ebookland Chapter 375 Healing the Fear of Insufficient Firepower! Young Soldiers Yearn for Merit!
Chapter 375 Healing the Fear of Insufficient Firepower! Young Soldiers Yearn for Merit!
On the grassland, a gentle breeze blows.
Rows of infantry fighting vehicles, main battle tanks, and self-propelled artillery, all painted in camouflage green, stood in neat rows.
The soldiers stood in a row in front of the tank, their military posture upright and their eyes sharp.
Amidst the roar of engines, a line of military jeeps drove past the front of the column, heading towards the Blue Army command post.
"stand at attention!"
"salute!!"
Gao Cheng raised his hand in salute.
He led the entire Seventh Steel Company to watch the convoy depart.
He knew very well that the upcoming exercise debriefing meeting would be of extraordinary significance.
Senior generals from all major military regions and army groups came to observe this combat exercise.
Now that the exercise has ended, it's not just about summarizing the lessons learned, but also about discussing future army reforms.
How to change it?
Gao Cheng didn't know, but there was one thing he was certain of.
The information-based and integrated combined arms brigade of the Blue Force performed exceptionally well in this exercise and will certainly serve as a model for future military reforms.
Even if the heavily mechanized Red Army armored divisions fought with great determination, they could not hide the fact of their defeat and would inevitably undergo military reforms quickly.
Recalling what my father once said, from motorization to semi-mechanization, and then to mechanization, each reform of the military, while bringing about an improvement in combat effectiveness, also caused a lot of pain for many people.
In order to keep up with the times and improve the combat effectiveness of the troops, it is necessary to eliminate units and personnel that do not meet the requirements. Doesn't this touch on the core issues and make things very difficult?
A storm was inevitable.
Gao Cheng's only hope was that his Steel Seventh Company would not be touched.
A moment later, the order came.
The red and blue teams exchanged and learned from each other.
but……
While it was supposed to be "mutual exchange and learning," the actual situation was that the Red Army soldiers all went to the opposing Blue Army formation.
As the first digital and information-based heavy combined arms brigade in the entire army, its main battle equipment and individual soldier equipment are not only more pleasing to the eye and more advanced and powerful, but also include a lot of equipment that the Red Army armored division simply does not have.
For example, there are electronic warfare vehicles specifically designed to deal with electronic countermeasures, ground command vehicles for commanding and controlling drones, kitchen vehicles that can cook even in remote and desolate areas, and even medical support vehicles that can provide showers and baths...
It is often said that war is all about logistical support.
After a brief visit, Gao Cheng was truly impressed.
If you didn't know better, you'd think you were visiting a US military armored unit; the equipment was just too damn luxurious.
Main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery, vehicle-mounted howitzers, air defense vehicles, etc., not only have more advanced instruments and equipment, but they can also conduct tactical network-based collaborative operations. Many vehicles even have air conditioning!
Even though the main purpose is to cool down various electronic devices and ensure their normal operation, it can also allow officers and soldiers to enjoy the coolness and concentrate on combat for a longer period of time.
Otherwise, even the most well-trained individuals will eventually become less effective in combat due to the sweltering heat inside the tank.
After an intense battle, being able to eat a hot meal with both meat and vegetables, or even take a hot shower, can naturally help relax the mind and body quickly and also help restore combat effectiveness rapidly.
Gao Cheng was truly envious of such main battle equipment.
What he envied most, of course, was the individual equipment of the Blue Team's combined arms brigade.
The lightweight helmet they wear is not only lighter but also provides better protection. It also allows them to easily attach night vision goggles and tactical flashlights, unlike the heavy and stuffy steel helmets they currently wear, which cannot accommodate tactical accessories.
The camouflage training uniform they wear is not only made of breathable, sweat-absorbent, and cut-resistant fabric, but also has a more user-friendly design and better camouflage effect. When paired with an infrared protective suit, it can more effectively reduce infrared thermal detection.
As for the training boots worn on the feet, they are far superior to rubber-soled shoes. They offer better protection, are lightweight, slip-resistant, and wear-resistant, and are not afraid of being pierced by sharp objects during field operations.
The individual weapons used by the squad members were so luxurious that they left people speechless.
The new assault rifle is highly accurate, has low recoil, and is more ergonomic. It can easily be equipped with various tactical accessories, such as flashlights, optical sights, grenade launchers, and so on.
A squad not only has general-purpose machine guns and sniper rifles, but also individual rocket launchers, individual grenade launchers, and anti-tank missiles.
This firepower configuration has truly cured my "fear of insufficient firepower".
Of course, powerful firepower alone is not enough; tactical communication equipment has been provided to every soldier, and squads also have tactical terminals that can communicate with the command organization in real time.
This means that each squad is a highly capable tactical unit, able to quickly obtain intelligence and fire support, thus achieving "detection and destruction"!
After a thorough visit and inquiry, Gao Cheng was deeply shocked and finally understood why the Red Team had lost so badly.
Not to mention the different tactics and strategies, the weapons and equipment of the two sides are from different eras and are not at the same level.
While others are already playing with integrated air-space-ground and three-dimensional collaborative technologies, we're still emphasizing "infantry-tank coordination and combined arms assault."
Others focus on information warfare and intelligence warfare, striving to control electromagnetic and air superiority, and their combat methods are no longer limited to the ground, while we are still playing the old-fashioned mechanized warfare game.
On the battlefield, you only encounter a squad whose firepower is terrifyingly accurate and powerful. They can also quickly call for rear support, and their artillery shells, missiles, and rockets arrive accurately and quickly.
How the hell do I fight this?
It may seem like they're fighting a single squad, but in reality, they're confronting the entire enemy system.
