12dz Chapter 605: The Japanese Artillery Position
Chapter 605: The Japanese Artillery Position
Wei Heshang and his companions escaped three or five miles before they sent a telegram to Wang Meng, requesting that bombers be dispatched to carry out carpet bombing around Heishan.
"Hehe, now the whole Black Mountain is full of charcoal-grilled wild boars!"
After saying this, this small group of soldiers from the 201st Airborne Brigade disappeared into the woods again.
At this time, without the threat of the Japanese devils' mines, Shen Quan was full of confidence. At noon, the 107th Armored Division and the 108th Armored Division, after ten minutes of artillery preparation, once again launched an attack on Miaotan, Maliantan and Cainaobao on the north side of Zhangbei.
The two tank regiments gathered their strength, as if to avenge the last attack, and rushed towards the Japanese positions.
Under the leadership of the brigade commander Toyoichiro Matsuura, the 1nd Mixed Brigade and the 2st, 3nd and rd Independent Infantry Battalions entered Miaotan, Maliantan and Cainaobao respectively from the cave.
The Japanese soldiers ran away and entered the anti-tank ditch and the trench more than 200 meters behind the anti-tank ditch before the tank regiment arrived at the position.
The Japanese soldiers, wearing sanitary napkins on their heads and with their upper bodies bare, were gasping for air and holding grenades, ready to attack the bottom and sides of the tanks after they fell into the anti-tank trenches.
The Japanese soldiers in the anti-tank trench heard the huge roar of engines coming closer and closer, as well as the sound of incessant artillery fire. Their hearts were in their throats, and they stared at the sky above the anti-tank trench with bated breath.
But the tanks did not wait for the attack, but instead received the grenades from the independent column.
The armored infantry advancing in lockstep with the tank regiment were constantly throwing grenades into the anti-tank trenches. In an instant, it was like setting off firecrackers, blowing the Japanese soldiers in the trenches into a bloody mess.
"The tank regiment and armored vehicles are conducting a fire blockade on the front positions, and the engineer pontoon bridge unit is laying a temporary bridge!"
After Shen Quan gave the order, he waited anxiously. Once the tanks crossed the trench, they could drive straight in and approach Zhangbei City.
Except for two machine gunners left on the armored vehicle, all other soldiers got off the tank, including a soldier carrying a flamethrower who also jumped out of the vehicle.
"Throw a grenade!"
Another round of grenades were thrown down, and after making sure there were no living creatures, the flamethrowers and infantry slid down the slope of the anti-tank trench, and then searched towards both ends.
Unexpectedly, despite the overwhelming grenades, the Japanese were still like indestructible cockroaches. There were still some remaining enemies in the anti-tank trenches, holding barbed mines and showing their fangs and claws.
It turned out that the Japanese were short of resources, and there were at least three soldiers behind each mine. When the first person held the mine, the other two hid in the anti-artillery cave.
The Japanese anti-artillery holes were dug in an "L" shape, which could withstand most shrapnel and shock waves.
Therefore, after the first Japanese soldier is killed by the explosion, as long as the mine is still there, the second Japanese soldier will be killed, and so on.
What if the sting mine was also blown up?
That's even simpler. They can detonate the cluster grenades or anti-tank grenades on their bodies and crawl under the tank to complete their mission.
In short, they didn't think of leaving this position alive.
Therefore, after the "Clearing and Suppression Team" entered the anti-tank trench, they used submachine guns to clear the way, and when they encountered potholes, they used flamethrowers directly.
Huge explosions continued to be heard in the anti-tank trench, but not a single tank was blown up!
The artillery team of the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade was now ready for action in the permanent fortifications on the east and west sides of Zhangbei. As long as Matsuura Toyoichiro gave the order, the sixteen artillery pieces would immediately launch a fatal blow to the tanks crossing the trenches at the Cainaobao and Miaotan positions.
独立混成第二旅团炮兵队有4炮兵中队，2个炮兵中队（8门41式山炮）加2个速射炮中队（94式37MM反坦克炮8门）。
The four artillery squadrons were on the east and west sides, just enough to reach the positions on both sides.
Matsuura Toyoichiro's situation was very dangerous. The tanks on the temporary bridge were slow and would fall into the anti-tank trenches if they made the slightest mistake.
So, even if the mountain artillery and anti-tank guns could not penetrate the Tiger tanks of the independent column, it would be enough to shake them off the trenches.
The Japanese took advantage of the natural caves and the cover of the woods. They also ate, drank, defecated and urinated in the caves for half a month, and the artillery positions managed to avoid detection by the independent column.
An hour later, several mopping-up teams gathered together and finally cleared the trenches at the cost of dozens of people being injured or killed by the Japanese devils' saboteurs.
"Report to the commander. Six temporary bridges have been built at Miaotan, Maliantan and Cainaobao. Please give instructions!"
"Infantry alert, ensure the absolute safety of the tanks! After the tank regiment crosses the trench, deploy an attack formation and wait for the main force to join!"
"Yes!"
Shen Quan clenched his fists tightly, then picked up the telescope and stared at the smoky battlefield. He couldn't make out anything, so he had to put it down again and wait for news from the front line.
Under the command of the engineers, the first Tiger tank of the 108th Armored Division Tank Regiment began to cross the bridge.
Just when the Tiger tank was completely on the bridge and was about to cross it safely, a loud noise was suddenly heard from the hillside on the east side. A mountain artillery shell hit the Tiger tank. Although the Tiger tank was not penetrated, its body tilted and fell into the anti-tank trench along with the temporary bridge.
The same situation occurred at the Miaotan position, but the Tiger tank was not so lucky. It was hit by two mountain artillery armor-piercing shells and was directly destroyed!
"Report to the army commander. The Tiger tanks on the temporary bridges at Miaotan and Cainaobao positions, which are closest to the hillsides on the east and west wings, were ambushed by the Japanese artillery. One tank fell into the anti-tank trench and the other was destroyed!"
"Fuck it! Immediately find the Japanese artillery positions, which are covered by artillery fire. Immediately repair the temporary bridge and quickly cross the ditch.
In addition, is the floating bridge at Malian Beach out of the range of the Japanese artillery?"
"Yes, the two floating bridges at Malian Beach are safe for the time being!"
"Order the remaining tanks to use the floating bridge at Malian Beach to cross the ditch!"
Shen Quan is particularly angry now. Time is life now, but if a large number of tanks are concentrated at the Maliantan position to cross the ditch, the efficiency will be very low and they will easily be covered by the Japanese artillery fire.
Therefore, the top priority is to find the Japanese artillery positions and completely destroy them!
"Commander, we've found the Japanese artillery position, but the fortifications are very strong, and it looks like they're connected to a cave. Only direct fire from a 150mm howitzer will have a certain effect!"
Shen Quan was in a dilemma. Although the Japanese artillery positions could not be fired under the fire suppression, no matter how powerful their independent column was, they could not always suppress the fire, right?
The ammunition will eventually run out!