The power of the artillery depends on the caliber of the gun, as well as on the muzzle velocity of the shell.

The larger the caliber, the more powerful.

In the case of the same caliber, the higher the muzzle velocity of the shell, the greater the power, and the power here is mainly to increase the penetration.

The former is widely known.

But the latter, relatively few people know.

The reason is also simple,

After all, the thicker the barrel, the greater the visual fear, the stronger the explosion power, and the more terrifying the destructive power.

The results are immediate.

However, the larger the caliber, the more the gun weight will be straight and exponentially increased.

However, increasing the muzzle velocity of the projectile is quite technically difficult, the cost is relatively higher, and the effect of increasing the power is far less significant than that of thickening the barrel.

Moreover, the weight of the gun has also been increased.

Fortunately, there is one easiest way to increase the muzzle velocity of a shell, and that is to increase the amount of charge.

More propellants!

So··

"No wonder."

When they saw this artillery, everyone in the new second regiment suddenly realized in their hearts.

No wonder the regimental commander dared to say that he would not attack until the artillery of the Independent Regiment had completely destroyed the Shawa stronghold.

A gun with only 75 calibers, but the propellant is comparable to the equivalent of a 105 caliber gun, and the penetration of this cannon can be imagined without specific data.

The sand hollow stronghold is absolutely unstoppable!

"Ready."

Seeing that the new artillery gradually moved to the predetermined gun position, everyone's hearts gradually raised anticipation.

According to the regimental commander's intentions, this artillery will destroy the sand hollow stronghold little by little, like knocking bricks, little by little into powder, and then they will start to attack.

Or rather, clean up the battlefield.

Without stronghold fortifications, can this devil stop their three battalions?

In this process, the third battalion only needs to block the counterattack of the devils.

So··

The commander of the third battalion and several company commanders couldn't help but look at the two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns that had just been issued from the brigade headquarters, with an effective range of 1,800 meters and a stable trajectory.

The fire reconnaissance of the devils in the Shawa stronghold has been completed.

The only thing that could pose a threat to this heavy machine gun was two Type 92 infantry guns and two Type 41 mountain guns.

All are in the stronghold, arranged in a fixed position, and used as a fixed fire point.

The devil seems to be very superstitious about this concrete tomb.

Although it can also be launched into battle, it will take time, and the new 75mm gun, presumably, will not give the devil time, and will quickly and decisively knock out the stronghold with the devil's artillery.

As long as these two heavy machine guns are arranged on the high slopes on both flanks of the stronghold to form crossfire,

Plus 60,82 mortars belonging to three battalions, more than thirty Czech machine guns.

The devil in the sand recess stronghold is the turtle in the urn.

Boom··

In the reverie of everyone, the first shell accurately hit the main body of the stronghold.

···

"Captain, the Eighth Route Army is here."

"Stupid dirt eight roads."

Inside the sand hollow stronghold.

Seeing the Eighth Route Army approaching outside, Shaozo said in a disdainful tone.

As soon as the new second regiment approached the stronghold of Shawa, the reconnaissance unit he arranged found out, and through equipment, mules and horses, etc., he knew that the troops of the Eighth Route Army that came to attack were very strong.

There was a large number of machine guns, mortars, grenadiers, etc.

The firepower was stronger than the brigade under his command.

There are also more troops.

In the field, his garrison brigade had little chance of winning.

But Shaozo's heart was still full of disdain.

What is the use of good equipment and strong firepower?

Can you take down his sand dreak?

Rushing over so mightily, not afraid of locust reinforcements?

There were as many as 50,000 locust troops stationed around Taiyuan and Yangquan, and there were 30,000 locust troops that could reach the Shawa stronghold within 24 hours, and even as many as 60,000 within 48 hours.

"They pushed up a cannon."

"It should be seventy-five calibers."

There are devils who found the PAK40 anti-tank gun that was pushed out.

The effective firing range of PAK40 was about two kilometers, and taking into account the accuracy, the artillery squad of the separate regiment advanced the artillery position to a position of one and a half kilometers from the stronghold of the devils.

Due to the fact that the 105 gun itself was used on the base, the PAK40 was relatively large in size, comparable even to the weight and volume of some 75-mm howitzers.

Before he reached the position, he was discovered by the devil.

And, visually measured the caliber of the artillery.

Because the locust army really has a lot of seventy-five mm guns, and it is too familiar with this caliber.

"That's..."

When he saw PAK40, although Sakamoto Shaosa's expression was still calm, it could be seen from his tone that he felt that something was wrong.

As a young scholar, a cadet who graduated from the class.

Shaozo naturally knows the relationship between the body and the power of the artillery.

He saw the PAK40, but also the long barrel, and the unique flat-fire perspective.

"Anti-tank guns!"

Gradually, Shaozo's tone began to be solemn.

Anti-tank guns of seventy-five mm caliber.

Coupled with the technical ability of the mysterious forces behind the Eighth Route Army, can this artillery penetrate the reinforced concrete walls of the Shawa stronghold up to 25 centimeters thick?

Can it be broken down?

A drop of cold sweat dripped from Sakamoto's forehead.

"Report to the wing headquarters."

"Detection of enemy large-caliber anti-tank artillery."

Pride and conceit make Shaozo reluctant to ask for tactical guidance now, that is, to ask for help.

But the situation lets Sakamoto know that he needs help.

Otherwise, the sand dreak stronghold may be fine.

