Empire Conquest-Chapter 804 - 73: The Fall of the Defensive Line (Part 2)
In fairness, the Air Force can’t be blamed for this.
When designing the "Attack-9," the Air Force sought the Army’s opinion, and the Army assumed that night combat situations were uncommon, so they didn’t insist on the capability for nighttime operations, only emphasizing combat effectiveness in harsh conditions.
One reason was that the Army didn’t anticipate how quickly night vision equipment would be promoted and popularized; the other was to avoid bearing additional costs.
Since it is a specialized attack aircraft mainly servicing ground forces, the "Attack-9" is a joint project funded by both the Air Force and the Army.
As a result, about one-third of the procurement and maintenance costs for the "Attack-9" are provided by the Army, and the remaining two-thirds are included in joint expenses between military branches, still squeezing the Army budget. For the Army, whose budget was already small and had long been surpassed by the Air Force and Navy, if they must develop low-altitude support forces, they’d rather spend money on armed helicopters directly under their control.
Consequently, the "Attack-9A" was designed very simply.
Of course, these deficiencies will all be addressed in the "Attack-9B."
With the addition of just one optical aiming device, the "Attack-9B" now possesses nighttime combat capability, able to provide fire support to ground forces at any time.
It must be said, that 40mm Gatling Machine Gun is truly a powerful weapon.
Because it’s the main weapon of the "Attack-9" and there’s no replacement for it temporarily, the Imperial Army retained this caliber of ammunition.
Don’t forget, whether it’s Infantry Fighting Vehicles or armed helicopters, they all use 30mm machine guns.
Additionally, the Imperial Navy’s close-in defense system also uses 30mm machine guns, which can share ammunition with the Army’s machine guns.
As for Air Force fighters, they standardized on 30mm aircraft guns more than 20 years ago.
Indeed, 30mm is not only the standard caliber for the Imperial Military but also the Eastern Group’s standard caliber, adopted by all member states of the Group. Since 40mm is not a standard caliber, it hasn’t been incorporated into the Group’s logistics support system and must be undertaken by the Imperial Army itself.
40mm ammunition dates back to high-altitude guns in the Second Global War.
According to the Eastern Group’s internal agreement, the "Attack-9" will be the last combat platform equipped with 40mm machine guns, and this caliber weapon will be phased out afterward.
Even if there is a need for medium caliber ammunition between 30mm and 100mm, a larger caliber will be considered. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
If expectations are met, the next generation of Infantry Fighting Vehicles should use 60mm machine guns and are highly likely to choose burrowing shells.
For now, the 40mm Gatling Machine Gun on the "Attack-9A" still holds irreplaceable value.
Simply put, this machine gun can destroy any moving target!
Main Battle Tanks are absolutely not a problem.
In theory, 40mm sub-caliber armor-piercing bullets can penetrate 250mm thick armor, and globally, no Main Battle Tank has an upper armor thickness reaching 250mm.
Even the ZT-99B’s upper armor thickness is within 100mm.
Critically, the 40mm high-explosive bomb’s lethality against personnel is equivalent to 5 times that of a grenade.
Typically, two-thirds of the ammunition box of an "Attack-9A" is high-explosive bombs, as during combat the targets that require armor-piercing bullets for destruction are not many.
Most are soft targets, for which high-explosive bombs suffice.
Although only a few "Attack-9A" flew in, Situ Lin saw only 4, maybe 6, but that’s enough to give the enemies to the north a tough time.
The key is that besides the 40mm machine gun, the "Attack-9A" can carry several tons of bombs.
In extreme circumstances, the "Attack-9A" can carry up to 16 500 kg air bombs, or other equivalent weight munitions. In the Imperial Air Force’s ammunition warehouse, there are Cluster Bombs, Napalm Bombs, and other special munitions available, which can be freely combined.
For executing area bombardment, Napalm Bombs are mainly used.
This special bomb, originated from the last war and "grown extensively" by the Imperial Air Force, is a massive weapon against exposed personnel.
