"Mr. Colonel, we have arrived at the location, but the German army has already purchased the offensive, what else?" The staff officer hesitated to speak when he said this.
"What else?" De Gaulle asked impatiently.
"These Germans are wearing strange uniforms! They are not like ordinary German troops!" the staff officer said quickly.
"Strange uniforms?" De Gaulle touched his chin and pondered, "It should be the German SS!" De Gaulle was quite looking forward to the opponent in front of him. As an armed organization specially formed by the National Socialist Party to check and balance the Wehrmacht, although it was generally People think that they are just rookies with sophisticated equipment. But De Gaulle didn't think so. The information obtained from the Polish campaign showed that although this unit did not have as good tactical literacy as the Wehrmacht, its fanatical belief in winning was even stronger.
According to the information collected by de Gaulle, the SS was all composed of members of the National Socialist Party. Unlike the previous stormtroopers, the SS was all selected from the best. Only those with high education and good physical condition could enter. But what kind of force this army is like, you have to fight it to know. "Maybe this is a good opponent!" de Gaulle thought secretly.
Amidst the rumbling tracks, the French heavy tank B1 tank appeared in the sight of the Führer Regiment. This was something that De Gaulle worked hard to get out of the General Staff. The B1 heavy tank is also the best tank in France now. , although after the No. 4 tank did not qualify in advance, the firepower was no longer greater than that of the current German tanks, but the armor was still more than one step ahead of the No. 4 tank.
As early as 1935, facing constant pressure from Germany to expand its army, the French military urgently needed to put this tank into mass production and equip its troops immediately. But at the same time, work on improving the engine of this tank is still in progress. Eventually, the tank was fitted with thicker armor (60mm) and a 47mm gun mounted in the turret. Therefore, the first batch of B1 heavy tanks produced in 1936 only had short-barreled guns, the B1 improved version. However, the output of this type of tank has always been very low. It can be said that the nearly 100 tanks currently in De Gaulle's hands are already a quarter of the total output of B1 heavy tanks.
In response to these requirements, the B1 prototype was further improved, and the improved prototype was completed in 1935. Now, the maximum armor thickness of this tank has increased to 40 mm, and its weight reaches 28 tons. But in the same year, Germany once again faced constant pressure to expand its military. According to an emergency order from the French Army High Command, several manufacturers wanted to produce 40 B-type tanks with a maximum armor thickness of 60 mm as soon as possible. They were the final B1 heavy tanks. .
In order to meet the requirements of the French military, further improvements to the CharB1 tank centered around significantly increased armor protection. Due to time constraints, 35 tanks were produced before all improvements were completed. They use an APX1 cast turret with an armor thickness of 40 mm, and are equipped with a SA34 47 mm short-barreled cannon and a parallel machine gun. These initial production models are still referred to as Type B1.
De Gaulle stood on the armored command vehicle, holding a telescope and looking at the prepared regiment of Führers. From some bunkers, De Gaulle saw the black barrel of the No. 4 tank, and said, "The Germans are ready, but I Don’t be fooled! Order the troops to speed up! Keep in touch with each convoy according to the flags!”
"Yes, Colonel!" The staff officer quickly recorded de Gaulle's order, and then went down.
Looking at the body of the B1 heavy tank, de Gaulle's anxious heart finally calmed down a little. As a tank specially developed by France to restrain German tanks, the B1 heavy tank has many advanced technologies, such as Naeder hydrostatic steering system, electric starter, self-sealing fuel tank, oil nozzle group lubrication, etc. There are no obvious shortcomings except that the driving speed is slower: "It would be great if it had more output!" De Gaulle said naa.
Kepler, the leader of the Führer Regiment, walked anxiously around the simple headquarters, raising his hand to look at his watch from time to time, "Where have these damn French people gone? Why haven't they come yet!"
"Regiment commander, the first battalion on the first line of defense reported that the French have been discovered!" the signal soldier took off his headset and reported.
"Tell them that they can make a tentative counterattack. If it doesn't work, withdraw immediately!" Kepler ordered, "The No. 4 tanks on the second line of defense can carry out mobile defense. Before we find out how many tanks the French have, , don’t move out for the time being!”
"Yes, commander!" After receiving the order, the communication soldier immediately put on his headset and sent a message quickly.
At this time, dozens of French B1 heavy tanks appeared on the forward position of the First Battalion of the Heads of State Regiment.
"Anti-tank fighters, prepare!" Captain Andreas ordered. As the commander of the first line of defense, Andreas obviously did not want to give up the defense line without firing a shot, although the trenches were still very crude and his regiment The commander has already said that if there is nothing we can do with the French tanks, we should evacuate as soon as possible. To be honest, Captain Andreas really wants to know how powerful the French tanks are. As long as they destroy the French armored units and the remaining infantry, Captain Andreas has plenty of ways to deal with them.
