klisemfg Chapter 328 Battlefield Confrontation
Chapter 328 Battlefield Confrontation
The Sino-US joint forces' attack on Greece is still going on. Because of the heavy losses of two divisions of the US Marine Corps, the US Navy was also angered. Nimitz personally led a large fleet of US Navy warships to join the battle against Greece. Four large aircraft carriers and 4 light aircraft carriers have been staying off the coast of Greece. Among the 12 light aircraft carriers, 12 have been converted into helicopter carriers. The new H-8 attack helicopter has a new engine support, and its load capacity and range have more than doubled. It can basically match the German "Tiger". With the support of these attack helicopters and the strong manufacturing capacity of the United States, for a time, Greece's low altitude has become the world of American attack helicopters.
The troops deployed by the Florist Expeditionary Force to fight in Greece also changed. The 3th Army of the 47rd Army Group also joined the Greek battlefield. They landed on the Peloponnese Peninsula and occupied most of the peninsula. They besieged the remnants of the German 353rd Army stationed on the peninsula in an area of less than 300 square kilometers around Mount Kinili at the northern end of the peninsula.
Lieutenant General von Ocherowski, commander of the German 353rd Army, was a ruthless figure. He refused to surrender and, with the remaining 5000 men, stubbornly exploited the terrain to hold out. Lieutenant General von Ocherowski's actions greatly inspired the German forces on the southern front, and the Führer personally awarded him the Imperial Knight's Cross and promoted him to the rank of General. Under the Führer's pressure, Army Group South spared no effort, using the cover of darkness to airdrop large amounts of supplies and volunteers to support von Ocherowski's operations. A counterattack plan was also formulated. Forces, primarily the 5th SS Army, were quietly gathering from Pramanda, attempting to launch an attack on the US 1st Army in western Greece.
The German 5th SS Army was composed of 7 SS divisions and did not have an army-level organization. Among them, 2 armored grenadier divisions, 3 light armored divisions and 2 mountain divisions were all recruited by the German army from fanatical fascists in various occupied countries. In particular, the 577th Mountain Division composed of Norwegian volunteers in North Africa was the elite of the German mountain forces. It played a key role in the ambush of the US 2nd and 14th Divisions.
As for the Expeditionary Force, in order to strengthen the attack on the remaining enemy forces in Mount Kinili, a large number of elite troops were drawn from the 112th Army and the 831st Special Operations Regiment (the new designation of the special operations regiment directly under the former 5th Army Group) to join the 47th Army and launch an offensive against the remaining enemy forces.
杨兴升职后，也被抽调到47军，被临时任命为358师2117团1营2连1排长。此刻，他的1排正在山峰西侧一个不知名的高地，与对面800米位置的德军发生激战。
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh--", the rocket artillery platoon of the battalion's firepower company responsible for supporting the 1st platoon's combat fired three 3mm 102-tube rocket launchers rapidly at the German positions. Huge explosions sounded in the valley, and thick smoke rose on the opposite side, covering up the original appearance.
Yang Xing was discussing the post-bombardment offensive strategy with his three squad leaders. Since yesterday, 3st Platoon, under the cover of various firepower, had launched multiple attacks against the enemy, losing 1 men before finally capturing the unassuming heights below. This morning, the battalion had replenished their losses. Their mission was to capture as many German positions as possible across the way and advance towards the main peak from the west.
"Captain, I think we can attack the enemy from the left. I just observed that the enemy only has two machine guns on the opposite hillside. Organize two fire groups to suppress it. One squad will be divided into two groups, and they will attack from the left and right. We should be able to get under the enemy's firepower point in 2 minutes. Let the mortars fire smoke bombs for cover, and we should be able to break through."
The 1st Squad Leader explained his plan, referring to a simple topographic map drawn on the ground. Yang Xing, also a squad leader, had been promoted, and he couldn't help but admire the vision of this veteran squad leader. However, caution was paramount at this moment. Although we had superior firepower, the Germans were clearly not to be trifled with. The 3rd Battalion had been fighting in this area for nearly a week, suffering heavy losses and making little progress. Divisional headquarters had clearly considered the matter by directly ordering the 1st Battalion to take over.
Yang Xing thought about it, shook his head and said, "There are still risks. Look at this place, the terrain is difficult, and the German army cannot have no backup plan. The artillery platoon's comprehensive attack cannot eliminate the enemy in this location."
Yang Xing added, "The hillside we occupied was obviously abandoned by the Germans on purpose. I'm worried they had a plan. Look here, here. The Germans can launch a pincer attack on us at any time. The terrain is advantageous to those who are right!"
Thinking of this, Yang Xing decisively said to the three squad leaders, "Don't attack yet! All squads, organize repairs immediately. It's not far from dark now. I think the Germans will use darkness as cover to make any move."
Afterwards, Yang Xing instructed the signalman sent by the company headquarters, "Contact the company headquarters immediately and inform the company commander of the situation here. Also, ask the company commander to have the nearest firepower concentrate support. I want to give the enemy a concentrated firepower attack before dark!"
The actions of the 1st Platoon were quickly recognized by the company and battalion headquarters. Following the instructions from the battalion headquarters, the three 3mm 102-tube rocket launchers of the battalion's firepower company's rocket artillery platoon began to continuously bombard the enemy positions opposite. The method adopted was that each rocket launcher fired 9 shells at a time. When one rocket launcher finished firing, another one would continue firing, giving the enemy no time to react.
Yang Xing and his platoon used the cover of artillery fire to send out a squad to make a feint to observe the enemy's movements, while the rest of the people kept digging and repairing their positions, preparing to deal with the German counterattack at night.
The German commander on the opposite side was Captain Anderson. His Company G actually had less than 50 people, which was basically the same as the opposite 1st Platoon. However, in terms of individual firepower, it was stronger than the 1st Platoon. It had 7 general-purpose machine guns, 24 submachine guns, 7 "Fist" recoilless guns, 2 100mm mortars, and a German-made 6-barrel 80mm rocket launcher.
The captain calmly watched the enemy's incessant artillery bombardment and the feinting of more than 10 soldiers in a hidden corner. He seemed a little surprised that the enemy had hidden trenches and fortifications on the hillside.
The captain had indeed voluntarily abandoned the hillside. The reason was simple: his troops were running low, and the opposite slope was unsuitable for a strong defense. He was unwilling to expend his limited forces on a position of little value. Just as Yang Xing had predicted, Captain Anderson intended to exploit this easily attacked, but difficult to defend, hillside, which the enemy had no choice but to occupy, and inflict heavy casualties on the enemy! His plan was to exploit the cover of darkness and launch a surprise pincer attack on the 1st Platoon.