Chapter 857: The Universe is Burning (IV)
Soldiers belonging to the Marine Corps will conduct airborne operations to the target location at an altitude of tens of thousands of meters.
The specially made wing suits have jet function, which allows them to descend rapidly at a speed much faster than free fall, and because the target is small, the probability of being hit by anti-aircraft fire is greatly reduced - even if they are hit, only a few people will die, which is much less than the loss of a large transport ship with a multi-layer honeycomb structure and thousands of people densely stacked, but being killed by a single shot.
The Marine Corps has been researching orbital airborne troops for some time, and a series of technologies should be relatively mature. These airborne divisions have also conducted tactical exercises in safe places, and even conducted actual combat on some battlefields.
However, those actual combats were basically based on areas that were no longer important for victory and were more experimental in nature.
But at the moment, they are shouldering the important task of supporting ground combat.
During the breakthrough phase, they performed very well, even amazingly.
The transport planes carrying the paratroopers were eventually destroyed. However, before they were destroyed, most of the well-trained paratroopers had already jumped out.
The wing suits they wore also played a role without disappointment. During the airborne process, the number of soldiers killed was generally small.
Judging from the ratio of casualties, it is almost the same as that of the airborne capsule.
But the airdrop capsule is expensive, and only a few people can fit in it. How can it be as "cheap" as a direct airdrop?
It's just one life.
However, the biggest risk of direct airborne landing lies in the landing stage.
Falling at a speed faster than a free fall is a big challenge for the human body. And the part of decelerating after landing is also very dangerous. They will pull out the parachute at a certain height and decelerate suddenly. At the same time, the wing suit will also play its final role as a disposable equipment. The nozzle on the front of the suit releases energy to help the soldier detach the suit before landing and reduce to a safe speed.
The so-called safe speed is such that a normal person would fall to death. At this time, the exoskeleton structure under the wing suit will provide the soldier with the final protection. When the soldier's legs land on the ground, the exoskeleton will absorb most of the kinetic energy, protecting the soldier from injury and allowing him to fight as soon as possible.
Of course, all of this is based on ideal conditions. Even in exercises with perfect conditions, people fall to their deaths from time to time, not to mention in actual combat where the terrain conditions are much more complex and the pressure is much greater.
This is the first risk point.
The second biggest risk point is that their speed will slow down when they are close to landing.
At this time, they become targets.
Especially in the current battle situation, the greenskins' anti-aircraft firepower has not been completely eliminated. Even the location where the paratroopers landed, although roughly at the drop zone established by the elite Space Marines and Glory Guards in front, the battle situation on the ground was so fierce that the drop zone could not guarantee safety.
This resulted in the greenskins' anti-aircraft firepower, and even an ordinary orc boy could hit a soldier who was about to fall to the ground by raising his gun.
Although the paratroopers could also fire back in mid-air with guns at this time, if they were to engage in a shootout, the paratroopers, who had no cover and had to control their landing, would obviously be the ones who would suffer the most.
The third major risk point comes from the fact that the landing point accuracy of direct individual orbital airdrop cannot be particularly high. After the paratroopers land, they are scattered and disorganized, and the integrity of the organization cannot be ensured.
If we were in a safe airdrop zone, even if the enemy was at close range, it would be much better if we just gave them some time, so that the well-trained soldiers would have space to regroup and then engage in battle.
But right now, there is no such opportunity.
Even if they manage to land successfully, there may be enemies within range.
They had to pick up their guns and fight on the spot, or at most form a temporary combat team with friendly units that fell nearby.
This also leads to the fourth risk point - the airborne troops lack heavy equipment.
Although there are some light armored vehicles and light tanks that have been specially modified for airborne operations and dropped to support armored firepower, and there are also some sentinel mechas, there is definitely a huge difference compared to the heavy tanks and cannons of the conventional army, and even the Titans.
This will put them under particularly great pressure if they are forced to face a very brutal battle after landing.
In general, the paratroopers encountered many unfavorable factors during this airborne operation.
This resulted in them suffering extremely heavy casualties.
From an objective point of view, this was not a successful airborne operation.
There are still some experimental troops, and it is more or less irresponsible to throw them into such a brutal war.
However, only through the real baptism of war can a strong enough army be forged.
After this battle, the lessons learned with blood will surely help this orbital airborne force to further evolve.
What's more, if we really want to talk about the objective significance, we have to talk about it comprehensively.
Regardless of the heavy casualties of the troops that landed, at least more than a dozen airborne divisions, with a total of more than 300,000 soldiers, carried out the airborne mission, and nearly 200,000 people landed and participated in the battle. Even though some of them were disorganized after landing, and some got into trouble and were quickly eliminated, they did achieve Gu Hang's strategic goal: to quickly replenish the ground forces.
The Phoenix that went down earlier, as well as many other Space Marines and the elites of the Glory Guard, would not sit idly by and watch their friendly forces suffer a heavy blow.
As the front-line combat commander, Wang Jun took prompt action to rescue and assemble these paratrooper troops.
Afterwards, they split into two, with one group continuing to defend the drop zone to provide a safest possible drop environment for the second and third waves of airborne capsules and orbital paratroopers that would arrive later.
Wang Jun personally led the liberated elite troops, as well as a small number of airborne sentinel mechas, infantry fighting vehicles, and light tanks, to attack his original mission target.
After sacrificing the lives of 67 Space Marines, 792 Honor Guards, and 20,000 paratroopers, they destroyed their mission target in three hours.
When the green earth shield disappeared, human forces had already begun to evacuate.
The headquarters only gave them eighteen minutes to evacuate.
When the time is up, the orbital firepower pours down.
The most important anti-orbital air defense fortress group of the green orcs in the area was reduced to ruins by two X-class cannons and countless L-class and M-class naval guns.
Along with them, there were also some paratroopers who were originally responsible for blocking the orc reinforcements when the main force attacked, but were entangled and had no time to evacuate. A total of three airborne corps also disappeared.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
