Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 117



Only Krnovel

#117. Plan before getting hit

07:00 on March 13, 1949.

Headquarters of the Zabaikal Front.

Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky put a cigarette in his mouth and looked at his watch.

“Now is the time to advance. “What are their movements?”

“The Koreans did not make any movement while the bombardment continued. “It is estimated that with this level of shelling, most of them would have been neutralized.”

“Hmm… … .”

Malinovsky furrowed his brow and sucked in a lungful of cigarette smoke.

As the staff said, heavy artillery fire was fired at their fortifications along the entire front.

If you think about common sense, this level of bombardment would have almost neutralized the Koreans’ forward fortifications.

However, Malinovsky was still uneasy.

This is because there was no information about them.

Although the Far East Army Headquarters, as well as the Zabaikal Front, tried very hard to monitor the movements of the Koreans, they found nothing.

The reconnaissance plane went missing for unknown reasons as soon as it crossed the border between Mongolia and Manchuria.

Since there was no way to find an answer through aerial reconnaissance, a search party organized by the Mongolian People’s Republic Army and spies were sent in as well.

The moment he crossed the border, all contact was cut off, and this was the first time he had experienced this during his 33 years of military service.

“Comrade commander, order… … .”

“Hmm, this feels a bit uneasy… … .”

“Commander-in-Chief Vasilevsky’s orders are clear. You must advance. “We understand why you are worried, Comrade Commander, but you would not expect the Koreans to launch a large-scale armored offensive in such rugged terrain.”

The northwestern region of Manchuria was truly rugged.

It was blocked by the Dashing’anling Mountains and traffic conditions were poor.

So, in the past, Japan’s Kwantung Army was smaller than the eastern part of Manchuria, but it planned to build a line of forts to defend itself inside the Daxing’anling Mountains, and it was thought that that would be enough.

It would not be possible to operate a large armored force in this type of terrain.

And it was obvious that the Korean army had taken over and was using those fortresses, and the situation would not have changed much.

However, Vasilevsky planned an operation that would catch these stereotypes off guard.

Since the enemy would have no idea that they would deal with a large mechanized unit, the plan was to use a large mechanized unit in a wedge shape to quickly break through the enemy’s defense line and join the 1st Far Eastern Front Army advancing west from the east at Changchun.

Therefore, Vasilevsky’s order to the Zabaikal Front was to advance 350km toward the center of Manchuria on the 10th to 15th days of the operation.

It may seem reckless at first glance, but it was a feasible operation with current forces.

However, Malinovsky had no choice but to hesitate in giving the order to advance.

Advance to a place where you know nothing, no matter how powerful the commander was, he had no choice but to hesitate.

But he had no choice.

“Tell them to advance. According to the plan, Kravchenko’s 6th Guards Tank Army will take the lead, and the two combined arms armies of the 17th and 39th armies will take charge of the right and left wings!”

“Understood, Comrade Commander!”

“And how are the 12th Air Force’s preparations for sortie?”

“We are planning a large-scale air strike at 07:30.”

“I tell you to sweep away everything you see, and pay special attention to reconnaissance! Don’t you need to know what kind of situation these damn people are in?”

“I will instruct you that way.”

07:10.

Dashing’anling Mountains, also known as Horohon Passage, 20km ahead.

6th Guards Tank Army Headquarters.

“Damn, the order finally came.”

Commander of the 6th Guards Tank Army, Major Andrei Grigoryevich Krabchenko, opened his mouth with a dissatisfied expression.

“ruler! The order has been given! “We will take control of the Horohon Passage today and advance at high speed starting tomorrow!”

“Yes, Comrade Commander!”

Following Krabchenko’s orders, the 6th Guards Tank Army began to advance all at once.

The composition and organization of the 6th Guards Tank Army were different from other tank groups.

With the expansion of the scope of operations, the tank and motorized rifle corps were increased, with 1 tank corps, 2 mechanized corps, 2 motorized rifle divisions, 2 self-propelled artillery brigades, 2 light artillery brigades, and 1 motorcycle regiment. It now possesses power that has been ignored.

As soon as the order was given, more than 1,000 tanks and self-propelled guns, starting with the Motorcycle Regiment, the advance guard, headed toward the Horohon passage, blowing dust.

A truly effortless advance.

Krabchenko thought that he would be able to fully control the Kholohon passage by 2 PM, not today.

Of course, that was the plan until I got hit.

07:15.

Headquarters of the 1st Field Army of the Republic of Korea Army, east of Tongliao.

“It’s finally coming.”

“Wow, it’s pitch black!”

“It looks like a pack of dogs… … .”

“How many people are there? How many tanks?”

Lieutenant General Nam Byeong-woo and his staff exclaimed in exclamation as they watched the real-time video on the monitor.

This was because the Soviet army was unable to spread out wide horizontally due to the rough terrain, and the sight of the Soviet army advancing in a wedge shape was remarkable.

“The center is the 6th Guards Tank Army, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“There are so many.”

“Still, it’s nice to see them flocking together.”

“Fuhaha! That’s right. “Aren’t they crazy?”

“It looks like they think we all died in the shelling earlier.”

“Children, at least send out a scouting party first. Anyway, it’s perfect for catching and killing him. Leave it alone until it approaches 5km ahead of the Horohon Passage. We will take charge of the 6th Guards Tank Army and the 39th Army to the north, and the 2nd Corps will take charge of the 17th Army and the Soviet-Mongolian cavalry and mechanized group.”

“All right.”

“I tell you to focus on KH-178A1 and KH-179A1 for this bombardment. K9 and K55 need to save their barrel life for when they advance. “Because we don’t know how many shots will be fired.”

