Comrade, Your Ingredients Are Too Complicated Chapter 454

Seven kilometers on the west bank of the river, the temporary headquarters of the Second Armored Regiment.

For any army, including the Eighth Route Army, rivers and lakes are natural obstacles.

These special terrains not only limit the mobility of the troops, but also fragment the combat formations and create many difficulties in command, coordination, communications, and logistics.

If you want to forcibly cross a river on a battlefield where the enemy is heavily fortified, the first problem to be solved is where to start and when to execute it.

"Regarding the next action, have your engineering company and reconnaissance company clearly surveyed the hydrological situation? Do the current water depth and flow rate meet the standards for building a heavy pontoon bridge?"

“By the way, don't forget to prepare a plan. Various emergencies must also be taken into consideration.”

Whether determining the location or timing of crossing a river, it is inseparable from careful reconnaissance of the hydrology, terrain, and enemy deployment details.

　　After hearing the inquiry from their regimental commander, the commander of the reconnaissance company and the commander of the engineering company looked at each other in tacit understanding. Then the former took out the hand-drawn map and aerial photos from his bag, stood up first and started reporting.

“Everyone, please see, this is the final choice made by our reconnaissance company after half an hour of secret inspection.”

“The river here is narrow, shallow, and flows slowly. The river bank curves towards us and there are few natural obstacles on the enemy's bank. It is very convenient for the troops to cross ashore and maneuver in depth.”

“The only problem is that although it is easy to cross the river here, there is a high probability that it is also the direction where the enemy will focus on defense.”

As the saying goes, know yourself and the enemy, and you will be victorious in every battle.

The plan given by the commander of the reconnaissance company is the best choice analyzed through on-site investigation.

In order to understand the specific situation in the combat area, he not only personally led a team to visit the people in nearby villages, but also learned about the strength and position of the enemy on the other side through the air force.

Hearing this, Commander Liu and Chief of Staff Tian took over the map and aerial photos. After confirming again and again, the two nodded with satisfaction.

“Very good, then start crossing the river from the position you chose. Don't worry about the Japanese defenders on the other side. The artillery support company in the regiment and the comrades in the air force will deal with the enemy.”

“When the operation begins, the artillery will give priority to concentrating firepower to suppress the enemy's defenses.”

“The close support aircraft of the Second Air Division can deal with high-threat targets point-to-point.”

With a large amount of primary data at hand, the question of where to cross the river can be solved. After selecting the specific crossing point, Commander Liu began to consider when to start taking action.

After thinking for a while, he turned his attention to the engineer company commander.

“Is the pontoon bridge ready? How long will it take you to build the bridge across the river after the operation begins?”

To successfully cross the river, the choice of tools is also very important.

In the past, the Eighth Route Army did not have standard river crossing equipment, so they could only build simple pontoons or simply raft across. In rare cases, even if you only have a sheepskin raft, you have to brave it.

However, after the Second Battle of Taiyuan, the army finally had brand-new engineer equipment: the Type 41 pontoon bridge, also known as the GZQ010 heavy pontoon bridge.

This device was jointly developed by the Weapons Experimental Research Bureau and the Border Region Military Industry Bureau. The chief designer is naturally the ubiquitous Director Huang Hehuang.

Henceforth, crossing rivers is no longer a shortcoming of the army.

Hearing his commander's question, the engineer company commander immediately stood up, and then replied decisively:

“According to calculations, our company will need one hour of construction time. If all goes well, the comrades will build a pontoon bridge on the river with a maximum load-bearing capacity of 30 tons.”

As soon as these words came out, everyone present showed proud expressions in unison.

Perhaps compared with the exaggerated results of 320 meters in 14 minutes and 1,000 meters in 26 minutes in later generations of PLA, the construction efficiency of one hour is indeed very slow.

But it's only 1942 now. Even if it were replaced by land warfare powers such as Desan and Lao Maozi, it would be difficult for them to do better under the same conditions.

“Okay, let's start taking action in forty minutes and go back to prepare.”

“We will win this battle! Dismissal!”

Forty minutes later, from the position on the west bank of the river, more than a dozen artillery pieces of different calibers opened fire at the same time.

Benefiting from the range advantage, the artillery support company of the Second Armored Regiment did not worry about its own safety at all, and all artillery groups were operating at full output.

Huge explosions resounded across the sky, and the firepower points that the Japanese defenders thought were very hidden were simply and brutally destroyed by the overwhelming shelling.

“Your Excellency, Captain, the Eighth Route Army suddenly launched an attack on our position! This must be a sign that they are about to cross the river!”

"Those **** bombers will definitely appear again, and the river defenses won't hold up for long. The situation is extremely urgent now. Please contact Major Nagashima as soon as possible!" Watching a communications soldier crawling into the headquarters, the Japanese squadron leader Nagasugi Tokuo suddenly panicked.

