Cannon Fire Arc-Chapter 879 - 16: Unparalleled Blessing (8K)
Chapter 879 -16: Unparalleled Blessing (8K)
Schmidt put down the handset: “The enemy is preparing artillery, targeting the 400th Coastal Defense Division’s line. Confirm immediately how many areas have been shelled, and have all armored units ready for action.
“Based on our previous anti-landing operations, the best time to counterattack is when the enemy landing forces have just broken through the beachhead and are advancing inland.
“Also, what about the Leopold railway gun? Fire at the beachhead immediately, the more enemy forces we deplete there, the better our chances of victory.”
Chief of Staff: “Leopold was attacked by Commandos last night, with a massive explosion in the ammunition depot, and currently cannot be deployed.”
Schmidt: “Why am I only finding out about this now?”
“The phones were cut off, we just found out ourselves.”
Schmidt hesitated, his mouth twitching as he tried to form words, and then the telephone rang, it was the red phone on the desk.
This was one of Marshal Erwin’s many privileges, a direct line to the Eagle’s Nest.
Schmidt picked up the handset, and immediately the voice of the Imperial Emperor came through: “Erwin, Rabowell says they’ve intercepted a message from the United Kingdom to the Resistance Organization, the attack will happen within 24 hours!”
Schmidt: “The attack has already begun, Your Majesty.”
There was silence for a few seconds on the other end, then a question: “Who are you? Where is Marshal Erwin Rommel?”
“He is not here.”
“Not here? If the attack has really started, he should be at his headquarters!”
Schmidt: “The Marshal went to the 21st Armored Division, but has not yet reached the division headquarters; I am Admiral Schmidt, acting commander.”
“Find the Marshal! Even if he’s dead, find his body! Deploy the armored units in a counterattack! We drove the enemy into the sea once in the Kingdom of Sardinia, we can do it again! Drive them into the sea!
“According to Rabowell’s intelligence, the first wave of landings won’t exceed fifty thousand, you have four armored divisions, Admiral Schmidt!”
Admiral Schmidt furrowed his brow: “According to our intelligence, just the paratroopers landing number fifty thousand, the landing forces can’t be fewer than the paratroopers.”
The Emperor immediately questioned: “Do you know how many transport planes are needed to carry fifty thousand paratroopers? If the Allied Forces really have that many transport planes, there’s no fight left for us!”
Schmidt fell silent, truly at a loss for words.
Emperor: “Counterattack them, drive them into the sea, report to me by tonight. Also, find where Rommel is, alive or dead.”
Then the Emperor hung up the phone.
Schmidt slowly put down the handset and looked at the people in the room.
Chief of Staff: “What did His Majesty say?”
Schmidt: “His Majesty believes that today’s initial landing forces number no more than fifty thousand, and wants us to drive them into the sea.”
Chief of Staff: “But the landing paratroopers alone have three divisions’ designations, at least fifty thousand.”
“Maybe it’s just the designations that are many, in any case, have all the armored units move toward the landing zone. The Asgard Knights’ heavy tank battalion will serve as reserves.”
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———
At the Prosen 21st Armored Division Headquarters, Division Commander Major General Hunt looked at the map, his brow furrowed.
“We can’t just openly stride through areas scattered with enemy paratroopers; these paratroopers definitely have rocket launchers, which will pose a threat to our tanks. Have the reconnaissance units take the lead, the main forces will conduct an equipment check first.”
The Chief of Staff said: “We are seventy kilometers from the beachhead, sending out reconnaissance units first might be too slow, the orders are for us to set off immediately to counterattack the enemy.”
Division Commander: “You should have faith in the West Wall, it is the Marshal’s painstakingly built fortification. Besides, if we wait here a bit longer, maybe the Marshal will arrive.”
Chief of Staff: “Is this alright? The enemy is landing, every minute and second should be as precious as gold now.”
“Yes, but if we get heavily ambushed by paratroopers on the way to the beachhead, won’t that be even worse?” the Division Commander retorted, “Send out the reconnaissance units!”
———
At the same time, the first wave of landing forces at Omaha Beach.
The soldiers in front of Captain Thomas started to vomit, triggering a chain reaction, and several soldiers began vomiting.
Thomas: “You still haven’t emptied your stomachs?”
“It was what we ate before setting out this morning, Captain,” a soldier reported.
This landing craft carried the 1st Platoon of Company E, with Platoon Leader Jack right beside Captain Thomas: “When I boarded, I couldn’t eat a thing, I really don’t know where they found the appetite.”
Thomas: “Maybe they think this might be their last meal, in such situations anything can be eaten.”
The landing craft driver shouted: “Thirty seconds left!”
In apparent response to his words, a coastal defense mortar shell landed on the sea beside the landing craft, and the spray from the impact fell on everyone’s helmets like a torrential rain.
The seawater diluted the acrid smell of stomach acid permeating the landing craft.
Thomas: “Jump into the water immediately after the ramp drops, clustering together will get you mowed down by machine guns, I’ll be waiting for you on the beachhead!”
The machine gun fire came from ahead, presumably taking aim at the landing craft that had arrived earlier.
The landing craft driver blew a whistle, and with the sound of hinges turning, the landing craft’s anti-surf shield dropped, exposing the West Wall, the enemy’s feared coastal defense fortification, in its fierce form.
A dense hail of bullets rained into the landing craft’s cabin; the first three rows of men took a hit immediately. Bullets pierced through several people in succession before stopping, turning the front rows into high walls blocking those behind them.
“Push them into the water! Quick, everyone into the water! Don’t stay on the landing craft!”
Thomas urged, pushing the men in front to move ahead.
