...Beiping, the Japanese Army North China Expedition Headquarters, Commander Okamura Neiji's phone calls have been buzzing these days.
Continuous doubts from high-level officials.
The most common question is: "Your Excellency Okamura, what is going on? Why did the tank troops of the Empire of Japan lose to the so-called armored troops of the Eighth Route Army?"
The most important thing is that this defeat came at the wrong time.
It just happened to be stuck at this juncture.
On the battlefield behind enemy lines, the Japanese army, led by the main force of the North China Front, had just launched an unprecedented scale of May Day raids, targeting Shanxi, Shandong, and the Eighth Route Army's Jizhong Military Region.
On the frontal battlefield, the Zhejiang-Jiangxi battle between the Japanese army in Central China and the Central Army has just broken out.
The two large-scale battles have not yet entered a fever pitch!
As the elite tank force of the Empire of Japan, it took the lead in the Mengxi region and suffered a severe defeat on its own territory. It was still defeated by the Eighth Route Army, which was a beggar-like team just a few years ago.
For the Japanese army, it was a disgrace.
Especially in recent years, the Eighth Route Army led by the Etaihang Base has made a lot of noise, and the international community has paid more and more attention to the Eighth Route Army troops in the Chinese army.
At this time.
On the Pacific battlefield, the Japanese army used relatively inferior equipment to defeat the US military, complaining endlessly.
Not to mention the battlefield in Southeast Asia, where the little devils were victorious.
On the Chinese battlefield, the little devils also fought on both sides, directly triggering two large-scale battles.
For a time, most of the world's military attention may have fallen on the Japanese army.
At such a critical juncture, the Japs' rampant and arrogant armored forces were defeated.
"How could the armored elites of our majestic Empire of Japan be defeated by the mere Eighth Route Army troops?"
"Baga, His Majesty the Emperor will never tolerate this!"
The anger from high-level officials put Commander-in-Chief Okamura under great pressure.
Okamura was actually a little surprised.
The Eighth Route Army's armored forces were actually able to completely defeat the Nanzhi tank cluster.
This really made the Japanese army feel incredible.
Once upon a time, the Eighth Route Army was short of guns and artillery, let alone armored vehicles. It might not even have a small-caliber hand cannon. These beggar-like teams were chased by just a light tank and were running around in the barren mountains. When did such a beggar team grow to such a point that it could even defeat the Japanese tank group in a large-scale armored battle?
The disastrous defeat of the Nanzhi tank group shocked the Japanese army far more than the Eighth Route Army's use of mobile troops to attack Datong and even penetrate Lu Xilu.
After all, in the eyes of the Japanese army, the latter was just an opportunity taken advantage of by the Eighth Route Army.
The former shows the strong strength that the Eighth Route Army armored forces still have in frontal combat.
The information was quickly collected and reported by relevant Japanese investigators.
It was learned that the cunning Eighth Route Army had been deliberately dragging the Empire's chariot troops until the seventh day before suddenly launching a decisive battle and taking the opportunity to sneak attack the transport vehicles of Nanzhi's chariot troops.
In addition, with the cooperation of the 35th Route Army, the Nanzhi Chariot Unit was defeated.
Okamura breathed a sigh of relief. Judging from the intelligence, the Eighth Route Army's armored forces have indeed developed rapidly again, but fortunately they are still within control.
"The top priority is to quickly destroy this armored force of the Eighth Route Army. We must demonstrate to the rest of the world the absolute military power of the Japanese Empire and cannot give these Chinese troops any so-called hope."
"The imperial military might is sacred and cannot be offended!"
In the end, Okamura chose to reinforce western Inner Mongolia and eliminate the combat troops of the Eighth Route Army's armored forces, just as Kong Jie and Li Yunlong speculated.
The main force of the Japanese North China Front is currently controlling the entire Shanxi and Shandong battlefields, and is secretly deploying the Jizhong Military Region to plot against the Eighth Route Army.
In addition, after the Zhejiang-Jiangxi battle broke out, in accordance with the order of the dispatched army headquarters, Okamura reluctantly transferred some troops from the North China Front Army to the south to reinforce the Central China Front Army.
At this time, the North China Front Army simply did not have the extra energy to deal with the Eighth Route Army armored forces in the western Inner Mongolia area.
In the end, this combat mission fell on the Kwantung Army.
Since the September 18th Incident, the Kwantung Army has occupied the Northeast, supported the puppet Manchukuo, and operated in the Northeast for many years.
