novelden Chapter 163: Bridge Defense (3)
Chapter 163: Bridge Defense (3)
The Japanese 115th Division's attack toward Bamao Bridge was anything but smooth. As they advanced along the highway, they were blocked by boulders or struck by rocks rolling down the hillside, essentially crippling several armored vehicles. After finally clearing the road, they encountered a landmine within a few steps. A truck, along with more than ten soldiers aboard, was struck by a mine and rolled off a cliff. Then came unidentified artillery fire. The enemy's rocket artillery, which arrived and departed quickly, left a trail of Japanese corpses and wounded, and a cratered road.
"Damn, damn, the road is so bad!" The regiment commander kept cursing, but he couldn't solve the problem. Several squadrons were forced to go to the mountains to search for the enemy's ambush points and cover the main force's advance. However, the ubiquitous traps caused these squadrons to suffer heavy losses. In just over 10 kilometers, the Japanese army had lost about a squadron of soldiers.
Commander Muta sent a telegram urging the capture of the bridge, even to blow it up if necessary. A battalion from the 33rd Division had already circled from the mountains to the north, and a regiment from the 203rd Division was also en route from the east. Security forces in several surrounding strongholds also received orders to attack the Bhamo Bridge at all costs. In the air, Japanese and American aircraft engaged in a fierce battle around the bridge. The regiment of the 115th Division was the closest organized Japanese unit to the bridge.
The regiment commander went crazy and ordered the regiment's mountain artillery to be lined up along the highway and fiercely bombard all suspicious locations on the hillside. He ordered a squadron of infantry to clear the way in front of the highway, and the troops began to advance slowly towards the Bamao Bridge.
On the east side of the bridge, Tang Xuesi emerged from a bunker. Just now, two Japanese planes, taking advantage of the US Air Force's interval, swooped down and bombed the area around the bridge, destroying some defensive positions and killing or wounding over ten soldiers. The deputy detachment commander rushed over and reported that the enemy presence in Bhamo City had increased again, withdrawing their surrounding strongholds. There was now at least one enemy battalion inside Bhamo City. According to the city's intelligence network, the enemy was consolidating and expected to send troops tomorrow to press towards Bhamo Bridge.
Tang Xuesi was not at all impressed by the Japanese troops coming out of Bamao City. This amount of troops was not something Tang Xuesi had considered. If it were not for the need to concentrate troops to defend the bridge, Tang Xuesi would probably have launched an attack on Bamao City early on and captured it.
The First Detachment consisted of four battalions, three infantry battalions, and one artillery battalion, with a total strength of more than 2300 troops. In addition to the armed forces of various ethnic groups recruited along the way and the airborne 9th Assault Company, the guerrilla army concentrated about 3000 troops near Bamao Bridge. Especially after receiving airdrop support from the US Air Force, the strength of the First Detachment was greatly enhanced, and it had no problem dealing with one or two Japanese battalions.
But the current situation was not optimistic. Intelligence from Deputy Commander Zhou indicated that Japanese forces were pressing in from all directions, including security forces and field troops, particularly a battalion from the 33rd Division, which was coming from the northern mountains. This was the main force of the Japanese jungle warfare. The guerrilla army had fought the 33rd Division the most and was well aware of the threat it posed. Frankly, if Tang Xuesi's First Detachment had not received airdrop support from the US military, it would not have dared to engage in a head-on confrontation with a jungle field battalion like the 33rd Division, despite its superior numbers.
Bai Lang of the 9th Assault Company finally realized that relying on just a hundred men from his own company to confront an entire Japanese regiment was unrealistic. So, he teamed up with the 2st Company of the 1nd Battalion and continuously created opportunities to slow down the advance of the 1st Japanese regiment of the 115th Division. According to their calculations, by tonight at the latest, the Japanese regiment would reach the west end of the bridge and engage the defending 3rd Battalion to the west.
Although he was not very satisfied with the Kachin deputy captain, the main force of the First Detachment came from the Kachin people, and there was nothing that could be done about it. Fortunately, the Kachin people were very strong in combat and were not inferior to the Japanese army at all. Even though they had a deep hatred with the Japanese army, there was no need to worry about their fighting perseverance.
Tang Xuesi thought for a moment before addressing the deputy commander, "The enemy is already approaching from the west. The east is now yours. Remember, don't be impatient. Even if the Japanese troops from Bhamo come out, they'll only have one or two squadrons, three to two hundred men at most. The 1st Battalion can handle them completely. You should be on the lookout for enemies emerging from the mountains and forests to the south. It's best to provide more assistance to the Wa Self-Defense Force. We need them to help hold off some of the enemy."
Tang Xuesi knew that the Kachin and Wa peoples did not get along, but when facing the same enemy, the Japanese army and the Burmese Independence Army, the two sides could still cooperate well.
The deputy captain nodded and said, "I'll go meet with Captain Mina of the Wa Self-Defense Force and give them a few dozen more guns. We don't have any use for the captured Japanese rifles anyway, so let's just consider it as support for them."
Tang Xuesi nodded and added, "Give us more grenades. They're more effective in fighting in the mountains."
The deputy detachment leader agreed and began to make arrangements. Tang Xuesi also crossed the bridge on foot with his adjutant and signalman. At this time, fierce gunfire was heard in the mountains and forests northwest of the bridge.
Seeing the detachment leader, the 3rd Battalion Commander hurried over and said to Tang Xuesi, "The Kachin guerrillas on guard in the northern forests have discovered a large number of Japanese troops. However, judging by their equipment and combat effectiveness, they should be a battalion-level security force."
Tang Xuesi nodded and said, "This might be the first Japanese security brigade attacked by the 9th Assault Company on the highway. These devils must be so determined that they're rushing here to die."
The 3rd Battalion Commander nodded and said, "Should we send the 2nd Company?"
Tang Xuesi stopped the 3rd Battalion Commander with a gesture and added, "The 2nd Company only has a little over 100 men, and the enemy battalion has at least 5 to 600 men. Even though they're security forces, they're also seasoned warriors, and they're not easy to deal with in the mountains."
Tang Xuesi thought for a moment and said to the commander of the 3rd Battalion, "Send someone to notify the Kachin guerrillas, let them come over, and then we'll deal with them near the west side of the bridge."
While the 3rd Battalion Commander rushed to make arrangements, Tang Xuesi summoned the signalman and ordered him, "Contact the direct detachment and the 2nd detachment to find out where their reinforcements are. Tell them that a battalion from the Japanese 33rd Division is approaching and the pressure here is too great."
Then he ordered his adjutant to rush across the bridge and let the rest of the 2nd Battalion, which was originally planned to be the reserve, cross the bridge.
The regiment of the Japanese 115th Division, which had rushed along the highway, finally approached within three kilometers of Bhamo Bridge after expending significant ammunition. The enemy's mountain artillery was now threatening the bridge. The regiment commander immediately ordered the divisions to deploy, establishing and consolidating their artillery positions and preparing to bombard positions west of the bridge.