Chapter 172: Everyone Breaks Out In Cold Sweat!
Mountain Exercise Day Two.
After Yuan Lang went to the Command Post late last night yesterday and discussed with the Blue Army Command Post leadership including Railway, the Blue Army determined new tactics and playing style.
Changing from directly copying the tactics of the previous four Confrontation Exercises to redesigning a new set of tactics.
New tactics targeted at the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment!
Able to make the arrogant Blue Army put down their pride and truly treat the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment as an opponent, rather than lumping it together with the previous Heavy Equipment Regiment.
In fact, just from this point alone, the Red Army Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment had already won a hand in advance.
The Blue Army corrected their attitude to treat Seventh Hundred and Second as an opponent, rather than a toy that could be casually pinched and played with, and reformulated new tactical play.
Preparing to bring out some real big moves and ruthless plays on the second day of the Exercise.
To let the Red Army know the Blue Army’s power.
Unfortunately.
The Red Army had also held an all-night meeting last night, centering on Chen Jun’s tactical thinking as the Blue Army nemesis, and formulated a new set of tactics targeted at the Blue Army.
Also preparing on this second day of the Exercise to make the Blue Army pay a greater cost.
To make the Blue Army bleed heavily!!
Both sides made thorough deployments, both preparing to unleash killer moves on the second day, dooming this second day to become the turning point of the Exercise’s final victory or defeat.
8 a.m.
The Red Army, aiming to seize the Blue Army Position, took the lead in launching the second wave of offensive against the Blue Army.
Three Tank Companies full of fuel and ammunition passed through the foot of the mountain from the 033, 034, and 035 Positions, heading straight to the Blue Army Position in the rear.
The Artillery Unit followed the previous Arrangement, closely trailing behind the Tank Unit for protection.
To prevent sneak attacks by Attack Helicopters.
Tanks traversed the Frontline to reach the rear Position, immediately forming a Charge formation, striking toward the Blue Army Highland regardless of whether the Blue Army fired first.
First cover with Heavy Artillery Fire and bomb, then Armored Tanks charge, finally Armored Infantry occupy.
It was the Heavy Armored Unit’s one-stop dragon!
With the Red Army assault Tanks attacking in front, the three Companies guarding the three Highlands also wanted to do something.
Thinking that the Tank Unit had gone out and started charging the Blue Army’s second layer Position, the Blue Army probably wouldn’t stay in the rear woods anymore.
Preparing within fifty meters in front of the Position to build various Traps and obstacles, forming an Intercept zone to increase the difficulty for the Blue Army to charge up.
To prevent the issue from last night where Ninth Company was gradually pressed close by the Blue Army and the Trench couldn’t stop Grenades from happening again.
This idea was good and didn’t violate orders.
But when the Red Army Warriors on the three Positions came out from the Trench Fortifications, carrying shovels and Pickaxes, and started working in front of the formation.
“Bang bang bang bang…”
Gunshots rang out from the woods again, and the Blue Army’s ghostly attack came again.
The Red Army Warriors who came out to work immediately suffered, even retreating as fast as possible, all three Companies had some losses, with Sixth Company eliminating five the most.
Fortunately, there weren’t many Blue Army in the woods, otherwise with their precise marksmanship, those who went out would probably all be gone.
“Damn, this Blue Army is too nauseating.”
Sixth Company Commander was so angry his face turned red and neck thick, yet there was no method to use.
The Regiment prohibited entering the woods to fight the Blue Army, even knowing there were few Blue Army in the woods, remote gunfights were completely no match for the opponents.
The Artillery Unit couldn’t hit these blind spots, and Tanks had no way to rush into the woods.
No solution!!
Unless transfer the Steel Seventh Company’s Sniper Squad over to help take out the Blue Army in the woods, which was currently the only effective counter.
But Steel Seventh Company’s mission was even more arduous, they simply had no time for these small matters.
Sixth Company Commander and the acting Company Commanders of Eighth Company and Ninth Company, facing the Blue Army’s plaster-like sticky harassment, could only abandon the idea of building frontline defenses.
Continuing to honestly shrink on the Position.
