Chapter 3 The Tiger of South Asia (1)
The Indian army, who had obtained the new equipment, was very motivated and started to act regardless of the laptop and horse. The next morning, Scher was shocked to find that the Japanese soldiers had been rehearsed into neat teams and were working hard, and the army pilots were also very hard-working. The two pilot divisions often surrounded the naval carrier-based pilots and listened to the performance explanations and technical characteristics of the new aircraft. For them, they were now in a paradise of happiness, and they had endless energy.
In the past, the army did not use naval aircraft, and the navy did not use army aircraft. Even if it was obviously the same type, it would have to deliberately make a little different and give it a different name (such as the 96th ship battle). However, the people below were not so pedantic. Whether the aircraft was good or not and whether the combat performance was strong was the main purpose. After the test flight of the B-219 and F-190 brought back by the Navy, all the army pilots praised it and believed that this was the good thing they wanted. As for whether the b-219 is an improved version of the navy aircraft, they have chosen to ignore it.
As for the pure German-born aircraft like Stuka, the Army Air Force is even more amazed by the Army Air Force. The Type 97 light explosion (diving bomber) they used has a bomb load of only 400 kilograms, which is far from comparable to the load capacity of Stuka at least 1 ton, not to mention that Stuka is stronger than the 97 light explosion and is much more resistant to beat.
Seeing Lu Hang's happy look, the elite naval pilots could only laugh: although the Navy's top leaders were generous and promised to balance the aircraft they received, the balance of quantity did not equal mass, nor did it mean that Germany's subsequent additional assistance was also placed on the distribution list. The Chief of Staff of the Fleet, Cao Lu, who was in charge of the allocation of materials, would hide all the aircraft he received, including the most outstanding comet modification, Tianshan modification, and joint attack aircraft, and planned to leave it for the Navy to use it themselves.
As for the zero-war change, the main fighter jets that were on the list of F-190 were balanced by the Army and Navy. As for other aircraft, such as the short-legged B-109, Jacques, and P-40, they were easily dumped to the Army. Even so, the Land Airlines still felt like it was making a fortune.
The same is true for tanks. The United Fleet and the German Marine Brigade had already figured out the performance of the tanks while they were together day and night. Some small tricks were also clichéd. They also knew that the same T-34s mean that the quality and combat performance were completely different. Therefore, they also chose them in advance. The German No. 3 and 4 were chosen first by the Navy. The best-quality T-34s were also included in the navy. As for those KV series that looked majestic but were not very good in actual use, Matilda, Churchill, French B1 heavy tanks, Grant Lee, etc. were all left to the army.
Of course, the navy's appearance is quite "elegant". Because the number of Marines is limited, please pay attention to the best selection when choosing. The number is not too many. It looks dazzling and diverse, which makes Yamashita Fengwen and Mingkuangqian very grateful. In any case, the navy can bring all the tanks to Ceylon Island and let the Indian army choose first, which is a great favor. As for the navy to take some of the good ones first, they don't know in advance, and they will think it is completely reasonable and at least the practice of changing the army will only be more excessive than that of the navy.
Although the army and the Navy were not happy, this time the army still admired the navy very much. At least these equipment and materials were earned back by the Navy with all their lives, and they were generously distributed to the Indian army. When the officers above Zhongjia drove a car that they could never have imagined and heard that the Navy destroyed the Panama Canal and bombed New York feat, they couldn't help but shouted the slogan "Navy onboard!" which looked harmonious.
Yamashita Tomoto was cruel to the enemy and to himself. In the strategy agreed yesterday, he decided to prepare for an offensive battle against Madras 10 days later, that is, July 24. Although Scher expressed doubts about the Japanese officers and soldiers being able to master German tanks so quickly, Makuraki swears and says that there is no problem to ensure that he provides the best chariot brigade in the best condition and the strongest combat capability.
But by the morning of the next day, he completely believed that the Japanese officers and soldiers had been using close-fitting tactics to the German armored forces from the early morning: they often stared at a German tank soldier with their eyes, watching how to maintain, repair, and replenish them. They almost learned how to poop and steal fists. The image of the image of stealing fists was completely vividly revealed on paper.
And it also makes people unable to find an opportunity to get angry: if you want to sit down, he will help you bring a stool quickly; if you want to smoke, before you can take out the match, the other party has already lit the fire and gathered it up; if you want to repair it, he will help you hand over the tools; as for other hard work and tiring work, the Japanese soldiers are rushing to do it. So much so that the people below joked with Scher, and the army seemed to have thousands of free servants who don't have money at once.
What surprised Schell even more was that in the afternoon he wanted to communicate with Fengwen of Shanxia, but was told that he was in the German camp.
