Chapter 6 Chapter 05 Crossing the Sea and Landing Mode
Studying the Landing Mode When the Front Committee of the Four Fields decided to carry out the Guangxi campaign in late October to encircle and wipe out the Bai Chongxi Group, it pointed out that the next step would be to attack Hainan Island with the 43rd Army of the 15th Corps.Since then, the heads of the corps have been considering how to attack Hainan Island, and asked the Operations Section to quickly conduct research on cross-sea operations.
At the end of October 1949, the heads of the Corps Deng, Lai, and Hong came to the war room.
Commander Deng Hua said to me: "Has the Combat Section studied the situation of crossing the sea to attack Hainan Island?"
Yang Di replied: "Since we knew that the Corps was going to conduct sea-crossing operations, we collected information on ancient and modern Chinese and foreign sea-crossing operations. The situation of the various landing operations in the battle."
Commander Deng Hua said: "I have carefully read all the materials you sent me in this regard, and I am also considering how our army will implement the landing. Please tell us your research and opinions first."
Yang Di is about to ask the staff to hang up the maps of the US military's previous island offensive operations in the Pacific Ocean, and report in detail one by one the situation of the US military's previous cross-sea attacks.
After reporting the situation of the US military crossing the sea to attack the island.I said: "Our army does not have the conditions to carry out modern landing operations. Our army's cross-sea attack does not have the strong support of the air force and navy, but the Kuomintang army defending Hainan Island is a three-dimensional defense of land, sea, and air force. I The army has no transport ships and no landing craft. It only has wooden sailboats, which are completely restricted by the natural conditions of the sea and the sky. There is no transfer or landing in several waves. Therefore, we believe that our army can only use wooden sailboats for cross-sea landing operations. Crossing the sea once and landing directly."
Chiefs Deng, Lai, and Hong listened carefully and interjected a lot of questions.
Commander Deng Hua asked: "Our army does not have the modern offensive operations of crossing the sea and landing of the US military. This set of combat methods of the US military is impossible for our army without these conditions. This is just for our reference. Now we must base We have the existing conditions to carry out cross-sea landing operations. Have you studied any opinions?"
Yang Di answered frankly: "According to our knowledge, there are only wooden sailboats going out to sea for fishing along the coast of Guangdong, including the Leizhou Peninsula. The brothers' troops crossed the sea to attack Kinmen Island with wooden sailboats, but their sea distance was only a few kilometers away, while ours The Qiongzhou Strait to be crossed is 30 to 50 kilometers wide. Whether these fishing wooden sailboats can carry troops across such a wide strait for combat, we have not yet studied the way. I am discussing with the reconnaissance department to come first Guangzhou, Jiangmen, and the coastal areas of Taishan need to do some specific investigation and research before we can offer opinions.”
Deputy Commander Hong Xuezhi said: "We study the experience of foreign armies in order to get inspiration from them and what to do according to our situation. Our current conditions are only wooden sailboats for fishing, so we must use this basis to study how our army Carry out cross-sea operations."
Commander Deng Hua said: "We all think about it again and conduct a few more studies."
On December 14, 1949, the Front Committee of the Four Fields sent an order to the 15th Corps to officially command the 40th Army and the 43rd Army to cross the sea and attack Hainan Island.
On December 15, 1949, Deng, Lai, and Hong came to the war room.Continue to study how to cross the sea and land in combat.
Commander Deng Hua said to me: "Have you worked out a solution in the combat department?"
Yang Di replied: "The comrades sent to Jiangmen and Taishan came back and said that the fishermen there often drive wooden sailboats to the waters around Hainan Island to fish. This can prove that wooden sailboats can cross the sea from Leizhou Peninsula to Hainan Island. Yes. In addition, there are our party’s base area and the Qiongya Column led by Comrade Feng Baiju on Hainan Island. Compared with the Kinmen Island, this is a very favorable condition. As for how to cross the sea and how to land, we have not yet worked out Good advice."
Commander Deng Hua pondered for a while, and said: "Now it is preliminarily proved that wooden sail fishing boats can cross the sea to fish in the area around Hainan Island. This is 2. Based on these two items, I think that since our army cannot adopt modern landing operations, we can use the method of sneak attack at night that our army has always used, and organize small troops to sneak across the sea in wooden sailboats at night. Please Feng Baiju The Qiongya column to the landing area to meet our army. As long as our army joins the Qiongya column and stands firm, we will launch a large-scale landing attack. This is the method I have come up with after thinking over the past few days. As for the landing style, We have to decide according to the specific situation of our army, we can’t land in several waves, just buy and sell with one hammer. An echelon is a wave, and the landing must be successful. Please consider expressing your views and unify your understanding.”
