Cannon Fire Arc-Chapter 690 - 28 The Air Force is Doing Great

Chapter 690: Chapter 28 The Air Force is Doing Great

Colonel Rudel of the Ploson Air Force piloted the latest model of the Stuka Bomber, flying over the vast plains of Kazarlia.

This new type of Stuka Bomber had forsaken the capability to carry bombs in favor of a 50mm cannon, which had become its main armament.

As long as the cannon hit the tank’s weak top armor while in the air, it ensured the destruction of the tank.

This was the Air Force’s solution to “Rocossov’s new heavy tanks” and it was one of the fastest implemented solutions on the front line.

As Ploson’s top ace in ground attack aircraft, Rudel’s squadron was immediately chosen to re-equip with the new planes.

Unfortunately, the re-equipment time was indeed too short, and the pilots had not fully mastered this new weapon.

Up to this point in the sortie, Rudel’s squadron had only reported eight hits.

Now they were in search of the legendary enemy heavy tanks.

Suddenly, a wingman’s transmission came through the radio, “Colonel! Look below! So many cavalry!”

Rudel put down his binoculars and looked towards the grasslands below the wing, where large groups of cavalry were crossing the plains, much like migrating buffalo.

“Should we strafe them?” a pilot asked.

Rudel, “No, our target is the enemy’s tanks. Besides the 50mm cannon, we only have two 7mm machine guns. What effect would strafing have? It would also waste valuable kinetic energy, and we’d become targets when we encounter the enemy’s Yaks later!”

“Continue searching for enemy tanks!”

As soon as the words were spoken, someone reported loudly, “Dust to the northwest! The scale and width of this dust cloud doesn’t quite seem like cavalry!”

Rudel immediately picked up his binoculars, looked towards the northwest, and indeed saw a large amount of dust, which unlike the cavalry racing, hadn’t spread out flat.

“Turn, face the enemy!” Rudel ordered. At the same time, he gently pulled the control stick, and the plane turned towards the north.

“Captain, aren’t you flying in the wrong direction?”

Rudel, “Of course not, we have to enter from the enemy’s rear to strike at the engine grilles and ensure we stop them.”

Thus, the entire squadron turned north, circling around the dust cloud before chasing after it.

New novel chapters are published on freewёbn૦νeɭ.com.

Then Rudel quickly realized a problem – entering from the rear of the enemy meant that their dust cloud would obscure their vision.

He couldn’t help but curse and ordered the whole squadron, “Abort the attack, enter again. This time we’ll attack from the side.”

After all, it was Rudel’s first time using the airborne 50mm cannon against tanks, and he lacked experience.

Just as the squadron was circling to re-enter, the anti-aircraft machine guns on the tanks opened fire.

“Hold steady!” Rudel yelled, “Don’t panic, these machine guns generally won’t hit us!”

No sooner had he spoken than a machine gun bullet hit Rudel’s wing, passing between the ailerons.

Rudel felt it out and, finding that the plane’s controls were not affected, disregarded it.

He lined up the crosshair on an Antean heavy tank and pressed the trigger.

When the 50mm cannon fired, the whole aircraft shook, making one worry if the aircraft might be shattered by the cannon.

Rudel clearly saw white smoke puffing from the enemy tank’s armor—hit!

He fired two more rounds, and once he confirmed that the enemy tank had stopped, he ceased fire and pulled up, flying over the top of the tank.

The rear gunner excitedly shouted, “We blew up the enemy’s heavy tank! The enemy drivers are abandoning the vehicle!”

Rudel laughed heartily, the Ploson Air Force did their duty!

—-

Podoriskoff crawled out of the tank, puzzled, “What happened? What hit us?”

The driver who had gotten out earlier responded, “I don’t know, we just heard something hit us.”

“Is there any damage?”

“Yes, General, the name you inscribed for us got scratched! Damn it!” the driver cursed.

————

June 30, 2310, Kazarlia First Front Army Headquarters.

Wang Zhong looked satisfied at the map with plenty of breakthrough markers.

Vasily said, “The enemy’s first-line defense troops hardly resisted our attack. Are these really the Prosens that used to give us so much trouble?”