Due to various factors, after the anti-alliance forces in the northeastern region were basically destroyed by the Kwantung Army, the Kwantung Army basically had no opponents. It has been recuperating and growing while guarding the border.
It was not until the outbreak of the Pacific War that due to operational needs and the strength of the enemy's US military, the Japanese army had to mobilize elite main divisions from the Kwantung Army and the Chinese Expeditionary Forces to enter the Pacific battlefield.
But as the old saying goes, a skinny camel is bigger than a horse.
The Kwantung Army stationed in the Northeast has always been proud and believes that the imperial troops in the Kwantung cannot compare with them.
Kuroki, the brigade commander of the Sixth Tank Brigade, the absolute elite armored force in the proud Kwantung Army, especially thinks so.
When he received an order from the Kwantung Army Headquarters, he was ordered to lead the tank brigade into the Suiyuan area to assist the North China Front Army in destroying the Eighth Route Army's armored forces.
Kuroki's words were full of sarcasm towards the Japanese troops on the North China Front:
"The majestic Imperial Armored Group was defeated miserably at the hands of the Eighth Route Army. It is a disgrace to His Majesty the Emperor!"
Then he vowed:
"Please rest assured, Commander, after our troops enter Suiyuan this time, I don't think it will take five days to pick out this fleeing Eighth Route Army armored force and tear it into pieces to show our great Japanese empire."
The might of the elite Kwantung Army.
At that time, Mr. Nan Zhi should be able to understand how ridiculous his stupid pig-like command is!"
Of course.
Although Kuroki, an old devil, is arrogant and confident, he is not stupid or brainless.
Although he seemed to be disdainful of the enemy, he also carefully and in-depthly studied the tactics used by the armored unit of the Eighth Route Army in the western Mongolia area as well as the opponent's various strength parameters.
"Various modified tanks with anti-gun installations... weekly tactics... modified self-propelled artillery... various interspersed and outflanking tactics..."
"General, judging from the confrontation between the Nanzhi chariot unit and the armored unit of the Eighth Route Army, the enemy's Eighth Route Army commander is indeed an expert in commanding armored troops in combat!"
When analyzing the combat characteristics of the Eighth Route Army's armored forces, the Japanese chief of staff put forward his own views.
Kuroki does not deny this.
He was more confused, "Logically speaking, the Eighth Route Army's military industrial strength is very backward. It is incredible that they can form such a large-scale armored force.
But what is even more surprising is how did their commanders develop the ability to command armored troops in combat?
Judging from this confrontation between the Nanzhi Department and the Eighth Route Army Armored Forces.
It’s not like the enemy is engaging in armored combat for the first time.”
The Japanese chief of staff shook his head. He could not give an answer.
Heimu also felt a little more solemn. The more in-depth he studied this armored unit of the Eighth Route Army, his opponent this time, the more he discovered that this team was not simple.
This is why, after Kuroki led the tank troops to set off, he specifically applied to his superiors to add many mobile heavy artillery reinforcements to the tank troops.
The power of these artillery pieces is enough to deal with the modified tanks of the Eighth Route Army.
In addition, Kuroki specifically requested air fire reinforcements that could arrive at any time.
In the communication phone call, Kuroki also specifically said: "According to the feedback from the flying force at Wuchagou Airport, this Eighth Route Army armored force is equipped with a considerable degree of anti-aircraft firepower.
Our military's old-fashioned fighter planes are no longer enough to deal with such an opponent.
I apply for additional long-range heavy bomber units and medium tactical dive bomber units to completely destroy the Eighth Route Army's armored forces."
In the actual battle between the Japanese old fighter jets at Wuchagou Airport against the armored troops of the Eighth Route Army.
The little devil also discovered this problem.
The aviation cannon of old fighter jets may be effective in low-altitude dive attacks on armored vehicles, but the damage effect on tanks is not very great, especially against armored units with mid- and low-altitude field self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.
The attack effect of light dive bombers mounted with light aerial bombs is also very poor, unless the bombs are thrown directly on the tank. If the medium aerial bombs are mounted too few at a time, the battle will be out of the battle after one basic attack.
The medium-sized dive bombers carry medium-to-heavy bombs more effectively and can carry more weapons; the heavy bombers can bomb at high altitudes and effectively attack the assembly areas and marching columns of the Eighth Route Army's mechanized troops.
These two bombers are obviously the best weapons against the armored forces of the Eighth Route Army.
