Escorted by the fleet, the island nation's transport fleet hurried along the way, and finally arrived at the east coast of Borneo just after 5:00 am on March 3.
"The sky will be bright in less than an hour. We must hurry up! Ryuzaki-kun, it's up to you next!" Lieutenant General Sakurai Shozo said.
Before arriving in eastern Borneo, the island nation's transport fleet had split up. Among them, the 28th Army is coming towards Sinar Port, while the 33rd Army is heading towards Lahad Datu. Similarly, the **** fleet of the island navy is also divided into two parts, the heavy cruiser 'Tene', the light cruiser 'Tenryu' and five 'Yugumo'-class destroyers, which will assist the 28th Army in landing at Senna Port. The heavy cruiser "Chikuma", the light cruiser "Tatsuta" and five "Yugumo" class destroyers will assist the 33rd Army to land in Lahad Datu.
"Your Excellency Lieutenant General, please rest assured, we will do our best!" Major General Ryuzaki Rukichi said.
Although there are not small contradictions between the army and navy of the island country. But at this time, they are all in the same boat. For the future of the island country, they can only do their best.
"Onishi-kun, start shooting in five minutes to clear the way for the army's landing!" Major General Ryuzaki Rukichi ordered.
"Hi, Your Excellency the General!" Colonel Onishi Shinzo replied.
Five minutes later, the four twin-mounted 203mm main guns and the 127mm dual-purpose guns on the heavy cruiser'Ligan' all started firing. The four 140mm main guns and 80mm secondary guns on the "Tianlong" light cruiser also began to fire crazily. Even the 127mm main guns on the destroyer "Yugumo" were added.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
All of a sudden, the sound of cannons rumbled across the sea, and one after another, the shells roared and smashed towards the coast of Xianna Port.
There was a violent explosion, and one after another bomb craters appeared on the sea.
The fortifications built by the German Army were also destroyed bit by bit under the fierce bombardment of the island navy.
Of course, the fortifications built by the German Army are not what they look like. Some key fortifications can even withstand large-caliber heavy artillery. In the case that the island navy did not send a capital ship, but only sent a heavy cruiser, a light cruiser and a few destroyers, if it wanted to destroy the fortifications of the German army, and destroy them in a short time, it was obvious is impossible.
When Senna Port was attacked, the island fleet's heavy cruiser Chikuma, light cruiser Tatsuta and five destroyers of the Yugumo class also launched an attack on Lahad Datu.
While it is not yet dawn, the island fleet hopes to use its main guns to destroy all the fortifications of the German Army. In this case, their army will be relatively much easier in the subsequent landing operations. At the same time, the island fleet also knows that the Luftwaffe will definitely attack them once dawn. At that time, the warships in the fleet will not even be able to protect themselves, let alone provide support to the army.
Brunei City, the headquarters of the 23rd Army of the German Army. Lieutenant General William Adam has also been notified at this moment, knowing that Sinar Port and Lahad Datu have been attacked by the island fleet.
"It seems that the islanders are going to divide their troops into two groups and attack Siena Port and Lahad Datu respectively. The 225th Infantry Division and the 228th Infantry Division are ordered to stand firm. The Air Force will provide them with support next. The naval support is also It will arrive soon. I will also send reinforcements to them!" Lieutenant General William Adam said.
The German army deployed an infantry division in Siena Port and Lahad Datu respectively. Although the 23rd Army has one armored division and ten infantry divisions. However, the area of Borneo is too large, and there are many places that need to be defended. Therefore, the 23rd Army is also limited in strength.
"General, the 23rd Armored Division and the 23rd Heavy Artillery Brigade can also move to these two places. The Heavy Artillery Brigade can take advantage of the range of heavy howitzers to launch attacks at long distances. The Armored Division can take precautions. Once we defend If you can’t stay in Siena Port and Lahad Datu, you can retreat. After the island army is far away from the coast, you can use armored divisions to attack. The armor and anti-armor forces of the island army are very weak, and they can’t resist our armored forces at all. attack." Major General Erwin Willow suggested.
Lieutenant General William Adam thought for a while, then nodded: "Let the 23rd Heavy Artillery Brigade go for reinforcements first. The 23rd Armored Division, the 221st Mechanized Infantry Division and the 222nd Mechanized Infantry Division wait a little longer. If we can’t hold on anymore, it’s not too late to start. We can even use armored and mechanized troops to fight a small-scale battle with the islanders on the eastern plains of Borneo. I believe that we can definitely take this opportunity to give A big lesson for the islanders."
"Yes, General." Major General Erwin Willow nodded.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The fierce shelling of the island nation's navy is still continuing, but they have caused very limited damage to the German army hiding in the anti-gun hole. Coupled with the limited number of ships in the island fleet, the damage caused to the fortifications of the German Army was also quite limited.
Time passed little by little, and a faint white belly appeared on the horizon. It can be seen that the sky is about to dawn.
"It's too late, let's land on the beach immediately!"
Lieutenant General Sakurai Sho San immediately issued an order for troops to land.
The most elite 2nd Division under the 28th Army is also the most powerful division in the island army, serving as the vanguard of the landing.
Lieutenant General Yoshimoto Teiichi, head of the 2nd Division, immediately issued the order to attack after receiving the order. The 4th Infantry Regiment, 16th Regiment, 29th Regiment and 30th Regiment under the 2nd Division, with nearly 15,000 soldiers, were all involved in this attack.
A large number of island country army soldiers rushed to the shore in landing craft.
The island army uses landing craft, which are basically paddled by manpower. This also makes them relatively slow.
There are more than 1,000 landing craft for 15,000 people. With so many landing craft, it was almost as if the entire sea surface was crowded.
The 225th Infantry Division of the Army on the shore also discovered the intention of the Japanese Army. While reporting to the army commander, they ordered the guarding troops to open fire and attack.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The artillery regiment of the 225th Infantry Division of the German Army opened fire, with 18 150mm heavy howitzers, 36 105mm light howitzers, and a total of 54 75mm field guns in the artillery battalions of the subordinate infantry regiments. Cannons, etc., have been added to the shooting.
At the same time, the aircraft of the 5th Aviation Group of the German Air Force also took off from the airport in an emergency.