nycdaug Chapter 151 Anti-tank Determination
Chapter 151 Anti-tank Determination
The 1th Cavalry Company, the US 5st Division's frontline defense, was mechanized and equipped with tanks and armored vehicles. Captain Sandneus, a former tank commander, was deployed in Africa for the first time. Commanding his M3 Lee, he encountered a German Panzer IV. From the turret, he manned the 37mm tank gun, desperately firing at the rapidly advancing German Panzer IV. Two rounds landed accurate hits, but they inflicted no damage. The enemy was approximately 1000 meters away, and the Lee's 3mm gun and early armor-piercing rounds simply couldn't penetrate armor over 37mm at such a distance. The enemy, taking advantage of their mobility, quickly flanked the Lee. Before Sandneus could react, the enemy's 40mm tank gun struck the tank's fuel tank and engine, engulfing Sandneus and his comrades in flames.
Sandenius was lucky enough to escape by opening the turret cover, but the flames still took away his right thumb and index finger, forcing him to stop serving in the tank unit. Sandenius persevered in his infantry company, continuing to grow in rank. When the 1st U.S. Army Armored Division was restructured into a cavalry company, Sandenius finally became a member of the mechanized corps, now serving as the commander of the 5th Cavalry Company.
The world is so strange. Sandenius, the survivor of the first US M3 destroyed by von Einstein, is now the commander of the cavalry company of the 1st US Division. His enemy is right across from him, but neither of them knows each other, and it is destined that a life-and-death battle will break out between the two.
Outside Nasser, Pu Zhengsong's 114th Division had already engaged the German 3rd Division. Pu Zhengsong, intent on showing weakness, lured the Germans to the outskirts of Nasser, allowing the 82nd Regiment to continue its tactical delay. Pu Zhengsong quietly concentrated his main tanks and ambushed them in the sand, preparing to launch a surprise counterattack when the German offensive was stalled and exhausted, encircling and destroying the German 3rd Tank Division in one fell swoop.
Rodan Schexman, a seasoned aide to Rommel for many years, felt a tinge of unease in the enemy's formation. German intelligence was accurate: the enemy was the 114th Division of the Second Army, a formidable force, its tanks rivaling their own in both quantity and quality. This display of weakness must be a ulterior motive. Schexman must proceed with caution to avoid repeating Kruewel's mistakes.
Schexman ordered the mechanized infantry regiment to launch an attack under the cover of artillery fire, and at the same time sent a tank company to assist and a grenadier company to advance to defend against the enemy's counterattack.
Under the cover of tanks, the German mechanized infantry regiment quickly rushed into the city of Nasser and engaged in close combat with the defending infantry battalion. The city was filled with the sounds of machine guns and explosions. The originally dilapidated earthen houses collapsed one after another, and the sky was covered with yellow sand and smoke.
"The enemy is very cunning, let the infantry come up first." Zhou Xuhui found Pu Zhengsong and said softly.
"Then wait! Wait until they can't help but come out. The mission of your 82nd Regiment is to contain the enemies entering the city and prevent them from retreating." Pu Zhengsong gave the order to Zhou Xuhui without hesitation.
Pu Zhengsong asked again: "Where did Zhang Lingpu lead the armored forces of your regiment to?"
Zhou Xuhui hesitated and scratched his head. "They're lying in ambush in the sand on the left. We're also looking for a chance to dig up some meat."
"Nonsense! The terrain there is flat. If we are discovered by the German army, we won't even have a chance to escape. Let alone eating meat, we might be eaten by others." Pu Zhengsong was a little angry. Zhang Lingpu still hasn't changed his bad habit of arrogance. Isn't he gambling with the lives of the soldiers?
Pu Zhengsong couldn't adjust the deployment and call them back now. He pointed at Zhou Xuhui and cursed, while ordering his chief of staff to closely monitor the German movements on the left. If danger arose, the artillery would be exposed first. At least they had to find a way to shield Zhang Lingpu and the others from danger. Now they could only try their best and hope that Zhang and the others would become the surprise force.
Shaksman contacted the attacking forces via walkie-talkie, and the answer he got was that there was a melee in the city and the mechanized regiment was blocked by the enemy's powerful firepower. However, half of the city of Nasser had been occupied.
Sheksman thought to himself: What kind of war is this? The tank division is attacking the city with mainly infantry!
..... ......
On the other side of the river, the tank platoon commanded by von Einstein had advanced to within 1200 meters of the Sandneus Cavalry Company's position. The cavalry company's three 57mm anti-tank guns were pointed coldly at them, and several zukas were also ready, waiting for von Einstein and others to enter the minefield.
"Creak, crunch!" A tank on the side of von Einstein's vehicle had just passed by and accidentally ran over a mine. There was a "boom" sound, and the tank vibrated, and the track on one side fell off due to inertia, and the tank stopped abruptly.
A tank behind it immediately stopped to avoid a collision, then turned and rushed past it. However, it had not gone far before it also ran over a mine. There was another loud explosion, and thick smoke billowed from the tank. The soldiers opened the top cover and hurriedly fled.
Von Einstein immediately realized that something was wrong and quickly stopped the following tanks. At the same time, he reported to the company and battalion commanders behind him. After receiving instructions, he ordered all the vehicles to follow him and turn to the right as a whole.
Sandenius was waiting for this opportunity and immediately ordered the entire company to open fire. Several shells flew over quickly, and one of them hit the engine of a Panther tank. The tank immediately emitted thick smoke and staggered to a stop.
The bazooka operators attacked without hesitation, and the smoking tanks with broken tracks were targeted by their attacks. One of the tanks was hit by two bazookas, and its interior exploded, igniting a raging fire.
The German tank column's counterattack was very fast. Several tanks turned immediately, and the coaxial machine guns knocked down several soldiers with bazookas. An anti-tank gun was also hit by the tank fire. Several German Type 4 tanks rushed over quickly and rushed towards the exposed cavalry company's position.
"Retreat!" Sandenius, without hesitation, ordered the entire company to retreat to the second-line position. One anti-tank gun and a few soldiers, in exchange for destroying one Panther and damaging several more, was already quite impressive. The cavalry company's mission wasn't to fight the enemy to the death, but to continuously delay and wear them down.
The Panzer IV tanks rushed over to the cavalry company's previous position, continuously crushing the positions where snipers might be hiding. Von Einstein and other German tanks also shelled the fleeing cavalry company, and several more soldiers were unfortunately hit in the fire.
At this moment, several soldiers suddenly emerged from the sand. They bravely approached the German Panzer IV tanks. Sticky bombs with ignited fuses were attached to the sides of the tanks. Soon, dull explosions were heard, and thick smoke billowed from the interiors of several Panzer IV tanks...
These brave soldiers were also unlucky. The machine guns on the German tanks quickly mowed them down. The American artillery in the distance immediately opened fire, and the retaliatory artillery fire damaged and destroyed several Panzer IV tanks. The German tank column including von Einstein was covered by artillery fire.