ebookland Chapter 700: Fuso Air Raid Breaks the Situation
Chapter 700: Fuso Air Raid Breaks the Situation
On the battlefield stained with a golden edge by the dusk, the 1st Grenadier Regiment of the Death's Head Division had just completed the brief occupation and evacuation of the frontline positions and quickly withdrew to the solid base camp. Inside the base camp, the atmosphere was tense and orderly, and the soldiers quickly returned to their positions, sorted out their equipment, and prepared to meet any challenges that might follow.
At this moment, the sky suddenly lost its tranquility. A roar that came from far away and approached like the whisper of death cut through the sky. In the command post, Division Commander Ike stood in front of a huge tactical map, his sharp eagle eyes staring at the approaching shadow. His face was as calm as water, without the slightest panic, as if he had already anticipated all of Fuso's actions.
"Attention, all air defense units! Enemy aircraft are approaching, and are expected to enter air defense range in one minute. Immediately enter combat readiness!" Ike's voice was transmitted steadily and powerfully throughout the camp through encrypted radio waves. He quickly called up battlefield intelligence, and quickly calculated the number of enemy aircraft, flight altitude, speed, and possible attack routes in his mind. Every instruction was accurate and correct, reflecting his outstanding qualities as a battlefield commander.
"Anti-aircraft artillery group, use three-shot bursts as a unit, implement staggered coverage fire, and focus on defending the southeast direction!" Ike ordered decisively. He knew that would be the main attack direction of the enemy aircraft formation. Upon hearing this, the soldiers of the anti-aircraft regiment immediately acted according to the preset plan. The huge anti-aircraft gun muzzle slowly turned and pointed directly at the sky. The metallic luster emitted by the gun body looked even colder and more determined in the sunset.
With the first gunshot, the entire camp seemed to be set on fire, and the anti-aircraft artillery fire intertwined into an airless fire net, wantonly waving angry flames into the sky. On the radar screen, the traces of the enemy aircraft were accurately locked, and the electronic warfare personnel in the command center worked closely together to transmit target information in real time to provide precise guidance for the anti-aircraft artillery fire.
"Left-wing formation, flexibly adjust the angle to respond to the enemy aircraft's evasive change of direction!" Ike keenly perceived the movements of the enemy aircraft and quickly made adjustments, demonstrating his outstanding battlefield adaptability.
After a round of fighting, dazzling fireworks bloomed in the sky, and two Fuso fighters drew beautiful arcs in the air, and finally fell to the ground, turning into a blazing fireball. The air defense network of the SKULL Division showed amazing efficiency and resilience. Although sparks from the interweaving of artillery fire occasionally fell on the edge of the camp, the losses were kept to a minimum thanks to the strict defense system and rapid response mechanism.
Throughout the air defense operation, Ike remained calm and decisive. Each of his orders was just right. He took every step carefully and resolved the enemy's offensive one by one. In this battle between the sky and the ground, the Totenkopf Division once again proved that it was the "Division of Death" on the battlefield, fearless of any challenge, and always invincible.
As the roar of the Fuso fighter formation gradually faded away, the sky returned to tranquility, leaving only a few wisps of black smoke rising, marking the fierce air raid that had just occurred. On the ground, the two trench positions that had been temporarily lost due to the air raid were now firmly occupied by the soldiers of the Nagai Division again. The soldiers shuttled between the trenches, repairing the fortifications destroyed by artillery fire and strengthening the defense line.
In the joint command center of the Nagai Division and the Kagaseki Division, the atmosphere seemed particularly relaxed and confident. Division commanders Mitsui and Kawamura sat side by side on both sides of the conference table, both with faint smiles on their faces.
Not long ago, Mitsui received a phone call from the Kyushu Corps Headquarters. On the other end of the phone, the commander-in-chief Yamashita Tomoyuki's voice was steady and powerful, and he asked in detail about the current situation of the war on the front line. Mitsui's voice was full of excitement and pride. He reported in detail how the Nagai Division used a large number of mountain fortifications and solid concrete fortifications to successfully resist the enemy's long-range firepower coverage and ensure the safety and stability of the position.
"Our fortifications played a vital role. Although the enemy's artillery fire was fierce, it did not cause us a heavy blow. On the contrary, their offensive has been effectively contained by us, and the current situation of the war is developing in a direction that is favorable to us." Mitsui Bo's words revealed sufficient confidence.
Kawamura Isamu nodded in agreement, and the conversation between the two was relaxed and pleasant. It was obvious that they both agreed with Yamashita Tomoyuki's strategy of abandoning the Nagasaki area and concentrating troops on key fronts. The implementation of this strategy made the so-called "ace division" such as the Skull Division unable to pose a threat to them.
"It seems that Commander-in-Chief Yamashita's decision is extremely wise. Our goal now is to hold our position, advance steadily, and not give the enemy any chance to find a breakthrough," added Kawamura Isamu.
In the Totenkopf Division command post, Division Commander Ike and Deputy Division Commander Li Kaier sat opposite each other, both with serious expressions, their eyes revealing deep worries about the current predicament. A tense and heavy atmosphere permeated the room.
Li Kaier was the first to break the silence. His voice was deep and powerful. "Commander, the situation is more serious than we expected. The enemy's defenses are too strong. Those concrete fortresses and deep trenches are just like the steepness tailor-made for us. Although our rocket launchers and heavy artillery have powerful firepower, they are powerless in the face of such a defense system and it is difficult to inflict a fatal blow."
He paused, turned his gaze to the battle sand table, and gently ran his fingers over the models representing the enemy positions. He continued, "If we choose to storm those trenches, it would be tantamount to sending the soldiers into a bloody quagmire. The casualties would be incalculable. We cannot afford such a battle."
Ike frowned upon hearing this and fell into deep thought. He knew that what Li Kaier said was true and the current predicament was indeed difficult. But as an experienced commander, he never gave up easily. After a moment, Ike slowly spoke: "Li Kaier, you are right. We have indeed encountered unprecedented challenges. But because of this, we need to analyze the situation more calmly and find a way out."
He stood up, walked to the battle sand table, and gently moved a few models with his hands, as if thinking about a new strategic layout. "Our army is in trouble now, but this does not mean we have to give up. What we need to do is to play to our strengths, avoid our weaknesses, and wait for the opportunity."
Ike turned around and looked at Li Kaier with a sharp gaze: "According to the news from the rear headquarters, the 1st Air Division has arrived in the Nagasaki area and will be able to be put into battle in two days at the earliest. This is our turning point. Air power will be the key to breaking the enemy's defense and turning the tide of the war."
His words were full of confidence: "We must make full use of this time and make all preparations. Adjust the deployment of troops, strengthen the defense line, and closely monitor the movements of the enemy. When the First Air Division arrives, we must deal a fatal blow to the enemy with the fastest speed and most accurate coordination!"
When Li Kaier heard this, a light flashed in his eyes and he nodded, indicating that he fully agreed with Ike's decision.