Empire Conquest-Chapter 786 - 65: Forward Position

"Defense line" is actually a traditional and somewhat simplistic concept.

A defense line is not a single line but rather a strip-like area. Modern warfare’s defense lines are not continuous but assembled from numerous fortifications.

The sturdiness of these fortifications and the density of deployment are determined by military needs and battlefield conditions.

The barbed wire and trenches common to traditional defense lines have nearly vanished in modern warfare.

The main structure of a defense line is in fact a scattering of foxholes, interspersed with fortified firepower points reinforced with sandbags and sleepers.

Compared to previous wars, especially during the First Global War, today’s defense lines are considered very rudimentary.

However, for modern warfare that has achieved electronic automation and is about to enter the information age, fixed defense lines are not the decisive factor for victory.

In a sense, a defense line is like an artificially delineated boundary.

Of course, attempting to break through a defense line constructed and guarded by modern armies is absolutely not an easy task and always incurs a heavy cost.

North of Astrakhan, on the east bank of the Volga River, lies such a defense line.

The defense line’s forefront is on the crest of low hills, actually only about 20 meters higher than the plain east of the Volga River. This height difference happens to provide cover for tanks on reverse-slope positions, allowing the tanks to rely on preset firepower support points to deal with enemies coming from the north.

At both ends of the defense line are slightly higher hills, forming two key defensive zones.

The reason for setting the defense line here is singular.

It’s right next to the highway and railway leading to Astrakhan.

The highway is on the west side of the defense line, less than 500 meters away, overlooking from the hill at the west end of the line, a few heavy machine guns can block it.

The railway is on the east side of the defense line, approximately 1000 meters away.

Though a bit farther, it still falls within the firing range of large-caliber machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, and the small-caliber mortars allocated to companies and platoons.

Moreover, both the highway and railway are within the range of anti-tank missiles operated by infantry.

Regardless of whether the enemy advancing from the north takes the highway or railway, they must pass in front of the defense line, thereby suffering firepower strikes from the defending forces.

Evidently, for the enemy to proceed southward, they must capture this defense line!

According to plan, the Eastern Luosha Army should deploy a reinforced regiment with 4,000 troops to guard this defense line, which extends nearly 10 kilometers in length and 2 kilometers in depth.

What indeed arrived was a reinforced infantry regiment, but it was understrength!

Nominally, the regiment has four infantry battalions and one independent artillery battalion, along with numerous regiment-level support companies, but actual manpower was less than 2,400, just 60% of the intended 4,000. Crucially, there’s not only a shortage of heavy artillery and other main battle equipment, but also a severe lack of anti-tank firepower.

The entire regiment has only 12 sets of anti-tank missile launchers, with only more than 20 missiles allocated.

This handful of missiles can’t last through a single battle!

The single reason: it’s a reserve force.

On the side of Astrakhan, the Eastern Luosha Army has no regular troops.

To be precise, the only regular troops are stationed in Astrakhan, responsible for strategic retreat operations, organizing the locals and businesses to move to the rear.

They’re also accountable for Astrakhan’s defensive deployment.

Evidently, even the authorities of Eastern Luosha acknowledge that Astrakhan cannot be held. Even if it could be, the city would be turned into ruins amidst the war.

All other regular troops are at a relatively far distance, mainly concentrated on the west bank of the Volga River, that is, near the Chains Land Bridge.

This reserve infantry regiment, in peacetime, had less than 30% of its personnel on duty, and it was already quite impressive that they could more than double the manpower within a few days.

Fortunately, the quality of the personnel isn’t too poor.

In any case, most of the troops are retired soldiers under the age of 45, undergoing one month of concentrated training annually.

When Situ Lin arrived with his forces, this unit had already withstood three enemy attacks.

In reality, they mainly relied on the earlier-arrived low-altitude assault force as well as support from the long-range artillery deployed about 30 kilometers at the rear.

After learning that the 04101 Battalion was Empire Army’s reinforcement, the Lieutenant responsible for supplies personally led Situ Lin to the frontline.

Hundreds of meters of distance, twisting and turning, took over ten minutes, and at several open areas, the two still crawled their way through rapidly. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

This was unavoidable, as no one could be certain there weren’t enemy snipers outside the defense line.

Of course, to be accurate, they should be marked down as precision marksmen within grassroots wings.

Within the Empire Army and Eastern Luosha Army, each platoon has several precision marksmen equipped with sniper rifles, tasked primarily with targeting enemy high-value personnel.

Typically, this refers to the frontline commanders.

The frontline command post is about 100 meters from the front line, well concealed.

From outside, it looks more like an ordinary firepower point.

Since there’s a gap between the front and the command post, the probability of the command post being a focus of attacks in battle isn’t high, relatively speaking, it’s safer.

"Report!"

After calling out the report, the Lieutenant who brought Situ Lin turned and left.

Though speaking in Luosha language, Situ Lin and those officers stationed long-term in Eastern Luosha could understand simple orders.

The regiment commander was Colonel Pavlov, a nearly 50-year-old veteran officer.

"Major Situ Lin of the Empire Army’s 04101 Battalion, reporting in!" Situ Lin knew protocol, standing at attention and saluting before Colonel Pavlov turned around.