Chapter 167 This is what a tank looks like when it charges
"Infinite expansion?" Ding Wei asked curiously, "Can you give us more details?"
"Is such that."
Li Changan continued: "The founder of the armored force, General Guderian of Germany, once said that the advantage of the armored force lies in movement, which is the same as the advantage of the cavalry.
Let's put it this way, the tank is actually an enhanced version of the cavalry. Once the tank fights the enemy in difficult and complex terrain, it is equivalent to using its own shortcomings to attack the enemy's strengths. Once the advantage of mobility is lost, the Japanese can hide as much as they like.
Attack us on the hillside, in the cave or in the big trees.
Can you imagine what would happen if our tanks were suddenly attacked by Japanese soldiers while walking along a narrow mountain road?"
Ding Wei and the surrounding battalion commanders were all battle-hardened soldiers, so they understood immediately. Imagine that when dozens of tanks were slowly passing by the narrow mountain road, dense tanks suddenly appeared from both sides.
The Japs and countless explosive charges fell from the sky. Just thinking about such a scene makes one shudder.
"Captain Li, it was my lack of consideration. I apologize to you." Ding Wei is an open-minded person. After realizing his mistake, he immediately looked up and formally apologized to Li Changan.
Li Changan hurriedly stood up, "Sir, you are too polite. I am just filling in the gaps for you. And I can't blame you entirely. You have never commanded an armored force before. It is inevitable that you have made any mistakes.
"
After apologizing, the atmosphere between the two parties became harmonious. Li Changan took out his cigarettes to disperse the smoke for everyone. Ding Wei and others were not polite, and the group began to puff away.
Ding Wei highlighted a smoke ring and narrowed his eyes: "Battle Commander Li, since Dulong Ridge is not suitable for an ambush, do you have any good suggestions?"
Li Changan looked at the map for a while and said: "Sir Ding, I think our ambush location can still be located at Dulong Ridge, but it is not where Dulong Ridge is, but behind it."
After saying that, Li Changan moved his finger a certain distance to the right from the location of Dulong Ridge on the map.
Battalion Commander Zhou on the side was puzzled: "But this is a large plain area with no danger to defend. Where should we set up an ambush?"
Li Changan smiled slightly: "It is precisely because this is a plain and there is no danger to defend, so we have to set up an ambush here."
Ding Wei is worthy of being the person with the most strategic vision in the Northwestern Iron Triangle of Shanxi. He understood it after a little thought and slapped his thigh: "I think I understand what you mean. You want to set up an ambush here and use your armored battalion as a base."
The main force launches an attack on the Japanese, and our new regiment acts as a support, is that right?"
Li Changan chuckled, "Sir Ding, the first day I came into contact with tanks, our regiment told me that tanks are always used for offense, and can only be used as the protagonist of the offense. When tanks and infantry launch an attack together,
, infantry can only be used as auxiliary.
In an open area, once a tank launches a charge, its power is far incomparable to that of infantry, so I would like to aggrieve you and give our armored battalion a shot, what do you think?"
As Li Changan spoke, he secretly observed Ding Wei's expression.
Before Ding Wei could speak, several battalion commanders around him became a little unhappy.
I admit that your dozens of iron warriors are powerful, but if you can hold on to them, you will only have a few dozen tanks. Even if you include the machine-rifle company assigned to you, there will only be four to five hundred people. Our new regiment will
But there are more than 2,000 people, why should I attack you? Are you looking down on others?
Only Ding Wei was silent in thought. After a long time, he finally nodded: "Okay... I promise you, isn't it just a start? As long as I can win the battle, I will accept it even if it means holding a horse for you. This ambush battle
It’s up to you to decide how to proceed and how our new group will do it, and I will definitely cooperate.”
"Chief Ding is so courageous." Li Changan gave a thumbs up. He was willing to help him as the battalion commander with the dignity of a dignified regiment leader. This shows how big-hearted Ding Wei is.
"Sir Ding... I think so. You see, there is a large flat land several miles wide three or four miles away from Dulong Ridge. It is most suitable for the armored forces. We can ambush the armored forces here. You can lead the new team
The regiment is ambushing here. Once we launch an attack on the new regiment, we can take the opportunity to cut off the Japanese's retreat..."
