Chapter 214 A Hilarious Parachute Landing

In the early morning of May 8, 1941, the Japanese battle command post.

Looking at the casualty and loss report sent back from the front line, Okamura Neiji's heart was gradually filled with anger. There seemed to be a line of words written on his face, that is, coming with high hopes and returning with low hopes.

Thirteen hours have passed since the battle officially began.

All four of the original offensive routes had accidents, and none of them were opened, and the heavy weapons and land aviation of the enemy suffered heavy losses.

Okamura Neiji claimed to be an iron-blooded soldier. He could not care about the lives of grassroots soldiers and officers. After all, the mainland would replenish troops as needed every once in a while.

But the loss of such a large number of armored forces and aircraft was a bit too much for him, the commander of the North China Front Army.

Moreover, everyone in the command post knew one thing. If the progress of the offensive continued like this, the price paid by the six divisions would increase.

All this was because Okamura Neiji misjudged the relationship between the Eighth Route Army and the Zhongtiaoshan defenders, which directly led to the strategic failure of the North China Front Army.

The old devils never expected that there were people in the world who really repaid grievances with virtue.

Tactical failures can be compensated by relying on their own hard power, but strategic failures are usually difficult to remedy.

Now, six divisions can't push the two armies of Guosu, which is hard for Okamura Neiji, who has always been self-righteous, to accept.

If Amaterasu can give him a chance to start over, the old devils will definitely choose to use six divisions to launch an unprecedented sweep in Shanxi Province.

At this point, we can only think of ways to break the deadlock.

"Tanabe-kun, how is the offensive of the 41st Division? Now we must take Yuanqu County at all costs. Only by successfully dividing the two armies in Zhongtiao Mountain can we implement division and encirclement."

"If this step can't be done, don't talk about gradual annihilation."

Tanabe Shengwu looked at the information in his hand, and then showed a very embarrassed expression.

As the previous commander of the 41st Division, he knew clearly how much the troops had.

"Commander, if the Eighth Route Army's air force does not continue to be deployed, it will take at least three days to break through the enemy's defense with the existing heavy firepower on the northern line of Zhongtiao Mountain."

"Without artillery coverage, most of the armored forces and the Army Aviation, the 41st Division's soft attack and breakthrough have been reduced to the lowest point."

"Even if the warriors of our brother country are brave and fearless, they still need to use human lives to tear open the gap."

Although Okamura Neiji had guessed the answer to the question, it was a different feeling to hear his chief of staff say it in person. He rubbed his eyebrows and said very tiredly:

"How many fighters and bombers do we still have in Taiyuan? When can the support be in place?"

Tanabe Moritake was silent for a few seconds, and he silently calculated in his mind.

"There are still 21 Type 97 fighters that can be used across the board, and 67 bombers of various types that can be deployed."

"It will take half a day for the Army Aviation to arrive at the battlefield from Central China. It is expected to have one flight regiment. It includes two flying squadrons of fighters and one flying squadron of light bombers."

"The Mongolian Army will also send a batch of anti-aircraft weapons. The specific situation depends on the transportation of the railway."

After listening to the report, Okamura Neiji nodded helplessly. Losing so much equipment is more painful than killing him. After thinking for a moment, he came to the strategic situation map.

"We can't delay any longer. We will act immediately at dawn. We must take down Yuanqu County today. If we delay any longer, the main force of the Eighth Route Army will come to support us."

"Once we are attacked from both sides, the consequences will be disastrous. Prepare to use our secret weapons. Our country never keeps idle people. It's time for them to be loyal to His Majesty Tianhuang."

"Hey!"

Although he verbally agreed to his commander, Tanabe Shigetake obviously had some concerns. When there was no one around, he turned sideways and whispered:

"You should know that it is still an experimental unit. As for their specific performance on the battlefield, I always have doubts."

"I believe you have heard some negative comments about the air support team."

After hearing this, Okamura Neiji's face turned black.

It was not because the chief of staff questioned his order, but mainly because the paratrooper unit under his command was really not something that could stand up to expectations.

When it was first formed, the top leaders of the army were tricked by the north and the ugly country, and all kinds of jokes emerged one after another.

Although all the soldiers and grassroots officers were elites drawn from the North China Front Army, and the colonel in charge of training often boasted about the so-called new tactics.

But almost no one in the entire expeditionary army was optimistic about them. It was not an exaggeration to say that they had a bad reputation and were abandoned by people.

"Tanabe-kun, we have no choice now. If we fail to take Yuanqu County, we will have to pay a huge price even if we win the battle. Neither you nor I can bear this responsibility."

"Mobilize all fighters and send transport planes and paratroopers to the enemy's rear. As long as half of the soldiers can reach the designated location, the chance of breaking the deadlock will double."

