Chapter 425: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 435 New Armor Tactics

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Inside Taiyuan Railway Station, Commander Xiao Zhukazuo led a group of division commanders and brigade commanders below him to welcome a military train.

The military train arrived as scheduled.

A steam train loaded with steel tanks slowly entered the platform, trailing white smoke.

Loaded on the flatcars were all Japanese Army tanks.

Mighty and grand, they stretched beyond sight.

Light tanks, medium tanks, armored vehicles, trucks......

Besides the common Type 95 light tanks.

Most eye-catching on the flatcars were a large number of modified Type 97 medium tanks — Type 97 Kai medium tanks.

These Type 97 Kai medium tanks abandoned their original pitiful short-barreled cannons, all replaced with forty-seven millimeter long-barreled cannons, tank cannons specialized for anti-armor operations.

Although still somewhat lacking compared to Lv Muzhi's long-barreled Sanhao tanks, on the East Asian battlefield, this was already top-tier equipment the Japanese Army could field.

This was a medium tank the Japanese Army balanced performance with mass production speed.

To counter Lv Muzhi's armored threat, the Japanese Army did not have so much time to research and equip the latest medium tanks.

Instead, they improved the existing Type 97 medium tank production line to mass-produce medium tanks on the largest scale!

Of course, the Japanese Army had not abandoned research on new tanks, only before that, they needed a substitute that could be quickly deployed.

The Type 97 Kai medium tank was such a product.

As the Japanese Army's ace force for this battle, the Tank 3rd Division, besides 86 light tanks.

Medium tanks reached 156 vehicles; among these medium tanks, Type 97 Kai medium tanks reached 90 vehicles, while the other medium tanks were unimproved Type 97 medium tanks and Type 89 medium tanks.

Xiao Zhukazuo personally bowed to Tank 3rd Division Commander Lieutenant General Xiyuan Yice: "I beg of you!!!"

The commanders of the 36th, 37th, and 41st Divisions, as well as the 26th Division Commander of the Garrison Mongolia Army, also looked at Lieutenant General Xiyuan Yice with expectant eyes.

The four major general brigade commanders of the Independent Mixed 4th, 3rd, 9th, and 16th Brigades also hoped that the addition of the tank division could turn the tide of defeat.

This battle centered on four army divisions, four mixed brigades, and one tank division as the main force, cooperating with Puppet Army troops, with troop strength reaching 150,000.

A group of generals stood on the high platform of the train station, looking down at the mighty armored cluster below.

Tank 3rd Division Commander Lieutenant General Xiyuan Yice lowered his eyes to look at his tank division; to say he was the Japanese Army's first armored force was no exaggeration.

"Does Lv Muzhi think he can run rampant in Shanxi just because he has tanks?"

"I want him to know that before the charge of three hundred tanks of the tank division, his Youth Army is nothing but clay chickens and tile dogs!"

"The tank division will lead everyone to achieve victory in this war!"

Xiao Zhukazuo's main force retreated to defend Taiyuan, allowing Lv Muzhi's troops to advance smoothly without obstruction.

After five days of marching, the Youth First Army led by Lv Muzhi suppressed some minor resistance along the way, and the troops successfully arrived at Jiexiu.

Jiexiu is located at the southernmost end of the Taiyuan Basin, surrounded by mountains on the east, west, and south.

To the north, however, it is flat as a plain, and Taiyuan is one hundred li away.

Xiao Zhukazuo deployed his forces at Xiaoyi to the west of Jiexiu, Fenyang to the northwest, and Pingyao to the northeast.

The forces at these three places formed an encirclement against Jiexiu.

The Japanese devils' purpose was to block Lv Muzhi's troops inside Jiexiu City, not allowing them to advance half a step!

As shown in the diagram, blue represents Xia Guo forces, red represents enemy-occupied areas.

Sun Liren led the vanguard troops of the Youth First Army and had already gained a foothold near Jiexiu, but constrained by the Japanese Army's three-sided encirclement, the troops did not easily sortie.

Lv Muzhi heard that the Japanese tank forces had already been deployed at Fenyang, Xiaoyi, and Pingyao.

The three places formed a triangle, mutually supporting, and at the same time like a pocket formation, waiting for the Youth Army to drill into it.

Obviously, this was a defensive line specially set up against the Youth Army.

East of Jiexiu, there is an ancient pagoda named Lingkong Tower.

The tower is nine stories high, 63 meters tall, built during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty.

Climbing high to look afar, Lv Muzhi ascended Lingkong Tower.

The view from the top of the tower was excellent; to the north was the boundless Jinzhong Plain, flat as a grindstone.

At such a height, one could more clearly feel the Japanese devils' three-sided encirclement.

If they forcibly sortied, the armored forces at Fenyang, Xiaoyi, and Pingyao would surely swarm up and encircle them.

Right now Qiu Qingquan was outflanking in Jin Dongnan; should they wait for him to outflank to the rear of the Japanese main armored forces before launching a strong attack?

Thinking more carefully, Qiu Qingquan's Youth Second Army's outflanking posture was very obvious, and the Japanese Army must have seen it too.

His own First Army did not need to rush to break through; the longer this delay dragged on, the more anxious the Japanese devils would be instead.

The Japanese Army could neither crush the Youth Army locally in Jiexiu, nor could they stop worrying about Qiu Qingquan bursting out from Jin Dongnan to outflank them.

Caught in a dilemma, the Japanese Army was instead very likely to reveal a flaw.

