20demayo Chapter 130 At Taierzhuang, there are no cowards who retreat, only heroes who advance.
Chapter 130 At Taierzhuang, there are no cowards who retreat, only heroes who advance.
"Attention enemy tanks!!! Requesting backup!!!"
A Japanese sergeant on one side roared angrily.
In other streets and alleys, the armored personnel carriers of the guard battalion were also roaring as they advanced along the streets.
Meanwhile, the soldiers of the guard battalion maintained their skillful infantry-tank combined arms tactics, following behind the tanks and dodging bullets flying from the front.
The Japanese army also had tanks and armored vehicles, which destroyed the armored personnel carriers of the guard battalion.
After all, the armor plates on these armored personnel carriers were not much thicker than those on Japanese tanks.
Even the 37mm anti-tank guns used by the Japanese army were enough to penetrate it.
Armored personnel carriers are heavily armed and can inflict fatal damage on Japanese tanks.
Whether it's adding a 75mm short-barreled gun, a 45mm anti-tank gun, or a 20mm Solothurn machine gun, using armor-piercing shells or even high-explosive shells, they can all effectively damage the frontal armor of Japanese tanks.
While the tanks were exchanging fire, the infantry battles continued.
The guard battalion had over a hundred armored tracked vehicles, and although only a few hundred soldiers participated in the counterattack, the 31st Division of the Northwest Army also provided fire support.
The infantrymen of the 31st Division saw Japanese tanks being easily destroyed in the streets. Some were pierced through the armor and remained motionless, paralyzed on the spot. Others were detonated, with their turrets blown off, causing collateral damage to the surrounding Japanese soldiers.
"The brothers of the Independent Detachment are amazing! These Japanese devils' iron lumps are no match for them at all."
"Our Northwest Army can't lose face! Brothers, let's charge in and drive the Japanese devils out of Taierzhuang!!!"
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Amidst roars, large numbers of infantrymen advanced, following armored personnel carriers.
In terms of combat performance, those armored personnel carriers were actually quite different from Japanese tanks.
However, in terms of numbers, this Japanese tank company was far inferior and was basically being crushed.
Even after destroying one armored personnel carrier, three more armored personnel carriers could still rush out and fire at the Japanese tanks.
Tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed one after another; the Japanese army was at its last gasp.
Relying solely on infantry firepower to stop the surging, torrent-like steel might be no easy task.
Isogai Rensuke, who personally went to the front line to command the battle, heard the sounds of fierce fighting in the northeast corner of Taierzhuang, which seemed to be even more intense than before.
"What's the situation east of Taierzhuang? The explosions seem to be getting more and more intense."
Eighth Brigade Commander: Takehira Mitsuru
"It should be a counterattack organized by the enemy. As you should know, although the overall combat effectiveness of these Chinese troops is not very good, they can sometimes unleash a very strong fighting spirit."
At this point, he added with a cold laugh.
"Of course, no matter how strong the fighting will, it cannot stop steel and flames."
Clearly, he did not believe that his armored forces would lose to these remnants of the Northwest Army.
At that very moment, a communications soldier suddenly stood up and said:
"Report: News has come from the east of the city that enemy armored forces have suddenly attacked. Our tank squadron has suffered heavy losses and has been pushed back to the northwest corner by the enemy. Requesting reinforcements."
"What?"
Both Rensuke Isogai and Takehira Sei were taken aback.
With his cold gaze, Isogai Rensuke quickly realized what was going on.
"It's Li Jianghe's armored forces. Good, they've come at the right time. Order the artillery to concentrate their fire on the eastern part of Taierzhuang."
Sei Takehira hurriedly said:
"Commander, please calm down. Our troops are still in the East District. If we launch a barrage at this time, it could easily cause friendly fire."
But Isogai Rensuke's gaze was icy as he said:
"Womanly compassion! This is an excellent opportunity to destroy enemy tanks on a large scale. Since they can inflict such damage on our tank squadron, it means the enemy has deployed a large number of tanks. If we don't act now, are we going to wait until the entire East District is recaptured by the enemy before we take action?"
As the order was given, the Northwest Army and the Guard Battalion, which were pushing back against the Japanese troops, suddenly heard a rapid whistling sound.
"Boom!!!!!"
Dozens of shells, including heavy artillery shells, crashed onto the streets of Dongcheng District in an instant.
The surrounding houses, shops, buildings and so on collapsed under the fierce shelling. Many soldiers and armored personnel carriers that were on the move were also hit or damaged by the shells.
Upon seeing this, Wang Huayu, the chief of staff of the 31st Division of the Northwest Army, quickly ran to Long Wenzhang and said:
"Captain Long, the enemy's artillery fire is intense. Should we order the troops to withdraw temporarily? Otherwise, the losses will be heavy."
Ke Longwen's bright eyes reflected the flashes of exploding shells.
There was not a trace of hesitation in his tone.
"No, we must keep moving forward, otherwise all our previous efforts will be in vain. Japanese reinforcements are surely already on their way. If we can't completely drive this Japanese force out of the East District, it will be even more difficult once the enemy reinforcements arrive!!"
Wang Huayu naturally understood what he meant, but this also meant that troop casualties would inevitably increase.
He looked at the streets engulfed in gunfire and finally made up his mind, slamming his hand on the table.
"You Guangxi Army have guts to accompany us, but we Northwest Army are not to be trifled with either!"
Fire three signal flares immediately!!!
The three signal flares in this attack signified – advance forward, with no chance of survival!
As three signal flares soared into the sky, amidst the Japanese artillery fire, the soldiers of the Third Detachment, whose formation and command were somewhat chaotic, as well as the soldiers of the Northwest Army, all turned their attention to the eastern city wall.
Charge forward, there is no chance of survival!
These three signal flares represent the command.
While some Northwest Army soldiers were still hesitating, they saw figures and tanks charging towards the Japanese-occupied streets amidst the flashes of artillery fire.
"When a man dies, he flies to the sky! Nobody wants to be a coward! Brothers, let's go!!!"
A company commander from the Northwest Army roared, drew his broadsword from behind him, and followed the tanks advancing amidst the artillery fire of the Third Detachment. Together, they charged towards the Japanese positions under heavy artillery bombardment.
More Northwest Army soldiers joined in at this moment.
There are no cowards who retreat in Taierzhuang, only heroes who move forward!
On the Japanese positions, they were also being bombarded by their own artillery fire, but relatively less so.
Looking at the streets covered by artillery fire, the Japanese soldiers finally breathed a sigh of relief.
With that density of artillery fire, the enemy couldn't break through.
Moreover, ground reinforcements are already on their way and will all arrive within half an hour.
At that time, they will not only avoid being driven out of the East District by the enemy, but they can also take advantage of the enemy's heavy losses from the artillery bombardment to launch a counterattack and push the enemy back.
The latest chapter is packed with exciting plot twists! Come check it out!