Devil's Army

Chapter 1808: Japanese Attack on Huainan 1

If the brigade commander wanted to preserve the Jinpu Railway and Huaihe Railway Bridge, he had to quickly defeat the Japanese troops in Huainan and prevent them from carrying out the explosion.

So, things are back to square one: the lack of a ferry.

Without a ferry, the large force could not cross the river quickly and launch a surprise attack on the Japanese troops in Huainan.

However, it was imperative to recapture southern Anhui, and the Gray Wolf adjusted the command structure of the three brigades entering Anhui.

Since the Independent Brigade entered Anhui the earliest and experienced the most battles, its understanding of the Japanese military situation in Anhui was more thorough than that of the 5th and 15th Brigades.

Therefore, Commander Zhang of the Independent Brigade served as the commander-in-chief of the attack on the Japanese troops in Anhui, and the commander of the Fifth Brigade served as the deputy commander.

In order to solve the difficulties faced by the Huaibei First Army, the Gray Wolf also transferred the twelve gunboats repaired at the First Army's Qingdao Shipyard to the management of the Anhui First Army.

This not only solved the ferry problem for the Huaibei Army, but also enhanced firepower.

On the day he received the transfer order, Brigade Commander Zhang ordered the fleet to return to base.

During the days when the fleet returned to base, the soldiers of the 5th and 15th Brigades of the 1st Army of Huaibei have been strengthening their training in river crossing operations.

The Japanese troops in Huainan occasionally bombarded Huaibei with artillery and gunfire, which led to a brief fierce battle between the two sides.

This kind of battle, which was started by soldiers from unknown units on both sides, sometimes happened three or more times a day.

People who used to like fishing, washing clothes and playing in the Huai River now stay away from it.

Three days later, the small fleet arrived in Bengbu City, designated as the Huaihe River Naval Squadron 1, and was directly under the command of the First Army Headquarters in Anhui.

The establishment of the Huaihe River Naval Squadron 1 kept the Japanese troops in Huainan on edge, not knowing when the devil troops would suddenly launch an attack on them.

After more than a week of expansion by the military and civilians, Dangshan Airport has been basically completed.

The air force stationed in Anhui has successively entered Dangshan Airport.

Everything is ready, and Brigade Commander Zhang is waiting for an opportunity.

On this day, the Huai River was shrouded in fog, and commanders of all regimental and above units of the First Army gathered at the headquarters.

Brigade Commander Zhang ordered: At six o'clock tomorrow morning, the 15th Brigade of the 1st Army will launch an attack from Huaibei City to Huainan City on the other side of the Huai River.

The Fifth Brigade of the First Army launched an attack from Bengbu City towards Xiaobengbu, Yuhui County of Bengbu City in the south of the Huai River, and Fengyang County of Chuzhou City.

At six o'clock the next morning, the Huai River was still shrouded in mist.

The ships of the First Squadron of the Huaihe River Navy, carrying soldiers from the Fifth and Fifteenth Brigades, rushed towards the south bank of the Huaihe River like arrows.

After the fleet crossed the center line of the Huai River, it was discovered by the Japanese army.

The Japanese artillery in Huainan fiercely bombarded the Huaihe River naval ships crossing the river.

The artillery on the Huaihe River naval ships also fiercely bombarded the Japanese artillery positions in Huainan.

The fire and smoke caused by the explosion of naval shells indicated the direction for the artillery of the army.

The artillery of the 1st Army in Huaibei immediately launched a fierce bombardment on the Japanese artillery positions in Huainan.

The first group of soldiers from the 15th Brigade, the 5th Brigade, which arrived in Huainan with the fleet, quickly waded into the water and rushed to the beachhead.

The beaches leading to Xiaobengbu, Yuhui County and Fengyang County of Chuzhou were blocked by the Japanese army with barbed wire and stakes.

The Japanese troops fired fiercely at the soldiers of the 5th Brigade who rushed onto the beach from the fortifications and bunkers.

The soldiers of the 5th Brigade each sought cover, leaping towards the Japanese fortifications and bunkers, and using grenades to destroy the barbed wire and stakes in front of them.

Due to the fierce firepower of the Japanese army on the beach, the soldiers of the 5th Brigade were suppressed on the beach and could not advance.