During the Boi War, the consumption of Napalm Bombs was also quite significant.
Besides, a more powerful Cloud Bomb, also known as Fuel-Air Bomb, was developed based on Napalm Bombs.
Out of habit, the Imperial Air Force still calls this type of munition "Napalm Bomb."
These "Attack-9A" first used Napalm Bombs.
After dropping bombs, they flew back to strafe enemies outside the bombing area with machine guns.
However, it wasn’t just the "Attack-9A" that flew in.
To the south, there’s another plane.
Similarly an attack aircraft, it’s the "Attack-2," the last type of tactical combat aircraft using propeller drive developed and equipped by the Imperial Air Force after the war.
During the Boi War, the "Attack-2" was always the primary close support force for the Imperial Air Force.
However, soon after the Boi War ended, the Imperial Air Force decommissioned all "Attack-2," and transferred the last procured dozens to the Army Air Force.
The Land Air Force didn’t use it as an attack aircraft but modified it into a battlefield observation aircraft.
To put it accurately, it’s a small reconnaissance aircraft.
In the Army’s tactical system, the task undertaken by the "Attack-2EG" is to carry coordination command personnel near the front line to guide rear strike forces, like long-range artillery, or command low-altitude assault forces conducting operations.
Of course, most of the time, it’s actually directing artillery and coordinating with Air Force attack aircraft.
If applied appropriately, it can greatly enhance combat efficiency.
Now, that "Attack-2EG" is executing coordination tasks, namely, by observing, directing the Air Force’s "Attack-9A" plane group to enemy positions.
As expected, in the rear seat position of the "Attack-2EG," sits a senior army officer.
According to the current command system, the observation coordination officer has the highest command authority to directly issue orders to combat units within the engagement area.
As for guiding artillery operations, it’s temporarily unnecessary.
Lian Mingyang made it clear that the defense line has been breached by the enemy, even if the Air Force’s reprisal can delay the enemy, there is no force to guard this defensive line, thus retreat is certainly needed, exchanging space for time, trying to organize a fight against the enemy tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.
Apparently, the artillery behind has also begun retreating.
In fact, there aren’t many artillery units.
It’s been an evening of combat, Eastern Luosha artillery conducted several tactical-level reprisals with not very satisfactory results, moreover, the long-range rocket artillery unit only appeared once.
Of course, there’s no qualification to criticize Eastern Luosha artillery.
The Imperial Army’s artillery has not participated in last night’s battle at all!
As for the artillery unit of the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division, it has not reached Atla yet, whether it can rush to Astrakhan in time, and participate in the defense of Astrakhan, remains uncertain.
Thinking of these, Situ Lin is extremely frustrated.
Although he was mentally prepared before setting out for Astrakhan, knowing this trip was to be a firefighter and will surely suffer heavy losses, but thinking of the main force still behind, and the enemy likely deploying the Reserve Team, continuing to advance towards Astrakhan, while his hands already lack usable force, not even a single spare tank, Situ Lin feels a sense of powerless exertion.
To be honest, this battle was fought quite disgracefully.
In all the exercises he participated in the past, none felt this embarrassing!
Even in exercises, often "wiped out," it’s just practice, no one takes it seriously.
The key is that sacrifices always yield rewards.
But this time, almost the entire battalion was exhausted, yet in the end, the mission couldn’t be completed, the crucial defense line couldn’t be held.
So, what’s the point of sacrifice?
After retreating, even if replenished and equipped with new tanks, in the next battle, should such senseless sacrifices be made again?
Situ Lin isn’t confused, it’s just that war is too brutal.
Regardless, the relatively peaceful situation has lasted for nearly half a century, and after the Boi War, the Empire has not experienced the baptism of war for over ten years.
For Situ Lin’s generation of Imperial soldiers, they have probably forgotten the cruelty of war.
Now those young people around 20 years old understand war mainly through films and novels!
However, this discomfort is only temporary.
Maybe a few days later, when driving the tank back on the battlefield, Situ Lin will be able to return to normal and become a genuine veteran.
