These U.S. fleets were followed by a small group of transport ships and tank landing craft. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

The people on these transport ships were the soldiers of the Pantelleria landing operation, as well as their tank support units.

As these Anglo-American fleets approached the island of Pantelleria, under the cover of night; Commander Heinrich, the German commander on the island, in order to be able to understand more urgently the deployment of the enemy on the front line; So he sent a battalion of troops to carry out reconnaissance missions throughout the island in companies, platoons, and squads.

And these company commanders and platoon commanders have to redistribute their subordinates, as well as weapons and equipment, according to the needs of the mission.

First of all, they would divide the scouts into small groups of 6 to 8 people, armed with 6 to 8 submachine guns. more than 20 grenades; They were also equipped with scissors designed to deal with thistles, as well as mine detectors, gas masks, and telegraphs.

In addition, they have set up assault teams and support groups of 10 people each.

The assault group is mainly armed with submachine guns and grenades, while the support group is armed with six submachine guns. 4 rifles (1 of which is a sniper rifle), 1 light machine gun, and 4 grenades per person.

In addition, they are usually staffed by several radiotelephone operators, artillery observers, and sometimes chemical protection officers. The observer's mission is to provide guidance for the combat operations of the troops, and his self-defense weapons are generally submachine guns.

In addition to this, they need to carry a 10---12x telescope, a flare gun equipped with various flares, and a field radio.

Observers with these equipment can indicate targets for the troops, such as the precise location of the enemy's main fire points, concealment units and command posts; Infantry, tank armored carriers, as well as self-propelled guns and other military equipment of enemy clusters, as well as the number, location and direction of maneuver of the fleet.

Finally, some of the teams will carry incendiary gasoline bottles, blasting canisters, and scissors to deal with barbed wire, as well as ropes and strips of cloth (for climbing or tripping); There were even light and heavy machine guns, as well as support weapons such as pursuit guns and anti-tank grenades, Sdkfz.234 heavy armored vehicles.

The Germans attached great importance to the construction of reconnaissance units, especially to defend the famous Gotthard? Heinrich.

For him, in offensive operations, the reconnaissance unit is the eye of the main force; During the stalemate phase, it is the forward post of the defensive position; In the process of retreating, it also took on the task of reconnaissance of the retreat route.

So this time on the island of Pantelleria, he equipped his reconnaissance unit with 10 Sdkfz.234 heavy armored vehicles to support the attack or ambush the enemy.

When the British and American fleets entered the surveillance range, a German reconnaissance company was hiding in the rocks near the beachhead, conducting reconnaissance.

"Do you see how many Anglo-American fleets are coming, and what type they are? Maximilian! ”

Schmidt, the commander of the reconnaissance company, anxiously asked the platoon commander beside him.

"Aren't you a telescope yourself? You can see for yourself! ”

Scout Maximilian retorted while carefully observing the situation of the Anglo-American fleet.

"Grass you mud horse! Now am I your boss, or are you my boss? Talking to me so loudly, do you want me to punish you immediately for running 10,000 meters of weight-bearing training? Maximilian! ”

After hearing this, Schmidt, the commander of the reconnaissance company, scolded in displeasure.

"Hey, hey! You won't do that, you're my brother-in-law! If my sister knows that you treat me badly and abuse me, hum! I'm afraid that after you go back, brother-in-law, it will be difficult to explain to her! ”

Scout Maximilian shrugged his shoulders and replied with a hippie smile.

"If you talk nonsense like this again, you will get back to Berlin for me immediately!"

Hearing this, Schmidt, the commander of the reconnaissance company, said even more angrily.

"Hey, hey! Brother-in-law, I'm just kidding, let's wait a little easier for us! Too much nervousness can affect our performance, right? ”

Scout Maximilian smiled slightly.

"Don't talk nonsense, you report to me right away! If I hadn't promised your sister to train you to be a good reconnaissance platoon leader, I wouldn't have been so angry with you! I won't let you observe and train your scouting skills now! ”

Schmidt, the commander of the reconnaissance company, said angrily.

"Yes! Battalion commander! According to my observations, I found that the enemy army has at least more than 20 large and small ships! And in addition to battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, and minesweepers, a small group of transports, and tank landing craft followed. Judging from the current situation, the motive of the British and American forces should only be to test their firepower and fight a dozen forward battles! ”

Scout Maximilian, still nonchalant, shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

"Hmmm! Do they have air support? ”

Schmidt, the commander of the reconnaissance company, continued to ask.

"There should be! It was too dark for me to see! But aren't our islands equipped with detection radars? If the British and American forces send air forces to us, won't there be an air defense siren? ”

Scout Maximi replied with a scratch of his head.

"You're really useless, let me observe it recently! Inform our radiotelephone operators to use the field radio and send a telegram to Commander Heinrich; Said that the appearance of British and American troops had been discovered, and the number and type of their ships were also reported! ”

Schmidt, the commander of the reconnaissance company, picked up his binoculars and gave an angry order.

"Yes! Brother-in-law! No, battalion commander! ”

Scout Maximi originally responded in a cheerful tone, but when he saw Schmidt, the commander of the reconnaissance company, suddenly stare at him with murderous eyes, he immediately changed his tune.

And in a hurry, turned and left.

"This kid! It's just a naughty little urchin! I really don't know if he came from us Germans or not! Why is there no seriousness at all! I really don't know if he will lose his life in the battle after a while! What a headache for me! ”

Looking at the scout Maximi, who had already run farther and farther, Schmidt, the commander of the reconnaissance company, was very depressed.

Not long after the appearance of the Anglo-American fleet, as well as telegrams about their number and type, reached Gotthard? Heinrich's hands.

After reading the telegram, he quickly sent the same telegram to Chen Yanlong and the naval commander Dönitz.

Soon after, a group of 45 U-boats, secretly assembled in Sicily, received an operational order from the naval headquarters:

"As soon as all U-boats receive the order, go to the BD15 at full speed, targeting more than 20 ships; The course is Pantelleria Island at a speed of 10 nautical miles. ”

After receiving the order, all the U-boats immediately increased their speed and drove towards the island of Pantelleria.

At the same time, Chen Yanlong also immediately dispatched the NJG1 Night Fighter Wing, and equipped them with Heinkel 129B-2 night fighters to support.

The NJG2, and the NJG3 and other night fighter wings, continued to stay on the airfields in Sicily and waited for a new combat order.

At the same time, Chen Yanlong also ordered Kesselring to prepare a daytime fighter group and prepare for support operations during the day.

As for those JG1 and JG2 aircraft units that have just finished participating in Pantelleria Island, they will first take a temporary break and act according to the opportunity.

In addition to these, Chen Yanlong continued to order Kesselring to take those pilots who did not participate in the operation on Pantelleria; Continue training on new jets and TA152 fighters, and be sure to have them complete all training within 2 months in preparation for the Sicilian campaign.