Hongkou, Baziqiao, Japanese stronghold
The First Division of the 88th Division took the lead in launching an attack on the Japanese stronghold opposite the Bazi Bridge. After the Kuomintang troops repelled the Japanese attacks on Baoshan Road, Tiantong'an, and Bazi Bridge on the 13th, they finally no longer tolerated it and launched a forceful attack on the Japanese defense area. In order to counterattack, the first phase of the Kuomintang army's offensive campaign officially started.
It was Luo Ying's 254th regiment that attacked the Baziqiao stronghold. Due to Luo Ying's outstanding performance since crossing over, Sun Yuanliang gave the first attack mission to the 254th regiment in order to seek good luck.
The Bazi Bridge, also known as the Bao'an Bridge, was built during the Jiatai period of the Southern Song Dynasty. The bridge was originally made of wood and was destroyed during the "December 8" Anti-Japanese War a few years ago. The current Bazi Bridge was rebuilt on the west side of the original bridge site four years ago. , changed to a reinforced concrete structure;
The bridge is 8.3 meters long and 9.5 meters wide, with a single hole and a beam bottom elevation of 4.25 meters. It can navigate ships with a weight of less than 7.2 tons and trucks can pass on the bridge.
According to the previous armistice agreement, each side occupied one side. The Japanese Marine Special Marines built several strong bunkers in the south of the bridge, equipped with a large number of barricades, with a strength of about one squadron.
On the north side of the bridge, the 1st Company of the 254th Regiment started out. Luo Ying looked at his watch. There were still 15 minutes left before launching the ground attack. The 254th Regiment handed over the task of the assault company to the 1st Company. Luo Ying once again won a big prize.
"Company commander, our plane is coming!"
Platoon leader Hu Hao's ears were pretty good, and he was the first to hear the roar of the plane. In order to start the attack, his superiors sent bombers to help;
Luo Ying knew that after the firepower preparations were completed, it would be their infantry's turn to take the field. He turned to Hu Hao and said:
"Notify brothers, prepare for battle, follow my instructions, and rush forward as soon as the artillery fire extends. Don't leave the Japanese time to react."
After Luo Ying gave the order, he casually adjusted the C96 box cannon in his hand to the continuous fire state. The box cannon that can fire continuously when charging is still very easy to use. At present, he also brought a Mauser rifle. Combination of far and near.
"Boom boom boom..."
The Chinese Air Force began to drop bombs on the Japanese position across the bridge, and fire preparations began.
Air bombs fell from the sky one after another, blowing the Japanese positions to pieces. Broken limbs and broken arms flew everywhere. Luo Ying's heart surged as he watched;
Although the Chinese Air Force was only a flash in the pan during the war, and was subsequently exhausted and their blood spilled into the blue sky, they still left a mark of their own in history, and they were worthy of the nation.
Just after the aerial bombardment ended, eight howitzers from the division's artillery battalion launched a fierce bombardment on the Japanese fortifications, knocking off barricades everywhere. The Japanese positions were trembling under the powerful Chinese artillery fire...
Due to the intervention of the Western powers, China's attack was only partial and did not resemble the plan formulated before the war. The reason was simply that the Western powers did not want a war to occur in Shencheng. Therefore, the consulates of various countries jointly requested both sides not to start a war for at least 24 hours. This request Obviously it is beneficial to the devils;
Due to diplomatic pressure, the government ordered Zhang Wenbai to postpone the attack. Little did he know that this was a time for the Western powers to buy time for the Japanese reinforcements, and he wasted a day's opportunity to attack.
Luo Ying knew that during the entire Songhu Battle, the Chinese army had been very frustrated. Hundreds of thousands of troops had been involved in the battle. It was a matter of life and death for the country. The high-level officials were actually stopped several times by several consuls from the Western powers. This was Absolutely unique in the history of world war, it’s nothing more than child’s play!
These are beyond the control of a small company commander like him. All he can do is fight the battle at hand and capture the enemy's position at the least cost;
When the artillery fire just extended, Luo Ying felt it, and then yelled:
"Brothers, charge at me!"
