Chapter 49: Readjustment (Part 1)
Compared with the reorganization of the light armored division, the performance of the 227th Division on the battlefield and whether the reorganization of the "second-digit" division should continue has caused great controversy.
The commander of the 227th Division, Qu Shounian, was a newcomer to the Northwest Army and remained silent most of the time. However, the chief of staff of the 227th Division, Colonel Kang Keling, who graduated from the second term of the Northwest Army School, highly praised the results of the reorganization at the meeting and believed that the reorganized 227th Division could steadily suppress the Japanese squadrons and integrated battalions in battles at the battalion and company levels.
The Second Army disagreed with this. Several staff officers who participated in the review meeting spread the theory that reorganization was useless outside the venue. They believed that the 227th Division did not demonstrate superiority over the other participating divisions, so that it would take 2 to 3 divisions to fight against one Japanese division. In this case, it would be better not to reorganize it, at least saving the time for each unit to adapt to the new system.
The dispute between the two triggered a great discussion within the military. There was a lot of discussion on whether to reorganize and how to reorganize. Even the Military Commission's Organization Bureau could not make up its mind. Ultimately, this issue fell directly on the desk of the highest level in the Northwest.
"What are your opinions on how to proceed with the reorganization?"
At the small conference table in Dai Jiliang's office, the most core group of people in the Northwest National Defense Army were listening respectfully to the questions from their highest commander.
"Let's talk about them one by one, starting with Yu Jing."
Hu Yujin, who had just been transferred to the General Staff as a senior staff officer, immediately stood up and replied: "Your Excellency, Vice President, Chief of Staff, I personally believe that the reorganization of each division is imperative. This is an unshakable premise, and its purpose must be to enhance the combat effectiveness of our army. As for how to reform, we should allow the discussion below."
"I don't want to hear what's being discussed down there."
Dai Jiliang glanced at the cunning Hu Gaocan.
"I followed your advice."
"yes."
Hu Yujin responded.
"There are two mainstream opinions in the military now. The first opinion is that the combat capability of a single division should be strengthened, so more firepower should be incorporated into the division level. The second opinion is that there is no need to strengthen the firepower at the division level, and even the firepower at the division level should be reduced, so as to control the main special forces at the army level."
After saying the transition words, Hu Yujin expressed his own views.
“I personally prefer the second one.”
Hu Yujin explained.
"This is based on the following three reasons: First, most of our current combat areas are mountainous terrains, and our army's 105mm or larger caliber artillery needs to be towed by trucks, which is not suitable for maneuvering in mountainous terrains. In addition, artillery with a caliber of less than 75mm also needs a large number of mules and horses to tow or carry, which further increases the pressure on logistics."
"The second reason is that too many special forces will inevitably reduce the number of frontline combat troops. At present, although the Japanese army's firepower is strong, it is not to the point where our army cannot resist it. At most, in wartime, the army level can temporarily allocate artillery, anti-aircraft troops, and tank units to strengthen firepower."
"Third, I think that even if we strengthen the firepower of the division level, our army still needs 2-3 divisions to counter one Japanese division. In this case, why should we insist on building at the division level? We can completely consider the deployment issues in a unified manner according to the tactics of the upper four against the lower four that your Excellency often mentions. That's all I have to say."
Dai Jiliang nodded, asked Hu Yujin to sit down, and then said to Zhang Daohong: "What do you think, Brother Daohong?"
Zhang Daohong was originally the deputy chief of staff of the Northwest National Defense Army, but with the addition of Xu Yongchang, Zhou Yawei and others, the number of deputy chiefs of staff was too large. Therefore, he took the initiative to apply to Dai Jiliang for demotion. Dai Jiliang was very pleased with his noble character. Therefore, although he was demoted to a senior adviser, like Hu Yujin, he was a deputy chief of staff without the title of deputy chief of staff.
"From the perspective of Western military theory and the current military system, there has never been a practice of weakening the firepower at the division level in order to strengthen the firepower at the army level."
Zhang Daohong obviously disagreed with Hu Yujin's opinion.
"Moreover, in our military system, divisions and division clusters are the main combat units. I find it hard to imagine that every battle is planned and scheduled properly. Otherwise, how can we allocate enough firepower to participate in the battle through the army level? Therefore, I believe that the firepower at the division level can only be increased, not reduced."
After Zhang Daohong sat down, Dai Jiliang continued to call on him, "What do you think, Brother Zhenjia?"
The second deputy chief of staff Zhou Yawei stood up and said, "There is one issue that I think is worth noting. That is, the area controlled by our army is vast. There is the border defense area of Mongolia, the infinite desert of the Kunlun group, the high and cold plains of the Qinghai-Tibet group, and the mountainous terrain of the Sichuan border. How can the division-level units with one system adapt to so many complex environments? This is the key to reorganization. So I think that if we want to achieve a single system, we must weaken the firepower at the division level to adapt to the subordinates in different situations, and then strengthen the special forces at the army and group level to prepare for long-term garrison."
Zhou Yawei had a reason for saying this, because the "two-character" divisions were rotated between the eastern and western theaters of war. The distance from the northwestern Jinshan Province to the Henan battlefield was at least 2,000 kilometers. If there were too many special forces such as artillery, the back and forth movement would actually be a waste of transportation capacity. And as he said, heavy divisions were not suitable for deployment in mountainous terrain such as Qinghai-Tibet and Sichuan, unless they were lightweight general-purpose divisions.
"There is a problem. I don't know if you noticed it."
Zhang Binnan, who had returned to serve as deputy commander-in-chief, suddenly interjected.
