12dz Chapter 124 37th Tank Squadron
Chapter 124 37th Tank Squadron
In Wangjiazhuang, Wang Meng's heart rose to his throat as he watched the Japanese planes, which were slow to react, start to dive.
He immediately ordered an anti-aircraft gun company of the artillery regiment and the anti-aircraft gun companies of three infantry regiments, totaling sixty anti-aircraft guns to fire at the same time, creating a death zone in the air.
"Little devil, if you want to die, come and report now!"
However, the Japanese planes ignored the barrage of bullets and continued to rush down one after another. After losing four planes, two Japanese planes finally broke through the air defense network.
It roared and dived towards the howitzer position.
"Captain Wang, enter the cave immediately!"
Wang Chengzhu fired one last shell, then quickly hung the howitzer on the tractor that had been waiting, and towed it into the anti-artillery cave.
Just as they entered the cave, the Japanese aerial bombs fell on the howitzer position, causing a strong wind.
Wang Chengzhu collapsed on the ground, grabbed his hat and wiped his face.
"It's so exciting! Chief of Staff, our artillery regiment has set a new record. I just calculated that the firing rate is close to the maximum theoretical firing rate! A full 1200 rounds!"
Wang Meng gave Wang Chengzhu a thumbs up and couldn't help but praise this "god of cannons" who specialized in studying various types of cannons.
"Captain Wang, if you hadn't practiced day and night, you wouldn't have achieved such a good result! I'm going to ask Commander Li to commend you!"
"Chief of Staff, it doesn't matter whether we ask for credit or not. Let's be practical. Should we exchange the 150mm howitzer for one plane?"
"You kid, you're indispensable! By the way, how did you know the various parameters in advance?"
Cats have their ways, mice have their ways. Is there a target in the independent column’s territory that Wang Chengzhu doesn’t know about?
He had already marked the various artillery positions in advance and pre-adjusted the parameters. Then, with a single calibration shot, he could accurately hit the heads of the Japanese.
What is professionalism?
This is called professionalism!
Komatsuzaki Rikio made a preliminary statistics of the battle losses. All four Type 4 mountain cannons were destroyed, and more than infantrymen were killed or wounded, wiping out nearly a battalion.
The Japanese planes shifted the focus of their deterrence to Grand Canyon Town, circling overhead to intimidate.
The heavy artillery of the independent column did not dare to show its head, so the 1st Mixed Brigade rushed at full speed to two kilometers away from the Grand Canyon position.
However, this unit was different from the enemy in Shipo Township. It did not dig trenches. Instead, after a short rest, it charged at full speed towards the Shipo Township position under the cover of aircraft.
Six Type 92 infantry guns also continued to bombard Grand Canyon Town, and Japanese planes dropped a few bombs from time to time.
Wang Huaibao dusted off the dirt on his body and took out a telescope to observe.
"If only we had planes, we would see if the Japanese dare to be so arrogant again!"
"Captain, if there really is a plane, we infantrymen will have no meat to eat!"
"Too!"
Wang Huaibao watched the Japanese troops gradually approaching the front-line positions. The sound of their artillery fire gradually became sparse, and their planes gradually bombed the positions from behind.
Wang Huaibao called on all battalions to prepare to engage the enemy through the walkie-talkie.
"Brothers, cheer up! The artillery battalion should fire all the cannons. Don't become weak without the support of the artillery regiment!"
The artillery battalion of the 75rd regiment immediately pulled out 150mm infantry guns, 37mm infantry guns and mm anti-tank guns, all loaded with high-explosive bombs, and fired at the Japanese continuously.
One shot can blow a few unlucky guys away and tear them into pieces.
Looking at the tense battle situation, Nagano Yuichiro immediately ordered the 69th Regiment in Shiyaoao to join the battle and launch a full-scale attack on Shipo Township.
"Contact the First Flying Regiment of Taiyuan and immediately bombard the Eighth Route Army in Shipo Township and Daxiayuan Town. Don't be afraid of hitting your own people!"
The Japanese planes had no worries. More than 20 planes dropped a large number of bombs on Shipo Township, and then quickly returned to the Taiyuan base to refuel and reload.
The aerial bombs caused considerable casualties to the independent column. Three 75mm infantry guns in Shipo Township were overturned, and one 150mm infantry gun in Grand Canyon Town was also destroyed.
The two sides have been entangled in each other, and the heavy weapons in their hands can no longer exert their advantages.
Because they were afraid of bombing their own people, the power of the independent column's artillery was greatly reduced, and they could only bombard enemies in the distance.
Nagano Yuichiro snorted coldly as he looked at the telegrams that kept coming back from the front.
"Order Ono-kun to attack!"
In a dense forest ten kilometers north of Grand Canyon Town, ten Chinese tanks from the 37th Regiment Tank Squadron were lying dormant like a pack of wolves, ready to deliver a fatal bite at any time when the two behemoths were fighting each other.
The ten Type 97 medium tanks of the Japanese were just thin tin cans weighing only about fifteen tons. However, because China had no effective anti-tank weapons before, they were able to rampage on the battlefield in China, looking very impressive.
But now the independent column can be equipped with the famous Tiger tank, which is far ahead in all parameters.
97式中型坦克装备了一门97式57毫米短身坦克炮，俯仰角-9到+11度，可以打穿甲弹和榴弹。
[The Tiger tank is equipped with an 88mm KWK36L/56 tank gun with an elevation angle of -9 to +18 degrees. It can fire four types of ammunition: capped armor-piercing shells, sub-caliber tungsten core armor-piercing shells, armor-piercing shells, and tracer high-explosive shells. ]
相比于虎式坦克的弹药基数92发炮弹，97式坦克弹药120发，其中榴弹80发、穿甲弹40发。
If a 57mm tank gun fires an armor-piercing projectile, it can penetrate 1200mm of armor at a distance of 50 meters.
[The Tiger tank's 88mm tank gun can penetrate at least 1500mm of armor at a distance of 90 meters using capped armor-piercing shells, sub-caliber tungsten core shells, and armor-piercing shells.]
It is also equipped with two Type 97 7.7mm machine guns with a base ammunition of 4000 rounds.
[The secondary weapons of the Tiger tank are three MG34 machine guns and six sets of high-explosive grenade launchers. ]
The power unit is a 12-cylinder air-cooled diesel engine with a maximum power of 170 horsepower. The engine is located at the rear of the vehicle body and is driven by a transmission shaft to the front transmission and differential. The suspension device is a horizontal coil spring device.
[The Tiger tank is equipped with a 700 horsepower engine and can run at a speed of 38 miles per hour on the road and 15-21 miles per hour off-road.]
The armor is made of steel, with a thickness of 25 mm on the front and sides, 10 mm on the top, and 8 mm on the bottom. It adopts a riveted structure and has poor bullet resistance.
[The Tiger tank has 102mm frontal armor, 135-150mm frontal armor, and 82mm armor on the sides and back.]
And equipped with a radio station.
[The Tiger tank is also equipped with a shortwave radio. ]
At Nagano Yuichiro's command, the tank squadron quickly started its engines, spewing out thick white smoke.
Squadron Leader Ono stood on the first tank, holding the tank cover, with half of his body exposed.
"Warriors of the Empire, target the Eighth Route Howitzer position! Kill them!"