"Wait a bit longer......" Lv Muzhi murmured.

A staff officer carried a greatcoat and walked to Lv Muzhi's side: "Commander Lu, the wind is strong; put on a piece of clothing."

Lv Muzhi put on the clothing, descended Lingkong Tower, and decided to go inspect the garrison of the Youth First Army.

Most troops were garrisoned outside Jiexiu City, not stationed inside the city.

Lv Muzhi's motorcade traveled along the Longfeng River outside Jiexiu City, passing one Youth Army company after another.

When passing a garrison of an armored battalion of the Youth First Army, they found the barracks sparsely populated, with only some duty officers.

"Stop!"

The duty officer knew Lv Muzhi had arrived and hurried forward to salute.

Lv Muzhi asked, "Where have all the armored troops gone?"

The duty officer reported loudly, "Report to Lu Commander! Deputy Army Commander Sun Liren is organizing tactical training two kilometers to the southwest, and the company commanders and most of the tank crews have all gone!"

Hearing this, Lv Muzhi immediately became interested. "Sun Liren? Come on, take me to see."

On the flat wasteland to the southwest, more than ten tanks of different models were arranged in an orderly fashion, forming a semicircle.

The Type 3 Assault Gun was low and sturdy, like a crouching rock; the Panzer III Medium Tank had a long gun barrel, exuding a murderous air.

On the outer perimeter were the light and agile Panzer 38(t) Light Tanks, their turrets turning, showing off their nimbleness.

At this time, the armored strength of the Youth First Army had reached its peak since the founding of the army.

Lv Muzhi's army originally had three armored battalions, one armored battalion per division.

Because Qiu Qingquan's Second Army had to cross Taiyue Mountain and could not conveniently carry heavy equipment, they left two of the armored battalions for the First Army to use.

This meant the Youth First Army directly controlled five armored battalions, each with an establishment of 45 tanks.

Among the five armored battalions were two Type 3 Assault Gun Battalions, totaling exactly 90 Type 3 Assault Guns equipped with long-barrel 75mm guns.

There were also two Panzer III Tank Battalions, totaling 90 Panzer III tanks refitted with long-barrel 50mm guns.

Plus one tank battalion with 45 Panzer 38(t) Light Tanks, bringing the total number of tanks to 225.

Sun Liren's voice rang out especially loud on the open wasteland.

The long gun barrels of two Panzer III tanks held up a long blackboard, Sun Liren standing under the blackboard, holding a long wooden stick in one hand and a megaphone in the other.

Below, more than three hundred armored soldiers sat on the ground, listening with rapt attention.

"The Japanese Army's Type 97 Kai Medium Tank, that is, the Type 97 Kai Medium Tank, they call tanks 'sensha'......

Although the armor of the Type 97 Kai Medium Tank is only 25mm, they have replaced it with a 47mm long-barrel gun, capable of firing armor-piercing high-explosive shells."

"According to Lu Commander's speculation, this gun within five hundred meters has a considerable chance of penetrating our Panzer III's 50mm frontal armor."

"But don't be afraid, we have the Sanba Zi, that is our Type 3 Assault Gun, Lu Commander calls it Sanba Zi, simple enough!"

The armored soldiers below laughed heartily, and Sun Liren continued his explanation.

"The Sanba Zi was developed based on the Panzer III Medium Tank, possessing a stronger gun and thicker armor, but sacrificing mobility and agility."

"The Sanba Zi's frontal armor is 50mm, plus 30mm thick additional armor, bringing the armor thickness to 80mm, that is the devils' nightmare, the Japanese Army cannot possibly penetrate the Sanba Zi's frontal armor head-on."

"In addition, the Type 3 Assault Gun's 75mm long-barrel gun has a long range, capable of stably penetrating all Japanese tank armor from one kilometer away."

"That is to say, we can open fire first from a greater distance, without worrying about being unable to penetrate Japanese armor."

"Wait until the Japanese tanks charge closer to us, our Type 3 Assault Guns will have already fired dozens of rounds."

"Of course the Type 3 Assault Gun also has drawbacks, its mobility is relatively poor, side and rear protection is weak, and it is easily at a disadvantage in close combat."

"So, provided we are not outflanked from behind, in dealing with the Japanese Army, our Type 3 Assault Guns are invincible!"

"As for our Panzer III Medium Tanks, they are the flank guards, preventing Japanese tanks from outflanking and raiding the Type 3 Assault Guns."

"You fellows driving the Panzer III Medium Tanks, your task is to protect both sides of the Sanba Zi, while suppressing the fish that slip through the net under the Sanba Zi's cannon muzzle!"

"And the Type 97 Kai Light Tanks, use your speed to patrol the edge of the battlefield."

"You are the eyes of the whole army, reconnoitering enemy conditions, providing external alert, telling me where enemies appear, and also the pursuers......"

Sun Liren, getting carried away with his lecture, simply stood up and climbed onto the tank's top cover to gesture.

"In short, our this formation, I've composed a mnemonic for you all, you must memorize it!"

"Sanba Zi, squat in the middle,"

"Panzer III Medium Tanks guard both wings,"

"Type 38 Light Tanks patrol outside......"

Sun Liren sang the doggerel he composed himself on the tank's top cover, looking into the distance from a high vantage point, and just happened to see Lv Muzhi at the very back wearing a greatcoat.

Sun Liren was stunned for a moment, seeing Lv Muzhi wave at him.