"Sir, we hope to participate in the night's battle." Just after Li Qiwei deployed the overall tactical requirements that night and arranged the team to execute it, the adjutant Lu Buying led Colonel Ron, the commander of the Land Airlines, to find him and filed a request to participate in the battle.

In addition to the long-range transport aircraft and heavy bombers that were returning safely, Arnold also sent a large number of P-51, A-26 and other aircraft to provide air firepower support. In the evening, these fuel-exhausted pilots abandoned the plane and parachute, and then the personnel were gathered up one after another by the airborne division. This action alone alone caused nearly 300 aircraft (rescue voluntarily, shot down by the German army, crashed due to various reasons, etc.), but everyone thought it was worth it. Without the cover of air firepower, the 82nd Airborne Division was afraid that they would be beaten into a swarm by the German army.

After landing, more than 200 crew members escaped safely and received a response from the ground troops. The rest of them either unfortunately fell into the sea and drowned, or were captured or shot by the German army. Only a few lucky people landed in the German-controlled area, but hid because they were covered by the people...

"You?" Li Qiwei looked at them with confusion. He remembered that General Arnold had told him before leaving that he must protect these pilots and avoid hurting them.

"Although we don't have planes now, we are at least still in the army and can shoot and fight. We also have to compete with the Germans. We don't want to be idle and wait for you to save, let alone distract you from us."

"But..." Li Qiwei talked about Arnold's arrangements and comforted the other party, "It's hard enough for you to fight for the whole afternoon. Let us airborne division come on the ground."

"I understand that we volunteer to join the Airborne Division. As long as you give us weapons and supplies, I promise not to cause trouble for you."

Li Qiwei thought about it and felt that it seemed inappropriate to refuse help from others at such a critical moment. And if they were defeated, the final outcome of these pilots might not be good. Although he had told the parachuting pilots before that if the situation was unfavorable, he could surrender to the German army immediately, but overall, no one was willing to be a prisoner.

He immediately stretched out his hands and held them tightly with the other party: "Welcome to join the 82nd Airborne Division temporarily. It is an honor to fight with you side by side. During the day you are in the air, we are on the ground, and at night we are fucking the Germans on the ground together!"

"Yes, sir! It's so cool to see you fighting in the afternoon. You're different from those generals who are big belly and can only point fingers in the office. You're a real general."

When he learned that all the pilots had joined the team, the remaining soldiers of the 505th Regiment were cheering and their morale was high, but the good times did not last long. After 10 o'clock, Lieutenant Colonel Baker's fatal blow began to be launched.

The German army knew that they had few people and limited time, so they had to choose a smart offensive method. Night battles were a new topic for everyone, but for the German Marines, which were mainly veterans, they adapted more quickly and effectively.

With a "boom", a high-explosive bomb exploded on the US defense line, and then the unique sound of weaving of mg42 began to sound, with the sound of shooting of G43 and Garland rifles mixed in the middle. At the same time, a large number of flares began to fly over, illuminating the central Bermuda area pale, and you can clearly see the figures running on the airborne division's position.

The US military was not willing to be outdone and immediately fought back with fierce firepower. Several machine guns fired long tongues of flames and desperately suppressed the German army's advancement. The recoilless cannon was fired as if it was not worth it. Regardless of whether it aimed or not, it would be fired first. This is the firepower ideology that the US military has always emphasized...

"Have you seen the target clearly?"

"I've basically seen it clearly."

"Okay." Captain Lindman waved his hand fiercely, "5 shots are fast, release!"

Hearing the "swoosh" sound coming through the air, Li Qiwei's face changed drastically. Of course he knew what this was. This was the unique whistle of the mortar. He fought close to support the King of Firepower.

The two German infantry battalions have a total of 12 80mm long-body mortars, which do not play a great role in daytime combat, and do not have many opportunities to show up. After being attacked by air strikes, there are still 9 left. At night, Baker immediately formulated the first tactical strategy: first use tanks and infantry feint attacks to lure the enemy out of the fire point, and then let the gathered mortar troops cover and shoot. After 5 rapid shots, the officers and soldiers of the frontier positions of the US military were all shrouded in explosion air waves and flying shrapnel.

"Damn it!"

The US military knew that the German Marines had no other barrel artillery except 88mm guns and tank guns, and at most they had some recoilless guns, so they couldn't help but take it lightly. They forgot that the German army was equipped with mortars at the first level of the battalion, and the density was quite high. They went up to 9 in one breath. What's more serious is that these mortars were directly pushed to a distance of more than 1,000 meters, which was a bully of the US military without long-range suppression of firepower.