Seeing that the commander had made the final decision, Tanabe Shigetake had no choice but to execute the order. But considering his future career, he kindly reminded:

"Commander, it is said that those guys will lose personnel every time they train."

"The consultants who came to assist gave a very low evaluation, saying that their parachuting movements were mechanical and rigid. And their thinking was very rigid, and the hardened infantry thinking in their bones could not be changed."

"They also said that the samurai were excellent as infantry, but not qualified as paratroopers. We should be pessimistic about whether they can achieve results on the battlefield."

Okamura Neiji's face was getting more and more depressed. How could he not know these things?

As an army general, he had studied the emerging branch of the army, the paratroopers. The problem of his own troops was not only training, but also weapons.

The paratroopers of European military powers were equipped with a large number of submachine guns.

But the Japanese army's submachine guns were only equipped in February this year, and it was not known when it would be their turn in the North China Front.

The paratroopers armed with Type 38 rifles, Type 11 light machine guns and Type 89 grenade launchers were not enough in terms of firepower, and their role in the battlefield behind enemy lines was very limited.

"Tanabe-kun, follow the order! I have another plan!"

"The fighting spirit of the 43rd Division in the northern line of Zhongtiao Mountain is very low. I plan to concentrate my forces to force a breakthrough."

"As for how much the secret weapon can play a role, you and I should not think about it. If it doesn't work, just treat it as a transport of an infantry battalion to the north bank of the Yellow River.

"Hi!"

······

Taiyuan Airport, North China Front Air Support Force Base.

Xiao Guan Longping finally waited for the order from the front line. He rushed out of the lounge with his samurai sword in extreme excitement and shouted to the soldiers who were training bayonet:

"In Zhongtiao Mountain! His Excellency Okamura Yasuji has deployed six divisions! But their offensive situation is not ideal! After a whole day, the front line has only advanced one-third of the plan. "

"Now! We are the saviors of the entire North China Expeditionary Force! Next! The battlefield will be taken over by our air support force!"

"Gentlemen! Action! In five minutes, everyone should be ready to set off! "

Although the Japanese colonel was good at speaking and did a good job in pre-war mobilization, the soldiers were just like zombies, just mechanically responding to the call of their superiors.

This unit not only had hard training on weekdays, but also had an incredibly high mortality rate, so there was no morale at all.

Fortunately, Okamura Neiji did not make it difficult for them, and the orders he issued were not very difficult.

The airborne team was only required to destroy the communication system between the defenders of the Zhongtiaoshan defense line based on the existing intelligence.

If there was still strength left, they should try to surround the enemy's division-level command post as much as possible.

Five minutes later, all the soldiers were assembled.

In order to successfully complete the task and live up to Okamura Neiji's trust in him, Ozeki Ryuhei also spent a lot of money.

The Japanese colonel decided to send all his paratroopers to the battlefield at once. In a sense, it is a matter of quantity instead of quality.

They know their own business. The entire airborne team was established not long ago, and the members have only conducted two high-altitude parachute training. Most importantly, this emerging force has no actual combat experience.

Zhongtiao Mountain, which is about to fall into a stalemate, is their first battle, and he, as a commander, is a little unsure.

Looking at the warriors ready to go, Xiaoguan Longping threw away the distracting thoughts in his mind.

He waved to the side, signaling the ground staff of Taiyuan Airport to bring out the things he ordered.

At the same time, the Japanese colonel took out a white headscarf with an ointment flag painted on it from his pocket. Then he took out the oil paint and painted a Warring States warrior painting on his face.

After all the preparations were completed, Xiaoguan Longping took the small wine bowl sent by the ground staff.

"Warriors! It's time to be loyal to His Majesty Tianhuang! I hope you can abandon the fear in your hearts, pick up the weapons in your hands with me, and kill the enemies standing in front of us!"

"Let's go! "

As soon as he finished speaking, he drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp.

Due to the sudden incident, there was no sake prepared at Taiyuan Airport, so the ground crew could only find Fenjiu to make up the number.

Accustomed to low-alcohol sake, Xiaoguan Longping choked hard when he drank white wine for the first time, and his face soon turned red.

The soldiers of the Air Support Team also followed suit, basically following the footsteps of their superiors, with unhealthy blushes on their faces.

Under the leadership of Xiaoguan Longping, everyone boarded the transport plane and some modified Type 97 heavy bombers in an "orderly manner".

If nothing unexpected happens, an accident will happen.

Due to the fighter planes of the Eighth Route Army, a large number of Army Aviation bombers were killed, and the pilots were sent to meet the locusts.

In addition, their Air Support Team was fully deployed, Taiyuan Airport The number of transport planes was far from enough, so the Type 97 heavy bomber from the Army Aviation could only be temporarily transferred to the emergency.

