A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

The 1st Tank Training Battalion was subordinate to the Central Transportation and Logistics School and consisted of three tank companies. Two tank companies and one armored reconnaissance company from the Transportation and Logistics School's Tank Training Battalion came to participate in the war with Xu Yuexiang, the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Route Army, and were deployed to the Eastern Route Army's front line.

The 1st Tank Company, codenamed "Tiger" Company, was equipped with 16 Vickers MKE 6.5-ton tanks, plus 4 MKF command tanks equipped with radio equipment. The Vickers light tank was designed by the United States in the late 1920s; its performance was relatively advanced, with a crew of three and a minimum armor thickness of 13 mm. It was armed with a 47 mm 18-caliber cannon with 50 rounds of ammunition, and a 7.7 mm machine gun.

The 47mm gun was quite powerful for its time, capable of penetrating 25mm thick armor at a range of 500 meters. It could effectively penetrate most field fortifications, and its high-explosive shells could also kill a large number of enemy infantry.

The 2nd Tank Company, codenamed "Dragon," is equipped with 16 Vickers M1931 3.5-ton amphibious armored vehicles. The Vickers amphibious light tank is armed with only one 7.7mm machine gun, and its armor thickness is only 10mm, offering protection only against bullets. Its most distinctive feature is its buoyancy, achieving a water speed of 6 km/h, making it well-suited to the water-rich environment of southern China, characterized by numerous rivers and lakes.

The armored reconnaissance company is equipped with German-made "Hausch" series armored vehicles, including 12 Sd.Kfz.221 models. They are mainly used for battlefield reconnaissance, search, surveillance and patrol missions, emphasizing rapid advance. The maximum road speed is 90 km/h. They use a 4x4 universal chassis, have a crew of 2, a combat weight of 4 tons, and are only equipped with one 7.92mm MG13 machine gun.

Six Sd.Kfz.222 armored fire support vehicles have been deployed. The vehicle body has been enlarged to enhance firepower, the crew has been increased to three, a short-range radio has been added, the combat weight is 4.8 tons, and it is equipped with a 7.92mm MG13 machine gun and a 20mm KwK30 autocannon. The armor thickness is 8-14mm, which can withstand rifle and machine gun fire at certain angles and distances.

Four Sd.Kfz.223 armored communications command vehicles are equipped with a frame-type foldable antenna for command and communication and two types of radios: a short-range/30-watt FuG10 medium-range radio.

At this moment, Song Hongfei was helpless in the face of the weak firepower, thin armor, and maximum speed of less than 40 kilometers per hour of these tanks and armored vehicles. In his opinion, these were just rudimentary tractors with steel plates and machine guns and cannons.

He couldn't help but recall the exhilarating feeling of driving a Dongfeng Mengshi at 120 km/h during his military training in his later life. Thinking of this, he could only sigh helplessly, lamenting how difficult it was to go from luxury to frugality. He tried to console himself with self-deprecation, saying that this wasn't the future; there were no Type 99 tanks or Type 04 infantry fighting vehicles for him. But something was better than nothing; even a small thing was still something!

Xu Yuexiang seemed to sense Song Hongfei's dissatisfaction with the tank's performance, and his tone was somewhat helpless as he said, "Our country does not have an independent automobile industry, and there is a severe shortage of mechanization personnel. The maintenance, upkeep, and operating costs of heavy tanks are all huge problems."

"Understood," Song Hongfei replied. "Adapt to local conditions and tailor your cooking to the specific ingredients available."

In truth, Xu Yuexiang was quite grateful to Song Hongfei. It was precisely because of some of Song Hongfei's research results that the Chinese government's inspection team to Europe achieved remarkable results a few months ago, introducing more weapons, equipment, tanks, and armored vehicles, which enabled the formation of the Second Tank Training Battalion.

The German-made Krupp I light tanks that have been purchased are arriving in batches and are undergoing intensive training under the leadership of Major General Du Guangting, the cadet captain of the Transportation and Logistics School.

Lieutenant Colonel Peng Keding was the battalion commander of the 1st Tank Training Battalion, Guo Hengjian was the company commander of the 1st Tank Company, Wang Wenyan was the company commander of the 2nd Company, and Lu Jianxiong was the company commander of the Armored Reconnaissance Company. Peng Keding and the company commanders quickly arrived from the stairwell railway station, about 2 kilometers east of Xincun. They were very enthusiastic towards Song Hongfei, with Peng Keding repeatedly saying, "I've long admired your name," which puzzled Song Hongfei. After they explained in detail, he understood why.

