Although the casualties of the Third Company were heavy, when magnified to the entire battlefield, the Japanese suffered even greater losses.
When it comes to the ability to capture fighter jets, Leng Tiefeng may not be as good as Xu Rui, but in terms of command ability on the battlefield, the gap between Leng Tiefeng and Xu Rui is actually not that big.
Leng Tiefeng set up a defensive formation on Erguniangpo. The three companies guarding the Third Battalion were placed in a line. The third company was placed on the middle road and was responsible for blocking the road. The first and second companies were placed on two sides. On the hilltop on the side, they were responsible for protecting the flanks. As for the heavy machine gun platoons directly under the battalion, they were placed on both sides of the road to provide fire support to the third company.
If you are facing ordinary Japanese infantry, there is no problem in forming a formation like this.
But the Japs on the opposite side had tanks to fight together, so Leng Tiefeng's formation of troops was problematic. As a result, as soon as the exchange of fire began, a Maxim heavy machine gun from the heavy machine gun platoon defeated the Japs' Type 97 light tanks. Scrap iron, fortunately, Leng Tiefeng immediately realized the problem and quickly adjusted his deployment.
Leng Tiefeng decisively moved the heavy machine gun positions to the hillsides on both sides.
As a result, due to the limitation of the elevation angle of the main gun and the obstruction of the mountain, the tank's main gun can no longer threaten the heavy machine gun position on the hillside. However, the firepower of the heavy machine gun located on the hillside can cause damage to the Japanese infantry following the tank. Effective killing, this caused a disconnect between the Japanese infantry and tanks.
This gave the Third Company a chance to blow up three Japanese tanks and two armored vehicles. In addition, they also killed at least one and a half squads of Japanese infantry.
(Dividing line)
"Bagayalu!"
Looking at the burning tank wreckage in front of him, Asada Jiro's face turned green with anger.
Jiro Asada had no idea that the second attack that he had high hopes for would still end in failure. You know, he had invested two infantry squads, two Type 97 light tanks, and two armored vehicles in this attack. In this way, they still failed to break through the defense line of the Dameishan Independent Regiment.
Jiro Asada was not only surprised by the courage of the officers and soldiers of the Dameishan Independent Regiment, but also by the quality of the other party.
The opponent showed extremely high quality in various aspects such as the construction of fortifications, the setting of firepower points, the use of weapons, and the transition between offense and defense. Jiro Asada thought that the Kumamoto Division's quality was already very good, but the opponent's performance in this encounter was very high. The quality shown is especially above that of the Kumamoto Division.
This completely subverted Asada Jiro's understanding of the Dameishan Independent Regiment.
This is not the first time Asada Jiro has fought against the Dameishan Independent Regiment. In the Feicheng Defense Battle more than half a year ago, Asada Jiro also participated. At that time, he was only the deputy captain. In that battle, the Dameishan Independent Regiment The tactical literacy shown in actual combat is far inferior to that of the Kumamoto Division.
However, in just half a year, the Dameishan Independent Regiment's tactical literacy improved dramatically!
Jiro Asada could not imagine what the Dameishan Independent Group would become if it continued to progress at this rate.
Matsuura Junichi, the deputy captain of the Motorized Infantry Brigade, came over and said: "Captain, we can no longer attack from the front like this. We must change our tactics and encircle them from both wings."
Jiro Asada frowned and said, "Are you saying we should abandon the use of chariots and outflank them?"
"Hai." Matsuura Jun said after a pause, "Captain, you should have noticed that although the terrain here is not complicated, the fortifications built by the Chinese Army are very tricky, and the flanking firepower on the hillsides on both sides can be effective. Avoiding direct strikes from our artillery can also cause effective damage to the imperial infantry accompanying and protecting the chariot detachment. This is why the chariot detachment is out of touch with the infantry who are following up to protect it, and then three vehicles have been put into battle one after another. Light tanks, two Vickers, were blown up by Chinese engineers using explosive charges."
Jiro Asada nodded lightly. The two tanks and two armored vehicles of the tank unit were destroyed just now. It was indeed because of the poor protection of the infantry. If it weren't for the previous disconnect between the infantry and the tank unit, no matter how many engineers the other side sent, they would not be able to do it. Possibly blow up their tanks and armored vehicles.
Matsuura Junichi continued: "What's even more tricky is that the side firepower of the China Army is not only built on the reverse slope of the mountain, but also has a certain height gap with the road. This makes the tanks of the tank detachment very uncomfortable. If you get close, the elevation angle of the main gun is not high enough and you won’t be able to hit it. If you get too far away, it will be blocked by the mountains and you still won’t be able to hit it! Therefore, if you continue to attack it, it will only be a waste of time.”
"I know what you are saying." Jiro Asada said, "What I just thought about was to use the powerful assault force of the tank to break through the road defense line of the China Army as soon as possible, and then turn around to destroy the machine gun fire points on the reverse slope of the mountain. It's very easy, but who could have imagined that the Chinese army would be so tenacious!"
