The Japs conducted a surprise attack on Area 3 guarded by Yang Ling and others at night. After a night of fighting, although they advanced several hundred meters, the heavy casualties made them victorious and defeated.
In particular, the Wolf Squadron commanded by Makino Kanichi underestimated the enemy and lost more than half of it in the melee at night. It can be said that it was seriously injured.
Major General Nara, the commander of the Japanese 26th Brigade, was shocked when he learned that the Wolf Squadron suffered heavy losses. He did not expect that the Squadron had elite troops that could evenly compete with the Wolf Squadron.
Since the Chinese troops retreating to the city relied on barricades and buildings to resist house by street, the enemy's progress was not smooth. Sometimes they would just occupy a house and be taken back in the blink of an eye. The fighting was fierce.
.
"The resistance of the Chongqing Army is very tenacious. Our troops suffered heavy casualties. We request tactical guidance."
"Our Eighth Heavy Machine Gun Squadron encountered a counterattack by the Chongqing Army and suffered heavy losses."
...
The Japanese who thought they would be victorious by storming into the city were beaten into disgrace by the bullets fired from the ruins, barricades and bunkers, and had to ask for support.
In order to clear out the defenders in the city as soon as possible and completely occupy Yichang, a large number of Japanese soldiers who had just arrived in Yichang and had not had time to rest were ordered to enter the city to increase the strength of the attacking troops.
"The Japanese have come to reinforce us again."
Grizzly Bear, the leader of Lieyan's No. 1 Squadron who was hiding behind the observation hole behind the brick wall, watched as many Japanese soldiers entered the opposite position. He rubbed his arms that were blue from the fight, and his expression became serious.
"Is there any news about our reinforcements?" Lieyan's second squadron leader turned to ask the liaison officer sent to them by the 18th Army.
The liaison officer shook his head: "The reinforcements from several of our armies have been blocked by the Japanese on the periphery, and they are fighting bloody battles to move closer..."
"Damn, with their speed, they might come to collect our bodies." Grizzly Bear, the leader of Lieyan's No. 1 Squadron, couldn't help but curse.
The Japanese reinforcements are entering the city in a steady stream, but there is not even a shadow of their reinforcements to be seen. If there are no complaints, they are all lies.
"Okay, get ready to fight. I'm afraid the Japanese will attack soon."
Yang Ling saw from the telescope that the Japanese had pushed up two Type 92 infantry cannons, and said to a brother standing nearby: "Go and tell the brothers behind to prepare for the artillery defense."
"yes!"
After the brother responded, he turned around and got into the ruins, and soon disappeared.
The Japs in front of Yang Ling and others added another infantry squadron and brought two Type 92 infantry cannons, which can be said to have greatly increased their strength.
Yang Ling's side has suffered serious attrition through successive battles, especially the third battalion of the 52nd Regiment. Now less than 40% of the officers and soldiers are able to fight.
If an ordinary army had suffered such heavy losses, it would have lost its combat effectiveness long ago. However, this third battalion is a direct line unit of the Central Army. Many of them are veterans who have been through blood and fire, but they have become more brave as they fight.
Although Yang Ling and his dozens of people are few in number, their combat effectiveness is not weak. Now they no longer fight alone, but disperse into the defense line to assist friendly forces in defending the defense line.
Although the officers and soldiers of the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade have a dedicated sniper team, the other brothers are not weak in marksmanship, fed with a large amount of bullets. Now they are mixed with friendly forces, and their main task is to deal with the Japanese officers and main firepower points.
After having breakfast, the Japanese couldn't wait to launch another attack on the area where Yang Ling and the others were defending.
The Japanese attack routine was still the same as the one familiar to everyone: artillery bombardment and infantry charge, infantry charge and artillery bombardment, dogmatic and rigid.
The high-explosive shells fired by the Type 92 infantry gun roared into the area guarded by Yang Ling and others, followed by a deafening explosion.
The buildings that were hit collapsed like rubbish, and the officers and soldiers hiding nearby were hurriedly dodging in the turbulent smoke and dust, and were in a very embarrassed state.
Starting from the first high-explosive bomb, the Japanese's artillery shells seemed to be free of charge, one after another hitting the guarded area.
Countless houses collapsed under the bombardment, and countless mushroom clouds rose up to form a billowing wall of smoke. The scorching heat of the explosion made the area feel like it was being roasted on a fire, with heat waves hitting the face.
The enemy's high-explosive bombs were particularly unsatisfying, and a large number of incendiary bombs were also thrown into this area.
The flames burst out, and many debris and windows of houses quickly burned. Black smoke rose straight into the sky, and the ruined city was in a mess.
While the Japs of the 26th Brigade were attacking from several breakthrough points at all costs, troops from the Japs' 3rd Division and the 39th Division also broke into the city to the north and east of Yichang and engaged in a melee with the defenders.
Together, the whole city was shrouded in gunfire and smoke.
After the Japanese shelling, before the smoke cleared, the Japanese with bayonets opened the skirmish line and rushed forward on corpses and ruins.
The Japanese who rushed forward were very fast. The wretched little Japanese were running from one building to another, hiding each other as they rushed forward.
The sound of the Japanese artillery ceased, and the officers and soldiers hiding everywhere popped their heads, took out their weapons, and began to aim at the Japanese soldiers who were rapidly enlarging their field of vision.
"boom!"
The first to shoot were the snipers of the Flame Special Operations Brigade who were mixed on the defensive line. They selected the target on their own and started shooting from a long distance.
"puff!"
With the sound of a gunshot, a Japanese officer holding a gun in a box fell to the ground, with a bleeding hole in his chest.
"boom!"
Sniper Han Er's shoulders were shocked again. One of the Japs carrying a Type 92 heavy machine gun was shot in the middle of his eyebrow. The Type 92 heavy machine gun he was carrying also fell to the ground. Several Japs soldiers
Dodge to the side.
With the rhythmic gunshots, those Japanese who relied on the building to attack forward continued to fall to the ground.
"Boom!"
The Japs' grenade launchers quickly launched a counterattack, but when the Japs' grenade launchers struck down the grenades, the sniper team, which had been shooting in different places, had already moved their positions.
The commander of the Japanese Wolf Squadron, Makino Kanichi, personally carried a sniper rifle and several sniper teams to the front line. They hid in the ruins of the house, and the black muzzles were pointed in the direction of the sniper team of the Flame Special Forces Brigade.
"boom!"
"puff!"
Sniper Han Er just shot down a Japanese soldier who had escaped from hiding, and then a bullet grazed his cheek and sank into the soil behind him.
This shot scared him out of his wits, and he hurriedly rolled and hid behind a broken wall. There was a burning pain on his cheek, and when he reached out and touched it, there was sticky blood.
"Damn it!"
Almost capsized in the sewer, Han Er cursed, took off his helmet from his head, held it against the muzzle of his gun, and slowly reached out, wanting to test whether he was being targeted by a Japanese sniper.
"Puff!"
As soon as the helmet was half out, two bullets accurately hit the helmet, and two transparent holes appeared in the helmet.