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

The M4A3 (105) medium tank (pictured), a Sherman tank modified specifically to support infantry, has unparalleled soft kill capabilities.

其装备的M4型105mm短管榴弹炮能够以每分钟6发的速度，发射重达14.85kg的M1型高爆杀伤榴弹。

The 2.18kg TNT charge inside it has an excellent killing effect on any mortal body.

In addition, in order to fight against armored targets, this M4 105mm howitzer can also fire M67 armor-piercing shells with a vertical penetration depth of up to 130mm.

However, the initial velocity of this type of shell is only 381m/s, which results in a very curved trajectory, making it unsuitable for long-range shooting. (For comparison, the initial velocity of a standard round fired by an M240 machine gun is 908m/s.)

In addition, this gun can also use auxiliary ammunition such as white phosphorus incendiary bombs and smoke bombs.

由于使用的是M4A3型焊接车体的改进而来，这款M4A3（105）也拥有46度倾斜的63mm正面装甲，等效在110mm以上。

尽管在欧罗巴战场上面对汉斯国动物园系列坦克的75mmL48、88mmL56、75mmL70等各种穿深十分优异的主炮时，这块63mm的正面装甲过于脆弱，以至于白鹰装甲兵还要额外在正面装甲外挂原木或沙袋提高防御。

But in Southeast Asia at that time, it was able to be directly immune to the Japanese's main anti-tank weapons - 37mm and 47mm rapid-fire guns.

This M4A3 (105) medium tank, which is both offensive and defensive, is the reason why Zhang Chi dared to take the initiative to attack without having an advantage in manpower.

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The creaking sound produced by the friction between the steel tracks and the powered wheels was particularly harsh on the battlefield. Four mighty M4A3 (105) Sherman tanks were slowly advancing along the road.

The famous Ford GAA V8 gasoline engine emits a low roar, driving these four 30-ton steel fortresses with a powerful 450 horsepower.

随着范排长的指挥，3辆排着一字长蛇阵的M4A3（105）坦克在距离三三高地约1.5公里处稳稳停下。

"Everyone in his place."

Platoon Leader Fan's voice came from the radio, and then the four tanks quickly adjusted their formation, lined up in a horizontal line, and faced the small hill occupied by the Japanese with their front bodies.

The four massive 105mm main guns slowly rose as the gunners cranked their elevating mechanisms, their dark muzzles pointed toward the improvised enemy positions on the high ground.

"Distance 1500, high-explosive round loaded, fire!"

Platoon Leader Fan gave orders in short, clear and concise commands.

Then, "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!" Four earth-shaking noises erupted almost at the same moment.

Four high-explosive fragmentation grenades equipped with impact fuses whistled through the sky, drew a graceful arc in the air, and landed on the high ground one after another.

On the high ground, the Japanese soldiers who were on high alert in their positions had not yet reacted when four high-explosive grenades arrived on time.

In an instant, four beautiful orange flowers bloomed on the high ground accompanied by tongues of fire.

The terrifying shock wave and high temperature instantly engulfed everything.

The fragments scattered at an extremely high speed, like a ruthless steel sickle, reaping every enemy exposed near the impact point.

Hill 33 suddenly turned into a hell on earth. All tangible materials such as sandbags, Japanese parts, weapon fragments, and bushes were blown into the sky, and then fell down helplessly and scattered all over the ground.

The soldiers who took shelter in the hastily dug trenches were shocked and bleeding, and some were even blown away from the trenches by the shock wave.

After the explosion, thick smoke rose above the position and filled the entire area around the hill.

The terrifying mushroom cloud slowly rose, and the center of the explosion seemed to have been baptized by flames. The position originally covered with sandbags and simple log shelters had turned into ruins, and the broken bodies of the Japanese were scattered all over the ground.

The whole scene was like hell descending, making all the surviving Japanese soldiers terrified.

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"Damn it! This is at least a 105mm heavy artillery piece. How did these Qian people manage to load such a caliber weapon onto their tanks?"

Major Jiang Yuan was so surprised at the devastated battlefield that he almost lost his voice.

