The full strength of an infantry brigade of the Japanese's Class A Division is 1,100, including a 30-man brigade headquarters, a 110-man transport squadron (carts and mules), four 180-man infantry squadrons, and a 174-man machine gunnery squadron. A squadron (12 Type 92 heavy machine guns) and a 55-man artillery squad (equipped with two Type 92 infantry guns or 4 mortars). Very few will be equipped with an artillery squadron, doubling the number of artillery pieces. The Third Division This is the case for the regiment's brigade, which is equipped with two Type 92 infantry guns and four Type 94 90mm light mortars.
Now the Japanese used these six artillery pieces to prepare for the artillery fire on the independent battalion's position, and then the infantry of the three squadrons almost stepped on the artillery points to launch an infantry charge. The artillery fire was more of a fire cover;
Even though the number of artillery pieces equipped by the Japanese battalion at the first level is not large, its practical value is very high, because they are targeting the regiment level of the Kuomintang Army. The regiment level of the Kuomintang Army rarely has artillery. German weapon divisions like the 88th Division There are only 6 82mm mortars. Other Central Military Forces cannot meet this standard at all. Some local corps have no artillery at all, and those with heavy machine guns are the main force.
The Japanese were not equipped with mortars before. After suffering the losses of the Kuomintang army's mortars in the first Battle of Songhu, they began to pay attention to it. The Type 94 90mm light mortar was quickly developed and equipped. It is used as supporting firepower at the brigade level, because they have 50mm grenade launchers at the squadron level and can be used as ultra-light mortars.
The Type 94 90mm light mortar was equipped in the 24th year of the Republic of China. It has a caliber of 90.5mm, a gun weight of 159 kg (including the gun mount and base), a shell weight of 5.26 kg, and a maximum range of 3800 meters. It is equipped with grenades, arson bombs, Smoke bombs, chemical bombs, illumination bombs, etc. are very versatile and can be used to deal with effective forces in simple fortifications and trench pairs. The effect is very good, and it is very convenient to fight in terrains such as China where transportation is inconvenient and is dominated by mountains and hills.
The Japanese poured almost all their artillery fire on the first line of the independent battalion, some of which were flares. The purpose was to suppress the firepower of the defenders and provide fire support to the charging infantry;
Under the continuous firepower of the Japanese, the position of the independent battalion was blown up into dust, and almost no one could be seen. The commander of the battalion, Major Hirano, nodded repeatedly and said proudly to the captain of the 4th Squadron who stayed behind:
"Song Yuanjun, your Excellency, the commander of the regiment, is still too cautious. Under the powerful artillery suppression of the imperial army, the two to three hundred Chinese remnants are not enough for the artillery squadron. When the infantry rushes up, they may collect the corpses for them!"
Captain Matsumoto didn't seem to agree with the captain's over-optimism. He was always outspoken, so it wasn't their turn to take credit this time. This was also done deliberately by Major Hirano. Of course, the reason was quite good, leaving them alone. Reserve team, just in case.
Captain Song Yuan was not an idiot. He naturally knew that the captain did not want to see him, but he did not care. Instead, he thought it was appropriate to leave an infantry squadron as a reserve, so he still did not save face for the captain. Major Hirano paused politely and said:
"Your Majesty the Captain, Song Yuan didn't think it would be so easy. Although the official didn't know what happened in the battle during the day, the defenders blocked the attack of a strengthened brigade of the Imperial Army with the strength of one group. You must know that the second brigade also received Without the support of aircraft and naval guns, the Second Battalion and the Wing Headquarters also paid the price of 800 casualties and 200 minor injuries. Their combat power cannot be underestimated, so it is better to be cautious."
Major Hirano had long been accustomed to Captain Matsumoto's way of speaking. This time he wanted to use the results to slap him in the face and suppress his arrogance, so he said with a smile:
"Song Yuanjun, I have never underestimated this army, but you should have heard that the strong crossbow cannot penetrate Lu Jin's words. After half a day of bloody battle with the second group, the defenders were already at the end of the strong crossbow and the soldiers were exhausted. Ammunition consumption was serious, and troops and equipment suffered heavy losses. Is this always an indisputable fact?
And the Imperial Army has invested three squadrons with full strength. Do you have so little confidence in the invincible Imperial Army? "
Captain Matsumoto was silent, because he could not think of a reason why the imperial army could not attack the position. The advantage was too great. Major Hirano said a lot. War has its own rules. In the face of strong strength, everything will be crushed. Shattered, he said very sincerely:
"Your Excellency the captain's analysis is correct. Song Yuan has been taught a lesson. Let us, the warriors of the current empire, conquer the defenders' positions!"