Then the problem came. Pilots of different types of aircraft were so different from each other. Even Erich Hartmann had an accident when he changed planes for the first time.

The pilots who had never been exposed to twin-engine heavy bombers were exhausted just by making the Type 97 heavy bomber take off smoothly.

The huge formation had just left Taiyuan airspace when it collided at an altitude of 3,000 meters.

A Type 97 heavy bomber twisted and turned away from its route, and in a situation that no one expected, it collided with a transport plane.

The accident also forced a Type 97 fighter escorting it to return, and those short-lived paratroopers achieved the achievement of being loyal to the locust before participating in a real battle.

Looking at the wreckage falling from the sky, Xiaoguan Longping swallowed his saliva, and his hands holding the samurai sword trembled a little.

"Baga, it almost hit us! How did these pigs fly the plane? There was no interference from the anti-aircraft guns, and they could actually collide with each other."

"Everyone, don't be nervous! It's just a little accident!"

In the prayers of the devils, the pilots finally drove the fighter plane to the airspace of Zhongtiao Mountain.

Maybe because the pilots of the bombers were too nervous, they actually opened the hatch without saying a word and threw all the weapon boxes placed in the magazine into the position of the preserved fruit defenders in one breath.

After finally reaching the designated area, the 97-heavy bomber leading the way misjudged the airdrop field due to flight illusions, and actually dropped the entire air support team into the col.

Hundreds of devils couldn't even open their parachutes in time, and they fell into the deep mountains like dumplings. The sound of wailing resounded throughout the sky, and many soldiers were still entangled with parachute ropes before they died.

After landing safely, Xiaoguan Longping's face was as ugly as a pig's liver.

Although the entire airborne team had not had time to gather, he conservatively estimated that at least two-fifths of the casualties were non-combat, and he was lucky to be able to gather 500 people in the end.

In fact, he had a bad premonition when the first batch of soldiers landed.

It's just that the machinery did not malfunction, and the hatch was open, so there was no reason not to jump at the last minute.

But the difficulty of actual combat was not a little different from daily training.

Xiaoguan Longping understood one thing after leaving the cabin, that the survival rate of landing almost depended on the luck of the soldiers.

In order to ensure a certain combat effectiveness after landing, he personally ordered some veterans to jump with rifles on their backs.

But according to his observation, many soldiers' parachute ropes were entangled by rifles, and they were broken into pieces when they jumped. Even if they were lucky enough not to be entangled, the rifle might hit the ground and stab themselves.

Even the family heirloom samurai sword he carried with him almost caused trouble and almost cost him his life.

After all the soldiers gathered at the location provided by the signal flare, the old devil almost got a brain congestion. There were more than 800 warriors when they set out, but now there are less than 500 left.

And a lot of weapon boxes were lost, either dropped into the mountains or lost.

Once a battle breaks out, their airborne team can only survive by relying on the Type 14 Nambu in their hands. There are nearly two squadrons, but there are only 120 rifles, five light machine guns and five grenade launchers.

"Baga! Damn Army Air Force pilots! Wait until I get back to Taiyuan! I will definitely grind you to ashes!"

"What are you doing in a daze! Hurry up and confirm our current position! What's wrong with the lack of weapons? I'll take you to grab the preserved fruit troops!"

······

Even though the parachute operation of the North China Front Army was full of jokes, these airborne teams that fell from the sky still scared the 43rd Army guarding near Yuanqu County.

The combat effectiveness and fighting will of this unit were not strong. If it were not for the Eighth Route Army Air Force and the 17th Army on the west, they would probably have been dispersed by the enemy in the first wave of attack.

As a non-pumpkin unit, most of the soldiers of the 43rd Army came from the bottom of society.

Fortunately, its foundation was laid by Yan Laoxi, so there were relatively few conscripts.

However, it is still a fact that the average cultural level of the troops is low. In addition, the soldiers have been exposed to folk stories since childhood and are easily misled by things they have never seen.

When a bunch of things that were not sure whether they were people or monsters fell from the sky, the lower-level soldiers soon panicked, and even their morale dropped a lot for a while.

Fortunately, the northern defense line of Zhongtiao Mountain is the junction of the Fifth Army and the Fourteenth Army.

After patient communication between the two army commanders, they decided that the 43rd Army would send a regiment of troops to the rear to see what happened.

As the saying goes, there is no army without Sichuan.

The commander of this unit transferred to the rear is a Sichuanese.

After leaving Sichuan in 1937, Wang Dahai has been traveling to various war zones. He has participated in almost all the battles, big and small, which is why he can become the regiment commander.

The 21st Regiment itself is a supplementary regiment, and 90% of the regiment are new soldiers.

After half a day of fighting, there are only 800 soldiers left in their regiment. This is the credit of the regiment commander. Without his teaching, the number of casualties would at least double.

