The only machine gun firepower of the Seventh Company was the Japanese grenade, which was the greatest threat and must be closely guarded.
The Japanese grenadiers in the early days were all veterans with more than five years of experience. They were well-trained and experienced on the battlefield. On average, three grenades could destroy a machine gun position in the Chinese army.
The Seventh Company only had one Czech light machine gun, which was the only heavy firepower. As the company commander, Chu Xiong naturally had to focus on protecting it.
A standard Japanese infantry squad includes three 13-man infantry detachments (squads) and a grenade detachment with three grenades, totaling 54 people.
Each detachment is equipped with a Taisho 11-type light machine gun, commonly known as the "crooked gun."
Each machine gun is equipped with a primary shooter and a secondary shooter, and two ammunition handlers. The ammunition handler is also equipped with a self-defense pistol (bastard box).
There are 8 riflemen, each equipped with a Type 38 rifle and 120 rounds of ammunition. Plus the squad leader (squad leader), there are 13 people in total.
Sometimes 2 to 3 grenade groups will be strengthened according to combat needs to form a reinforced squad.
Ono's team strengthened 2 grenade groups, with a total of 62 people.
There are only 5 grenades and 3 crooked light machine guns. This firepower is much more powerful than the firepower of the seventh company.
Coupled with the difference in ammunition, Second Lieutenant Ono has his arrogance.
It's a pity that this time he met Chu Xiong who had traveled through time. He was a special warfare elite from later generations. His marksmanship was comparable to that of a top sniper. One bullet sent him back to Kyushu Island.
A Japanese infantry soldier carries 120 rounds of ammunition, which are packed in three cowhide boxes.
There are two in the front and one in the back. The large bullet box at the back contains twelve 5-round bullet clips. These parts are the ammunition carried by the machine gun group.
The Eighth Route Army, which had just entered the Shanxi region, had an average of about 10 to 15 rounds of ammunition per gun, and could not even afford one steel gun per man.
In an ambush battle, you have to charge after three shots.
Known as "Three Guns and Eight Routes"!
It was under such extremely difficult conditions that our martyrs fought unremittingly against the Japanese who were armed to the teeth.
Not only did he destroy his enemies, he also strengthened himself!
To pay tribute to the martyrs, Chu Xiong was the first to sacrifice Ono to the martyrs.
After Second Lieutenant Ono was killed in action, the captain of the first detachment took over the command, so the Japanese attack did not cause much chaos.
However, more than 30 people were injured or killed in the first round of fire strikes, and the force seemed even thinner.
Chu Xiong played the role of a sniper on the battlefield. In less than five minutes, he killed 1 squad leader, 5 grenade launchers, 3 machine gunners, and 1 sergeant!
Those with command knives or grenadiers were his targets.
Under Chu Xiong's precise suppression, Ono's team had been suppressed by the Seventh Company.
An excellent sniper can suppress a small team of Japanese soldiers by himself;
In positional warfare, the defender still has a great advantage. Hiding in the trenches, the probability of being hit by the enemy is relatively less.
After losing half of its troops, Ono's team finally couldn't hold it any longer. The remaining soldiers evacuated backwards under cover alternately.
During the retreat, more than a dozen people were lost, at least three of whom were killed by Chu Xiong, and only about twenty people were left in the end.
In this round of attack, Ono's team was completely crippled, and the seventh company also suffered seven or eight casualties, which made Chu Xiong feel pain for a long time.
Even more painful than him was the Japanese commander Captain Matsui Naoki!
The Matsui Squadron under his command took a detour to attack the regiment headquarters of the Eighth Route Army in Xiaowangzhuang, but was blocked by about a company of the Eighth Route Army in front of the slope in Xiaowangzhuang.
He thought it was an easy battle, but ended up being kicked on an iron plate, which made him very depressed, who had always been proud.
The two sides had been fighting for almost two hours. Matsui Squadron not only failed to break through the Eighth Route Army's defense line, but also suffered casualties in more than two squadrons of Imperial Army warriors.
Especially in the attack that just ended, a reinforced team only came back with more than 20 people!
If the fight continued like this, with two more charges, his squadron would be completely wiped out.
Two hours later, the Eighth Route Army Corps headquarters and the common people had already evacuated, and there was no point in continuing the fight.
After all, this was the territory of the Eighth Route Army. In order not to be completely annihilated by the Eighth Route Army, Matsui planned to move in!
Matsui is a very decisive commander. In the battle at Xiaowangzhuang, he missed a single hit and actually lost the suddenness of his tactics.
Since the opportunity is gone, then evacuate without hesitation and fight in a roundabout way. Not every time you can succeed.
