No one expected that this battle would become a meat grinder that added fuel to each other, and the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment, which was a reserve, also sent two reinforcements, but still did not repel the American troops who fought back with all their might.

The two sides fought for half an hour on the west side of the 80th Heights, and the already dilapidated positions almost lost their original appearance in the bloody tug-of-war between you and me.

Corpses strewn across the ground, empty bullet casings everywhere, bayonets stuck in the dirt......

Seeing that the battle situation was at a stalemate, Xue Can was forced to order to switch to defense, and attack again after regrouping.

The two armies on the western flank were almost half of each on their own positions, uneven and staggered.

In the nearest place, the soldiers on both sides were only thirty meters apart, and they could clearly hear the voices coming from the corner of the trench not far away.

The attack on the eastern flank of Heights 80 was smoother, with the officers and men of the 1st Regiment and the 2nd Battalion facing the 3rd Battalion A and B Companies.

After a morning of fierce fighting, they successfully repulsed them, and also fought back the subsequent counterattack, and asked whether to seize the 80 heights.

“…… At the moment, you can use a team, start fighting in an hour, and then send another team around five o'clock. Are you sure? ”

"Not allowed! Let them keep it. Xue Can refused.

Originally, it was planned to take down the positions on both the east and west sides and then attack from both sides, but now how could the second battalion in the east be allowed to try to seize the 80 heights alone?

Xue Can and the rest of the officers all realized that they had underestimated the combat power of the enemy in front of them before, which was an out-and-out hard bone.

Unlike the 1st Marine Regiment, which was blocked in the attack on Adelson Heights, to the west of the Kuah Island airfield, the 2nd Marine Regiment, which was tasked with a feint, did not encounter too stubborn resistance.

The fleet on the sea bombarded the US positions with extremely fierce and powerful firepower, and the hail of shells blew up the field fortifications that had taken dozens of days to build.

Two teams of the floating tank battalion followed the 500 officers and men of the 2nd Regiment and the 4th Battalion to attack in a frontal posture, while the other team of more than a dozen amphibious tanks sailed into the sea at the Matanikau River and made a detour from the sea to the right flank of the US position.

After being destroyed by naval artillery fire, nearly half of the US army's firepower points have been shattered, machine gun fire cannot form a tight blockade area, and heavy machine gun positions are constantly being solved by Ming tanks.

The only two remaining M3 37mm anti-tank guns fired at more than two dozen Type 35 amphibious tanks in the distance, and the armor-piercing shells pierced through the weak armor as easily as chopsticks poking tofu.

The 1-3-3 amphibious tank aimed at a section of trench and opened fire, and the 38.4mm anti-explosive shell didn't have the same charge as a grenade, but it was enough to silence the Browning automatic rifles that were constantly firing here.

But immediately after, the tank was hit by anti-tank guns, and the driver felt a wet and hot liquid on his neck, but he didn't have time to care about this, so he just hung up the reverse gear and slammed on the accelerator to try to evacuate.

But it was already targeted by anti-tank guns, and it was hit three more times in a row on the way back, and finally stopped, engulfed by the raging flames.

The anti-tank gun bunker was exposed, and a light machine gun team fired at it with tracer rounds to target their tanks.

Immediately afterwards, a dense stream of shells and bullets beckoned past, and explosions occurred one after another, completely dumbing the bunker, and the few remaining American anti-tank artillery men hurriedly evacuated.

[Picture]

Six amphibious tanks were destroyed in a matter of minutes, and no matter how wide the eyes of the Ming soldiers searched, they could not find another anti-tank gun.

The floating tank battalion, which suffered considerable losses, decided to retreat, but the officers and men of the 4th battalion nevertheless decided to continue the offensive.

Defending the area were two companies of the 39th Regimental Combat Team, which were in fragmented positions with sparse machine-gun fire, and semi-automatic rifles alone could not suppress the heavy machine guns that fired heavily from the starting positions of the Ming attack.

As more and more Marine infantry leapt into the trenches, the first line of defense soon crumbled.

Now the American army facing the Ming army adopts a conventional horseshoe-shaped position, which is an arc-shaped position, and the positions of the three infantry squads are connected in turn, which can well concentrate firepower in the direction of the front of the position, but the defense of the flanks is very weak.

Historically, this was not the case, because the Japanese army used to infiltrate and intersperse tactics, in order to protect the flanks from being suddenly stabbed, so the U.S. military would more often arrange a circular position.

"The front line has reported that the fourth battalion has broken through the enemy's forward position and is following the pursuit!"

A major communications staff officer walked briskly, saluted with his fists, and reported the battle situation with a very fast pace.

In the Bren machine gun car, which had been converted into a command vehicle, Zhou Changfeng, who was staring at the map and thinking, suddenly learned such news.

