diymy Chapter 37: Japanese tanks deployed, rocket launcher squads make their appearance.
Chapter 37: Japanese tanks deployed, rocket launcher squads make their appearance.
Now we're really happy. With 100,000 bullets distributed, everyone has hundreds of rounds. Even if we fight for another day, we might not be able to use them all.
Everyone was even given a helmet, four grenades, and even a gas mask—they were provided with everything they needed.
Just then, Company Commander Yu Hongzhi ran over to report to his superior:
"Reporting to the commander, the Japanese have crept up, and it looks like they have... tanks and armored vehicles."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions hardened, and they also heard a faint rumbling coming from the darkness.
The National Revolutionary Army was not afraid of the Japanese soldiers on the other side when fighting in Shanghai, but they were afraid of Japanese naval guns, planes, and tanks.
Because they had so few options for dealing with these weapons, they were basically being slaughtered unilaterally.
When dealing with Japanese tanks, these Guangxi soldiers often had to sacrifice an entire platoon to take down a single tank.
"Hmph, those flimsy Japanese tanks dare to swagger around like that."
Li Jianghe, with a disdainful smirk, said to Wang Chengzhu, the artillery battalion commander:
"Zhu Zi, bring out all our anti-tank guns and show those little devils what they're made of."
After saying this, he felt it wasn't safe enough, and remembered that he had previously unlocked a brand new unit card - the rocket launcher squad.
To be on the safe side, Li Jianghe directly summoned five rocket launcher squads.
Although it's called a rocket launcher squad, the Panzerfaust they're equipped with is actually just a recoilless rifle, completely different from a bazooka; it just looks somewhat similar.
Basic Rocket Launcher Squad
Staff: 10 people.
装备武器：铁拳60无后坐力炮*3（备弹10发。）毛瑟步枪*7（备弹120发）。
Skills: Anti-tank, assault.
Level: Beginner.
Merit Points: 400.
The price isn't cheap, but the product is really good.
The Tekken 60 has an improved range compared to the original version.
The range was increased from the initial 30 meters to 60 meters.
Li Jianghe thought that if it were to be upgraded later, it should be able to upgrade to Iron Fist 100, or even directly get a real rocket launcher, such as a bazooka, or even an RPG.
This recoilless gun has a range of up to 100 meters, making it a considerable threat as a man-portable anti-tank weapon on the battlefield.
Although it doesn't look very robust, it can be equipped with an over-caliber warhead, 100mm in diameter.
Let alone the Japanese tanks with their flimsy armor, even some medium tanks from Europe and America could have their frontal armor penetrated directly.
The Japanese army was reluctant to use tanks easily because they didn't have enough of them themselves and needed to save them for the attack on Nanjing.
Therefore, they will not easily take action unless absolutely necessary.
However, with a large number of artillery pieces of the artillery regiment destroyed, if they are not used now, the only option left to fill the gaps with human lives in the face of this fortified bunker complex is to use them instead.
As Japanese artillery roared, large numbers of Japanese soldiers began to charge the bunker complex, following tanks and armored vehicles.
Compared to before, the Japanese army had much more confidence this time.
After all, the infantry would feel a sense of security with the protection of tanks and armored vehicles, especially knowing that the Chinese army on the other side might not be equipped with any anti-tank weapons at all.
As for weapons such as the Maxim machine gun and the Czech light machine gun, they were almost ineffective against Japanese armored targets.
Unlike the Japanese soldiers at the front, Hiroshi Nakagawa was not optimistic; in fact, he was somewhat apprehensive.
He felt that the enemy force that provided support to the Xinzhuang bunker complex was likely the same one that had broken out of the Sihang Warehouse.
If that's the case, then that enemy force is quite experienced in anti-tank warfare.
Amidst Hiroshi Nakagawa's anxieties, the shelling began.
However, for the Nationalist soldiers hiding in the bunkers, the Japanese artillery was not enough to penetrate the reinforced concrete bunkers.
A Japanese tank battalion quickly deployed under artillery cover, slowly approaching the Xinzhuang bunker complex like a moving iron wall.
The Japanese artillery only began to extend its firepower backward, bombarding the rear of the Xinzhuang bunker complex, when they were less than 300 meters from the position.
"Fire!!!"
At the command, the Nationalist soldiers inside the bunker opened fire.
However, when the machine gun bullets landed on the Japanese tanks, they only sparked a series of sparks on the surface of the armor plates, failing to penetrate them directly.
Seeing this, the Japanese soldiers were immediately relieved.
Without the threat of anti-tank fire, these Japanese tanks could rampage across the battlefield without fear.
The Japanese tank group then began to accelerate forward.
Through his binoculars, Yoshizumi Ryosuke watched as their tanks drew ever closer to the enemy lines, but the enemy was still only throwing bullets at them.
He breathed a sigh of relief and said to Hiroshi Nakagawa beside him:
"It seems these enemies retreated in haste and abandoned quite a few heavy weapons."
He thought it made sense; otherwise, how could the enemy have escaped so quickly during their breakout from Sihang Warehouse that night?
Just as Hiromasa Nakagawa was about to answer, a moving tank was suddenly blown into the sky.
It was a Type 95 light tank equipped by the Japanese army that triggered an anti-tank mine that had been laid in advance by the engineering corps.
After the upgrade, the firepower of the engineer squads was enhanced, and they were equipped not only with flamethrowers but also with anti-tank mines.
These anti-tank mines, let alone the Japanese's fragile tanks, could send even the heavy tanks of Europe flying into the sky and standing shoulder to shoulder with the sun.
Hiroshi Nakagawa swallowed the flattery that was on the tip of his tongue, cleared his throat, and said:
"It seems... the enemy does have some tricks up their sleeve."
Yoshizumi Ryosuke also turned his head away, pretending that he hadn't said those words.
After the anti-tank mines detonated, the Japanese tanks were actually only about 100 meters away from the bunker complex.
Wang Chengzhu roared:
"Anti-tank guns, fire!!!"
As soon as he finished speaking, their eight 45mm anti-tank guns roared at the Japanese troops.
"Boom!!!"
The explosion rang out and instantly pierced through a tank and two armored vehicles in front of it.
Japanese soldiers screamed as they crawled out of the vehicle, only to have their suffering quickly ended by dense machine gun fire.
The Japanese army reacted quickly and immediately began firing at the location of the anti-tank gun.
Tank cannons and vehicle-mounted machine guns were fired simultaneously.
However, whether it was artillery shells or bullets, most of them hit reinforced concrete and could not pose a threat to the anti-tank firepower hidden inside.
"Infantry, advance! Demolish at close range!!! Tanks, continue advancing!!!"
Upon receiving the order, a large number of Japanese engineers began to overtake the moving tanks, intending to get close enough to blow up the bunkers ahead.