Songhu: Never Give Up

Chapter 53: Anti-aircraft guns are put down, military court (please read and collect)
The Second Battalion officially took over the task of attacking the enemy's naval headquarters. Cooperating with them were the division's anti-aircraft artillery company and the last remaining anti-tank gun of the anti-tank artillery company.

The 527st and 4rd Battalions of the th Regiment served as the reserve forces to cooperate with the nd Battalion in the battle. When Yue Qianli saw the Swiss-made Sulotun anti-aircraft guns of the anti-aircraft artillery company, he was so excited that his mouth couldn't close;
He had heard of this anti-aircraft gun in later generations, but he didn't know much about its combat parameters, so he took the initiative to ask the company commander Luo Zhongbin, who answered like a treasure:
“The gun adopts the automatic recoil mode, and the whole gun consists of two major parts: the gun body and the gun carriage;
The S5-100 artillery has a low trajectory and uses a 20×138 mm long bullet. It can fire single shots, bursts, and automatically, and is extremely powerful.

The maximum air-to-air range is 5600 meters, the effective firing altitude is 2000 meters, the maximum firing altitude is 3400 meters, and the maximum firing rate is 220 rounds per minute.

Yue Qianli nodded and said:

"Okay, this time we won't use it to shoot down planes, but to shoot down enemy tanks and firing points. We'll deploy it at a distance of 2 kilometers to suppress the heavy firepower inside the turtle shell. Is this easy for you?"

"Captain Yue, this is an anti-aircraft gun. Can it be used to attack targets on land?"

Luo Zhongbin obviously has not caught up with Yue Qianli's jumping thinking. This is easy to understand. Yue Qianli remembered that it was the Germans who first used the 88mm anti-aircraft gun to hit tanks horizontally, and the effect was surprisingly good. This time he also wanted to try using the anti-aircraft gun to attack the enemy's firepower points.

Thinking of this, he waved his hand and said:
"Captain Luo, just do as I say. The Second Battalion will launch an attack on the enemy headquarters soon. The task of suppressing the enemy tanks and firing points will be handed over to you."

Luo Zhongbin took the order half-believingly, and Yue Qianli immediately sent a company to launch a tentative attack on the headquarters;
His battle plan was to "pull out the thorns" first, destroy the Japanese tanks and firepower points, then use 107 rockets to blast open the Japanese gate, and then the infantry would take the opportunity to rush in.

In order to minimize the casualties from the Japanese naval guns, the assault troops' attack formation was very scattered;
Yue Qianli gathered all the submachine guns in the battalion and handed them over to the first company, thus making up for the disadvantage of insufficient firepower.

The sparse attack formation did not attract the attention of the Japanese at first. Major Miyamoto even thought that the Chinese were insulting him. A hundred or so people dared to bare their teeth at him, so he immediately ordered to open fire.

At least a dozen light and heavy machine guns fired at the first company, forcing them to unable to raise their heads. People were shot and fell continuously. Fortunately, the distance was well controlled and the casualties were still within the tolerable range.

Seeing that the enemy's firepower point had been exposed, Luo Zhongbin ordered the anti-aircraft artillery company to level the guns and fire at the enemy's firepower point in bursts;
In order to experience the effect, he personally operated an anti-aircraft gun, aimed at a heavy machine gun fire point and fired a short burst of shots. Three 3mm shells flew out of the barrel and accurately hit the target.

Although the 20mm shells could not penetrate the 800mm thick wall, they could hit the machine gun group inside through the window. The effect was very good. A single burst of fire could kill a machine gun fire point.

Their positions were located two kilometers away, and the infantry artillery could not reach them at all, let alone machine guns. The hit rate of naval guns was too low, so they were basically the only ones left to fight the Japanese.

The four anti-aircraft guns quickly suppressed the Japanese heavy firepower. Major Miyamoto's face turned ugly. If the fighting continued like this, their heavy firepower would be destroyed in less than two hours.

Major Miyamoto could only report to the Marine Corps Commander, Major General Okawachi Denshichi:
"Commander, the Chinese offensive is very fierce. We request naval artillery support."

