Canteen System Assistance Notes

Chapter 478: Interlude of the War: A Small Shock in Logistics

Chuikov's suggestions would take time to implement, and his request would require future negotiations between the two sides. For now, the only certainty was that, as Comrade Chuikov had witnessed, the morning's intense fighting had indeed been a great success for the Eighth Route Army's combat troops. However, for the newly established General Logistics Department, which was experiencing its first real combat, it was like a college student doing advanced mathematics and then hanging himself on a tree.

The widespread availability of digital radios allowed the various units involved in the attack to communicate seamlessly with their frontline and rear-line units, naturally increasing the opportunity to demand support. Furthermore, our troops had never before engaged in a campaign that involved actively attacking the Japanese from outside lines. Even with pre-war briefings, the units still lacked a realistic estimate of how much ammunition they would expend in the upcoming battle.

In the original time and space, this situation wouldn't have become a logistical problem—life was already tight, with few weapons and artillery. Our army primarily relied on guerrilla warfare, mobile warfare, and siege tactics, so there wouldn't have been the luxury of annihilating an entire cavalry group in a single morning. Furthermore, Political Commissar Tan Shiming confidently stated at the pre-war meeting that the General Logistics Department had made all preparations "within the foreseeable range"...

On July 27, 1941, the General Logistics Department of the Central Military Commission encountered the biggest "crisis" since its establishment.

The first problem to arise was with the Communications Staff Office of the General Logistics Department.

Within a roughly 30-kilometer radius around Lucheng, our army's five communication nodes, operating in a four-master, one-backup configuration, covered the entire battlefield, providing 800 concurrent communications and enabling troops with communication terminals to obtain positional information updated every minute. This robust information security capability allowed for smoother communication and greater battlefield control.

However, it does not provide sufficient "backend processing" capabilities.

Up to now, all the communications of various units, whether they are telegrams, short messages, voice or slow-scan pictures, need to be processed by the support personnel in the background.

- Even after diverting artillery needs, enemy situation reports and friendly forces

During the team exchanges, the total demand for logistics calls generated by the "signal coverage area" of Lucheng battlefield was still huge, directly overloading the staff processing capacity of the General Logistics Department's staff.

In short, the staff of the General Logistics Department encountered a "503 error", which means "the server connection pool is full and the service is currently unavailable."

Our army's habit of operating at the regimental and company levels, coupled with convenient communications, led many units, seeking faster supply response times, to directly call various logistics stations on the front lines, or even directly transfer calls to the General Logistics Department's communications hub. With these two lines of communication overlapping, the comrades in the General Logistics Department responsible for answering calls and short messages were completely paralyzed, unable to handle the sheer volume of logistical requests.

Not to mention that there are a lot of ridiculous things among these requirements.

Compared to any previous battle, the total amount of supplies consumed in the Lucheng battle was huge. But after all, I was mentally prepared for the huge amount. In just half a day or so,

In L's battle, the imbalance and even "weirdness" of material consumption are the real

It was beyond the imagination of the Eighth Route Army logistics officers.

In previous battles, the mortars, the "pocket firepower" of the Eighth Route Army's infantry units, were often the most commonly used firearms by frontline troops. The 60mm mortars in infantry companies, the more advanced 82mm mortars, and the 10mm mortars, which could function as regimental artillery or even as a sub-divisional artillery piece—these firepower units, which could be operated by a few men, could overcome terrain obstacles and suppress the Japanese army's light and heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, 92mm infantry guns, and even mountain artillery.

Considering the potential intensity of the fighting, the General Logistics Department had pre-stocked numerous mortars at various logistics stations and supply points, ready to be replenished during the battle. However, after a morning of fighting, the General Logistics Department's staff waited and waited, but received no mortar shells. A radio call revealed that the ammunition for the three-stage mortars had not been depleted, and all units reported that their mortar loads were healthy and sufficient to meet combat needs.