After all, there is only one artillery.

But the losses are bound to be very heavy.

Fortunately, once the wing headquarters knew that there was the main force of the Eighth Route Army in the Taiyue Mountains, it would inevitably be heavily encircled and suppressed.

The voice fell,

Boom··

The artillery of the Eighth Route Army opened fire.

···

"Missed!"

Contrary to everyone's expectations,

Even though the target was the main body of the stronghold, even if the distance was only 1.5 kilometers, the first shell missed.

Fly to the point where you don't know.

"Idiot."

Shaozuo's confidence suddenly came back a little.

"Go on."

The leader of the artillery squad of the Independent Regiment did not panic in the slightest.

Before getting such artillery, they had only operated mortars, and after getting them, the training only lasted two days, and they hurriedly went to the battlefield, and only ten rounds of live ammunition were fired.

Coupled with the hasty construction of positions.

It's normal to hit the mark.

But it doesn't matter,

Today, they have the opportunity to make mistakes.

That is, the fault tolerance rate is very high! The squad leader thought of a word that the instructor had said.

Boom··

In a moment's time, the second shell hit accurately.

···

"Oh my God..."

In the rear, the commander of the third battalion looked at the militia transport company, which belonged to the independent regiment in front of him,

The corners of his eyes twitched.

The artillery squad of a new type of artillery of the independent regiment was ten people, six military mules were used to tow and transport several shells, and the rest were militia transports, militia units from the Taiyue base area.

Responsible for transporting shells.

In the artillery squad, two people were assigned to command.

In an independent regiment, it is a very normal formation.

But what the commander of the third battalion did not expect in any way was that a running squad of ten people with only one artillery piece, a full artillery transport team of 100 people, and a hundred mules.

And this artillery convoy, there were a hundred people, fifty board trucks.

A total of 500 shells were transported.

"Six hundred shells!"

The battalion commanders of the third battalion fell silent.

Although the regimental commander issued an order for the artillery of the Independent Regiment to completely destroy the pillbox turrets of the Shawa stronghold before launching an attack, they had a premonition that the artillery units of the Independent Regiment would have sufficient ammunition this time.

However, a single attack on the Shawa stronghold consumed 600 rounds of artillery shells.

Or this kind of anti-aircraft artillery shells.

"It's too much."

"It's too much."

A company commander made a gesture of wiping his forehead, seemingly crusading against this kind of behavior, but no matter how he looked at it, it was a smile.

A smug smile.

I can't hide it.

No, not even a cover-up at all.

"I like it."

The third battalion commander stopped pretending, and directly grinned and praised with a smile.

···

In the midst of the joy of all.

Shell after shell was fired from the PAK40 breech.

And from the third shot, the gunner had mastered the performance of this gun, almost without missing a shot, and accurately hit the turret theme of the sand recess stronghold, the pillbox.

The little devil uses inferior cement, plus ordinary civilian steel bars, and cast reinforced concrete bunkers, which can indeed deal with grenades.

Even 105 grenades.

After all, the grenade fuse, charge, impact angle, and large fragmentation kill are destined to have poor destructive power against strong fortifications.

But the PAK40 is the most sophisticated anti-tank gun here, specially designed for anti-tank and anti-pillboxes, which can easily penetrate the outer layer of inferior civilian reinforced concrete fortifications of 25 mm in the Sha Hollow stronghold.

Although the power of destruction is not good,

Only a large hole can be pierced and a layer of structure can be bitten off.

But that's enough!

Rumble!

Rumble!

Boom...

As the shells hit one by one, the originally solid sand depression stronghold was like a stone mill, although it was solid, but in the face of the sledgehammer, it could only be broken a little.

···

"Yaga!"

Inside the bunker,

Shaozo gritted his teeth.

The eyes are red.

Originally, he was hidden in the main body of the stronghold, but because the enemy's artillery was so powerful, the shells could not only penetrate the 25 mm concrete of the main body of the stronghold, but even pierce.

In desperation, he could only move to the stronghold.

In this half hour, the enemy shelled at a rate of four or five rounds per minute, and the stronghold had already received nearly 100 shells.

Several times he wanted to rush out, launch an attack, and destroy the artillery of the Dirt Eight Road.

But reason restrained him from his impulses.

He is reckless,

is proud of heart,

But he's not stupid.

Through the binoculars, he could see a machine gun in the Tu Eighth Route position near the terrible artillery, and he also knew that the Eighth Route Army in front of him was the main force.

There are a large number of mortars.

For the safety of the stronghold, he ordered the surrounding terrain to be leveled, and within one kilometer of the main body of the stronghold, it was flat and open land, and it was covered with barbed wire.

Such terrain is to facilitate defense and kill and injure enemies close to the stronghold.

But I didn't expect Tubalu to have such a strong attack artillery.

This limited the attack of the locusts.

Once he broke out of the stronghold and was exposed to the open field, in the face of the ferocious Tubalu fire, his locust army of more than 500 people would be completely wiped out in a few minutes.

Whew··

Suddenly, a violent voice came,

The main body of the stronghold, which had withstood a hundred shells, suddenly collapsed in a violent shake,

When the smoke cleared, only a piece of wreckage remained.

Shaozo's eyes suddenly turned red.

His Sha Cave stronghold, which he swore that Tu Balu would never be able to take, was completely destroyed without even killing a single enemy.

All that remains is the remains of bricks and tiles. (End of chapter)