Continuous shelling and air raids will eventually pass. In the hope of the Republican Army, the shelling and air raids finally ended.
However, the soldiers of the Republican Army had no time to take a breath and poured into the position under the command of the officers.
"Hurry up, the rebels are coming."
"The machine gun is set up here, and it can only fire according to my order."
While the Republican Army in position was busy responding to the next National Army attack, the armored group consisting of 38 R10 tanks in front of them had already prepared combat equipment, and Dork's company was located on the left side of the team.
"attack."
As the tank battalion commander sitting in his own room issued the order to attack over the radio, the tanks that had already been launched began to march toward the defenders' positions in a dark and heavy manner. Behind them were two regiments of the National Army. They would follow the footsteps of the tanks and attack the enemy's positions.
Launch an attack.
Therefore, the Republican officers and soldiers who were waiting for the enemy to attack did not wait for the enemy infantry to arrive. Instead, they were the first to see the tanks.
"Enemy tanks."
When the soldiers on the position saw the appearance of the tank, they immediately shouted in panic. There was no way that most of the soldiers of the Republican Army were workers and peasants before. They were mobilized into the army after the outbreak of the civil war. Many trainings could only be done on the battlefield.
I went to study. It was my first time to face a battle with a tank, so I couldn’t say I wasn’t nervous.
Different from the panic expression of the soldiers, the officer immediately shouted: "Why are you panic? Prepare anti-tank guns and anti-tank cannons. In addition, let people prepare explosive bags."
Although many officers have never experienced combat with tanks, they can still cope with it more or less.
Following the officer's order, the Republican soldiers took out the previously issued M1918 anti-tank gun and prepared it. This anti-tank gun developed by Germany in the middle and late stages of World War I was the world's first anti-tank gun. Its 13.2
The caliber of 13.2×92 mm steel-core bullets fired can penetrate 22 mm thick armor within 100 meters. It is not outdated to deal with the thin-skinned light tanks of the 1920s and 1930s. However, relying on them to deal with the Romanian R10 tanks is a bit difficult.
The mind is full but the strength is not enough.
Of course, the Republican Army has other means besides this anti-tank gun. In the bunker not far behind the position, an M1930 37mm anti-tank has been pushed into the gun emplacement. This is the Soviet Union's response to the German Pak 36
An imitation of the 37mm anti-tank gun, and this German tank gun is the famous 37mm anti-tank gun.
The Republican soldier responsible for operating the anti-tank gun aimed at the invading R10 tank and followed the gun emplacement commander's order to fire.
The tungsten core armor-piercing bullet it fired immediately flew out of the muzzle, flew a distance of six to seven hundred meters, and plunged into the soil next to an R10.
If you miss, keep coming.
The gunner pulled out the cartridge case and put another shell in. With a new round of aiming, another shell flew out. But this time it was different from the previous one. This shell directly hit an R10 tank, directly killing it.
The tank stopped in front of the position. A conspicuous scratch appeared on the front of the tank, indicating that it had not penetrated.
However, the officers and soldiers on the position did not have such good eyesight. They only saw that their side hit the enemy tank, and the Republican officers and soldiers on the position cheered.
By chance, the shell hit the tank where Dork was sitting. The huge impact caused everyone in the tank to fall with bruises and swelling. Dork endured the pain and got up.
Dork was the first to ask, "Is anyone injured?"
"No."
"I'm okay."
"It just hurts a little."
Hearing the answers from other crew members, Dork felt relieved. Then he felt a sense of fear, and then a sense of anger rose up.
He immediately used the throat microphone to ask other crew members, "Have you discovered the location of the enemy's anti-tank gun?"
"No."
"Didn't see clearly."
Just when Dork felt disappointed, a voice came, which ignited his hope.
"I just saw fire and white smoke at 10 o'clock on the left wing. It should be at 10 o'clock."
After getting the position, Dork immediately issued an order, "So everyone will focus on the 10 o'clock position. As long as the opponent fires again, he will be able to catch him."
Sure enough, Dork didn't let him wait any longer, and saw that the anti-tank gun that hit him fired again. This time, Dork saw it clearly, "So you are hiding here."
After seeing the position clearly, Dork immediately reported the position to the other crews. "At 10 o'clock, in the small bush to the right of the eucalyptus tree, the anti-tank door is there."
Now that we know the exact location, it's easy to handle. I saw a company of tanks parked directly, aiming at the small bush and preparing to fire.
At this time, the commander who was preparing to continue aiming and firing anti-tank shells happened to see nearly ten tanks aiming at his side.
Feeling horrified, he only had time to shout, "No, run away."
I saw nearly ten artillery shells flying over, giving everyone no time to react.
"Boom boom boom"
The shrapnel from the explosion swept across the gun emplacement, causing everyone to fall in a pool of blood, and also wiped away the camouflage of the position.
Dork, who was directing the firing, still felt uneasy and continued to order another round of focused fire on him.
"Boom boom boom"
With a new round of concentrated fire, a louder explosion sounded. The already destroyed anti-tank gun was blown to pieces, and a large number of fragments turned into deadly weapons and swept around.
This is the sound of artillery shells exploding, which also means that this group of anti-tank guns has been destroyed.
Other anti-tank guns on the position had similar encounters with this anti-tank gun, because now anti-tank guns are generally 37 mm caliber light anti-tank guns. This kind of development is similar to the anti-tank guns in the late World War I and the 1920s, mainly
To deal with the light tanks that were not thickly armored at that time.
Now facing Romania's newly developed R10 tank, it seems to be lagging behind. Although the R10 is defined as a reconnaissance and auxiliary function in the Romanian armored forces, its front 45 mm small-angle bevel armor cannot be penetrated by a 37 mm gun.
.
While the tanks were dealing with the anti-tank guns, the Republican soldiers on the position were also harassing them with their own weapons, but it had no effect at all.
"Equip the explosive packs and bring the anti-tank guns closer to fire."
Faced with this unfavorable situation, the commander on the battlefield could only come up with this solution.
However, I am afraid that their hopes will be dashed. After taking out the anti-tank guns, the armored troops did not attack the battlefield on their own. Instead, they conducted a roll call of the machine guns on the battlefield 200 meters away.
This is a method that Romania came up with at the end of the battlefield. When there is no rush to break through the enemy's position, maintaining a distance to suppress the enemy's firepower can more effectively help the infantry solve the battle. Therefore, machine guns, mortars and other firepower on the position,
Just being discovered will result in a direct cannonball.
Of course, this method is mainly used when the enemy lacks anti-armor means to threaten itself.
Therefore, don't be too presumptuous if there is no threat to the tank in front of the battlefield.
This made Lieutenant General Hoffman, who was watching the battle behind him, a little bit uncomfortable. These young men were too unscrupulous.
However, although the armored troops behaved a bit unscrupulously, their combat effectiveness was undoubtedly revealed. If the Republican Army had not taken casualties seriously, and the National Army had not kept up with the follow-up reinforcements, there is no chance that the position would have changed hands in the first attack.
However, Romania's performance in the first ground battle not only surprised the National Army, but also surprised the German and Italian advisory groups.
After the war, both parties sent a telegram to the country, introducing the Romanian army's battlefield performance. However, Italy's main focus was on equipment, while Germany's focus was on the tactical use of tanks.