Waiting for the Tank and Artillery Units to complete the cleanup of the Blue Army’s second layer Position, then they would do their job and go guard the rear second layer Position.
Anyway, the Blue Army was sandwiched front and rear by the Red Army, only daring to stay in the woods and not come out, posing little threat to the Position.
While the Red and Blue sides in the rear played tricks across the Position, the frontline assault Tanks and Artillery Unit took turns attacking, fighting with great gusto.
Various firepower outputted at the Position, maximizing the advantage.
Only after the Directing Staff confirmed that the Summit Position destruction had reached over eighty percent would they dispatch Armored Infantry to occupy.
The remaining Armored Infantry numbers were already few, four Companies full count only two and a half left.
Must and could only use sparingly!
However, just as the assault Tanks were fighting excitedly, three Blue Army Attack Helicopters fully loaded with weapons suddenly leaped out from behind 022 Position.
Just appearing on the mountaintop of the Position.
All uniformly the most advanced and strongest combat effectiveness Z-9W Attack Helicopters currently in our army.
Able to approach so quickly and silently proved these Helicopters flew ultra-low altitude, even flying between the valleys of two mountains.
This not only blocked the sound of Helicopter flight through the Mountain Body, but also evaded Radar detection.
Of course.
Ultra-low altitude flight was very dangerous!
Not only to watch for turbulence between valleys, easily causing Helicopter loss of control, not to mention those dense treetops just a few meters away.
Casually snagging on the trees could cause Helicopter loss of control.
The result could only be aircraft destroyed and personnel killed!
Having this ultra-low altitude piloting flight technology was enough to prove how elite the Blue Army Army Aviation Force was.
Plus the Tanks and Artillery had been bombarding, the rumbling cannon fire resounding through the mountainous area, also masking part of the Helicopter rotor whir.
The Blue Army Attack Helicopters had good technology and came fully prepared.
Just as they poked their heads out from behind the Position, the fire control system locked onto targets under 022 Highland, and the mounted AKD-8 air-to-ground Anti-tank Missiles flew straight toward the targets.
Tanks, due to their combat scenario factors, were doomed to have a very vulnerable “top of the head.”
Even Main Battle Tanks with reactive armor had almost zero defense against attacks from above; once hit, they would inevitably be scrapped.
But the attack from these three Attack Helicopters didn’t lock onto the Red Army Tanks in front.
Instead, they flew over the Red Army Tanks and hit the edge of the rear woods.
The three Attack Helicopters hit very accurately; the Anti-aircraft Platoon concealed at the edge of the woods behind the Tanks, all three tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft guns were completely destroyed.
The Red Army Anti-aircraft Platoon was so well concealed yet detected by the Blue Army, definitely using infrared scanning.
And Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, except Steel Seventh Company, other Companies didn’t have Chen Jun-designed Camouflage cloth, their infrared defense capability was actually quite average.
Not that Chen Jun didn’t want to popularize his Camouflage cloth, mainly the troop equipment Program was very complex.
Steel Seventh Company using it themselves was fine, but equipping the whole Regiment was a different concept.
First design, then verification, in between experiments, repeated inspections by the troops, only after confirmation could it be popularized and equipped.
Just like you using it yourself, as long as it’s good, no need to care about hygiene standards or anything.
But if you give it to others to use, it’s completely different.
Not to mention the Camouflage cloth had many shortcomings; once popularized, each Company would need training, and corresponding fixes for those shortcomings.
Whether Chen Jun or Steel Seventh Company, over the past year plus, had been busy non-stop every day, even canceling rest periods.
Where was there time for such things.
The fully Mechanized Anti-aircraft Company drove all the way, cars parked at the edge of the woods covered with Camouflage cloth, plus some vegetation Tree branches for aid.
But the engine heat so high after driving, don’t be too obvious in Thermal Imaging.
And besides Helicopter reconnaissance, the Blue Army Ground Forces definitely had infiltrated, just that old A’s Camouflage ability was too strong, Red Army couldn’t discover them.
Even if they could fool the Helicopters above, they couldn’t escape ground Reconnaissance.
Otherwise, the Helicopter formation attacking wouldn’t hit so precisely, picking only Tank Company 2 protected by one Anti-aircraft Platoon.
