frightfiction Chapter 407 Attack! Attack!
Chapter 407 Attack! Attack!
The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and a light sea breeze blew across the brim of Qi Quan's military cap.
He stood on a commanding height on the north shore of the Strait of Johor, with a busy forward command post behind him and the outline of Lion Island looming in the fog in front of him.
He held a telescope in hand, gazing through the thick lenses at the Kranji Dam and the surrounding coconut groves and farmland on the other side, his gaze darting across the strait like a knife. The sea still shimmered with oil, with bits of wood and debris from the battle floating around, and a few gulls circling.
"Old Cheng," he called without turning back.
"Here!" Adjutant Cheng Yaozong immediately trotted up from the side, holding the battle map, panting.
"Has control of Kranji Dam been confirmed? The radio said last night that it had been taken."
Due to various reasons, subordinates may falsely report the results of a battle. For example, they may report that a position was not lost, or report that a position was captured. Although the consequence of such false reporting of military intelligence is generally execution, grassroots commanders sometimes still hold on to a lucky mentality.
After all, as long as the lost position is recaptured before the superiors find out, it will not be a big problem in an army where everything is based on results.
Therefore, Qi Quan, who knew the existence of this trend, asked about it specifically.
"Yes, Division Commander Lu Bao and Brigade Commander Gao Weiqi reported it together at exactly 2 a.m., and the civilian radio station next to it was also taken down. I sent people to check it out on the spot, and it's true." Cheng Yaozong spread out the map on a simple wooden table.
On the map, the northern third of Singapore is covered with bright red marks, which clearly shows that the results are promising.
At this time, the Lion City Peninsula had not yet undergone the major development that has occurred in later generations. The northern part was mainly farmland and coconut groves.
Qi Quan looked at the map. The lines were densely crisscrossed, marking all of his own assault routes, firepower deployments, and support unit markers.
After sufficient aerial reconnaissance in the early stages, this map is densely marked with the locations of various facilities such as the Japanese artillery positions, airports, reservoirs, radio stations, etc.
Qi Quan nodded: "How are the casualties among the various units? The gunfire rang out all night last night. The Japs' night raids never stopped, right?"
Cheng Yaozong replied, "Except for the troops attacking the dam, the casualties in other units were not heavy. However, reports from below say that the Japanese have converted the duds from our aerial bombs into explosive traps, which are extremely powerful. I have asked the engineering units of each unit to check them out."
"Yes, last night the fighting spread from the seaside to the top of the mountain. It was so noisy that people couldn't even sleep well." The group army chief of staff Zhong Yannian came over, his hair messy as if he had just crawled out of a bomb crater.
"But our troops were prepared in advance. The Japanese's night attack tactics were still the same. Once the Japanese triggered the can trap and heard the noise, our troops would fire flares.
When the enemy's night raiders reveal their positions, we will use our machine guns and mortars to fire them back, forcing them to retreat and not dare to show their heads."
Qi Quan hummed, and moved the telescope away from his eyes, but his face did not look relaxed at all:
"The Japanese moved violently at night because they were afraid we would be even more violent today."
He pointed to the small red circle marked "No. 32" on the map, and then clicked on several icons in the south:
"Today's targets are Battery 32, the railway marshalling yard in the middle, and the naval port in the east. Tell Lu Bao and Gao Weiqi to take their time, nibbling away inch by inch. Don't be careless."
"Understood." Cheng Yaozong immediately took note.
"I estimate the railway marshalling yard has the largest number of defenders. Firstly, it's the lifeline for supplies, and secondly, it's a transportation hub connecting to the southern city defenses. Give orders to Liu Jianqi and his Second Marine Regiment to mobilize quickly and encircle the eastern section of the railway through the swamps to cut off the defenders' retreat."
Zhong Yannian nodded as he wrote, then suddenly looked up: "We need to pay attention to those two 152mm old heavy guns on Battery 32. They may be slow to reload, but they're accurate and quite powerful."
As one of the few forts on the island facing northwest and northeast, Fort 32 is not only a fully enclosed reinforced concrete fort, but also located on a rugged terrain. It houses a 6-inch (152mm) coastal heavy artillery left behind by the Johns.
"I have to say, John chose a good position. It's posed a big problem for us!" Qi Quan twisted the telescope tube. "It's a reinforced concrete shell. We're attacking the artillery position while they're attacking the people. Old Zhong, you should coordinate with the Air Force. Their gunships and attack aircraft must be on standby in the sky at all times, ready to provide support, otherwise our brothers will bleed heavily."
"The Air Force has been clamoring to show off their prowess for a while now," Zhong Yannian said with amusement. "They say they haven't dropped a heavy bomb in ages and are going crazy."
Qi Quan smiled and said, "Even if they go crazy, I must secure air supremacy."
Cheng Yaozong pointed at the map and said, "Also, although there aren't many large ships at the enemy's naval port, the remaining defense facilities shouldn't be underestimated, especially the underground oil depot mentioned in the intelligence. Don't let the enemy target it and destroy you all."
Qi Quan frowned and said, "Inform all units that victory is just around the corner. Be careful not to be dragged down by the Japanese as scapegoats."
He glanced at the watch on his hand. The morning light had already broken through the clouds in the sky, and the sea surface was a warm golden color.
"Gather the combat staff and return to headquarters to arrange tasks. Today is a protracted battle, a battle for tempo. We must strike first."
Cheng Zhong and others stood at attention and saluted: "Yes!"
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The weather in Nanyang in September is like a girl's face, changing at any time.
The clouds are dark, and before the thunder comes, the sound of artillery fire comes first.
A regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division of the People's Army, reinforced by a company of M4 Sherman tanks, was launching an offensive along a section of gravel road built by the old British army, targeting the hilly defense line ahead that was being held by the Japanese navy.
The remaining Japanese sailors and logistics personnel now carry rifles and become cannon fodder left in a desperate situation.
Behind the hills is the military port that the Japanese seized from the John people.
Eight M4s were lined up in a row, leading the charge towards the hill. Behind them were the infantrymen of the 3rd Infantry Division, lined up in a skirmish line.
"Hey! What's going on up ahead?" Inside the turret, tank company commander Chen Xiuwen suddenly grabbed the commander's periscope.
"The enemy...the enemy is charging out!" The young mechanic in the co-pilot's seat saw a shocking scene through the observation hole. "The Japanese are not only not retreating, but they are charging out in full force!"
The next second, the mechanic pulled the trigger of the vehicle's machine gun, and a series of bullets flew out.
In front of these tanks, a group of Japanese soldiers wearing naval uniforms and white cloth wrapped around their heads poured out from the trenches above the hill like a burst dam.
They shouted various slogans, holding rifles, grenades, anti-tank mines, cluster grenades, explosive packs, sabers and other weapons in their hands, and rushed towards the infantry line of the 3rd Division like a tide!
"Fuck, they're fucking crazy!" Chen Xiuwen cursed and immediately gave orders over the radio, "Everyone, back up slowly and keep your distance. Switch to high-explosive ammunition, and all the machine guns, fire! Don't worry about what those lunatics are shouting, just shoot them all!"