Volume 1 Chapter 97 Iron Turtle
A Type 95 light tank led the way, followed by a Type 97 medium tank and a Type 95 light tank, advancing in a triangle.
Cooperating with the tank squad in the attack was the Watanabe Squadron, which had about 180 people. In addition to 109 rifles, the squadron was equipped with 6 light machine guns, 9 grenade launchers, and 2 heavy machine guns.
They were alert all around, ready to kill any Eighth Route Army soldier who attempted to rush up and blow up the tanks.
Following behind the tanks was the Yamada Battalion of the Kasahara Regiment.
Another group of Japanese soldiers from Kato's battalion were preparing to attack the independent regiment's position by making a detour along the hillsides on both sides.
The Taihang Mountains make the mountains in Shanxi undulating and the valleys crisscross, with many sunken basins and deep valleys cut by rivers.
The Japanese army had no power here at all.
It was precisely because of the unique terrain created by the Taihang Mountains that the poorly equipped Eighth Route Army was able to fight against the more powerful Japanese army.
Before the Japanese tanks came close, the artillery squadron of the Kasahara Regiment had already shown its power.
Each artillery unit has adjusted the firing angle, and the muzzles are all pointing at the position of the independent regiment.
As soon as the order to fire was received, a series of commands rang out from the artillery position, and soon the first test-fired shell flew out of the gun barrel.
After a test firing, there was another round of commands to adjust the data at each artillery position, and then five rounds of salvos began immediately.
In order to capture the independent regiment's defense line in one fell swoop, Colonel Kasahara transferred the infantry artillery of his three battalions to the artillery squadron for unified command.
12 Type 92 70mm infantry guns fired together!
There were series of loud thunders in the sky. When I looked up, I saw a sky full of shooting stars, making the night sky exceptionally brilliant and gorgeous.
Groups of artillery shells fell one after another, and the independent regiment's position was covered with dust.
Even though they were hiding in foxholes and trenches, the noise, blast and vibrations from the explosions made the soldiers of the independent regiment feel dizzy.
The hilltop and the ground seemed to be cut off by three points. When the tank squad was only 300 meters away from the independent regiment's position, the Japanese artillery fire stopped.
Leaning out from the roof of the tank, Lieutenant Colonel Hiroshi Ageo was observing the situation at the independent regiment's position with a telescope.
From a distance, he saw a sea of fire on the Eighth Route Army's defense line.
Do you expect to use underground fortifications to resist the Imperial Japanese Army?
You guys are a bunch of peasants who don't even have a few mortars. You are like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
pity!
Under the artillery fire of the Imperial Japanese Army, there should be few survivors on the enemy's position now!
All we could find when we went up there was a pile of corpses.
I don't know what the point of Colonel Kasahara asking us to attack is?
Lieutenant Colonel Hiroshi Ageo shouted into the intercom.
"Charge forward, quickly occupy the enemy's position, and then charge towards the Eighth Route Army's headquarters!"
Hiroshi Aoi didn't even take a division of the Eighth Route Army seriously, let alone a mere independent regiment.
He now only wanted to quickly occupy the position and then attack the Eighth Route Army headquarters.
As Lieutenant Colonel Hiroshi Ageo's order was issued, the tanks, which had been advancing at a slow speed to accommodate the infantry, immediately sped up and rushed towards the defense line urgently built by the independent regiment.
In order to keep up with the tank squadron, the Watanabe Squadron following behind had to run forward as fast as possible.
The tank was about 100 meters away from the independent regiment's position and slowed down slightly to prevent the enemy from rushing out of the tunnel with explosives and perishing together!
Lieutenant Colonel Ageo shouted loudly.
"fire!"
The muzzles of the three tanks were adjusted, and the 47mm gun of the Type 97 medium tank and the 37mm guns of the two Type 95 light tanks fired while advancing.
The shells hit the ground at the front of the tunnel and exploded with a loud bang, stirring up the soil that fell into the trench.
The soldiers of the independent regiment shook their heads to shake off the dirt on their heads.
Li Yunlong warned loudly, "Everyone, stay put and follow my orders!"