"Jun Huangyuan, notify the remaining troops to retreat to Longyuan Town under alternate cover."
Matsui issued a retreat order to Lieutenant Wasteland.
Ten minutes later, Chu Xiong received the news that the Japanese had withdrawn, and the Xiaowangzhuang blocking mission was successfully completed.
Even if Chu Xiong had known about it earlier, he would not have pursued the Japs. There were only a few dozen soldiers left in the Seventh Company who could fight. If they fell into the Japs' trick, it would be troublesome.
"Shitou, notify the first platoon to be on alert. The second and third platoons will quickly clear the battlefield. Don't leave a single bullet behind! All the injured Japanese will need to be hit."
What folk songs are sung on what mountaintop!
Chu Xiong now traveled to the Eighth Route Army where even a bullet had to be broken in half for use. Even though he came from a later generation and looked down on crooked weapons, he now had to pick them up like treasures and take them home.
Ten minutes later, the battlefield was cleaned up, and platoon leader Li Qing came over to report:
"Report to the company commander, 56 Japanese corpses were found, 4 crooked light machine guns, 3 grenades, 52 38 caps, 8 southern pistols, 52 bayonets, 3 command knives, and 65 steel helmets were seized , 118 grenades, thousands of bullets of various types, as well as cotton-padded clothes, armed belts, kettles, fur shoes, etc..."
Well, this is the real Eighth Route Army cleaning up the battlefield. The Japanese were stripped down to only a pair of crotch pants, and everything they could take was taken away.
These were definitely not the only ones who were wiped out by the Japanese. Some of the wounded soldiers were rescued by them, and some weapons were also picked up by them during the retreat.
If you want to seize enough equipment, you have to fight a battle of annihilation!
In a blocking battle like this, it's okay if you win, but if you don't win, there's nothing gained.
If seizures are often not made, the Eighth Route Army will suffer from a serious shortage of ammunition.
The poorer you are, the harder this battle will be in the future!
Chu Xiong was still very satisfied with this capture, at least it far exceeded his own ammunition consumption.
"What are the casualties of our troops?"
Chu Xiong still asked the question that he least wanted to hear.
"The whole company lost 22 people and injured 35 people. The second platoon leader died and each squad leader lost 2 people."
After hearing this, Chu Xiong looked sad. Nearly half of the casualties were casualties, especially the proportion of casualties among cadres and key personnel. This was also a tradition in the Eighth Route War.
In every battle, cadres and backbones rush to the front!
These are all veterans who have gone through 25,000 years and fought hundreds of battles for the rest of their lives. They sacrificed 22 people in one battle. It’s strange that Chu Xiong doesn’t feel sorry for them.
He secretly warned himself in his heart that he should try to avoid positional battles with the Japanese in the future. Even if he won, he would not be able to afford the loss.
“Bury the fallen martyrs and mark them, and when the revolution is victorious, we must build a martyr cemetery for them!
The wounded must be taken care of! "
Strictly speaking, the battle at Xiaowangzhuang was considered a great victory. Although the Seventh Company suffered more casualties, it also captured a lot, so the overall morale of the troops was still very high.
In war years, casualties are inevitable. They have long taken it lightly. As long as they are alive, they will continue to fight the Japanese.
Life goes on and the fight goes on!
Chuxiong, who came from later generations, also had to adapt to the cruelty of the Anti-Japanese War. In terms of weapons and equipment, training levels, tactical ideas, logistics supplies, etc., China could be said to lag behind the Japanese in all aspects, and heavy sacrifices were inevitable.
Every inch of mountains and rivers, every inch of blood!
Under the setting sun, the Seventh Company carried injured comrades and evacuated the battlefield with captured equipment and supplies.
The war of resistance has just begun, and there are still many, many battles for the Seventh Company...
In the future, many of them will fall, possibly including Chu Xiong.
Even time-travelers cannot bear a bullet. Not every time-traveler is the final winner.
As long as you live, you must fight!
After the Seventh Company withdrew into Xiaowangzhuang, they found that the regiment headquarters had evacuated, and there were only a few old men and women left in the village who were unwilling to leave.
They would rather die than leave their homeland.
Chu Xiong decided to rest for the night in Xiaowangzhuang. He had no choice but to take a risk because several of the seriously injured soldiers could not withstand the toil all night.
In order to prepare for night attacks by the Japs, he sent out two squads to take charge of security outside the village.
Japs generally don't attack at night, but be careful when sailing.
I'd rather have a little trouble than be careless and can't afford to get hurt!
After arranging the wounded and guarding in the evening, the Seventh Company began to hold a post-war summary meeting.
This is the tradition of the Eighth Route Army, which is to constantly improve oneself in summary.
