Chapter 237 Chaos Rehearsal
Fiji, 1st Marine Division Exercise Headquarters.
Major General Alexander Vandergrift is fiddling with something in his hands.
Two pieces of broken iron sheets that were obviously cut from scrap steel were spliced together, with mottled rust on them.
The production process is very rough. I just clicked the welding rod three times randomly without polishing or painting. Based on the Major General's inherent experience, as long as there are sufficient materials and welders, tens of thousands of these things can be produced every day. None of it is a problem.
Bang~ This thing was thrown on the table by the major general, and stood on it at a very strange angle. It looked very unstable, and a casual touch could destroy its balance.
“We have tested it. If we throw this thing randomly on the beach and simply cover the sand, 30 people can cover the beach two kilometers long and 50 meters deep in one day. If you are pressed for time, just If it is discarded without covering it with sand, the area will be expanded four times." The adjutant behind him replied, flipping through the notes in his hand, obviously having been doing his homework for a while.
"So the soldiers of the two companies were trapped on the beach by this kind of thing? And then a quarter of them were killed at once?" the major general asked with a serious look.
"Sir, I'm afraid that's the case." The assistant's expression was a little stiff at this time. After all, the U.S. military lost the exercise with six times the number of people, and his face was disgraced.
"Okay, I understand." The major general folded his hands and fell into thinking. Then he asked, "What do you think of this thing?"
The adjutant thought for a moment and commented objectively, "It's a very imaginative invention. It's very effective against pure infantry. But if I were the commander, I would conduct intelligence reconnaissance before landing, and then at least call for carrier-based aircraft or naval gun commanders." If all the suspicious places on the beach are bombed twice, the effect of this little trick will be greatly reduced."
After listening to the adjutant's words, the major general nodded, and then said helplessly, "Well, you are right, and it is also a very orthodox approach. Unfortunately, our landing operation this time may not be what you said. Conditions.”
A few hours later, the generals of the First Marine Division gathered together in the conference room.
"Gentlemen, the landing time has been set. On August 7th, I will lead a team of young men to land on Guadalcanal, and Rupustas will lead another team to attack Tula. Ji Dao." Major General Vandergrift came up and got straight to the point.
“Everyone, we have two troubles now.”
"First of all, we don't have accurate topographic maps of the two islands." The major general calmly said a situation that shocked everyone's jaws.
The war will start in less than 10 days, and there is no accurate terrain map of the battlefield. It is a joke.
But Americans use facts to prove that reality is more magical than fiction.
These two small islands in the Solomon region were little-known when they were British territories. They were pure places where rabbits didn’t poop. Before the war, the only information Americans knew about this place was a few words in the novel.
"The landing site was chosen at the northern end of the island, probably at this location. This is a shoal confirmed by the reconnaissance plane." The major general explained it by drawing a simple circle on it with chalk.
"What's the number of Japanese troops on the island?" someone asked.
“I don’t know” the major general answered neatly.
"What about the defensive firepower configuration?" someone continued to ask.
"I don't know, but the reconnaissance plane didn't see anything like tanks." There was still no substantive answer. I didn't know the early layout of the plan, and it was a fart landing operation.
Obviously, Rear Admiral Vandergrift is a person who is not very considerate of other people’s moods, and he immediately raised a second trouble
“For the sake of the safety of the aircraft carrier, Lieutenant General Fletcher only I will be provided with aircraft carrier cover for three days nearby." (It was originally said to be two days)
Everyone was in an uproar after this statement, and the following was a whisper.
The first trouble is okay. Although the terrain is unknown, the First Marine Division still has more than 18,000 people by the time the battle begins. If they are not familiar with the battlefield, they can use heavy firepower to clear the way. If not, they can use artillery and aircraft to support them.
But if the aircraft carrier does not come, it will be troublesome, because Guadalcanal is not within the attack range of the US-Australian coalition road-based bombers, which means that three days after landing on the island, the 1st Marine Division will have to be alone without air support. Faced with a massive counterattack by the Japanese army.
In the past, the 1st Marine Division might have been able to support itself with its excellent individual soldier quality and unit coordination, but now with more than half of the new recruits...
The conference room immediately became chaotic, and there were even some people There were loud protests to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but the Major General ended the discussion with just one sentence.
"Gentlemen, it is the custom in Hollywood that a bad rehearsal predicts a successful performance. The plan has been determined and will not change. Let everyone prepare."
When people have left Colonel Carlson was left alone. "Evans, my friend, I'm afraid you haven't finished your question yet? Not only do we not have an accurate topographic map, , and there is still a lack of key hydrological and climate data. These are hidden dangers that can cause big trouble at critical times."
"Of course I know," the major general sighed, "but these are all in the hands of the British. , although we have contacted Washington to request it from the British as soon as possible, but you know the administrative efficiency of the British.”
"Wait!" Colonel Carlson suddenly looked over, "You said those things are in the hands of the British?"
"Yes, the British sent a surveying team here before, although it was a long time ago. But at least it's useful." The major general didn't know why his old friend asked this.
"If you are communicating with the British, then I think there is a person who may be more efficient than Washington..."
——
Three days later at night, Karl Colonel Xun sat in front of He Chi and pushed a square box over with his hand.
"Hey, I have a surprise here, can you open it and take a look?" the colonel said with a smile.
"Surprise?" He Chi opened the box in front of him without knowing why, and found that in addition to a thick dollar bill, there were two medals with stars and crosses side by side.
The two medals are somewhat similar, but there are subtle differences. One is composed of bronze five-stars, decorated with clovers and surrounded by a circle of laurel leaves. The other one has a cross in the center
There are two top medals awarded by the United States. The bronze one is the Medal of Honor, and the other one is the Navy Cross.
“This is to commend you for your performance at Pearl Harbor and for capturing Nagumo Chuichi. The president personally approved it. He asked me to tell you that I am really sorry that I cannot honor you in front of the White House. I hope This regret can be made up for after this battle," Colonel Carlson said seriously.
"I remember that the approval process for the Medal of Honor was quite cumbersome. Is it so fast this time?" He Chi picked up one of the medals and waved it towards the sun and asked.
"My friend, you have to know that if there are people in the White House, some things can be handled specially." Colonel Carlson turned sideways, and Roosevelt Jr. behind him waved to He Chi.
Later, the colonel paused for a moment and asked with a slightly embarrassed expression, "By the way, I want to ask you if you are interested in doing us a favor and earning another Silver Star Medal to make a set."< br>
"Dungeon mission update! Mission: Isolated Island Recruit, clearance conditions: Obtain a US Army Silver Star Medal. Reward: 10 gold coins" The system joined in the fun in He Chi's ears.
(End of this chapter)