Just when the 330 large and medium-caliber artillery pieces of the Allied Forces of Tomorrow and Japan began to bombard, another group of neatly arranged biplanes suddenly jumped out of the southern sky. These aircraft are all shore-based models of Ssangyong aircraft, but they are also affiliated with the Ming Dynasty Naval Aviation.
Since the shore-based Ssangyong aircraft does not have a floating barrel, its bomb load and fuel capacity are larger, and its combat radius is naturally larger...it is just a bit larger, not a lot. . Therefore, Zhuge Weidao could only order Colonel Huang Shuren, the commander-in-chief of the HNA shore-based aviation force, to lead his men to change the airship base on Badan Island into an airport, where all the resources of the shore-based aviation force - 118 shore-based Ssangyongs - were deployed. A bi-wing, twin-engine fighter-bomber!
It is said to be a fighter-bomber, but in reality there are only Ming Dynasty military aircraft in the sky right now, and other people's military aircraft are only airships and "human-powered gliding bombs." The former is a living target for aircraft as long as it lowers its altitude, while the latter can only wait to die if it encounters an aircraft. Therefore, the "battle" of this "fighter-bomber" is just casual fighting, and bombing is the real main business.
Now these 118 planes have flown to an altitude of 1,000 meters, flying towards Danmasi Island under the rising sun in the east. Although these planes could carry limited fuel, they did not drop bombs immediately after flying over Tamashi Island. Instead, they divided into six groups and began to hover a few kilometers behind the Johor Strait defense line... 118 vultures waiting for their prey to appear.
The British-Indian army's middle line of defense in the Johor Strait must have been stunned by such powerful firepower at the first opportunity. Although their forward barracks are built along the seawall, they are not easily hit by artillery. But the seawall is not a hilltop after all, and the cover it can provide is limited. Therefore, many Indian warriors were killed by suddenly falling shells while they were sleeping. The Indian soldiers who were awakened by the shock screamed at the top of their lungs and looked around for a place to avoid the shells.
In order to prevent the Japanese-Japanese coalition forces from sneaking across under cover of night, the British also ordered the Indian soldiers below to dig trenches, pull up barbed wire, and build shelters on the wide top of the sea wall. Every night, some Indian soldiers were arranged to rest in trenches and shelters on the high seawall. When many people were sleeping soundly, artillery shells fell...
However, no matter how difficult their situation is, few people dare to take a step back, because retreating means death, so it is better to hold your head and shrink in the trench and endure it!
The white-skinned officers stationed on the front line were all resting in safe shelters. They immediately picked up the phone receiver and shouted loudly toward the rear. There is only one meaning: "The Ming army launched a bombardment on the middle of the Strait defense line with powerful artillery fire. The coalition attack is imminent tomorrow! If their firepower cannot be suppressed, the consequences will be disastrous!"
Viscount Beresford was awakened by the explosion of artillery shells almost immediately. This British Army Lieutenant General spent last night communicating with Bombay via wireless telegraphy... Some time ago, Danmasi Island There seemed to be something wrong with the telegraph receiver, which kept receiving a lot of clutter. Viscount Beresford was so anxious that he suspected that Emperor William had really died, and India was in chaos!
Last night, the radio station staff who had been unable to do anything suddenly enlightened and actually repaired the telegraph receiver. Now Viscount Beresford could finally have a night of "telegraph porridge" with his Majesty the Emperor.
After the confirmation of "Telegraph Porridge", Viscount Beresford was finally relieved.
The emperor is probably still alive! Even if he dies, it will be kept secret! Moreover, the "Partition of India" most likely did not happen. The Indian Empire is still united around His Majesty the Emperor, and no one dares to seek independence at all.
In addition, the Eight Banners Soldiers of the Jin Kingdom did not invade India. Their "candidate Xianfeng" was visiting India a while ago, and recently he went to Europe on a second-hand sail ironclad that the Royal Navy of Dajin had just purchased from the Ming Dynasty to visit Europe and mediate the conflict between the Ming Dynasty and the West. Moreover, he is going to the British mainland, and it is said that he will also give a speech in English in the British Parliament - a speech against pornographic films!