Then each unit gave the following feedback:

"Comrade from the General Logistics Department, do you have any more rockets?"

"We've run out of barrels. Disposable barrels will do. We'll send someone to get them!"

"Can 82's descendants share some of this with us?"

各支部队反馈了大量的82无后坐力炮炮弹、鳖拳火箭弹甚至是一次性鳖拳的补充需求，还反馈了一些45毫米炮弹的需求。单纯以参与鹿城巷战的教导1师2旅为例，3个步兵营和战斗工兵们所组成的巷战突破组在几个小时里就打出去将近50O发鳖拳和82无后坐力炮。迫击炮们反倒是没打出多少弹药，根本无需补给。

Because they often called on the artillery to launch sudden fire attacks, the artillery also reported a lot of demand for the supply of howitzer shells.

You know, if our army had such sufficient mortars and ammunition in the past, the troops would not have fought freely! The few shells in the hands of the logistics department

But it is a very popular commodity. If it is not controlled, the people who come later will

The team can't get it at all.

The neglect of the former backbone of firepower even made the staff of the General Logistics Department think that the front-line troops treated all kinds of turtle boxing and recoilless guns as steamed buns and ate them one by one.

----―---

However, if it were just a matter of having too much ammunition, this wouldn't be a big problem.

The Eighth Route Army in this time and space is already a large and powerful force in the country, capable of producing all kinds of ammunition, and basically having enough of it. Considering that the various bases have previously praised the effectiveness of turtle boxing and recoilless rifles, the General Logistics Department has specially stockpiled a batch of ammunition in preparation for the possibility of the troops depleting it too quickly.

However, a representative of the General Logistics Department stationed at a frontline supply depot witnessed a scene he would never forget: logistics teams from various participating units arrived. Some drove trucks, some rode tricycles, some drove power-assisted carts, and some even ran. But without exception, all of them beamed with joy, carrying folded stretchers. After signing for the supplies on site, they loaded the allocated ammunition onto the stretchers.

Stop, stop, aren't you the logistics team?

Yes! We are the stretcher team!

Why did the stretcher-bearing team come to carry the ammunition?

The stretcher team has no work now, so I'm here to help! Hey, hey, hey, you guys brought so much???

Hey, comrade, don't be so stubborn. The telegram and the receipt match. Just give us the ammunition. As for how to fire it and how to take it away, that's our business! The commander said more fire means less casualties. It's better to carry ammunition up than to carry people down!

The complexity of logistics work will give rise to all kinds of errors: things are delivered to the wrong person, supplies are over-issued, and applications are made in a chaotic manner. But even in the frequent shocks and unexpected events, the logistics operations of this campaign still moved forward in this way. Various improvisations and makeshift solutions were invented by the front-line troops and the staff in the rear to solve various problems that needed to be solved from time to time.

However, after just one day of working in such a high-pressure environment, the staff officers of the General Logistics Department felt the blood vessels in their foreheads throbbing. When they came to their senses, they only felt hungry and dry in their mouths - the lunch in the enamel bowl had not been eaten yet, and the strong and bitter tea water had already gone cold.

As the sky gradually darkened, the ringing telephones and creaking telegraph printers finally stopped. Political Commissar Tan Shiming, the head of logistics, had already seen off Cuikov. He checked his watch and decided to have everyone take turns and rest for a few hours.

If we keep on concentrating at this high level, people will not be able to bear it, and it will not be conducive to the development of work.

Suddenly, the phone at the staff's desk rang. A staff officer picked up the phone and said a few words before he stood up without even paying attention to the cold rice in his hand: "Say it again? Really?" After a while, he shouted with joy, "Comrade, let me confirm with you again: you are not talking nonsense, and the news is absolutely true!"

The staff officer's movement was so dramatic that everyone in the command center looked in his direction. "Don't be nervous! What happened?" Political Commissar Tan turned around and asked.

