12dz Chapter 521: The Japs Open Up a New Supply Line
Chapter 521: The Japs Open Up a New Supply Line
521 The devils opened up a new supply line
The air raids by the Japanese bombers dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the expeditionary forces who were counterattacking on the front lines.
Fortunately, the Expeditionary Force's air force soon came and launched a wave of bombing on the Japanese.
Finally, the low morale of the expeditionary soldiers on the front line was boosted again.
On the afternoon of the 22nd, the aircraft groups of both sides engaged in a fierce air battle over Mandalay.
Buzz!
More than fifty fighter jets from both sides fought each other in the sky until dusk, and planes from both sides were constantly shot down.
Ye Qingshan couldn't help but stood on a hill to watch the battle.
"It seems that the number of Japanese fighter planes shot down is more than ours."
Ye Qingshan was still very satisfied with this result.
The air force pilots who entered Burma to participate in the war were all elites selected by Zhou Zhirou and Xiao Shanling.
At this time in the country, there were no major wars.
The Air Force also gives priority to supporting the expeditionary force's war.
Moreover, the fighter planes they brought were all P40 fighter planes, which were much more powerful than the Japanese Type fighter planes.
Combined with targeted tactics, air combat has a firm advantage.
Fighter planes were fighting in the sky, and the ground expeditionary force and the Japanese ground forces were also fighting.
In particular, when pilots from both sides parachuted down, it would trigger a charge by the infantry of both sides.
All to rescue the pilots on their side.
The air battle ended in the evening, with the Japanese losing eleven fighters and the Expeditionary Force losing seven fighters.
After this air battle, the Japanese aircraft no longer dared to easily attack the expeditionary force.
The participation of the air forces of both sides also escalated the intensity of the war.
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On the morning of the 23rd, a reconnaissance team arrived at the hilltop near Yenangyaung, led by a special operations team from the Black Bear Regiment.
"Captain, look!"
A team member pointed at the Japanese camp far down the mountain and shouted in surprise.
I saw that in the open area in the distance, there was not only a Japanese military camp, but also an airport. At this time, many military trucks were also driving into the Japanese camp from the south.
There were many soldiers coming in and out of the entire Japanese camp.
"Damn it, the commander guessed it right.
In Yenangyaung, there is not only an airport for the Japanese, but also a huge camp for the Japanese."
The leader of the reconnaissance team cursed.
"So many Japanese military trucks, all coming from the south.
This should be a new supply line opened up by the devils. This is their new logistics base.
This time, we have to make a great contribution."
The captain was a little excited.
He knew how important the information he had discovered this time was.
At this time, the expeditionary force besieged the main force of the Japanese 15th Army in Mandalay.
The retreat route southwards via Toungoo was cut off.
Now, the Japanese are obviously taking another approach and preparing to go through Yenangyaung to open up a new supply channel on the western front.
Send supplies to the Japanese 15th Army in Mandalay.
If we hadn't discovered it, the Japanese would have succeeded.
Then Ye Qingshan’s counterattack plan will end in complete failure.
Even the Japanese 15th Army, which had obtained supplies, could have counterattacked, and by then the expeditionary force would have been undoubtedly defeated.
"Quick, send a telegram to the regiment headquarters to report this news."
Soon, this elite reconnaissance team reported this important intelligence to the special operations regiment using the radio they carried with them.
When the black bear heard the news, he was also shocked and dared not neglect it.
Report to Ye Qingshan urgently.
"The devils not only occupied Yenangyaung, but also built a transit airport.
And transported a large amount of ammunition and supplies?
Well, this old devil, Shojiro Iida, is playing a trick on me by pretending to build a plank road while secretly crossing Chencang."
After Ye Qingshan received the information from Black Bear, he stared at the map and saw Yenangyaung, located southwest of Mandalay, and his back felt cold.
Ye Qingshan certainly understood that the Japanese wanted to quietly open up a second supply line.
"Fortunately, we found it early and it was still in time."
Ye Qingshan made a prompt decision and issued an order: "Send a telegram to Black Bear's special operations group and ask them to gather in Moneva immediately.
Notify the Fifth Army and ask them to send the armored regiment to Moneva as well.
Waiting for the next order from the headquarters."
Ye Qingshan planned to use his most elite regiment and the Fifth Army's most elite armored regiment to jointly act.
The Japanese military camp and airport in Yenangyaung were raided and completely destroyed.
Soon, Ye Qingshan's order was given.
Not long after, Du Yuming's telegram arrived, asking Ye Qingshan why he transferred his armored regiment south.
Du Yuming was also planning to use the armored regiment that had just returned to organize a counterattack against the Japanese 18th Division.
Now, Ye Qingshan wants to transfer the armored regiment, disrupting his plans.
He wants to ask.
Ye Qingshan did not hide anything and told Du Yuming the situation truthfully.
When Du Yuming heard this, he realized the seriousness of the matter and immediately agreed to let the armored regiment move south immediately.
"Commander, a telegram from the 66th Army."
Not long after, Xiao Wusheng came in and reported a new situation to Ye Qingshan.
"The 66th Army reported that this morning they discovered that the Japanese rd Division had about a regiment of troops.
Suddenly left the original defense line and marched southeast."
"Ok?"
After hearing this, Ye Qingshan immediately became alert.
Then, Ye Qingshan knew that this was a team sent out by the 33rd Division of the Japanese army.
They must have gone south to Yenangyaung to meet the Japanese's new supply team.
"Tell the 66th Army to send troops to intercept this Japanese force heading south.
This group of Japanese soldiers are heading south to Yenangyaung. We must not let them pass.
Stop them for me."
Ye Qingshan gave the order.
Soon, Ye Qingshan's order was sent to the 66th Army. It was also the first time that the army commander Zhang Zhen met Ye Qingshan and gave them such a strict order.
"Notify the new 38th Division and have them rush over.
Stop this Japanese army heading south. This is an urgent order from the headquarters.
Tell Sun Liren not to let any Japanese pass through."
Army commander Zhang Zhen did not dare to delay and immediately mobilized his most elite new 38th Division to carry out this mission.
In the afternoon, the New 38th Division encountered the Japanese troops heading south near Muge County.
A fierce battle broke out between the two sides immediately.
Originally, Sun Liren thought that this battle should end soon.
Their new 38th Division only needs to block the Japanese troops that are sneaking southwards.
So, he only sent one regiment.
As a result, after fighting for several hours, the Japanese troops heading south showed no signs of withdrawing.
Instead, the offensive became increasingly fierce, forcing Sun Liren to send more troops.
Sun Liren's increase in troops was not a big deal, as the Japanese 33rd Division also continued to increase its troops.
The battle continued until night. The scale of the battle between the two sides in Muge County became increasingly large, and there was no sign of stopping.