pappabearbooks Chapter 69 Heavy Howitzer Bombardment Causes City Walls to Collapse
Chapter 69 Heavy Howitzer Bombardment Causes City Walls to Collapse
He did not focus his main attack on Yuhuatai, but rather on the city wall between Shuixi Gate and Zhonghua Gate.
Attacking from that position would make it difficult to cover the firing positions on Yuhuatai.
The Japanese army originally intended to capture Yuhuatai so that it would be easier to attack Zhonghuamen.
Now Tani Hisao has figured it out.
Although the 114th Division was slightly weaker in combat, the 6th Division wasn't much stronger.
Rather than fighting to the death with those bloodthirsty Nationalist soldiers on Yuhuatai, it's better to back down and let yourself go.
Instead of attacking Yuhuatai, they took a detour and attacked the section of the city wall between Shuiximen and Zhonghuamen.
To realize this plan, Tani Hisao mobilized two 240mm caliber super-heavy howitzers overnight last night.
Their domestic troops don't have many of these heavy howitzers because they are very troublesome to transport and even more troublesome to use.
First, transportation requires the use of specialized tractor-trailers.
For long-distance marches, the equipment needs to be disassembled before it can be transported; the only way to transport the complete equipment is by rail.
Even after the equipment was assembled at the site, its usability became a problem.
The shells could not be loaded manually because no one could lift a 240mm shell.
Therefore, a special crane is needed for hoisting to complete the shell loading. As a result, compared with the 150mm howitzers that were more commonly used by the Japanese army, this heavy howitzer had an extremely slow rate of fire.
At that moment, the two 240mm caliber super-heavy howitzers were having shells hoisted onto them not far away.
Looking at the two super-heavy howitzers, Tani Hisao smiled and said to his chief of staff, Shimono Ichigo, who was standing beside him:
"Just watch, as long as we blast a large enough breach in the city wall and rush into Nanjing, the enemy, having lost their terrain advantage, will find it difficult to maintain their advantage on the front."
Moreover, our air force has already taken off and dropped a large number of incendiary bombs into the city, disrupting the interior of Nanjing.
Shimono Kazuhiro's lips curled into a cold smile:
"Commander, according to our latest intelligence, the enemy in Nanjing is basically retreating and heading towards Xiaguan Wharf."
According to reconnaissance aircraft at dawn, a large number of soldiers and civilians were reportedly stuck in the direction of Yijiang Gate.
Tani Hisao raised an eyebrow and said:
"Hehehe, that's a great gift for the air force."
As he was speaking, a loud bang suddenly rang out.
"boom!!!!!"
That was the sound of a 240mm caliber super-heavy howitzer firing.
"Boom!!!!!"
The moment the shells landed, they caused a deafening roar, and the city walls of Nanjing, which had stood for hundreds of years amidst the turmoil, collapsed in the explosion.
Tani Hisao chuckled and said:
"A perfect shot, no calibration needed. It seems luck is on our side. Nanjing is already in our grasp."
Shimono Kazuki leaned closer and asked:
"After taking Nanjing, will military discipline be lifted? You should know that the soldiers have been fighting continuously and are under a lot of tension. They need some time to relax."
Tani Hisao smiled slightly and said:
"You're right. I think the 114th Division might issue the order sooner, after all, Shigeharu Suematsu's troops paid a heavy price at Yuhuatai."
As the two were talking, another shell flew out; it was another 240mm super-heavy howitzer firing.
The bombardment lasted for 30 minutes, but the two super-heavy howitzers only fired 60 shells.
These 60 cannonballs blasted a huge gap more than 300 meters wide in the city wall, demonstrating the terrifying power of this giant cannon.
In the direction of Yijiang Gate, Tang Shengzhi's retreat order was originally for the 14th, but by the afternoon of the 13th, a large number of troops and refugees had already poured in.
Song Xilian led his soldiers to guard Yijiang Gate, his gaze icy cold.
His orders were that he could not open the city gates to let people in unless there was an order from the garrison command.
Therefore, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians have crowded here, and shouts, curses, and the cries of babies can be heard everywhere.
Song Xilian was also very anxious, but military orders were absolute. If he released the people now, it would be tantamount to abandoning the defense of Nanjing.
The garrison command notified so many people, but forgot to inform Song Xilian to open the Yijiang Gate.
As for Tang Shengzhi, he had already taken a small steamer to the north bank, and to prevent being targeted by the Japanese army, he even turned off his radio.
Just then, the buzzing sound of fighter jets suddenly came.
In the distance, Japanese air force units launched another sortie, rushing towards Yijiang Gate.
Seeing the Japanese warplanes approaching, Song Xilian finally made up his mind and said:
"Open the city gates and let the civilians pass through. No soldier is allowed to cross the gates, or we will open fire!!!"
"At the same time, organize troops to fire at the enemy aircraft; Japanese warplanes are about to arrive!"
"yes!!!"
But as soon as the order was given, the moment the city gates opened, the army, mixed with the civilians, surged wildly towards the Xiaguan Wharf.
The soldiers tried to stop them, but found it impossible. The number of people was hundreds of thousands, and there was no end to it. How could a few hundred soldiers here possibly stop them?
Even when people opened fire, it still couldn't stop the panicked crowd.
Just then, a whooshing sound came.
Japanese bomber formations begin their dive bombing run!
"Boom!!!!!"
High-explosive and incendiary bombs fell to the ground, accompanied by the roar of Japanese machine guns.
The moment these aerial bombs exploded, blood and flesh splattered everywhere. Around the huge craters, one could see broken human limbs and countless corpses charred by the intense heat.
The incendiary bombs spread like a flood, exploding upon impact and engulfing hundreds of soldiers and civilians in the surrounding area.
The elderly, children, women, and youth screamed in agony amidst the flames and explosions.
The machine guns roared, firing densely at the crowd.
After the bullets passed, limbs were severed, blood splattered, corpses lay everywhere, and rivers of blood flowed.
In fact, the Japanese bombing was not limited to Yijiang Gate.
Along the Yangtze River, at the Xiaguan Wharf, a large number of Japanese warplanes bombed and strafed the civilians and soldiers who had gathered there.
The massacre has begun!!!
Just as Japanese warplanes were wreaking havoc, a sudden burst of gunfire rang out.
"Hiss hiss hiss!!!!"
On the rooftop, a large number of MG42s were converted into anti-aircraft machine guns and began strafing the Japanese aircraft that were diving to bomb.
Although these machine guns can only be used to strafe targets flying at relatively low altitudes, that is sufficient.
After all, Japanese warplanes would also lower their flight altitude to ensure bombing accuracy.
"boom!!!!"
Soon, Japanese warplanes were shot down, crashing into the river not far away and exploding with a loud bang.