If nine mortars were gathered together in a big way on the Eastern Front, it would not take long to save them and they would attract long-range artillery or air strikes. However, now the 82nd Airborne Division has no mortar at all, and the German artillery fire is at least 1,000. Although theoretically, the US military's own 60 mortars or M18 recoilless cannons can hit this distance, but the aiming requirements are too high, and now the darkness is dark and can't be seen clearly. If the US military dares to launch flares and expose the exposed position, the more intense mortar fire will only follow immediately.

This round of cover shooting caused the US military to lose more than 60 people, and the front line of defense suddenly became sparse. Taking advantage of this open gap, the German troops who were feinting the attack immediately rushed over under the cover of tanks. The war seemed to have deteriorated to World War I mode. At that time, the infantry charged behind the tanks.

Colonel Carney discovered the crisis on the front line and immediately adjusted his tactics. He did not rigidly fill the people in to block the gap. Under the cover of German tanks with mortar fire, many people could not block the gap. He asked the troops to make way for a passage and let the Germans come in, and both sides were ready to fight in close combat.

Sure enough, when the German infantry and tank troops advanced more than 200 meters in front of the defense line, the German army stopped the offensive pace. The mortars who had transferred their positions fired again according to the target's instructions. The tank commander had already told the target's direction to the mortar company behind them through the radio.

But the results of this battle were much smaller. The US military, who had learned the lesson, did not fire in an orderly manner, but instead broke into pieces. It seemed that there were troops deployed in every corner to command Lieutenant Colonel Baker's heart suddenly sank. This not only meant that the enemy was thinking more than he thought, but also that the enemy had adapted to the rhythm just now, and the attack would be in big trouble.

As expected, with the two sides approaching each other, the US military began to achieve continuous results. Although the tanks tried their best to cover the infantry assault, Bazukka or the recoilless gun could not be stopped by the No. 4 tank. Two brave American soldiers hid in a bomb crater bomber bombed during the day and hit the German tanks at a place that was nearly 10 meters away. Although they were soon torn to pieces by the accompanying German soldiers, the tank was reimbursed helplessly.

The most common explosions on the battlefield were the sound of American melon grenades. This thing is much more explosive than the long-handled grenade commonly used by German infantry, and can be thrown in various postures. The disadvantage of the close throwing distance is no longer obvious when close forces are connected. What's more serious is that throwing melon grenades is the master skill of the 82nd Airborne Division. They are very skillful in using it. The officers and soldiers are almost conditioned reflexes. Whether it is a tank, an armored vehicle or a German infantry, it is a grenade if you see it.

Tank No. 4 is not afraid of grenades, but it is a bit troublesome to encounter this thing, especially a convertible SDK.251 car was directly filled with one, which reimbursed all the German soldiers on it.

Time passed by minute by minute, and the German attacking troops had changed three waves, but it seemed that they could not dig through the US defense line, let alone the division and siege. The brave American soldiers also exclaimed, gritted their teeth and stared at them, fought to the death, and used endless side firepower to make the Germans suffer.

From 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock, although the German army advanced the front about 1,800 meters and killed (injured) at least 600 US troops, but it also paid more than 200 casualties, lost 4 tanks, and almost all armored vehicles were reimbursed. The resistance of the 82nd Airborne Division continued.

If Lieutenant Colonel Baker had enough time, he would definitely not choose to fight such a battle. As long as he dragged his opponent and used long-range firepower to slowly consume the opponent, he believed that he would definitely be able to defeat the opponent at a lower price. But the problem was that what he lacked the most was time. As soon as the sky brightened, the US air attack would roar, and he could not afford to consume or wait.

"Let the troops shrink first, adjust the offensive route, and divide a company to detour to the left wing." Under the dark night, he turned his eyes to the right wing of the US military, and the firepower there seemed to be not that fierce. He wanted to cut off the retreat of the US military in front of him by encirclement.

"But the pressure on facing the enemy head-on is too small, and the enemy is easy to detect our movements."

"The Mortar Company stepped forward, wiped out all the ammunition, and used the explosion screen to cover the assault forces' operations..."

The pieces of shells fell down again, and the German troops began to slowly retreat. The American officers and soldiers who survived on the position breathed a sigh of relief. The attack just now was extremely thrilling. The fierce firepower and ubiquitous tactical infiltration of the German army put great pressure on them. Although the troops were twice as powerful as the opponent, it gave people the feeling that they had been suppressed and beaten by the Germans, and they did not even have a chance to breathe. In order to destroy the enemy's heavy equipment, the paratroopers who went on one after another paid a heavy price.

"Sir, the enemy can't be beaten..."

Li Qiwei shook his head: "It's not that time, the enemy is planning for the next attack."

"What should we do?"

"Let the front line troops retreat and move to the third line position."

"Ah...why?"
Chapter completed!