184 – David and Goliath (3) – Sherkiv Campaign
Ziporia territory, eastern part of the Kingdom of Uk ran.
The headquarters of the 6th Division.
“So…… Enemy troops the size of one corps have already crossed the border and collided with the 2nd Regiment.”
The division commander, Major General Kinbel Rezantsev, said in a serious voice. I thought it would be about 2 divisions at most, but I never thought they would deploy a corps-level unit from the first wave.
“According to communications from the front, yes.”
“If there were more than that, it would have been more, but not less. How much damage have you heard so far?”
“It is impossible to grasp the exact situation of the battle yet, but the defense line of the 932nd Battalion of the 2nd Regiment still appears to be intact.”
The 932nd Battalion is where Sergeant Rick Hanson is. Kinbel Rezanchev first brushed the chest he was holding.
“I told the 932nd battalion commander that it was okay to retreat to the 2nd trench line. To maintain command autonomy as much as possible.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The division commander calmly gave the order. It would not be strange for a general experiencing the battlefield for the first time to fall into a panic.
For Major General Kinbel Rezantsev, who had participated in the previous two Quernen Wars, nothing was much different.
It’s just that the bloody barbarians of the Azov Islands have turned into the Soviet Empire and the separatists who cling to and betray it.
This is the reason why General Geor Wasilovsky, the current infantry commander and former commander of the Southern Corps, assigned Major General Kinbell as the division commander of the 6th Division to defend the Far East.
Because a commander with abundant combat experience was the key to determining victory or defeat on the battlefield.
“Everyone must have put the operational goals distributed by the War Ministry into their heads, right?”
“Yes!!”
The staff under his command responded in a booming voice.
“No more, no less, just the level to achieve the goal of the operation is enough. Because it is most important not to forcefully break through, but not to retreat lethargicly.”
He recalled the contents of the documents that Brigadier General Enoch Levandel, head of the War Planning Department, met separately and delivered.
It is not simply an official document sent to the division directly under the Ministry of War, but an operational plan established exclusively for the 6th division by the head of the War Planning Department.
In Kinbel Rezantsev’s mind, the memory of a quiet restaurant in Kayev, the capital city, came to mind.
-Unfortunately, Uk ran is the only country in the entire continent that has experienced a battle called ‘trench warfare’.
-That’s right. How common was war until now?
-No matter how much they studied trench warfare, their tactical understanding is overwhelmingly less than ours.
Enoch Levandel continues his speech by tapping his fingers on his table.
-I can assure you that they will push in from 100% first with overwhelming quantities.
Human sea tactics.
The Kingdom of Uk ran has been growing its army ever since King Orlando I ascended the throne, but the population gap between the Empire and a country that was only a principality a few years ago is overwhelmingly widening.
Didn’t someone say that?
The great army doesn’t need strategy.
Also, Azov was a master of such tactics.
After temporarily gaining numerical superiority over the target area by pushing well-organized personnel in one fell swoop.
It was because he used a strategy that severely limited the choices of his allies by continuing sporadic guerrilla warfare and horrific levels of looting.
If you think about the fact that the Azov National Liberation Front has already attacked with the instigation of the Soviet Empire.
In the end, Azov’s tactics at that time are irrelevant if you consider them to be the tactics of the Soviet Empire.
-However, the man-in-the-middle tactic works only when the firepower of the defending side is relatively weak.
The response proposed by Enoch Levandel was an overwhelming superiority in firepower utilizing strong artillery firepower and solidly built defensive positions.
The 6th Division’s artillery unit possessed firepower equivalent to that of an artillery brigade in effect.
A total of three armored trains, the Blitz Kavka.
After the Grizzly 57mm Howitzer, the regular artillery of the Uk ranian Army.
There were also 8 305mm siege mortars that overwhelm other guns by caliber alone.
The monstrous 305mm siege mortar, popularly known as ‘Perun’, was conceived solely to reduce the empire’s stock to a heap of ashes.
-I have no doubt that Chief Kinbell will use this firepower wisely.
‘Use wisely… ….’
The commander of the 6th Division recalled the operational plan that had been delivered only to him and gave additional instructions to his staff.
“An artillery unit?”
“Currently ready to fire.”
“There is no way that corps-level troops deployed toward the trench line all at once. Enemies should be coming in by now, so tell them to beat them coolly.”
“As ordered, I will instruct the artillery to prepare for the attack and destroy fire.”
The enemy was charging towards the front of the division. No matter how corps-level troops are, the number of troops that can be deployed in one area will be limited.
Combat troops and personnel supporting the combat troops. Wagons, vehicles, and other weapons the Empire may be developing on its own.
If all these people gather, a ‘bottleneck’ will inevitably occur.
“In addition, the 4th Regiment, which was put back as a reserve, joins the 2nd Regiment to reinforce the defense line even thicker, so that we can bombard the ‘Siberrunets Gangmok’ here.”
The division commander removed all the red boards gathered by the river indicated on the map.
