12dz Chapter 183 Lin’s Thoughts
Chapter 183 Lin’s Thoughts
Like a group of ferocious beasts, the German 1st Tank Army and the 48th Army, with a motorized division as the vanguard, launched a strong attack on the position of the 344th Division. Their Panther tank battalion roared like a steel behemoth and rushed forward fiercely.
The Germans unleashed a deafening roar from these steel behemoths, unleashing 72 155mm heavy howitzers and 12 203mm mortars. Shells rained down upon the 344th Division's positions, instantly bathing the once white landscape in flames and billowing clouds of dust. The explosions blew up a white cloud of snow and steam that lingered for a long time.
The soldiers of the 344th Division had already experienced the ferocity of German artillery fire yesterday, but today, the intense heavy-caliber bombardment still made them feel unprecedented pressure. They were on the verge of a repeat of the previous day's collapse.
Division Commander Chen appeared on the front line again. His presence once again made the frontline officers and soldiers of the 344th Division feel pressure far more severe than the enemy's artillery fire. They had to calm down and hide in tunnels and anti-artillery holes to face the enemy's fierce artillery fire.
In fact, after yesterday's initial contact battle, the training for trench warfare before arriving in the Soviet Union, and a more targeted understanding of the German-Soviet combat situation, the troops have already consciously organized targeted drills. The current fluctuations are simply due to insufficient actual combat experience.
Under the pressure of Division Commander Chen, the troops gradually stabilized. After the German artillery bombardment ended, the soldiers returned to their positions and were surprised to find that they had not suffered much damage under such intensive heavy artillery bombardment. The veterans with many years of combat experience were especially impressed. They immediately integrated into the battlefield and also inspired others.
The battalion and company commanders of the 344th Division finally breathed a sigh of relief. The combat teams were immediately deployed, and anti-tank weapons, light and heavy machine guns quickly entered the positions. The small-caliber mortars of each company and platoon and the battalion's anti-tank guns were also pushed out, and the positions immediately entered a full defensive posture.
"Boom--" A German Panther tank stopped while moving and fired at a suspicious target. The dull sound of artillery exploded in the air. Then, the tank started again and pressed forward.
The German attacking force reached the critical distance of 344 meters. Tanks fired sporadically, and shells rained down around the positions, sending up clouds of snow, dust, and gravel. The th Division, baptized by the enemy's intensive, large-caliber artillery fire, found this sparse, small-caliber bombardment unsettling. The company and platoon leaders straightened their backs, their voices echoing across the battlefield: "No fire, no fire, wait for orders!"
On the battlefield, soldiers on both sides held their breath. The tense atmosphere was like a heavy, dark cloud, oppressing everyone. Every one could feel the fierce battle about to break out, as if they could hear the sound of their own heartbeats.
"Crunch, crunch!" The tracks of German tanks and armored vehicles relentlessly crushed the uneven ground, emitting a harsh, grinding sound. The roar of their engines, like the roar of hell, was deafening. The once pristine snow-white ground was now etched with long, black tracks, like scars on the earth. With the exception of a few grenadiers who dispersed, the rest of the soldiers hunkered down behind the tanks and armored vehicles, following these mechanical monsters as they advanced step by step toward the Chinese positions.
300 meters, 250 meters! The distance is getting closer and closer, and the tension is getting more and more intense.
"Mortar fire!" "Anti-tank weapons fire!" "Snipers, open fire!" As the battalion and company commanders gave the order to fire, plumes of white smoke instantly rose from the 344th Division's positions, like blossoming flowers of death. Countless armor-piercing rounds flew like lightning, hurling themselves at the German tanks and armored vehicles, brimming with fury and murderous intent.
"Boom!" A Panzer IV was struck, and dazzling flames erupted from its interior, threatening to set the world ablaze. "Boom!" An armored vehicle exploded, fragments flying everywhere like deadly meteors. "Boom!" A Panther tank's hull was blasted with flames, yet it remained unscathed, surging forward as if it had been tickled. The sound of its motor resembled the howling of a demon.
The German tank guns, coaxial machine guns, locomotive-mounted machine guns, and grenadiers' counterattack weapons hit the exposed fire points of the 344th Division's positions even more fiercely. Explosions were heard everywhere on the 344th Division's positions, and the air was filled with smoke...
Lin continued to receive battle reports from various units. The 344th Regiment of the 688th Division had strategically abandoned its frontline positions as planned, while the 689th Regiment had engaged the enemy in close combat. A regiment of the 342nd Division had launched a flank counterattack as planned, then feigned defeat and retreated in disarray. An artillery group under the direct artillery regiment had exposed itself, prompting the enemy to launch a blanket bombardment, resulting in heavy losses for the battalion. The 343A and 343B Divisions had already begun their operations as planned, their vanguard piercing the center of the German line like a sharp sword.
The chief of staff handed Lin a telegram from General Peng. Lin took it and took a look. Old Peng was informing Lin and the 115th Army that they must hold on to Salsk for more than three days. The 200th Army and other Soviet mechanized forces had arrived at the location and were deploying. The 115th Army needed to give the German army a strong block on the Salsk line, forcing the German army to focus on Salsk. In this way, more troops of the German 1st Tank Army would fall into the ambush circle, which would be extremely beneficial for annihilating the main force of the German 1st Tank Army.
Lin was well aware of this Chinese tactic of luring the enemy deep into his territory and ambushing them. The outstanding performance of the 344th Division gave Lin full confidence. Not to mention defending for three days, even for a month, Lin was confident that the 115th Army could complete the task.
Lin returned the telegram to the Chief of Staff and ordered him: "Withdraw the 343B Division to the Salsk front and surprise attack the German attacking forces. Create the illusion that our army has a large number of tank units, so that the German tank group will approach as soon as possible!"
The Chief of Staff, a longtime colleague of Lin, immediately understood Lin's intention and added, "Have 343B deploy only American tanks. Make sure they think we're the main force!"
Lin agreed with the Chief of Staff's plan, but was dissatisfied with his last statement. He retorted, "Isn't the 115th Army the main force?"
The Chief of Staff knew he had said the wrong thing, and he went out to arrange Lin's new orders with an embarrassed apology. Lin shook his head and sighed in his heart: Many people in the army still haven't changed their mentality. Now is not the past. Our troops are more disciplined and resilient than Huang Wei and his men. As long as the equipment catches up, who knows who will be the main force!