However, even with the military strength of the Japanese army, medium and heavy bombers cannot be deployed casually.
Especially now that the May Day raids and the battle between Zhejiang and Jiangxi have completely broken out.
In the direction of the Pacific battlefield, the Japanese army invested a large amount of air force.
You, the elite tank force of the Kwantung Army, need the assistance of special bombers to destroy an Eighth Route Army armored force that had just fought a fierce battle with the Nanzhi tank group?
This is somewhat unjustifiable!
In the end, Kuroki only received permission from the command center to dispatch several additional medium bombers, plus a long-range heavy bomber, to enhance the air force firepower reinforcements in the western Mongolia region.
At this point, Kuroki set off with the team confidently.
The mighty Sixth Tank Brigade of the Kwantung Army.
In this regard, Kuroki also learned from the experience of the disastrous defeat of the Nanzhi tank cluster.
He believed that the tank cluster exposed too many shortcomings in the confrontation with the Eighth Route Army's armored units. The organization of such a unit was chaotic, and the various types of mobile units were too mixed. It was a mess of the so-called combined arms unit. After the actual battle broke out,
Many problems often arise.
Therefore, before departure, Kuroki specially streamlined his tank force.
Get rid of unnecessary bloat and cumbersomeness.
Maximize the mobility, armor capability and combat effectiveness of the entire tank unit.
In addition, Kuroki believes: "From the disastrous defeat of the Nanji tank cluster, we can conclude that the tank cluster model will become a thing of the past sooner or later.
This kind of tank organization is no longer enough to adapt to the complex and changeable battlefield.
Only a more independent, more efficient, and more compact tank brigade and division organization with various mobile arms operating in coordination and with tanks as the main combat force will be the best way for future armored forces to cope with complex and ever-changing battlefields.
Best model."
I have to say that this old devil Kuroki still has two skills.
He led his chariot brigade and set out from Xinjing with full confidence.
The so-called Xinjing is Changchun, the capital established by the puppet Manchukuo.
Speaking of which, before the establishment of the Puppet Manchukuo, Changchun was just an inconspicuous small town in the three eastern provinces. It was very poor and backward, and the people's lives were also very difficult.
To compare Changchun during this period with Fengtian, the headquarters of the Northeastern Army at that time, it would be like competing with fireflies and bright moons.
But in the end, after considering various factors, the Japanese army forcibly settled the capital of Manchukuo in the small city of Changchun.
And changed its name to Xinjing.
As the name suggests, a new Tokyo.
From now on, we can see the little devil’s ambition, which is to completely incorporate the three northeastern provinces into their own territory.
Changchun is located in the middle of Northeast China and has an important strategic position. For the Japanese army, it is the best choice to strengthen control over various parts of Northeast China.
It's just that as the capital of the country, the city is a bit small.
Therefore, the Japanese army began to plan Changchun from the end of 1932 to build Changchun into a metropolis of international scale.
In the current 42 years, Changchun has indeed made great progress in planning and construction. The urban area has reached 80 square kilometers and has an extremely developed transportation system.
The permanent population exceeds one million. If we include the hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops stationed in Changchun for a long time and the nearly one million floating population, the total population of CC City during this period has exceeded 3 million, which is larger than that of the Tokyo metropolitan area.
The population is still large.
You know, this is only 42 years!
During the same period, very few of the major cities in Guan could reach this level of scale.
Kuroki, an old Japanese soldier sitting in the command car, looked at the changes in Changchun and said to the young driver beside him with high spirits: "Do you know that ten years ago, Xinjing was just a small town? How could it be what it is today?"
This achievement is all due to the support of our Empire of Japan."
The little devil replied: "Sir, when can Xinjing truly become our own capital?"
Kuroki smiled and said: "Don't worry, it will be soon, soon! One day, every corner of Xinjing will be filled with cherry blossoms from my hometown."
"Sir, is the opponent we are going to face this time very powerful?"
Kuroki was silent for a moment and said disdainfully: "It is not comparable to the chariot troops of the Japanese Empire. I am only worried about one thing at the moment."
"What are you worried about, sir?" The young Japanese soldier looked confused.
Kuroki said in a deep voice: "I'm worried that after learning that our elite Kwantung Army tanks are advancing eastward, the Eighth Route Army armored units in the Suiyuan area will flee and not dare to fight with our army. In this case, wouldn't our run be in vain?
Trip?"
What outrageous words!
But then came the slap in the face.
Boom——
There was a sound of artillery shelling coming from the front of the team...