Major General Okawa cursed:
"Bakayaloo, what a bunch of rubbish!"

Despite his curses, he still sent a telegram to the fleet requesting artillery support, and soon rows of naval artillery shells whizzed over;

The officers and soldiers of the company could only squat on the ground and endure it silently. They were not allowed to lie on the ground, otherwise they would be shaken to death.

Because the company's formation was very scattered and the four anti-aircraft guns were hidden separately and tightly, the Japanese artillery fire was not very effective. Most of the shells hit nowhere, and this company alone suffered more than a dozen casualties.

The Japanese naval artillery shells were not cheap, so they stopped after firing a dozen rounds, and the Marines had to rely on themselves for the rest.

After the shelling stopped, the first company continued to attack, but the Japanese still blocked their way in the building, and both sides suffered casualties;

Seeing that the attack of the first company did not elicit a counterattack from the Japanese, Yue Qianli intensified the offensive and sent the second company over, which increased the pressure on the Japanese defense.

In order to prevent them from rushing into the building, Miyamoto once again ordered the firepower inside the building to be full. Suddenly, at least twenty or thirty light and heavy machine guns opened fire at the attacking troops, and the casualties of the Second Battalion increased sharply.

The four anti-aircraft guns continued to suppress the enemy's firepower at a long distance, which gave the 40th rocket launcher group an opportunity. They secretly approached to a distance of about 200 meters and fired rockets at the enemy's firepower point.
Rockets whizzed towards the Japanese firepower points. These "Rangers" became the nightmare of the Japanese machine gunners. With the long-range suppression of anti-aircraft guns, the 40 rocket launchers could hit the Japanese firepower points almost accurately.

The firepower of the Japanese was visibly reduced. After all, the number of their light and heavy machine guns was limited.

Without the suppression of heavy firepower, the infantry gradually approached the building. After consulting with Major General Okawa, Major Miyamoto decided to launch a large-scale counterattack.
20 combat vehicles and tanks and 300 infantrymen were used, which was almost the last mobile force in the headquarters.

There were only more than 2500 people in the headquarters. Two or three hundred of them were killed by the 150 heavy artillery before. The 262nd Brigade killed more than 300 of them and 8 tanks. Then more than 200 of them were killed by the second battalion and the anti-aircraft artillery company. Now there are only more than 1700 troops in the building, many of whom are non-combat personnel of the headquarters.

"Kill the chicken and give it to me!"

Following Major Miyamoto's order, several gates on the front of the Japanese opened almost simultaneously, and tanks and chariots rushed out aggressively, followed by a large number of Japanese infantry.

Liao Jianping immediately ordered a retreat to lure the Japanese into pursuit, and the rest was left to the anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers.

Yue Qianli had already told Luo Zhongbin that if the Japanese attacked, he should release them all and then fight them;
First, concentrate firepower on the tanks at the rear to block their retreat route. In this way, you can close the door and attack the dog, and eliminate them in batches.

Seeing that the Chinese had been defeated, the Japanese tanks arrogantly chased them out. After they all left their lair, Luo Zhongbin took the lead in firing at the Japanese tanks;
The first burst of fire destroyed the last tank and blocked one of the passages.

The sound of his guns was an order, and the other three anti-aircraft guns also opened fire at full power, with a terrifying firing rate of more than 3 rounds per minute, leaving the Japanese without any chance of fighting back.

Tanks and armored vehicles were easily destroyed, and the infantrymen were cut in half by anti-aircraft shells. Their short and strong bodies were torn into pieces, and their deaths were horrific.

Major Miyamoto was completely dumbfounded. This was completely different from the result he had imagined. They were not fighting back, but being slaughtered.

The soldiers of the Second Battalion, who had been fleeing before, turned around and fired wildly at the Japanese infantry, knocking the panicked Japanese to the ground in groups;
This one-sided massacre lasted only a dozen minutes. All 20 fighter planes were turned into scrap metal, and all 300 infantrymen who participated in the counterattack became corpses.

