"Attention, everyone! Direction due east, angle of fire 42, three rapid fire rounds."
"Get ready, Wu Te!"
call out……
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The Japanese artillery took the lead in kicking off the attack. After three test rounds, all heavy artillery quickly adjusted to fire at Zhu Yuan and launched a fierce artillery bombardment towards the 233 Highlands where the Second Regiment was stationed.
The 18th Division has a complete mountain artillery wing, with 21 Type 94 mountain guns and 6 75-caliber field guns. Compared with the conventional division-level heavy artillery wing, this mountain artillery wing is obviously inferior in firepower. .
However, mountain artillery excels in its flexibility. The Japanese army established four artillery positions with the purpose of dispersing the enemy's artillery fire to the greatest extent possible and minimizing its own losses.
Taking into account the shortage of heavy firepower, in addition to the mountain artillery unit, the 18th Division also established an additional field heavy artillery brigade, with nine 105mm field guns already in position.
Coupled with the infantry support weapons such as the Type 92 infantry cannon, Type 90 mortars, and grenade launchers of each infantry regiment, the 18th Division's artillery firepower is relatively luxurious. They can face any Chinese military-level unit. Not false.
"Yo Xi, now you know how powerful our Japanese Empire is. These cowardly and inferior races, you only deserve to be wiped out in the flames of war! I don't know how the Western Yunnan Front Army fought. It's really a shame for the empire. If you want to win, you have to Look at us, hahaha..."
Tanaka Shinichi was excited as he looked at Highland 233, which was engulfed in flames, and began to talk trash unconsciously.
It has always been his habit to use full firepower coverage at the beginning of an attack. The purpose is to overwhelm the enemy in terms of momentum and make the opponent frightened, frightened, or even collapse without a fight.
The Japanese artillery fire was extremely cheerful. More than 30 artillery pieces of various types plowed the 233 Hill twice, but what is puzzling is that the opponent did not fight back.
"It's strange. The 55th Regiment is almost approaching their position. Why don't the Chinese artillery fight back?"
Chief of Staff Ushijima looked at the puzzling scene in front of him suspiciously, his eyebrows furrowed into a knot.
"Hmph, the Chinese have always been short of heavy weapons. The battle has just begun. They probably want to use the few artillery shells at critical moments." Tanaka Shinichi guessed to himself, but his disdainful expression said Full of contempt.
"Dear Division Commander, the Chinese are no longer as vulnerable as they were at the beginning of the war. Please keep your spirits up."
Ushijima's face changed slightly, and he said seriously: "According to intelligence, the Chinese army on the opposite side was the culprit behind the annihilation of the 114th Regiment, and the reason why the Western Yunnan Front Army was defeated again and again was because of them. So far, Over 10,000 compatriots have fallen into the hands of this army."
This Tanaka Shinichi has always been arrogant due to his status as a senior staff officer at the Army Headquarters. Due to his rank and status, Ushijima has tolerated everything.
Forget it normally, this is on the battlefield. If the troops are defeated because of underestimating the enemy, it will really be a shame for the empire.
"Hmph, just wait and see."
Hearing Ushijima's words, Tanaka Shinichi didn't refute anything except a cold snort. Although he is domineering, he is not stupid. Of course he knows that these enemies are very difficult to defeat.
Similarly, Tanaka also has great confidence in defeating the opponent because he has more than one trump card in his hand.
"boom!"
"boom!"
"boom……"
Artillery fire was flying, and under the full firepower of the Japanese army, Highland 233, where the Second Regiment was located, completely turned into a sea of explosions.
But...there was no one on the battlefield at this time.
The soldiers of the Second Regiment had already retreated to the reverse slope through three large communication trenches built in advance. Except for observation posts arranged on the ridge line, no one was left on the position.
Before the Japanese attack, it was nothing more than a desperate artillery bombardment. The infantry would never charge before the bombardment was over, so fools just stayed on the position with them.
Although this highland is not too steep, it is large in area, and the hillside gradually rises in a staircase shape. It is more than enough to fit a group of more than 2,000 people into it.
The engineering regiment arrived here to build a position as early as a week ago. The trenches were dug very deep, and the defense lines were arranged very carefully. Some important firepower points were even reinforced with cement, which could withstand the bombardment of the Japs.
As we all know, the Japanese divisions are basically equipped with a large number of artillery units. In order to cope with this, the Engineer Corps specially built three communication trenches on both sides of the mountain top connecting the reverse slopes behind the mountain.
Troops can quickly maneuver forward and backward through the communication trenches, going back and forth between forward and reverse slopes, minimizing the artillery fire they receive.
Despite the fierce bombardment of the little devil, the actual damage caused to the second regiment was almost negligible.
Fifteen minutes later, the bombardment gradually ceased. The enemy's 55th Wing sent two squadrons to conduct a tentative attack. More than 300 Japs opened several skirmish lines and rushed towards the main position with their heads down.
Although the Japanese heavy artillery stopped firing, the regiment-level infantry artillery and mortars roared again. Sporadic shells fell on the position from time to time, fully covering the infantry attack.
"The Japanese have finished their three-axe swing, it's time for us to perform."
Xing Fuquan saw this posture and immediately made arrangements: "The third battalion stayed behind as a reserve team, and the first and second battalions immediately entered the position to deploy defenses! Mortar battalion, let me kill them!"
…
"What are you doing? The 200th Division's position is at Ah Da?"
Seeing that all the troops of the Honorable Third Division have entered combat positions, only the 200th Division is still staying next to the artillery regiment. The main battlefield is far away, and no additional arrangements have been made for them.
The Gaoji people were a little anxious and immediately asked Liao Mingyu. Wouldn't he come all the way to be left on the bench?
Liao Mingyu set up his headquarters in a mountain depression 3 kilometers away from the front line. There happened to be a hill here as a shield to withstand the Japanese shelling. Being closer to the front line, he could also learn about the situation on the battlefield at the first time.
At this moment, he was in the command tent, discussing the layout of the front line with Fang Jingyao.
"Brother Fang, the first regiment should still move closer. Hiding behind Highland 233 is not very useful."
"You mean to ask them to protect the open space to the right?" Fang Jingyao asked.
"No, not to the right, but to the left. Go from the Third Regiment and use the woods as cover to bypass the rear." Liao Mingyu pointed at the map and said seriously.
"But if you do this, the right wing of the second regiment will lose its cover. Should the engineering regiment come up to take the place of the first regiment?" Fang Jingyao asked with confusion on his face.
"No, the Engineer Regiment doesn't need to move. Just move the light infantry battalion of the 200 Division behind the Second Regiment and expose the open space for them to drill through."
Liao Mingyu stared at the improvised simple sand table in front of him, and suddenly an idea came to his mind.
"Well, let's do it! Inform Long Wenwen that a group of heavy-armed and lightly-armed simple followers will bypass the woods and advance westward!"
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