Erwin had been organizing the counterattacks from start to finish.
He believed that "the best defense is a good offense," and this was especially true for artillery battles.
Artillery shells cannot be defended against; where they land and the damage they cause are fixed: the artillery positions are there, they can’t move, they can’t be hidden, and they can’t be avoided or escaped, no one can decide whether they will be destroyed or not.
At this critical moment, the most important thing is to fire shells at the enemy and retaliate, only by doing this can the enemy’s artillery be gradually reduced, and the number of shells our side needs to endure will also decrease. For more chapters visıt novel※fire.net
The German Army artillery was well-trained and well-prepared.
Artillery observers, without waiting for orders, immediately gauged the enemy artillery positions and transmitted the data to the command post.
(Note: Calculating the positions of enemy artillery requires at least two groups of artillery observers spaced a certain distance apart. The principle is simple, akin to a middle school math problem, as shown in the following diagram.)
(The above illustration shows how to measure a tree’s height, the same principle applies to measuring distance and direction. The problem is that the angles observed by artillery observers are often not special angles, making calculations less simple.)
The command post calculated all the parameters and then transmitted the data to the artillery positions.
The frontline commander shouted out the parameters urgently and clearly:
"Target 102 (pre-set position on the map)."
"Graduation 356! (mils vertical angle)"
"Direction left 0-50. (mils horizontal angle)"
"All units, 10 rapid-fire rounds!"
Subordinate commanders repeated the parameters loudly, while the artillerymen tensed up and adjusted the gun barrels according to the parameters amidst the bombardment.
The whole process took less than 10 minutes, which was quite rapid in an era when radio was not widespread and most communication relied on telephone and shouting.
Finally, with a loud shout from the frontline commander: "Fire!"
Dozens of surviving cannons instantly roared at the enemy artillery positions.
"Boom boom boom boom!"
The German Army artillery, veterans of many battles, precisely hit the target positions. The artillery observers excitedly and eagerly reported over the telephone, "Target hit! Target hit!"
Erwin still felt it was not enough and immediately ordered another 5 rounds of rapid fire.
This time, the shells were more concentrated, creating bursts of fire and smoke at the target positions.
However, after the explosions and the sound of artillery had subsided, nothing was left.
The surrounding area was eerily quiet, only the cold wind whistling through the lingering smoke, occasionally accompanied by the groans and cries for help of the wounded, those artillerymen injured by enemy rocket missiles.
At least a dozen cannons around had been damaged in the recent bombardment, some areas were still ablaze, and if not promptly extinguished, could lead to larger accidents.
His subordinates would handle these matters.
Admiral Nicholas and Erwin looked at each other in the command post; this was too abnormal.
Once an artillery battle begins, both sides usually engage in fierce bombardments, where the faster one gains the upper hand until the other side can no longer hold on and retreats.
But now, there was no return fire from the opposite side at all.
"Did they retreat?" Erwin peered across with his binoculars, but saw nothing but smoke and trees.
"Impossible." Admiral Nicholas shook his head, "Ten artillery regiments, they have no reason to retreat."
The tactic of firing and leaving indeed exists.
But if there is an absolute firepower advantage, for instance, ten artillery regiments against our three, it would be our side retreating, not the enemy.
However, the reality was that the other side went silent, with no subsequent shells at all.
After hesitating for a moment, Admiral Nicholas ordered, "Send someone to reconnoiter."
Although it was behind the French Army’s lines, the scouts could approach and observe from high ground with binoculars.
"Yes, General," the staff officer answered, turning to relay the order.
Soon, intelligence came back from the front lines: "General, the target area contains nothing but shell craters."
This meant no results.
"That’s impossible!" Admiral Nicholas threw a questioning glance at the staff officer, with a hint of anger in his eyes.
Ten artillery regiments, such a massive force and artillery, even if not completely covered by shells, should at least leave some traces.
Moreover, they couldn’t have withdrawn from the target area within 10 minutes.
(Note: A 12-gun artillery battalion requires a personnel complement of 500, so ten artillery regiments would have at least 15,000 men, making a quick withdrawal unlikely.)
The staff officer answered helplessly, "We have confirmed repeatedly, there is indeed nothing in the target area."
Admiral Nicholas still couldn’t believe it: "No, there must be some mistake, the scouts found the wrong location, or the artillery observers made a calculation error..."
"General," Erwin interrupted Admiral Nicholas, "What if they are not wrong?"
"What do you mean?" Admiral Nicholas looked at Erwin in confusion.
Erwin’s face was pale as he answered slowly, "Did you notice that we were hit by rockets, not shells?"
Admiral Nicholas nodded, it was quite obvious.
"So," Erwin concluded, "There are no ten artillery regiments. What we are facing might be Shire’s new equipment, capable of launching numerous rockets in an instant and then relocating promptly."
Admiral Nicholas suddenly realized, his eyes widening in deep fear.
God, if this is the case, we would be constantly bombarded, our artillery reaction time unable to keep up with their relocation speed, making every shell we fire land in vain!
Erwin gently nodded, indicating that Admiral Nicholas was correct.
But they silently agreed not to say anything aloud.
These words must not be disclosed, as no one would want to "be constantly bombarded," this would severely impact the artillery’s morale, leading them to a desperate retreat and possibly causing the entire army to lose the will to fight!
Admiral Nicholas dismissed the staff officer, then took Erwin to the observation window, pretending to look through the binoculars across the river, and asked in a lowered voice, "What should we do now?"
"That’s just my speculation, General," Erwin said, "First, we need to confirm this speculation."
"How do we confirm it?"
"We need to send more scouts," Erwin replied hesitantly, "It would be best to send reconnaissance aircraft."
Admiral Nicholas’s expression became grim, but he still nodded.
Sending scouts was unrealistic; the front line was too long and wide, sending scouts everywhere would require an entire infantry division.
As for reconnaissance aircraft, enemy fighters were likely already in the sky waiting.
Just then, the air was suddenly filled with the sound of "whoosh whoosh whoosh," another wave of overwhelming rockets came roaring in.
Admiral Nicholas and Erwin exchanged a glance, it seemed there was no need for reconnaissance!