Political commissar Lai Chuanzhu said, "I agree with you. Under whatever conditions, we can fight whatever war we want. We should not place our hopes on modern sea-crossing and landing operations. We should still place our hopes on wooden sailboats and Feng Baiju's Qiongya column on the island. .We did not conduct landing operations in the Transitional Sea, but we Communists faced no difficulties that we could not overcome. During the period of the Red Army, during the Anti-Japanese War, and after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, our army advanced to the Northeast. What difficulties did we not encounter? But They were all overcome and defeated by our army. I think Lao Deng’s idea is feasible, and I can report it to the superior.”
Deputy Commander Hong Xuezhi said: "I agree with your opinion. Now is a new situation, new problems, and a new special battle. We are now a victorious army, and the troops are in high spirits. We have fought from the northeast to Guangdong and Guangxi Yu Hanmou and the remnants of Bai Chongxi, the Kuomintang army who fled to Hainan Island, have very weak combat effectiveness. Don't listen to Xue Yue yelling on the island. I agree with both of you."
Political commissar Lai Chuanzhu said: "According to the actual situation of our army, we can adopt a unique sea-crossing offensive style. The idea is to try it out during sea training. If you have no experience, you can gain experience from training. Let us create sea-crossing operations. We can use it to carry out political agitation work. Mobilize all commanders and fighters to come up with ideas and launch a pioneering operation of crossing the sea and landing."
After listening to Deng Hua, he believed that the opinions of the three of them had reached a consensus, and said: "Yang Di, you are about to draft a telegram with our opinions and report it to the headquarters of Siye and the Central Military Commission."
This is the telegram from Deng, Lai, and Hong of the 15th Corps to Lin Biao, Tan Zheng, Xiao Ke, and the Central Military Commission at 12:00 on December 15, 1949.The telegram stated: "During the preparations for operations on Hainan Island, it is planned to adopt the method of smuggling small troops, transporting part of the troops first, and cooperating with the local armed forces to meet the landing of the main force." Mao Zedong agreed to the smuggling of small troops
At the Guangzhou Combat Conference held from February 1st to 2nd, 1950, the 15th Corps determined the campaign policy of "actively smuggling people, combining small crossings in batches with final landing".And got the approval of the leaders of the two armies participating in the meeting.
On February 9, 1950, the Corps reported the policy and specific implementation plan for crossing the sea determined by the Guangzhou Conference to the chiefs of Shino, and was anxiously waiting to see if it would be approved by the superiors.Because the Corps, according to the actual situation, revised the telegram requested by Chairman Mao Zedong to first cross the sea and land with one army without relying on the north wind.Chief Shino quickly agreed with the Corps' determination and implementation plan, and immediately reported to Chairman Mao Zedong in Moscow.Chairman Mao Zedong also answered unusually quickly. On February 12, Chief Shino transferred Chairman Mao Zedong's approval of the Corps' plan to carry out smuggling first, and then to land on a large scale.
Heads Deng, Lai, and Hong of the corps came to the war room. I saw the expressions on their faces were very happy, and they seemed very light.
Commander Deng Hua smoked a cigarette, walked to the map, looked at the map, and habitually used his thumb and index finger to measure on the map.I also used to stand beside him so that I could answer his inquiries whenever he looked at the map.I thought to myself, Chief Shino and Chairman Mao approved the Corps' small-scale smuggling plan in batches.When the chiefs came to the war room, they must study this issue, how to implement and issue orders for the two armies to execute.
Deputy Commander Hong Xuezhi asked me: "Have you seen the telegram from Chairman Mao approving the Corps' combat plan from the headquarters? Have you conducted research?"
Yang Di replied: "We saw the telegram, and we immediately conducted research. Before the research was finished, the chiefs came."
Commander Deng Hua looked at the map and said: "The chiefs of the Four Fields and Chairman Mao have approved our first implementation of the combat plan for smuggling in batches. Today we will study and determine how to implement it. What specific implementation suggestions does your combat department have?"
Yang Di heard that he was asking me, and immediately replied: "The chiefs originally planned to use one regiment of the 43rd Army to carry out smuggling, and the 40th Army can also prepare small troops for smuggling. Now the cross-sea troops have obtained a batch of ships and hired them. Some helmsmen, boatmen, and the first batch of sailors trained by ourselves are almost graduating, and the conditions for the Corps to decide to carry out smuggling of small units first have been met."
