Wu Chengfeng's heart sank when he saw the two artillery battalion commanders both squeaking and saying nothing.
The fierceness of the battle today was the rarest since the establishment of the Liantai Militia. The Japanese attack was very simple. Each attack was at the brigade level. Each attack only lasted an hour. When the time was up, they immediately withdrew and replaced another brigade to attack.
In other words, their battalion withstood seven or eight brigade-level attacks by the Japanese in one day alone.
Although the first battalion was equipped with numerous light weapons, including 60 MG42 general-purpose machine guns, M2HB Browning heavy machine guns, and no less than 30 60 and 81-caliber mortars, they still felt heavy in the face of the Japanese offensive that suffered less than casualties.
Due to the pressure, artillery support had to be called from time to time.
It can be said that without the artillery support of the artillery battalion, even if a battalion can hold the position, there may not be a few men left. If the artillery shells are really used up, it will be difficult to say whether the position can be held tomorrow.
Zhuang Mancai, commander of the Second Artillery Battalion, hesitated for a moment before saying helplessly: "Today's battle was too fierce. The three basic artillery shells our battalion brought, such as high-explosive shells and shotgun shells, have almost been used up."
Wu Chengfeng asked: "It's basically lighted, does that mean there is still some left?"
"Yes!" Zhuang Mancai nodded, "Except for half of the incendiary bombs, there are no other shells left."
"Incendiary bombs." Wu Chengfeng frowned. This kind of artillery shells haven't experienced much actual combat, so it's hard to say how powerful it is.
He looked at Geng Changshun again: "Old Geng, where is your first artillery battalion?"
Geng Changshun glanced at him sideways, "Old Wu, don't worry about our 1st Artillery Battalion. Without our artillery regiment to deter the Japanese, you wouldn't even be able to defend it for half a day."
"Uh..." Wu Chengfeng stopped talking.
Unlike the Second Artillery Battalion, which is equipped with M2 105mm grenades, the M40 155mm self-propelled artillery equipped by the First Artillery Battalion is the backbone of the entire regiment's firepower. It is with their Liantai Militia that they can deter the two Japanese artillery regiments.
Once the artillery battalion of the 1st Artillery Battalion has fired all the artillery shells, the infantry of the Liantai Militia Group will really have no choice but to be slaughtered.
Wu Chengfeng simply couldn't imagine what kind of offensive power the Japanese infantry would exert under the cover of the two Japanese artillery regiments without the cover of the 1st Artillery Battalion. That's not all. If the Japanese army dispatched aircraft for bombing again, their battalion would be destroyed.
Whether he can survive two hours is unknown.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the command room became extremely tense.
At this moment, Gao Hongming, who had been silent all this time, suddenly smiled and said, "Why are you so nervous? The lack of ammunition is something that I, the leader, should worry about. Wu Chengfeng, why are you so anxious?"
Okay, don't worry about it anymore, now report all your losses today, and I'll have the supply camp make up for you tonight."
"Regiment leader, do we still have artillery shells in our supply camp?" Zhuang Mancai and Wu Chengfeng looked at Gao Hongming with wide eyes.
"How fresh." Gao Hongming burst into laughter, "Don't I know better than you whether the supply camp has ammunition? Stop talking nonsense. I'll give you half an hour to report all the losses quickly, so that I can have the supply camp deliver it to you.
.
By the way, Zhuang Mancai, didn’t your Second Artillery Battalion lose six artillery pieces? I’ll ask the supply battalion to replace them for you tonight.”
"Really?"
Zhuang Mancai was shocked now. It was unbelievable that the baggage battalion even carried artillery, even if it carried ammunition. However, he also knew that the baggage battalion was always under the direct control of the regiment. The battalion commander of the baggage battalion, Lu
Fang Yuan was Tuan Zuo's confidant, and no one except Gao Hongming and Lu Fangyuan knew what was being carried in the baggage camp.
Looking at the confused people, Gao Hongming waved his hand, "Okay, you don't have to worry about the ammunition, I will make up for it for you. Wu Chengfeng, how are your battalion's casualties today? Can it still hold on?"
"
Wu Chengfeng said: "Our battalion suffered few casualties. There were more than 220 casualties in total, and hundreds were killed in action. The others were sent to field hospitals in the rear. Less than half of these casualties were bombed by Japanese planes.
, the rest were done by the little devil’s infantry.
In particular, the grenade launcher of the Japs is almost always accurate. Our battalion lost all its machine guns today, including four MG42s and two large-caliber M2 machine guns. All were caused by the grenade launchers of the Japs. If not for
I gave the death order and immediately moved my position after firing a bunch of bullets, and the machine gun losses were even greater."
"Well, I have written down everything you said. All weapons and ammunition will be replenished tonight." Gao Hongming pondered for a moment and said to Wu Chengfeng: "Let's do this. Your battalion will withdraw tonight and swap with the fourth battalion. I will ask the fourth battalion to
The battalion will take over your position."
"Team leader, our battalion can still fight." Wu Chengfeng became anxious when he heard that he was about to withdraw, but before he could finish his words, Gao Hongming glared: "I'm not discussing with you, but giving orders.
you!"
"yes!"
Seeing that Gao Hongming was serious, Wu Chengfeng knew that there was no room for bargaining, so he could only agree angrily.
After explaining a few more words, Gao Hongming waved his hand: "Okay, you all can go down."
After everyone left, Gao Hongming sat down, lit a cigarette and slowly thought about it.
Judging from today's battle, the Japanese are planning to use their superiority in military strength to carry out a wheel-and-wheel battle to kill him here.
"Ishihara Wanji, Ishihara Wanji, your wishful thinking is really successful. If it were anyone else, you might have succeeded, but after you met me, your method won't work.
"
The next day, the Japanese army still carried out repeated battles against the positions of the Liantai Militia. One brigade launched an attack for an hour at a time, seemingly determined to kill the Liantai Militia here.
Not only that, the 30th Flying Squadron also bombed the position regardless of the huge casualties yesterday.
The Liantai Militia were not polite either. 88 mm anti-aircraft guns, 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns, 20 mm Tornado self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, 37 mm Rafale self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, and the M2HB large-caliber machine guns of the infantry units all set up high tripods to fight against them.
Air shooting.
Air versus ground, ground versus air, ground versus ground, the battles were fought one after another, and both sides were furious.
This battle lasted for three days. Not only did the Liantai militia suffer heavy losses, but even the Japanese army could no longer hold on.
On the third night
At the headquarters of the 16th Division, Chief of Staff Mizuo Nakazawa reported with a grimace: "Your Excellency, Division Commander, we cannot continue fighting like this. The combined losses of our two divisions and the 108th Division in the past few days have exceeded 4,000.
People, that is to say, we have already defeated a whole regiment. If we continue to fight like this, we may not be able to explain it to the commander if he questions us!"