Chapter 47 Chapter 47: First Phase Review

From July 5th to 8th, the Japanese army attacked our Jiangxi Guild Hall, Fengshushan, Machine Repair Factory, Zhangjiashan, and Huxingchao positions after dusk every day under the cover of artillery and poison attacks.There were casualties on both sides, but our position remained intact and safe. On July 9, Isamu Yokoyama, commander of the Japanese 11th Army, also held an emergency military meeting to analyze the current situation on both sides of the battlefield, review the reasons for the failure of the previous battle, and discuss the next action plan. After ten days of fierce fighting, Yokoyama Isamu and the Japanese army base camp had accumulated since the beginning of the year, and the wonderful prospect of quickly opening up the mainland communication line dimmed.At the beginning, since the sweep of the Central Plains in mid-April, it went straight down to Hunan and down to Changsha in one day, and the "great march from ancient times" that has been advancing all the way, did not expect to fail under the city of Hengyang.The military front, military prestige, and military momentum along this road were greatly frustrated in front of this small city in southern Hunan.If we want to continue fighting, we must regain momentum, wait for backup, and change our tactics.You must know that what the elite troops of the empire encountered was just a dilapidated and dissatisfied Chinese army; and the army of the empire was three times that of the opponent; not to mention the advantages in weapons and ammunition, logistics supplies, land and air cooperation, etc. up.

Since the beginning of the war between Japan and China, in the offensive and defensive battles between the imperial army and the Chinese army, they have often won one to three;This is not only because the imperial army is far superior to the infantry firearms, equipment and logistical support of the Chinese army, but also because the soldiers have healthy physical fitness, excellent organizational training and individual combat skills.All these make it possible for the Chinese army to organize and resist the attack of the imperial army with three times the strength of mine.Therefore, our imperial army bullies the weak, and it has the psychological advantage of despising the Chinese army twice as much.However, in this battle of Hengyang, the imperial army relied on the powerful spiritual factors of the No. 1 battle as the driving force, and held a disdainful and contemptuous attitude towards the Hengyang defenders. The 10-day battle adopted a fierce and fierce fight. Brutal style of play, single-handedly brave bushido spirit, arrogant and unrestrained, not enough time to study the opponent's style of play, do not understand the opponent's formation, and once ignorant of the strong attack to the end, the single style of play lasted for 10 days.There is no reason to be invincible!

The Japanese base camp and the military headquarters also reflect on themselves: the air force did not cooperate enough, the heavy artillery units did not fully keep up, the attacking troops had no protective bunkers, and even the attacking troops were not even prepared with the tools to build offensive fortifications. In all fairness, Hengyang's offensive and defensive sides played so fiercely this time, it really should be a serious review. What made the Japanese army most chilling and unforgettable this time was the calm and calm attitude of the 10th Army, the cold and brutal killer style, and the ingenious and ingenious field fortifications.The fanatical offensive spirit of the Japanese army collided with the calm defensive style of the 10th Army; the pride and agitation of the Japanese easily collided with the wisdom endowment of the Chinese soldiers who value practical effectiveness of the 10th Army soldiers.Moreover, both of them have a tenacious struggle, face up to difficulties, never shrink back, a strong sense of responsibility and perseverance, self-sacrifice and dedication.

In this kind of confrontation, the 10th Army always has the spiritual upper hand and holds the spiritual initiative.Although they are defenders, they are spiritual attackers; although they are besieged, they are the active players on the ground.This deeply hurt the Japanese.The Japanese remembered it vividly during the battle and even after the war, and were desperately trying to erase those impressions.For the Japanese army, the glory and superiority of the No. 1 Operation Plan they devoted all their efforts to build; all their past disadvantages and bad luck wanted to find a balance in this No. 1 Operation.Operation No. 1 requires them to only win and not to fail; they can only be invincible, and cannot stand still in frustration.Fighting No. 1 is all about glory and superiority.

With the Japanese's charge tactics, with their equipment and technology, as long as the combat power is sufficient and time permits, there is no fortress in China that they cannot break through.For the Chinese-style walled forts in the cold weapon era, the mountain artillery, field artillery and even 60 mortars equipped by the Japanese infantry are sufficient to deal with them.For blockhouses and barricades, the first level of the Japanese brigade and squadron is equipped with Type 92 infantry flat-firing guns, which are easy to drag and easy to use and accurate.To deal with China's field fortifications and skirmishers, the 82 mortars and 60 mortars commonly equipped by the Japanese army can provide enough firepower to destroy them.The equipment of these light and heavy artillery is far superior to that of Chinese infantry. The weapons are generally official rifles and imitation Czech light machine guns made in Hanyang.The two sides are even more incomparable in terms of logistical equipment, medical aid, and logistics supplies such as transportation.

After the outbreak of the Pacific War, the United States only had time to provide a small part of equipment to China.The materials and equipment provided by the China Aid-Lease Act were first used to equip the Chinese Army in India and the Chinese Expeditionary Force that specialized in combating Burma.The 10th Army was originally listed in the first batch of troops equipped with American weapons, but before it could be equipped in the future, the No. 1 operation began.Think about it, the half artillery battalion of the 10th Army with only 6 75 mountain guns, plus the 8 mountain guns, field guns and pitiful shells of the 2 artillery companies of other armies and divisions attached to the battle, its situation is very serious. It is hard to imagine.

In 1944, the US aid materials shipped by the "Hump Route" were used by the Flying Tigers and the Chinese Expeditionary Force every month, and nearly 2,000 tons were handed over to China every month, 50% of which were steel and rubber for making weapons and bullets. And other raw materials are all handled by Yu Dawei, director of the Ordnance Department. During the Battle of Hengyang, the Sino-US joint air force failed to provide strong and effective cooperation with the ground forces, and failed to cause large-scale bombing and damage to the large-scale assembly of the Japanese army and logistics transportation. The food and ammunition supplied by the Japanese army There is an endless stream of 100mm cannons, 150mm cannons, and 150mm howitzers going up the Xiangjiang River every day. The road between Yueyang and Hengyang is 340 kilometers, and the waterway is 720 kilometers. The transportation of the Japanese army has never stopped.Although it has been bombed many times by American planes, it is far, far, far behind when the U.S. military blocked the transportation of food and ammunition for the Japanese troops defending the island in the South Pacific battlefield!

On July 9th and 10th, the battlefield was relatively calm.The two warring parties are like two giant beasts after a fierce fight, hiding aside to rest, licking their wounds, eating some food, and replenishing energy for another battle. On the part of the Japanese army, the first general attack on Hengyang always thought that it would only take one day to attack Changsha this time, so they attempted to make a long-distance attack, and also wanted to go to Hengyang in one day.Unexpectedly, the 10th Army has strong combat power, exquisite construction, and is as powerful as a fortress.Beginning on June 27, the Japanese army launched a full-scale attack on our army's main position in the southwest of Hengyang City. At the beginning of the day, it was changed to a key attack.On the one hand, we must concentrate our forces in order to achieve key breakthroughs in various key points of our army's positions; on the other hand, we must pay close attention to replenishing our forces, firearms, ammunition, food and fodder, etc., to prepare for the next general attack.

Although the 10th Army suffered huge casualties, it was isolated and helpless, and its supplies were interrupted.However, they successfully repelled the first general attack of the Japanese army, and the main frontline positions were not lost. Everyone said one after another: vow to live and die with the position.Therefore, our army also took advantage of the gap between the enemy's offensive and the time for reorganization, calmly adjusted its deployment, strengthened its fortifications, and prepared for a more ferocious attack by the Japanese army.