How could two such forces not suffer a crushing defeat in a battle?
Even so, people still say that he didn't fully unleash his true potential.
Because the army aviation units, which are equipped with various helicopters, did not participate in this exercise.
They were able to seamlessly connect with the air force through the joint operations command system, and this time they did not simulate a large-scale air attack.
If we were to truly achieve a three-dimensional composite animation, the exercise would have been over long ago...
Gao Cheng found a quiet corner and lit a cigarette.
Instructor Hong Xingguo stepped forward, and the two exchanged a wry smile.
"Doesn't it feel like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden and having her eyes opened to a whole new world?"
"Absolutely! It's truly an eye-opening experience."
Gao Cheng took a deep drag of his cigarette, frowned, and said:
"Before this, I never dreamed that an informationized military unit could have such advanced and luxurious weaponry and equipment."
"Damn it, we're both reconnaissance units, but they're using drones, robotic dogs, and all sorts of advanced optoelectronic observation and detection equipment, while what are we doing?"
"After risking their lives to infiltrate and get close to the enemy to scout out their situation, they had to report their latitude and longitude coordinates. They had to rely on handheld locators, maps, and radios. If they weren't careful, they would be killed."
"When calling for fire support, their request for air support might have already arrived, while our request might not even have reached the division headquarters yet. How can you compare them?"
Hong Xingguo, hands on his hips, said with a serious expression:
"So it has to be changed, it can't be left unchanged!"
"The 21st century is the information age. If we don't keep up with the times, we will fall behind and be vulnerable to attack!"
"However, I see that there is a lot of digital and information technology equipment. If military reform is really implemented, there will be higher requirements for the cultural literacy of officers and soldiers."
"In the past, as long as you were physically fit enough, could run and jump, and had a basic grasp of individual combat tactics, you could become a decent mechanized infantryman. But in the future..."
Gao Cheng interjected, "We'll talk about the future later. Right now, I just hope that the military reform will reduce personnel and not lay off the soldiers I carefully selected and trained."
Hong Xingguo smiled slightly.
"They are all top-notch, and it's impossible to lay them off."
"On the contrary, I am worried. Our Steel Seventh Company has many outstanding people, and they performed well in this exercise."
"This military reform aims to reorganize divisions into brigades and improve the combat effectiveness of the troops in a balanced way, which may break up our company..."
"What the hell?"
Gao Cheng glared angrily.
He cherished and protected the Seventh Steel Company like a precious treasure.
To disband and break up the Seventh Steel Company would be tantamount to killing them.
"Don't get agitated, I'm just speculating, just speculating!"
"Don't think about those messy things, our Steel Seventh Company will never disband! Never!!"
Although he spoke with great bravado, Gao Cheng was terrified inside.
It's approaching noon.
The two rounds of exchanges are almost over, and the exercise debriefing meeting is also basically over.
As is customary, both the Red and Blue teams will naturally organize a large-scale group meal.
Since they didn't win the exercise, they couldn't afford to lose to the Blue Team in terms of food at the banquet, so each cookhouse of the Red Team's armored division brought out their best cooking skills.
Although the lunch was exceptionally lavish, to Gao Cheng's surprise, the Blue Team did not prepare a single bottle of beer; instead, they had energy drinks on the table, while the Red Team had cases of beer piled up like small hills.
The ban on commercial activities has been in effect for some time, and many units have stopped engaging in business and started to strengthen combat readiness training. However, there is no strict ban on drinking alcohol, especially during field training.
The officers and soldiers affectionately called beer "liquid hand grenade," and they enjoyed drinking it to their heart's content during meals.
Looking at the results now...
The winners don't drink to celebrate, but the losers seem to want to get drunk.
Moreover, when asked, the Blue Army said that they had come from Handong, where not only is drinking prohibited for the military, but public officials are also strictly prohibited from eating and drinking in violation of regulations.
The reason for such strictness is that the army is always ready to defend the country, so it naturally needs iron discipline and must always ensure combat effectiveness.
Gao Cheng could not be bothered with other companies, but his Steel Seventh Company obviously could not afford to lose face.
"They've withdrawn! They've withdrawn!"
"Get all the beer out of my house!"
"With the exercise going so poorly, how can you even have the face to drink?"
"What if war suddenly breaks out and we're all drunk? How can we fight a war then?"
"Pass on my order: from now on, drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited in our Steel Seventh Company. Anyone who violates this order will be punished, including me!"
No one objected to Gao Cheng's words.
Soon, all the beer placed on the tables of the Seventh Steel Company was removed.
After finishing his meeting, Wang Qingrui, the commander of the 702nd Mechanized Infantry Regiment, came to inspect the various companies and happened to see this scene.
After calling Gao Cheng aside, he said with a smile:
"Your dad's here for the meeting too, why don't you go and have a chat with him?"
Gao Cheng raised his head slightly and looked around.
He didn't want anyone to know that his father was a military commander.
"Our army group's elite armored division, even after being heavily reinforced, still lost in the exercise. How can it not get a scolding?"
"But we're in the military now. We're not father and son, we're superior and subordinate. What's there for me, a mere company commander, to talk about with a division commander?"
Wang Qingrui laughed heartily.
"It's better not to talk about it. What if he sees you and suddenly decides to make our regiment a pilot unit and the first to start military reforms? That would be bad news!"
Gao Cheng pursed his lips and looked at Wang Qingrui with a helpless expression.
"Do you think we can escape this situation after the exercise has gone this far? We might escape it for a day, but we can't escape it for another!"
"I support military reform in order to have stronger combat capabilities. I just went there and saw that the various new equipment looks good and can make the troops more combat-effective."