novelaction Chapter 221: Xunyang Defense Line in Crisis, 24th Air Assault Division Attacks
Chapter 221: Xunyang Defense Line in Crisis, 24th Air Assault Division Attacks
"Da da da da..."
Amidst the thick smoke, a series of machine gun bullets fired out and hit the armor of the M41 light tank.
The defenders on the high ground began to counterattack.
"boom....."
In addition to machine guns, anti-tank shells were also fired from the positions.
However, it did not hit the tank which was moving at high speed.
"Whoosh whoosh..."
The defenders emerged after the artillery fire stopped, and the artillery units following behind the troops to provide close fire support did not show any mercy.
Especially the six-wheeled light rocket vehicle carrying 20-round 122mm rocket launchers.
When facing the counterattack of the defenders, they just fired a volley.
Dense rockets landed on the battlefield, making a deafening sound like a volcanic eruption.
The position was instantly filled with flames and smoke.
The shock wave generated by the explosion swept across everything like a surging wave.
Sandbag fortifications, soil, stones, machine guns, and corpses were all blown away in the explosion.
Some of the South Asian Alliance soldiers who were fighting back hard on the battlefield were killed or injured by the blast, while others were hit by flying shrapnel and fell to the ground screaming.
"boom....."
After the rocket launcher vehicle started to move, the self-propelled mortar vehicle was not willing to lag behind. It stopped about 2 kilometers in front of the high ground and began to operate the 120mm heavy mortar on the vehicle to provide close support.
The defending infantry battalion on the Taizi Mountain plateau continued to hold its position even though it could not contact the regimental headquarters.
The fierce firepower of the Renaissance Army failed to suppress them.
"This unit is quite tough. It seems to be the elite force of the Southern Alliance."
The commander of the 5th Motorized Infantry Division put down the binoculars in his hand and chuckled.
This high ground could not stop the tank attack.
So he didn't think that this defending army could withstand their attack.
“I think the firepower preparation before the battle was not sufficient, so the artillerymen who extended the bombardment increased the intensity of the bombardment.
It doesn't matter if we can hit anyone or not, as long as we can get the shells to their positions, it will be more impressive."
The deputy division commander who was accompanying the inspection felt that the defenders were still capable of counterattacking, but the intensity of the artillery fire was not strong enough.
"Boom boom boom..."
Just as they were talking, the tank cluster also started shelling.
One after another, 76mm high-explosive bombs exploded on the position.
At the same time, some soldiers opened the tank hatch and crawled out, operating the 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns in their hands to suppress the fire.
The suppression effect of the 12.7mm large-caliber machine gun is still very obvious.
Ordinary sandbag fortifications couldn't even withstand a few rounds of fire.
The South Asian Alliance soldiers who were hit would suffer broken arms and legs at best, and die at worst.
"Dong dong dong dong..."
Wheeled infantry fighting vehicles also began to provide fire support for the tanks, and the onboard 30mm and 20mm machine guns began to roar.
The firepower is much more fierce than that of a 12.7mm caliber machine gun.
At this moment, the defenders on the position felt a steel storm sweeping towards them.
At this time, if they dared to lean out and shoot, it would be equivalent to catching the bullet.
"Hurry, hurry, get out of the car!"
The rear hatch of the wheeled infantry fighting vehicle opened, and soldiers holding AK-47 assault rifles jumped out nimbly and then moved towards the tank at the fastest speed.
"Artillery, where are our artillery? Why aren't our artillery firing?"
On the battlefield, feeling the continuous explosions coming from the surroundings, the defending battalion commander shouted in a state of frustration.
As an elite division, their radio stations are equipped at the battalion level.
For example, their camp has a shortwave communication radio from Motorola.
But due to the positioning interference of the EB-66 electronic warfare aircraft, their radio station could not send any telegrams at all.
After all, radio stations at this time don’t even have frequency hopping technology, and their anti-interference capabilities are very poor.
They were being attacked on the front line, and the artillery in the rear was unable to get support because they could not communicate.
Not to mention the artillery, they couldn't even contact the regimental headquarters.
The bombing and shelling just now had cut off all the telephone lines they had buried.
Under the cover of tanks, the soldiers of the Renaissance Army rushed to the high ground positions.
Intensive gunfire from AK-47 assault rifles began to emanate from the scattered positions and fortifications.
At this time, reinforcements from the defenders arrived.
A reserve battalion, led by the battalion commander, broke through the artillery blockade and rushed up with more than 300 people.
However, facing the fierce firepower of the Renaissance Army, their reinforcements did not change the outcome of Taizi Mountain Heights being occupied in less than an hour.
Taizishan Heights is just one of the many high ground positions on the Dabie Mountain defense line.
There are still a large number of high grounds ahead waiting for them to be taken.
After taking the Taizi Mountain Heights, the troops launched a new offensive towards the next heights that had been plowed several times by artillery fire.
Within one day, half of the Southern Allied Forces' Dabie Mountain defense line was breached.
The Huangshi position group was broken through within half a day, and the Mubushan defense line was also in danger.
Liu Jing, the commander-in-chief of the Xunyang defense line, is now as anxious as an ant on a hot pan in the Lushan command center.
It was not until nightfall, when the Fuxing Army stopped its attack, that information on the front line was sent to the Lushan Command Headquarters.
"What do you mean the battle has already reached Guangji County from the Dabie Mountains?"
