bullyxtreme Chapter 271: The Air Force's Long-Range Strategic Mobile Deployment Capabilities
Chapter 271: The Air Force's Long-Range Strategic Mobile Deployment Capabilities
Zhang Bin, Chief of the Operations Department of the General Staff, began to give Jiang Hua a detailed introduction to the current situation in Shan State.
Since the ancient country deployed the 8th Air Defense Brigade in Shan State, although the Long Family Army did not gain air superiority, it has almost never been attacked from the air.
John's colonial army in Shan State was no match for the Long family army, so they were defeated one after another.
Finally, they were driven back to Dagon, the capital of southern Shan State.
Tens of thousands of John's colonial troops have held out until now relying on river defense and superior numbers of artillery.
The John Empire dispatched troops from all over the world and arrived in Dagon one after another.
The situation itself is somewhat unfavorable for the Long family army.
After all, it is the world's top power. Even if this power is weak, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse.
What's more, John's army only seemed weak in front of the previous Restoration Army.
So when the elite troops of John's Empire arrived one after another, they had already begun to stabilize their defenses, and a protracted war of attrition seemed inevitable.
It was precisely because of this that the Long family father and son began to get anxious.
Elite troops were continuously drawn from the border defense lines of Shan State and White Elephant to participate in the attack on Dagon.
Up to now, more than 5 troops have gathered in the area around Dagon and are constantly launching attacks, resulting in heavy casualties.
At this time, Major General Bernard Montgomery, commander of the 7th Armored Division of the Royal Army of John, found an opportunity.
So he requested support from the command for an airborne force.
This airborne force was a new type of force formed after John witnessed the power of the previous Renaissance Army airborne force.
So this airborne force was carried by many transport planes and landed behind the border defense line, catching the Long family army off guard.
At the same time, Montgomery also commanded the 7th Armored Division to launch a surprise attack.
The border defense line was directly breached, and tens of thousands of John's troops began to pour in from the border defense line.
Montgomery himself led the 7th Armored Division to advance rapidly towards the Dagon area.
Another part of the army launched an attack to the north, intending to recapture the northern part of Shan State, cut off the connection between the ancient country and the Long family army, and cut off the source of equipment and supplies.
This crisis poses a risk of destruction to the Long family army.
Long Zhenjiang, deputy commander-in-chief of the Long Family Army, was already on his way to Beijing by plane.
The purpose is naturally to seek help.
Jiang Hua frowned after hearing the detailed report.
It seems that the Long family army is not that reliable.
With such good equipment, they helped them resolve the threat from the air, but the battle ended up being what it is now.
But this mess must be cleaned up, and Shan State must be taken over!
"Does your General Staff have any contingency plans?"
Jiang Hua looked at Ling Liang with a solemn expression and asked.
Ling Liang said calmly, "Sending ground troops directly to reinforce will turn it into a colonial war between the Ancient Kingdom and the John Empire, which is not in line with our strategic development plan.
Although ground troops cannot be dispatched directly, air troops and long-range artillery units can be dispatched.
The pilots of the Long Family Army have completed preliminary training in Kunjiang Province.
Although these pilots are rookies, they have the advantage of equipment.
As long as we can gain air superiority, the situation will change immediately.
At this time, send out aviation troops and long-range artillery to attack their reinforcements.
It can help them change the situation without being caught openly.”
Ling Liang's plan is consistent with Jiang Hua's idea.
Now that the ancient country has just stabilized, if a direct conflict breaks out with the John Empire, it will disrupt the situation of peaceful development.
So this method is already the best.
"Then do as you say. We must be quick. Delay will lead to problems!"
The 1st Combined Artillery Brigade of the st Army of the Northern Military Region received an order from the General Staff and immediately took a transport plane to Mandera in northern Shan State.
The 1st Army Aviation Brigade of the st Army also received the order.
The combined artillery brigade is an attempt by the General Staff.
With the upgrade of equipment, the division-level artillery units have become too bloated for the army, which relies on mobility as its main combat method.
Therefore, the General Staff reduced the Army Artillery Division and directly reduced it to a brigade-level unit.
The combined artillery brigade consists of two howitzer battalions, two self-propelled artillery battalions, and two self-propelled rocket artillery battalions, totaling six artillery battalions.
The howitzer battalion is equipped with 18 M114A1 155mm howitzers.
The self-propelled artillery battalion is equipped with 18 M109A1 155mm self-propelled howitzers.
The self-propelled rocket launcher battalion is equipped with 24 122mm wheeled self-propelled rocket launchers.
The brigade is equipped with a total of 72 155mm howitzers and 48 wheeled self-propelled rocket launchers.
The Army's current use of the M114A1 towed howitzer is also a helpless move.
Because there was no more mobile artillery to replace it.
Daqin Heavy Industry Group has started independent research and development of a series of projects including vehicle-mounted howitzers, wheeled self-propelled artillery, high-caliber howitzers, and lightweight 155mm howitzers.
These projects are also designed to meet the future needs of the Army.
However, it may take some time to see results.
Therefore, the current mixed equipment of the combined artillery brigade is just a transition.
After receiving the order, the entire combined artillery brigade's battalions maneuvered and assembled to the nearest military airport as quickly as possible.
