Songhu: Never Give Up

Chapter 200 Wang Jianfei's Battle at Purple Mountain (2)

The 37mm anti-tank guns of the German-equipped divisions were specially used to attack the enemy tanks. In order to ambush the enemy, Wang Jianfei adopted a strategy of waiting for the enemy to come. He ambushed the anti-tank guns in advance and dug several large pits to hide the artillery squad. It was not difficult for them to do so.
In addition, he also ambushed a company on the left wing to protect the anti-tank artillery company, which was the treasure of the Fifth Regiment. He was not as wealthy as Yue Qianli.

This inspiration also came from Yue Qianli. Yue Qianli's inspiration came from the Soviet-German battlefield in another time and space. The Soviet army used this trick to destroy a large number of German Panther and even Tiger tanks.

Of course, Yue Qianli was only talking about the European battlefield. Wang Jianfei thought it was a battle that had just ended, so he didn't take it seriously and just memorized this tactic.

It was the first time it was used in actual combat, and no one expected the effect to be so good. They first destroyed the three tanks in the back row, thus blocking the enemy's retreat. It was difficult for them to turn around, which gave the anti-tank artillery company enough time to open fire.

The 37mm anti-tank gun was a rapid-fire gun. Before the Japanese tanks and infantry could react, they fired another round of shells, this time directly knocking out four tanks. The Japanese infantry became furious.
Japan's resources have always been very tight, and the navy accounts for the largest share, so the army's steel for building tanks is very tight. Tanks are very expensive, and even a battalion of their infantry is not worth a tank squadron.

Major Ueda Ichimizu, who was accompanying the attack, angrily ordered his infantry to counterattack, but as soon as they turned, they were attacked by the troops in the small forest behind them;

Ueda no longer cared about so many things. He only wanted to destroy the Chinese anti-tank guns. The most important thing was to keep the last few tanks.

Major Matsuyama's tank turned around and rushed to the front, so he was lucky to escape the disaster, but he was now in a dilemma;

If they retreated, the destroyed tanks would block their space for maneuver. If they advanced, the most they could do was to eliminate a hundred or so infantrymen in the grove, and they might even be destroyed by anti-tank guns.

After a little consideration, he decided to stop, turn the turret and then fire at the Chinese anti-tank gun. This was a very peacekeeping setting, as the turret of the Type 95 tank did not have a mechanical rotation device.

The Japanese infantry turned much faster. They were only 200 meters away from the anti-tank artillery ambush, and it would only take a few breaths for them to rush forward.

Major Ueda yelled in frustration, and the Japanese infantry turned around in a hurry and rushed towards the anti-tank artillery company;
As they got closer, they saw a large number of soldiers suddenly emerge from the weeds where no one could be seen before. Each of them was camouflaged with vegetation and blended into the slope. They could not be seen at all without careful observation.

They set up their machine rifles and fired at the Japanese infantry, catching them off guard and knocking down dozens of them in an instant.

"boom!"

An anti-tank gun was destroyed by a Japanese tank gun that had lost its turret. The Japanese were not in a good situation either, as they were also destroyed by another anti-tank gun. Only five tanks were left on the battlefield.

Wang Jianfei saw that the time for counterattack was ripe, so he ordered the troops in the front to launch a counterattack. The 12 mortars of the artillery battalion poured shells at the Japanese infantry, knocking them to the ground in groups.
Almost at the same time, thousands of soldiers jumped out of the trenches at Tiger's Mouth and rushed down like a tidal wave.

Now it was the Japs' turn to be dumbfounded. They were now attacked from three sides and were at an absolute disadvantage in terms of both manpower and firepower. If they continued fighting, they would be at risk of being annihilated.

When Major Matsuyama saw that the situation was not right, he immediately ordered the driver to turn again and flee in the direction of the starting position. That was the only direction without Chinese people, but there were many Japanese infantry blocking the way;

Major Matsuyama no longer cared about so many things and ordered the driver to drive the tank straight forward. Any gods or Buddhas that stood in the way would be killed, and any infantry that stood in the way would be crushed into meat paste.

The tank squadron only had the last three tanks left. The Chinese had anti-tank guns, and the infantry had been routed, so now it was a race to see who could run faster.
Behind the devils, there were gunfire and shouts everywhere. The army was defeated like a mountain, and every tree and grass looked like an enemy. No one resisted anymore. They just hated their parents for giving them legs that were too short. The unlucky ones who ran slowly became the ghosts under the guns of the 5th Regiment. "Bagayalo, are they still the Imperial Army? They have brought shame to the Empire. Fire!"

Colonel Kengo Noda was so ashamed that he wanted to commit suicide, and in anger he issued an order for indiscriminate bombardment;
Rows of artillery shells hit the crowd chasing at Laohukou, and people were shot and fell from time to time. Wang Jianfei saw that the Japs were bombing indiscriminately and feared that it would cause too many casualties, so he ordered to stop the pursuit and evacuate and hide on the spot to reduce losses.

Noda Kengo finally seized the opportunity, so he bombarded the enemy for more than an hour, causing many casualties to the defenders.

Wang Jianfei still underestimated the brutality of the Japanese. This round of indiscriminate shelling caused at least hundreds of casualties to the 5th Regiment, which was much greater than the casualties in previous battles.

With the support of the regiment's artillery fire, the remaining Japanese soldiers managed to escape, but there were only four tanks left and more than 4 infantrymen in a battalion, with nearly half of them killed or wounded.

Although they were tricked by the Japanese in the end, the 5th Regiment still gained a great advantage. With less than 200 casualties, they killed nearly 400 Japanese soldiers, destroyed 10 tanks, and seized a large number of weapons, equipment and supplies, achieving a small victory.

The 33rd Regiment, having suffered a loss, did not give up. They were determined to capture Zijin Mountain and could afford the loss of several hundred people.

Yingzui Slope, after being beaten on the south slope, the Japanese attacked Yingzui Slope again, this time with an open and dignified attack;
Hundreds of Japanese launched a fierce attack from the front and left wing, wave after wave, and artillery shells were thrown at the defenders' positions without mercy, causing the casualties of the Third Battalion to increase sharply.

An hour later, the frontline position was lost, and Yue Wanli and others retreated to the main position of Yingzui Slope to continue blocking the enemy.

The two sides fought fiercely around the Yingzui Slope position. The third battalion commander Luo Yufeng responded calmly and led his soldiers to drive the Japanese off the position again and again.

Yue Wanli gradually adapted to the battlefield. After experiencing life and death, he gradually grew up. Actual combat is indeed a training ground for people.

After two hours of fierce fighting between the two sides, nearly half of the casualties in the Third Battalion had been caused by casualties. The Japanese artillery fire was too fierce, and most of the casualties came from the artillery fire.

"Brothers, let's fight the devils. Purple Mountain is our grave. We can't retreat anymore. Behind us is the city of Nanjing!"

Battalion Commander Luo Yufeng, covered in blood, was constantly cheering up his soldiers. Meanwhile, on the south slope, another battalion of Japanese soldiers was also attacking the second battalion's position. The regiment commander only had one battalion left in his reserve, and they still had to defend the main position of Tiger Cave.

"Boom boom boom..."

Another row of shells fell, this time with many times more shells than before. It was obvious that the Japs had used the divisional artillery;

A 105mm heavy artillery shell exploded behind Battalion Commander Luo Yufeng. Battalion Commander Luo was hit by several shrapnel and died for his country. The Third Battalion also suffered heavy casualties.

(End of this chapter)