The newly formed mechanized force formed by Okamura Neiji is still two brigades.

Because Okamura Neiji believes that mechanized troops should not be numerous but should be refined... There is indeed no problem with this understanding. Mechanized troops pay more attention to speed and coordination. Sometimes too many troops will affect the speed of maneuver and miss opportunities.

The person commanding the mechanized troops was a lieutenant colonel named Shibu Yata. He was neither a foreigner nor transferred from Tokyo, but a commander who had previously served in the North China Front and fought against the Eighth Route Army for many years and was known as a "guerilla warfare expert."

Okamura Neiji believed that this time he needed a commander who understood the Eighth Route Army's fighting methods.

Because Hans's adviser knew about the "Blitzkrieg" tactics but not the Eighth Route Army, while Yata knew about the Eighth Route Army but not the "Blitzkrieg"... they could exchange knowledge and form a perfect combination.

As expected, Lieutenant Colonel Yata lived up to his expectations. While training mechanized troops with Hans' advisor Captain Noel, he worked hard to learn "blitzkrieg" tactics.

Just like this, even at three o'clock in the night, he was still discussing tactics with his advisers.

But Lieutenant Colonel Yata had some doubts about this tactic.

"Captain!" Lieutenant Colonel Yata said: "From the knowledge I have learned, the tactics of 'blitzkrieg' should be more suitable for operations in wide and deep areas. Are you right?"

Captain Noel nodded and said: "It can be said that the reason is that the 'blitzkrieg' mainly relies on speed to win, and the wider and deep areas are more suitable for mechanized troops. On the contrary, areas with complex terrain will pose a threat to mechanized troops."

There are many restrictions, but this does not mean that 'blitzkrieg' cannot work. For example, we can use special forces or airborne troops to launch raids to occupy important areas and clear obstacles for mechanized troops!"

"But..." Lieutenant Colonel Yata pointed to the map and said: "Is the depth of Yuncheng suitable for implementing a 'blitzkrieg'? It is a narrow passage sandwiched between Zhongtiao Mountain and Luliang Mountain. The narrowest area from north to south is only ten meters wide.

A few kilometers away. The reason why the last raid was almost successful is probably because the enemy was unprepared!"

"No, no!" Captain Noel retorted: "Mr. Lieutenant Colonel, you have to understand that the speed advantage is relative. If you take your mechanized troops, I mean the mechanized troops with Type 95 tanks as the main force, then compared to Mao Zedong

Xiong's troops have no advantage at all. Because the speed of Mao Xiong's infantry may even catch up with your mechanized troops and easily annihilate them. But the Eighth Route Army... I don't think the Eighth Route Army has such speed, so..."

Lieutenant Colonel Yata nodded in agreement.

There is nothing wrong with Noel's statement. The Empire's mechanized troops are tanks, with their shoulders facing the two legs of the Eighth Route Army, coupled with air suppression... So even if the area is not large, they can still take advantage of the speed of the mechanized troops.

.

However, Lieutenant Colonel Yata was a little worried.

Are the Eighth Route Army fools?

They're not going to form a quick reaction force?

Or simply form a mechanized force?

Once the Eighth Route Army formed a mechanized force, the imperial army would have no speed at all. In this narrow passage, there would be no room for the mechanized force to perform.

At this moment, the staff officer suddenly came forward with a telegram and said: "Your Excellency, Lieutenant Colonel, the Eighth Route Army has launched an attack. Your Excellency, General, asked us to prepare for battle!"

"What?" Lieutenant Colonel Yata looked at the staff member in confusion.

The reason why Yata was confused was, on the one hand, that the Eighth Route Army would actually attack at this time? Shouldn't they be defending Yuncheng or trying every means to hold the line of defense?

On the other hand, Yata was wondering why the Eighth Route Army's offensive would require their mechanized force, which had not yet completed training, to be ready for combat?

Your Excellency, General...do you want to use actual combat to temper the mechanized troops?

Doesn't he know that sending troops to the battlefield before they have formed combat effectiveness may lead to unnecessary losses?!

Then the staff officer explained Yata's doubts.

"It is said that the mechanized troops of the Eighth Route Army were discovered!" the staff officer said.

Yata said "Oh" and suddenly realized.

Dealing with mechanized troops does require interception by mechanized troops. If there is any better way... Yata looked at the dark sky outside the window. There were still a few hours before dawn, and fighter planes could not intercept them at all. Therefore, once the defense line

If the enemy breaks through, we can only rely on mechanized troops.

At the same time, Lieutenant Colonel Yata said with concern: "The Eighth Route Army has indeed formed a mechanized force! It seems that it will be much more difficult for us to implement a 'blitzkrieg' against the enemy again!"

But soon after, Lieutenant Colonel Yata felt relieved.

Because of the news coming from the front line, it was detected that the mechanized troops of the Eighth Route Army were also composed of sidecar motorcycles. They did have tanks, but only a pitiful ten T26s.

"These fools!" Lieutenant Colonel Yata couldn't help laughing when he heard this: "They actually followed our example and formed a mechanized force!"

Captain Noel was a little strange. He asked: "Your Excellency, Lieutenant Colonel, you were worried about the mechanized troops of the Eighth Route Army just now. What are you doing now..."

"Your Majesty Captain!" Lieutenant Colonel Hata explained: "This is because you don't know much about the Eighth Route Army. During the battle with the Eighth Route Army, we have detailed records of how much equipment we lost, including sidecar motorcycles. Therefore, we can accurately

It is estimated that the Eighth Route Army has about 300 sidecar motorcycles. If maintenance problems are not taken into account, there are probably only about 200 motorcycles. The mechanized force currently dispatched by the Eighth Route Army has a size of about 1,000 people.

illustrate……"

Captain Noel said "Oh": "This means that the Eighth Route Army used all the sidecar motorcycles to form the only mechanized force, and they used this mechanized force to attack our army this time?"

If this is the case, the imperial army only needs to annihilate this mechanized force of the Eighth Route Army, and there is no need to worry about other problems.

Lieutenant Colonel Yata even felt that this was a great gift given to him by the Eighth Route Army, which freed him from worries.

However, Captain Noel was a little worried. He said: "Why did the Eighth Route Army do this? What is their purpose?"

Lieutenant Colonel Yata thought for a while, then pointed to the map and replied: "They probably couldn't bear the 'blitzkrieg' we launched against the hinterland of Yuncheng, so... they hope to use the same method to attack instead of defend, or to sneak attack on our army.

Ammunition depots and military supplies to reduce the pressure on Yuncheng’s defense line!”
Chapter completed!