Commander Deng Hua asked: "You have studied the meteorological and hydrological conditions. When is it suitable to cross the sea?"
Yang Di replied: "The first ten days of March is more suitable. It is the second ten days of the first month of the lunar calendar. It is the undercurrent period before the tide in the Strait. The wind direction can only be grasped at that time, but there are many northerly and northeasterly winds in early March."
Deputy Commander Hong Xuezhi said: "How is the preparation work for a regiment of the 128th Division of the 43rd Army? The 40th Army has also prepared a reinforced battalion and asked to cross it first. How is their preparation work?"
Yang Di replied: "The troops of the two armies who are going to smuggle in first are making active preparations. They can be ready for smuggling in early March. According to the weather and hydrological conditions of the Qiongzhou Strait, and the enemy's fortification focus is to The Haikou area and the northwestern part of Hainan Island are still relatively weak. If the 43rd Army only needs to cross the sea from the north of Haikou, it will have to go around and land on the northeast coast of Wenchang south of Haikou. The distance is more than 200 kilometers away. It takes 16 to 18 hours to sail under the cover of heavy fog at sea. It is not enough to rely on night time alone. It must sail until daytime, and the fog will easily dissipate during the day. , It is necessary to rely on manpower to advance with hand oars and oars, and the target will be exposed. When encountering the attack of the enemy navy and air force in Haikou City, the cannons and anti-aircraft guns deployed by our army at the southern tip of the Leizhou Peninsula cannot reach so far and cannot support them.
The direction of the 40th Army is different from that of the 43rd Army. The 40th Army landed in the northwest of Hainan Island. This is the weakest part of the enemy's defense. The sea voyage distance is only about 50 kilometers to 80 kilometers. , Landing can take up to 10 hours, and the enemy sea and air force may not necessarily patrol or fly to the northwest corner early in the morning to scout for harassment.Therefore, should the two armies carry out cross-sea landings in the east and west at the same time, this can also distract the enemy's attention and make the enemy confused about our army's intentions. "
Commander Deng Hua said: "Originally we considered using a regiment of the 43rd Army to carry out smuggling. Now, according to the sea situation and the enemy's situation on the island, we will use a regiment to sail more than 200 kilometers across the sea from the enemy's main fortified direction in 16 to 18 hours. Landing in the northeast of Wenchang, south of Haikou, is a risky move. However, since this risky move has been determined, it should not be changed. It is still necessary to go, and only by smuggling in the eastern part of the island can there be It is beneficial for our army to cross the sea in the next step, and now we have no choice."
Commander Deng Hua thought for a while, and said firmly: "In order to create the illusion of defending the enemy on Hainan Island, I am determined: the 43rd Army will still go around to the southeast of Haikou and land on the northeast coast of Wenchang with a prepared regiment. At the same time, the 40th Army will use a reinforced battalion Smuggling from the west of the strait, sailing to the northwest corner of Lingao, Hainan Island, and landing. Now the 40th Army is very enthusiastic about smuggling first. Comrade Han Xianchu has been personally commanding and arresting in the 118th Division. In this way, smuggling from both sides at the same time Landing, so that the enemy can not understand our army's intentions. The time for the first batch of smuggling is set in the first ten days of March, and the specific time will be determined according to the weather, wind direction, sea tide, and sea water flow direction at that time."
Commander Deng Hua went on to say: "Now the Kuomintang army on the island is 'encircling and suppressing' the Qiongya column. Comrade Feng Baiju called and asked us to smuggle a group of troops to support them in the battle. We can't sit idly by and must smuggle in quickly to relieve the siege of the Qiongya column. , if the Qiongya column is pushed into Wuzhi Mountain by Xue Yue, then the enemy can concentrate all their strength to deal with our army's cross-sea and landing operations. Xue Yue vainly intends to eliminate the "internal communist party" on the island first, and then use all his strength to annihilate the "communists" who come to attack. Gong', we must not make Xue Yue's intentions succeed."
Political commissar Lai Chuanzhu said: "Now the sea training of the two armies has been very effective, and a batch of ships have been built. The ideological work of cadres and soldiers has been reversed. Class brothers on Hainan Island. I think smuggling can be implemented now. I agree with a regiment of the 43rd Army smuggling from the east, and a reinforced battalion of the 40th Army smuggling from the west. It is now mid-February, and we will prepare for another half a month or so Twenty days will be more sufficient. The first batch of smuggling will be carried out in early March. From all aspects, it can be carried out. I believe that our cadres and soldiers will definitely succeed in smuggling and landing."