The anti-tank man had already seen the B1 heavy tank that was gradually entering the range, and decisively pressed the button. The Iron Fist anti-tank rocket flew towards the B1 heavy tank like a bow and arrow off the string.
Boom, a huge explosion package rose with the billowing smoke, and the French tank on the opposite side paused. But before these anti-tank fighters were happy, as soon as the smoke cleared, the B1 heavy tank appeared in front of people, but a huge dent in the front armor was very eye-catching.
"Asshole, a real thick-skinned monster!" Captain Andreas threw the telescope aside angrily and ordered, "Retreat!" Captain Andreas still couldn't do the feat of letting infantry fight tanks. , can only retreat to the second line of defense.
After the French tank realized that it had been hit, it immediately became angry and the 75mm gun barrel slowly aimed at the place where the anti-tank man was lurking just now. Boom..., the place where the anti-tank gunner had just shot was immediately stirred up by the shell. I have to say that the B1 tank is very reliable in operability. The hull gun has an elevation angle of +25 degrees to -15 degrees, and the Naeder differential control system provides precise aiming. In addition, a Luchard compressed air system is also used on the 75mm gun, which can automatically discharge the residual gunpowder gas in the howitzer from the body after the gun is fired.
"Commander, the tank at the rear asked us what happened!" said the electromechanical engineer sitting under the turret behind the driver.
"Tell them that they encountered weak resistance!" the commander said coolly.
At this time, in Kepler's headquarters, the radio was transmitting back and forth: "Commander, Captain Andreas has withdrawn from the first line of defense. According to his statement, the French tanks are rough and thick, and the anti-tank rockets are not We can’t stop their advance!”
"What?" Kepler asked in surprise, "What kind of tank can't even hit with an iron fist?"
"Captain Andreas seems to have said it's a two-gun tank?" the communications soldier also said in confusion.
"Two cannons?" Kepler covered his eyes and said, "It's a monster like B1! Power up General Paul Hausser. I need the support of the air force. My precious tanks can't compete with this." A war of attrition between the east and the west! Otherwise, if we agree to them, our Führer Regiment will become an infantry regiment!"
Dozens of B1 heavy tanks Shi Shiran crossed the first line of defense deployed by the Führer Regiment. De Gaulle was very happy and couldn't help but have greater confidence in this battle.
Following the tanks were a large number of infantrymen from the 10th Armored Division. Just now I saw the B heavy tank showing off its might, even if it was hit, it was still fine, which made these French soldiers confident. They were ready to hold back the German army like their fathers here and fight again on the Somme.
But when they arrived at the second line of defense, they discovered that things were not that simple. The second line of defense not only had Panzer IV tanks for defense, but Kepler also specially deployed 88mm anti-aircraft guns for defense. In fact, the anti-aircraft guns were used as Defense is a method that many people have begun to implement. At the beginning, Rommel first discovered the use of 88mm anti-tank weapons as anti-tank weapons, and then immediately followed suit. Under Rommel's leadership, this behavior was immediately imitated.
When the arrogant French tanks swaggered in, they were immediately devastated. The 88mm anti-aircraft gun had a very high shooting accuracy within a thousand meters, and the B1 heavy tank's body that could block the Iron Fist was There was no resistance at all in front of the 88mm anti-aircraft gun. Soon, the wreckage of more than a dozen B1 heavy tanks lay in front of the German army position, forcing the French army to temporarily retreat.
But immediately, the Fourth Armored Division mobilized artillery. When the towed artillery appeared in front of the German position, the French breathed a sigh of relief. They already knew that the German army in front of them was only the size of a regiment, and they would definitely not There is heavy artillery support. But they don't know that the establishment of the SS is different from that of the Wehrmacht. Lin Wei can almost give whatever he wants to the troops he formed. Although the heavy artillery has not been sent down to the regiment level, it will never leave its troops without room for counterattack.
The Krupp 88mm anti-aircraft gun is also very practical as an ordinary artillery gun. In the subsequent artillery battle, although the Führer Regiment was suppressed, the French still did not advance a step forward. The results on the front line made De Gaulle very anxious, because time was on the side of the Germans. If he could not annihilate the troops in front of him and waited until the German troops behind repaired the bridge, then he would have no choice but to retreat. This operation was declared a failure.
Paul Hausser and Guderian are also very anxious, because they have to cross the Somme River quickly so that they can go north to encircle and annihilate the British and French forces in Belgium. Now the oppressive attack of General Bock's Army Group B has gradually caused the British and French forces to retreat. Retreat from Belgium. If he moves too slowly here, he may very well let the British and French forces in the north run away.