When Scher found him, he and Mingkuangkao were climbing out from under a No. 4 tank with greasy faces. There was a large group of people around him, and several German maintenance soldiers stood aside with awkward faces.
"Sir, why are you doing this?"
Yamashita Tomofumi took a piece of rag and wiped it casually, and said indifferently: "I was originally observing the Guijun exercises and daily maintenance on site. I happened to see the tank malfunctioning, so I practiced the repair with Nakura Jun, and brought the emergency repair capabilities of our officers and soldiers, and explained the technical key points to them on the spot."
"This..." Scher was a little ashamed. To be honest, since he became a colonel-level officer, he had never been under the car and had personally maintained it. Fengwen of Yamashita now does the small things of the most ordinary soldier as a general. He is really embarrassed.
"Didn't you send the corresponding instructors and technical guidance to your army? Do you think he is unqualified?"
"No, no, no, they are all good teachers and are highly respected by the officers and soldiers of the army. However, we don't have much time and we must take some unusual measures. Please understand what we are bothering."
Schell lowered his voice: "You don't have to come here in person, let alone get into the undercarriage yourself, right?"
"If I don't pay attention, how can the troops feel the pressure? On the way I came, I told them that it would be impossible not to endure hardships if they want to be an army general." Yamashita Tomoto smiled, "I have heard of your deeds in the Holm surround. If you only hid in the command center behind you and gave orders instead of rushing to the front line to share the joys and sorrows with the soldiers, I'm afraid they won't last for that long?"
As soon as Scher recalled that this was true, he nodded involuntarily.
"I have developed a competitive approach in the army. All the brigades studied and trained together, but in the end they only chose the troops in the best condition and the strongest fighting will to perform the login mission. This is a very rare honor."
"Okay." Schell sighed, "I understand what you mean, I will increase the training."
Just as the Japanese army got up early and went to hell training in the dark, their opponent, Lieutenant General Gifad, commander of the 11th British Army, was in the Madras command.
"Bastards, they are all a group of bastards. They will sooner or later lose the Indian continent!"
After losing Ceylon and losing almost the entire Army Command, the poor Lieutenant General Gifad relied on the city defense forces in Madras to rebuild the command system, and sent Mountbatten a telegram for help, and made three requests:
First, quickly draw strong troops to increase troops to the 11th Army and increase the defense density of South India;
Second, mobilize the main forces of US Army Air Force from the northeast to launch bombing and suppress Ceylon. Even if the enemy's defense system cannot be destroyed, at least they must not use Ceylon support in comfort;
Third, Mountbatten was asked to coordinate with the US Pacific Fleet to provide support as much as possible and counterattack Ceylon.
He saw clearly that Ceylon will be the guardian of the Indian subcontinent in the future. With this stepping stone, the Japanese army can attack and retreat and defend, and they have completely taken the initiative. Moreover, after Ceylon was occupied, it stuck its route, cutting off India's possibility of receiving supplies from South Africa or Australia.
He believed that everyone could understand the harm and terrible prospects of losing Ceylon. But he never expected that these three requirements had only received a limited response: Mountbatten only drew three brigades from Erwin's 14th Army for reinforcements, and other troops refused to draw due to the threat of the Japanese army in Myanmar;
US Army Airlines and the Royal Air Force added 6 squadrons to the south and ruled out bombings on Ceylon Island. However, after the arrival of the Japanese Navy's land-based aviation force, they quickly equipped the f-190 and b-109. In addition, the b-219 of the carrier-based pilot, the air defense forces on Ceylon Island were airtight and continued to shoot down British and American aircraft, losing more than 30 aircraft in just one week. After paying such a heavy price, even the most basic goal was not enough to destroy the radar station re-activated by the Japanese army on Ceylon Island.
In the eyes of the pilots, they did their best, while in the eyes of Lieutenant General Gifad, these troops were far from enough. What he wanted was the main force 6 squadrons that were the main force? It was a huge joke!
As for the US fleet, Nimitz's reply was even more polite: "This fleet is currently attacking the Japanese army in the Gilbert Islands, trying to restrain the joint fleet. After the battle is completed and the rest is completed, this fleet will evaluate the subsequent combat needs and consider your country's request..."
In his opinion, this is simply a attitude of keeping people away from each other. Wait until the US military fights Gilbert and then rests before fighting Ceylon. He probably will be over in autumn. At that time, let alone Ceylon, I am afraid that the entire South India will not be able to defend it.
He gritted his teeth and scolded: "Send a telegram directly to London, telling Marshal Brook and Prime Minister Churchill that if we do not provide strong support to our army, I will not be responsible for the subsequent development of the situation in South India!"
The confidential adviser was stunned for a moment, turned around and went to send a report... (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!