The city of Mas Lomas surrendered, and the blue and white flag of the Argentine federation fell from the top of the city. The commander of the city defense force, Golani, led the remaining 700 soldiers and lined up out of the city of Mas Lomas, surrendering their weapons to the National Defense Forces.
Lomas City is located on the eastern plains of the Pampas. The surrounding terrain is flat. There is only an old-fashioned stone city and a small piece of highland on the west protrusion, which can serve as a position to resist the attack of the National Defense Forces.
Before the war started, due to the shortage of troops and the small area of the western highlands, the Argentine garrison commander Lieutenant Colonel Golani gathered all his troops in the city, hoping to use the solid city wall fortifications to delay the attack speed of the National Defense Forces.
Reinforcements from both countries arrived to buy time.
However, the war situation did not develop in favor of the Argentine defenders.
On the morning of April 14, Wu Fengdian adjusted the combat deployment of the troops and transferred two infantry battalions from the 3rd Mixed Brigade, a machine gun company from the 3rd Division, and a 75mm field artillery battery to reorganize an offensive force with a total of more than 1,000 people.
The cluster launched another attack on Mas City at 8 a.m. that day.
The roaring explosion of field artillery kicked off the battle. Different from yesterday's tentative attack method, there was no hot scene of close assault at the beginning of the battle on the morning of the 14th. Five 75mm field artillery were deployed on the ground abandoned by the Argentines.
On the sides of the high ground, according to the coordinates provided by yesterday's assault force, artillery shells were fired at the Argentine defenders' artillery, machine gun and other positions.
The defensive artillery and Gatling heavy machine guns were bulky, and the Lomas city defense system lagged behind the times for more than a hundred years. The earlier fortifications such as forts and towers also did not allow the defenders to move the artillery and heavy machine guns.
Three Gatling heavy machine guns and several artillery pieces were scattered and deployed on the core defensive position around the Lomas city wall. The shells continued to shoot towards the target position with sparks left by violent friction in the air.
The first round of five rounds of artillery shells was tested. The deflected shells landed six or seven meters away from the defenders' fort. The violent explosion knocked more than a dozen Argentine soldiers within the killing range to the ground. There were wailings, calls for help, and artillery fire.
The roar drowned out the orders of the Argentinian garrison commander, and the city wall position was in chaos due to the sudden burst of violent shelling.
Local militias and recruits can provide reserve forces for the troops when the war between the two sides is intense. However, when the strength gap between the two sides is too large and the offensive and defensive situation is unfavorable, they have not received special training and their psychological quality cannot adapt to the harsh battlefield environment.
Become a destroyer that destroys the morale of your own side.
The tragic war scenes frightened the recruits who were fighting for the first time. Groups of Argentine militiamen were either so frightened that they huddled up on the edge of the city wall and twitched, or they suffered mental breakdowns and screamed after witnessing the horrific scenes of the mutilated limbs of their comrades around them.
Running around on top of the city wall.
The brutal war tested the quality of the Argentine defenders, and as the commander of the offensive side, Wu Fengdian also had his own concerns.
The National Defense Forces are operating far away from the mainland of Han, and the supply and logistics of ammunition and materials are very costly. Each frontline unit has a limited ammunition base. Frontline unit commanders need to use the ammunition and equipment in their hands to complete designated combat tasks, and cannot consume it at will without restraint.
Ammunition reserves.
It is inconvenient to transport heavy artillery. Wu Fengdian's 3rd Division and 3rd Mixed Brigade are only equipped with one 75mm field artillery battalion, with 15 field guns in the whole battalion, and two medium-sized campaign base ammunition configurations. In the Battle of Lomas alone,
He then used five field guns and a basic ammunition reserve. After the Battle of Mas Lomas, strategic strongholds such as De Zamora and Florence also needed to be captured. Therefore, he observed seven rounds of artillery fire hitting the Argentine defenders.