It turns out that the Chinese army at that time had no understanding of the tactical concept of "tank-infantry coordination". In the minds of Chinese generals, tanks were used to help infantry charge. These "iron guys" were sturdy and armored and not afraid of bullets. Therefore, in combat, tanks should be at the forefront and launch attacks alone. After the enemy's main firepower points were destroyed, the infantry would then launch an attack.

At the dawn of the mechanized era, the tactical thinking of China's infantry remained stubbornly stagnant, leaving the armored troops utterly speechless. Xu Yuexiang, the chief of the armored forces and the director of the Transportation and Logistics School, strongly promoted Song Hongfei's book, "Mobility, Firepower, Protection, and Communications—Mechanized Warfare," requiring every armored officer and key personnel to study it carefully.

Song Hongfei's article was exquisite and insightful, hitting the nail on the head with every sentence. It truly resonated with them, giving the armored soldiers a sense of joy and excitement, like finding a kindred spirit.

The proud armored company commanders had long heard of Song Hongfei, but this was their first meeting. Young and ambitious, they saw that the famous Song Hongfei was only a young man, even younger than themselves, and couldn't help but want to test his abilities.

At first, the group spoke cryptically, testing each other, but after several exchanges, they began to respect each other and gradually found themselves getting along well.

With the personal involvement of Xu Yuexiang and Gui Shuaizhen, the officers and combat staff of various branches of the military, including infantry, artillery, armored corps, and engineers, worked enthusiastically. They even set up a simple sand table on the floor in the middle of the room and repeatedly simulated the operation using the sand table and map. This can be said to be the first time that the Chinese army has carried out joint operations of infantry, artillery, and tanks!

Officers from all branches of the armed forces were not to be outdone, and each displayed their best skills. A group of capable and fierce officers pooled their wisdom and efforts, fully demonstrating their professional competence and high morale.

After a series of heated discussions and debates, repeated simulations, and meticulous calculations of vehicle combat formations, troop deployment, equipment, mobility, timing, sequence, artillery firepower, ammunition, command and communication, various battle situations and response strategies were repeatedly simulated until the sun was high in the sky, when things gradually became clear.

Xu Yuexiang and Gui Shuaizhen, who were personally overseeing the operation, were deeply moved by the scene and were both very gratified. They exclaimed, "Plan before you act, know when to stop and you will gain something. With the soldiers fighting with all their might, we will surely be invincible!"

Tank Battalion Commander Peng Keding raised a question that had been on his mind: "Have the infantry undergone training in coordinated combat with tanks?"

"It hasn't happened," Song Hongfei replied honestly with a wry smile.

However, Song Hongfei was prepared for this problem: "The main issues with infantry-tank coordination are formation, orientation, and distance. It requires that the infantry and tanks remain inseparable whether advancing or retreating. We can only hone our skills at the last minute! We can list out the main tactical and technical points of coordination and have each company practice them this afternoon."

He continued, "Company Commander Zhang Yi and I conducted an 'armored mobile assault' exercise when we were at West Point, so we have some understanding of mechanized warfare. Company Commander Liao Jianchu studied mechanization at a military academy in France, so he should have no problem commanding an infantry company in combined arms operations according to the established plan."

"Following the principle of one armored vehicle paired with one or two infantry squads," Song Hongfei added, "In terms of communication and coordination, we have the excellent radio communication command vehicle. The communication command vehicle is also incorporated into the assault formation. My battalion headquarters will operate together with the right flank formation in order to command the assault from the front."

According to Song Hongfei's plan, the assault vehicles consisted of Vickers tanks and "Hausu" armored fire support vehicles equipped with radios. The 20 Vickers tanks of the 1st Tank Company were divided into two squads, each with 10 tanks, two of which were command tanks. Their 47mm guns could effectively penetrate most field fortifications and would serve as the main assault force.

The Sd.Kfz.222 armored fire support vehicle of the armored reconnaissance company is equipped with a 20mm autocannon, which has a fast rate of fire and strong firepower. It is capable of killing simple field fortifications. It is also incorporated into two assault formations to enhance assault firepower.

An infantry company consists of nine squads and nine tanks. The two company command posts operate together for coordinated command. The tank company commander has one command vehicle, and the infantry company commander has one armored vehicle; both vehicles are equipped with radios. The infantry company's machine gun squad and a reinforced battalion-level machine gun platoon, each supported by an armored vehicle, form a fire support group. Thus, each assault formation has ten tanks and two armored fire support vehicles.

The sergeant battalion headquarters and engineer detachment moved with the right flank formation, equipped with one Sd.Kfz.223 communications command vehicle and two fire support vehicles. The 1st Company and the battalion's artillery company each had one communications command vehicle, maintaining constant communication with the battalion headquarters and providing accompanying fire support. The artillery battalion command at the rear also had one communications command vehicle, allowing Song Hongfei's forward battalion command to directly call and command artillery support from the battalion via radio. Every tank and armored vehicle equipped with a radio had its radio set up and tested to ensure intercommunication.