Moreover, the Ming Dynasty did not invade the Indian mainland. They were obviously planning to conquer Tamasi Island first and completely open up the Strait of Malacca before making other plans.
And Emperor William, who was probably still alive, repeatedly warned Viscount Beresford in telegrams that he must defend Danmasi Island for at least 12 months no matter what.
After giving his assurance to His Majesty the Emperor, Viscount Beresford closed his eyes dimly on the camp bed. Just when he was about to fall asleep but didn't fall asleep, the glass window of his residence was suddenly rattled by a huge roar in the distance.
Viscount Beresford jumped up from the bed and rushed towards the combat command room. A group of disheveled white-skinned officers had gathered at the door, staring blankly at the flames rising from their positions in the distance.
The newly appointed chief of staff of the Malayan Corps, Colonel Fokker, stared at everything in front of him anxiously with bloodshot eyes. The phones in the headquarters were already ringing. All the brigade headquarters of the British and Indian troops on the front line have called to report the sudden attack on them... The situation seems to be okay. Although the losses of the front line units are not small, at least the soldiers guarding the front line did not. Back in panic.
In addition, the field artillery at the forefront of the British and Indian troops has also been prepared for shooting. The observation balloons used for school shooting have been raised, and they are waiting for the order from the headquarters to counterattack!
Viscount Beresford had completely regained his composure. He looked at the battlefield outside the window and loudly said in a calm tone: "Last night, I just had a telegram with His Majesty the Emperor. Everything is fine with His Majesty!"
"Long live!" Everyone cheered.
The Viscount added: "Order the artillery to counterattack. You must suppress the opponent's firepower... In addition, bombard the enemy's possible attack assembly positions again.
The reserve troops immediately entered the reserve positions behind the positions that encountered intensive shelling and were ready for reinforcements at any time. Under such fierce firepower, the position encountered by the attack is expected to be shaken soon!
Therefore, as soon as the enemy's bombardment stops, the reinforcements must rush forward without any hesitation! "
"Yes, Viscount!"
Following the order of Viscount Beresford, the British-Indian artillery group behind the Johor Strait defense line of the British-Indian Army also began to exert force!
The field artillery of the British and Indian troops was not as good as that of the Ming army, but Danmaxi Island is a fortress island. A large number of fortress artillery are deployed on the island. Not all of them are fixed cannons, but there are also many movable 6-inch cannons. . These 6-inch guns have been strengthened to the northern Johor Strait defense line that is beyond the reach of the fortress's heavy guns. Together with the field heavy guns originally assigned to the Malayan Army, there are now 200 upward-facing cannons of over 100 mm!
When these more than 200 cannons are used together, it will shake the earth and the mountains, which is enough for the Ming army to drink a pot!
But Viscount Beresford never imagined that at this time, there were 118 biplanes hanging bombs in the sky, waiting for the British and Indian artillery on the ground to fire and expose their targets!
These insidious and cunning aircraft were used to suppress the British and Indian artillery groups.
Before the British and Indian field artillery groups had finished firing half of their bases, the Ssangyong aircraft had already roared over several artillery positions behind the middle of the Johor defense line that had been exposed due to firing, and lowered their altitude to dozens of meters. Then a series of bombs were dropped from the sky, causing a cloud of smoke and dust in these artillery positions. Twenty or thirty 6-inch cannons were destroyed in one fell swoop, and many artillerymen were also sent away with them. The other artillery in these positions also went silent, and the artillerymen all fled.
The scale of the British and Indian army's artillery counterattack suddenly became much smaller. Before Viscount Beresford, who witnessed this scene from a height, could react, someone immediately shouted: "Planes... coming from the west." There are many more planes coming to the sea!"