That was a joint attack by the armored forces and the air force. With only one squadron of our own and hundreds of Imperial Army troops, there was no chance of winning.

Facing the raging offensive, those remaining firepower points became timid and kept changing their positions, not daring to stay in the same place for too long.

Even so, the number of Type 92 heavy machine guns and grenade launchers was still getting smaller and smaller, and they were named and shot by the Eighth Route Army one after another.

After a moment, the old devil took a deep breath and decisively ordered:

“Let the first team and the second team lead the Imperial Army into the frontline positions immediately, and the remaining troops will be ready to take over.”

"All artillery, including grenadiers belonging to the infantry, cease fire. Wait for the enemy's engineers to show up before starting to fight back. Priority must be given to blowing up the Eighth Route Army's pontoon bridge!"

Hearing the word artillery, the signal soldier's expression changed again and again, with fear and panic almost written on his face.

With the idea of dying early and being reincarnated early, he simply gritted his teeth, stamped his feet, and replied in a brave tone:

“Reporting to the squadron leader, 90% of our firepower points have been destroyed. The enemy's artillery accurately hit our high ground as early as the first wave of attack.”

“Samurai, we can't stand it any longer!”

Hearing this, Tokuo Nagasugi was stunned. Listening carefully, it turned out that there was only the sound of shelling from the other side of the river.

“We have to hold on even if we can't. If we lose our position along the river, we will all die. Tell the front line that support from the rear will be in place immediately. As long as we hold on for another fifteen minutes, the first wave of reinforcements will arrive at the scene!”

"Hi!"

After destroying most of the Japanese river defense fortifications, the engineer company of the Second Armored Regiment began to act decisively.

At the same time, the artillerymen changed their offensive and released a large amount of smoke at the scheduled crossing, providing visual cover for this river crossing.

With the help of the smoke, the comrades pushed the pontoons to the river. Some of them were used to build pontoon bridges, and some were used by commandos to cross the river.

The pontoon used in the Type 41 pontoon bridge is welded from 1.5 mm thick steel plates. Before being assembled, the equipment is divided into two parts: the bow boat and the stern boat.

The former has a dead weight of 950 kg and a maximum load capacity of 6100 kg.

The latter boat weighs 100 kilograms more than the first boat due to the addition of functional components such as a grid frame, a hand-cranked crane, and an outboard maneuvering machine, but its own load capacity has also increased.

When the two are successfully assembled and used alone to cross the river, they can carry up to fifty soldiers or a 2.5-ton howitzer.

Thanks to the technical support of the Weapons Experimental Research Bureau, the pontoon can move quickly at a speed of 18 to 22 kilometers per hour while maintaining the maximum load.

Such a transport capacity and speed are enough to rank among the best in the world, and that doesn't even include the rowing team composed of eight engineers.

Soon, the commandos successfully crossed the river under artillery fire and air cover. The soldiers quickly opened up and stabilized the landing site, laying a solid foundation for subsequent large-scale offensives.

The reserve team followed the commando team across the river, and after landing ashore, quickly launched an attack on the enemy's depth and flanks.

"Engineer company! You continue to build the pontoon bridge! Others, immediately use the fortifications left by the enemy to transform them into our beachhead! Always pay attention to the Japanese counterattacks and shelling!"

On the east side of the river bank, the Japanese Third Infantry Battalion.

　　When pieces of bad news reached his headquarters, Nagashima Dragon was like an eggplant beaten by frost, slumped on a short chair like a lost soul.

The old Japanese expected that the enemy's hard power would be very strong, but he never expected that the opponent's pre-war preparations would be so complete. Even equipment such as pontoons and bridges would appear on the battlefield.

O dear God, the Eighth Route Army had a hard time crossing the Taiyuan moat before.

Who would have thought that in just one year, they would have made up for another shortcoming.

When he was confused, Nagashima Ryuya couldn't help but mutter to himself: "Why, why should I be the first person to face the enemy's new equipment."

“Let me just say, three thousand people can't defend a river of more than 20 kilometers.”

Seeing that his commander is in a sluggish state, he is about to lose his fighting spirit. Staff officer Nobuhiro Tsuchiya suddenly couldn't sit still, and then comforted him:

“Your Majesty, Major, we don't have no chance. As long as the Second Squadron can successfully launch a surprise attack and destroy the tanks and armored vehicles of the Eighth Route Army with thorn mines and explosive charges, it doesn't matter who wins or loses.”

“After all, when it comes to the eliteness of the infantry, our Japanese brother country is not afraid of anyone.”

As if thinking of the foreshadowing he had arranged before, Nagashima Dragon regained his energy. But the good times didn't last long, and the battle report sent by the communications troops kicked him into the bottom again.

“Report! The second squadron encountered an enemy tank head-on, and all are now in pieces!” (End of this chapter)

Chapter end

Report