“Then I will tell you to fire the self-propelled guns only at the beginning.”

“Yes, do that.”

KH-178A1 and KH-179A1 are 105mm and 155mm howitzers produced here, and since they are newly made, the gun barrels are completely new.

07:35.

5km ahead of the Horohon passage.

Grumbling.

Crumbling.

Buuuuuung.

The tanks, self-propelled guns, and various vehicles of the 6th Guards Tank Army were advancing fearfully.

There was nothing in the way.

It was then.

Ssssssssssssssssss!

bang! bang! Quang! bang!

“Artillery, artillery fire!”

bang! bang! bang!

“Holy shit! “The enemy artillery was still alive!”

“Keep advancing! “If we enter the Horohon Passage, it will be difficult to bombard us!”

“Sokka! Bleot (Jotto)!”

The Soviet troops of the 6th Guards Tank Army rushed frantically toward the Horohon passage, pounding double-barreled weapons.

But even so, it was like a moth flying into a fire pit.

As terrifyingly accurate artillery fire fell on the dense lines, all hell began to unfold.

Quang! Quang! bang! bang! bang!

“Kaaah!”

“Ugh!”

“Stalin suck!”

There are 300 155mm guns allocated to the 6th Guards Tank Army, including new and old KH-179s, and 50 K9 self-propelled guns and K55 self-propelled guns.

In addition, there are many 105 mm, including the KH-178A1 and other wind-winged ones.

This was a massacre.

bang! bang! Quang! Quang!

The running T34-85 tank overturned and the SU-100 self-propelled howitzer exploded.

This is what makes artillery bombardment scary.

Even if it exploded at close range without hitting a direct hit, armored forces such as tanks and self-propelled guns lost their mobility or were neutralized.

The armored vehicle looked like this, but it goes without saying that the regular vehicles and infantry that were advancing together for combined arms cooperation were like this.

Quang! bang! bang! Quang!

“Aaaah!”

“My intestines are out! “Wow!”

“My legs! “Give me my leg!”

Limbs and limbs were flying everywhere and intestines were hanging out like a clothesline.

If there is hell, it would be here.

“Oh, this can’t be right!”

Sergeant Krabchenko, who was watching the situation through a telescope from the rear, could not believe this situation.

What on earth is this terrifying bombardment?

How can it be so accurate?

His own men were being slaughtered.

As many as 80,000 of his subordinates.

“Yes, Comrade Commander! Take action!”

“… … .”

There was no way there was a solution.

Even if we fire back, wouldn’t we need to know where they are?

Moreover, the artillery in the rear was the first to explode due to their artillery fire.

Showing off a truly unbelievable range.

“Damn it!”

“Comrade Commander!”

“Tell them to retreat!”

“All right.”

Eventually an order to retreat was given.

“And then contact command and ask for aviation! Request air support!”

“All right!”

07:55.

12th Air Army Headquarters under the Zabaikal Front.

“Commander! Requests for air support are coming in from all fronts!”

“No, what on earth is this…” … .”

Khudyakov, commander of the 12th Air Army, could not come to his senses.

This is because requests for air support were pouring in not only from the 6th Guards Tank Army, which was advancing with great vigor, but also from all fronts.

About 300 fighter jets have already launched the first wave of air strikes.

However, the current situation could not be resolved with only 300 units.

“Are you ready for the second wave sortie?”

“About 200 units are available within 20 minutes.”

“Get it ready as quickly as possible! “The wires are unusual!”

“All right!”

“Damn it! “How on earth is this going on?”

Krabchenko, who had stronger pride than anyone else and had been shouting that air support was not necessary, cried out and requested support.

It’s almost unbelievable considering his usual arrogance.

In short, it was a truly urgent situation.

08:05.

Oooooh!

The first wave of air raids, consisting of Yak-9 fighters, Lavochkin La-5 fighters, and Ilyushin IL-10 attack aircraft, covered the sky and were approaching the Dashing’anling Mountains.

Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Ivanovich, who led the raid team, was astonished by the scene unfolding below.

Because I saw such a powerful ally covered in blood.

Lieutenant Colonel Ivanovic gritted his teeth.

First of all, what should we do with that damn bombardment?

-He is the leader. Our troops are dying on the ground.

―… … .

-As soon as we cross the Dashing’anling Mountains, our top priority is to capture and destroy their artillery.

-All right!

The moment I crossed the mountain range.

Buuuuuck!

The K263A1 self-propelled Vulcan cannon spit out a beam of light.

bang!

Buuuuuck! Buuuuuck!

bang! bang!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

bang! bang! bang!

The 40mm gun of the K21 infantry fighting vehicle, whose main gun was based on the Bofors anti-aircraft gun, roared towards the sky, and the Soviet fighter planes that were crossing the mountain range fell like leaves in a cold wind.

Finally, when the Cheonho 30mm anti-aircraft gun joined in, the low-altitude Soviet 12th Air Army’s air raid group crashed or exploded in the air, emitting smoke.

bang! bang! bang!

-Shit! Sucks! Blah! Increase altitude!

Wooooow!

The surviving Soviet air raiders simultaneously increased altitude.

And the plan was to eliminate those damn air defense guns by bombing from high altitude or diving in.

But it was only a plan before being beaten.

Sigh!

What appeared to be a white stick flew out of nowhere at an alarming speed and attacked them.

It was a Shingung missile launched from an F4U Corsair fighter jet.

Shuaaaaaa! Shuaaaaaa!

bang! bang! bang! bang!

The 1st Air Raid Corps of the Soviet Army’s 12th Air Army began to disappear in a ball of fire.