120mm heavy mortar, which was the battalion-level support artillery of the Imperial Army, was equipped with six per infantry battalion. This mortar, weighing more than 200 kilograms, can be disassembled and transported on pack horses. Coupled with its good power and range of 4,500 meters, it has always been favored by front-line infantry. In warfare, such mortars are often tasked with firing at enemy front-line fortifications and soft targets such as infantry.

On the Chikugogawa front, two infantry divisions of the Imperial Army, plus cavalry brigades and armored brigades, were armed with more than 170 of these large-caliber mortars. Immediately after receiving the order, the battalions deployed mortars to the front line and joined the shelling. This allowed the Imperial Army to immediately surpass the Japanese in terms of the number of artillery and gain an advantage. In addition, the rate of fire of the mortar is very fast, not at all slower than that of the French 75-mm field gun. It's just that in range, it can't be compared.

However, on the battlefield of Kurume, the Japanese army's large number of 75-mm field guns were not deployed far away, and they were completely within the range of these 120-mm heavy mortars. Therefore, the Imperial Army could completely use these 120mm heavy mortars to suppress the Japanese artillery, so that the Imperial Army had a greater advantage in the artillery battle.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! "A 120-mm heavy mortar was pouring shells at the Japanese artillery positions with the maximum rate of fire. Shells rained down, completely covering the Japanese artillery positions. A large number of artillery pieces were blown up, and countless Japanese artillerymen were killed in the shelling. Both artillery and artillery suffered great losses.

"Well done! It seems that we will soon be able to suppress the artillery of Little Japan. Admiral Shi Qingshan couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes, Commander. With the addition of these heavy mortars, we are no weaker than the Japanese in light artillery. It is completely on par with the Japanese army. And even have some upper hand. Our 155mm heavy howitzers and 105mm light howitzers were able to further suppress the Japanese artillery and destroy it all. Major General Chen Wenkai, commander of the 1st Heavy Artillery Brigade, said.

The Imperial Army was originally more numerous than the Japanese army in terms of 155 mm heavy howitzers and 105 mm light howitzers, and in terms of performance, it was even more powerful than the Japanese army. Even the 155-mm heavy howitzers used by the Japanese Army. It was the Americans who aided them. However, in this era, everyone's weapons and equipment are not advanced at all, and more are just improvised.

The heavy artillery of the Imperial Army, in terms of range and power, was far stronger than the American heavy artillery used by the Japanese army, which made them quickly suppressed in the artillery battle. Artillery positions were destroyed one by one by the heavy artillery of the Imperial Army. Heavy losses. In addition, the artillery of the Japanese Army is often deployed in a centralized manner. On an artillery position, there are often more than a dozen or twenty guns. This leads to the fact that after an artillery position is hit, the losses can be very large. The Imperial Army, on the other hand, was based on a company. A battery of 155-mm heavy howitzers with only six cannons. A 105-mm light howitzer battery with nine cannons. That's the case. Even if the artillery positions are hit, the losses will not be great.

"Your Excellency, Commander. Our artillery losses were somewhat heavy, and His Excellency the Brigade Commander requested that the artillery battle with the Chinese be terminated. A staff officer reported to Senior General Kojiro Uchiyama.

"What? Ending the artillery battle with the China? How is that possible? Uchiyama shouted.

You know, for this battle, he gathered a large number of artillery. The Second Brigade of Independent Heavy Artillery was specially transferred. He thought that after the addition of the Second Brigade of Independent Heavy Artillery. In the artillery battle, the Japanese army will definitely be stronger than the Chinese army. However, from now on, the artillery of the Chinese Army is much more powerful, which is something that General Kojiro Uchiyama cannot accept in any case.

"Uchiyama-kun. How could the artillery strength of the Chinese people be so strong? Before, we were on a par with them. However, in the blink of an eye, their artillery fire was doubled in violence, and our artillery was miserable. It's just weird. Admiral Kamio Mitsutomi said.

"Humph! That's just a ruse by the Shina people. They hid their strength before, wanting to lure our artillery into fire. Then we will suppress our artillery and destroy our artillery. The people of China are best at playing these little tricks. "Admiral Kojiro Uchiyama looked like he had long expected the Chinese artillery to adopt such tactics.

"Tell the commander of the Ogawa Brigade that this artillery battle has just begun, and if we retreat now and admit defeat, the Shina people will shell Kurume even more unscrupulously. When the time comes, the fortifications we have painstakingly built will be reduced to ruins in the shelling of the Chinese people. This will be very detrimental to our next battle. The 2nd Brigade of the Independent Heavy Artillery and other artillery units must find a way to suppress the shelling of the people of China with all their might and win this artillery battle! Uchiyama Kojiro said with a serious face.