"Report!" The staff officer stood at attention and reported loudly, "The front-line troops are reporting! With the help of the Railway Workers' Self-Defense Force, they have completely taken over the train locomotive depot of the Lucheng Railway. The comrades at the Salaqi and Qingcheng yards and stations have also made some gains!"

"In total, after an on-site inventory, the troops have discovered seven steam locomotives, as well as flat cars, passenger and freight trains capable of carrying over 80 carriages. The railway engineer estimates that there are still six usable locomotives. We can assemble at least four more trains!"

"Very good!"

Political Commissar Tan Shiming almost jumped up without caring about his image!

Chapter 479: Interlude of the War: Steam Power

Trains and railways were important means for various armies to replenish logistical supplies, both in World War I and World War II.

Despite its limitations, such as limited movement and difficulty in temporary deployment, its high speed and ample carrying capacity made it an ideal choice for logistical support. Japan, a tiny nation invading much of China, relied heavily on existing railway lines—the Pinghan Railway, the Jinpu Railway, the Zhengtai Railway, the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway, and so on—for its invasion routes.

During the invasion of Lucheng, Suiyuan Province, the Jingsui Railway, completed in 1923, played this role. It was thanks to the convenience brought by this railway that the Japanese army, with its poor logistics, was able to control the depths of Suiyuan Province.

Similarly, after capturing Lucheng, Salaqi, and Qingcheng, the Eighth Route Army could use this railway to transport its own supplies. Once the railway is operational, its abundant transportation capacity will greatly ease the logistical pressure on our army during this campaign and give us a powerful force to achieve our most optimistic campaign objectives.

Focus on restoring one! Pick a platoon from the reconnaissance company, get on the tracked vehicle, and head forward. Bring your radios! If you encounter any problems, be sure to contact those behind you. Don't get hit!"

Having completed the first day's siege and resupplied, the mobile corps was moving westward along the railway. Lucheng Railway Station had become a bustling operation. Commanders left behind were whistling and holding walkie-talkies, directing the restoration of vehicle operations.

"The engineering company will load the rear flatcar and keep an eye on the sleepers and rails. The artillery company will bring a few 82mm rifles and load them onto the front flatcar. Pile up the sandbags! Keep a lookout! Once the car is ready, you and the engineer guard will set off eastward. If you spot the enemy, protect the engineers and locomotives on the railway. Don't blindly pursue them!"

"clear!"

He took a sip of his water bottle and ran forward without stopping. He approached the busy locomotive and loudly asked the busy crew: "Master! How long will it take!" "It's almost there, almost there! Comrade, don't rush!"

-----―—-

Restoring the operation of the Suiyuan section of the railway was of great significance to the entire operation, but after all, a steam train is not a car that uses an internal combustion engine and can be started by turning on the ignition key.

Her startup steps are cumbersome, in addition to a series of maintenance and inspection work

In addition, steam trains need to go through a long warm-up process, and the vehicle can only start after the steam pressure reaches a certain level.

Personnel is not a problem for the time being. Among the railway workers of the Jingsu Railway and even most of North China, there is a peripheral organization of our party that has existed since the beginning of the revolution in 22.

Groups such as the "Vehicle Workers' Association" and the "National Protection and Railway Rescue Group" advanced during the Anti-Japanese War.

It was transformed into a workers' self-defense force, leading the workers to launch a series of national salvation movements, ranging from passive resistance against Japan, underground work to armed struggle.

In addition, railway workers are a group with inherent discipline and organization. Under the leadership of several Communist Party cadres, a group of drivers and

The fireman, dispatcher and others quickly returned to the railway station and began to assist the Eighth Route Army.

Resume operations of the railway system.

Now that we have the driver, we need two key resources to make the train move: thermal coal and boiler water.

In Lucheng Locomotive Depot, there are many of them. As for coal, you can see tall coal mountains in the cargo yards of the locomotive depot and the vehicle depot. On weekdays, in order to prevent the coal piles from naturally freezing, the Japanese also set up a manual water pump on the side to pour water into the coal piles. In addition to the fixed wire crane originally used to add coal, the Eighth Route Army's engineering team also drove two "International Reaper" crawler cranes using A-shaped wire cranes.

