Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

Okuma Sadao did fight against the Eighth Route Army.

The main opponent of the 10th Independent Mixed Brigade in Shandong was the Shandong Eighth Route Army.

So he thought he was familiar with the Eighth Route Army's fighting style. The Shandong Eighth Route Army was like a loach; during mopping-up operations, their main forces were impossible to find. Their main forces often hid, then targeted your logistics or ambushed small Japanese units. By the time his side finished their mopping-up operations and retreated, they'd suddenly appear out of nowhere, and the Eighth Route Army was everywhere.

Therefore, Okuma Sadao ordered the leaders of each bunker to stay alert and not be ambushed by the Eighth Route Army. Furthermore, if they were attacked, they should not panic, as the Eighth Route Army lacked heavy weapons. These bunkers were extremely difficult for the Eighth Route Army, which lacked heavy weapons. If they held out for ten minutes, reinforcements would arrive. If they held out for half an hour, at least a squadron of reinforcements would arrive. If they held out for two or three hours, the main force would arrive.

Because the Japanese army's bunkers were all built on the transportation lines. There were so many bunkers densely packed together and the distance between them was very close, so reinforcements could be sent quickly in a short time using the railway.

In order to protect the transportation lines, the Japanese army patrolled the railway lines with armored trains. The power of the armored trains was even greater than that of the forts.

As for myself?

Okuma Sadao never worried about his own place. Because there was a Japanese infantry battalion here, including the brigade headquarters, artillery, machine gun, communications, engineering, and a large amount of supplies and heavy troops needed by their entire independent mixed brigade, the total number of Japanese troops reached 1800.

Including a regiment of puppet troops, the total number of Japanese and puppet troops in this stronghold was nearly 5000.

Surrounding this stronghold, there were over twenty bunkers capable of housing fifty or sixty Japanese and puppet troops. They were densely packed around the perimeter, protecting the entire stronghold. Inside, there were a dozen more bunkers capable of housing over a hundred Japanese and puppet troops.

There are also special machine gun positions and artillery positions inside the stronghold.

Okuma Sadao had absolute confidence in a place like this. Unless the Eighth Route Army went crazy, they would not attack here.

When in Shandong, 5,000 Japanese and puppet troops could directly penetrate the general Eighth Route Army base.

Not to mention the strongholds garrisoned by 5,000 Japanese and puppet troops.

What he didn't know was that at this time, the 1st and 3rd Regiments of Yang Quanwu's Division had quietly arrived under their noses.

Yang Quanwu also came to the front line in person.

"Have all the infantry guns been pulled over?"

"Commander, don't worry. We have all our artillery pieces here, and we are just waiting for your orders."

"Okay. The artillery units must coordinate well with each other. Those who need to destroy the bunkers should do so quickly. Those who need to bombard the Japanese artillery and machine gun positions should bombard their core positions. We must act at the same time and work together. As soon as the bunkers in front are destroyed, our troops will quickly advance, then pull in the grenade launchers and indiscriminately bomb the core Japanese base. Tell our people not to be stingy with ammunition and to fight to the death. I will replenish their ammunition as many times as they fire.

"Yes."

Chapter 438 Devastating Blow 2

Yang Quanwu really wants to do something big this time.

Therefore, most of the infantry guns, mortars, and grenade launchers of the First Division were gathered together. The First Division originally had a lot of captured infantry guns, but after the Hundred Regiments Campaign and two anti-mopping-up operations, a large number of infantry guns were lost.

There are still 14 infantry guns in hand. If it weren't for the anti-mopping-up operation last year, the First Division would have had more than infantry guns.

This time, the 20th Column sent infantry guns, evenly distributed between the st and rd Divisions.

So now the first division has 24 infantry guns.

In addition to infantry guns, the first division also pulled out flat-fire guns and rapid-fire guns.

There were also mortars and grenade launchers, which were already in abundance in Division 100. This time, the Eighth Column sent 200 mortars and grenade launchers at once, greatly increasing the number of mortars and grenade launchers in Division .

Of course, more importantly, there are a lot of shells.