Major Miyamoto then realized that he had been tricked by the Chinese. He regretted it so much that his intestines turned green. He angrily cursed:
"Bakayalu, you're so cunning!"

In the command room, Major General Okawa's expression began to become serious. He thought it was a sure-fire counterattack, but in the end, he lost everything.
Although the attacking national army also retreated, the losses were real. Major General Okawa asked the Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Araki with a gloomy face:
"Araki-kun, how much combat power does the Imperial Army have left?"

"Your Excellency the General, there are still 1567 people and 7 tanks left including the wounded. After activating all the stock equipment, there are still more than 30 light and heavy machine guns, 5 infantry guns, 12 mortars, 20 4mm machine guns, and 37 6mm anti-tank guns. The ammunition is still sufficient." As expected, the chief of staff knew the relevant data like the back of his hand, but a good cook cannot cook without rice, and the decline in combat effectiveness is an indisputable reality.

Major General Okawa saw that there were only seven tanks left and it was impossible to launch a counterattack. Now they had to defend to the death, so he said to Lieutenant Colonel Araki:

"Araki-kun, block all the passages with sandbags, and deploy all the mortars, anti-tank guns, and rapid-fire guns to the ruins on the top floor to suppress the Chinese. They don't have that many heavy artillery shells to consume.
From now on, everyone is ready to sacrifice their lives for the Empire, guard the building with all their might, shoot and kill any targets that approach the building, and hold out until reinforcements land."

Everyone stood up and shouted slogans, which was quite impressive, but the navy was different from the army. Their fighting will and combat effectiveness were much weaker, especially in this desperate situation of being surrounded by heavy troops.
Despite Okawauchi Denshichi's tough words, he hopes more than anyone else that the army's ibex can land as soon as possible, but now he can only fight like a trapped beast.

At the 527th Regiment Headquarters, Liao Lingqi was in a very good mood. This time, the Second Battalion made him proud again. Although it was only a thwart of the Japanese counterattack, it gave him hope of capturing the enemy headquarters. He smiled and said to the First Battalion Commander Li Jie:
"Yue Qianli is a very clever guy. He has wiped out hundreds of Japanese soldiers and 20 iron chariots in one fell swoop. It's enough to make the Japanese soldiers feel very painful.

His battalion is still too small. Your battalion will go over to assist them. We must take down the enemy headquarters as soon as possible. The division commander is eagerly waiting for good news."

Li Jie had been itching to do so. When he saw the regiment commander sending them to support the Second Battalion, he immediately agreed and said excitedly:
"There are only a few thousand Japanese soldiers left in the headquarters. Our two battalions are more than enough to crush their tortoise shells. Just wait and report the victory to the division commander."

In order to strengthen the attack of the Second Battalion, he also assigned the Artillery Battalion to the Second Battalion. After seeing the hope of capturing the enemy headquarters, Liao Lingqi even bet his family fortune and made only one request to Yue Qianli -

"Qianli, the commander has only given us three days to capture the enemy headquarters building. We don't have much time left!"

Li Jie conveyed Liao Lingqi's request to Yue Qianli, and then looked at him expectantly.

Yue Qianli calculated the time when the Japanese reinforcements would land, and then said to Li Jie:
"The Japanese are fighting desperately right now. Three days is a bit tight. If we take them down by force, there will be heavy casualties."

“Qianli, now not only is the division commander watching, but the people of the whole country are waiting for us to recapture Shanghai;

In order to boost the morale of the Chinese people in the war of resistance, no matter how great the sacrifice, it is worth it. Just tell us how to fight. The First Battalion and the Artillery Battalion will unconditionally follow your orders!"

Yue Qianli also knew that the Ninth Army was under tremendous pressure, but a strong attack might wipe out the Second Battalion that he had trained with great effort;

He now had no way to retreat. Thinking of the more than 300,000 elite Nationalist troops who were about to sacrifice in Shanghai, his gaze gradually became firm. This was a national war, and he could not always think about winning at the lowest cost.

