NCCnovel Chapter 462 Attacking Datong
Chapter 462 Attacking Datong
Fumio Saeki looked at the ruins and did not expect that this wall, which was missing pieces here and there and looked like an old woman's teeth, could withstand the attack of the independent column's tanks.
Just as he was preparing for street fighting, Okamura Neiji sent a telegram.
He asked Fumio Saeki to hold on for another day. As long as he could, reinforcements would arrive.
Fumio Saeki threw the telegram aside like a piece of waste paper and muttered to himself:
Where did the reinforcements come from? The garrison battalion in Baotou?
But as the highest military commander of Datong, he could not show despair in front of the officers and soldiers. He controlled his expression and walked out confidently.
"Officers and warriors of the Empire, Neiji Okamura has sent me a telegram asking us to hold on. Reinforcements will arrive soon! When the time comes, we will attack from both sides and defeat this arrogant independent column armored unit! You will make history!"
"Onboard! Onboard!"
In order to prevent the Chinese in Datong city from snatching food from them, and even more to prevent the soldiers of the independent column from disguising themselves as ordinary people and causing chaos, they drove all the ordinary people out and enjoyed the ancient city alone.
The fanatical Japanese soldiers turned any bricks, door panels and windows that could be used to build barricades in Datong City into simple fortifications.
Moreover, the Japanese devils in the city prepared a large number of incendiary bombs, anti-tank grenades, anti-tank guns, explosive packs, etc.
"Yoshi, according to the latest news, this isolated independent column does not carry large-caliber indirect fire artillery, and the shells for tanks and mortars are very limited. As long as we hide in the concealed fortifications, the independent column will be unable to do anything to us!"
Fumio Saeki's analysis was correct. When the artillery division bombed the anti-tank cone, it blew up the "passage" and filled it with large pits and rubble.
In order to prevent the ammunition trucks from falling into a pit or being stuck by a large rock, thus breaking down and blocking the main force, the advance team did not carry ammunition trucks, but instead loaded ammunition on tanks and armored vehicles as much as possible, but after all, the load capacity and space were limited.
In addition, when attacking Huairen, although Li Yunlong tried his best to let the 150mm howitzers carry out the bombardment mission, the tanks were also forced to open fire at some blind spots in the bombing.
So, it is true that the number of shells is extremely limited.
Li Yunlong was also worried about this problem at the moment, but he had no other choice. After all, the other five armored divisions were on the way and were expected to arrive at the designated location tomorrow night.
"Fight quickly and make sure every shell and bullet is not wasted."
By nightfall, the advance team of the independent column had arrived outside Datong City and deployed their formation.
In order to avoid the Japanese sneak attack in the street, Li Yunlong had to order the advance team to launch another attack in the early morning of the next day.
"Lao Ding, Zhang Dabiao, spread the infantry out on the periphery and protect our tanks and armored vehicles. These are our only offensive weapons! Also, send out the scouts and try to find out the location of the Japanese's heavy firepower and provide targets for the aviation division tomorrow!"
"Yes!"
After Li Yunlong assigned the tasks, he leaned back in his chair and took a rest.
About four hours later, a burst of gunfire was heard, followed by several violent explosions. Li Yunlong jumped up from his chair.
"Where are the guns firing! Where are the guns firing!"
Ding Wei rushed in, covered in dust and scratched his face.
"Lao Li, those damned Japanese attacked us by surprise. They rushed over with bombs strapped to their bodies, as if they didn't care about their lives. Fortunately, our observation post discovered them in advance and killed them halfway!"
"Did we have any casualties?"
"Two soldiers were killed and five or six were injured!"
Li Yunlong walked to the battle map, looked at the terrain of the temporary military camp, and poked at the map a few times.
"These little Japanese soldiers seem to be a bit unusual. They are starting to learn how to conduct night raids and surprise attacks from us! Send out observation posts and snipers at these points to prevent the Japanese soldiers' mortars and grenade launchers!"
"Yes!"
Li Yunlong was right. As one of the perpetrators of the "Liu Tiaohu" incident at that time, Fumio Saeki was good at plotting conspiracies and intrigues.
Fumio Saeki sent out seven or eight mortar teams, who were preparing to launch a frenzied bombardment on the advance team's positions at the maximum shooting distance.
"Shhhhhh!"
Three artillery shells flew towards the position of the independent column from the surroundings. Fortunately, the Japanese could not get close to conduct reconnaissance and could only keep adjusting the impact point, hoping that a blind cat would catch a dead mouse and hit ammunition or armored vehicles.
The sniper team on the periphery immediately followed the sound of the artillery fire and found the Japanese mortar position. Then, with the help of the faint moonlight, they sent the Japanese to death with just two clicks!
Half an hour later, seven or eight mortars were delivered to Li Yunlong.
"Haha, Fumio Saeki knows that we don't have enough weapons, so he's thinking of ways to send us equipment! Take the weapons away, and return them to the Japanese when we counterattack tomorrow!"
Ding Wei and Zhang Dabiao walked into the temporary command center and handed over a hand-drawn map of Datong city.
"Commander, this is the intelligence reported by the scouts. The Japanese have set up hidden artillery positions in the four directions of southeast, northwest, and northeast. They are mainly equipped with infantry artillery and anti-tank guns. It seems that they are targeting our tanks and armored vehicles!"
Ding Wei added worriedly:
"Lao Li, this is just the situation we have. It's too dark, and it's hard for the scouts to get all the information about the artillery positions. I suspect the Japanese have more artillery positions than these! It may be dangerous for us to attack the city tomorrow!"
Li Yunlong thought for a moment. How could he not know the danger? However, there was not much time for him to call in large-caliber artillery for a carpet bombardment.
"Well, let's follow the plan. The bombers will bomb the key locations, and then we will enter the city to sweep! The infantry should spread out as much as possible to prevent the Japanese from using incendiary bombs or explosive packs to attack our tanks and armored vehicles!"
"Yes!"
The next morning, a mixed formation of F6F Hellcat fighters and B-17 Flying Fortress reconnaissance aircraft from the Independent Column Aviation Division arrived over Datong as scheduled.
Under precise navigation, the aviation division carried out precise strikes on key locations in Datong, causing the earth to shake.
After the bombers finished their bombing, the fighter jets were not to be outdone and threw the rockets they were carrying at the heads of the Japanese.
"Okay, the brothers from the aviation division are done, now it's our turn! Armored division, charge!"
According to the plan, the advance team of the independent column will deploy in a line and push forward from south to north.
A group of Tiger tanks followed by a squad of soldiers began to enter the Datong city area.