Chapter 248 The Mongolian Troops Panicked
Datong, over the 26th Division's position.
A Hurricane fighter with the number 192 gracefully passed through the anti-aircraft fire network composed of black clouds.
There were various anti-aircraft guns on the ground, including several small-caliber single-barrel Type 96 cannons and Type 98 anti-aircraft machine guns, and even a Type 99 88mm anti-aircraft gun that imitated the German Type 3.
Those black clouds that exploded near the Hurricane fighter were either fragments of time fuses or proximity fuses.
It was strange that Fang Ziyi had been on the battlefield for less than a month, but his performance at this time was not inferior to that of a veteran.
Facing such a dense anti-aircraft fire network for the first time, his state was not affected at all.
After locking onto the thickest anti-aircraft gun, he drove the fighter plane to dive towards the enemy's position without hesitation.
As the altitude got lower and lower, various small-caliber anti-aircraft machine guns also joined the queue to stop Fang Ziyi's attack.
The black clouds that exploded in front of the nose from time to time made the Hurricane fighter shake involuntarily. But his eyes were always fixed on the 88mm anti-aircraft gun, and he calculated the height in his mind.
Showa air defense, nine out of ten defenses are empty.
The Japanese on the ground tried to interfere with the enemy's bombing with intensive firepower. Even if they couldn't shoot down the Hurricane fighter, as long as they forced the enemy to waste the scarce bombs, they would be considered successful.
Obviously, Fang Ziyi was not affected.
Under his control, the fighter was as agile as a falcon, and he could even seize the opportunity to fire with a Browning machine gun.
Every shell of the Japanese was in vain, just like the three-type incense shotgun, which could only be reduced to a celebratory firecracker.
After reaching the bombing height, the Hurricane suddenly pulled up the nose and began to climb. And those anti-aircraft shells at the tail of the plane were like seeing off guests.
"Boom!"
Two 227-kilogram aerial bombs fell on the anti-aircraft artillery position, and the Japanese who were still barking were killed and wounded in an instant, and the remains of their limbs were blown all over the sky along with the sand in the sandbags.
The 88mm anti-aircraft gun that posed the greatest threat to the First Air Division has become a new record for Unit 192.
"Wuhu! So cool!"
After all, he was still a 24-year-old boy. After completing a thrilling dive bombing, Fang Ziyi shouted excitedly in the cockpit.
Soon, the voice of Captain Wang Hai came from the communication channel.
"Well done!"
"You are born to be a pilot! How does it feel to face a dense anti-aircraft firepower network for the first time!"
After hearing his captain's words, Fang Ziyi did not rush to reply.
The Hurricane fighter No. 192 slightly adjusted the cut-in angle and dived towards the ground again.
Ten seconds later, two Red Sun rockets accurately hit the anti-aircraft artillery position. A Type 96 God Cannon was ejected and took off directly, with the barrel twisted like an old tree root.
Fortunately, it was not alone. All four members of the gun crew followed the men's anti-aircraft guns without exception.
After completing a textbook-style licking of the ground, Fang Ziyi's slightly panting voice came from the communication channel.
"Dense? I just twisted casually to avoid those anti-aircraft guns."
"Captain, I'll tell you the truth. Facing these black clouds, I have no waves in my heart, and even want to laugh."
"If the density of the Japanese air defense is only at this level, then I unilaterally declare that the Eagle of North China is a thing of the past, and I am the Eagle of the Republic of China of the First Air Division of the Eighth Route Army."
Such a vigorous speech made Captain Wang Hai smile faintly.
The flamethrower machine guns and cannons of No. 079 fired at the same time, and several tongues of fire splashed blood mist in the group of Japanese.
Only ten minutes later, more than half of the Japanese in a battalion were killed or wounded. If it weren't for the protection of those field anti-aircraft guns, the ground troops would not even have a chance to appear.
"Collect! Next, the battlefield will be handed over to the comrades of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region."
"Those with damaged aircraft should report in time. You are allowed to parachute when necessary. Your lives are always more important than aircraft!"
After the First Air Division left, Commander Yang of the First Division led five regiments into the battlefield.
The soldiers cleared out the stubborn Japanese as quickly as possible, and then one regiment went to deal with the Tongpu Railway, while the remaining four regiments built fortifications on the basis of the enemy's positions.
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Wanquan, the headquarters of the Mongolian Army.
"Can you repeat it again for me!?"
"The 26th Division was attacked by the Eighth Route Army? The other side also dispatched dozens of fighters?"
