Empire Conquest-Chapter 869 - 104: Long-Range Raid (Part 2)

To put it directly, it’s a direct assault on the capital!

If Baghdad is taken, it can force Iraqi troops in other areas to surrender, thereby shortening the duration of large-scale combat operations to the maximum extent.

However, that doesn’t mean no actions will be taken from the Kuwait side.

In Ding Zhennan’s operational plan, the Marine Corps will launch a feigned attack from the Kuwait side to pin down the Iraqi elite forces deployed in that direction.

The key is that the troops in that direction actually only consist of two battalions, and both are synthetic infantry battalions.

Throughout August, the Marine Corps’ primary task was to transport ships carrying the 5th Marine Division to Daman Port, unload the equipment at night, camouflage it before dawn, and then ship it by rail to avoid enemy detection of the Alliance’s troop movements.

It’s not Iraq that we are wary of, but reconnaissance satellites of the Newland Republic.

Because ships can only be arranged to dock and unload at night, with operations lasting just a few hours, tasks that could originally be completed within a few days spanned nearly a month.

Currently, the transport ships deployed to Boss Bay are indeed loaded with ammunition and other combat supplies.

The main forces of the 5th Marine Division have long been transferred near Rafha, and are all hidden and deployed.

To avoid exposure, combat troops are dispersedly deployed, and daily consumed supplies, especially food and fresh water, are delivered by helicopters. Importantly, all camps are camouflaged, such as covering the roofs of barracks with a layer of yellow sand to disguise them as sand dunes.

As for logistics supplies after the attack, they will be undertaken by two infantry divisions from Saudi Arabia.

For this, Saudi Arabia has not only assembled about 5,000 military trucks but also urgently requisitioned thousands of transport vehicles capable of desert driving.

Actually, the mission of the 5th Marine Division is relatively easy.

After entering Iraqi territory, the 5th Marine Division would advance directly to Sellerman and occupy this small town located in the middle of the southern desert of Iraq.

This is the first day’s assault target.

Afterward, the vanguard assault forces of the 5th Marine Division would continue to march to Samawa and capture this strategically significant town in the Two River area.

Crucially, this is the boundary point between the Marine Corps and Army operational areas.

According to Ding Zhennan’s arrangement, after occupying Samawa, the 5th Marine Division is to turn around and start advancing downstream towards Basra.

By then, the Alliance deployed in Saudi Arabia would also simultaneously attack Kuwait.

In other words, the task to liberate Kuwait and occupy the southern Iraqi region falls on the ground forces of the 5th Marine Division and the Alliance.

The key is to secure the logistics supply line.

Therefore, Ding Zhennan clearly told the officers and men of the 5th Marine Division that they only have one week, at most ten days, to capture Basra and control the roads and railways from Basra to Samawa, ensuring materials transported to Basra can be sent to the frontline.

After that, the Army’s leading attack on Baghdad will unfold.

To sweep through one-third of Iraq within a week!?

It’s not impossible, but the difficulty is indeed quite high.

The main issue is logistical support.

While working out the details of the operational plan, junior officers including Liu Zunshan proposed that logistical support must keep up as a priority.

The ground push spans over 1200 kilometers, with one-third being field marching.

According to the Imperial Army’s tactical guidelines, armored forces should refuel after advancing 200 kilometers in the field. Even advancing along roads, refueling is needed every 300 to 350 kilometers. Should there be a potential engagement, the refueling frequency should increase by 50%.

In high-intensity combat, the daily advance distance for armored forces is often just tens of kilometers.

During the last major battle, even in blitzkrieg, no armored force at group army level exceeded a daily advance of 50 kilometers.

To put it directly, every step forward by armored forces is built on a massive pile of supplies.

Modern warfare is no different; armored crews must keep their tanks at 60% fuel reserve at all times, ensuring they can engage any enemy encountered without depleting fuel and losing tactical mobility, thereby leading to being overwhelmed in skirmishes.

Thus, advancing 1200 kilometers requires 5 to 8 refuels for fuel alone.

Obviously, ammunition also needs replenishment.

If logistical support couldn’t keep up, then everything is just empty talk.