This is fun, the main attack direction is blocked and stagnant, but the feint attack is very dramatic.

He muttered to himself: "The fighting spirit of this army is really not good......"

Then, he ordered: "Tell Chen Min to organize a formal attack as soon as possible, and the battle convoy will participate in the battle; And then...... Send electricity to the aircraft carriers to ensure that they have several planes hovering with ammunition on standby at any time to suppress exposed enemy artillery positions. ”

"Understood, retire!"

Obviously, it is easier to follow the coastline from west to east at Kua Island Airport.

The terrain is gentler, and the fleet on the sea can provide strong direct fire support.

Rounding to the south to attack Adelson Heights is the opposite—the terrain is difficult to carry heavy weapons, the attacker is difficult to use, and the enemy is more advantageous.

The reason for the intention to give priority to the capture of Adelson Heights is that Zhou Changfeng hopes to defeat the American troops on Kuah Island in one fell swoop.

It would have been easier to defeat the U.S. forces if they had driven straight along the coastline, but it was likely that they would not have been able to defeat the U.S. military.

The Adelson Heights can be used as a solid support point to cover the calm alternate cover and drum retreat of the US troops in the direction of the Kuah Island airfield.

In order to prevent this from happening, Zhou Changfeng decided to gnaw hard bones at the beginning, first difficult and then easy, and strive to defeat the US army in one fell swoop.

This is in the inaccessible Solomon Islands, and if the remnants of the American army, which have lost their effective organization, have fled to the south of Kuah, the jungle will be enough to swallow them.

Malaria, dengue, wound infections, crocodiles, centipedes, snakes...... The depths of the jungle lurk with all sorts of deadly things!

However, given that an attack was blocked, it would be unwise to continue such an attempt.

Zhou Changfeng demanded that the 2nd Regiment end its feint and launch a fierce offensive against the American positions, with the attack cut-off line at the Longa River.

Four hundred meters to the east bank of the Lunga River is Richard's airfield, and any direct fire can directly threaten the airfield.

"Hit the line of the Lunga River and stop?" Zhao Hanfeng pondered for a few seconds, and then drew a line on the map with a red pencil, "In this way, you can threaten the flank of Dawangling." ”

Zhou Changfeng said "um", "Yes, don't be too sharp, lest the Americans withdraw directly." The prisoners captured by the paratrooper squad sent by the Air Force before confessed that they had hoarded supplies in many places in the south, and that there was still a risk of a comeback if the US troops withdrew in formation. ”

Then, he looked at Xie Wancheng, "It's not easy to fight with just one regiment, let the engineer battalion and the anti-chemical defense team go over to reinforce, and you take over Xue Can's command and re-plan the offensive." ”

The latter was surprised, and immediately excitedly took the order: "Don't worry, Junzuo, even if it is an iron wall, I will smash it!" ”

At this time, Zhu Lishuo trotted from not far away, he glanced at everyone, "The three-and-a-half-inch artillery battalion has arrived...... I went to set up the headquarters and said goodbye. ”

After spending so much time and energy, the 1st Battalion of the Mountain Artillery Regiment of the 1st Marine Brigade was finally in place.

In the European theater, the 112mm howitzer is a very common suppression artillery, and it is very versatile.

But in Asia and the Pacific, this level of artillery is a bit bulky, which is why the mountain artillery regiment of the Southern Infantry Division of the Ming Army is a mix of 80mm and 112mm howitzers.

Eighteen 112mm howitzers were towed by trucks to the assembly area, and then pulled to their respective combat positions using off-road vehicles.

Due to the terrain constraints, it could not be arranged horizontally, so the entire position could only be lengthened longitudinally, and finally a rectangular artillery position was formed.

Several artillerymen rode on three-wheeled sidecar motorcycles with telephone wires and laid telephone lines between the various battle positions; The rest of the artillerymen were also digging with shovels to build bunkers for the artillery.

At 15:30 p.m., two battalions of the regrouped 2nd Marine Regiment began to move into the offensive starting positions.

At the same time, a yellow flare rose into the sky, quite conspicuous.

The field artillery group of the Ming army began to prepare for fire according to the calculated Zhuyuan, and the fleet on the sea also began to bombard.

The smoke from the explosion of the shells seemed to blacken the white clouds, and the loud sound of the sky and the earth cracking soared into the sky, and the American troops in the east were suddenly plunged into a sea of fire.

On the position of Company C of the 2nd Battalion of the 39th Regimental Combat Team, seemingly impregnable field fortifications collapsed in a violent explosion, shattering logs, splattering dirt, and twisting steel plates.

U.S. soldiers huddled in the trenches trembling, many of them praying with crosses on their chests.

The officers and men of the 2nd Marine Regiment exclaimed with joy when they looked at such a scene, and a sense of enthusiasm and pleasure surged into everyone's hearts.