In response to the situation, Wu Fengdian ordered the artillery unit to stop the attack, then replaced the previously severely attrited infantry battalion with two infantry battalions and launched an attack on Mas City.
In the field, attack the defenders' artillery, heavy machine guns and other fire support points at fixed points, and then send the main force to attack in full force, focusing on attacking the weak points of the enemy's defense.
Lieutenant Colonel Golani had the misfortune to experience the luxurious joint attack of artillery and infantry of the National Defense Forces.
Because it was close to the IDF artillery position, the western wall of Lomas suffered the most serious damage. A section of the wall nearly eight meters wide collapsed under repeated shelling, leaving a narrow gap.
The key breakthrough direction of the National Defense Force's offensive force was the gap in the west city wall. More than 500 soldiers, led by a battalion commander, rushed towards the gap in batches.
Standing on the battlefield outside the city where the smoke had not yet cleared, Lieutenant Colonel Golani recalled the battle that had just ended, and couldn't help but make a hypothesis in his mind: "If I had immediately deployed troops to seal the gap after the city wall collapsed, what would have happened?
Will it not change the outcome of the battle?"
"Sir, the National Defense Forces have kept their promise. They opened the passage to Florence. Of the more than 9,000 Lomas residents, 6,000 people went to Florence and other places through the passage given by the National Defense Forces."
An officer's report interrupted Golani's thoughts.
His thick, messy brows were furrowed.
"Why are there still 3,000 people who have not evacuated? Did the soldiers not notify them all?"
"No, sir, Captain Corriente personally informed the residents of the city that the more than 3,000 residents stayed voluntarily. They said that there are wars everywhere in Argentina. Even if they go to other places, they are likely to encounter danger.
They would rather stay in Lomas and await the verdict of the National Defense Forces than wander to other places at risk."
"Forget it, let them go."
Lieutenant Colonel Golani said in a dull tone, "Go and tell the residents who are willing to stay that the National Defense Forces promise not to harm them, so that they can live in Lomas with peace of mind."
Lieutenant Colonel Golani and his troops were mostly Lomas. Because of the threat from the National Defense Forces, he had to give up his last plan of resistance and lead the remaining soldiers to surrender.
War is a matter between soldiers. Even if the fighting is over, the residents who Golani does not want to stay still live in fear caused by federal government propaganda.
"Sir, Captain Corriente left you a message. He promised to return to Florence and explain to the federal government that you were coerced by the National Defense Forces and surrendered as a last resort for the safety of the residents of Mas City.
"
"Captain Corinster is an excellent soldier, and I will remember his kindness."...
"Brigadier Commander, the Second Battalion of the Third Division sent word to the battalion commander that there are Argentine soldiers among the retreating Argentine civilians."
On the other side outside the city, Wu Fengdian stood on the high ground and listened to the soldiers' reports.
"Well, I understand."
Wu Fengdian waved his hand, stood up and walked towards the Argentinian surrendering troops.
In the later stages of the Siege of Mas Lomas, the National Defense Forces entered the city through the gap in the western city wall. When they encountered civilians who had retreated into the city, they were attacked by the Argentine defenders. In order to resolve the battle as early as possible and reduce the casualties and ammunition consumption of the troops, Wu Fengdian issued a final announcement to the defenders in the city.
Overall, if the Argentine defenders refused to surrender, the National Defense Forces would use field artillery to carry out indiscriminate attacks on the city.
The garrison commander Golani was unaware of the actual shortage of artillery and ammunition of the National Defense Forces. Under the pressure of Wu Fengdian and local conscripted soldiers, he finally chose to lay down his weapons and surrender.
A few Argentine soldiers mixed in with the civilians have nothing to do with the overall situation.
By successfully capturing Mas City, Wu Fengdian achieved the set tactical goal. He did not need to argue with the opponent over a small matter, thus affecting his own credibility and that of the National Defense Forces.