Assist coal cars to refuel.

But the water used for the boiler is not very convenient.

-----―——

While the Yellow River's proximity provided easy access to water, pumping equipment was still necessary to get water to the trains. A single Emperor-type locomotive (called "冂丂1" after liberation) required 24 tons of water, a feat virtually impossible to achieve with human labor.

In the morning's battle, although the railway station and locomotive depot defended by the Japanese troops were not hit by the 122mm artillery, they were hit hard by all kinds of direct-fire artillery accompanying the infantry - not a single water crane used to add water to the train was left, and all of them underwent physical reduction reactions, becoming a pile of twisted metal scrap.

Of the entire train station's water supply system, only one intact water tower remained. However, the pump pumping water to the water tower had been blown up by the dying Japanese—a blasting tube had been thrown into the pump room, destroying the pump and its impeller. To make matters worse, the attacking force fired two 82mm cannonballs at this stubbornly resisting "Japanese fortification," completely destroying it.

"Damn it! Why don't these bastards hold back when beating each other?"

The commander on the scene seemed to have forgotten how he had cheered on the artillery that morning, and he complained bitterly. He now looked at the steam locomotives before him with a mixture of love and hate. The engineers checked the base of the water tower and reconnected the pipes, making the water filling work slightly smoother. This took several hours, and they finally finished preparing a "冂丂1" type locomotive.

"Motor vehicle—!"

The signalman beside the railway drew a circle with a green and yellow flag in one hand and blew the whistle to let the locomotive go to the departure line.

There was no large marshaling yard here, so the Eighth Route Army had already completed the train car coupling by manual shunting. Now there were more than ten passenger and freight cars of various types attached to the locomotive, and three flat cars in front of it were pressing the track, carrying reconnaissance, artillery and engineers.

Then, someone called the Sarachi station to report the situation, someone went to operate the switch, someone checked and jumped on the train - the locomotive whistle blew long,

It belched out steam and began to sail towards the night in the east.

The second vehicle then entered the maintenance bay and began adding water and coal. But just then, the pipe leading from the water tower began to puff, and the flow rapidly decreased. Soon, the flow dried up completely. A shrewd soldier climbed to the top of the water tower and saw that the tank was completely empty.

"Commander! There's no water in the big bucket!"

Damn it!

Everyone present cursed collectively. Several hand pumps from the coal yard had already been brought over to help pump water into the trucks. But how much flow could a two-person manual pump provide? "Water pump! Water pump! Damn it! There's no reliable information from the General Logistics Department..."

"Eighth Route Army boss!"

Just as the commander on the scene was frantic, a familiar male voice emerged. Two horse-drawn carriages, guided by several sentries, entered the train station. After a brief briefing, the commander learned that these dark-faced men were from the fire brigade under Lucheng's "pseudo-Lucheng Public Office."

"Boss, boss! We are the fire brigade in Baotou! We heard you need a water pump, and we have one here!"

The leading man smiled, not caring at all about the disgusted look on the railway dispatcher's face. "This is a shiny, copper-handled motorized pump. It's a foreign product, so it's high-quality! It's much faster than using a bucket!" "Oh! That's great! These two pumps are a lifesaver."

The commander couldn't help but worry about the sudden appearance of two water pumps, which seemed like a lifeline to solve the immediate problem. He hurriedly called out, "Third Squad Leader, bring your soldiers and help these masters..."

"Hey! How can we trouble the boss with such dirty manual labor? We brought a dozen brothers with us this time, and we can do it ourselves." There was no pretense at all, and the fire chief was shocked by his straightforward approach. But soon, he was happy again, "The army must be in a hurry! I will get to work right away. Let the brothers prepare the pumps, and then send the truck back to fetch a few barrels of kerosene. This kerosene is not cheap, we need..." "Gasoline, right? Small machines like yours must use No. 70 gasoline, and we have it here."

