northernbook Chapter 191 The Japanese 66th Regiment launched a tentative attack!
Chapter 191 The Japanese 66th Regiment launched a tentative attack!
"I just want to know where the Chinese artillery is. I want to have the Matsuda Battalion serve as the assault force, and have the 66th Regiment launch a exploratory attack."
"Remember, this is a probing attack."
Arai Tianwu looked at the chief of staff Ikegami Kazuya beside him and said in a cold voice.
"Hi!" Chief of Staff Chi Jiuhe also nodded in response.
At this moment, Chief of Staff Ike Kyukazu also understood what Araiida Takeshi meant.
It was obvious that Takeshi Arai wanted to see what heavy weapons the Tiger Guard Division had and how the weapons were configured.
Although Captain Matsuda reported some intelligence, it was not very accurate.
Ten minutes later.
The first line of defense at the north gate of Chidong County was filled with the dull sound of artillery explosions.
"Boom, boom!"
The shells around them exploded violently, and the thick smoke and flying dust blocked the soldiers' vision.
The soldiers immediately squatted in the holes in the trenches to avoid the Japanese artillery shells.
From time to time, the cries and groans of some injured soldiers could be heard around him.
The first to launch the attack were the artillery squadron of the 66th Regiment, the Type 92 infantry gun.
A barrage of artillery fire reduced the first line of defense to dust and injured six soldiers.
"The Japanese bombardment hasn't ended yet. Stay put and hide. I'll tell you to come out, and you'll come out."
The voice of the battalion commander of the guard regiment was heard in the trench.
In fact, the casualties from the previous round of shelling could have been completely avoided, but the six soldiers reacted too slowly.
The Japanese Type 92 infantry gun was still roaring, as if it would not stop until all the shells were used up.
I saw artillery shells falling on the position, blowing the position of the First Battalion of the Guards Regiment into a cloud of dust.
Because of the existence of the anti-bombardment holes, the soldiers were not too nervous and just waited quietly for the shelling to end.
Besides, the power of the Japanese Type 92 infantry gun is ultimately limited.
Faced with the already dug trenches, anti-artillery holes and other defensive fortifications, the Type 92 infantry gun did not play a big role.
"How is it? Have you observed the Japanese artillery position?" Wu Qianli shouted impatiently to the observer beside him.
The Japanese had been bombarding for several minutes, but the observers still couldn't find their artillery positions.
Do you think Wu Qianli can be calm?
"Commander, don't be impatient. The Japanese Type 92 infantry gun is already short. After removing the protective plate, it is not much taller than a Type 92 heavy machine gun."
"Besides, the Type 92 infantry gun makes very little noise when it's fired, leaving no obvious signature. It's not easy to spot it."
After hearing Wu Qianli's words, the observer spoke.
In fact, the observers are also anxious, but this is not a problem that can be solved by being anxious!
The observer observed for another four minutes and finally found the Japanese artillery position.
"Found it, Commander, I found it. It's in the grove at eleven o'clock."
After hearing what the observer said, Wu Qianli picked up the telescope and looked over.
Is that also called a grove?
There are only seven or eight trees, but it’s enough to find the Japanese artillery position.
"Hurry up and pass the information to the artillery and let them bombard the Japanese artillery positions." Wu Qianli said immediately.
For artillery, being discovered means being destroyed.
At this moment, the commander of the 66th Regiment did not know that his artillery position had been discovered.
He also ordered the signalman beside him: "Order the artillery to launch three more rounds of artillery fire."
As the commander of the 66th Regiment finished speaking, he saw a shell whizzing down onto the artillery position.
Judging from the smoke raised by the explosion, it was obviously a 105mm caliber artillery shell.
When the captain saw this situation, he was about to say something.
But before the captain could speak.
There was another whistling sound in the sky.
"boom......"
"Boom boom boom..."
Accompanied by a loud roar, more than ten shells landed accurately on the artillery squadron's position.
The huge explosion and thick smoke engulfed the entire position.
The regiment commander closed his eyes in pain because he knew that all the artillery in his regiment was finished.
However, how could anyone who could become a regiment commander be an ordinary person? Therefore, the demise of the artillery did not shake the regiment commander's confidence.
Soon the regiment commander gave the order to attack to the Matsuda Battalion and also gave orders to several other battalions.
"Come out quickly, come out quickly, the Japanese shelling is over."
"After the Japanese shelling ends, the Japanese will come. Get ready for battle."
The battalion commander of the guard regiment shouted loudly in the trench.
Then he quickly took out his telescope and looked forward, and sure enough, the Japanese had begun to attack.
It is also obvious that the Japanese attack this time was very methodical and not a blind attack.
The attacking formation was extremely loose, but they seemed to be coordinating with each other.
"Contact the regimental commander and ask him to give us artillery support." A battalion commander said to the messenger beside him.
The battalion commander did not understand the Japanese attack. He did not know much about the Japanese tactics, so he planned to launch an artillery bombardment first to see.
"Yes!" the messenger responded immediately and then went to contact Wu Qianli.
After receiving the request, Wu Qianli ordered the artillery to launch a bombardment without any hesitation.
"fire!"
Following a loud shout from the artillery officer, the artillery position was immediately enveloped by a dull burst of artillery fire.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
After a short flight, the shells landed in the Japanese attack formation.
"boom!"
"Boom! Boom!"
A Japanese machine gun position set up on a slope was directly hit by a shell.
The Type 92 heavy machine gun weighing more than 100 kilograms and the remains of the machine gunner were thrown several meters into the air.
Then the machine gun fell from the sky and hit a Japanese soldier who was avoiding the artillery fire.
The Japanese soldier let out a shrill scream, struggled twice, spit out blood, and could no longer move.
The attacking formation came under artillery fire.
The commander of the 66th Regiment saw it, but did not order a retreat, but continued to order an attack.
In the opinion of the brigade commander, the Chinese army was not wealthy, and the bombardment would only last two or three minutes.
As long as we can hold on, we can attack the Tiger Guards' position.
Unfortunately, the wing commander miscalculated this time.
This shelling lasted for more than ten minutes.
Moreover, the artillery fire continued to extend, and shells fell a hundred meters in front of the regiment commander's command post.
"Sir, the Chinese artillery fire is about to extend to the command center. We must leave immediately." The chief of staff said loudly.
"Leave immediately!"
"And order the troops to withdraw."
"This exploratory attack is completely meaningless."
The captain said as he walked, it was just a test attack, he didn't want to die here.
"Hi!" the staff officer responded quickly.
He also knew that there was no point in attacking because the Tiger Guards' artillery was too powerful.
If we don't destroy the artillery, attacking will be suicidal.
This exploratory attack has completely failed.