However, they don’t have much ammunition in their hands, and basically one encounter is the limit.

On the way to the destination, Wang Dahai has been whispering to comfort the soldiers around him.

"I don't know what kind of treasure it is, but the Japanese can summon gods if they shout. It's such a trivial matter, but it almost caused a commotion?"

"You idiots, don't you see where we are! This is China, what can they summon? Even if they do, they will definitely help us."

"You have a gloomy face all day long, where am I! Don't be afraid! You squat in that Kaka head all day long, you don't look like a soldier!"

In the entire 43rd Army, no one had heard of the new thing called paratroopers.

At that time, many new recruits in the army saw the white parachutes and thought that the Japanese had used some evil things. Inexplicably, an atmosphere of fear spread on the battlefield.

As a veteran, Wang Dahai naturally could not be afraid of these illusory things.

In order to stabilize the soldiers in the regiment, he could only conduct reconnaissance and enlighten the soldiers at the same time. Although the words were a bit rough, they did have the meaning of an instructor.

After hearing the commander's words, the soldiers' expressions were obviously much better. One young man even took the initiative to speak and told what he saw and heard.

"The commander is right! I heard the sound of the plane! Those devils must have been transported by plane, what is there to be afraid of?"

As soon as the voice fell, a bullet from a rifle hit his shoulder at a strange angle.

The young soldier fell to the ground, but he gritted his teeth and tried not to make any sound! If he shouted at this time, it would be a clear message to the enemy devils that there were people here.

"Everyone lie down! There are enemies ahead! Disperse quickly! Be careful of the enemy's grenade launcher! Medical soldier! Carry the wounded to the back!"

Just as Wang Dahai issued the order, a sharp-eyed soldier in the regiment saw the devils in the front. They used trees and rocks as cover and kept approaching them.

At the same time, the sound of the grenade launcher echoed in the mountains and forests, and the reconnaissance team had already had wounded.

"Give me the light machine gun! Give me another helmet! First Battalion Commander, take your men to the northern hillside. If the devils get close, we will all die!"

"Find a way to knock down the grenade launcher! We can't be suppressed by them! We have more people! Don't be afraid, kids!"

Listening to Wang Dahai's voice, the soldiers seemed to have found their backbone. They began to pick up their weapons and began to fight back with the few bunkers.

But compared with these well-trained Japanese troops, a broken supplementary regiment is still not enough.

With the five grenade launchers opening the way, the devil machine gunners lay on the ground with crooked handles and began to fight back. Every precise short burst of fire can cause casualties to the preserved fruit troops.

Even Xiaoguan Longping took the Nanbu 14-type gun and kept shooting to cheer behind a tree.

The two sides only fought for five minutes, and nearly a hundred people in the 21st Regiment had fallen, and the situation was getting more and more unfavorable to them.

"The barrel is too hot! Pour water! Prepare a few more magazines for me, this light machine gun can't stop! If it stops, the devils will come up!"

In theory, the barrel of the Czech light machine gun can be replaced.

But the battle was very fierce at this time, and the distance between the enemy and us was only 400 meters. And this distance was getting closer every second, so there was no time to change the barrel.

What's more, the two machine guns of the 21st Regiment were given by the superiors before departure, so there was no spare barrel.

Just when the water was just poured on the barrel, a grenade from a grenade launcher hit Wang Dahai's vicinity. The conscientious regiment commander moved the machine gun several times, but the enemy still seized the opportunity.

Fortunately, his injury was not fatal, but he could not participate in the battle for a while.

At the same time, dozens of devils holding Type 38 rifles and holding bayonets quietly touched the side of the 21st Regiment. At the moment when the light machine gun was turned off, they launched a charge.

"It's a black card! Load!"

The drugged Japanese soldiers rushed forward in groups of two, using everything that could be used as cover. This elite Japanese soldier with murderous intent made the recruits panic for a while.

At the critical moment, the sound of the Czech light machine gun echoed in the mountains and forests again. The second battalion commander took over Wang Dahai's position and started shooting at the Japanese soldiers rushing over with a machine gun.

"Don't stand there, get ready to change the magazine."

"What are you panicking about? We old soldiers haven't died yet."

"Everyone prepare grenades! Listen to my orders! Throw them when I say!"

When the Japanese soldiers were about to rush into this position that was not considered a position, more than 30 wooden-handled grenades were thrown on their way, and the crisis of hand-to-hand combat was temporarily resolved.

The soldier next to the second battalion commander looked only sixteen or seventeen years old. He stumbled and pressed the bullets, and said in a voice so small that others could not hear:

"If there really is a god, please come and save us!"

The time of the new chapter is very hellish, but it's 6k!

I want 10,000 yen today!