The 50-kilometer armed cross-country trip with a load of 20 kilograms cannot be done every day, as it would be exhausting. Once a week is the limit. In the past, the Northern Rhodesian Division only did it once a month, and it did not run the whole distance, but required the troops to complete it within one day.
Go forward 50 kilometers.
The requirements of the Ministry of National Defense this time are more stringent. The troops are fully armed and can advance fifty kilometers in one day, and then they will immediately go into battle. This puts higher demands on the troops. When Hopkins saw the exercise plan, he raised objections.
I don’t think the troops can complete it at all.
In fact, the training tasks that the colonial servant army could not complete in the past does not mean that no one can complete them. The miracle of a certain army marching 140 kilometers in a day and night is probably almost a myth to many people.
At least that's the case for Hopkins.
For Rock, it is not the case. Rock knows where the limits of the army are. Carrying 20 kilograms for 50 kilometers cross-country is not the limit. The limit is like toothpaste. If you squeeze it, you will get there.
A week later, Rock arrived at the Okavango Swamp.
Coming to the Okavango Swamp with Rock was a regiment of mercenaries recruited by the Umbrella Company.
"Don't underestimate these two thousand mercenaries. They all have actual combat experience. They have participated in large-scale battles in Europe, and have worked in the umbrella company for more than a year. They are very skilled in small team cooperation. In the future, we may establish
Combat troops based on mercenaries undertake some combat tasks that the regular army is not suitable for. In this exercise, the two thousand people from the Umbrella Company will also participate as a team. Be careful not to lose to them." Rock said in advance.
A wake-up call for Martin. If the regular army in southern Africa loses to the mercenaries of the Umbrella Company, Roque's face will be disgraceful.
"Don't worry, Lord, many of our troops have also participated in actual combat, and their combat experience is not inferior to that of Umbrella Company." Martin is confident that although Umbrella Company is large in scale, there is still a gap compared with the regular army.
The current umbrella company has branches in more than ten countries. The total number of mercenaries hired by the company exceeds 10,000, which can be said to be powerful.
However, compared with the regular army, the Umbrella Company still has shortcomings. The mercenaries of the Umbrella Company do have advantages in cooperating with small-scale troops. However, in terms of large-scale combat and multi-arm cooperation capabilities, the Umbrella Company is comparable to the Northern Rhodesia Division.
Comparatively, the difference is not just a little bit.
The Northern Rhodesian Division has now begun training on infantry-artillery coordination and infantry-tank coordination. Umbrella Company is limited by its strength and has not yet dabbled in these aspects. This is where Martin's confidence lies.
"Okay, let's wait and see the results of tomorrow's training." Rock is not in a hurry. Reality will give Martin and other senior officers a lesson, letting them know that there are people outside the world, and there is a sky outside the world.
The next day, there will be a confrontation exercise between the Northern Rhodesian Division and the Umbrella Company.
The Umbrella Company deployed a total of nearly 2,000 troops, while the Northern Rhodesian Division mobilized a regiment. In terms of strength, both sides were about the same. The Northern Rhodesian Division deployed at a different location on the edge of the Okavango Swamp in advance.
Set up a defensive position on a high ground of 300 meters, and the mercenaries of the Umbrella Company are responsible for the attack.
"You just had a long-distance training yesterday, how was the result?" Rock stayed in Martin's headquarters and went to the front line to test the pre-war preparations of the Northern Rhodesian Division.
"It has improved a lot compared to the last time. Last time our troops were not familiar with the new training procedures and the results were not satisfactory. This time it is much better. Our troops started civil work immediately after completing the emergency march, and then carried out
In live fire shooting, more than half of the officers and soldiers passed the test. Give us some time and I am confident that they will return to normal levels." Martin has confidence in the army. The basic quality of the officers and soldiers of the Northern Rhodesia Division is still very good. After all, professional soldiers are not the same as conscripts.
It’s different. If your basic quality is not up to standard, you are not qualified to join the Northern Rhodesian Division.
The headquarters of the Northern Rhodesia Division, even if it is only temporary, has all kinds of facilities. The headquarters is divided into multiple different areas according to different responsibilities. The staff department, information department, logistics department, and liaison department each perform their own duties.
The headquarters provides security to an independent battalion with more than a thousand troops. It would be difficult for the Umbrella Company to carry out a beheading operation.
"Don't blame me for being too strict. You should know that the arms race between the mainland and Germany has entered a fever pitch. Maybe in the next few years, a war of unprecedented scale will break out. Southern Africa is still in the Commonwealth. By then, it will definitely
Will be involved in the war. If the mainland requires us to send troops to support, the Northern Rhodesian Division will be the first choice. You must be prepared-" Rock told him frankly, and the expressions of Martin and Isiah Ulysses immediately changed.