Perhaps in order to cooperate with his words, while they were talking, the first echelon of the Japanese had successfully rushed to the Chinese position without any resistance at all. Colonel Hirano even felt that the Chinese had given up their position, and he suddenly regretted said:
"Matsuhara-kun, we still overestimated the Chinese people. They probably gave up their position and escaped in the dark. After all, they have tried their best."
Captain Matsubara nodded, and then shook his head. The facts made him unable to refute, but he always felt that things would not be that simple. He always had a hunch in his heart that the Chinese commander would not give up so easily.
On the second position of the Independent Battalion a few hundred meters away, Luo Ying responded to Captain Matsubara with practical actions - Boy, you guessed it right! This is my Chinese land, how can I give up so easily!
"beat!"
Luo Ying gave an order, and each person in the battalion threw a wooden-handled grenade. From a distance of more than fifty meters, from a high position, most of the soldiers were able to throw long-handled grenades that were easy to throw into the Japanese queue.
And the visibility in the dark night is very poor, and the flares cannot always provide them with visible light. Therefore, when more than 200 grenades from the independent battalion fell, most of the Japs did not make any reaction. Only the experienced middlemen When the captain heard the sound of breaking through the air, his face turned pale with fright, and he yelled:
"Enemy attack!"
Then he rolled towards the back of the crowd and used other people's bodies to block the shrapnel for him.
"Boom boom boom..."
Hundreds of grenades exploded among the Japs, and thousands of explosive fragments were shot from all directions at the Japs crowded into the first attack position. The killing effect was terrifying;
Many explosions even occurred in the air, knocking down hundreds of Japs with almost no blind spots. Although only a small number were directly killed, those wounded gave the Japs even more headaches.
This is not over yet. Before the Japs can react, the second and third rounds follow. Three consecutive rounds of grenades are thrown in just one breath, but the damage caused to the Japs is indeed huge. , almost all the two to three hundred Japanese in the first echelon were knocked down, either dead or wounded.
This was just the first wave of grenade attacks, followed by intensive bullets. The defenders' firepower did not disappoint the Japs at all. Another group of Japs were knocked down. The other Japs lay on the ground one after another, and then they escaped from the defenders. The first round of intensive firepower struck, and then to the surprise, the Chinese fell silent again after emptying their magazines...
The night became quiet again, and the Chinese people disappeared into the camp again, as if the Japanese had encountered the ghosts of the night.
"Baqiya Road!"
"Bagya Road!"
Matsubara keenly discovered that Major Hirano's hand holding the telescope was trembling all the time, and he kept spitting out fragrances, but he kept spitting out that sentence. This was not because he was running out of words, it only meant that he was currently in his head. It was a blank, unable to accept this cruel reality. He who thought he was smart was once again tricked by the Chinese people!
"Bagya Road! Flare up quickly!"
Following his order, several flares flew into the air, instantly illuminating the entire battlefield as if it were daytime. Captain Matsubara, who was sharp-eyed, finally discovered a large number of looming helmets shining in the second trench, and couldn't help but exclaimed road:
"They're all hiding in the second line! They're cunning and cunning."
After having the flares, other Japs also discovered where the Independent Battalion was hiding, and fired at the Chinese with their guns. The Chinese also fired back with rifles. The Japs' infantry were all lying down, so they did not expose their machine guns. Firepower, because the Japs have cannons, and when the machine guns fire at night, the position is too obvious, and it is easy to be hit by the Japs' artillery fire.
Sure enough, after waiting for a while, the enemy's shells flew over. This time they had a target.
The defender's train was suppressed again, and the Japanese infantry took the opportunity to launch another attack. Under the cover of artillery and machine guns, they bent down and touched it again...
The Japanese artillery is constantly firing illumination bombs and ordinary artillery shells, illuminating the battlefield like daylight. This is not only convenient for the Japanese, but also for other people!
A few hundred meters away, six mortars from the artillery company of the 254th Regiment were ready. The regiment commander was personally taking command. He excitedly said to the artillery company commander:
"Did you see that? That's the enemy's artillery position there, give me a fucking blast!"
The artillery company commander replied loudly:
"Captain, don't worry, I won't let you down!
Artillery battery, fire! "
Six 82mm mortar shells flew directly to the Japanese artillery position...
