In the nearly five-kilometer-wide valley, the roar of the engine and the sound of tracks merged together. This armored unit was driving on the road, raising a cloud of dust.
Perhaps because of their confidence, they didn't even send out scouts and just marched in so brazenly.
As the US tank troops got closer and closer, Zhao Jie's brows were furrowed.
He found that the marching column of American tanks was much longer than he had imagined. The distance between the front and rear tanks was at least ten meters, and the two leading tanks maintained a distance of almost two hundred meters from the rear. In other words, the American column was about one kilometer long.
If it were a plain, such a column would not be a big deal, but problems arise in the mountains. The front car appears, but no one knows where the latter is.
Faced with this formation, Zhao Jie and his comrades who were hiding in the bushes frowned.
Where should I start now?
Is it beheading, belly punching, or tail cutting?
While they were hesitating, American tanks drove past them one after another. When the leading American tank approached the end of their ambush position, there were still five tanks and cars that had not appeared from the other end.
"Captain?"
Listening to the driver's shout, Zhao Jie's brows were furrowed.
If they continued to attack the middle section of the US column as planned, they would most likely be attacked by US tanks from both ends. Such a result would be absolutely disastrous, as the side armor of the tanks would be absolutely vulnerable to artillery fire!
"Damn, if only there were radios on tanks!"
Although we are aware of this problem, the more serious thing is that the battle plan has been deployed, and now... even if we use light signals to contact them, we can't get through.
“That’s the only way!”
Zhao Jie decided to take action in advance. When he made up his mind, he could only pray secretly that the US military would not react too quickly after being suddenly attacked, otherwise they would have to fight a tough battle.
After making a decision in his heart, he lowered his head and said to his driver:
"I will aim at the first car and rush out. You rush to the front line at full speed! Do you understand?"
"Captain, our original plan..."
"The plan is the plan, and this is the only thing we can do now!"
As he said this, Zhao Jie pulled out a 37mm armor-piercing bullet, loaded it into the barrel, and then he prayed.
"You must hit it."
Then he leaned over to the gunner's sight and began to aim precisely.
The Type 18 tank turret has only one crew member. The commander is both the commander, the gunner and the loader. He shakes the turret rotation handle. With a slight metal friction sound from the turret seat, the tank turret slowly rotates as the target moves. The small 37mm gun points at the target, pressing the American tank onto the crosshairs of the sight.
Zhao Jie pursed his lips nervously, then shouted loudly:
"launch!"
The moment the words came out, he pulled the firing rod of the cannon with his right hand, and the roar of the cannon came to his ears immediately. The bright muzzle flame immediately tore through the darkness of the forest, and the shock wave of the muzzle blew away the branches and grass hiding in front of the tank. The tank started up and rushed out with a "boom".
At the same time, a crisp sound like the sound of a bell rang out in the valley, and a cloud of black smoke suddenly emerged from the interior of the leading American tank.
“Hit!”
The machine gunner at the front of the vehicle shouted excitedly, but Zhao Jie had no time to celebrate. He shouted anxiously to the driver:
"Target car No. 2, car No. 2..."
As he shouted, he stood up and yelled at the tank company that had not yet reacted.
"All crews, leave here immediately and charge at full speed. Each vehicle chooses its own target and fires freely. Pay attention to the formation... Attack the vehicle in front, attack the vehicle in front..."
Although there was no radio, Zhao Jie's shouting was still heard, and the tank commanders realized the change in tactics from the target chosen by the company commander. Amid the harsh sound of engine startup, the tank group drove towards the front of the convoy that was fueling and smoking.
As the four tanks rushed forward without hesitation, Zhao Jie breathed a sigh of relief, raised his right hand, and then waved it forward vigorously, shouting loudly:
"Armored troops! Forward!"
It doesn’t matter whether anyone heard it or not, what matters is that the armored forces attacked!
Amid the dull roar of the engines, the armored company led by Zhao Jie formed a wedge formation and began the attack. The tankers rushed towards the group of US tanks 500 meters away with a nonchalant attitude.
During the assault, the six tanks stopped briefly, fired, and then started again. In just one encounter, they destroyed three American tanks.
After rushing out of the woods, Zhao Jie found that the situation was not as bad as he had imagined. Although the plan was temporarily adjusted and there was no unified command, his company still performed very well.
After all, his tank commanders were all experienced veterans. After discovering the plan had been adjusted, they did not panic. Long-term training had already given them a certain tacit understanding. The six tanks were divided into three small formations and cooperated with each other. Following the instructions of the company commander, starting from the front vehicle of the team, they turned one American tank after another into scrap metal.
In fact, the lack of radio not only limited the communication between the Imperial tanks, but also limited the US military. Faced with the sudden attack, the US tank commanders did not know how to respond at all. They just instinctively searched for the enemy and tried to block the enemy's attack. But they were facing a formation of two tanks in a group, and they were lined up in a long snake formation. In the face of such an attack, they could only passively fight.
As the U.S. tanks rushed towards the enemy and fired, the battle had already reached a fever pitch. On the dirt road and the fields beside the road, the sound of cannons and gunfire filled the air. The tanks stopped briefly and continued to fire at the enemy.
Despite the surprise attack, the Americans did not give up resistance. The American tankers drove their tanks towards the nearest enemy.
For a while, the battlefield was filled with the sound of artillery fire, and American tanks continued to attack the Ming army with artillery fire. The whistling shells continued to explode near the tanks, creating clouds of black smoke, and sometimes the shells even hit the tanks.
With a "bang" accompanied by the sound of metal collision, the shells were either bounced off or penetrated the tank's armor.
But within just a few minutes, ten US tanks were turned into scrap metal and engulfed in flames and thick smoke.
In the flames, the tanks' ammunition detonated. In the violent explosion, the turrets were blown directly into the sky. It was as if those tanks were taking off their hats to salute the Ming army's tanks.
As the distance between them closed, the battle became more direct. The battle between tanks was like the charge of heavy cavalry in ancient times. They rushed directly at each other and fired at each other at a distance of one or two hundred meters. Tank shells dragged red tracers and flew between tanks. Accompanied by loud "bells", the tanks of both sides were hit one after another...
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