When they arrived at the airport, there were already transport planes waiting for the arrival of the artillery unit.
Among the combined artillery brigades, the largest tonnage is undoubtedly the M109A2 self-propelled howitzer.
This self-propelled howitzer directly replaced the previous three types of self-propelled artillery.
The 105mm caliber artillery has begun to gradually retreat to the second line.
155mm will become the unified artillery caliber of the ancient country's army.
M109A2型155毫米自行榴弹炮重量27吨多，装备了一门39倍径的M185榴弹炮，最大射程23.7公里。
To transport this giant, the Air Force can only use the C-141 jet strategic transport aircraft, the latest in service, for long-distance deployment. Of course, the C-141 high-definition picture can also be used for long-distance mobile deployment using the An-22 turboprop strategic transport aircraft.
The maximum take-off weight of this thing reaches 250 tons, which is 141 tons greater than the C-150 'Transport Star''s maximum take-off weight of 100 tons.
Therefore, these two types of transport aircraft currently constitute the strategic transport aircraft fleet currently in service in the Cuban Air Force.
As for the original C-124 strategic transport aircraft, it began to retreat to the second line and was sealed.
The C-141 strategic jet transport aircraft is a jet transport aircraft designed specifically for cargo transportation. It is also the first strategic transport aircraft to use a turbofan engine.
The maximum take-off weight is 155 tons, the maximum speed is 912 kilometers per hour, the maximum range is kilometers, and the payload is 32 tons.
Given the size of the C-141 strategic transport aircraft, it may not be able to fit the Army's latest T-62 tank, but it is more than enough to fit an M109 self-propelled howitzer.
This long-distance mobile deployment spanning more than 2,000 kilometers is also a test for the Air Force transport aircraft unit.
The high-standard large military airport built in Mandela years ago welcomed a group of large C-141 strategic transport aircraft.
When these huge machines stopped, one artillery piece after another was dragged out of the cargo hold.
The landing of the C-141 strategic transport aircraft did not attract any attention from the outside world.
Because the entire airport is guarded by the ancient country’s army, not the Long family army.
This military airport was also built specifically for the ancient country's air force, and not for the Long family army's own use.
Mandera will also become an overseas air force base for the Kuwaiti Air Force in Shan State.
To put it bluntly, it is actually a garrison.
The 1st Combined Artillery Brigade has a large number of artillery pieces, ammunition trucks, fuel supply trucks, command vehicles, communication vehicles, support and maintenance vehicles, etc.
At this time, the ancient country's terrifying long-range strategic air transport capabilities were demonstrated.
The entire combined artillery brigade completed the entire transportation of more than 100 artillery pieces and hundreds of vehicles of various types in just one day and one night.
At this time, the 1st Army Aviation Brigade, after several transfers, also arrived at the Mandela helicopter base.
At the same time, the First Aviation Brigade of the Long Family Army Air Force, which departed from Kunjiang Province, also arrived at another military airport in Mandela one after another.
Since the airport of this aviation brigade is located in Mandera, it is also called Mandera Aviation Brigade.
At this time, the 4th Motorized Infantry Division of John's 9th Far East Army had also approached Mandela's outer defense line.
In Mandela's front-line command center, a general wearing the uniform of a lieutenant general of the ancient army walked in with a group of officers.
"I'm Tian Hua, commander of the 8th Group Army of the Southwest Military Region of the Ancient Army. I'm responsible for taking over the front-line command. Commander-in-Chief Long should have already informed you."
"You are finally here. Now the command of the entire Mandela Front is handed over to you."
Things are not going well on the Mandela front either.
The entire Mandela had only two brigades with more than 10,000 troops.
John's army, which was coming with great momentum, had two infantry divisions with more than 20,000 people, followed by several White Elephant Infantry Divisions, totaling 50,000 to 60,000 people, and their morale was high.
The morale of the two infantry brigades on Mandela's side was low, and even desertions had begun to appear.
Fortunately, some of the grassroots officers were Red Alert soldiers, so there was no organized escape.
The situation is indeed very unfavorable for them.
"The reconnaissance intelligence from the Air Force has arrived."
After taking over the Mandela front-line command center, Tian Hua immediately got down to work.
Based on the intelligence from aerial reconnaissance, John's Fourth Army's marching route, military deployment, etc. were clearly presented to him.
"John's men are really fast. The vanguard has already appeared on the other side of the Irrawaddy River."
The Irrawaddy River flows through Mandela and is the largest river in Shan State. It serves as a water transport and trade hub connecting the two countries.
A lot of combat supplies were transported to Mandela via the Irrawaddy River and then to the front line.
So Mandela was also the primary target of John's Fourth Army.
"Commander, the Combined Artillery Brigade, the Aviation Brigade, and the Mandela Aviation Brigade have all been deployed."
Tian Hua nodded and began to give orders.
"Order the 17th and 19th Brigades to continue reinforcing the defense line.
The Mandela Aviation Brigade immediately took off to defend the Mandela sky.
The 1st Combined Artillery Brigade launched artillery fire on John's troops across the river, preventing them from continuing their advance."
What he has to do now is to stabilize the defense first and then wait for an opportunity to counterattack.