Chapter 180 Mine Sweeper Tank

The Logistics and Maintenance Department lived up to Rommel's expectations and completed the transformation of twelve "minesweeping tanks" within twelve hours, that is, at eight o'clock that night.

Afterwards, Rommel personally organized a small-scale exercise...The troops must know the use and formation of this new weapon. This took two hours.

Then the mine-sweeping tanks and the 21st Armored Corps embarked on the offensive again in the darkness.

Rommel's deployment was as follows:

The Italian 7th Infantry Division and the 48th Infantry Division opened a long line of defense to confront the northern section of the British Alamein line of defense and launched a feint attack.

(Note: Italy originally had ten divisions stationed in North Africa. After they were defeated by the British, Rommel reorganized them into one armored division and five infantry divisions in Tobruk)

Rommel did not dare to expect too much from the Italian army, so they could only feign an attack, that is, firing blank guns in the defense line or firing a few shots in the direction of the enemy.

Later, Qin Chuan learned that these were actually the two infantry divisions with stronger combat effectiveness of the Italian army... The three divisions with worse combat effectiveness were either stationed in Tobruk or performing logistics tasks.

The combat effectiveness of the only armored division of the Italian army, the 132nd Armored Division (Ariette Division), is not satisfactory, but they have the same shortcomings as the British armored forces...slow speed.

This is mainly because the M13 tanks they equipped are very backward. They are not even equipped with dust filters when fighting in the desert, so they are slow (maximum speed 33 kilometers per hour) and continue to break down during the march.

Therefore, when Rommel was eager to launch an attack on the enemy's defense line, this armored division, which the Italians respectfully called the "Ram Division", was still on its way.

Of course, Rommel would not stop and wait for the slow and always disappointing "ram".

The 15th Armored Division was positioned in front of the Rwaisat Ridge and launched two strong attacks after dark... This convinced the British that their idea was correct: the German breakthrough point was Rwaisa Special Ridge.

However, at this time, the 21st Armored Division had already circled to the right wing of Ruwaisat Ridge, which was Dilseyin where the main force of the Indian 4th Infantry Division was supposed to be.

General Strike is more cautious, or it can be said that General Strike is still a little worried about the new equipment of "minesweeping tanks", so before the troops arrive, he arranges for a team of engineers to lurk in the minefield for demining and preliminary reconnaissance. .

In fact, the more important thing is reconnaissance, because this determines the location allocation and walking routes of minesweeper tanks. For example, if there is a roadblock at a certain location that is difficult for minesweeping tanks to overcome, they should be avoided as much as possible when choosing the route.

Then, the main force of the 21st Armored Division rushed to the minefield five kilometers away from the British army. They rested in the darkness for ten minutes... Taking advantage of these ten minutes, the minesweeper tank slowly drove to the front of the team.

Due to confidentiality reasons, the German soldiers had no idea about the existence of "minesweeping tanks" before. At this time, they were a little confused when they saw the strange-shaped things appearing in front of the team.

"What is this?" Werner asked: "Is that thing in front of him filled with explosives?"

"I saw there were chains on it!" the baker continued: "They don't want to use these chains to beat the British!"

Qin Chuan couldn't help laughing when he heard this.

"Sergeant, you seem to know something?" Alfredo asked.

"Yes, of course he knows!" Bazel replied, knowingly: "Because he invented it!"

"What? Is this invented by the sergeant?" The German soldiers couldn't help but look at Qin Chuan with wide eyes.

"This is a mine clearing tank!" Qin Chuan explained: "I just hope we don't have to risk our lives to clear mines like last night!"

The German soldiers couldn't help but cast grateful looks at Qin Chuan:

"Well done, Sergeant!"

"My family and I will thank you for it!"

"You are literally our savior!"

"Why do you say 'simply'? He is!"

…

Mine clearing tanks are divided into groups of two, divided into five groups in total. (The extra two vehicles are used as backup)

The reason why two tanks are needed is, on the one hand, to open up a wider attack channel, and on the other hand... it is to worry that if one tank breaks down or is destroyed, the other tank can continue to clear mines without As for giving up halfway.

General Strike looked at his watch and then ordered: "Attack!"

Three red flares quickly rose into the air.

The sound of artillery started at the first moment... Prior to this, the German army had transferred part of the artillery regiment of the 15th Armored Division and even the artillery regiment of the Italian Infantry Division.

The British army used the vast majority of its artillery on the Rooisat Ridge, which resulted in the abnormal phenomenon of German artillery having a slight advantage in the local area of ​​Dilcyin.

As a result, the German artillery successfully suppressed the British artillery fire and provided cover for the mine-clearing tanks.

But that's not the point. The point is that the sound of artillery can cover up the sound of "minesweeper tanks" clearing mines.

Sure enough, when the information that Dilcyin was being bombarded reached General Auchinleck, General Auchinleck did not take it to heart.

"This is just another trick of the Germans. They want us to move the artillery back!" General Auchinleck looked at his watch and said: "It is already twelve o'clock, and there are five full minefields in Dilcyin. Kilometers... If the Germans attack there, they won’t be able to pass through the minefield even at dawn!”

"But Major General David reported that the enemy's artillery fire was very fierce!" Major General Ritchie was a little worried. He had already felt that this battle was a little different.

"Major General David has not participated in the battle yet, understand?" General Auchinleck said: "To be precise, they have not seen the German artillery fire, so they can't tell what is 'fierce'."

General Auchinleck took it for granted, but it was not his fault. Without knowing the "minesweeper tank", it was indeed impossible to imagine that the German army would choose another location with a complete minefield to implement a breakthrough.

On the other hand, the German "minesweeper tank" has already shown its power on the battlefield... Ten tanks lined up in a row, and the steel chain swung forward as soon as the motor started. As the tanks moved forward, the steel chain kept whipping the ground in front like whips.

Mines exploded one after another. Due to the fast speed of the tanks and the high density of the British mines, the smoke and dust from the mines in front of the tanks were like a tide advancing towards the British army.

The British army was unaware of this scene, because they were panicked by the fierce German artillery fire and didn't know how to respond.

Until they stabilized and fired a flare in front of the position...

Then they were stunned: "God, what is that?"