nucmednet Chapter 1049: The Fall of Otsu Castle
Chapter 1049: The Fall of Otsu Castle
The night sky of Otsu Castle was illuminated.
"Are all the rocket launchers in place?" Klinghe said in a cold voice, standing in the command vehicle.
"Jawohl!" Rocket Regiment Commander Weigel reported, "120 Katyushas have been deployed, each loaded with 48 rockets, and can complete a salvo in two minutes."
Klinghe nodded and turned to the communicator: "How is the situation over there?"
"The Ghost Special Forces have completed their infiltration," the communicator replied immediately. "They have successfully taken control of the overseas Chinese settlement in the southern part of the city and rescued nearly two thousand overseas Chinese imprisoned by the Fuso military. Major Stein reported that they have established fortifications in the safe area."
"Very good," Klinghe sneered, "Now that the hostages are safe, there is nothing to worry about." He picked up the communicator: "Weigel, let's start. Let the Fuso people taste the wrath of Germany."
"Feuer!" Weigel ordered.
120 Katyusha rocket launchers opened fire at the same time, and thousands of rockets whizzed through the night sky. The orange-red flames formed a huge net in the darkness, covering the entire Otsu City.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Amid the continuous explosions, buildings in the city collapsed one after another. The Fuso army's carefully arranged fortifications were vulnerable to this steel storm. The density of rockets did not allow the enemy to even have a chance to move.
"Prepare for the second salvo!" Weigel continued to command, "Load! Aim! Feuer!"
Another round of rockets rained down, and the night sky of Otsu City was dyed white by the flames.
"Ready Thor's Hammer!" Klinghe gave a new order, "I want to see that city gate shattered into pieces."
Six 203mm self-propelled heavy artillery slowly adjusted their positions and were affectionately called "Thor's Hammer" by the soldiers.
"boom!"
Amid the deafening roar of the artillery, the city gate area was instantly reduced to ruins. The 203mm caliber shells not only destroyed the city gate, but also tore a huge gap in the city wall.
"Assault troops, prepare to attack!" Klinghe's voice spread across the battlefield through the radio, "Remember, don't expect them to surrender. Today, we will let the Fuso people understand what a real blitzkrieg is!"
Armored forces began to advance under the cover of rockets and shells, tanks rolling through the streets full of craters and heading into the city.
"Report!" the signalman suddenly shouted, "Major Stein sent a message saying that a large amount of military supplies were found in the overseas Chinese area. These supplies were originally intended to be shipped to Kyoto."
A cold light flashed in Klinghe's eyes: "It seems that we have chosen the right breakthrough point. Tell Stein to continue to monitor the enemy's movements and be ready to cut off their retreat at any time."
Otsu Castle burned in flames. Klinge's tactics were simple and crude, but effective. The Fuso army's carefully prepared defenses collapsed in the face of German firepower.
In the safe zone in the south of the city, the Ghost Special Forces led by Stein were intensively deployed. This elite force selected from the Brandenburg Special Forces proved the excellence of the German special operations in their own way.
Dawn was approaching, and the battle of Otsu City was drawing to a close. Klinghe knew that he would soon be able to send a victory message to the front-line headquarters.
"The 1st Panzer Grenadier Regiment, continue to charge!" Otto's order sounded on the radio, "Schmidt, take your men and charge in!"
"Jawohl!" Colonel Schmidt's voice was filled with excitement. "First wave, second wave assault group, follow the armored vehicles! Mortar group, suppress those buildings!"
The armored grenadiers of the Northern Division were deployed quickly. Each platoon was equipped with four 81mm mortar groups, and this flexible fire support method gave them an advantage in street fighting.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The mortar shells landed precisely on the firing points of the Fuso army. Before the enemy could move, the armored grenadiers had already rushed under the building. The sound of bursts of MP40 submachine guns came one after another, and each bullet found its target.
"Another block has been cleared!" Schmidt reported the results. "These bastards didn't even have a chance to fight back!"
Otto nodded with satisfaction: "Very good, let the 2nd Armored Grenadiers also join the attack. Major Leiter, take your assault battalion to encircle from the flank!"
The soldiers of the two assault battalions spread out like wolves, moving through alleys and ruins. They moved quickly and quietly, and whenever they found an enemy, they would destroy it as quickly as possible.
