Chapter 299 Let Me Show You What a Cavalry Killer Is
Armored trains, a war beast, were introduced into the Republic of China by a general who didn't know anything more than a decade ago, and even performed well in the warlord melee.
In the early days of the Anti-Japanese War, Guofu also used the few remaining armored trains to provide heavy firepower support for ground troops, such as the Yungui in the Battle of Taierzhuang.
The style modified by Huanghe for the troops is strictly different from the above types.
Its design concept is more like a light armored train with English, which only reinforces the armor on ordinary trucks and adds a little self-defense firepower.
The Eighth Route Army does not use it to provide firepower support on the battlefield, as long as it can safely and smoothly deliver the supplies to the destination.
The devils have never been known for their armored forces, and it is too wasteful to set up special anti-armored trucks or large-caliber artillery on the train.
Under the leading command of Huanghe, the configuration of the army's light armored train is as follows:
The first section is an explosion-proof carriage, with a wrecker installed at the front end, and a large number of sandbags, sleepers and rails loaded on the flatbed to prevent attacks from mines and roadside bombs.
The Japanese army has many years of experience fighting with many railway guerrillas, and has a certain understanding of how to disrupt transportation.
In the case of being unable to defeat the enemy head-on, they are very likely to attack the railway. After all, it is easier to dodge an open attack than to defend against an arrow from the dark. It is much easier to bury mines and dig up the railway than to attack head-on.
Once the track is found to be damaged, the railway soldiers on the train will immediately dismantle the damaged area, and then use spare sleepers and rails for emergency repairs.
At the same time, they will also report the situation to their superiors and ask the maintenance department to send people to replace the railway in all aspects afterwards.
Unless there is a force majeure event like the Hundred Regiments Campaign, where several kilometers of rails were lost in one night, the limit of the devils is to delay the Eighth Route Army for a period of time.
The second carriage is a tank-carrying car, on which two M22 Cicada tanks are placed, and new models with thicker armor and stronger firepower can be replaced in the future.
During the transportation process, this car body can be used as a fixed firepower point.
If an emergency occurs, the tank crew can also leave the train and act with the railway soldiers to carry out a clearing operation.
The third section is the anti-aircraft firepower carriage, which is equipped with two 37mm Schneider anti-aircraft guns and four 25mm Hotchkiss anti-aircraft guns.
Since the North China Front Army’s aviation is unlikely to fly into Shanxi, the role of anti-aircraft guns is mostly anti-personnel, and anti-aircraft guns are more effective against the Japanese infantry.
The fourth section is the passenger carriage, which has reinforced armor and has shooting holes. It is mainly used to carry the railway soldiers and their weapons and equipment.
Shanxi is now the base camp of the Eighth Route Army. Even if the enemy infiltrates in batches, it is impossible to carry heavy weapons.
With the above firepower configuration, the light armored train can definitely fight a battalion of enemies, and Zhang Wanhe no longer has to worry about his precious train encountering an accident.
Combined with the communication network throughout the province and the troops guarding the tunnels, the logistics department’s train can definitely be unimpeded throughout Shanxi.
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After the temporary meeting, the bigwigs did not leave immediately, but focused their attention on Huang.
"Huanghe, what new things have you prepared for us today?"
"If there was a person like you in the army back then, I wouldn't even have to take my family to the north to recuperate. I have really broadened my horizons during this period."
"Don't keep me in suspense, tell me the truth."
As the saying goes: A nest of gold or silver is not as good as our nest of grass.
Since the tiger in the forest returned to Shanxi, his mental state and health have undergone earth-shaking changes. Under the care of medical staff, he even gained a few pounds.
Perhaps the material life in the north is indeed richer than the current Jin-Cha-Ji base area.
But it is always someone else's territory, and only staying at home can be truly comfortable.
What's more, the base area is developing at a fast pace. With the support of the headquarters, light and heavy industries have begun to take shape. According to the current efficiency, it will surpass the north sooner or later.
The army has also developed very fast in the past two years, and it has everything from light and heavy weapons to the air force.
Recently, Lin Zhong Menghu has been using his free time to inspect troops at all levels. After comparing the strength of the three main forces with that of the north, he came to an astonishing conclusion.
The current Eighth Route Army, after adding heavy artillery, is definitely a regular army-level unit in the north.
If we only talk about fighting will, morale and discipline, it can be ranked all over the world and is a well-deserved elite infantry group army.
As long as the army can be expanded while ensuring quality, and then equipped with transport vehicles, technical arms, heavy artillery, tanks and various types of aircraft, it is not a dream to push the enemy flat.
Some people may think it is a bit exaggerated, but the above changes did take only two years.
If someone told him two years ago that the Eighth Route Army had recovered Shanxi and was preparing to march to Suiyuan, he would definitely sneer and let the other party get out.
After all, in the original timeline, the situation faced by the base was a little difficult.