Guangji County is located in the central area of the Dabie Mountain defense line, which means that within that day, the Fuxing Army directly broke through the 7th Army's defense line.
"What the hell is Li Zhen doing? I handed the 7th Army over to him, and this is how he fought?
It's only been one day, and the defense line is almost broken. Is he a pig? "
Liu Jing was immediately shocked and angry, and started cursing in the command center. All the officers lowered their heads, fearing that they would get into trouble.
Being scolded is a small matter, but I am afraid that Liu Jing will drag some unlucky guy out and kill him in anger.
"Commander, according to a call from the 7th Army, Commander Li Zhen and his entire headquarters were bombed by the Fuxing Army Air Force shortly after the war began. More than a hundred people in the headquarters are all gone.
The entire valley was engulfed in flames, and no body was found.”
Hearing this, Liu Jing fell silent. The hand holding the battle report trembled a few times, and the battle report slipped quietly and fell to the ground.
At this moment, a feeling of grief and indignation welled up in my heart. I held back the tears that were about to fall and came to the map.
"The Dabie Mountain defense line cannot be lost. If we lose it, the entire Xunyang defense line will be destroyed.
Let the reorganized 48th Army send reinforcements overnight.
Tell them to go directly into the woods during the day and be sure to be on guard against the Fusion Army's planes.
If they target us, we'll be killed."
"Commander, the reorganized 48th Army has been transferred there, so there's only one army left in Hongcheng."
A general stepped forward at this time to remind him.
"What are you afraid of? Can the Fuxing Army actually fly over Lushan and reach Hongcheng? Besides, there are only 30,000 soldiers in the army. Even if their paratroopers come, they can't take Hongcheng, which is defended by more than 30,000 people."
"Yes!"
Apart from the reorganized 7th Army, the only relatively capable fighting unit in the Third Corps is the reorganized 48th Army.
As for the Provisional 8th Army, which was reorganized from the Jiangnan Province Security Force, although it claimed to have more than people, it was actually a ragtag force.
They were just temporarily incorporated into the Third Corps and commanded by Liu Jing.
As the commander-in-chief of the Xunyang front, there was nothing wrong with Liu Jing's deployment.
At this time, the Dabie Mountain defense line is about to be broken. If the more powerful reorganized 48th Army is not transferred there, will it still stay in Hongcheng?
And his order directly gave the Fuxing Army an opportunity.
The reorganized 48th Army was stationed in Hongcheng and De'an County of Xunyang. Tens of thousands of people set off overnight and took the train to Xunyang City overnight.
They will then take a boat across the river in Xunyang and arrive at Xiaochi Town on the opposite bank, and then rush to support the remaining defenders of the 7th Army in the direction of Guangji County.
The movement of tens of thousands of troops still caused a lot of noise.
Intelligence personnel of the General Military Intelligence Bureau lurking within the SAARC successively sent back information on the movements of the reorganized 48th Army.
At this time, Ling Liang, who was in charge of the General Staff Headquarters, also received information from the General Military Intelligence Bureau.
"The reorganized 48th Army will move toward Xunyang, intending to support the defenders in Guangji County and strengthen the Dabie Mountain defense line."
After seeing the information, Ling Liang's mouth curled up into a smile.
"Record the order: the 24th Airborne Division, the 19th Airborne Division, and the 20th Airborne Division will launch an attack on Hongcheng tomorrow.
As for the reorganized 48th Army, once they cross the river, immediately blockade the Chang River."
"Yes!"
The airborne division and the airborne division, which serve as strategic rapid reaction forces, entered a level one combat readiness state after the war broke out.
All soldiers have their leave cancelled, combat readiness personnel are on duty day and night, and the radio is listened to at all times to ensure continuous command.
Therefore, the moment the order was received, it was delivered to all troops as quickly as possible.
The 24th Airborne Division is currently based in Jiangcheng.
Also in Jiangcheng was the 19th Airborne Division.
The 20th Airborne Division's base is located in Shangdu, Zhongyuan Province.
At an average speed of 300 kilometers per hour for a transport aircraft, it would take only two hours to reach Hongcheng from Shangdu.
However, it was the 24th Air Assault Division that launched the first attack in this operation.
At 6 o'clock in the morning, the sky was still shrouded in darkness.
At the Jiangcheng helicopter base, one after another Twin Blade armed helicopters, Hind general-purpose helicopters and Nighthawk medium-sized transport helicopters began to take off.
Soon, hundreds of helicopters from the entire air assault division formed an air formation like a long dragon at low altitude.
The double-blade attack helicopter, fully loaded with various ground attack ammunition, flew at the front of the formation.
At this time, the sun has risen slowly from the east, and the morning light is spreading over the earth.
Hongcheng didn't seem to feel the atmosphere of war.
However, after dawn, many people still ran out of the city with bags of all sizes.
Basically, they all went to the countryside to seek refuge.
The fighting on the Xunyang defense line was so fierce that although it had not yet spread to Hongcheng, it was only a matter of time.
Xiangtang Town is located about 25 kilometers south of Hongcheng City. It is also the intersection of the Nanxun Railway Branch Line and the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Main Railway.
Due to the important strategic location here, the 8th Division of the Provisional 97th Army was stationed in Xiangtang Town, with a total strength of over troops.
However, due to the tactical missile bombing here yesterday, the transportation hub of Xiangtang Town was paralyzed.
After dawn, soldiers from the 97th Division began to clear the rubble.
At this moment, a large group of helicopters is rapidly approaching Xiangtang Town.