As Li Changan explained, Ding Wei was either confused or nodded. Slowly, the ambush plan gradually took shape during everyone's deliberations...
While Ding Wei and Li Changan were discussing, on the road less than two kilometers away from them, a team of more than ten kilometers long was marching on the road.
This team is the reinforcement of the 41st Division led by Ota Ryūji. This support army has five brigades and one baggage team, with a total of more than 5,600 people. It can be said that this time Ohta Ryūji has taken over the entire 41st Division.
The regiment's wealth has been emptied. Once this unit suffers losses, the 41st Division can be declared disbanded.
Ryūji Ohta rode a red war horse, staring at the sun that had reached his head in the sky. He took out a map and looked at it for a while, then touched his chin.
They set off at seven in the morning and have been walking for more than five hours now, but they have only traveled less than thirty kilometers. According to the marching speed of modern armies, it is not an exaggeration to call it a tortuous pace.
At this time, a staff officer came over and asked: "Your Excellency, Wing Commander, it is already noon. Do we order the troops to stop advancing?"
Ota Ryūji thought for a while: "I have been to this area before. There is a Dulong Ridge less than four kilometers away from us. The terrain there is dangerous and it is a very suitable place for an ambush. Now you personally lead a squadron to go out for reconnaissance.
You must check it carefully to make sure there is no ambush before reporting it to me."
"Hi!"
The staff officer took the order and left, and soon a squadron of Japanese troops left the main force and headed towards the front...
half an hour later
"hiss……"
In a bush two kilometers away from Dulong Ridge, Battalion Commander Zhou of the New Regiment and Battalion looked through the telescope at the Japanese troops who were carefully searching Dulong Ridge and took a breath, "It's a good thing we didn't set up an ambush at Dulong Ridge."
On the ridge, otherwise the Japs will reveal their secrets by searching like this."
"Your Majesty, the Wing Commander, the search squadron reported that they did not find any ambush on Dulong Ridge, and the troops can pass safely."
"Yo Xi, order the troops to speed up. We will camp there today and set off again tomorrow!"
Yes, Ohta Ryūji’s current march is so magical. Two days have passed since the departure, but the troops have only traveled less than a hundred kilometers. Ohta Ryūji’s biggest wish is that the battle there has ended before he reaches Yushe County.
.
He didn't care whether Yushe County was lost or not. For him, being able to preserve the last strength of the 41st Division was the most important thing. However, Ota Ryūji never expected that less than ten kilometers away from him,
An ambush circle composed of the Eighth Route Army and armored troops was quietly waiting for their arrival.
"Report!"
A scout came on horseback, came to Ding Wei and Li Changan and said loudly: "Report to the leader, we have detected the general situation of this Japanese reinforcements. This Japanese army has a lot of people, more than 5,000 people."
.”
"More than five thousand people?"
Everyone was shocked.
Ding Wei blurted out: "Didn't the intelligence say that this was just an unorganized regiment? How come there were so many people suddenly?"
"It is indeed more than 5,000 people." The scout said: "We have repeatedly confirmed it several times. This team is more than ten miles long. There is no mistake."
Ding Wei didn't say anything. Brick looked at Li Changan: "Battle Commander Li, what do you think?"
Li Changan said without hesitation: "What else can we do? A sheep is herded, and a group of sheep are herded. Now that they are here, let's clean them up together."
Looking at Li Changan who was taking it for granted, Ding Wei suddenly smiled: "I have seen that you people in the Liantai Militia have been trained to be brave by Captain Gao. You don't even know what it means to be afraid."
Li Changan grinned and said nothing, but he felt a little unconcerned in his heart. Ever since he fought a tough battle with the 41st Division at Qixia Pass, even though the Liantai Militia suffered heavy losses, this battle reshaped the world.
The mentality of the Liantai militia.
This also gave them a sense of superiority when facing the Japanese army.
Normally, a sense of superiority is not a complimentary word, but for today's Chinese army, this sense of superiority is priceless.
This is also the most direct feeling of the leaders of the Eighth Route Army after contacting the Liantai Militia.
The Liantai Militia was different from the Shanxi-Sui Army and the Central Army they had contacted in the past.
The full spirit, rosy and shiny face, strong body, and self-confidence when facing the Japanese army are difficult to see in other national army troops.
