Chapter 346 Tempering

After the minesweeper tanks came the main attacking force of the British Army. Dozens of tanks of various models covered a regiment of infantry and launched a charge towards Hill Zero.

This should be said to be a tentative attack by the British Army. They hoped to find out the firepower and defensive weaknesses of the German Army or further clear the obstacles in front of the defense line to allow the follow-up troops to advance faster.

The shells were still roaring on the high ground, not only did they not weaken but they were strengthened. Many of them hit the reverse slope... Obviously, the British Army's mortar troops also joined the bombing.

Soon, groups of bombers flew over the high ground and dropped bombs. In an instant, the entire battlefield was plunged into the screaming and explosion of bombs. The soldiers hiding in the tunnels were like little bugs put into bottles, rolling and shaking in the stormy waves.

In the darkness, Qin Chuan felt someone vomited, because the vomit had splashed on him, and there was a sour smell in the air, but he couldn't find out who did the "good deed". At this time, speaking or giving orders was meaningless, because the explosion of the shells and bombs had covered most of the sounds. Qin Chuan could only wait in the tunnel, wait...

With a "bang", a shell exploded at the entrance of the tunnel. The thick smoke with the smell of gunpowder covered the only light and rushed into the tunnel like the devil's black hand. A cough came from the tunnel immediately.

The bombing lasted for more than 20 minutes, and finally a sharp whistle was heard outside the tunnel. Qin Chuan immediately waved his hand and rushed out of the tunnel with the soldiers.

This is a tactic of tunnel warfare.

Generally speaking, soldiers stay in trenches for cover, just like Qin Chuan did when he was defending the Alexander Line before.

The disadvantage of this is that it cannot effectively prevent artillery attacks, because at most it can only lay a camouflage net on the trench so that the enemy artillery cannot determine the location of the trench... But this is obviously unreliable, because the enemy can easily detect this point with just one charge.

Then, the enemy's shells will be fired at the trenches in groups, and many of them can even directly hit the trenches, such as mortars with curved trajectories.

Therefore, the attackers and defenders often need to fight head-on at this time.

For example, artillery can suppress the enemy's artillery, and the artillery battle will soon extend to the struggle for air supremacy... This is a regular offensive and defensive battle.

Before the US military joined the war, the German army could afford a regular offensive and defensive battle, and even won victory after victory because of Rommel's proper use of tactics, that is, launching an offensive with inferior forces.

However, after the U.S. military joined the war, the air force was fully tilted towards the Allies, so regular offensive and defensive battles were tantamount to suicide for the German army... The Allied planes would bomb any German artillery units that dared to fight back, and the German fighter planes did not dare to attack easily because of their inferior numbers.

So the unconventional defensive warfare such as tunnel warfare came into play.

German soldiers did not defend in trenches, but hid in tunnel fortifications. In this way, they could still preserve their manpower when the enemy had a comprehensive air and artillery advantage.

But this would cause a problem.

The soldiers hiding in the tunnels did not know when the enemy would rush to the high ground or where they would rush to. It was even possible that the high ground was occupied by a charge, and the soldiers hiding in the tunnels still knew nothing.

The solution to this problem was to establish a reconnaissance team.

This reconnaissance team probably had a company. They generally did not directly participate in the battle. Their tasks were reconnaissance and vigilance... Their tunnels were built near the top of the mountain or near the ridge. (The so-called ridgeline refers to a line on the top of the mountain where you can see the positive slope by sticking your head out.)

When the enemy carries out bombing, the reconnaissance team is responsible for observing and guarding the top of the mountain and the ridgeline area... Even if there is a risk of being killed by the bombing, they must be outside, and they must make up for the number of people killed by the bombing. Only in this way can they keep their attention on the enemy.

Then, when the enemy advances to the danger line or the bombing develops to the quasi-safe stage, the reconnaissance team will send a signal to let the main force in the tunnel go out of the tunnel for defense

This is the quasi-safe stage... The enemy bombers have dropped bombs and left, and tank guns, cannons, etc. can only hit the positive slope. Only a small number of mortars and howitzer shells can hit the reverse slope and cannot cause large-scale casualties to the German army.

Qin Chuan led the soldiers to climb up the top of the mountain along the communication trench that was almost bombed into a small ditch and looked down. Groups of British soldiers were moving towards the high ground in a scattered formation.

"They should be Australians!" Bazel said to Qin Chuan who caught up.

Qin Chuan understood what Bazel meant. The British did not have the courage to directly attack the highlands under such circumstances.

"It's time for you to show your skills!" Bazel patted Qin Chuan on the shoulder.

Qin Zhong waved his hand, and the soldiers of the French battalion entered the position with rifles.

This is a very strange way of fighting. French soldiers and German soldiers are fighting together... France is the French battalion, and Germany is the second company where Qin Chuan is.

The soldiers of the French battalion are on the front line, and the second company is a backup force under the leadership of Bazel.

This is Qin Chuan's suggestion because he plans to let the French battalion perform a special mission in the near future.

Needless to say, the soldiers disguised as Free France, or more precisely, "Fighting France", sneak into Gafsa to fight. (Note: The de Gaulle government was originally "Free France", and later changed to "Fighting France")

This is undoubtedly a dangerous mission. If the French battalion has not been trained or even killed anyone, it is likely that they will be exposed in a few moves.

Now is a training opportunity for the French battalion.

The sound of the artillery gradually weakened. This is because the British soldiers have approached the top of the mountain. If they continue to fire, the shrapnel from the shells will inevitably hurt their own people.

So in the smoke, the British troops, who were divided into several groups and advanced by covering each other with the terrain and craters, appeared in front of the French battalion.

Behind these British troops, a row of tanks were waiting at the foot of the mountain. Anti-aircraft machine guns and mortars were aimed at the front of the British army and adjusted to provide them with cover at any time.

"Hold steady!" Qin Chuan said, "Just like you did in training, aim at the target and pull the trigger, and then you can win this battle!"

The more difficult and dangerous it is, the more Qin Chuan will simplify it, because Qin Chuan knows that only in this way can these recruits feel more relaxed.

Whether they can pass this level depends on themselves.