Instead of the other two attack points with two Anti-aircraft Platoons protecting the Tank Companies.
022 Highland’s Anti-aircraft Platoon was instantly killed, Tank Company without Anti-aircraft Unit protection became sitting ducks before the Attack Helicopters.
The only thing to do was quickly retreat, back to the original Blue Army’s first layer Position.
Every extra second staying was a share of danger.
The Regiment Command Post soon received the report of Second Company being attacked; Regiment Commander Wang, uncharacteristically, wasn’t angry, but full of surprise in his eyes.
“Deputy Company Commander Chen, you really are Zhuge reborn, brilliant strategy; you said last night Blue Army would make big moves today, sending Attack Helicopters to attack Tank Company, didn’t expect they really came.”
Regiment Commander Wang was truly convinced by Chen Jun, convinced heart and mouth without blind spots.
Then regrettably said: “The only regret is not calculating they would hit the Anti-aircraft Vehicle first, and the Camouflage was precisely spotted by them.
Now Second Company without Anti-aircraft Firepower protection, taking 022 Highland would be trouble.
How about this, draw one Tank Platoon from Tank Company 1 and Third Company to support Second Company? Or transfer the Command Post’s Anti-aircraft Platoon over?”
The Blue Army tactics Chen Jun predicted last night should be using the high mobility of Attack Helicopters for quick flash strikes to consume Tank Company.
Or using feint attack method, pulling a feint to the east, attack to the west to hit the target.
Chen Jun had thought carefully enough, but the Exercise combat so far completely exceeded the original drama, everything could only rely on Chen Jun’s personal ability.
Blue Army pulled a picking soft persimmons move, first knocking out Second Company’s Anti-aircraft Platoon.
Indeed a brilliant move!
“Regiment Commander, dispatching Anti-aircraft Platoons from other areas to support Second Company can indeed effectively alleviate, but this is ultimately treating symptoms not the root; from Tank Company 1 and Third Company two Firepower Platoons, whichever you dismantle, will become the next Second Company; one single Anti-aircraft Platoon fundamentally can’t defend against Blue Army.”
Chen Jun came to the Regiment Headquarters early in the morning and had studied another morning; with his personal understanding ability, he didn’t favor Regiment Commander Wang’s handling method.
“Blue Army’s reconnaissance ability is too strong; pre-camouflaged Anti-aircraft Platoons are virtually nonexistent before them, very troublesome to deal with; fortunately Deputy Company Commander Chen reminded early, otherwise our Regiment Command Post probably would have been exposed and taken out long ago.” Chief of Staff said luckily.
Everyone present was Regiment level high-level, all with real stuff in their brains.
Blue Army clearly had such strong reconnaissance ability, yet hadn’t attacked the empty-shell Red Army Command Post to now; anyone could judge Blue Army had seen through it.
However.
Even if Blue Army knew the Red Army Command Post was empty, it couldn’t constitute much threat.
Next, the Regiment Headquarters transfer would be more concealed, not discovered by the omnipresent Blue Army reconnaissance, that was the key thing to focus on next.
“Blue Army Attack Helicopters are our nemesis; how to solve this big trouble, we must come up with a plan immediately.” Regiment Commander Wang said seriously.
“I think…”
Chen Jun frowned and analyzed: “Blue Army’s this offensive action is not as simple as it seems on the surface; high probability playing some trick again.
Blue Army tactics never follow common sense; we can’t solve the problem with normal thinking.
Prioritizing taking out our Regiment’s Anti-aircraft is a good idea, but nothing can be done repeatedly; clever moves used too much become bad plays.
Blue Army impossible not to know this reasoning, impossible to keep staring at our Anti-aircraft to hit.
I suspect Blue Army wants to use hitting Anti-aircraft Units as camouflage to confuse us, thereby achieving their real goal.
What is more important than consuming our living units? The answer is already obvious.”
Chen Jun’s analysis was very clear; Regiment Commander Wang blurted out: “Command Post, our Command Post, that’s their real target.”
“Yes.”
Chief of Staff also slapped his leg, suddenly realizing: “Command Post is key; we dispatched Vanguard Reconnaissance Squad searching for Blue Army Command Post; Blue Army definitely now urgently wants to find ours too.