The soldiers from the first and second battalions were all hiding in the tunnels. Only three or four platoon leaders and company commanders who were in charge of observation carefully raised their heads and watched for the movements of the Japanese.
A platoon leader was careless and his head popped out a little too much.
The machine gun on the tank fired at him, directly blowing off the top of his head.
He fell to the ground with a thud, and his blood dyed the ground red.
"Platoon leader!"
"Platoon leader!"
…
The soldiers of the 2nd Platoon, 1st Company, 2nd Battalion shouted in grief and anger when they saw that their platoon leader had died!
Li Yunlong saw that his men were a little bit impatient, so he shouted urgently, "Don't be impulsive! This is an order!"
Hearing Li Yunlong's order, the soldiers of the independent regiment grabbed their guns in grief and anger, their teeth chattering.
The Japanese Watanabe Squadron came up with them, holding their guns and guarding the tunnel. The grenade shooters also placed their grenade launchers on the ground, ready to fire grenades at the position at any time!
Li Yunlong was so angry when he saw the arrogant Japanese soldiers through the telescope that he hammered the mud wall of the tunnel with the back of his hand.
If the Japanese dared to charge in the past, Li Yunlong would have ordered the entire regiment to put up bayonets and prepare for a countercharge.
But it won’t work this time, the Japanese Iron Turtle is very powerful.
The bullet hit the tank body, leaving only a white spot and a clanging sound, without any effect at all.
If the soldiers rushed forward, they would either be shot to death by the Japanese machine guns or crushed to death.
This is not a charge, it's suicide.
If I had a Type 92 infantry gun, I would not have allowed the Japanese to be so rampant.
It’s a pity that I don’t have one!
Although I know that the hope is slim, the only way to stop the Japanese iron turtle is to rely on cluster grenades!
Seeing that the Japanese Iron Turtle was about to kill him, Li Yunlong shouted, "Zhang Dabiao, prepare to organize a death squad!"
"Yes!" Zhang Dabiao was just about to organize manpower.
Zhao Gang ran over and shouted before he even had time to catch his breath, "Wait a minute! I brought incendiary bombs, let's see if I can destroy the Japs' iron turtle!"
When Li Yunlong heard that Zhao Gang had brought incendiary bombs, he couldn't help but ask doubtfully, "Old Zhao, do you really believe that this incendiary bomb can blow up the Japanese's iron turtle?"
"You'll know if it works after you try it!"
Li Yunlong saw the arrogant Japanese tanks and shouted, "Platoon Leader 3, you will be responsible for throwing the incendiary bombs. The First Battalion will assist! Zhang Dabiao will organize a death squad. If the incendiary bombs don't work, the death squad will go!"
Platoon leader Wang Gensheng used to herd sheep for the landlord when he was a child, in order to manage the sheep well.
Since he was a child, he has learned the skill of throwing stones to drive away sheep.
Throwing grenades is accurate and powerful!
If we were to say who in the independent regiment is most confident in throwing the incendiary bomb at the Japanese's iron turtle, it would be him!
"yes!"
Upon hearing the order, the first battalion commander Zhang Dabiao and the third platoon leader Wang Gensheng immediately bent down and led the soldiers along the tunnel towards the Japanese tanks.
Lieutenant Colonel Hiroshi Kamio observed the situation in the enemy position from the tank.
A mocking smile appeared on Hiroshi Ageo's face.
Do you expect to rely on just one village to resist the Imperial Japanese Army?
A bunch of ignorant Chinese people. How can they be a match for our Imperial Japanese Army with their backward weapons?
Hiroshi Ageo shouted into the intercom.
"Hurry! The enemy is no match for our heroic Imperial Army tanks. Charge forward and crush them all to death!"
Seeing that the Japanese tank was only 30 meters away, even the dirt above his head was shaking and falling down, landing on his head.
Zhang Dabiao shouted. "The Japanese iron turtle is coming up!"
When Wang Gensheng heard this, he immediately raised his head and looked outside cautiously.
Sure enough, the Japanese tanks were about to drive over.
Zhang Dabiao shouted immediately, "Platoon Leader Wang, it's your turn now!"
