Everything went wrong for the Lieyan Special Forces Brigade after they were seconded to the Fifth Theater. Although they were elites, facing the Japanese troops who had an absolute advantage in strength, it was always difficult to take advantage in frontal battles. Instead, they suffered heavy losses.
Although the officers and soldiers of the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade fought with all their strength, the disparity in strength was too great and Yichang was ultimately unable to hold on.
The officers and soldiers of the Lieyan Special Operations Brigade who withdrew into the mountains all looked depressed. After all, they had lost the battle and many of their brothers had been killed or injured. They all looked depressed.
Yang Ling also knew that he had underestimated the enemy. Although the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade was strong in combat effectiveness, it was more suitable for special operations missions. It was a wrong decision to lead his brothers to defend the city and fight in positional warfare.
Even though they are elite special operations troops and their combat qualities are much better than regular combat troops in all aspects, they are still flesh and blood after all, and they will be wiped out in the face of Japanese artillery fire.
Moreover, this time the Japs pressed heavily on the enemy, and although they also caused a lot of damage to the Japs, the Japs' follow-up troops were a steady stream. In such a war of attrition, it's no wonder they were able to take advantage.
After Yang Ling and the others withdrew to the mountainous area north of Yichang, he immediately convened a meeting with the officers of the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade to summarize the reasons for their failure after arriving in the fifth theater.
When they were in the Sulu War Zone, they were behind enemy lines. The Lieyan Special Forces Brigade attacked the Japanese and puppet troops mysteriously and always achieved good results.
However, when they arrived at the fifth theater, they just happened to catch up with a heavy Japanese attack. Their small Fiery Special Warfare Group was involved in a confrontation with such a heavy group of troops. It would have been a big deal if the whole army was not wiped out.
In the several-hour experience summary meeting, the officers of the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade also spoke freely and expressed some of their thoughts.
After everyone's discussion, Yang Ling corrected his thinking in time, that is, the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade is a special operations force. Unless it is absolutely necessary, it should not fight like a regular force.
They should rely on an effective intelligence network to carry out special combat missions. If the troops are used to fight positional warfare or defend the city, then good steel is used in the wrong place, and the effect will not be achieved.
Although after some experience summarization, the future combat direction of the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade has become clear, this failure still greatly damaged the vitality of the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade.
When they set out from the Sulu war zone, they had more than a hundred troops. After two fierce battles in Zhijiang and Yichang, there were only fifty officers and soldiers left to fight.
Although the tempering of war has made the surviving officers and soldiers richer in combat experience and stronger in combat effectiveness, this is not the reason for their failure.
Yang Ling also took the initiative to make a self-criticism at the meeting held by the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade, but after all, the battle was defeated, and it was not possible to restore morale through self-criticism.
The easiest way to restore the morale of the Flame Special Forces Brigade in a short period of time is to retaliate with tooth for tooth, blood for blood, and restore morale and combat effectiveness through victory.
Therefore, after retreating to the mountainous area, Yang Ling on the one hand re-streamlined and reorganized the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade, and on the other hand collected information about the Japs through liaison officers, hoping to take the initiative to win battles one at a time.
The Lieyan Special Warfare Group originally had two squadrons, but after a series of battles, the number of officers and soldiers was severely reduced, and the two squadrons were no longer full.
In order to better demonstrate combat effectiveness in the next battle, Yang Ling plans to reduce the two squadrons into one squadron.
Just as Yang Ling and the two squadron leaders Grizzly Xiong and Zhang Tie were discussing how to downsize the Flame Special Operations Brigade and the firepower allocation of each special operations team, the liaison officer sent by the 18th Army found Yang Ling.
"Have you collected any information about the Japanese?"
Seeing the liaison officer coming excitedly, Yang Ling thought she had gotten rid of him and went to the intelligence department to collect information about the Japanese.
"Sir Yang, I got back some information about the Japanese, but I have more important things to tell you." The liaison officer said with a smile.
"Oh? Is there something more important?" Yang Ling saw the liaison officer's mysterious look and was confused.
The liaison officer hurriedly explained: "We lost Yichang this time. The chairman of the committee and Chief Chen Cheng were very unhappy and ordered us to immediately launch a counterattack against Yichang and take Yichang back!"
"Counterattack Yichang?"
Yang Ling was also stunned. There are now three elite Japanese divisions in Yichang. Although the Japanese showed signs of retreat, Yang Ling knew that after issuing the order to retreat, the Japanese changed the order again just one day later, and the Japanese troops immediately turned around.
Occupied Yichang again.
"We are going to counterattack Yichang, but as you know, Commander Yang, now our army has suffered a new defeat, suffered heavy losses in soldiers, and lacked weapons and ammunition. To launch a counterattack and win in a short time is tantamount to wishful thinking. The troops need time to restore their combat effectiveness.
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"So Chief Peng decided to send a group of capable troops to penetrate into the Japs-occupied areas of Yichang. On the one hand, they would carry out precise attacks on the Japs, and on the other hand, we would collect as much intelligence as possible to prepare for the counterattack of our main force.
"The liaison officer explained.
When he heard that it was not the main force that was launching an all-out counterattack, Yang Ling finally felt relieved. If he were to forcefully counterattack now, with the current strength of the 18th Army, not only would he not be able to capture Yichang, but he would be in vain.
Many officers and soldiers sacrificed their lives.
In Yichang and nearby areas, there are now three elite Japanese divisions. They are not a group of pigs, but a group of wolves, wolves with sharp fangs.
"Is our Flame Special Operations Brigade also included in this action plan?" Yang Ling asked.
The liaison officer nodded: "This time, in addition to Mr. Yang and your Flame Special Operations Brigade, each regiment will form an elite special agent company, and several nearby guerrilla forces will also cooperate with your operations."
"The main mission of this attack is to take advantage of the fact that the Japanese have just occupied Yichang and are not familiar with the local area, to attack and destroy the Japanese communication facilities, headquarters, officers, warehouses, roads, etc., while collecting intelligence and preparing for the main force's counterattack.
"
"Our Flame Special Operations Brigade is fully capable of these tasks. When will we set off?"
The Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade had suffered two defeats in succession and was in urgent need of a victory to boost their sluggish morale. Yang Ling was not prepared to refuse.
"Because the newly formed special agent companies of each regiment need time to adjust, the scheduled departure time is tomorrow evening."
"What about the weapons, ammunition and guides?"
"Don't worry, Sir Yang, it will be ready later today."
"I still need all the latest information about the Japanese. Can I get it?"
"The intelligence department is doing its best to collect it and will send it over before you set off."
After hearing what the liaison officer said, Yang Ling also nodded. He didn't want to fight an uncertain battle. If he rushed in recklessly, he would risk the lives of his brothers.