Fortunately, Ding Zhennan has made sufficient arrangements for guarantees.

Aside from thousands of transport vehicles provided by Saudi Arabia, the Alliance deployed over a thousand helicopters, among which about one-third are heavy transport helicopters specifically designated for conveying combat supplies to the frontline, ensuring assault troops can receive support at any time.

Furthermore, they are to intensify aerial offensives to reduce assault troops’ operational consumption as much as possible.

Actually, the Marine Corps is also making efforts.

In the King Khalid Military City, there’s a Marine Corps Air Force with dozens of armed helicopters and over a hundred attack aircraft.

The armed helicopters will be stationed at the temporary base in Rafha after ground warfare initiates, providing support to the ground troops. As for the attack aircraft deployed at King Khalid Military City, they are uniformly dispatched and commanded by the Alliance Headquarters, mainly targeting operations in southern Iraq.

Moreover, the Army left an Independent Artillery Brigade in Rafha to assist the Marine Corps in combat.

It’s undeniable that the Marine Corps has always lacked long-range artillery.

It’s not that the Marine Corps cannot afford large-caliber howitzers and long-range rocket artillery; rather, there hasn’t been a need for them in the past few decades.

In amphibious operations or coastal engagements, the Marine Corps could call on the Fleet for artillery support at any time; the Navy’s battleships serve as the Marine Corps’ artillery.

All Destroyers and Cruisers of the Imperial Navy are equipped with at least one 130mm naval gun, and some Escort Ships are also equipped with such guns.

The primary value of these large-caliber naval guns is to provide firepower support for the Marine Corps during amphibious operations.

In the Landing Fleet, especially during amphibious assault operations, often several battleships specifically assigned to provide firepower support to Landing Forces are included.

Sometimes, even battleships and large cruisers with mighty firepower!

According to Ding Zhennan, he has marshaled all available support, and the Marine Corps’ mission is just to follow the plan to sweep through southern Iraq.

Having arrived in Saudi Arabia first, and having fought a battle with the Iraqi troops in July, Liu Zunshan rightly takes on the burden of the assault mission.

Still led by the composite battalion under his command.

Unlike over a month ago, there are now an additional motorized infantry company, an air defense company, and a logistical support battalion, bringing the total enhanced strength to over 800 personnel.

It’s still not much, to be honest.

Theoretically, a reinforced battalion of the Marine Corps could reach up to 2000 personnel, akin to an Army regiment in the past.

Indeed, small yet complete functionality has always been characteristic of the Marine Corps’ battalion-level combat units.

After all, in the battlegrounds faced by the Marine Corps, it’s often necessary to possess relatively comprehensive combat capabilities to handle various unforeseen situations.

Of course, the forces bearing the assault task remain the three armored companies and three motorized infantry companies.

Despite assaulting in the open field, armored forces still maintain a neat formation.

At 5:30 promptly, the tank commandeered by Liu Zunshan crossed the border line, entering Iraqi territory.

Thanks to excellent concealment, there were no Iraqi troops guarding the border in that direction, hence no encounter with any obstacle whilst crossing the border line.

Before 6 o’clock, several helicopters flew over the armored forces.

They weren’t mighty armed helicopters, but nimble reconnaissance helicopters.

According to intelligence provided by the Air Force, south of Samawa, there weren’t any systematically deployed Iraqi troops, hence no need for armed helicopters to be dispatched prematurely.

Nevertheless, the Marine Corps still sent several reconnaissance helicopters as a precaution.

Of course, this is standard assault tactics.

Reconnaissance helicopters pave the path ahead, allowing armored forces to maintain their march, saving fuel and maintaining the troops’ energy.

If an enemy is encountered ahead, assault forces can prepare for battle upon receiving the notice.

Honestly, Liu Zunshan does not believe it will go smoothly.

The straight-line distance from Rafha to Samawa exceeds 120 kilometers; even charging directly, tanks at field marching speed maxed at 30 kilometers per hour would require at least four hours, whereas delays might take it up to five or six hours typically.

Within these five to six hours, could Iraqi troops do nothing?