Pavlov: “It’s not that the enemy didn’t hold on, a considerable number of units preserved their positions, to be precise, those positions that weren’t assaulted by our new heavy tanks, the enemy held seventy percent.

“Considering we deployed so many artillery in the grasslands where it’s impossible to construct solid fortifications, and also considering their short preparation time, I think the enemy did well. We shouldn’t look down on them.”

Wang Zhong looked at his deputy officer: “Did you hear that?”

Vasily rubbed his nose: “Okay, okay, I just thought…”

Wang Zhong: “Strategically, we can certainly despise the enemy, but tactically, the current Prosens Army, still possessing considerable tactical discipline and experience, deserve respect.”

He turned to Pavlov: “For these still resisting Prosens units, we should adopt a strategy of encirclement and continuous bombardment. Most of them are infantry units, not like armored grenadiers with lots of armored vehicles, their offensive capability is not strong, just surrounding them with our mobilized soldiers and a bit of elite troops should suffice.”

Pavlov: “I would suggest keeping some tank units to assist the infantry in the encirclement, on the plains the impact of tanks is significantly magnified, acting as ready-made forts and support points, the effect is extraordinary.”

“Arrange it,” Wang Zhong said as he turned back to the map, “With today’s breaks, the Prosens must be uneasy, their armored counterattack should come tomorrow.”

Pavlov: “I’ve mixed heavy tanks and regular tanks, as well as Whirlwind Tank Destroyers, and the accompanying infantry units are also equipped with a lot of new anti-tank rocket launchers. The enemy’s once unbeatable armored units will definitely suffer a lot this time.”

————

Empire of Prosen, Eagle’s Nest.

“What on earth did you do!” The Plathen Emperor, holding the receiver, exclaimed, “We found out for the first time that our defenses are as fragile as tofu! Just like last year’s Antean defense line in front of our troops!”

On the other end of the phone, Marshal Geron explained: “Your Majesty, actually seventy percent of our troops held their positions, Rocossov only achieved breakthroughs where he deployed new heavy tanks. We are planning to rely on several villages in the grasslands for defensive warfare.

“We are confident in stopping the enemy’s attacks with these villages. But…”

Emperor: “But what?”

Marshal Geron: “Rocossov—or the current tactics of the Anteans, make full use of the grassland’s characteristics. This season, the supply lines on the grassland don’t have to rely on the original roads, emergency roads quickly repaired by the engineering troops can also support the movements of the corps.

“Also, because we upgraded the road system, even if the enemy controls just a small portion of the roads, it can meet the needs of many units.

“These two factors make the usual method of defending forts and delaying enemies no longer workable; they can completely bypass our defensive points. Last year, when Rocossov surrounded the Sixth Army Group, that’s how he attacked.”

Emperor: “You mean there’s no way to use defensive warfare to wear down Rocossov, right? You just want to deploy armored units for a counterattack, right?”

“Yes, I…”

Suddenly, Marshal Geron’s voice cut off, and only static noise could be heard from the receiver.

“Hello? Hello!” The Emperor slammed the table, stood up, and shouted into the receiver, “Speak! Marshal Geron!”

Giles: “It’s possible that the phone line was cut. Rocossov usually plays these tricks during his attacks.”

Marshal Rundstedt immediately joined in: “Rocossov’s attack will also involve a massive deployment of cavalry. According to our intelligence, the number of cavalry troops in the Ante Army has now returned to about one million.

“Such a large-scale cavalry force, all galloping across the grasslands, will completely disrupt our logistics and communications, under such circumstances the demand for wireless communication by front-line units will greatly increase.”

Duke Meyer, seizing an opportunity to showcase, hastily said: “Today alone, our Air Force conducted fifteen hundred sorties, massively harassing the enemy. According to the intelligence we hold, at least one hundred thousand cavalry have already crossed the breakthrough point, deep into our territory.”

Marshal Rundstedt immediately retorted: “Then did you stop these cavalry units?”

“Of course, we attacked these cavalry, achieving significant results from strafing,” said Duke Meyer, proudly, “Additionally, our new-model aircraft also destroyed Rocossov’s prized heavy tanks!”

All military leaders widened their eyes.

But the Emperor already joyfully stood up: “Good! I knew it, the Air Force has done well!”