"The enemy has set up roadblocks ahead!" A report suddenly came.
"Humph," Otto sneered, "Armored Battalion, move out! Let them see how powerful the Tiger tank is!"
Three Tiger tanks roared through the streets. With the roar of the 88mm main gun, the roadblocks and the bunkers behind them were reduced to ruins. The Fuso army fled in panic, but what awaited them were the submachine guns of the armored grenadiers.
"Schnell! Schnell!" Schmidt urged his troops, "Don't let them catch their breath! Keep up the pace of the attack!"
A Fuso officer tried to organize a counterattack, but a mortar shell landed accurately near his headquarters. The tactics of the Northern Division were perfectly coordinated, with armor, infantry, and mortars integrated into one, like a sophisticated war machine.
"Another enemy force is holding out in the building ahead!" the signalman reported.
"Don't worry about them," Otto ordered calmly, "Let the mortar groups take turns bombarding, and the armored grenadiers continue to advance. When they can't bear the bombing anymore, they will naturally give up resistance."
Sure enough, under the continuous mortar bombardment, the Fuso soldiers in the building soon collapsed. But what awaited them was not the opportunity to surrender, but the assault team that had been ambushed long ago.
"Sie sind alle tot!" Major Wright reported in German. "The area has been cleared!"
Otto looked at the map and said, "Very good. At this rate, we will soon be able to meet up with Klinghe. Tell the troops to maintain this offensive rhythm!"
The Northern Division's advance was unstoppable. Their tactical style was fierce and direct, yet methodical. Each platoon was like a sharp knife, and the mortar was the poison on the knife.
The Fuso soldiers began to waver. They found that facing this elite force from Germany, whether they defended or counterattacked, only death was waiting for them.
"Vorw?rts!" Otto's order sounded again, "Let them know what the true assault spirit is!"
At 7:30 in the morning, the battle of Otsu Castle was nearing its end.
"Report to the division commander!" Stein's voice rang out in Klinge's communicator. "The southern part of the city has been completely controlled. The Ghost Special Forces is assisting the overseas Chinese to move to a safe area."
"Report!" Weigel also reported immediately, "The rocket regiment has completed the last round of salvos. There is no organized resistance force in the city!"
At the same time, Otto also received good news: "The North Division has completed the clearing of the established targets, and the Armored Grenadiers are conducting the final search. Schmidt reported that the enemy has completely lost the will to fight."
Klinger stood in front of the command vehicle, looking at the burning Otsu Castle. In just three and a half hours, this important stronghold of Fuso in Kanto had fallen. The rocket rain of the Imperial Division and the fierce assault of the Northern Division completely destroyed the enemy's will to resist.
"Count the results of the battle." Klinghe ordered.
Soon, the preliminary battle report was summarized:
More than 4,200 enemies were killed and 738 were captured.
62 artillery pieces of various types, 156 heavy machine guns, and more than 5,000 rifles were seized.
Rescued 2,147 imprisoned overseas Chinese.
A number of military supplies that were to be shipped to Kyoto were seized.
Our soldiers suffered 89 deaths, 203 serious injuries, and 416 minor injuries.
Equipment losses: 5 armored vehicles and 3 artillery pieces of various types.
"Signalman!" Klinge and Otto ordered at the same time, "Send a message to the front-line headquarters: Otsu City has completely fallen at 7:30 in the morning, and the Imperial Division and the Northern Division have completed the meeting!"
"Jawohl!" The signalman immediately began to send the message.
Otto walked up to Klinge and said, "This time the tactical coordination was perfect. Your rocket rain destroyed their defenses, and my armored grenadiers took the opportunity to break in. It was as smooth as a drill."
Klinger nodded: "Stein's special forces also made great contributions. If they hadn't rescued the hostages in advance, our firepower attack would not have been so reckless."
"I heard that Ike and Li Feier have also succeeded in Uji Castle." Otto said with a smile, "It seems that our time is about the same."
"Yes," Klinghe looked towards Kyoto, "but the real tough battle is still ahead. Kyoto is not comparable to these two small cities."
"Then let the Japanese see it for themselves," Otto said with a cold light in his eyes, "what is the German art of war."
In the morning light, the smoke of gunpowder gradually dissipated from Otsu City. For three and a half hours, the city witnessed the terrifying combat power of the German army. And this was just the beginning.