Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 182 Anti-aircraft guns laid flat
"Bagaya Deer!"

Seeing that several grenade launchers had missed their mark, Minamimura Masayasu became anxious.

He also realized that the weapons in the hands of these infantrymen alone were not enough to break through the Chinese army's firepower network, so he ordered the signalman to send flag signals to the rear, requesting fire support.

Two minutes later, more than ten Type 94 mountain guns rapidly fired at a rate of 12 rounds per minute, covering the Chinese army's positions in front.

"Boom boom boom..."

One 75mm high-explosive shell after another blasted the position hundreds of meters in front of the Third Squadron, sending rocks flying everywhere and shockwaves carrying mud, sand and wood fragments swirling around in the valley.

Five minutes later, the artillery fire began to extend backward, precisely cutting off the reinforcements from the second-line troops.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Minamimura Masayasu drew his command sword and shouted, "Tus-gei-gei..."

"Half a year..."

Following his command, more than a hundred Japanese soldiers, carrying Type 38 rifles, leaped out of their bunkers as the artillery fire extended.

One by one, tan figures leaped low across the scorched earth, stepping over still-smoking bomb craters.

Moreover, these Japanese troops did not advance blindly, but instead used whistles to signal every hundred meters, and the light and heavy machine guns behind them immediately provided cover fire upon receiving the signal.

After the charging soldiers broke through the position, the Type 92 heavy machine gun squad, which was originally responsible for providing cover from behind, immediately stopped firing and began to carry tripods and machine guns to the edge of a shell crater to quickly build a position.

With the help of more than a dozen soldiers, a makeshift machine gun position was set up. At a command, 7.7mm bullets began to rain down on the defending troops' positions.

In the command post, more than 200 meters above the top of the valley, Su Yaoyang peeked out and silently observed.

Despite having the advantage of terrain and weaponry, the Shanxi militia still faced considerable difficulties in the fighting.

"Our soldiers are still too lacking in training and combat experience!" He couldn't help but sigh.

Although the Shanxi militia has grown several times over to more than 17,000 people, the proportion of new recruits is too high, which is why they are struggling so much.

The operations staff officer standing nearby said worriedly, "Commander-in-Chief... the Japanese offensive is very fierce. If we don't do something soon, our first line of defense may fall."

"I know." After saying that, Su Yaoyang turned his head and asked, "Has our artillery regiment moved its position?"

"They've already moved," the staff officer replied. "But it will take time to build up the position. Regiment Commander Zhang Zhihao said it will take another half hour."

"Half an hour... In another half hour, will our position still be there?" Su Yaoyang cursed angrily.

Just now, a Japanese reconnaissance plane suddenly flew over the artillery regiment, circled the regiment's position twice amidst the anti-aircraft gun fire, and then left. Zhang Zhihao was so frightened that he immediately ordered a relocation of the position.

Although we won a great victory in the battle with Japanese aircraft this morning, no one can guarantee that the Japanese will not send planes over again. For safety's sake, moving to a new position is the safest option.

The artillery regiment's relocation had a significant impact. Without artillery support, the defenders of Wild Wolf Valley felt immense pressure. With the support of the artillery regiment, the Japanese army launched an attack on Wild Wolf Valley, inflicting heavy losses on the defenders.

Suddenly, a communications officer ran out and shouted, "Commander-in-Chief, Chief of Staff Wu (Chief of Staff of the 1st Regiment) called. The Japanese offensive is too fierce. He requests artillery support!"

“Support… what support am I supposed to provide… the artillery regiment won’t be able to set up its positions for another half hour!” Su Yaoyang cursed angrily. “Go tell Wu Changqing that there’s no artillery support. All I have left are those 20mm anti-aircraft guns. Should we give them to… wait… what did I just say?”

"Commander, you mean anti-aircraft guns."

“Oh… anti-aircraft guns… how could I forget about these guys?” Su Yaoyang slapped his forehead. “Go… hurry up and get all those Oerlikon… no… bullhorn guns out here, level the barrels, and give them a good blast!”

Yes, in his desperation, Su Yaoyang suddenly remembered something. There's a saying among military enthusiasts in later generations: "Anti-aircraft artillery can level military courts."

This means that once the anti-aircraft guns were leveled, their terrifying power would stun everyone.

At that time, people's understanding of anti-aircraft guns was relatively simple. They believed that anti-aircraft guns were specifically used to shoot down airplanes, and no one ever thought of using them to deal with infantry.

But are anti-aircraft guns really only used for air defense?

Later generations have proven that anti-aircraft guns can also be used to attack infantry, and with equally impressive results.

Last night I managed to get over a hundred Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns to Wolf Valley, but after fighting a group of Japanese bombers this morning, I had nothing to do. Isn't that a waste?

Waste is not a good thing; this needs to be changed.

"Staff Officer Hao, relay my order: level all the anti-aircraft guns and fire at the Japanese devils!"

"what……"

The communications officer was momentarily stunned and didn't react for a while.

"What are you still standing there for? Didn't you hear what I said?"

Su Yaoyang frowned. "Commander, do you mean to have the anti-aircraft artillery units lay their guns flat and then attack the infantry?"

"Nonsense, your ears are stuffed with donkey hair, do I need to repeat myself?"

"Ah...oh...okay...I'll go and relay your orders right away!"

The communications officer, who had just been given a good scolding, rushed off.

Soon, all the gunners of the anti-aircraft guns received Su Yaoyang's orders, and one Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun after another was pushed into position, and the gunners began to work again.

"Press the gun barrel down three quarters of an hour! Load the armor-piercing incendiary shell!"

Old Cao's roar reached the gunners' ears clearly.

His bronze-colored arm muscles were taut as he began to turn the handle of the Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun, the gearbox emitting a piercing "click".

The thick barrel of the gun slowly tilted down, the crosshairs of the mechanical sights locked onto the undulating, yellowish-brown ranks below the mountain, and the sight lock was precisely engaged in the "-15°" limit groove... This was the maximum depression angle that Swiss precision machinery could provide for a ground massacre.

"Remove the safety! Insert the fuse!" Old Wang, the loader, roared as he inserted the heavy 60-round drum magazine into the feed port.

The U-shaped groove on the bottom edge of the brass cartridge case engages with the automatic gun's catch hook, and the pointed, conical projectile of the 20×110mm shell gleams with a cold light.

He yanked the right-side loading handle until it clicked shut, the hum of the compressed firing pin spring inside the breech causing the air to tighten abruptly.

"Ready...fire!"

Old Cao pulled the trigger hard.

As the cannon shook violently, a three-meter-long blue-green flame spear shot out from the muzzle. The recoil pushed the two hydraulic buffer cylinders of the gun carriage to the bottom and then bounced back violently. The automatic gun mechanism throbbed wildly at a rate of four rounds per second...

(End of this chapter)