Get serious.
In Africa, with the level of training and equipment of the Northern Rhodesian Division, it is certainly invincible in all aspects.
But in Europe, it is not necessarily the case when facing the regular armies of those old capitalist countries.
Africa was a colony of European capitalist countries hundreds of years ago, and the force of European countries is deeply rooted. Although southern Africa has won many victories in conflicts with neighboring countries, it does not have the confidence to participate in wars between European countries in Europe.
It’s understandable.
"Don't worry too much. Even if the Northern Rhodesian Division goes to Europe, we are not going to be cannon fodder, but to be saviors. The key to the problem is whether we can perform as a savior when we come to Europe as a savior.
." Rock now has a preliminary plan, but he can't tell the truth yet.
If World War I breaks out, Britain will definitely ask southern Africa to join the war.
If Southern Africa shows too much combat effectiveness during its attack on Southwest Africa and Tanganyika, the British government will definitely further request Southern Africa to send troops to fight in Europe.
Roque will definitely not refuse, but the timing of sending troops is worthy of consideration. If it is the early stage of the war, the southern African troops heading to Europe will not have the desired effect, so it should be when both parties involved in the war are exhausted.
Southern Africa has sent another effective force to change the situation on the European battlefield with thunderous momentum.
Rock now has a preliminary plan. If the British government asks Southern Africa to participate in the war, Rock will send a force composed of ground troops and air power to Europe to participate in the war.
The Northern Rhodesian Division is definitely indispensable. The 1st Cavalry Division, the 3rd Cape Division, and the 4th Natal Division will depend on the situation to decide whether to go to Europe.
Air power is definitely indispensable. During the previous tour, the aircraft and pilots in southern Africa showed excellent abilities and qualities. Even if Roark wants to take care of himself, the British government will put special emphasis on it.
Of course, Rock will not forget the armored forces. The "Light Cavalry" tank at the Nyasaland Arsenal has now been successfully developed. Rock will also send armored troops to Europe to participate in the war. I believe that the "Rangers" and "Light Cavalry" in southern Africa
”, which will definitely give the Germans a huge “surprise”.
I hope that Germany will not hate southern Africa too much in the future.
"We will definitely go all out to defeat all the enemies in front of us and bring out the spirit of our southern Africa!" Martin is high-spirited. Southern Africa was once a British colony. If we can really dominate Europe as a savior——
I can only say that Rock’s words are too inflammatory.
"If we participate in a war in Europe, then our military strength is too small -" Isiah Ulysses had doubts. Compared with the millions of troops in European countries, these people in southern Africa are indeed
Not enough.
Isiah Ulysses seems to have overlooked one thing. There is no direct relationship between combat effectiveness and the number of people. In fact, there are not many standing troops in European countries. That is to say, France is obsessed with revenge, so the number of standing troops is a bit large.
The arms race between Britain and Germany is now in the naval field, and the army has not taken much action.
If war breaks out, Britain and Germany will definitely issue mobilization orders. By then, a million-strong army will be ready, but the combat effectiveness will be very problematic.
Expecting farmers who have not received any military training to become qualified soldiers within three to five months is actually no less difficult than training pilots in Nyasaland.
Therefore, there is a reason why both sides in the First World War frequently used human sea tactics. It was not that the generals were unaware of the disadvantages of human sea tactics. This was undoubtedly demonstrated in the Russo-Japanese War. It was because the troops did not implement advanced tactics.
ability, so we have to use the human sea tactic.
In the current situation, if professional soldiers from southern Africa appear on the European battlefield, then because of the size of the southern African troops, not to mention changing the overall situation of the war, it is still very possible to form an advantage in local battlefields. Whether it is German troops,
Even the Ottoman army, with similar numbers, cannot compete with the southern African troops.
"Don't worry about troop strength. We have now implemented a compulsory military service system. At that time, we can send 100,000 or even 200,000 troops to Europe to participate in the war. But the ones that can really play the backbone role are the Northern Rhodesian Division and the Cavalry Division.
A main force like a division." Of course Roque is not pedantic. If the British government requires the southern African troops to participate in the war, then the military expenses will definitely be borne by the British government. Roque will have no reason to send only the main force.
According to the current situation, for every 10,000 main troops dispatched, there must be at least 10,000 auxiliary troops. The troops in Southern Africa are so highly mechanized that they will need more auxiliary troops, so by then one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand
There are really not many people.
At this moment, fierce gunshots suddenly came from outside the camp.
"The mercenaries of the Umbrella Company broke through our first line of defense——" A disgraced staff officer came to report.