"Hi, Your Excellency, Commander." The staff officer nodded and sent a telegram to the 2nd Brigade of Independent Heavy Artillery.

Major General Oonkawa Taro, commander of the 2nd Brigade of the Independent Heavy Artillery, was speechless after receiving a telegram from Senior General Kojiro Uchiyama. His heavy artillery brigade had a total of 108 155-mm heavy howitzers, but they were shelled by 144 155-mm heavy howitzers from the 1st Heavy Artillery Brigade of the Imperial Army. In the fierce artillery battle, the 2nd Brigade of Independent Heavy Artillery was completely suppressed. Within half an hour of the battle, they had already lost more than twenty cannons. A large number of artillery was also killed. As a result, the 2nd Brigade of Independent Heavy Artillery was completely suppressed. If the battle continues, it will only cost them even more.

The artillery of the Chinese Army, which concentrated all the 155mm heavy howitzers and 105mm light howitzers, was concentrated against the 155mm heavy howitzers and 105mm light howitzers of the Japanese Army, and in terms of the number of these two cannons, the Imperial Army had an advantage, each with thirty-six more guns than the Japanese Army. Coupled with the superiority in performance, this allowed the artillery of the Imperial Army to firmly dominate the artillery battle.

As for light artillery, the combination of 75mm field guns and 120mm heavy mortars was completely capable of suppressing the large number of 75mm field guns of the Japanese army.

"General Chen, how long will it take us to finish off the Japanese artillery?" Major General Li Zhenwu asked.

"General Li, it's hard to say about this. If little Japan had not been afraid of losses and had kept resisting us, we would have been able to wipe out all the artillery of little Japan today. However, if little Japan gives up artillery battle with us because of its great losses, it will be very difficult to annihilate them completely. Major General Chen Wenkai said with a smile.

The artillery of the Imperial Army had completely gained the upper hand in the fierce artillery battle. It was only a matter of time before we won the final victory. Of course, there is no need to guess to know that the Japanese artillery, after relatively large losses, will definitely retreat, there is no doubt about it.

"If we put together the artillery of the Japanese, how many artillery will we lose?" Admiral Shi Qingshan asked.

"Tentatively, it is estimated that we will lose about a third of our artillery, and at most no more than forty percent. Of course, if you are lucky, you can lose 20 percent of the artillery, and you can wipe out the artillery of small Japan. Major General Chen Wenkai said.

Admiral Shi Qingshan nodded: "If this battle loss ratio is maintained, then this deal is still very cost-effective." Now that the sea control is in our hands, we can replenish it, no matter how much we lose. On the other hand, small Japan, if they lose something, they lose it, and it is already difficult to replenish it. General Chen, let it go. Lost artillery and artillery, I will send a telegram to the General Staff, giving priority to replenishing yours. ”

"Yes, Commander." Major General Chen Wenkai nodded, now he was completely relieved,

"Commander, although the navy controls the sea control of Japan's coastal waters, the Seto Inland Sea is still under the control of little Japan, right? They were also able to be replenished through the Seto Inland Sea. Major General Li Zhenwu said.

"Soon, they won't have that opportunity. The 4th Army has already set out, and it is expected that within a day or two, it will land in Ise Bay. When the time comes, Honshu Island will be cut in half, and little Japan will no longer have the ability to provide support to Kyushu. In addition, our minesweeping fleet will also go to the Seto Inland Sea to clear the mines. After that, the warships of the Imperial Navy will enter it and take full control of the sea. Major General Shi Qingshan said.

"Commander, the 4th Army of the Imperial Army is also ready to make a move? In that case, we will have to speed up our actions, or if the 4th Army reaches Tokyo first and captures the Japanese emperor, we will miss out on a great achievement. Major General Li Zhenwu said.

"Well, when the Japanese army on Kyushu Island is settled, we will apply to land directly in Tokyo Bay and capture the Japanese emperor." Admiral Shi Qingshan nodded. He is still very interested in breaking into Tokyo and capturing the Japanese emperor, which is undoubtedly a huge feat! If successful, perhaps he could be promoted to the rank of Imperial Field Marshal in command of this war.

The artillery battle ended after half a day, and the Japanese artillery suffered heavy losses and could no longer continue. In order to preserve his strength, General Kojiro Uchiyama had to grit his teeth and order the evacuation of the artillery. You know, in the half-day artillery battle, they have already lost half of their artillery. In particular, the 2nd Independent Heavy Artillery Brigade has only about 50 155-mm heavy howitzers left. Other 105-mm light howitzers and 75-mm field guns also suffered heavy losses. (To be continued.) )

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