Chapter 389

After crossing the defense line, Wesley first ordered ten divisions to set out, but instead of taking over the defense line immediately, they began to establish complete second-line and third-line positions behind the first-line defense positions. Although there are fortifications here, Wesley thought it was rubbish.

American soldiers became marmots. They began to dig diligently. The results of all training were displayed here, and the troops of ten divisions entered the second-line position to rest after completing the defense line.

On the night of September 20, 1917, the follow-up troops quietly entered the front-line position, replaced the original British and French soldiers, and then began the reconstruction of the trench. A large number of logs were sent to the front-line position, a large number of soldiers entered the fortification construction, and the engineers kept transporting logs.

The next morning, the defensive position here was quiet, and the German troops began to constantly observe the situation opposite. There was a lot of noise last night. They thought the enemy was ready to attack, but now it was silent, which made them very depressed and nervous.

Wesley deployed all the troops of 50 divisions and 10 heavy artillery brigades in the Somme River defense line. The strength of the first defense line is 10 divisions. Although the staffing of one U.S. division is only 12500, more than half less than that of other countries, all automatic weapons and artillery are stronger than them, especially in defense.

The problem now is that these soldiers are recruits. Wesley needs to train them. The shelling of both sides is the best training, especially the quality of front-line officers.

He divided all the troops. Every ten divisions were divided into one group army, and a total of four group armies were divided. He retained the troops of ten divisions as reserves. Each group army of the heavy artillery brigade was divided into two, and he left two.

Wesley is observing the front line position with a telescope. Now he needs to understand the enemy's defense line, but there is nothing new after seeing it. They are old trenches during World War I. many soldiers have been here for nearly two years, and they are physically and mentally exhausted.

Back to the rear headquarters, Wesley directly ordered six heavy artillery brigades to bombard the enemy's front-line positions. The 155mm new howitzer directly bombarded the local positions, while the 120mm new howitzer bombarded the front of the local positions. The carpet was the area where the artillery destroyed the local mines.

Wesley's defense area has only a defense line of 20 kilometers. Say more or less. Six heavy artillery brigades will conduct a week-long artillery attack, while the remaining four heavy artillery brigades are ready to defend against the enemy's artillery counterattack, and the hidden front line is closer.

The first gun opened fire, and then hundreds of heavy guns continued to fire at the longest distance. Continuous explosions began on the local position. Wesley used carpet artillery, which had high requirements for artillery firing. Artillery observers in the front-line position kept sending back data, and the artillery began to adjust.

The German army was dazed by the sudden shelling, but they didn't think the other side would attack. This is the normal situation in the defense line, especially this spring's offensive. Britain and France suffered heavy losses. Although the Americans came, will the Americans attack directly?

The German artillery began to counterattack, but the effect was not great, but the counterattack was devastating. The maximum attack distance of the 155mm howitzer designed by Wesley was 18 kilometers, which was deployed 16 kilometers away from the local position. There were many large caliber artillery during World War I, but the range was a problem.

They could only fire on the front line positions, and then the four heavy artillery brigades in ambush began to clear them at fixed points, which caught the Germans unprepared. The other side's artillery range was too far.

Wesley observed the effect of the artillery battle and felt very satisfied. "Yes, it lasted for a week. Let the Artillery Force grasp it by itself. Each artillery attack should be extended, and the troops should be constantly changed to feel the effect of the artillery attack. All soldiers should adapt to the roar of the artillery attack in a week."

Wesley asked the adjutant to convey the order, and then returned to the back to check the material situation, because there were not as many troops in the parallel universe. Now all the transportation began to ensure ammunition and materials. They came directly from the North Sea, and a large number of destroyers and light cruisers began to serve, which ensured the sea route.

Now the listening is very rough. For warships equipped with sonar, they are like lights under the sea. In particular, the US Navy has sunk more than 20 submarines.

All the commanders were summoned again, and Wesley deployed the operation plan after a week. "The first group army launched an attack on the morning of September 27, and the heavy artillery brigade will launch shelling first. The first group army concentrated three divisions to launch breakthrough operations at three parallel points, and the follow-up team should tear open a hole at the point and expand it."

"The first group army is responsible for attacking all the time. I want speed. You must ensure speed. Keep moving all the time. Don't stop without orders." the commander of the first group army is an older major general. They are all major generals and brigadier generals here. There is not even a lieutenant general. Such a wonderful thing is really hard to see.

"The task of the second group army is to take charge of their right wing after the first group army breaks through. You should break through and attack like the right wing, but don't attack too deeply. Let the German army understand that their overall western line has been broken through, causing their rear side, or send troops to defend."

"The third group army, follow the first group army. You can't stop if they don't stop. Once the first group army attacks smoothly, you have to supplement their right-wing defense line. Your two group armies can bear up to 20 kilometers of right-wing defense line."

"The fourth group army is ready to deploy a defense line 30 kilometers behind the local position. The engineering brigade assists the heavy artillery brigade in moving forward. The division artillery should give full play to the advantages of convenient movement, especially the advantages of small caliber mortars and 75mm rapid fire guns on the front line, make use of the short-term firepower advantage to keep the enemy unable to counterattack, and can only retreat continuously, and effectively kill the enemy with automatic weapons Life power. "

"The fifth group army is the central reserve team, with two heavy artillery brigades with me, ready to support the operation at any time. The characteristic of this campaign is that it is fast. All participating countries have a problem, that is, their equipment is bulky. Whether weapons or military uniforms are unusually bulky, and this is the problem we avoid when we set up our troops."

"Why do we build a new army? Our equipment is light and simple, especially the troops below the regiment level. They are light and flexible and have sufficient firepower. We have full advantages in the battlefield of close combat. Of course, we also have disadvantages, that is, our soldiers are recruits, so you should pay attention to this and let the soldiers continue to fight alternately and fully let them feel it In the war, especially the front-line commanders, once their emotions run out, they will be directly dismissed on the spot, and a number of soldiers will be promoted on the front line. "

"Do you understand?" Wesley finally glanced around.

"Yes." war, the stage of soldiers.