"Everyone, listen up, a group has suffered losses in the east, and I heard that it has hit a hard bone, and it is difficult to kill."

What do the brothers think? Are you afraid? Later, it will be harder than anyone's bones! ”

"It's time to go, go!"

The soldiers left the position one after another, carrying guns and cats on their waists, and rushed in a loose formation to the starting position of the assault.

The suppressed U.S. field artillery group did not open fire, and only a small number of mortar shells fell during this period, causing few casualties.

They were lying prone behind a ridge – the chosen starting point for the assault, with a moderate distance and natural terrain to rely on.

Suddenly, someone ran from behind, shouting as they ran, "Get out of the way!" Get out of the way! Get out of the way! ”

I saw several sappers approaching with bundles of blasting canisters, they were going to clear the mines and obstacles in the way of the charge.

Someone asked, "Can you sweep it clean?" ”

The four sappers did not respond and continued to rush forward.

Smoke bombs fired from two 64mm mortars fell on the front of the enemy's position, and suddenly a large cloud of gray-white smoke came out.

The demolition team composed of Yang Dian, Lu Caishu, and others crossed the ridge that was used as a shelter, and was immediately intercepted by bullets fired oncoming from the US position.

The four of them rushed through the field more than 100 meters long and flew into a shallow depression, but fortunately no one was injured.

The U.S. troops sharpened the branches and tied them into horses, placed them at the front of the position in turn, and arranged snake-bellied barbed wire fences in the grass, and laid out many mines.

Engineer Corporal Yang Dian, who was a new recruit at the time of the Malayan Campaign last year, has now been promoted to non-commissioned officer after many battles, which is an important step.

"Up!"

After speaking, Yang Dian waved his hand.

Soldier Lu Caishu crawled forward with a blasting canister, and the flying bullets hit the ground next to him with a low popping sound.

He pulled the fuse, threw out the blaster, and rolled over.

"Boom! Boom boom—"

The loud sound of the serial explosions was painful to the ears, and dirt and rocks fell with a clatter.

They did the same, blasting several times in succession, clearing a safe passage about 30 meters wide.

Suddenly, they noticed something unusual.

"These grandsons, look, put barbed wire in the grass." Yang Dian couldn't help but scold: "Damn! I dare to say that there is a machine gun on the other side of Bacheng, just waiting for our people to rush up and squeeze here, it's poisonous enough! ”

[Picture]

The hidden barbed wire fence must be cleared!

I don't know if the other demolition teams noticed this anomaly.

Another private, holding the blaster in his right hand, crawled forward with one hand.

Seeing that part of the minefield had been cleared, the American positions were filled with the shouts of officers and non-commissioned officers, and more bullets were fired here, but they were covered by a smoke screen and were not on the spot.

Yang Dian stared at the figure in front of him, and kept shouting in his heart to hurry up.

When the pacesetter was still a few meters away from the barbed wire, Yang Dian saw his steel helmet flying, his body was motionless, and he couldn't shout anymore.

At this time, another grenade flew, and the MkII grenade rolled on the ground several times and exploded with a bang.

Yang Dian was stunned by the shockwave, he felt dizzy, his eyes were full of Venus, and his ears were full of buzzing.

He shouted hoarsely, "Lu Caishu! You're on! ”

No one answered, and Lu Caishu lay on his back on the ground without moving - he was hit in the thigh artery by a grenade fragment and soon went into shock.

Before Yang Dian could speak, the last private had already hunched over and ran forward.

He was too anxious, Yang Dian hurriedly stopped: "Lie down!! Walk on your stomach! ”

But it was too late to say this, the smoke of the cover was about to dissipate, and the bullets fired by the US military became more and more accurate.

The first bullet hit the private in the abdomen, and the 6.5mm case-hardened armor steel in the Type 39 armor blocked the blow.

He fell to the ground and continued to crawl forward in the face of a hail of bullets.

Immediately several more black shadows flew in, and the smoke from the grenade explosion swallowed up the private.

Yang Dian hammered the ground hard, and at this time, a red signal flare rose into the air.

This was a sign that the assault was about to begin, and the artillery fire was to extend in depth and the infantry had to be prepared.

He turned his head to look in the direction he had come, and saw a dozen tanks approaching slowly in the distance, and the assault starting position was also crowded.

"It's really bad luck, it's useless!"

He took a deep breath, slipped the fresh-aid kit he had just opened back into his large chest pocket, and crawled forward despite the bleeding from both legs......

"Whoa—whoa—"

Two red flares pierced the blue sky.

In an instant, the clicking sound of the tank's tracks was drowned out by the tsunami-like shouts of the mountains, and countless dark green figures flocked to the US position!

(End of chapter)