“Let’s show those who step in fearlessly a taste of hot fire.”
I have prepared only for this day.
The glory of Uk ran will begin today.
“All disbanded. So that we can continue to report on the situation of the war!!”
“Glory to the motherland!!!”
Kinbell Lezantsev took his heart to heart as he received a loud salute from his staff.
At first, there were many questions.
Is this operation really possible? No matter how much artillery brigade-level firepower they had, would they be able to deal with the Empire’s corps that would come down endlessly?
However, Director Kinbell immediately erased the idle thoughts.
The Enoch Levandel he knew always led people to seemingly impossible victories.
Operation to recapture Maniopol and Portmork.
Following the Azov Islands landing operation.
Even if he now has the rank of brigadier general, Enoch Levandel at that time was just a major.
However, his tactical plan was far superior to that of stupid generals who couldn’t keep a close eye.
Thinking that way, all but one of the options in my head had already disappeared.
Absolute line of defense.
The 6th Division’s territory cannot be given even a single inch to the traitors of Lunetsk and the invaders of the empire behind them.
From Noble mtl dot com
***
Major General Oldek Mityaev of the 52nd Mixed Division under the Special Operations Forces of the Soviet Empire smiled leisurely as he looked at the tactical map.
It has already been well over a hundred years since the Rus Char Empire collapsed and the Sobie Empire stood tall.
An opportunity that came only in the midst of boredom in the name of peace.
He was proudly placed at the forefront of the Special Operations Forces, and now all that was left to do was to devour the ragtag Uk ran by pushing forward with overwhelming force.
Especially the mixed division.
Unlike other units that are simply composed of one class of troops, this is a multi-purpose unit with an appropriate mix of infantry, cavalry and artillery.
No matter how much the enemy is stuck in the trench line, such a trench line is nothing more than a piece of cake for his unit, who can use various tactics freely.
“What happened to the Legion’s fire support?”
“We are pounding the enemy trench lines with overwhelming firepower. As soon as the destroying fire ends, the vanguard 6th Regiment will cross the first trench line.”
“Simple. Can war be this easy?”
The operation hasn’t even started yet.
I didn’t even know exactly what kind of enemies were lined up in the trenches.
Major Oldeck thought that the war had already been won.
In a way, it was natural. Based on information provided by the General Intelligence Agency, the 6th Division had only four regiments, including reserves.
Not even a cavalry regiment exists.
It is truly a travel unit that can do nothing but wait on the ground.
It was common sense that it would not be an opponent of the 52nd Mixed Division, which already had 6 infantry regiments as well as a cavalry regiment.
The only thing I’m worried about is the airborne troops that the Uk ranians are proud of, and the flying battleships pouring down fierce artillery fire from the air.
The upper management also assigned an air squadron to support only the 52nd Division.
If you don’t worry too much about that part, there shouldn’t be a big problem.
Tick tock tock.
Time continued to pass. In any case, it would be impossible to know in real time how the front line is going from the headquarters of the division, which is several kilometers away.
At that time, the staff and high-ranking commanders were smoking non-stop while waiting for news.
A long-awaited messenger has finally arrived.
“Yes, Commander!!”
“Why are you looking so surprised? Maybe it’s because the enemy is pushed back too quickly?”
“hahahahaha!!”
The imperial officers burst into laughter at the blatant ridicule.
Then the messenger’s face only rotted.
“…… That, that’s not it.”
“Hmm?”
“The outposts were eliminated with artillery fire, but the 6th Regiment’s initial breakthrough failed.”
“What?”
“It is reported that the enemy’s defense is too thick. Among the information delivered by the field commander was that two companies of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Regiment, which served as the left wing, were exposed to enemy machine gun fire and were annihilated…….”
Before the messenger finished speaking, the skin of Warden Oldek began to turn red.
“That’s a fart!!!”
“Yes, Commander!”
“Damn it! Was there a idiot among my subordinates who couldn’t even eat a full table? If the defense line is thickly reinforced, it won’t be necessary to push in more troops!”
“Yes, yes!”
If you don’t stay on the offensive now, it will be more difficult to break through the defenses. Oldeck, of course, as well as his advisers judged that way.
“Tell the 22nd Reserve Regiment deployed in the direction of the Siberrunets River to cross the river immediately and support the 6th Regiment!”
“Yes!! All right!!”
The messenger ran out of the room quickly, fearing that an additional command would fall, but another messenger passed him and entered the room.
“What are you?”
“Private Mordov! The 22nd Reserve Regiment has just arrived from the Siberrunets River deployed! Currently, the 22nd Regiment is exposed to powerful enemy bombardment and is suffering extreme damage! I’m here to ask for support!”
“What…… ?”
“The commander of the 22nd Regiment is a warrior! The commander of the 2nd battalion under his command was seriously injured and was evacuated to the rear! Division commander, please support me!!”
Director Oldeck doubted his ears.
It’s only been 3 hours since the full-scale ‘special operation’ began.
The news that came from the frontlines was the exact opposite of what was expected.