"079 and 192 appeared above their troops at the same time? A battalion of warriors has been killed by the enemy?"
The current commander, Lieutenant General Shigetaro Gan, widened his eyes in disbelief, as if the intelligence sent by the signalman was false.
The territory of the Mongolian Army is very large, including the southern part of Chahar, the northern part of Shanxi Province and the eastern part of Suiyuan. Judging from the territory alone, it is even wider than the defense zone of the First Army.
But their overall strength is pitifully small, with only one division, an independent mixed brigade and a cavalry group.
This is not because the commanders of the North China Front Army were arrogant, but because the above-mentioned troops are the elite of the elite.
Take the northern part of Shanxi Province as an example. There are both cities and mountains there, and it is rich in coal mines. It can also go directly to Suiyuan and Taiyuan by road and rail, which can be said to be the northern gate of Shanxi Province.
Ordinary Type B divisions are not qualified to take a look at them.
The 26th Division stationed there is the first new division of the Japanese army to adopt the three-unit model.
Commanders at all levels have accumulated rich experience in the Kwantung Army, and many of them have even participated in the Battle of Nomonhan, which is the top combat force among the Type B divisions.
Compared with the bloated formation of the 4th Regiment of the 2nd Brigade, the 3rd Regiment Division is more flexible.
What's more, they are also equipped with armored vehicles, which have strong reconnaissance, detour and sneak attack capabilities, and are very suitable for fighting in local areas.
But such a powerful force was evaporated by nearly a thousand people in just one encounter.
"Hi!"
"This is the telegram sent by the other party!"
After hearing the confirmation, Gan Shigetaro frowned even deeper. A moment later, he came to the military map with a group of staff.
The 26th Division is stationed in Datong, which is the starting station of the Beitongpu Railway.
There are only two possibilities for the Eighth Route Army to take the initiative to launch an attack, then it is to attack as defense and cut off the possibility of their own support.
After all, they often set out from Datong and take the train all the way south to support.
If the Central Plains Campaign had not been defeated so quickly, the field anti-aircraft weapons needed by the First Army would have been sent directly to Yuncheng along the railway, or even directly to Fenglingdu.
The second possibility is that the other side wants to seize the main artery that runs through the north and south of Shanxi Province.
To be honest, Gan Cang Shigetaro wanted to send troops to support.
As a commander of the same side, he sympathized with Iwamatsu Yoshio's current situation and felt a sense of grief for the fox. It's a pity that judging from the current situation, the Mongolian Army is also a mud bodhisattva crossing the river and can't save itself.
After the fall of Shanxi Province, the Eighth Route Army's subsequent plan must be to go north.
With just the amount of troops under his command, he doesn't even need the Eighth War Zone to take action, and the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region can kill him.
When he thought of the fighter planes that covered the sky and the huge number of artillery groups, Gan Cang Shigetaro shuddered involuntarily. Even if they relied on the complex terrain to hold on, they probably wouldn't be able to hold on until the Kwantung Army came to support them.
Thinking of this, the old devil looked at the combat staff on the side.
"How many soldiers are there in the Eighth Route Army attacking Datong? Have you figured out the situation of their weapons and equipment?"
Obviously, the staff officer had done his homework. After hearing the question from his commander, he opened the folder in his hand and read out the intelligence sent back from the front line.
"The enemy air force has left the battlefield, and the number of infantry of the Eighth Route Army is no less than 7,000."
"According to the report of the reconnaissance team of the 26th Division, the enemy attacking them is equipped with at least 30 M18 cannons."
Jitaro Gan rubbed his forehead. If it was just a 7,000-man force, his Mongolian troops would never take it seriously.
Maybe more than 30 cannons are a big problem for an ordinary independent mixed brigade. But relying on the strength of the 26th Division alone, it is completely possible to break through the opponent's defense line in one breath.
The biggest problem now is that the tactics of the Eighth Route Army are becoming more and more advanced, and the superior firepower and air-to-ground coordination against infantry is simply a massacre.
If the self-defense forces rashly attack without the cover of the Army Aviation, once they encounter those damn fighters, it is estimated that the entire division will suffer heavy losses.
This was the Central Plains Battle, and the First Army gave them a warning with blood.
But now is also an opportunity. If they can quickly eat up those 7,000 people, it can more or less reduce some pressure on the subsequent war.
A moment later, Gan Chuan Shigetaro slammed his fist on the table.
"Baga! When did the Mongolian Army fall to the point of being afraid of 7,000 Eighth Route Army!"
