Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

The 3rd Column had a strength of about 1 men, which was equivalent to a division in the Nationalist Army.

In terms of equipment, the 3rd Column was equipped with infantry semi-automatic rifles, general-purpose machine guns, submachine guns, rocket launchers, and flamethrowers.

There was also an artillery battalion, equipped with 24 75mm mountain guns and 12 120mm mortars.

This equipment is not as good as the column formation of the New First Regiment, but compared with the Japanese, it is already considered luxurious for the same number of troops.

Needless to say, the Nationalist Army's equipment far surpassed that of its German-equipped divisions.

but.

This time, the Guards Division's breakout was unlike the previous two, where they charged forward individually.

Instead, they came with tactics and made targeted deployments, which immediately put a lot of pressure on the 3rd Column of the Independent Regiment.

The Japanese soldiers were fighting a suicidal game.

of course.

The 3rd Column of the Independent Regiment and Wang Huaibao were not to be underestimated either.

As Wang Huaibao issued his order.

Each battalion and reserve force took their positions and fought the Japanese to the death. All the battalion commanders and political instructors of the 3rd Column went to the battlefield.

"Those little devils want to break through? They'll have to step over my body!"

"The Imperial Guard Division is the apple of the Japanese devils' eye, and today our Independent Regiment will tear that apple to shreds!"

As 24-year-old machine gunner Wang Hexin recalled the battalion commander's encouraging words, he felt his blood boiling and a murderous intent involuntarily surfaced in his eyes.

Wang Hesheng was born into a poor family in Wangzhuang Village, Cixian County, Hebei Province. He lost both his parents at a young age and made a living by herding cattle for landlords.

After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Wang Hexin joined the Eighth Route Army and became a guerrilla fighter. Later, the guerrilla team was reorganized into the main force, and he became a main attack machine gunner in the Independent Regiment.

During the Jin-Sui Campaign, Li Erxi participated in the Majiapo blocking battle with the Independent Regiment. He killed dozens of Japanese soldiers with a machine gun and was awarded a second-class merit.

He was using an MG42 submachine gun, and his marksmanship had improved even further after more than six months of extensive live-fire training.

boom boom boom…

Huge explosions continued to erupt on the position, and sandbags and soldiers' bodies were constantly being blown away by the blast waves.

Two Japanese field artillery regiments opened fire simultaneously, and their firepower was quite formidable.

The artillery battalion of the First Column engaged in an artillery battle with two Japanese artillery regiments.

The three artillery battalions directly under the regimental headquarters also began fierce artillery suppression.

Based on the Japanese army's previous tactics, their artillery should have stopped firing by now and quickly moved to a different position.

However, this time the Japanese artillery also followed orders and, despite the fierce artillery fire, poured shells onto the position of Wang's 3rd Column.

The Japanese artillerymen of the Imperial Guard Division were highly skilled, and within minutes of artillery fire, the 3rd Column suffered considerable casualties.

However, with artillery fire suppressing the enemy and constantly destroying their field guns and artillery, the enemy's artillery firepower became smaller and smaller.

About 10 minutes later, the Japanese artillery fire finally stopped, but before Wang Hexin and the soldiers could catch their breath, the whistles of the company commanders sounded.

Three consecutive, rapid short whistles signaled the soldiers to immediately set up their guns; the Japanese had begun their attack.

Wang Hexin immediately set up the MG42 machine gun, and the assistant gunner skillfully put the ammunition belt from the ammunition box into the chamber. He pulled the bolt and the bullet was already chambered.

In addition, there are three ammunition handlers with several ammunition boxes next to them, ready to replenish ammunition at any time.

Just as Wang Hexin finished cocking his rifle and loading a bullet, he saw the Japanese cavalry charging towards him with a thunderous roar.

It's the Imperial Guard Cavalry Regiment!
A cavalry regiment of over 1,300 riders, charging in formation, was quite a formidable sight.

