"This is definitely not the remnant army from before, this is a complete Chinese army!" Major General Wilson said seriously: "Because of our arrogance, thirty outstanding British people lost their lives."
Only officers and non-commissioned officers in the British and Indian Army are British. As for the Indians? That was naturally ignored.
The British and Indian troops, who had received a blow for underestimating the enemy, began to prepare for the attack in accordance with standard tactics.
A series of actions such as digging bunkers, calibrating bombardment, calling for air support, dispatching reconnaissance units, discussing attack plans, etc. were carried out quickly.
Demaghi Hospital is actually not very big, with a total of four floors and a single floor area of about 600 square meters. However, this is the only reinforced concrete building with a frame structure.
Although the high ground outside the city has been approached by the enemy, the second team of soldiers stationed here are still working hard to strengthen the fortifications. A large number of empty fertilizer bags and two trucks found in several warehouses were put to great use - they first went to dig soil outside the city. Fill and then bring the soil bags back.
Under Zhou Changfeng's order, every window in the hospital building was nailed with wooden boards, leaving only a one-foot-square shooting port in the middle; earth bags were then piled on both sides and below the windows. After all, the wall alone may not be able to withstand today's Full power rifle ammunition.
On the top floor of the building, Zhou Changfeng, who was holding a telescope, said in surprise: "Isn't it true? Are the British kidding? Are the artillery positions so close?"
It can be seen that the British and Indian 4th Artillery Battalion is "seriously" building a position. They did not bother to spread out their formation during the previous shelling, but now they must follow the rules.
It's just that the artillery positions they deployed seem a bit too far forward?
"Xiao Li, bring me the rangefinder."
"yes!"
At this moment, Major Sampson, the one who thought the Ming army had escaped before, was ordered to come to the artillery battalion for inspection.
When he got out of the car, he saw the artillerymen digging holes and piling soil leisurely. He couldn't help but said angrily: "Lieutenant! What are you doing? Who asked you to deploy at such a close distance? Where is your commander?"
Lieutenant Arik immediately stood at attention and replied: "Sir, this place is more than two miles away from the enemy... uh... four thousand yards to be specific, and their battalion-level units do not have weapons to attack such a distance."
Theoretically, the Ming Army's infantry battalion's longest-range support weapon is four 80mm mortars, with a maximum range of three thousand meters.
While Major Sampson and Lieutenant Arik were talking, on the Demaghi Hospital building...
Zhou Changfeng took a long tube, which was a small optical rangefinder produced by Hangzhou Jingrui Optical Company. The distance measurement principle is commonly used triangulation - there is an eyepiece at each end of the left and right ends, aiming at the target. When connected they form a triangle.
The longer a rangefinder based on this principle is, the higher its accuracy will be. For example, the baseline of an optical rangefinder on a battleship may be more than ten meters long, while the baseline of the small rangefinder in Zhou Changfeng's hands is only three feet.
To be honest, he has always felt that it was a bit unnecessary for the Ming Dynasty to continue to use the old weights and measures after industrialization. Units of length such as feet, inches, minutes, and centimeters were mixed with the metric meters, centimeters, and millimeters, which was really confusing sometimes.
But then again, Britain and the United States seem to be more stubborn in this regard?
Because in order to adapt to industrialization, the Ming Dynasty also specially re-determined the ancient weights and measures. For example, the traditional construction ruler is 32cm, the precision ruler is 31.1cm, and the tailoring ruler is 34cm. These are all unified into the standard "foot ruler". ", one foot is equal to 32cm; the same is true for the weight unit, one catty and sixteen taels was re-determined as one catty and sixteen taels, and one catty is equal to 500g.
In Britain and the United States, one pound is equal to 0.454kg, one gallon is equal to 3.785L, one foot is equal to 30.48cm, and one yard is equal to 0.914m. These weights and measures are really confusing.
"Three thousand six hundred and fifty meters?" Zhou Changfeng put down the rangefinder thoughtfully, and then thought about how to give these arrogant enemies a hammer, "Go, go and call Fan Wenhai."
Arrange artillery positions so close? Are you really sure that we can reach it without the range of weapons?
Later, Fan Wenhai, the captain of the cannon team, arrived.
Facing the thin captain, Zhou Changfeng asked straight to the point: "What is the limit of 80 forced charges?"
The Ming Army's Type 28 two-and-a-half-inch mortar is actually a domestically produced improvement of the French Brand M1927 81mm mortar. This highly praised medium-sized mortar has also been used by the United States, Russia, Poland, It is adopted by many countries such as Denmark and Switzerland.
Under normal circumstances, the Type 28 mortar can be equipped with up to three additional charge packs. At this time, the maximum range is 3,000 meters.
Fan Wenhai was startled, and then said in deep thought: "The manual recommends that the force charge should not exceed No. 4. At this time, it can hit about 3,400 meters."
"Charge No. 5, and fire a few rapid fire rounds." Zhou Changfeng pointed to the distance, "Give the foreign devils' artillery positions a hard hit."
Yes, it is possible, but it will only lose its service life. Weapons like mortars are not valuable.
Fan Wenhai, who was hesitant, said tangledly: "Battalion Commander, forcing the charge will affect the accuracy. Just add two more medicine packs, I'm afraid it won't be accurate."
Hearing this, Zhou Changfeng waved his hand and said nonchalantly: "Then I'll do it."
Aha? You haven't had mortar training, have you?
Fan Wenhai and several officers of the machine gun team watched in surprise as Zhou Changfeng left the roof of the building, and then came to the mortar platoon headquarters on the fourth floor.
The mortar platoon consists of two artillery squads and an ammunition squad, with the former equipped with two Type 28 mortars each.
The current deployment is that one gun squad is on the roof of the building and another gun squad is near the post office. They communicate with each other through telephone lines laid out.
"Class 1 and Class 2 please reply and report their respective status."
"Received in the first class, on standby."
"Class 2 is aware and on standby."
"How about subjective?"
"Report, everything is normal."
"Where's the side view?"
"normal!"
[Subjective is the main observation point, side view is the side observation point, and front view is the front observation point. 】
Because it is not an indirect bombardment, the process is very simple. Zhou Changfeng looked at the 64% indication on the hygrometer, then did some mental calculations based on a booklet, and then issued a series of orders.
"Attention to all, reference point No. 4 is fourteen meters to the west, where the enemy artillery position meets."
"Shoot Zhuyuan Binding, No. 5 strong charge, one shot per class, kill explosive bombs, school shooting."
"receive!"
The artillerymen who received the order felt a little guilty and added five additional charge packs to the tail fin of the mortar shell, then pulled out the safety pin, then placed the shell on the muzzle... and let go.
"Bang -" The two shells flew away from the muzzle at a muzzle speed far exceeding normal conditions, and flew towards the enemy with two extraordinarily high trajectories.
The British and Indian troops who were slowly digging bunkers suddenly heard the scream of artillery shells in flight?
Immediately, two artillery shells landed on the side and corners of the artillery position, one on the left and one on the right, making a thunderous roar.
Where did this...this cannonball come from? The surrounding soldiers were stunned on the spot.
"Subjective report, the impact point is sixty meters west, invalid."
"Side view report, uh... the impact point is north... wrong, effective hit."
"Okay!" Zhou Changfeng, who was full of interest, took the microphone and ordered: "Calibrate the elements, kill explosive bombs, instant fuse, four shots, effective shot!"
After saying that, he immediately walked to the window and couldn't wait to squat in front of an eight-power artillery mirror.
