Chapter 322: Artillery Battle (seeking monthly ticket)

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Cannonballs fell from the sky one after another, smashing hard on the Russian army's position, and a violent explosion occurred.

For a while, smoke and dust rose everywhere, and gunpowder smoke filled the air. On the Russian army's position, it can be said to be a piece of flying sand and rocks.

A shell hit a section of the trench, which immediately collapsed the trench by more than ten meters. A machine gun fire point was hit by a 75mm shell, and amidst the violent explosion, the machine gun fire point was blown away immediately.

Before the Germans attack, they often make sufficient firepower preparations. Although this will cause them to consume a large amount of shells, it can most likely destroy the enemy's fortifications and clear the way for subsequent infantry attacks.

The defensive positions painstakingly built by the troops of the Russian 4th Army were gradually reduced to ruins under the heavy shelling of the German army. The Russian army's soil work is not very strong, and there is a lack of materials. Therefore, the fortifications of the Russian army could not compete with the artillery fire of the German army at all. Especially those heavy artillery can easily destroy the German fortifications.

In order to preserve its own strength to the greatest extent, the Russian 4th Army dug a lot of anti-gun holes on the line of defense. The original intention was to let soldiers hide in the anti-gun holes when the German army bombarded them. After the German bombardment was over, they drilled out of the anti-battery hole to attack the attacking German army. It's just that the defense of the Russian army's anti-blasting holes seems to be unqualified. This made their defense seem a little powerless when resisting the German shelling.

"Boom!" A 105mm artillery shell exploded above a Russian artillery hole.

The violent explosion caused the blast hole to shake violently. At the same time, the soil kept falling from the top of the blast hole, making that frightening sound of killing.

"God! The German bombardment is even more terrifying than the legends! Can our artillery holes withstand the German bombardment?" A Russian soldier said with a pale face.

Although, before the battle began, they had heard of the horrors of the German bombardment. However, it was not until now that they were encountering the shelling of the German army that they knew that the shelling of the German army was stronger than they expected!

"Boom!" Another heavy artillery shell hit the Russian army's artillery hole. And, this time it was the shells fired by the 150mm heavy howitzer. Under the tremendous power of the shell explosion, huge cracks suddenly appeared on the top of the blast hole. The faces of the Russian soldiers hiding inside changed drastically.

"God! The bomb defense hole is about to collapse, run away!"

The soldiers scrambled to drill towards the opening of the anti-blasting hole, but the opening was narrow, which greatly restricted their speed. At this moment, the earth and rocks on the top have already begun to fall in large chunks. Some Russian soldiers were even beaten to death. But everyone can't care so much anymore. Finding a way to escape from the blast hole is the most important thing. Only in that way can he survive. Otherwise, once the anti-blasting hole collapses, everyone will be finished.

"Boom!" A huge piece of earth and rock fell, blocking the opening of the anti-blasting tunnel. The livelihood of the Russian soldiers inside was cut off at once. Although, they desperately shouted and asked for help inside, while digging with their hands. But it didn't work at all. Because the earth and rocks on it were still falling, and the blast hole was soon buried. Of the hundreds of Russian soldiers hiding inside, except for a very small number who escaped, the rest were all buried alive inside.

This is not an exception, but the norm. The fortifications of the Russian army are not up to standard, which has caused them to suffer a lot. But even so, the Russian army cannot change this.

During the fierce German shelling, the Russian artillery holes were destroyed one after another, and countless Russian soldiers were buried alive in them. The heavy loss caused the Russian generals watching the battle in the rear to frown.

"General, we can't go on like this. Our artillery can no longer remain silent. Otherwise, the troops on the front line will suffer heavy losses. At that time, what can we do to stop the German attack?" A lieutenant general officer Said.

"Can our artillery stand against the Germans?" Admiral Dimitriev asked.

Even if the 4th Russian Army assembled 100,000 people in Chelm, which is a total of six infantry divisions, the total number of artillery pieces of these six infantry divisions is only 288, and all of them are 76.2mm field artillery. Such strength is obviously unable to confront the German army. Especially among the artillery of the German army, there are quite a few large-caliber heavy artillery.

The Russian army, even though it was strengthened before the war, only had more than twenty 105mm howitzers. The difference in artillery strength between the two sides is too great.

"General, our artillery is not as good as the Germans. However, if the Germans want to completely suppress us, it is impossible. Our attack on the German artillery positions can at least prevent them from continuing to bombard ours. It's the forward position," said the artillery commander.

Admiral Dimitriev nodded, this was undoubtedly the answer he wanted.

"Order the artillery to fire! We need to stay here for a long time. Therefore, the German artillery must not be allowed to attack our defense line unscrupulously." Admiral Dimitriev ordered.

"Yes, General." After receiving the order, the artillery commander immediately went to prepare.

Ten minutes later, the Russian artillery began shelling.

A 76.2mm field gun and more than twenty 105mm howitzers began a fierce shelling.

"Boom! Boom!"

Orange-red flames shone at the muzzle, and the shells slammed into the German artillery positions fiercely.

However, except for those 75mm field artillery positions, the rest of the 105mm light howitzer positions and 150mm heavy howitzer positions are arranged relatively backward, completely out of the range of the Russian 76.2mm field guns. Therefore, the only things they can threaten are those field artillery positions.

But even so, the Russian artillery bombardment also caused some losses to the German artillery positions. However, the loss was not that great.

"The field artillery continued to bombard the Russian artillery positions, light howitzers and heavy howitzers, suppressing the Russian artillery. In addition, send a telegram to the air force, and they can launch an attack." Lieutenant General Zeckert gave the order with a blank expression .

"Yes, General." The communications officer immediately went to give the order.