In particular, the cavalry regiment of the Imperial Guards Division is the elite of the cavalry; just standing there, you can feel an extremely sharp and imposing aura.

Not to mention their charging momentum, which was even more terrifying, comparable to the most elite cavalry of ancient times.

However, Wang Hexin and the other soldiers were not flustered at all. Their confidence came from the weapons in their hands. No amount of cavalry could help them against Maxim guns and general-purpose machine guns.

"Fire!"

The battalion commanders issued their orders.

"Gnawing, gnawing, gnawing..." "Tap tap tap..."

General-purpose machine guns, Maxim machine guns, and M2 heavy machine guns, along with Type 56 semi-automatic rifles and PPSh submachine guns, fired simultaneously.

In an instant, a dense barrage of gunfire erupted without pause, like popping beans.

Wang Hexin also pulled the trigger.

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle..."

A sound like tearing cloth rang out; he was firing in bursts, and amidst the continuous tearing sound, volleys of bullets rained down on the Japanese cavalry.

Immediately, two or three Japanese cavalrymen were hit by bullets fired by Wang Hexin.

The Japanese cavalrymen who were shot either fell heavily off their horses or collapsed to the ground along with their horses.

After a brief pause, Wang Hexin pressed the muzzle down and pulled the trigger again.

A barrage of bullets was fired, and in an instant, two or three more Japanese cavalrymen were hit by his bullets.

Colonel Kataoka, commander of the Imperial Guards Cavalry Regiment, led the charge, determined to carve a bloody path for the main force.

However, Major General Kataoka Nagano Yuichiro and Colonel Dong underestimated the Independent Regiment's firepower.

From the perspective of Colonel Kataoka and the Japanese cavalry, the Eighth Route Army's firing positions were as dense as the stars in the sky.

Bullets rained down on Wang Junma and his cavalry, leaving them nowhere to hide.

In less than three minutes, the entire regiment of over 1,300 Imperial Guard cavalrymen was wiped out, with no one surviving.

The open field was littered with the corpses of Japanese cavalry and Japanese horses, like an open-air slaughterhouse.

"Brother Wang, you're amazing!"

An 18-year-old ammunition handler who had recently joined the army looked on with envy.

In this shooting exercise, Wang Hexin captured more than a dozen Japanese cavalrymen. Of course, the honor belonged to the entire machine gun team.

"Where is this?"

"This thing is really effective against infantry!"

Wang Hexin laughed heartily.

"The Japanese have started their attack again, this time with tanks!"

The assistant shooter reminded him.

Wang Hexin peeked out and saw Japanese tanks rushing towards them, followed by a large number of infantry.

"Replace the barrel first!"

Wang Hexin immediately said.

After firing 300 rounds in a row, the barrel of the MG42 turned red-hot. If the barrel is not replaced in time, it may cause jamming or damage to the rifling.

An ammunition handler immediately handed the gun barrel to Wang Hexin.

Wang Hexin pushed the latch of the barrel cover forward and lifted the cover. The barrel was pushed out of the receiver by the cover. He then grabbed the barrel handle and pulled it backward.

Of course, Wang Hexin wore heat-resistant gloves, otherwise the red-hot gun barrel would have burned his fingers.

Then slide the new barrel into the sleeve from the rear, ensuring that the slot at the rear of the barrel is aligned with the bolt.

Push the barrel forward to the bottom and press down on the breech. When you hear the locking mechanism click, close the barrel sleeve cap. The barrel replacement is now complete.

The entire barrel change took only 5 seconds, and the action was superb, as if honed through countless trials.

"Fire!"

As the Japanese tank units approached, the battalion and company commanders issued orders to open fire.

The Japanese tank guns and machine guns kept firing at the enemy's firing positions. Behind the Japanese tank units, anti-aircraft guns were also positioned and aimed at the Independent Regiment's firing positions.

At this moment, the Japanese field artillery units, which had previously ceased firing, resumed their barrage.

A barrage of shells and bullets rained down on the 1st Column's position of the New 1st Regiment. (End of Chapter)