As the saying goes, "the road is one foot high, the magic is one foot high", the Japanese army saw that the US planes landed at the Kuah Island airport and brought many supplies to the Chinese and American reinforcements, so they took countermeasures.

This counteraction was actually because Maruyama Masao, the commander of the 2nd Division of the Japanese Army, personally went to Kuah Island to direct the operation.

Originally, the Japanese army did not care about the US army's method of transporting supplies by transport planes, one reason was that the supplies carried by transport planes were very limited, and the Japanese army did not seem to have much impact on the whole battle, so they did not pay attention to it. On the other hand, it is because it is difficult for the US military to intercept this way of air transportation...... These planes flew from the south of Kuah Island to Kuah Island, and if they were to intercept them, they would have to send warships or warplanes to the waters south of Kuah Island during the day, which would be tantamount to sending them to death.

In addition, the Japanese army felt that their troops were about to launch a general attack on the enemy, and the Americans could not transport much to the island at this time, so most of the Japanese generals did not take it seriously.

After Maruyama Masada landed on Kuah Island, he reprimanded these Japanese generals: "Don't you know that every additional box of ammunition that the enemy has means that we may lose an extra squad?" If this continues, we may not be able to break through the firepower network of the Sino-US coalition forces and lead to the final defeat, so what is the matter with you? Let the planes of the Americans fly around the island and do nothing ?! ”

"But...... Your Excellency, Lieutenant General! Chief of Staff Saburo Saka replied: "We don't have any weapons to hit the airfield until the navy brings in the heavy equipment, and we don't have the necessary air defense equipment!" ”

In fact, if you really want to fight a plane, it is still possible, and the speed of fighter jets and transport planes in this period is not fast, especially when the plane is about to land at the airport. (Note: In 1947, the first supersonic aircraft was developed to break through the sound barrier, so the speed of fighter jets in this period was generally about 500 kilometers per hour.) ）

So, in fact, it only takes a few machine guns to pose a threat to the US aircraft.

But Longboard Saburo did not say it explicitly: the supply of the Japanese army was limited. He was reluctant to waste his precious ammunition on attacking enemy planes, as he felt that such a way of fighting was not cost-effective...... Wasting a lot of ammunition and destroying only a pitiful few planes will have no impact on the outcome of the war.

Maruyama Masata also understood this truth, so after thinking about it, he sent a telegram to Hyakutake Haruyoshi, asking him to immediately transport the Type 92 105MM field cannon of the Second Division to the island.

No one can say whether Maruyama Masada's decision was wrong or right.

Isn't that right...... The capacity of the Japanese Navy is so large. The result of the demand for the Type 92 cannon to be brought to the island was to cause the troops to assemble more late, because it was not only a matter of transporting a few cannons, but also a constant supply of shells for them. As a result, this will delay the counteroffensive and even further reduce the supply of the army.

Let's say that he is wrong, the Type 92 cannon is famous for its long range and high accuracy, and it has indeed caused great trouble and losses to the Chinese and American coalition forces.

The accident occurred on the day the artillery landed on the island.

On this day, when the US military transport planes and fighter planes landed at the airport as usual...... Perhaps because the previous landing had been smooth, the US troops and pilots around the airport were a little lax, and some US troops even drove their cars directly to the transport plane to load and unload the cargo, which was for convenience, but it would undoubtedly increase the danger.

Just as the U.S. soldiers were busy between the transport plane and the car. Suddenly, there was a whistling of cannonballs in the air...... Before there was time to react, the transport plane was blown into a fireball, followed by several cars parked next to the transport plane, and the flames of the car quickly ignited a "wildcat" that was still gliding next to it, and then this "wildcat" crashed into the two fighters in front of it that had just stopped.

The scene stunned everyone around the airport, losing one transport plane and three fighter jets in an instant, not counting the pilots and American GIs loading and unloading supplies.

After reacting, everyone rushed up with fire extinguishers to put out the fire and save people. There was immediately chaos around the airport.

Zhang Chi and Clifton also heard the explosion in the command center, but they did not go out to inspect it...... They are the regimental commanders. He is in command of the battle, and should not be a firefighter. What's more, they had long expected that there would be such a day, and the Japanese would not be able to make them feel better.

"Sir!" A correspondent stood breathlessly in the doorway.

Before the correspondent could report, Clifton asked, "How much was lost?" ”

"One transport plane, three fighters!" The correspondent replied breathlessly: "There are five more cars." The number of casualties so far is twenty-five! ”

"Hmm!" Clifton nodded and said to Zhang Chi: "What we were worried about has finally happened, the Japanese have transported long-range artillery to the island!" ”

Zhang Chi didn't speak, but continued to ask the signal soldier: "Which direction did the shells come from?" How many shells were there in the first batch? What caliber? ”

"This ......" Hearing this, the signal soldier couldn't help but be stunned, and then replied embarrassedly: "I don't know." Sir! ”

"Ask for clarity and report back to us!" Clifton shouted, "Move fast! ”

"Yes, sir!"

SOON THE INFORMATION WAS ON THE TABLE OF ZHANG CHI AND CLIFTON: THE SHELLS WERE FIRED FROM THE WEST, AND THE FIRST BATCH OF SHELLS WAS ABOUT SEVEN ROUNDS, AND THE SHRAPNEL ESTIMATED TO BE 105MM CALIBER.

"West!" Zhang Chi quickly turned his attention to the Matanicao River, where the new regiment was stationed.

There was a reason why the Japanese would deploy artillery to the west.

First of all, the airfield is east-west, and the deployment of artillery to the west can increase the probability of shells hitting the airfield and aircraft.

Secondly, to the north is the sea, to the south is Mount Austin, which is difficult to climb, and to the east the terrain is difficult to build artillery positions, only to the west...... The terrain to the west is relatively flat and full of jungle, and artillery deployment is easy to hide in this direction, and it is also convenient and quick to move.

"105MM CALIBER!" Zhang Chi said: "The Japanese artillery of this caliber can hit about 18 kilometers at most. ”

After thinking about it, Zhang Chi asked Clifton: "Can I call your grenade battalion?" ”

"Of course!" Clifton nodded in agreement without thinking about it.

Clifton knew what Zhang Chi was going to do...... The Japanese artillery could hit eighteen kilometers, and the defense line of the new regiment, the Matanicau River, was eight kilometers from the airfield, so although the range of the American howitzers was only eleven kilometers, it was just enough to force the Japanese long-range artillery out of the range of striking the airfield.

It is foreseeable that the Matanicau River will soon become the focus of contention between the enemy and the enemy.

(To be continued.) )