Although Division 40 previously had infantry artillery, even having over pieces before last year's mopping-up operation, due to a shortage of ammunition, only a dozen or so rounds could be used in any given battle. Most of the over infantry artillery pieces were unable to see action, remaining at home and gathering dust.

But this time, they had nearly 800 rounds of infantry artillery shells, enough to squander as much as they wanted. There were also mortars and grenade launchers, so there were too many shells.

So this time Yang Quanwu prepared to use artillery to catch the Japanese army by surprise.

The commander of the 1st Regiment is Kong De.

The 17th Regiment had originally been transferred from the th Column to the st Division and had always been the main force of the st Division. The original commander of the st Regiment had become the deputy commander of the st Division and was currently leading another force to fight reinforcements.

Kong De was transferred from the commander of the 17th Regiment to the commander of the 1st Regiment.

Although they were both regimental commanders, their status in the First Division was different. The First Division's First Regiment was the First Regiment of the Red First Division, the top main force regiment in the First Division. Even the top main force regiment in the entire Jin-Cha-Ji region.

He had been in Division 1 for several years, and this was the first time he had fought this kind of battle. In other words, the entire Division 1, from Yang Quanwu all the way down to the soldiers below, had to adapt to new tactics.

Yang Quanwu categorized the infantry artillery, with the primary mission of ten of them being to destroy the twenty or so pillboxes ahead. Supporting the infantry artillery were more than ten mortars modified during the Hundred Regiments Campaign. These were all intended for attacking the pillboxes.

The purpose of other infantry guns was to directly bombard the heart of the Japanese stronghold.

"time up."

"fire."

"boom

"boom-

"Boom boom boom"

The Japanese army was indeed very careless.

Even Okuma Sadao didn't think the Eighth Route Army would attack them. With so many men and so many bunkers, they were confident. They had fought the Eighth Route Army in China for so many years, and the Eighth Route Army was best at surprise attacks and ambushes, not sieges.

This carelessness gave the group an opportunity.

Under the noses of the Japanese army, the troops quietly approached the Japanese stronghold after dark.

Again.

The Eighth Route Army's current artillery level is very poor because there is simply not enough time, enough artillery and artillery shells to train artillery. The "bayonet on the cannon" used by the Eighth Route Army is to make up for this disadvantage.

The same is true for a partition.

In order to increase the hit rate, the infantry artillery tried to get as close to the Japanese strongholds as possible.

The hit rate increased significantly.

In less than five months, the Japanese army built over 2000 bunkers to encircle the Hebei-Central Military Region. Given the short timeline, the heavy workload, and the limited resources, it's unlikely all of the bunkers were constructed of concrete and bricks, or even reinforced with steel. Of the numerous bunkers, only the better ones were constructed with concrete and bricks, while the majority were constructed with bricks and rammed earth.

These bunkers could not withstand the bombardment of infantry guns and mortars.

Some of the poor quality ones would collapse with a single shell strike. Even the more solid ones would collapse after two or three hits. These forts were simply no match for reinforced concrete.

"what happened?"

When the first division was bombarded, Sadao Okuma was awakened by the sound of the artillery fire.

Sadao Ohkuma had fought on the battlefield for many years and could tell from the sound of artillery that it was the sound of mortars and infantry guns. So he immediately put on his clothes and went out of the house, and saw that the western fort was under attack.

"Attack, attack. Troops

"Boom—boom boom! Before Okuma Sadao gave the order, more than 30 shells whizzed in.

There were shells from infantry guns and mortars. More than thirty shells rained down, instantly turning the surrounding area into a sea of ​​fire. Ohkuma Sadao had fought in China for many years, but he had never encountered such a situation before.

Okuma Sadao had fought so many battles with the Eighth Route Army in Shandong that he knew the Eighth Route Army also had artillery.

There were virtually no infantry artillery, and only a handful of mortars. During surprise attacks, the Eighth Route Army would only use a few rounds at a time. If they were extravagant, firing ten or twenty rounds was considered quite a feat. The Eighth Route Army was extremely careful with their artillery, never using it unless it was absolutely crucial.

