The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

Without the threat of the Japanese large-caliber field artillery on Hill 2237, the three destroyers moving down the river marched in formation, like long steel snakes passing through the fog on the water.

The roar of the 102mm naval gun was like thunder, shaking the river surface and the hearts of the crew.

The orange-yellow flame spewing from the muzzle flashed in the gray-white smoke, tearing through the Japanese positions on the shore with ruthless murderous intent.

Although the three destroyers are all old antiques of the "Clemson class" launched after World War I, as thousand-ton warships, the shooting observation and aiming equipment and firing director installed on them are much larger than those used by ground-based coastal artillery.

众所周知，测距仪这些光学设备，体型越大就越准，因此3舰一共12门的102毫米MK9型舰炮靠着更精准的火力直接将鬼子想要碰瓷的那几门37mm战防炮和90mm步兵炮轰上了天。

"Good job." You Hongxuan stood in the bridge, holding the telescope tightly in both hands, his eyes fixed on the Japanese position on the port side.

Every time a shell landed, it kicked up a large amount of dirt and rubble, as if the earth itself was roaring.

The remains of the devils and the wreckage of the artillery also flew into the sky.

He turned around and ordered the sailors around him, "Tell the gunner to fire another round, so that the Japanese know the level of our Nanyang Naval School!"

The sailor stood at attention and saluted neatly, then quickly turned and ran towards the voice-transmitting brass tube.

A moment later, the main gun roared again.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three MK9 naval guns opened fire almost simultaneously, their high-explosive shells whistling and sending plumes of smoke billowing from the impact points. Wherever the artillery fire reached, the Japanese trenches were ripped into shockingly deep trenches, and buried mines, barbed wire, and dragon tooth stakes were blown to pieces.

(The Clemson class has four guns arranged in a diamond pattern, with only three main guns available on each side)

You Hongxuan put down the telescope and smiled confidently.

In this operation, You Hongxuan, as a naval school teacher recruited by Zhang Chi, naturally served as the acting captain and directly operated one of the destroyers with his students.

In fact, it was not only the first time for the students, but also the first time for You Hongxuan, the teacher, to be a captain.

As a non-Fujian sailor, You Hongxuan was previously marginalized in the Republic of China Navy. Even though he had John's naval service experience and was full of talent, he could not even be the captain of a second-tier ship, let alone several battleships.

He could only teach at the Electric and Mine School. When the Japanese occupied Shanghai, the Republic of China Navy sank all its ships in Jiangyin, and the Electric and Mine School was disbanded, he could only stay at home unemployed.

Unexpectedly, after arriving in Bago, You Hongxuan found a second spring.

At this moment, a student beside him said excitedly: "Captain, we have destroyed the Japanese artillery positions. Now the amphibious forces can advance with confidence."

"Don't be complacent. The missions ahead will be even more difficult." You Hongxuan patted the student's shoulder, his tone still serious. "Our navy can't just sail on a small river. One day we'll have to sail across the ocean and face the Japanese navy head-on."

"Then it will be a test of blood and fire." You Hongxuan looked south, where every sailor's heart holds the obsession - the sea. "By then, the goddess of victory will only favor the side with the strongest ships, the most powerful guns, and the most thorough training..."

The students nodded and returned to their posts.

A tense and orderly atmosphere permeated the bridge. You Hongxuan walked to the command desk, lowered his head to examine the battle map, and moved his fingers slowly on the map, as if deducing every next step.

They all knew that from the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 to Jiangyin, the Chinese nation and the Japanese devils would eventually have to decide the outcome on the sea again.

-----

At 0930, the fierce artillery fire suddenly changed direction, and the roar advanced deep into the other side of the Irrawaddy River.

When the smoke cleared, the Japanese front-line positions were almost razed to the ground, leaving only broken walls and scorched earth.

The sound of artillery fire gradually subsided, replaced by bursts of low engine roars - LVT-A1 amphibious tanks and assault boats loaded with Marines shot across the river like arrows, heading straight for the other side.

Seeing that the artillery fire was no longer pouring down on their heads, the few remaining Japanese soldiers on the river bank risked their lives to stick their heads out and began to resist stubbornly.

Gunfire rang out suddenly, but what was countered was the firepower network woven by the LVT-A1's 37mm main gun and the 40mm and 20mm machine guns on the PTF-7 patrol boat.

Every gunshot seemed to be announcing the end of the Japs. Flames flared up along the river bank, and the Japs' sporadic firepower was quickly suppressed.

(Gu Bushuai: I said that in anti-landing operations, the main force cannot be deployed on the beach front. The enemy must be allowed to attack in depth, and then tank forces will be used to launch a counterattack to directly drive the Allied forces into the sea.)

However, the Japanese soldiers near the two pre-selected landing sites had already been hit hard by destroyers and 105mm howitzers on the opposite shore, and less than one in ten Japanese soldiers remained.

In particular, the large number of bamboo reinforced cement bunkers that the Japanese had spent precious cement to build, which were originally expected to serve as defensive fulcrums, collapsed under repeated air raids and artillery fire, and became useless ruins.

On the battlefield, amidst the devastation, the LVT-A1 tank led the charge and directly reached the other side of the river.

The infantrymen who got off the assault boats and patrol speedboats followed behind, firing at the scattered Japanese soldiers who were hiding with M1 semi-automatic rifles and submachine guns.

The patrol boat cruised on the river, and the fierce machine gun fire covered every position of the Japanese who dared to show up, and the excessive ammunition projected turned them all into medals of honor.

"Beat the Japs so hard that they can't even raise their heads!" A Marine battalion commander shouted into a walkie-talkie. The flamethrower with an oil tank on his back sprayed flames indiscriminately, burning the Japs who were hiding in the bunkers and resisting stubbornly into charcoal.

-----

By 11:49, the resistance at the two pre-selected landing sites had been completely crushed, and the remaining Japanese soldiers were either dead or fled.

The Marine Corps' vanguard quickly occupied the beachhead and began to build defensive fortifications.

"What? Both landing sites A and B have been captured?" Zhang Guangjun, who was stationed in Jiangzuo, received the victory report from the front line, and an expression of excitement that was difficult to conceal immediately appeared on his face.

He looked at the watch on his wrist and it was not yet noon.

"Very good!" He stood up, his eyes sweeping over the staff and subordinates in the headquarters, and issued a new order in a firm tone: "The 1st and 2nd Marine Battalions will immediately advance deep into the enemy's territory to ensure that the landing site will not be attacked by the enemy."

The staff immediately recorded and conveyed the new order.

Zhang Guangjun took a deep breath and continued, "The 3rd Marine Battalion and the Engineering Battalion will immediately begin constructing a pontoon bridge using prefabricated components (see the image at the end of the chapter, the author says). Speed ​​up the process. I hope to see a pontoon bridge spanning the Irrawaddy River before 4 p.m. this afternoon."

As the order was conveyed, the officers and soldiers present responded immediately and became busy.

Various prefabricated components and pontoon bridge assemblies were quickly transported to both sides of the river, and the soldiers of the engineering battalion began intensive construction amid the roar of various engineering equipment.

Zhang Guangjun walked to the map, pointed to the other side of the river, and said to a staff officer, "Tell the destroyer fleet commander that all artillery fire must be closely guarded while the pontoon bridge is being built. If any movement by the Japanese is detected, immediately provide cover fire!"