Chapter 143 Where is our 88 cannon (fourth update, please subscribe)
Although they are two kilometers apart, the 88 cannon from a high position is like a sniper, accurately hitting the road one after another. On the ground, in the violent explosion, one vehicle after another was hit, and the leading No. 4 assault gun was blown directly into the air.
Once upon a time, the German army relied on the high rate of fire and accuracy of the 88-gun to "call out" Allied vehicles one by one. But now, they also show no resistance under the roll-call of the 88-gun. force.
At the same time, the mortars in the town also began to dump shells on the road. Each 120mm mortar shell made a dull whistling sound and dumped on the road, both on the road and on both sides of the road. The German soldiers on the side were immediately enveloped in a sea of fire shrouded in iron and fire.
In fact, the firepower of the task force guarding Neve is not very strong. It only has three 120 mortars, one 88 gun and a few 75 anti-tank guns. In fact, with such firepower, For a battalion-sized unit, it can be called abnormal.
But this is thanks to the Germans. If they hadn't lost too many weapons in the Ardennes, how could the task force have picked up so many weapons and used them to attack the Germans?
Because their troops were limited, from the beginning, they poured out their firepower to the greatest extent, achieving the goal of suppressing the enemy's attack.
Faced with fierce artillery fire, the German troops of the 902 Grenadier Training Regiment were, at least for that moment, completely stunned, especially the condescending firepower of the 88th artillery piece. In a very short period of time, Accurately dumping one round after another on the road, one round after another with capped armor-piercing shells, directly blew three No. 4 assault guns into the sky.
Although the grenadiers were experienced in many battles, they did not expect that the opponent would use the 88-gun to dump firepower from a long distance, so that they did not have time to deploy their mortars and lost the opportunity. The grenadiers behind the plane did not passively suffer under the artillery fire, but retreated quickly. However, the destroyed vehicles prevented their retreat. While the infantry retreated, they could not advance or retreat on the road. The vehicles completely became targets. The two No. 4 assault guns, which were unable to advance or retreat, drove directly into the fields on both sides of the road and began to fire back fiercely at the 88 guns on the mountain.
Several rounds of artillery shells hit the vicinity of the 88 gun. However, relying on the protection of the semi-reverse slope in front of the gun emplacement, the shells only blew away some soil and gravel.
Amidst the roaring shrapnel, the gunners on the gun position continued to load the shells, "Boom!" Another shell roared out, and a few seconds later, the No. 4 assault gun in the field emitted a stream of black smoke. , a tank crewman with fire on his body jumped out of the car and fell down before he could run a few steps.
Faced with fierce artillery fire, the German army did not fight hard, but quickly retreated, leaving only seven destroyed vehicles and dozens of corpses.
"The Germans have withdrawn..."
While Zhang Kun and others cheered, the squad leader shouted.
“Retreat to the bunker!”
They had just retreated to the bunker about 100 meters away from the gun position. A burst of roaring artillery shells enveloped the 88 gun. Feeling the shock of the artillery fire, Zhang Kun and the others in the bunker were all speechless.
“This gun...fired really urgently!”
Not only urgent, but also accurate and ruthless. In just one minute, dozens of rounds with a caliber of 82 mm or above were fired. Mortar shells landed near the gun position, and one shell even landed directly on top of the bunker. In the violent explosion, dust hit the helmets and shoulders of the soldiers along the top logs.
"Fortunately, fortunately it was not a 120 mortar, otherwise we would all have been buried alive..."
Finally, amidst their cheers, the bombardment ended, and in the smoke of gunpowder When they dispersed, the once well-camouflaged gun emplacement had completely changed its appearance, and even the 88-meter gun had also changed its shape, with its slender barrel hanging weakly.
"What a pity..."
The scene in front of them made them understand why when they searched for artillery, there were destroyed artillery everywhere. In such fierce and accurate artillery fire, it was very difficult to directly aim the artillery. Vulnerable to counterattacks.
Although one 88 gun was lost, the soldiers guarding Neve successfully killed the Germans' majesty, making them realize that this place was definitely not something that could be occupied by a charge. Ten minutes later, a group of German soldiers cautiously marched towards the town. The hunched-over German soldiers were holding K98s and slowly approached the town. Wearing white camouflage uniforms, they looked like they completely blended in with the snow. They were careful. Moving.
“The Germans are coming up!”
Staring at the German guy who was getting closer and closer, Gu Changchuan pursed his lips, picked up the walkie-talkie and called directly.
"Position 104, three rapid fires!"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a roar above his head. While the roar of mortar shells cut through the sky, a rapid Machine gunfire rang out.
At the moment when the machine gun sounded, the German army was even a little confused. This was the sound of gunfire they were familiar with-MG42!
At the same time as the gunfire sounded like tearing cloth, German troops were knocked to the ground one after another on the snow. At the same time, the roaring shells brought another bloody storm.
While Germans were being beaten and knocked down one after another, the German shelling also began, with artillery shells raining down on the town. However, compared to the defenders, they were a little more scrupulous because they were worried that the ruins of buildings would block the roads. Therefore, the shelling appeared to be very restrained, and most of the bombardment was concentrated at places slightly further away on both sides of the road. This also made it much easier for the soldiers guarding Neff. The two-foot-thick brick walls of the Ardennes residents provided them with good protection. When the German troops approached the town, they immediately suffered heavy firepower.
The soldiers used not M1 carbines, but STG44 assault rifles. Although the defenders only had more than 400 people, the powerful automatic fire suppression made the attacking Germans even doubt their lives.
It’s not because the defenders’ firepower is very powerful, but because the sound of gunfire is so familiar. They have confirmed the sound, from 88 guns to MG42, and then to STG44. Everything makes them even a little doubtful. It's not one of our own.
But this thought was fleeting. After all, fierce firepower is fatal. Some German troops were defeated just as soon as they appeared. Although the grenadier's attack was very methodical, they were defeated. It was difficult to withstand the intensive firepower, and the gap in firepower made it difficult for them to organize an effective attack. Amidst the continuous gunfire, the German attack was quickly repelled.
After shooting several times in succession and knocking down a retreating German soldier, Gu Changchuan couldn't help but look at the STG44 in his hand and praised it.
"This guy is really good!"
"No, captain, with this guy, I can fight ten by myself!"
"Speaking of which, that's really awesome. Thank you Germans for giving us such a good gun!”
For a while, the room was filled with laughter. By the evening, with their superior firepower, they repelled three attacks. As dusk fell, the Germans left behind only a few dozen corpses.
The Battle of Bastogne thus ushered in the first day.
The tenacious resistance brought to naught what the Germans called "a battle that ends with one charge." Similarly, the victory in the first battle also convinced the soldiers that they were no worse than the Germans.
After all, this is their first real battle, and the enemy is the famous Germans!
(End of this chapter)