On the morning of September 8, the 1st Infantry Division of the Anti-Japanese Salvation Army began to attack the Japanese 18th Division and the 24th Brigade of the Independent Mixed Brigade. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 infoAnd this is also the prelude to the decisive battle between the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Army and the Japanese Burmese Front.

In the positions of the artillery regiment of the 1st Infantry Division, 36 105-mm howitzers and 12 155-mm howitzers had raised their hideous muzzles and aimed at the Japanese garrison of Homalin. And the artillery battalions of the infantry regiments, a total of 54 75-mm field guns, also entered the positions. The 1st Infantry Division alone had 102 cannons. And that's without counting the 107-mm heavy mortars and Type 92 infantry.

Division commander Sun Changwu personally inspected the artillery regiment and various artillery battalions to prepare for the next battle.

"Lao Lu, how to fight, do you have a plan?" Sun Changwu asked.

Lu Shan, commander of the artillery regiment of the 1st Infantry Division. After the large-scale expansion of the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Army, many of the original junior officers are now promoted to the third rank of the company and become senior officers.

"Division commander, the howitzer group of the artillery regiment first remained silent, and the artillery battalion of an infantry regiment opened fire. Once the Japanese artillery launched a counterattack, the howitzers of the artillery regiment suppressed the Japanese artillery with their range and power. At the same time, the air force will also arrive and bomb the Japanese artillery. Make sure to destroy the Japanese artillery before the infantry attacks. Lu Shan reported.

"Well, that's a good tactic. However, after the Japanese artillery was settled, the artillery support must be sufficient. Now our logistics and supplies are all in the hands of the Americans, and there is no need to save ammunition for the Americans. Even if you smash me with shells, you will smash the Japanese fortifications for me, and the Japanese * themselves will pay a heavy price. Sun Changwu gritted his teeth and said.

This was the first time that the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Army took the initiative to launch an offensive, and there was no room for sloppiness. In order to defeat the enemy and reduce your own losses as much as possible. Sun Changwu hoped that artillery would play a greater role in this battle.

"Yes, Commander." Lu Shan nodded.

Just after 8 o'clock in the morning, the artillerymen of the 1st Infantry Division of the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Army, who had eaten breakfast, began to shell.

Three infantry regiments, each with an artillery battalion, each armed with 18 75-mm field guns and 6 107-mm heavy mortars. With Lu Shan's order, the field artillery of each artillery battalion began to shell.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

54 75-mm field guns, heavy fire. A number of shells whistled and smashed towards the Japanese positions.

The shells exploded, and columns of smoke rose from the wounded Japanese positions. Shrapnel flew sideways, and gunpowder smoke dispersed.

The Japanese troops who were shelled either lay at the bottom of the trenches or burrowed into the anti-artillery holes.

Although, the fortifications built by the Japanese army in Homalin. However, the time was urgent, coupled with a lack of materials. The fortifications they built were not strong. So much so that in the fierce shelling of the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Army, their casualties began to rise.

As soon as the sound of artillery was remembered, Lieutenant General Mutaguchi Ryoya and Major General Jiro Ichita came to the outside of the headquarters and observed the situation with binoculars.

"Your Excellency, Division Commander, our position has been heavily shelled by at least dozens of artillery pieces of the Chinese people. The soldiers suffered heavy casualties. Bai Jia Ximing Dazuo reported with an anxious expression.

"What about our artillery? Fight back now! "Lieutenant General Taketaguchi Ryoya, without thinking about it, gave the order for an artillery counterattack.

You must know that whether it is on the battlefield in China or on the battlefield in Burma, the artillery fire of the Japanese army has always been superior.

"Hi, Your Excellency, Division Commander." Bai Jia Ximing Dazuo immediately conveyed the order.

The 18th Division had an artillery wing, armed with 36 Type 94 75-mm mountain guns and Type 95 75-mm field guns. Regardless, after a series of battles, these cannons have been damaged a lot. Now, they have less than twenty cannons.

The 24th Brigade Regiment, which is an independent mixed brigade, has an artillery team belonging to the brigade and regiment, with two mountain artillery squadrons, equipped with 12 Type 94 75mm mountain guns, and one field artillery squadron, equipped with 6 Type 95 75mm field guns.

All these cannons add up, and there are only 38 guns, which cannot be compared with the artillery battalions of the infantry regiments under the 1st Infantry Division of the Anti-Japanese Salvation Army.

But in order to reduce the pressure on the front-line soldiers, the Japanese artillery still opened fire.

"Regiment commander, the artillery of the day * himself has already opened fire." A staff officer reported.

"Very good, the fighters of the air force, when will they be able to arrive?" Lu Shan asked.

"The fighters of the air force will arrive in five minutes."

"Contact the aviation corps and let them bomb the artillery positions of the Japanese army. Then, to the left of the Japanese artillery position, inform us. A smile appeared on Lu Shan's face.

Judging by the counterattack of the Japanese artillery, their artillery was not strong. Compared with the artillery of the 1st Infantry Division, it was more than twice as bad. In particular, the 1st Infantry Division is now also supported by aviation. Well, it is even less of a problem to get rid of the artillery of the Japanese * himself.

Five minutes later, 12 P-51B fighters from a squadron of the Anti-Japanese Salvation Army Air Force, covering a squadron of 12 B-25 bombers, arrived on the battlefield.

When those planes appeared in the sky, the faces of Mutaguchi Ryoya and the others suddenly became very ugly.

"Yaga! The planes of the Chinese people, let our artillery disperse and hide! ”

Now they could no longer afford to let the artillery provide support to the infantry. If they were not dispersed and concealed, their artillery would have suffered a fatal blow.

But even then, it was too late.

12 P-521B fighters, the first to attack. These fighters are equipped with rockets. Attacking the Japanese artillery positions with rockets would be a great threat to those artillerymen.

"Whew! Shout! Shout! ”

One rocket after another, roaring towards the Japanese artillery position, the Japanese artillerymen who were in a panic were suddenly shrouded in the smoke produced by the explosion of the rockets.

Countless Japanese artillery pieces were torn to shreds. There are also many people who are holding their heads and running around.

Immediately afterwards, the B-25 bomber also lowered its altitude and began to drop bombs.

Bombs weighing 500 pounds fell on the Japanese artillery positions, which dealt a devastating blow to the Japanese artillery.

One by one, the Japanese artillery was lifted away, and even the barrel was twisted. As for the artillerymen, they have been blown into scum.

Seeing this scene, Lieutenant General Mutaguchi Ryoya and Major General Ichida Jiro even turned green. At the very beginning of the battle, their artillery was hit so badly. How can this battle be fought! (To be continued.) )