GBP Chapter 154: All-out Counterattack
Chapter 154: All-out Counterattack
After receiving Pu Zhengsong's battle report, Kuang Zhengqi ordered a counterattack in the direction of Kom Ongbu without hesitation, and ordered the 5037th Mechanized Brigade and the 84th Regiment to immediately make a full-speed detour, and the 7th Tank Division to advance, to bite the German 21st Tank Division at all costs, and to tie it down on the high ground south of Kom Ongbu, forcing it to be unable to take care of both the front and the rear.
Von Arnim also received a report from Lieutenant General Schexmann that the 3rd Tank Division had suffered heavy losses and was retreating towards Kom-on-Br. He immediately realized the huge gap in the defense and ordered Kruewel's 21st Tank Division to withdraw and the 151st Grenadier Division to deploy along the perimeter of Kom-on-Br to prepare for the Second Army's counterattack.
Von Arnim knew he had to defend Kom Ombo, giving the Italian Fifth Army time to consolidate its defensive positions in key towns along the route. The 5st Tank Army on the west bank had to withdraw, crossing the river at Besseliya as quickly as possible to join the battle on the east bank. If Kom Ombo could not hold out, the German southern group would have to fall back to Luxor, where the German-Italian coalition had a vital supply depot, air base, and abundant material support, allowing it to confront the Second Army. The area south of Luxor would have to be abandoned.
Soon, the armored forces of the 114th Tank Division rushed to the outskirts of Komong and engaged in a fierce battle with the German 151st Grenadier Division. The 82nd Mechanized Infantry Regiment, the Army Rocket Artillery Regiment (missing 1 battalion), and the Engineer Regiment also joined the battle. Dozens of artillery pieces bombarded the German defensive positions, especially the rocket artillery, which fired round after round without regard for their lives. The Engineer Regiment's demolition battalion quickly cleared a German minefield, and the 114th, 7th, and 8th Tank Regiments of the 9th Division entered one after another. The German 151st Division was unable to stop the powerful tank cluster charge, and the outer positions were constantly disintegrating at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Von Arnim ordered the 3rd Tank Division to ignore the battle at Kom Ombu and retreat northwards, and to establish a defense line with the 80th Division of the British Army at North Ridissier, 11 kilometers away, to ensure the safety of the 1st Tank Army's southern wing crossing the river. At the same time, it prevented the US and British troops from advancing westwards along the Balamiyeh Highway and seizing the Baiseliye Ferry.
As von Arnim expected, the 5037th Brigade and the 84th Regiment of the Second Army marched day and night, detouring to the north with the aim of occupying Balamiyeh as soon as possible and cutting off the connecting road to Port Alam. At the same time, the British 17th Division also received an order to march quickly at all costs to seize Port Alam, and then advance westward along the kilometer line to meet up with the Second Army's northbound column (5037th Brigade and 84th Regiment), raid the ferry on the east bank of Basseliya, prevent the German 1st Tank Army from crossing east, and cut off the German 3rd Tank Army's escape route to the north.
The 7th Tank Division engaged in another fierce battle with the German 21st Tank Division. Strand, executing Kuang Zhengqi's orders effectively, pressed forward across the board, tightly pinning Kluwer down and denying him a chance to escape. Despite Kluwer's superior manpower and firepower, the 21st Division was unable to defeat Strand's 7th Tank Division in a short period of time. Von Arnim's orders were simple and direct: the 21st Division must disengage from the enemy as quickly as possible and retreat north of Besseliya. If necessary, it could retreat directly to Luxor to protect the Luxor airport and supply lines.
One side desperately clung to the fight, while the other had no intention of fighting and just wanted to get away as quickly as possible. The advantaged side was losing ground, while the weaker side refused to give in. As a last resort, Kruwell ordered the 143rd Tank Regiment to stay behind, while the rest of the troops fled north at full speed.
Christine's tank company only had 7 Panthers capable of combat. This was the most difficult time for him since he entered the African battlefield. Even in Benghazi, North Africa, when he was a lieutenant platoon leader, driving a Type 37 tank, facing the British Churchill, the 4mm caliber artillery could not penetrate the armor of the Churchill I. He was the only one left intact among the tanks in the platoon. He was still full of passion and rushed towards the two Churchills. In the end, he defeated the enemy with his clever tactics and fearless spirit, achieving an amazing record of destroying one tank and capturing one.
However, at this moment, he felt much more serious. The opponent's highly mobile Jagdpanzer destroyer in the distance posed a great threat to him. He quickly commanded Tank No. 155 to move at a small angle and successfully destroyed an M4 of the opponent and a Jagdpanzer that attempted to attack him. However, the Tank No. 156 where his deputy Himm was located was destroyed, and the crew did not even have a chance to escape.
The regimental commander ordered all tanks to withdraw and form a circular formation with the grenadier and artillery battalions, aiming to hold off the enemy for as long as possible. However, their own tank company was already surrounded by an enemy tank battalion. The enemy's M1A6 heavy tanks, while slow-moving, were threatening with their 1mm guns. Several Panthers in the company were pinned down by the enemy's M105s and then damaged by the 4mm guns of the M6 heavy tanks or M6 Hunters.
"Turn right quickly!" Christine yelled. The enemy's M6 heavy tank's artillery was aimed at her. The clever Christine noticed it and quickly gave orders to the driver!
"Whoosh!", the shell whizzed past the edge of the No. 155 turret, and the entire crew broke out in a cold sweat.
"Turn left and knock out the M500 4 meters away." Christine calmed down and quickly gave the order. By knocking out this obstacle, they had a chance to escape the siege and reunite with the regiment headquarters.
"Boom——" Tank No. 155 fired and hit the left side of the opposite M032 No. 4. The shell did not explode but bounced off!
Without Christine's order, the driver immediately reversed and turned to avoid the opponent's gun muzzle, giving the loader time to reload.
"Boom--", a shell flew from nowhere and exploded on the side of No. 155. Fortunately, the driver's son turned, otherwise, the shell would have hit tank No. 155.
At this time, the loader had completed loading, and No. 155 was full of firepower again. It rushed out from the low position where it was hiding and calmly fired at an M4 that was rushing towards it.
The enemy tank was destroyed. Before Christine could breathe a sigh of relief, two shells struck. One hit the front, sending the crew reeling with shock. Christine, involuntarily, bumped against the gun sight, leaving a long gash on his head and blood pouring out. Another shell struck the left side of the tank.
Christine pulled a towel from her pocket, pressing it against the wound, and hurriedly asked about everyone's situation. By then, the crew had returned to their positions, but the driver couldn't start the tank. The track had been broken. Just then, another round struck the tank, fortunately missing the penetration. However, black smoke was already billowing from the engine, and the smoke was entering the tank's interior.
"Abandon the car!" Christine had to give the order, and at the same time grabbed the MP18 hanging on the seat, opened the top cover, and rushed out first!