Knowing that they would have to march for two hours later, although the soldiers were a little depressed, their resentment was immediately dispelled by the news that "they had a good meal tonight".

The march drill of several hundred miles has made the 1st Marine Regiment grow a lot, and the cooperation between various units has become more proficient.

However, for armored units, they are distressed, because there are things that cannot be avoided by skill.

As the sun sets, a motorcycle buzzes from the back of the line.

The car stopped at the side of the regimental headquarters, and the signal soldier with an orange and yellow aluminum medallion on his chest did not get down, but just kicked off the foot support of the motorcycle with his heel, hugged his fists and said: "Report, sir, several vehicles in the convoy have broken down one after another, and I am afraid that I will not be able to keep up with the large army." ”

Well?

Zhou Changfeng, who was drinking water, frowned when he heard this, he screwed the lid on the kettle and wiped his mouth, "What's the situation?" The establishment is scattered? ”

It is normal for the armored vehicles of the field march to break down, and it is not uncommon for several vehicles to break down at the same time, so it is enough to repair them on the spot or call the armored rescue vehicle belonging to the unit to help.

But the main force of the unit can continue to carry out the task without delay. Can't continue at all? That means the unit is already in disarray.

He picked up the binoculars around his neck and looked west, only to find that the convoy was no longer visible.

"Go back and ask about the situation."

"Yes."

The signal corpsman received the order, and then turned the front of the car and roared away.

Manpower orders and telecommunications are indispensable, so Zhou Changfeng ordered again: "Send a telegram to inquire... No, with a walkie-talkie. ”

Although the 10 trial-produced Type 36 radio walkovers allocated to the 1st Marine Regiment had many congenital deficiencies, they were not concealed -- voice communication was obviously more convenient for communication.

One green flare and one yellow flare are fired into the sky to alert the convoy to communications.

Later, after installing the whip antenna and tuning to the scheduled communication channel, the communication was quickly connected.

"Call 'Earth Dragon', please reply if you receive it."

"'Tulong' received it, and the communication was clear."

"What's the matter with you guys? The tank is all out of order? Can't the establishment keep up? Zhou Changfeng asked calmly.

"Yes, the regiment leader," Li Bin's tone was very helpless, "In the past few days, the mechanical time has almost reached the limit, and as soon as I am in a hurry today, I will plant them one after another." ”

In the terminology of the Ming Army, the motorcycle hour is called mechanical time, which refers to the working time of the vehicle, and is used to calculate the operation, maintenance, repair period and fuel consumption of the vehicle.

"More than 300 miles, it is indeed beyond the outline. It's hard for you, organize repairs, and rest when you get to Wuxi. ”

"Yes."

Even according to the standards of the Soviet army during the Cold War, a tank regiment marched on a good road of the second class or above, and the rate of major failure occurred within 2% of 100km; On off-road marching on natural dirt roads, the rate of major failure should be less than 4% for 100km.

Today's technology is naturally worse, less reliable, and less experienced.

Zhou Changfeng was mentally prepared for this, and his original intention was to explore the limits of the daily march of the current armored units without major repairs.

The grade of 150km is not too much, but it is a lot less, and if it can improve a little more, it can be called excellent.

When the last rays of the setting sun dimmed, there was only a faint glow left in the western sky.

Night falls, and the crescent moon rises.

The exhausted 1st Marine Regiment finally arrived at its scheduled training site in Wuxi Prefecture.

The state government that had received the telegram before naturally did not dare to slack off, and the barracks immediately organized people to buy all kinds of beef and mutton meat, and then transported it over.

The cooks worked tirelessly, and they were busy in full swing, and soon the fragrance wafted for miles.

The smell of meat is the most attractive, and the circumference wind that rides all the way is relatively not tired, and it is a little unbearable, not to mention the soldiers who are on foot all the way.

According to his own habits, Zhou Changfeng personally led several guards to patrol around the campsite, and immediately discovered strange places.

"What's over there? It's not marked on the map. He asked, pointing to a group of houses about a mile to the east.

The clerk of the Wuxi County Soldier's Quarter, who came to perform the handover procedures, replied: "Back to the chief, there is a newly built school over there, which was only opened last year. ”

"What middle school?"

"State Fourth Practical High School."

The training site was actually arranged next to the school?

Zhou Changfeng shouted outrageous, although he also knew that it was for the sake of convenience, because this place was on the side of the road, which extended in all directions.

After finishing the inspection, he summoned the officers of the whole regiment and above, looked around, and said solemnly:

"This is the school, and our station is a mile away, so you have to pay attention."

"Zhao Hanfeng, you have set aside the warning area in the training area, and each team must repeatedly emphasize discipline after they go back."

"You can't be casual, you can't act recklessly, and those who violate the rules and regulations will start with thirty military sticks, and they will not be tolerated!"

In a few moments, when the hungry officers and soldiers began to enjoy the fragrant dinner, they were on the way more than 20 kilometers away......

In addition to the team headquarters and the three tank platoons, the floating combat convoy also has a maintenance team and a baggage platoon, and the "tithe" is a relatively special kind of establishment, which is generally only used in logistics units that are not high or low, and is slightly larger than the squad and slightly smaller than the platoon.

Maintenance is equipped with 2 eight-wheeled heavy trucks, 3 six-wheeled light trucks, 1 off-road vehicle, and 2 motorcycles, and there is no problem in dealing with normal breakdowns, but in this short period of time, they can't bear it at once.

A few days ago, it was fine, and at the end of the day, there were individual breakdowns, but today 11 of the 18 amphibious tanks broke down one after another.

More than 20 people were tired and had back pain, and they were repaired with the help of searchlights.

"Report! Chief Yao has arrived! ”

Yao Liangchuan came to find out what was going on in his spare time, and after dinner, he rushed back by car.

There was a broken down tank on the road hundreds of meters or thousands of meters, and this scene made him feel strange and indescribable.

It's spring ploughing season, and some of the hard-working farmers who have been working until dark are returning home, passing by in tractors or ox carts, looking curiously at the tanks lying next to them.

This made Yao Liangchuan's face darken by two points - other people's tractors are more reliable than this thing?

When Li Bin was found, he was personally commanding the maintenance of a tank.

"Go get spare parts, don't bother! Belch... Sir Yao, why are you here? Seeing that the prison guard was coming in person, he hurriedly clasped his fists and saluted.

"Are these dozen iron things under your command the best use? Lying on the nest for more than half of the time, there is no good tractor for the people, this is still on the ground, if it goes into the water, I am afraid that it will not sink half. As he spoke, Yao Liangchuan looked at a corporal who was holding a wrench, and the light made the oil on his body shine.

Li Bin sighed, drooped his head, and replied aggrieved and helplessly: "Sir, today is at the limit, this one is repaired and that one is bad, the chariot is not suitable for long-distance marching on its own, I told the regiment commander before, but he didn't listen, saying that he wanted to try to the end." ”

(End of chapter)