"Now all the units are reducing their firepower according to our old system. It doesn't matter if our army increases its firepower, but if our army reduces its firepower, should it also be extended to all units?"
"Brother Binnan is over-worrying."
Chief of Staff Zhang Zili said so.
"Even if we reduce our firepower, the number of our special forces is still greater than that of other units, so there is no need to reduce their numbers."
Zhang Zili took out a stack of papers from the briefcase beside the chair, and Hu Yujin immediately stood up, took it and distributed it to everyone one by one.
"This is the reorganization plan for the remaining divisions designed by the Military Commission Organization Bureau based on the reorganization plan of the 227th Division. You can take a look at it."
Dai Jiliang had seen this plan, in which the first-level squad was still planned to have 15 people, but the number of machine guns was reduced to one anti-Czech light machine gun.
The platoon consists of 3 squads.
The company is also composed of 3 infantry platoons and 1 firepower platoon, but the firepower platoon is only equipped with Maxim heavy machine guns and grenade launchers without mortars.
The battalion is composed of 3 infantry companies and 1 headquarters company. The headquarters company is composed of a baggage platoon, a communications platoon, a medical platoon and a mortar platoon. The main supporting firepower is 2 82mm mortars.
The regiment consists of three battalions, plus one 6-gun 82mm mortar company or one 4-gun 120mm heavy mortar company, and one baggage company.
The division is composed of three infantry regiments, plus a six-gun mountain artillery company and auxiliary units such as the baggage battalion and the engineering company, with a total strength of about 12,000 people.
In a sense, no matter how the firepower of the "two-digit division" is reduced, it will not be weaker than the division in this plan.
"The purpose of the reorganization is certainly not to make other troops stronger, nor is it to make our army weaker."
Dai Jiliang said so.
"In fact, the purpose of our reorganization is to strengthen the division's combat capability. We can't just focus on the country and the Japanese, we have to focus on the whole world. So."
Dai Jiliang pointed to the paper in front of him.
"I think one point in Brother Zhenjia's opinion is correct, that is, China's terrain is complex, and it is impossible to come up with a universal organization. So regardless of how the division level is reorganized, it is necessary to strengthen the firepower at the army and cluster level. The reorganization of the light division is now being promoted, and I think the model of the combat group and combat detachment is good. Of course, the situation of special forces and transportation troops is different, so there is no need to copy it, but it is imperative to integrate field heavy artillery and independent artillery under each army."
"I suggest that field heavy artillery regiments and independent artillery brigades be set up under each army and group."
Zhang Binnan followed Dai Jiliang's suggestion.
"In addition, each fortress and garrison area should establish a fortress (garrison) artillery regiment, a fortress (garrison) heavy artillery regiment, and a fortress (garrison) anti-aircraft artillery regiment."
The second half of Zhang Binnan's suggestion was actually to separate the connection between the garrison troops in the fortress area and the permanent artillery. Dai Jiliang did not comment on this, but based on the approval of the first half of Zhang Binnan's suggestion, Zhou Yawei added his suggestion: "Your Excellency, since the field heavy artillery regiment and independent artillery brigade are organized at the army level, then I suggest that the 105mm heavy artillery battalion and divisional mountain artillery battalion, as well as the regimental air defense and anti-tank artillery companies equipped by the existing divisions be eliminated. The division will retain the air defense battalion, the regiment will retain the mountain and field artillery company, and the regimental anti-tank artillery company and the regimental anti-aircraft machine gun company will be incorporated into the battalion level as a platoon to strengthen the front-line firepower."
"I agree with the suggestion to incorporate anti-tank guns and anti-aircraft machine guns into the battalion, but Your Majesty, I think it is not advisable to cancel the heavy artillery battalions of the 201st to 212th Divisions."
Zhang Daohong immediately retorted.
"Canceling the mountain and field artillery battalions of each division would be a suicidal action."
Zhou Yawei refuted bluntly: "The heavy artillery battalion needs to organize towing trucks. How can we ensure that the fuel supply is not interrupted in the battlefield? In addition, in order to cover the heavy artillery, do we need to concentrate the air defense forces? How do we solve the air defense of the front-line troops?"
Zhang Daohong immediately raised his voice: "Then increase the number of air defense units in each division."
"Increase the number of air defense forces?"
Zhou Yawei shook his head.
"Can the Ordnance Department guarantee the supply ? This is why I suggest that after the establishment of the military artillery brigade, the mountain and field artillery battalions of each division be abolished. Your Excellency, Vice-President, Chief of Staff, the key constraint on our army now is the insufficient supply of arms. I have asked Director Chen, the supply of military steel has reached its limit and cannot support the expansion plan at all."
Zhang Daohong was speechless. Yes, no matter how good the plan is, it will be useless if it cannot be implemented.
At this time, Dai Jiliang suddenly stood up and walked to the phone: "Connect me to Chen Guang."
Soon the call was connected, and Dai Jiliang asked, "What is the current production status of various types of artillery?"
Not knowing what Chen Guang reported on the other end of the phone, Dai Jiliang ordered with a serious face: "The established production target must be completed under the premise of ensuring quality and quantity. In addition, the production must be accelerated. If there are not enough mountain guns, use more mortars!"
After hanging up the phone and returning to the small conference table, Dai Jiliang glanced at everyone and said, "I give the order."
All of them stood up straight at once. "Each army group and each army should immediately organize a field heavy artillery regiment, an independent artillery brigade, and an independent siege artillery battalion. At the same time, the divisional heavy artillery battalion should be abolished, and the divisional mountain and field artillery battalion should be retained. In addition, the regimental artillery company should immediately prepare to replace it with heavy mortars with a caliber of 150 mm or more."