The 3rd Company of the Sergeant Battalion, in coordination with armored vehicles, formed the right flank and advanced deep into the southwest. The 2nd Company of the Sergeant Battalion, forming the left flank, attacked from directly behind the main trench, joining forces with the main force in a pincer movement to capture all strongholds north of the Longhai Railway on the west bank of the Chishui River, and then advanced south towards Zhangjialing. The 1st Company of the Sergeant Battalion, as a follow-up echelon, joined the battle after the assault forces had achieved their objectives, expanding the gains and mopping up the remaining enemy forces.

The Special Service Battalion of the General Corps will serve as the reserve and support force for the Sergeant Battalion.

After carefully reviewing Song Hongfei's plan, Peng Keding couldn't contain his admiration and said, "The way the armored vehicles are arranged is very professional. The combined formation will maximize their combat effectiveness."

Guo Hengjian, the company commander of the 1st Tank Company, and Lu Jianxiong, the company commander of the Armored Search Company, were both very excited to know that their companies would be fighting, their faces full of eagerness.

Xu Yuexiang said, "We don't have armored personnel carriers to transport infantry for rapid maneuver. The infantry will have to rely entirely on foot. Can they keep up with the speed of the armored vehicles?"

“Our armored vehicles don’t move very fast off-road, but they coordinate well in combat, and the infantry can keep up,” Song Hongfei said, pointing to the map. “The entire battlefield area where the assault is planned extends to the banks of the Wei River, about 1 kilometer wide. The maximum depth extends to the area around Tianjia Village and Baijia Village, nearly 4 kilometers. In the sergeant battalion, a 3000-meter run is a basic physical requirement, and now everyone can run 3 kilometers in armed cross-country in under 15 minutes. The soldiers who will carry out this operation are physically fit enough.”

Xu Yuexiang nodded and said, "Training takes a thousand days to hone a sword, but using it in a single moment reveals one's skill!"

Song Hongfei added, "At this distance, the medium-range radios on the communications command vehicle are perfectly adequate for communication and command between the two assault formations, as well as for communication with the rear command and artillery command. There shouldn't be any major problems with this battalion-level infantry-tank coordination exercise."

After further discussion, everyone felt there were no problems.

Wang Wenyan, the company commander of the 2nd Tank Company codenamed "Dragon Company," was somewhat displeased and said anxiously, "Both of their companies are engaged in battle, and they're just leaving us to watch from the sidelines?"

Seeing his anxious look, the crowd couldn't help but laugh.

“Amphibious assault vehicles have relatively weak armor and firepower, making them unsuitable for such deep strikes,” Song Hongfei said. Then, his gaze fell on the north bank of the Wei River on the map. “If the goal is to cross the Wei River to attack the other side, amphibious assault vehicles are naturally the first choice to lead the charge!”

"Commander Song, do you still want to cross the Wei River to the north bank?" Xu Yuexiang couldn't help but laugh.

Xu Yuexiang added, "Although the Southeast Army's anti-tank capabilities are not strong, the 'Dragon Company' amphibious assault vehicle is weak in both armor and firepower, making it unsuitable."

Company Commander Wang Wenyan of the "Dragon Company" had no choice but to give up, feeling somewhat dejected.

After a thorough discussion, everyone concluded that there was nothing more to add.

Xu Yuexiang and Gui Shuaizhen looked at each other and nodded.

Xu Yuexiang said solemnly, "The 1st Tank Company and the Armored Reconnaissance Company will form two assault groups with their tanks and armored vehicles according to the battle plan. They will coordinate with the sergeant battalion of the Training Corps to carry out a flank breakthrough and launch a deep attack on the enemy's flank and rear! The 2nd Tank Company will be mixed with the other vehicles and cooperate with the infantry to attack the Chishui River defense line from the front!"

"This battle marks the first time in the history of the National Army that infantry, artillery, and tanks have conducted joint operations. It will also be the historical starting point for our army to create modern warfare! Armored forces and mechanized warfare are new challenges not only for our army but also for the whole world. You must all work together with one heart and one mind and cooperate closely! I wish you a successful battle!"

The crowd was filled with excitement: "Yes!"

Gui Shuaizhen, beaming with pride, said, "It's a rare opportunity for all of you elites to gather here today, working together with one heart and one mind. We are certain to win this battle! It's past noon, so please have a simple meal here. Go back this afternoon and make your own preparations. The specific battle plan and orders will be issued later."