Deputy Commander Hong Xuezhi said: "I agree with you that you are determined to use a regiment of the 43rd Army and a reinforced battalion of the 40th Army to carry out smuggling at the same time. Inform Comrade Feng Baiju to ask them to send troops to the planned landing area of our army to meet our landing troops. It is best to ask them to send people to sneak over and take our troops across the sea. They are familiar with the situation, which will be more convenient and smoother.”
Commander Deng Hua finally said: "Okay, we have reached an agreement, so let's make a decision. Yang Di, you will draft the first batch of telegrams for the two armies to smuggle first according to our intention."
The first batch of 43rd Army, 128th Division, 383rd Regiment, 40th Army, 118th Division, 352nd Regiment, and a reinforced battalion were determined and ordered to carry out smuggled landings.
Yang Di said: "Bosses, I have a suggestion, that is, after our army crosses the sea and sneaks into Hainan Island, immediately order the 119th Division of the 40th Army to take a boat from the North Sea to raid Weizhou Island on the sea west of the Leizhou Peninsula. The island is 25 kilometers south of the North Sea. The area is only 25 square kilometers. According to our reconnaissance, there are Kuomintang troops 'South Road Command Post of the National Anti-Communist Self-Defense and National Salvation Army of Guangdong Province' and 1 company of the Marine Corps stationed on the island, with a total of more than 700 people stationed on the island. There are 2 gunboats of the Kuomintang Navy, and they control more than 300 galleons that were snatched from the mainland. Weizhou Island is controlled by the Kuomintang Army, which makes me worry about crossing the sea and fighting. This nail in the sea must be knocked out, especially the 300 There are many sailing ships, and they are all good ships. If our army gets these ships, it will solve the big problem of crossing the sea."
Deng, Lai, and Hong were very happy after hearing this.All three of them approached the map hanging on the wall.
Commander Deng Hua said: "Yes, we must seize Ganzhou Island and pull out the nails on the sea, especially if there are more than 300 galleons. Yang Di immediately drafted a telegram to Comrade Han Xianchu of the 40th Army, ordering him to ask Xu Guofu, the commander of the 119th Division stationed in Beihai, to prepare a regiment. Raid Weizhou Island, the enemy on the island is very weak and easy to annihilate, so the 119th Division must first surround the port and prevent the enemy's ships from escaping. Getting these 300 ships is a big victory."
According to the intention of the head of the corps, Yang Di drafted a telegram and quickly sent it to the 40th Army and the 119th Division.
A few days after the order to instruct the troops to smuggle in, the chiefs Deng, Lai, and Hong of the Corps came to the war room. They didn't come in and sit in their respective positions, but they all walked naturally to the Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island. In front of the large one-fifty-thousandth map, carefully look at the various symbols marked on the map.
I stood beside them, holding a wooden stick pointing at the map, and reported to them the enemy's situation, our situation's changes, as well as the changes and forecast reports of the weather conditions in front of the strait and on the east and west sides.
Commander Deng Hua asked: "How has the situation of the enemy on the island changed?"
Because they came to understand the situation every day, I replied concisely: "In mid-February, in order to prevent our troops from crossing the sea and landing, the enemy of Hainan Island strengthened the patrol and blockade of the Qiongzhou Strait by sea and air force. The frontal coast has also strengthened its defenses, and is rushing to build coastal fortifications; at this time, the strength of 8 divisions is being concentrated to "encircle and suppress" the base of the Qiongya column on our island, in an attempt to destroy our Qiongya column before our army lands. , in order to relieve his confidant’s troubles, so as to defend our army from crossing the sea and landing with all our strength. Our troops participating in the war across the sea are intensively preparing for various battles. In the past two months, the sea training has achieved good results. In order to support the Qiongya column’s counterattack "Encirclement and Suppression" struggle, strengthening our army's response force on the island, and gaining experience in crossing the sea, we believe that the decision of the chief executive to carry out small-scale smuggling in early March can be implemented as planned."
