HCB Chapter 869: The 51st Division was bombed
Chapter 869: The 51st Division was bombed
Zhang Yunhe said after hearing this: "It seems that we can catch the devils off guard by covering them with artillery fire before they wake up. By the time they are about to take up their weapons and fight, our tanks have already passed by."
"Very good, Captain Yang, please come up with a battle plan as soon as possible and submit it to me before 7 o'clock tonight. At 9 o'clock tonight, please come back for a battle meeting. Dismissed!"
All the officers stood up and stood at attention, watching Zhang Yunhe turn and leave.
5pm, Songgang South.
The Japanese 51st Division is setting up camp in an open space, preparing to camp here overnight and march south early tomorrow morning to meet up with the 104th Division. Anyway, it is only half a day's journey, so there is no rush. As long as they can arrive tomorrow, it will be fine.
Inside the division's temporary command headquarters.
Kanichiro Ueno sat on a small stool outside the tent door with a cup of coffee. While drinking coffee, he watched the soldiers in the camp set up tents one by one.
At this time, the Chief of Staff, Colonel Kumao Ohashi, came over and bent down and said, "Your Excellency, the reconnaissance planes on the island have already conducted reconnaissance on us twice today. I am worried that they will send bomber groups to bomb us. I suggest that each regiment set up camp separately."
"Also, have the supply corps hide in the nearby mountains and forests to avoid being used as sitting ducks."
After hearing this, Ueno Kanichiro asked, "How many times have we been attacked and strafed by enemy fighter planes in the past few days?"
Ohashi Xiongxiong replied, "There have been two bombings almost every day, and three at most. From the time we left Xiangshan until now, we've been killed or wounded by over 400 people during our march, the equivalent of two squadrons of soldiers! I think for safety's sake, it's better to be cautious."
"We're almost at the battlefield now. We mustn't suffer heavy losses on the eve of the battle!"
Ueno Kanichiro thought about it and agreed: "Okay, give orders to the 51st Infantry Regiment, the 102nd Infantry Regiment, the 105th Infantry Regiment, the 14th Field Artillery Regiment, the 51st Engineer Regiment, and the 51st Supply Regiment. Tell them to disperse and set up camp in selected locations. Don't get too close to each other."
"Also, have the 51st Search Regiment set up camp 10 kilometers ahead, and send out search teams to clear any suspicious targets within a 10-kilometer radius."
"Hayi!"
Shortly after Ohashi Kumao delivered the order, a beeping sound was heard from the tent. A communications officer quickly emerged with a folder and stood at attention beside Ueno Kan'ichirō. "Your Excellency, the 23rd Army Headquarters has forwarded a message stating that the 19th Independent Mixed Brigade has embarked this morning and, under the protection of the 7th Escort Fleet, is heading towards the island at a speed of 4 knots. It is expected to arrive in the waters near the island around 3:00 PM the day after tomorrow."
"The sailing speed is only 4 knots? Why is it so slow?" Ueno Kanichiro frowned when he heard this. After he said that, he took the telegram and took a look at it.
The communications officer replied, "Sir, this is because the soldiers of the 19th Independent Mixed Brigade are riding on collected merchant ships and fishing boats. Only a few of these ships have mechanical power, while most fishing boats are powered only by sails. Therefore, the sailing speed is..."
After hearing this, Kanichiro Ueno waved his hand, and the communications staff officer bowed his head and turned to walk into the tent.
At this moment, bursts of roars were heard in the sky.
The Japanese soldiers who were busy in the camp all looked in the direction where the roar came from.
Suddenly, a large group of fighter planes and bombers appeared in the southern sky. Under the setting sun, the fuselages of these fighter planes and bombers reflected bursts of metallic light.
"Enemy planes, enemy planes are coming, find a place to hide quickly..." A Japanese officer who was the first to react in the camp let out a shrill cry.
Over the past week, they had been bombed and strafed too many times, with many people killed or injured each time. Therefore, the Japanese had developed a conditioned reflex when they heard the roar coming from the sky.
Although there were only a few planes strafing and bombing the 51st Division each time, the casualties were always heavy, and a fear had been deeply planted in their hearts during these days.
The camp, which had not yet been fully set up, was suddenly in chaos. The Japanese officers and soldiers ran around everywhere, trying to find a hidden place to avoid bombing and strafing. Many tents that had just been set up were knocked down, and many soldiers were pushed down and trampled by their companions.
In the sky, the first flight formation has arrived, with a total of 22 fighter jets and bombers.
The captain gave the order over the communication channel: "The first squadron is responsible for attacking the Japanese anti-aircraft units and densely populated camps; the second squadron is responsible for attacking the Japanese field artillery regiment; the third squadron is responsible for attacking the Japanese supply regiment. Once the ammunition is exhausted, return immediately. Do you understand?"
"I understand!" The voices of the squadron leaders came from the communication channel.
"Okay, let's take action!"
The 22 fighter planes and bombers quickly divided into three parts and rushed towards their respective targets.
The two bombers of the first squadron first discovered a densely populated Japanese camp and immediately flew over and dropped aerial bombs.
When the other fighter planes saw the Japanese setting up anti-aircraft machine guns on the ground, they immediately pressed the joystick and dived down.
Several tongues of fire shot down from the sky, and several anti-aircraft machine guns and Japanese soldiers who had not had time to fire were torn to pieces.
The aerial bomb made a sharp whistling sound when it fell from the sky, and then the bomb landed on the ground, and a huge explosion was heard. Powerful and terrifying air waves rushed out, and all the Japanese soldiers, guns and supplies within a radius of dozens of meters were blown away.
The explosion was deafening, and the ground was shaking and trembling violently. The ground was covered with thick smoke and flying wet soil and weed fragments, mixed with blood and flesh.
"We've found the Japanese supply corps in the southeast direction. Follow me, everyone in the third squadron!" The captain of the third squadron shouted in the communication channel, and the four fighter planes and three bombers immediately turned around and flew towards the southeast.
When they were about to fly over the Japanese baggage train, the captain of the third squadron shouted in the communication channel: "First blow up their baggage trains, then shoot at the baggage train soldiers!"
The baggage train had a large number of trucks, horses and carriages. At this time, these trucks, horses and carriages were gathered together, which was very conspicuous when viewed from the air. These trucks and carriages not only had a large amount of food and military supplies, but also a large number of bullets, grenades and artillery shells.
"bomb!"
The aerial bomb fell from the belly of the plane and landed rapidly, making a sharp whistling sound as it pierced the air resistance, followed by a continuous roar of explosions.
Trucks and carriages were overturned and caught fire, and the weapons on the vehicles quickly caught fire. Several bombs fell on trucks carrying a large number of artillery shells, causing a chain reaction explosion, and all people and objects nearby were instantly engulfed.