"So, we must adjust our strategy." Matsuura Junton said, "Continuing to attack from the front will not only waste time but also cause greater losses. It is better to outflank from both wings, first destroying the side fire points on the hillsides on both sides, and then Forced a breakthrough from the front of the road."
"Okay." Asada Jiro finally nodded and said in a deep voice, "Matsujun-san, then you will lead an infantry squadron to attack the hilltop on the right side in a roundabout way. Your task is to destroy the heavy machine gun firepower point on the reverse slope of the hilltop on the right side. Clear obstacles for the advance of the chariot detachment, and be sure not to get caught in a fight with the Chinese army, do you understand?"
"Hai." Matsuura Jun said after a pause, "I understand the humble position."
"Yoshi." Jiro Asada said happily, "Start taking action."
"Hai." Matsuura Junichi paused again, and then led an infantry squadron straight to the hilltop on the right.
Asada Jiro called the squadron leader of another infantry squadron and ordered him to lead his squadron to attack the hill on the left. In addition to detouring the two wings, Asada Jiro did not give up his plan to break through from the center, but ordered the last remaining infantry squadron to attack. Under the cover of the tanks and armored vehicles of the tank detachment, attack from the front again.
However, this frontal attack was just a feint attack, responsible for containment.
Of course, if the Dameishan Independent Regiment on the opposite side is slightly negligent and reveals a flaw, the infantry squadron responsible for the frontal attack will immediately switch from a feint attack to a real attack.
(Dividing line)
Before the Japanese began their third attack, Gong Haifeng was complaining to Leng Tiefeng.
"Team Leng, this battle can't be fought. If the battle continues, all the key veterans of our third battalion will have to deal with it here." Gong Haifeng chased behind Leng Tiefeng and kept talking, "You saw it just now, so unreasonable." In half an hour, half of my platoon in the third company was gone, and almost all the cadres above the squad were killed. Tell me... "
"Okay, stop talking." Leng Tiefeng said impatiently, "I know what you mean. You just want me to say a few more good things about your security regiment in front of Lao Xu. Next time, okay? Replenish some more soldiers for your security regiment, am I right, Battalion Commander Gong?"
"We should have been given more soldiers." Gong Haifeng said, "It's not like you don't know, Captain Leng, that the four main regiments of the Dameishan Military Division and the remaining three regiments are all large regiments with more than 3,000 people each. There are more than 600 people in each battalion, but our guard regiment only has 2,000 people, and each battalion only has more than 400 people. This is too unfair. "
After a pause, Gong Haifeng added: "Even if we are raised by our stepmother, we can't be treated so badly, not to mention that we are not raised by our stepmother at all."
Leng Tiefeng said: "I know, I'll tell Lao Xu later, but I can't guarantee whether he will listen."
"Thank you so much, Captain Leng, thank you so much." Gong Haifeng was immediately overjoyed when he heard this, and added, "Based on your relationship with the group leader, how could the group leader not listen? Who doesn't listen to the group leader? Yes, I have to listen to you, right? Captain Leng, on behalf of our regiment leader and all the brothers in the garrison, I would like to express my gratitude to you."
"Yes, yes," Leng Tiefeng said angrily, "If you really want to thank me, just guard the road below."
"No problem." Gong Haifeng promised repeatedly, "The little devils have suffered two big losses, so they probably don't dare to force themselves anymore. If I guessed correctly, they will definitely target Erniang Slope on both sides. , Team Leng, the pressure on your side is heavy, do you want me to transfer a platoon from the third company to support you?"
"No need, just concentrate on guarding the highway." Leng Tiefeng said, "As for the hillside positions on both sides, it's fine if the little devils don't come. If they dare to come, hehe."
Hey, what, Leng Tiefeng did not continue.
But Gong Haifeng heard it and whispered: "Team Leng, have you prepared a mine array on the hillside?"
"What do you think?" Leng Tiefeng said with a ferocious smile, "Just now your third company was having a lively fight with the Japs at the foot of the mountain, and your first and second companies were not idle on the mountain either. They planted hundreds of mines on the slopes on both sides. , It’s okay if the little devil doesn’t come, but if he comes, it will definitely be enough for them to drink a pot, hehe.”
Gong Haifeng said cheerfully: "Captain Leng, I have you."
While the two were talking, the Japanese in front made another move.
Looking up hurriedly, the two saw about a small group of Japanese infantry, guided by a Type 97 light tank and two Vickers armored vehicles, rushing towards the third company's defensive position again.
"Hey, the little devil still refuses to give up?" Gong Haifeng was immediately annoyed.
The next moment, intensive gunshots rang out from the left and right sides of Erguniang Slope.
Gong Haifeng immediately said: "I'll go. This little devil is using a three-pronged approach. Are you going to fight us desperately?"
Leng Tiefeng said coldly: "Let alone a three-pronged approach, why not a five-pronged approach and a six-pronged approach?"
After saying that, Leng Tiefeng picked up the 38 big cover, jumped twice and climbed up the Erniang Slope on the right.
Gong Haifeng also jumped into the trench and shouted loudly: "Brothers, don't rush to shoot yet, wait until the Japanese are close before attacking. Demoman, prepare explosive packs!" (To be continued.)