First of all, the Japanese have been doing well since the war broke out in 37. Except for a few frontal battles in which they were bombarded by the 105/155 caliber heavy artillery of the Hans Heavy Artillery Regiment of the Central Army, they have only been bombarded by heavy artillery in the conflict with the northern bear country.

Not to mention that in the recent South Seas campaign, John's colonial troops almost all fled at the sight of the enemy, so Major Jiang Yuan has not experienced the feeling of being bombarded by heavy artillery for a long time.

He was suddenly bombarded by the 105mm artillery of the 212th Division and was unable to react for a while, thinking he was dreaming.

Secondly, due to Fuso's weak industrial capacity, its main tanks are equipped with small-caliber artillery such as 37, 47, and 57.

Therefore, Major Jiang Yuan could not imagine that the army of the Qian people, who had always been poor and weak, was actually equipped with 105mm heavy tanks.

In the field of tanks where "more is better and bigger is beautiful", the battlefield dominance of a 105 gun is truly terrifying.

Unlike 75mm field guns and mountain guns, the 105mm howitzer is not just an ordinary weapon that kills by direct hits.

When quantitative change leads to qualitative change, a large amount of TNT charge can bring about a terrifying killing effect due to the high pressure brought by the shock wave.

How could the Gangwon Battalion, which only had two Type 2 medium-sized modified tanks and a few Type 37 anti-tank guns and Type 90 mortars, defeat the opponent's 105 heavy artillery?

Call for help, you must call for help immediately!

Thinking of this, Major Jiang Yuan immediately ordered the signalman to ask for help from the main force of the regiment.

At the same time, he immediately sent people to dig anti-artillery fortifications on the reverse slope position, preparing to hold on.

"Oh, right, tell the two Type 97Ks on the reverse slope to come up quickly and prepare for anti-tank operations!"

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Platoon Leader Fan observed the results of his 105mm howitzer's bombardment through the commander's sight, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Hehe, this large-caliber artillery fire is really different. I don't get this feeling during normal target practice. Only when I really beat the Japanese can I appreciate the power of this gun."

"Let alone the small hill in front of us, even the strongest defense line can't withstand a few rounds of heavy artillery fire."

There was a hint of pride in his soliloquy, but he did not realize that the devil is always one step ahead of the good.

In fact, if the Japanese adopted the tactic of deploying backup troops and a large amount of firepower on the reverse slope and digging tunnels on the front of the high ground, the effectiveness of his simple artillery bombardment might be greatly reduced.

But now, Platoon Leader Fan doesn't know this. After all, for the soldiers of Qian Country at this time, heavy artillery with a caliber of 100mm or above is a treasure that can make the final decision.

Since the equipment of the national army was really mediocre before, in the mind of Platoon Leader Fan at this moment, the main gun of his vehicle was absolutely omnipotent.

Therefore, he issued the next order without hesitation:

"One more round, don't give them a chance to breathe!"

A second round of shelling followed.

This time, a shell hit a Japanese log heavy machine gun bunker.

The sturdy bunker covered with sandbags, logs and soil could have been used to withstand the attack of the 60mm mortar commonly used by the National Army at that time, but the power of 105mm was no joke.

The violent explosion turned the bunker into a sea of ​​fire, and the broken wood and dust covered the sky and the entire position.

The two Type 2 heavy machine guns in the bunker were also blown into pieces and used to make homemade planes. After falling to the ground, only twisted steel wreckage was left.

The machine gun team of more than a dozen people evaporated instantly in the explosion, leaving behind only the endless smell of burning.

Faced with the devastating artillery fire, Major Jiang Yuan had to order the main force to withdraw from the front position and go to the reverse slope behind the high ground to avoid being bombed in vain.

Just as Platoon Leader Fan was about to launch the third salvo, Huang Yongsheng's anxious voice came over the radio:

"Brother Fan, take it easy. We are just conducting a test attack, a test!"

Platoon Leader Fan frowned, realizing that he had almost messed up.

Their duty was to tie down the enemy and attract their attention, but they didn't expect the howitzer to be so powerful that it almost broke down the enemy's defense line.