Chapter 817: There is never a fixed routine on the battlefield
The US military, from the president to the generals, and then to the soldiers, unanimously rejected Britain's invitation to "ensure logistical security", which surprised Charles a little.
But thinking about it carefully, Charles felt that this was normal.
The British Army has hardly ever won a decent victory, and even if the American troops fought with the British Army without having to go to the battlefield, they would still be branded as failures.
It’s different following Charles. With one victory after another, international reputation, national self-confidence, and the president’s approval rating will all soar.
As for casualties, there is no good thing in this world that can be gained without paying a price. Even Pershing believed that the troops should be tempered in the flames of war.
The benefit Charles gained from this was that he successfully pushed the United States and Britain to the opposite side:
After this incident, the British and American armies disliked each other, and the British army even took back the No. 3 training base provided to the US military, as if it was out of spite.
But just after the British army took back the No. 3 training base, they received a notice from the French Parliament the next day:
"Since the number of British troops landing recently is small, the parliament has decided to take back the No. 3 training base. Please move the facilities and supplies away within three days!"
Kitchener was so angry that he yelled, "Charles, it must be Charles, he transferred the training base to the Americans!"
It was Charles indeed.
Kitchener didn't understand the situation.
This is French land. All training bases are not under the control of Britain. France is the one with the final say.
At the same time, as the latest country to join the war, the United States is not only the world's largest industrial power, but also a wealthy country with abundant resources. It would be easy for Charles to pass this issue in parliament.
Another benefit was that Pershing responded to Bernard Group's expansion requests in order to complete the equipment of his own US tank and mechanized divisions as quickly as possible.
Mechanical equipment, smelting equipment, high-power thermal power generators, etc. were shipped in shiploads from the United States, and the entire factory was almost moved here.
In fact, production capacity is not that tight.
Light equipment and helmets can basically be solved by factories in the United States.
The heavy equipment mainly consisted of tanks. Charles supplied the newly produced "Charler B1" to the French army and replaced the "Charler A1" with the US army.
The Charr beautifully said: "It is more difficult to coordinate with the 'Charr B1' tanks, and tank soldiers should start with the 'Charr A1' with a smaller crew."
In fact, the "Charter A1" for 2 people and the "Charter B1" for 4 people are two different things. There is no need to upgrade from 2 people to 4 people first.
The point is that this is how the French tank troops were "upgraded".
Originally, when there was only the "Char A1", all tank soldiers could only work in pairs.
When "Char B2" comes out:
The tank commander is still the tank commander, responsible for commanding the entire vehicle and the tank gun.
The driver is still the driver, responsible for driving and maintenance.
The additional personnel are the gunner and loader for the 75mm gun.
(In addition to loading the 75mm gun, the loader also has to hand over tank gun shells to the commander)
Therefore, upgrading from 2-person collaboration to 4-person collaboration is feasible, and the explanation is flawless.
Pershing believed this firmly, so the US 1st Armored Division was basically equipped with the "Charter A1", with only two "Charter B1" tanks that were broken down and could not be driven used for observation and simulation training.
…
Charles left the matter of US military training to Tijani.
According to Charles' plan, Tijani first took the American soldiers to the Nancy battlefield for observation for three days, during which time casualties occurred.
A stray bullet exploded near a U.S. military vehicle. Originally, nothing happened, but the driver nervously dodged and drove the car into a ditch, causing it to overturn and crush two soldiers to death.
When the US soldiers returned to the Bizangxi training base, the whole situation was different.
There was fear in each of their eyes, and their previous ambition to become a Ciel-like hero had completely disappeared, leaving nothing behind.
Their respect for Charles increased a little bit, and they discussed privately:
"I heard that General Charles personally went to the battlefield?"
"Yes, he led his troops in person during the Dardanelles campaign when he was just 18 years old."
"It's unbelievable. I just came of age and experienced such a scene? And I won?"
…
Pershing was satisfied with the soldiers' state. He secretly told Charles: "You know what? Before this, some soldiers threatened to surpass you, but now they are all honest!"
Charles burst out laughing. What a bunch of young men who grew up in a greenhouse, they don't know how high the sky is or how deep the earth is.
The war they imagine may just be a gang fight or a fight between brave men.
…
Charles was more discussing tactics with Pershing at the headquarters.
Pershing would come in almost every day with questions or things he didn't understand, and sometimes the two of them would play an offensive and defensive game on a map.
"I'm very interested in your flexible defense." Pershing stood in front of the map with a steaming cup of coffee. "Unfortunately, the Germans seem to have learned this tactic, so we have to think about how to deal with it."
This is a fact. This happened on the Nancy Line half a month ago.
The British army was surprised to find that they had torn through the German defense line and broke into the rear, but they were only two kilometers deep when they were surrounded by German armored forces in an open area.
After heavy casualties, the British attack became hesitant.
"This is very troublesome." Pershing frowned and looked at Charles: "Everyone is learning your tactics, Lieutenant General, which almost means that we have to deal with another you!"
Ciel shrugged. "The British don't think so."
Pershing laughed: "So they always fail."
Then he brought the topic back to tactics: "So, how should we deal with 'elastic defense'?"
"It's simple," Charles replied, "One step at a time."
"What?" Pershing didn't understand what this meant.
Ciel explained: "'Flexible defense' means they estimate the direction and position you can move to, and they set up an ambush there waiting for your arrival. So, do you have to get there as they wish?"
Pershing understood what Charles meant: "Can we advance in a limited way and stop before reaching the enemy's preset battlefield?"
Charles nodded. "Dig trenches, lay barbed wire and mines, and if possible, dig anti-tank trenches, so the ball will be passed to the enemy again."
"You are right." Pershing nodded in surprise and delight. "Then, the enemy's ambushed armored forces were caught in a dilemma, while our troops advanced a distance. Although it was not much, it was also a victory."
But Pershing immediately thought of its sequelae: "So, can the Germans also use this tactic to break our 'elastic defense'?"
Charles didn't know how to answer.
This has to start with the profound Chinese culture. There is never a fixed routine on the battlefield.
"False and real, real and real, false and real", in actual combat, can you know which area is the real ambush site?
Maybe taking a step forward will be a trap!
(End of this chapter)
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