Before the captain could finish, the dispatcher interrupted. He pointed to the gasoline drums arrayed to one side, where several soldiers were refueling their 12kW generators, preparing to light their work lights for the night. "Our oil is just as good as Mobil's. No need to waste time going back and forth. Just use ours."

"Oh, oh... That's good, it solves one problem at least."

The captain glared at the dispatcher, then looked at the sentry with a gun next to him, and still maintained a polite tone.

"The kerosene problem has been solved, but does the army have any rubber hoses? Not all hoses can be used; they must be compatible with the size of the water pump. The wear and tear during use..." "To be honest with you, bosses, operating a motorized pump is not easy. Several of us brothers have been putting out fires all day during this chaotic war. So...

"Just tell me how much you want. The Eighth Route Army isn't the devil or a puppet army. We don't force sales."

Seeing this situation, the on-site commander couldn't help but understand what was happening. He took a deep breath and said calmly, "Master, we in the Eighth Route Army value openness and honesty. Since you're here to help pump the water, we won't shortchange you on wages or material costs."

"It's just that the situation is urgent right now. I hope you can do your best and don't try to be cunning. The Eighth Route Army also believes in fairness and voluntariness in business. Fairness, voluntariness, you will get nothing less." "Oh, oh, oh, yes, fair, fair. I naturally trust the Eighth Route Army commander. With the commander's words, we brothers will start immediately..."

---——-—-

Before the fire chief could finish his words, a strong light shone from the sides of the few people, followed by a shrill horn, which sounded loud even in the noisy train station.

"Stand in the middle of the road! Get out of the way!" Several trucks flashed their lights, their drivers yelling at the unsuspecting drivers to get out of the way. The commander on the scene turned his head and took in the types of vehicles. He immediately recognized them as three Bedfords.

He immediately realized that the team using this vehicle was the Air Force that had just taken over the Harbin Airport! "Why are you here?"

Several people jumped out of the leading truck and reported loudly to the on-site commander.

"Comrade Commander! We have fulfilled our mission and brought you our comrades from the infrastructure engineering corps!" The other people on the car also filed down and soon formed a square formation.

"610th Battalion, 6th Construction Regiment, reporting to you!"

"Let's stop with all this nonsense now! Hurry up!" The commander-in-chief immediately beamed. "Third Squad Leader! Come help unload the truck! Our reinforcements are here!"

The fire brigade's foreman was suddenly left alone. He watched helplessly as a group of Eighth Route Army soldiers gathered around and methodically unloaded several large, unprecedented pieces of metal from the truck. These Communist soldiers arranged the red-painted machines, connected them to the train's water pipes, and then plunged one end into the pool and the other into the train's water tank, pouring water into the machines.

Someone pumped gasoline from a metal drum and poured it into the machine, while another person stepped on the iron box, pulled out a handle from the top, and pulled it hard. The iron box made a thumping sound, a puff of smoke came out, and a light bulb on the box lit up.

"Is it activated?"

"After starting, start with a small load and increase it gradually. Don't just apply it all at once..."

The fire captain didn't understand what was going on next. But he could still recognize it: wasn't it the motorized water pump he'd considered a "rare commodity"? He'd figured the situation was urgent, and since he had this life-saving gadget in his hands, he figured the Eighth Route Army was being fair, so he could raise the price and make a killing.

But who would have thought that the Eighth Route Army also had its own water pump, and it looked much better than the fire brigade's.

Fire flashed in his eyes, and then he slumped down and sat down on the ground, as if all the fatigue he had just felt had come out. "Head of the line, are you okay?"

The other guys from the fire department ran up and tried to help him up, but he impatiently pushed them away. "Go away! Can't you see I'm really upset about that?"

Soon, the second locomotive, ready to depart, began to emit thick smoke. With a whistle, the driver blew a long blast.