"Old Captain, if that's the case, then let's attack with force!"

Li Jie nodded heavily after listening to this. Once this decision was made, the first and second battalions would be almost wiped out, and even the first battalion might be killed.

在岳千里下定强攻的决心后，二营再次发起进攻，炮营的6门民20式82毫米迫击炮和4门20毫米机关炮也全部压了上去；

Their mission was to suppress the heavy firepower on the top floor. In order to blow open the Japanese gate, Yue Qianli even used his own secret weapon.

A loud military call sounded, and the 1st Company of the 2nd Battalion formed into a standard battle formation and launched a strong attack on the front of the building;
They pushed six siege vehicles converted from handcarts, which were piled with sandbags, which looked like a large amount of explosives from a distance.

This was used to attract the enemy's firepower. As expected, the enemy was worried that they would blow up the gate, so they concentrated their light and heavy machine guns to fire at them.
The artillery deployed on the top floor also fired rows of shells at them. The company's casualties increased sharply, and people were shot and fell from time to time, and the ground was stained red with blood.

"Order the artillery battalion to destroy the heavy firepower of the Japanese on the top floor!"

Yue Qianli gave the order coldly that his current attack was to attract the Japanese's firepower and then destroy them with mortars. The rocket launcher's command rate was too low and was not suitable for attacking tough targets.

The Japanese artillery was firing vigorously, and a row of mortar shells whizzed down from the sky, instantly obliterating the artillery positions on the top floor;

The mortar group was very effective against exposed targets. With a three-round rapid fire, the group almost destroyed half of the Japanese artillery, and all the artillerymen were killed or wounded. Yue Qianli's exchange plan achieved very good results.

After suppressing the firepower of the Japanese on the commanding heights, the Second Battalion's offensive resistance was much less. They continued to charge forward under the Japanese's hail of bullets, one after another, causing tremendous pressure on the defending Japanese.

In order to stop their attack, the Japanese could only keep their light and heavy machine guns firing until they were blown up by the rocket launchers of the Second Battalion.

Yue Qianli's offensive tactics were very rough, using infantry attacks to attract the enemy's firepower, and then letting the anti-aircraft guns level to suppress them from a distance, while covering the rocket launcher team to call on them one by one;
This rough style of fighting caused heavy casualties among the infantry, but the effect was also obvious. The Japanese firepower points were destroyed one by one, and both sides engaged in a battle of attrition.

After more than an hour of fierce fighting, the company retreated, with more than half of its men killed or wounded;

Next came the second and third companies. The offensive wave followed wave after wave. The Japanese firepower became weaker and weaker, and the casualties of the attacking troops gradually decreased.

After the Second Battalion attacked for a whole morning, the First Battalion took over in the afternoon. They also attacked in waves, consuming a large amount of the enemy's manpower and firepower. This high-intensity attack lasted for a whole day.
During this period, the Japanese called for naval artillery support many times, and planes came twice, causing heavy casualties to the attacking forces, but still failed to stop the attack of the Nationalist army.

Seeing that it was finally getting dark, Major Miyamoto finally breathed a sigh of relief. The Chinese who had been attacking fiercely for a whole day finally calmed down, but he was not happy at all.

After calculating all the losses, he reported to Major General Okawa:

"General, our artillery has been almost completely destroyed. Now we only have 3 infantry guns, 2 mortars, and 2 anti-tank guns left. More than half of our light and heavy machine guns have been destroyed. We have suffered more than 160 casualties, and the ammunition consumption is huge.
The Chinese are attacking like crazy at all costs. If we continue like this, we won’t last a week.”

Today is the second day of Smart Push, and I will continue to update 1 words a day. Just like yesterday, I still ask readers who like this book to support it. This book is a non-system flow, and it is not a fan fiction of "Dragon Sword". It attracted very little at the beginning, so I hope readers who like this theme will support it.

Please continue to read, collect, vote for me, and recommend!

This chapter is still a long chapter of 4400 words. Thank you for your support. The author promises to update words a day for one month after it is put on the shelves.

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(End of this chapter)