At that time, there were repeated raids by the devils outside, and the tight blockade of preserved fruits inside, and many bases were located in the poorest and most remote mountain valleys in the Republic of China.
Coupled with the frictions in 1940 and 1941, life was really difficult for the comrades at that time.
But now no one can pat his chest and accurately predict what the army will develop into in 1943.
Even though the rapid changes have broadened everyone's horizons and broken through the previous limitations. But the speed of development is too fast, and everyone's imagination is not enough.
Everyone present is a soldier, and new weapons have a fatal attraction to them. Hearing the words of the tiger in the forest, everyone's face is full of curiosity.
Facing a pair of burning eyes, Huang He said with a smile:
"Today I am only responsible for passing on the message. The real inviter is Li Yunlong of the 1st Marine Regiment."
"In early June, didn't I mention the airborne tank? Now our airborne soldiers have received new equipment, and the soldiers have completed preliminary training. It's time to review the troops."
"Let's go, the car is waiting for us at the door."
As soon as these words came out, there was a rustling sound of dragging chairs in the conference room, and the big guys got up without saying a word and began to pack up and prepare to set off.
The 1st Marine Regiment plus the first tank of the Eighth Route Army, such a combination directly raised everyone's expectations.
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Half an hour later, the 1st Marine Regiment.
The current Wusu Airport has been expanded twice. The first time was on the eve of the troops' attack on Taiyuan, in order to provide the Air Force with a better take-off and landing site.
How many fighters did Iwamatsu Yoshio have? The airport capacity at that time could not meet the needs of the 1st Air Division.
The second time was at the end of June this year. In order to ensure that the new transport aircraft could take off smoothly, the comrades in the Engineering Department expanded the airport again according to the needs.
In addition to lengthening and widening the runway, they also built a helipad specifically for the air overlord.
After seeing the big guys entering the venue one after another, Zhao Gang, who was responsible for reception and introduction, immediately greeted them.
In order to ensure that this exercise is foolproof, Li Yunlong and Xing Zhiguo will personally lead the team to complete the airborne landing, and the only regimental commander on the ground is the political commissar.
Looking at the air overlord and Hamilcar glider on the helipad in the distance, even the well-informed tiger in the forest widened his eyes.
Today was his first time to visit the garrison of the 1st Marine Regiment. Even though he had raised his psychological expectations repeatedly before, he was still shocked by the scene in front of him when he stepped into the current base.
To be frank, although the Eighth Route Army's airborne troops were small in scale, they were definitely more advanced than the Guards Parachute Brigade in the north.
"It's so big, it's really a metal behemoth!"
"An airplane actually has four engines, an incredible product."
After hearing the exclamations one after another, Zhao Gang's face showed a rare smug look.
At this point in time in 1941, the four-engine large aircraft was the world's top technological product. The forces that possessed this thing were all countries at the top of the pyramid in terms of military and economic capabilities.
After the Suiyuan Campaign ended, it was estimated that the members of the Allies and the Axis would be confused.
While they were still studying heavy transport aircraft and airborne tanks, the products from the cave had already proved their combat effectiveness on the prairie.
"The name of the new transport aircraft is Yun-2, and the soldiers privately call it the Overlord of the Sky. Its fuselage is 29 meters long, its wingspan is 36 meters, and its fuselage height reaches 8 meters."
"Compared with the Yun-1 Sky Train, its maximum range is more than doubled, reaching 6,276 kilometers. The maximum speed has also been slightly improved, with a limit of 441 kilometers per hour."
"The biggest feature of this transport aircraft is its carrying capacity, with a maximum take-off weight of 34 tons. In addition to two pilots and navigators, each aircraft can transport 52 soldiers at a time."
"If the Hamilcar glider is added, only 20 crews are needed to deliver three paratrooper infantry battalions and an airborne tank company to the battlefield."
The Overlord of the Sky provided by Awakening the Brave Tiger is slightly different from the original version. Without affecting the maneuverability and reliability, the system has slightly enlarged the capacity of the transport aircraft.
The length, width and height of the Yun-2 are now almost comparable to those of the Airbus 320 in later generations.
After hearing the specific data of the transport aircraft, all the bigwigs present took a breath.
There is no other reason, it is because the range of Yun-2 is too amazing.
Based on the current territory of the Republic of China, it can fly back and forth between Taiyuan and Guangzhou.
This means that if security and logistics issues are not considered, the Marine Corps can appear in any war zone of the Republic of China in a short time.
The elite soldiers and tanks that can be deployed at any time are horrifying to think about.
A joke made by the infantry expert two months ago is gradually becoming a reality that may have a basis. Even if we can't have fun with Lao Du because of the size of the troops, there will be no problem in avenging the troops who went west that year.
The combination of armored troops, submachine guns and a large number of mortars of various calibers is simply a cavalry killer.
The Mongolian troops not only have a large number of cavalry, but also a number of tank battalions, which is definitely a good choice for training.
There will be another chapter in the evening, or maybe two chapters, depending on the time when the next chapter is finished.