Just do it, and with the order, all the people entered the fighting state.
When the Japanese army led by Ota Ryūji came within three miles of Dulong Ridge, a second lieutenant walking at the front suddenly stopped, his face instantly turned pale, he pointed forward and stammered: "War...
…Chariot…Chinese chariot!”
Yes, about a mile away from them, dozens of steel monsters were lying quietly in front of them, with their black muzzles facing them.
"Whizzing……"
As three flares, one red and two green, flew into the sky with shining light, the pilots on the ground who had been prepared for a long time pushed the joystick and stepped on the accelerator after seeing the flares in the sky.
The ton-heavy tank began to move slowly, and the infantrymen assigned to the armored battalion armed with submachine guns, sniper rifles and MG42 machine guns followed closely behind.
"Chariot, Chinese chariot, report to the company commander immediately!" Major Murata Shuzo, the captain of the first battalion at the front, felt desperate when he saw multiple iron-gray steel monsters slowly approaching in the distance.
It rose instantly, and even the voice was filled with an indescribable panic.
The Japanese are certainly no strangers to war weapons such as tanks. Since the All-out War of Resistance, the tanks manufactured by the Japanese have wreaked havoc on the land of China. Although in the eyes of the European powers, the tanks manufactured by the Japanese are no different from toys.
.
But this kind of garbage is still unrivaled for China, which has almost zero industry. In order to deal with them, the Chinese army has to make too many sacrifices.
But as the old saying goes, the tides are turning, and today it's time for them to taste the bitter fruit.
"Hurry...fire...hurry up and set up the machine gun!"
In the Japanese army, the roars of officers could be heard everywhere.
"Follow closely, just like in training, the little devil's bullets can't penetrate the tank's armor!"
Behind the slowly advancing tanks, the squad platoon leaders of the machine-rifled company roared loudly. The tanks provided cover for the soldiers of the machine-rifled company as they marched, like a movable wall. The soldiers of the machine-rifled company held weapons in their hands.
Submachine guns, following behind the tanks, each platoon and each squad advanced steadily towards the Japanese army in a skilled formation. Everything was the same as in training, there was not much difference.
Around the Panzer IV tanks that were slowly advancing in a fan-shaped formation, more than a dozen tanks that were slightly smaller than the Panzer IV tanks were flying around from both sides at a faster speed.
These tanks are Lynx reconnaissance tanks. These 11.8-ton vehicles can reach a top speed of 60 kilometers per hour. Even when traveling off-road, their speed can reach 40 kilometers per hour.
Although their protective power is not as good as that of the thick-skinned and thick-skinned Panzer IV tanks, their maneuverability can outrun the former by several streets, so they are very suitable for rapid assaults.
"boom!"
A sniper standing behind the tank aimed at the head exposed behind a dirt bag a few hundred meters away, and aimed at the man who was gritting his teeth and manipulating a Type 92 heavy machine gun to shoot at the tank, with a white cloth tied around his head.
The Japanese soldier shot him with a single shot. The Japanese soldier's head was blown open by the bullet, and his gray brains splattered everywhere.
"Ta da... da... da..."
After the distance between the two sides was close, the soldiers of the machine-rifle company used their submachine guns and general-purpose machine guns to rain down bullets on the Japanese troops hiding behind various temporary bunkers. They suppressed the daily shooting with dense bullet rain.
The tank is not idle either. The correspondent and machine gunner are using the vehicle's parallel machine gun to shoot at any suspicious targets. If you look down from the sky at this time, you can see such a slightly weird scene.
More than two hundred infantrymen followed dozens of tanks and charged against an enemy dozens of times their size.
If someone who didn't know what was going on saw it, they might even think that these people were going to die, but in fact the situation was completely the opposite. The Japanese troops who were suddenly attacked had begun to panic. Although they lay down under the orders of the officers,
He fought back, but almost everyone's eyes showed fear.
It was the first time that Ding Wei saw an armored force launching a group charge, with a strange light in his eyes. It was not until today that he realized that war is not only a confrontation between people, but also a contest between people and steel.
Sometimes, individuals seem so insignificant in front of steel.
"Commander... this is... this is what it looks like when a tank charges?" Battalion Commander Zhou on the side swallowed his saliva and asked stutteringly.