klisemfg Chapter 253 Ambush and Counterattack
Chapter 253 Ambush and Counterattack
The German army had actually been roaming this area for quite some time, but it was barren and dry during the transition from autumn to winter. The nomads of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq had no concept of national boundaries. In the 21st century, this was a neutral zone jointly established by the three countries, where nomads from all countries could freely enter and graze their livestock.
At this time of year, the earth seemed covered in a withered, yellow veil. The dry, seasonal riverbeds stretched out like scars on the earth, winding and twisting. Withered weeds and shrubs swayed feebly in the wind, as if proclaiming the end of life. Beyond this, this land was devoid of life, save for the boundless desert, shimmering with golden light under the sun.
The German guides from Jordan were unfamiliar with the terrain and led them astray, crossing into Saudi territory. Unfortunately, they encountered Chinese troops crossing the desert. Mistakenly believing they were encountering Saudi guards, the Germans quickly withdrew from Saudi territory, preparing to take another route, adjusting their course as they went. Their goal was to open a route to Nuhayb. After capturing Nuhayb, they would follow the road from Nuhayb to Hissassa, pushing deep into Iraq.
A dozen miles behind them, a reconnaissance team disguised as nomadic merchants was closely tracking their movements. Guided by Saudi guides, the Chinese army's operation was clearly much smoother than that of the Germans. Following their instructions, Kuang Zhengqi decided to ambush the German advance column along the Wadi Ghudame River, then move west along the river to seek out the main German force for a decisive engagement.
That night, moonlight shone like water on the riverbed of the Wadi Ghadame. The 1st Tank Division, aided by the 84th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, quietly surrounded the German advance column in the upper valley of the Wadi Ghadame. Comprising an armored regiment and a motorized infantry regiment, the German advance column had no idea that it was about to be attacked by a large-scale mechanized force in this seemingly peaceful desert.
The Chinese commanders meticulously planned the ambush. They exploited the terrain to their advantage, hiding their tanks behind sand dunes in the riverbed while their infantrymen laid low in the nearby bushes. As the Germans entered the ambush, the Chinese tanks suddenly launched, charging at them like tigers descending from the mountains. Shells rained down, instantly setting the Germans ablaze.
The German commanders reacted quickly after their initial shock. They attempted a counterattack, ordering armored regiments to charge, with motorized infantry regiments providing cover. However, the Chinese firepower was too strong, and the German counterattack seemed pale and powerless.
In the fierce fighting, the Chinese tanks demonstrated their immense power. They swiftly moved through the German lines, repeatedly destroying their tanks and armored vehicles. The German soldiers panicked and fled in all directions. The German commander, realizing the situation was irreversible, after half an hour of fierce resistance, seeing he was surrounded and unable to escape, ordered his surrender.
Using captured German marching maps and battle plans, the 1st Tank Division immediately pinpointed the main German force's position. By this time, they also knew that Rommel's Afrika Korps had been reorganized, with its 1st and 3rd Tank Corps, the 5th Panzer Corps, and a Turkish armored unit forming the German 1st Tank Army. Their goal was to rapidly advance through the deserts of southwestern Iraq, penetrate the affluent Euphrates River region, quickly capture the key city of Basra, and then advance into Kuwait to seize Britain's richest oil fields in the Middle East.
Kuang Zhengqi immediately reported this important information to the theater command, and at the same time decided to have the 6th Army, which had originally planned to enter Jordan, turn around and advance along the Milatibayl Wadi Valley, to meet with him in the Mahtai Valley on the Vidyan Heights, and then head west to meet the German army.
At that time, Jordan and Iraq had not opened a highway line from Baghdad to Amman. The two sides relied on camel caravans to travel along the traditional river route. Although the terrain of the vast area of Vidjan Heights was complex, it could obtain appropriate water supplies due to seasonal riverbed factors. This was also the reason why the German army had to choose this route to launch the attack.
Three days later, the Second Army's elements converged. The main forces of the German First Tank Army, the 2st Tank Corps and the 1th Panzer Corps, along with the Turkish 1th Armored Infantry Division, were opening up the Chaidaganyi line. The vanguard had already reached the Mehtayi Valley. The Germans knew they were facing an unknown enemy armored force, capable of destroying their advance column—at least a division of tanks—in half an hour. Consequently, the Germans were cautious, and it took three days for the two sides to close in. A major battle could break out at any moment.
The German 1st Tank Army and the 5th Panzer Army, both elite armored units that had fought for years in North Africa, reorganized their forces to break through the enemy lines. Heavy tanks like the Tiger and heavy tank destroyers like the Ferdinand Elephant were transferred to the 3rd Tank Army, which was currently the German tank army with a relatively high concentration of heavy tanks. The 3st Tank Army's mainstay was the Leopard G, while its other units were primarily improved versions of the Panzer IV, as well as a large number of captured American and British tanks, modified German versions. Among the tank destroyers were 1 Jagdpanther tank destroyers, which were modified from the Panther chassis. The Jagdpanther tank destroyers were also exceptionally maneuverable, with a top speed of 4 km/h, enabling them to quickly relocate positions and evade enemy attacks. They performed exceptionally well on the battlefield, inflicting heavy losses on Allied tank units.
At dusk that day, a battalion of the German 17th Grenadier Division entered the edge of the Mehtay Valley and encountered a search party from the Chinese 34th Tank Division. A skirmish ensued, and with both sides' main forces closing in, it quickly devolved into a large-scale offensive. The accompanying German Jagdpanther tank destroyers destroyed over 30 Chinese tanks and armored vehicles in a single blow. The 34th Tank Division quickly broke away from the Germans and entered pre-positioned positions in the Mehtay Valley, where they were stationed. From this ambushed position, they continuously destroyed the pursuing German Leopard G and Panzer IV tanks, as well as one Jagdpanther. The Germans were forced to withdraw.
By this time, both sides had discovered each other's presence and had a rough idea of each other's exact location and approximate strength. The commanders estimated that neither side could defeat the other, so the two sides formed a standoff around the Mehtai Valley.