Commander Deng Hua said: "We should seize the enemy on the island now. We haven't expected that our army will cross the sea and land to attack, but we are concentrating our forces to 'encircle and suppress' the Qiongya column on the island. It is not enough to attack the front and sides of Hainan Island. Attention, the defensive force is still relatively small, and the favorable opportunity is relatively empty. Taking advantage of the favorable conditions of the north wind in spring and the tide of the Strait in early March, which is favorable for us to cross the sea and land, we are determined to surprise the enemy with the 43rd Army A regiment and a reinforced battalion of the 40th Army carried out smuggled landings on the east and west sides of the northern part of Hainan Island in early March, what do you two (note, refer to Lai, Hong) have any opinions?"
Lai Chuanzhu and Hong Xuezhi both expressed their agreement with Commander Deng Hua's judgment and determination.Deputy Commander Hong Xuezhi said: "I think the time for smuggling can be specified accurately so that the two armies can act in unison."
Commander Deng Hua said: "Okay, on the evening of March 5th, a regiment of the 43rd Army and a reinforced battalion of the 40th Army will depart at the same time. Yang Di, please give a detailed report on the departure and sailing of the 43rd Army and the 40th Army. routes and landing locations."
Pointing to the map, Yang Di said: "The 383rd Regiment of the 128th Division of the 43rd Army assembled on Naozhou Island and was led by Chief of Staff Sun Qianqing of the division. After setting sail, they sailed southeast. In order to bypass Haikou City, they planned to pass through the northeast of Hainan Island. Side Qizhou Island (20 to 25 kilometers away from the coast), then turn to the front, go around to the southeast of Haikou City, north of Tongguling in the northeast of Wenchang County, and land on the coast at Jingxinjiao. It is impossible for the enemy to expect that our army will bypass Haikou The city landed in this area, so the defense is very weak, and the terrain conditions in the landing area are relatively ideal. There are only mountains near Jingxinjiao and Tongguling, and there are reefs on the coast, and most of the other areas are beaches. After landing, the depth There are no natural obstacles, and they can quickly enter the guerrilla area of our party and our army in Wenchang County. The regiment will sail more than 200 kilometers around Haikou City, and it will take about 20 hours to sail under normal conditions."
A reinforced battalion of the 352nd Regiment of the 118th Division of the 40th Army was assembled at Dengloujiao in the southwest corner of the Leizhou Peninsula, led by Gou Zaisong, the chief of staff of the division.In order to confuse the enemy, they did not choose the Lingaojiao in the northwest corner of the strait as the landing point.Instead, they chose to go around Lingaojiao to the Baimajing area on the northwest coast of Dan County in the south.Such detour navigation will increase the navigation distance more than double, about 130 to 160 kilometers.The enemy's defensive force in the landing area they chose is very weak. After landing, they can quickly enter the guerrilla base of our party's Qiongya column on the island. "
Commander Deng Hua said firmly: "An order was issued to order the first batch of smuggling troops of the 40th Army and the 43rd Army to leave at the evening of March 5th at the same time, and telegraphed Comrade Feng Baiju on the island, asking him to order the Qiongya Column to send troops to the island. Our army's east and west landing areas responded, and asked him to ask the comrades of the local party to help him with all his strength. He also sent a report to the 40th Army and the 119th Division, ordering the division to raid Beihai with a regiment on the evening of March 6. Weizhou Island. Report our telegrams to the two armies to Shino Headquarters and the Central Military Commission."
Deputy Commander Hong Xuezhi said to me: "Just call the two army headquarters and ask them to strengthen contact with the 118th Division, 128th Division, and the 119th Division in Beihai and the local meteorological and hydrological stations. The weather conditions before March 5th must be reported to the Corps Headquarters twice a day in the morning and evening.”
Political Commissar Lai Chuanzhu said: "I went to the Political Department and asked Comrade Xiao Xiangrong, the political commissars of the two armies and divisions, and the Political Department to go deep into the first batch of smuggling troops, do a good job of propaganda and agitation, and promptly solve the problems that still exist among individual comrades. Ideological concerns. The political and ideological work before the war should be more meticulous, not just making a fuss."
The entire corps headquarters immediately put into intense work around the clock.Master and understand the situation of the enemy and ourselves, the meteorological and hydrological conditions, and Gu Chang who guarantees communication and contact.I paid special attention to understanding the meteorological conditions, the tides at sea, and the direction of sea water flow.Because of his inexperience, he had no idea what problems would happen to the wooden sailboat sailing at sea at night.
After the headquarters entered the state of wartime operations, the work was very busy, but we cooperated tacitly with each other, so it was busy but not chaotic, and it was carried out in an orderly and tense manner. It was really like a movie. The machine kept running rhythmically.The relationship between the chief and the headquarters is very handy.