The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Begins in Songhu

Chapter 424: The Beginning (Bonus Chapter for Chapter 197137)

The so-called Russian steamroller tactics are actually quite simple:

With massive artillery bombardment clearing the way, large groups of tanks and infantry advance in a single line, coupled with absolute air superiority; like a steamroller, they force their way through, directly crushing the enemy in front of them.

The tactical concept behind this tactic can be traced back to the "artillery-cavalry combination" tactic established by Frederick II.
It was once successfully used by Napoleon, making great contributions to his conquest of cities and territories.

However, it was the Russians in the later stages of World War II who truly perfected this tactic and made it famous.

The Katyusha rocket launchers clearing the way, coupled with a tidal wave of T-34 tanks, made this tactic a perfect match.

In summary, Hu Biao and his team's current road roller tactics are not exactly authentic; they are merely nascent versions.

Because they didn't have any absolute air superiority, their tanks were few in number and mostly light models, and while they did have artillery, they were running low on ammunition.

However, this was the force they had pieced together after almost completely depleting the resources of the Central Army and the Guangxi Army on the Guinan battlefield.

Could they tear through the Japanese tortoise formation like a steamroller? To be honest, Hu Biao and his men weren't sure either; they could only say they were doing their best.

With this mindset in mind, when they heard Anne shout, "The steamroller tactics have officially begun!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Hu Biao picked up an old-fashioned telephone beside him and shouted into the receiver, "Hello, hello! This is Hu Biao. Send the signal immediately to begin the road roller tactic."

There was no other way! The T-26 tank simply didn't have a radio installed, so this was the only way to relay orders—it was a rather crude method.

Fortunately, it doesn't matter if the way of transmitting the message is a bit old-fashioned, as long as people can understand it.

Behind the tank turret, a lieutenant, now serving as an accompanying infantryman, slammed down the phone with his right hand and drew a signal pistol from his waist with his left, firing a signal flare into the air.

As the signal flare rose, several artillery observer groups appeared on some mounds a little behind them.

Each group of artillery observers is assigned to an artillery position.

Immediately, an artillery observer looked at the Japanese position through binoculars, while simultaneously reporting out adjustment numbers.

One of his comrades waved flags according to the numbers he spoke, relaying the signals to the artillery positions they were responsible for.

Based on the signals conveyed by these flags, the artillery positions opened fire once again.

Unlike last time, this time the shells fired landed directly in front of the three assault squads, on the positions hastily set up by the Japanese soldiers, and spread all the way back.

The barrage of artillery shells effectively blasted a path forward for the three assault teams.

The three assault teams, of course, wouldn't miss such an opportunity and rushed forward at top speed.

The Japanese soldiers may not have known the term "steamer tactics," but they could see what the assault team wanted to achieve—a goal that would lead to their utter destruction.

Naturally, they disregarded everything and rushed towards the torn opening.

This caused the battle between the two sides to descend into its most bloody state from the very beginning...

******
"Come on! All of you, come on up! Grandpa has plenty of bullets."

Qiu Qingquan, acting as the tank commander inside the tank, was firing wildly with a DT tank machine gun while constantly shouting, appearing very excited.

At this moment, Annie and Hu Biao didn't even have time to glance at Qiu Qingquan, let alone comfort him.

In comparison, Hu Biao and his companion were even more excited, especially Annie, who was in a state of euphoria.

It can only be said that the steamroller tactic went relatively smoothly at the beginning.

The intense artillery fire used to clear the way caused considerable casualties to the Japanese soldiers who had no proper fortifications and were simply lying on the ground or firing from behind rocks and ditches.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the assault team, with five tanks lined up as the spearhead, easily rushed up the Japanese defense line and advanced two or three hundred meters in no time.

And then! The Nationalist army's artillery fell silent, because they had run out of their last shells.

From that moment on, Hu Biao and his group's situation also became difficult.

The Japanese soldiers, who had been suppressed by artillery fire, charged forward recklessly from the front and both sides, rushing not only at the tanks but also at the cavalry and modified trucks behind them. Many of them were carrying numerous grenades or explosives, attempting to blow up the tanks in this way.

In any case, the commando team's originally well-organized formation gradually became scattered in such fierce fighting. Although the team continued to advance desperately, its speed inevitably slowed down.

Amidst the cursing and swearing, Qiu Qingquan's machine gun suddenly went out.

A series of thuds followed, indicating that his drum magazine, which held 63 rounds in two rows, had once again been emptied in a very short time.

The three people in the car immediately changed color.

Half a minute ago, this would have been a minor issue; the tank already had enough drum magazines, and replacing one wouldn't have taken long at all.

The accompanying infantry on the tanks were perfectly capable of using their weapons to kill the charging Japanese soldiers.

Unfortunately, a high-explosive grenade fired from a grenade launcher struck the turret and exploded, but the heavy turret itself remained unharmed.

However, the anti-aircraft machine guns and other weapons that were roaring above suddenly went silent.

No matter how Hu Biao tried to call him by phone, there was no response. It seemed that all the accompanying infantrymen had been killed in action.

With the only DT machine gun in the tank shut down, blocking the oncoming Japanese suicide bombers, could Hu Biao and his men survive the crucial drum reloading time?

Yes! Annie did it.

As Qiu Qingquan busied himself loading ammunition and Hu Biao worked hard to adjust the cannon muzzle, intending to take out the Japanese grenade launcher squad, Annie caught a glimpse of a huge danger approaching from the corner of her eye at the 11 o'clock position on her left.

More accurately, a Japanese soldier carrying a satchel charge charged at us from the side, already about ten meters away.

The other tanks, armored vehicles, and cavalry around them seemed to be tied up, and everything depended on them.

That explosive charge contained at least three or four kilograms of high explosives. If it were detonated when the tank got close, it would be completely destroyed.

As she exhaled a breath reeking of alcohol, Annie abruptly stopped the left track of the tank from turning, but made the right track turn backward.

The tank body immediately began to drift as it tilted noticeably.

With this one maneuver, the tank was able to turn right in a very short time.

Then, the tank charged forward at full speed; using the tank's speed, it forcibly increased the distance between itself and the Japanese soldier who had been bombing the building with explosives.

Just then, five or six Japanese soldiers, armed with Type 38 rifles, attempted to charge up from the right side of the tank.

As a result, after a blur in their vision, the tank driven by Annie suddenly rammed into them; instinctively, the Japanese soldiers turned and ran.

But it was too late; Annie had already steered the tank head-on into the attack.

So what happened when an infantryman was hit by a tank? Hu Biao's forehead hit the inner wall of the turret while he was drifting, and he was so dizzy that he didn't even have time to look at it.

Qiu Qingquan, who had just finished changing the drum magazine, looked up and felt the tank shake several times. Then a huge cloud of blood exploded in front of the observation port.

In an instant, the glass of the observation hole turned blood red, and something was hanging on it.

After careful examination, I could vaguely make out that it should be an eyeball.

In other words, Annie not only knocked over those Japanese soldiers, but also crushed one of their skulls, making him splatter juice and pulp everywhere like a smashed watermelon.

Qiu Qingquan was not mistaken; it was indeed an eyeball.

From a distance where he couldn't see, the tank looked as if it had been pulled out of a pool of blood.

Especially on one of the tracks, countless pieces of Japanese flesh and blood were wrapped around it, and even a piece of intestine was dragging along, making this tank look extremely ferocious.

And Annie's reckless driving was just the beginning...

(End of this chapter)