Chapter 148 Model
The motor roared and dust flew.
Qin Chuan and the soldiers sat in the speeding car and rested with their eyes closed, but even though they were resting, no one could sleep. It was not because they were nervous about the upcoming war... By now, Qin Chuan had basically adapted to the battle. I can face the cruelty of this world calmly.
Sometimes Qin Chuan even thinks that this is how the world should be fought and killed... When there was no human civilization in primitive society, wasn't everything a matter of survival of the fittest?
War is actually a kind of survival of the fittest, but this kind of survival of the fittest does not use sharp teeth and claws, but aircraft, tanks and cannons.
Some things are like this. When you don't think about it, you will find it difficult to face it. When you think about it, you feel that it is just that.
What was unbearable was the high temperature inside the carriage... We were marching during the day, and the scorching sun was shining overhead like a ball of fire on the canvas on the roof. The temperature was transmitted into the carriage through the canvas, making the temperature at least higher than outside. Several degrees, plus there were more than thirty people densely packed in the carriage, so it was as stuffy as a steamer.
There was a faint roar of airplanes in the sky. Kuhn, who was sitting at the back of the car, stood up and leaned out of the car. He held the railing with one hand and raised the telescope with the other hand to look at the sky. Then he sat back down and said : "Don't worry, our plane is on board!"
"Our planes finally look good!" the baker complained while wiping the sweat on his forehead with a towel: "From the beginning of the war to now, I can count the number of times I have seen them with ten fingers! "
"That's because they are bombing Malta Island!" Kuhn explained: "That is our supply line. Without them fighting over Malta Island, it would be difficult for us to get new tanks and supplies!"
As he spoke, Kuhn raised his head towards a Panzer III tank following the car: "They are the key to our victory, aren't they?"
"Maybe!" the baker replied: "But where are all our planes? We have thousands of planes bombing Britain. Why can't there be a few more planes here to bomb Malta and coordinate our attack at the same time? ?”
Unable to answer the question, Kuhn could only shrug.
Qinchuan knew the reason. Germany did still have aircraft, but they were placed on the Eastern Front by Hitler... When the German army launched its attack on the Soviet Union, it invested more than 3 million troops, 3,000 tanks and 2,000 aircraft in the first batch.
To concentrate so much troops and equipment in the direction of the Soviet Union, of course, it is necessary to reduce the investment of troops and equipment in other places, including North Africa.
This should be said to be one of Hitler's many mistakes, because he only needs to invest a little more in North Africa, even if it is just an airborne division or an infantry division, then North Africa will basically have a chance of victory, but Hitler or Rommel Conceit led to the opposite result.
"Air defense concealment!" With a shout, everyone began to get busy.
Qin Chuan and others quickly jumped out of the car and covered themselves with canvas. The driver and tank crew also immediately camouflaged the car and others. The only thing that could not be covered up was the dust kicked up by the car and tank as they drove along.
But after waiting for more than ten minutes, no plane appeared in the sky. After a while, he saw the communication soldier waving flags, and then Kuhn breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Concealment cancelled!"
No one complained because they were used to this, or it could be said to be due to the quality of the soldiers.
This is actually understandable, because now the German army has the coordination of reconnaissance aircraft. The reconnaissance aircraft discovered the British aircraft very far away. It estimated that its route would pass through the area where the 21st Armored Division was located and issued a warning. As a result, the enemy aircraft might just be After turning a corner, he turned around and left or flew in another direction... Then the situation just happened.
This is a good thing for the troops, because there is no loss in taking more air defense cover, but it will be different if the position is discovered by the enemy's air power.
The convoy continued to move forward. I don’t know when I heard the sound of guns and the roar of airplanes amidst the roar of engines. The soldiers couldn’t help but clenched the guns in their hands, and the recruits began to check their equipment. Even have to load the gun...
"It's still far away!" Yacop frowned and trained the recruits: "At least half an hour, take it easy!"
"Yes, sir!" The recruit was a little embarrassed.
Facts have proved that Jacop's judgment was correct. As the convoy moved forward, the sound of gunfire became more and more obvious. Among them, several British fighter planes flew over the convoy as if they wanted to dive and shoot, but they were quickly driven away. Several German fighter planes came and drove them away... Most of the German pilots were well-trained and had fought all the way on the battlefield. Many of them had even bombed the UK and fought against British pilots. They had very good combat experience. Rich.
On the contrary, the British pilots stationed in North Africa did not have much experience in air combat, and some were even pilots for the French government-in-exile... After France surrendered, some pilots were unwilling to be Germany's puppets and fled to Britain to join the British army.
Therefore, although the number of German fighter planes is not large, they can often achieve local air superiority wherever they appear.
This is the first time Qinchuan has enjoyed the benefits of air superiority. Tanks and cars can drive freely in the desert without worrying about whether a large number of deadly fighter jets and bombers will suddenly appear overhead and bombard them indiscriminately. , and sometimes even fire assistance from the air.
The British army was obviously not so happy.
Because before that, they didn't even find the existence of the 21st Armored Division, otherwise there should have been a group of aircraft bombing it or troops rushing to fight, but nothing has happened until now.
Qin Chuan guessed correctly. General Auchinlek received a report from the Air Force saying that a large number of enemy armored units were found on the flank of Matruh.
"This is impossible!" General Auchinlek said: "The Germans have no other armored units. Their 21st Armored Division is in Sidi Ouma, and the 15th Armored Division is in front of us! Did you make a mistake and mistake our armored units for the enemy?"
"I'm sure, General!" The pilot reported: "Because there are iron cross signs on their tanks!"
After thinking about it, Auchinlek sat back in his chair and said dejectedly: "It's the 21st Armored Division... We were fooled by them again!"
Auchinlek was indeed fooled.
He thought the 21st Armored Division was still in Sidi Ouma because there were many tank models in Sidi Ouma, and some of these models could still be driven.