bookrandom Chapter 114: Battle of Kursk in East India (2)
Chapter 114: Battle of Kursk in East India (2)
Just now, news arrived from the top that a powerful Japanese tank division, primarily equipped with Panther tanks, has secretly advanced from Burma. This sudden attack by the Japanese army is likely intended to pave the way for this division to break through the mountainous and hilly areas of eastern India and bypass the plains of northern India. At that time, the entire country could become a target for the Japanese army.
Sun Liren's 1st Army was on its way, and other elite British Indian Army units that could be mobilized: the 8th Division, the 14th Division, and the 17th Mechanized Brigade were all on their way. At this time, the 19th Army had to hold on to the enemy, even if all of them had to die, to hold back the Japanese offensive!
Mountbatten coldly ordered Dougs and demanded that all the army's personnel who were able to bear arms be sent to the front. Of course, the theater guard regiment that came with Mountbatten was also transferred to Lieutenant General Dougs by Mountbatten. Mountbatten even told Dougs: "If the 19th Army Group cannot hold out for the time required by the theater, Dougs will be tried by the British military court!"
This was the first time a senior British general had received such a stern order! It also signaled the precarious nature of the war situation. Indeed, if the Japanese mechanized forces broke through Silchar, severing the East Indian Railway and opening up the Lumdin (Sardin) line, the vast plains of India would be exposed to the Japanese army.
The Panther tank has become a formidable force in the Soviet Union and North Africa. The Allies still lack an effective countermeasure. In the Far East, medium and light tanks like the M3 were no match for it. On the Soviet battlefield, the pre-modified and mass-produced Panther G/F tanks completely crushed the Soviets' earlier T34 models. Only a small number of KV1 and KV2 tanks could compete with the German Panther, but their mobility was far inferior. The Soviet army lacked the large numbers of T34 tanks that had been produced in history, which contributed to its defeat in battles such as Stalingrad.
Allied high command urgently reorganized the situation. A transport convoy sailing in the Indian Ocean, carrying over 300 new M4 Sherman tanks originally destined for Patton's Army in North Africa, was diverted and rapidly sailed towards the port of Calcutta. Experienced American and British tank and anti-tank personnel in North Africa were also gathering, preparing to fly to Calcutta to receive the new equipment and prevent the Japanese tanks from breaking through East Indies and launching a deep offensive into India.
Similarly, Sun Liren, Yang Hong and others already knew that the Japanese army had Leopard tanks. The First Army’s current mission was no longer to destroy the Japanese mechanized cluster, but to block the Japanese army’s large-scale tank assault on the Silger line!
At Yang Hong's request, the Allies began rushing to manufacture anti-tank weapons such as Molotov cocktails and cluster grenades. A large number of anti-aircraft guns were deployed to form anti-tank units. The 7th Tank Division was transferred back to Silchar, preparing to use the city as cover to engage the Japanese in close combat. Outside the city, the Allies could only use their lives to stop the Japanese steel beasts!
The 112th, 113th, 114th, and New 1st Brigades had already begun digging trenches outside Silchar, prefabricating anti-tank obstacles, laying anti-tank mines, and explosive devices. Rocket launchers were concentrated into clusters to provide cover fire on Japanese tanks.
Yang Hong calmly observed from his forward post, while Sun Liren, along with his operations staff, continuously developed new plans based on the enemy situation. The 19th Army ultimately failed to complete its blocking mission, failing to buy the First Army more time. After consultation, Sun and Yang decided to relocate the 5037th Brigade (US) to the Silchar-railway line, waiting for an opportunity to attack the vulnerable Japanese 1st Tank Regiment. As for the impending cluster of Japanese Panther tanks, both agreed: take on the enemy head-on!
Seeing Yang Hong standing in front of the observation post in a daze, Sun Liren also walked over and asked softly, "Po Lu, what are you thinking about?"
Yang Hong calmed down and said, "I'm thinking, if the Japanese army doesn't fight us head-on in Silger, but instead goes around to the north and attacks Haflon directly, how can we stop them?"
Sun Dao said, "If Zheng Dongguo led the three mechanized regiments of the Indian Army to the Haflon line, they should be able to stop the Japanese army from advancing north!"
Yang Hong said melancholy, "Both the Indian Army and we lack effective anti-tank weapons. Our 37mm anti-tank guns, 20/30mm rapid-fire guns, and 59mm bazookas are unable to effectively penetrate the frontal armor of the Panther tank. The 107mm rocket launcher has some effect, but our shells are mainly high-explosive and fragmentation shells, which cannot guarantee the destruction of the Panther. We are extremely short of armor-piercing shells!"
"Yes, due to the difference in enemy and our equipment in the Far East battlefield, we have never paid attention to the deployment of anti-tank weapons. This unexpected action of the Japanese army really caught us off guard!" Sun said with emotion.
Yang Hong fell into deep thought. He clearly realized that the Japanese army's actions had brought them unprecedented pressure. He secretly made up his mind to hold the position at all costs and not let the Japanese army break through the defense line.
Sun Liren looked at Yang Hong and seemed to sense his inner pressure. He comforted him, "Po Lu, I know what you are worried about, but we cannot be intimidated by difficulties. We must believe in our troops and our soldiers. They will defend our country with their lives."
Yang Hong nodded. He knew that Sun Liren was right. They could not retreat because of the enemy's strength. They had to be firm in their beliefs and face the enemy bravely.
"No matter what, this time, we must hold on! As long as we can withstand this attack from the Japanese army, our equipment will be greatly improved, and it will be easier to deal with the Japanese army!" Yang Hong knew very well that the Allied forces were mobilizing anti-tank weapons from various battlefields. This time, the Japanese army must have completely angered the United States and Britain, and the Eastern battlefield would be completely changed because of this!
Yang Hong's eyes grew determined. He knew this was a life-or-death struggle. They had to use their wisdom and courage to withstand the Japanese attack. He believed that as long as they united as one, they would surely defeat the enemy.
Wedemeyer was on the phone with MacArthur. He had received orders from the US General Staff to suspend the Guadalcanal and New Guinea campaigns in the Western Pacific. Elite troops would be deployed to India to join the campaign there! Meanwhile, at Marshall's request, a batch of armor-piercing rounds originally destined for the Soviet Union was urgently transferred to South Asia to supplement the new armored forces being assembled in Calcutta. According to Washington and Churchill's demands, the main Japanese forces must be annihilated in East India!