Blue Army Attack Helicopters hit Anti-aircraft Platoon then disappeared behind the Highland, didn’t pursue our retreating Tank Company.
This abnormal behavior further corroborates Deputy Company Commander Chen’s judgment.”
As expected of the Regiment’s chief think tank Chief of Staff, had a few brushes; after this analysis, basically confirmed.
Blue Army had other plans!!
“But…”
Chief of Staff had just finished the previous remark, then said: “Using Attack Helicopters to attack Anti-aircraft Platoon, what connection to finding our Command Post? The reason they did this really stumps me.”
The two sound unrelated, indeed hard to understand.
“Our losses have exceeded twenty percent; Blue Army Ground Forces have advantage, air forces also advantage; reaching fifty percent not difficult; what we can hold, the only winning point left, is only protecting the Command Post.” Regiment Commander Wang’s tone was very heavy.
Heavy Armored Units fighting mountainous terrain really too difficult; Group Army deliberately weakening Heavy Armored Units.
If on Plain or Plateau, even hilly terrain, Heavy Armored Units Tank group opening road, Heavy Artillery washing ground, few waves could flatten.
Where like now, made so flustered by Blue Army.
Though Regiment Commander Wang could understand Group Army higher-ups doing paving the way for promoting Military Reform next, first beat everyone Convinced to avoid trouble later.
But applying such a big weakening buff really made Regiment Commander Wang very unhappy.
The entire tent’s meeting atmosphere, because couldn’t find reason for Blue Army doing this, suddenly became exceptionally quiet and oppressive.
Tank Company 2 without Anti-aircraft Unit protection, now shrunk in rear not daring to advance.
The other Tank Company 1 and Tank Third Company also worried Blue Army Helicopters suddenly popping out for sneak attacks, and hadn’t received Regiment’s follow-up orders.
Similarly could only temporarily abandon offense, retreat into high defense state.
All machine guns on Tanks set up, two Platoons’ Anti-aircraft Firepower also activated, thick black tubes all pointing skyward ready.
Red Army entirely crashed, all waiting for Regiment’s reaction.
Fully a cigarette’s time passed…
“You say is it possible…”
Chen Jun combining current technology level, thought of Blue Army Helicopters able to fly to thousands of meters altitude, exceeding Signal Company Radar warning height.
Meaning Blue Army Command Center very likely now right above Red Army.
Plus information revealed in original drama, Blue Army Command Post built on Helicopter has a data terminal and full set of Electronic Reconnaissance system.
That meant Blue Army had high probability fully monitoring all Red Army communications.
Assuming Blue Army now monitoring Red Army communications, then dispatching Helicopters to attack Anti-aircraft Platoon but not continuing to attack Tank Company, everything made sense.
They were waiting for a specific piece of information, to confirm Command Post now in which Battalion Headquarters.
Then launch thunderous strike.
Determined reason for Blue Army doing this, Chen Jun then under everyone’s anticipating gazes, in a relatively reasonable way stated the guess.
“Blue Army has massive high technology equipment, definitely including advanced monitoring equipment.
Our communications though encrypted, but encryption not absolutely secure; once having higher electronic communication technology, cracking is minutes.
And due to our Command Post always moving, our Communication Radio also always mobile.
Each Battalion transmitting orders to Regiment Headquarters all by Signalman oral transmission; unless Command Post issuing orders, Command Post radio won’t turn on.
Blue Army can’t lock Regiment Command radio position, no way to determine our Command Post position.
Therefore I have sufficient Reason to suspect Blue Army Attack Helicopters striking Anti-aircraft Company.
Just want our Red Army Command Post forced to reissue a series of new missions, then through Command Post orders position the radio location.
At that time they would dispatch Attack Helicopters to precisely take out our Command Post.
If really their stratagem succeeds, our ending only loss this one path; fortunately, Command Post hasn’t issued any orders yet, we still have room to turn.”
Chen Jun’s analysis hit the nail on the head, already revealed Blue Army’s truth.
Everyone present hearing this…
Thinking of Blue Army’s this layer upon layer scheme, all scared out a cold sweat!