But now what is happening.

The Eighth Route Army actually fired so many artillery shells at one time.

"Boom boom boom!" Just as Sadao Okuma was at a loss due to the artillery fire from the first division, even more shells arrived this time. There were more than sixty shells, most of which were mortar shells. Sadao Okuma looked at the panicked stronghold with a grim expression.

Are the troops I encountered the Central Army?

The Japanese and puppet troops in this stronghold seemed numerous, but the only truly combat-capable force was an infantry battalion from the 10th Independent Mixed Brigade. The other artillery and machine gun teams were able to provide support.

The others are brigade and regimental headquarters and auxiliary arms, not combat arms.

As for the 3000-strong puppet army, they could still play a role in defending the stronghold together with the Japanese army. If they were to fight outside, they would be a mob and would be incapable of fighting.

If the North China Front Army was not so short of troops, they would never have armed the North China Security Army, a motley crowd.

So Okuma Sadao is feeling very guilty now.

How could I be so careless?

Comte observed the results of the artillery bombardment and found that the effect was really good.

The bunkers in front of the Japanese stronghold were completely useless and were easily destroyed by infantry guns and mortars. The Japanese and puppet troops inside the bunkers were not able to exert their strength at all, and the bunkers were destroyed and buried directly.

Some Japanese and puppet troops were still alive and crawled out of the bunker, where they were shot at by the troops of the 1st and 3rd Regiments.

It can be said that the more than 24 Japanese and puppet troops in the bunkers did not play any role and died in confusion. The Japanese army had 16 bunkers on the periphery, and within ten minutes of the battle, of them had been destroyed.

The remaining eight bunkers were also in danger.

They were targeted and eliminated by infantry artillery and mortars.

Conde immediately gave the order: "Attack according to the plan. First Battalion, be sure to protect our grenade launcher unit.

"Yes."

The first battalion attacked very quickly.

After several bunkers in front were destroyed and a hole was torn open, they immediately broke through the middle of these bunkers.

They were protecting the grenade launcher troops.

Gathering nearly 60 ammunition cartridges, they followed the First Battalion into the Japanese stronghold. After entering the stronghold, they continued to advance until they encountered Japanese positions. They quickly found cover and deployed a defensive line.

Then the grenade launcher troops stood up the grenade launcher.

Precision strike?

It didn't exist. Yang Quanwu's goal this time was to completely destroy the Japanese stronghold with firepower superior to their own. This counter-mopping-up operation was a race against time. If the support from the Jin-Cha-Ji Beiyue District wasn't in place, the Ji-Central Military District would suffer a massive blow to its base, no matter how hard it tried.

So Yang Quanwu wants speed.

Therefore, apart from the targeted elimination of the forts, the other directions were practically carpet bombing. After obtaining sufficient ammunition, Yang Quanwu did not consider storing them. In such a critical moment, of course, all the good stuff had to be used.

Grenade launchers also participated in this shelling.

Yang Quanwu, looking through binoculars at the battlefield, suddenly felt fortunate for China's poor transportation and the mountainous terrain of Shanxi and western Hebei. If transportation weren't so poor and the terrain wasn't so mountainous, the war would have been incredibly difficult. If the Japanese had brought so many artillery pieces into battle, how could the Eighth Route Army have resisted them?

Because of the inconvenient transportation and too many mountains, logistical transportation was too difficult and the Japanese army could not carry too many artillery pieces when fighting.

But watching this battle, Yang Quanwu understood better than anyone that artillery would become increasingly important in future battles. The Eighth Route Army had always fought guerrilla warfare and ambushes, and in the future, if they wanted to fight positional warfare and sieges, artillery would be indispensable.

It was originally the most secure stronghold of the Japanese army, with more than 5000 Japanese and puppet troops.

From any perspective, this was a rock-solid stronghold. After all, Japanese and puppet troops of this size had previously been able to move freely within the Eighth Route Army base. Furthermore, they were now in a "tightly defended" stronghold.

It is even less likely that anything will happen.

But it was really broken by a division.

Moreover, during the entire process, the Japanese army had almost no ability to fight back.