Before the words were spoken, the men had already rushed out first, followed closely by the platoon leader Hu Hao. This was a routine operation for young Huangpu officers to fight the Japanese. In every battle, officers must charge forward.
Since the width of the iron bridge is only more than nine meters, there are not many troops that can be deployed on the front, that is, only five or six people. Any more will be crowded;
The bridge is only eight meters long, and the company's starting position is only more than thirty meters away from the bridge. In other words, it only takes a few seconds to sprint to the other side of the bridge at full speed.
Luo Ying almost stepped on the artillery point and rushed forward, just to rush across the bridge before the Japanese reacted, so that he could deploy his troops;
Once the Japanese who were hiding from the shelling reacted, as long as one machine gun was in the way, the casualties they would pay in a row would be huge.
Luo Ying and others were very fast. After they rushed across the bridge, the Japanese were still hiding in the fortifications with their buttocks sticking out;
Luo Ying felt happy and shouted:
"Throw the grenade!"
Following his order, more than a dozen German long-handled grenades were thrown into the Japanese barricades;
With a series of explosions, a 92 heavy machine gun in front of the Japs was blown away, and several Japs hiding behind the waiting base were knocked down.
Liu Dayong led a squadron to take the opportunity to occupy the Japanese's forward position. At this time, the Japanese finally reacted and hurriedly opened fire on the first company.
The box cannon in Luo Ying's hand fired a long burst at the Japanese, mowing down a Japanese light machine gunner, and bought precious seconds for the second squad that followed;
The second squad that followed later also broke into the Japanese position. Liu Dayong from the first squad even set up a Czech machine gun and fired at the Japanese, suppressing the Japanese who had just appeared.
Due to the previous aircraft bombing and artillery fire preparations, the Japanese positions were severely damaged and suffered heavy casualties;
Those who could still breathe were lying down in the fortifications to hide from the artillery fire. They did not expect that the company would step on the artillery point and rush in, catching the Japanese by surprise. This is definitely a rare classic example of infantry and artillery collaboration among the Chinese.
The main force of the first and second squads took advantage of Liu Dayong's firepower to suppress the opportunity and threw more than a dozen long-handled grenades at the Japanese position. The explosions made the Japanese cry and howl. Luo Ying took the opportunity to lead the first and second squads into the core position of the Japanese. middle;
The two sides entered the hand-to-hand mode, and the advantage of the box cannon in Luo Ying's hand was revealed. The black skin of the Japanese Marine Corps was also very easy to recognize. As long as he saw the black figure, he would just fire in a short burst, almost without aiming, and all rely on feeling.
The long-handled grenade of the German weapon master also plays a great role in close combat, and the lethality is very high. If a grenade is dropped, no Japanese can stand within a few meters;
Because the first platoon disrupted the enemy's defense line, the second and third platoons easily crossed the bridge without paying a price.
Luo Ying led a platoon to advance into the enemy's deep positions, consolidating the results and beating the Japanese back steadily.
On the other side of the river, at the position of the second battalion of the 254th Regiment, the commander of the second battalion saw that the first company had successfully crossed the bridge, and immediately shouted excitedly:
"Okay! This kid Luo Ying has been fighting for a while. I want to ask him to attack. I order the second company, the third company, and the machine gun company to kill them all across the river. I want to destroy all these Japs."
After receiving the command, the other two members of the second battalion quickly rushed to the Bali Bridge;
At this moment, more than a dozen planes taking off from the Japanese fleet aircraft carrier arrived and bombed the Chinese army indiscriminately. Many soldiers from the second and third companies died on the way to the charge.
Since the first company was already involved with the Japs, the Japs' planes did not find a suitable time to drop bombs. They just spread their anger on the entire 254th Regiment, causing a lot of casualties to the whole regiment, but it had no impact on the ground battle at Baziqiao. Big.
Although the main force of the Second Battalion paid a heavy price, they still crossed the Eight-character Bridge. Seeing that the Japanese defenders could not do anything, they began to retreat towards the headquarters. The Second Battalion took the opportunity to occupy the Japanese position on the other side of the river and opened up the attack. The passage to the Japanese headquarters was successful in the first battle.