"Pass my order! Let the Cavalry Group and the Second Independent Mixed Brigade advance to Datong as quickly as possible!"
"Damn Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, they actually want to use 7,000 infantry artillery to deter me! Since you guys are here! Then I won't be polite!"
Having made up their minds, the staff officers of the Mongolian Army began to discuss tactics intensively.
Five minutes later, the devils came up with a battle plan that looked pretty good.
Datong is located between two mountain ranges and is a basin.
This terrain is considered the comfort zone of the 26th Division, but it is more suitable for the Eighth Route Army's air-to-ground coordination.
If a regiment is used as bait to move the battlefield to the vicinity of Laiyuan County. There are dense forests and rugged terrain there, which can limit the performance of the air force to the greatest extent.
Moreover, the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region of the Eighth Route Army is also in that area. The enemy will never think that they dare to choose an ambush battlefield near their base camp.
Although the Eighth Route Army is very good at mountain warfare, its own independent mixed second brigade is not bad either.
The brigade has cancelled the regiment-level organization and is composed of five directly affiliated independent infantry battalions.
Although the entire force has only 5,000 people, it is equipped with ten rapid-fire guns, twelve field guns and twenty mountain guns. The sufficient artillery and flexible independent battalion organization make them very suitable for mountain warfare.
Once the Eighth Route Army takes the bait, Gan Shigetaro will send a mountain brigade and a regiment to contain the enemy, and finally use the killer cavalry group to end the battle.
His own cavalry group is the highest level organization among cavalry, equivalent to a division-level combat unit.
Moreover, this unit has just undergone a motorized reorganization, which not only improves the mobility of artillery and logistics units, but also adds a motorized infantry regiment, and even adds a large number of armored vehicles and tanks.
Strong mobility provides unlimited room for development and possibilities.
If the plan can be implemented smoothly, it will definitely be possible to wipe out 7,000 enemies at the lowest cost.
"Great! You are worthy of being the commander!"
"I guess this is what the people of the Republic of China call "the darkest part of the lamp". They can come up with such a comprehensive plan in such a short time. We are really impressed!"
"Even if the Eighth Route Army has a full set of new equipment, they don't know what a motorized unit is!"
The flattery of his own staff officers made Gan Cang Shigetaro very happy.
The old devil waved his hand hypocritically, and then said to the waiting communicator:
"Contact the 110th Division, the 1st Independent Mixed Brigade and the 15th Independent Mixed Brigade for me, and let them prepare for battle. Once the Eighth Route Army is desperate, invite them to attack together."
"Also inform Lieutenant General Dobashi of the 12th Army, let them also put some pressure and try to contain the Eighth Route Army."
The entire combat plan is completely complete at this point.
The former that Gan Cang Shigetaro contacted is a direct unit of the North China Front Army. One division and two independent mixed brigades are in Hebei Province. With a strong reserve, you will have a bottom line when fighting.
Although the latter can play a limited role in Shandong Province, it can more or less help the Mongolian Army share the firepower.
But at this moment, a signalman rushed into the headquarters.
"Commander! Something bad has happened!"
"The Eighth Route Army! The Eighth Route Army has assembled at least 50,000 troops! They all look like regular troops!"
"The Beitongpu Railway has been occupied by the enemy, and the 26th Division has retreated to Yanggao and Tianzhen. They are requesting tactical guidance."
As soon as the word 52,000 came out, Gan Cang Shigetaro was like a frost-bitten eggplant.
The entire Mongolian Army has a total of 30,000 people and 112 guns.
Facing the Eighth Route Army, which is superior to them in equipment, number and firepower, they know that there is no chance of winning this battle without fighting. At this moment, a deep sense of powerlessness enveloped the old devil.
After all, in the face of hard power, all strategies seem ridiculous.
"Baga! Send a telegram to Commander Okamura Yasuji and Commander Umezu Michijiro! Tell them the current situation!"
"Fifty thousand people! There are more than two hundred planes! Even if I can turn beans into soldiers, I can't stop the Eighth Route Army! Without the support of the Army Aviation, I can't even get out of here!"
"If Shanxi Province and Suiyuan are lost, the whole of North China will be in chaos. Quick! Send a telegram to all places that can ask for help!"
While giving orders to the signalmen, Gan Shigetaro kept cursing and looked a little crazy.
"Iwamatsu Yoshio! Can't you just die in Taiyuan?"
"Why do you have to resist? Isn't this just dragging me down with you as a scapegoat?"
It's been a long time since I posted a new chapter in the underworld time.