavy machine gun, but it is still not enough in the face of a rapid-fire gun that can penetrate 50mm steel plate.
Several flames burst out from the deck of one of the gunboats, and screams of pain erupted on the river.
The flying steel fragments should also have injured many Japanese soldiers.
There were not only Japanese naval crew members on the gunboat, but Tang Dao also saw the familiar figure of shit-yellow Japanese infantry in Tang Dao's telescope.
However, the 80mm naval guns of the Japanese gunboats could not do much with the several rapid-fire cannons hidden under the protection of natural fortifications on the hilly flanks. Although the explosions were quite lively, the accuracy of the artillery fire was far from enough due to the obstruction of the line of sight. The four rapid-fire cannons
The fact that the gun is still outputting like crazy proves the failure of the naval gun.
"Baga! Order the formation to approach the shore and let the Army Mali go and deal with the Chinese." In the leading gunboat control room, a Japanese naval lieutenant put down his telescope angrily and ordered in a cold tone. "Order the gunboats to use heavy machine guns to cover those Chinese people."
A bunch of idiots are landing!"
In the mist, the shadows of three gunboats approached the north bank of the Huangpu River.
As the distance between the two sides continued to shrink, the heavy machine guns on the side of the Japanese ship also began to fire, and tongues of flames hit the artillery positions on the riverside, causing branches and leaves to fly in random directions.
"Order all machine guns and mortars in the artillery battalion to prepare!" Tang Dao's eyes narrowed.
"Uh! Japanese, what are you doing?" Gong Shaoxun, who should have been happy when he finally waited for all the firepower to be launched, pointed to the movements of the three Japanese gunboats with a weird expression on his face.
This chapter has been completed!