Empire Conquest-Chapter 878 - 109: Encirclement Complete

Although Ding Zhennan always felt that the first phase of the assault operation did not go very smoothly, strictly speaking, the battle to attack Basra went quite well.

On the night of the 18th, which was the day the attack was relaunched, the assault forces led by Liu Zunshan had already moved to the outskirts of Nasiriyah.

According to Ding Zhennan’s deployment, the 5th Marine Division mobilized the campaign reserve team in the afternoon, occupied an open area adjacent to Highway 1 outside Nasiriyah through an air assault. After establishing the defensive line, a field runway was leveled out, providing takeoff and landing space for transport aircraft.

Before the assault forces arrived, more than 30 tactical transport aircraft arranged by Ding Zhennan delivered approximately 700 tons of ammunition and supplies. Besides providing supplies to the assault forces, they also delivered equipment needed for the expansion of the camp to the air assault forces guarding the area.

Thereafter, the camp was expanded around the field airport, becoming a key node on the transportation network from Basra to Baghdad.

According to the later plans made by the Empire Army, this camp would be expanded into a comprehensive military base and named after Liu Zunshan, i.e., "Zunshan Comprehensive Support Base," with the field airport also expanded into a regular airport capable of accommodating large transport and combat aircraft. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

During the operation to attack Baghdad, this base played a vital role. The airlifted combat supplies to this place, then forwarded to the frontline accounted for one-third of total consumption. Forward-deployed tactical aircraft, particularly the armed helicopters of the Army and Marine Corps, provided powerful support for the assault operation. Also, thousands of wounded were flown from here and promptly sent to the rear for treatment.

As for the forces defending this base, they were later reinforced to an Infantry Brigade.

After the end of the Boi War, this base became a foothold for the Alliance Army to control central Iraq, with nearly 100,000 officers and soldiers stationed at its peak.

By the afternoon of the 19th, the assault forces led by Liu Zunshan reached Jeliba.

Due to not encountering any substantial resistance along the route, naval air forces and marine air forces resumed air support during the daytime of the 19th, with marine air forces deploying several armed helicopters to the field base in Nasiriyah, providing strong support to the assault forces. Therefore, the assault forces paused for less than two hours in Jeliba, mainly to refuel and resupply ammo for the tanks and armored vehicles.

Before it got dark, the assault forces set off again.

As a result, by dawn on the 20th, the assault forces had already pushed to the outskirts of Rumaila.

In fact, before the arrival of the assault forces, transport helicopters arranged by Ding Zhennan had already delivered an infantry battalion to the outskirts of Rumaila.

Critically, these infantrymen encountered the defending Iraqi Army in Rumaila and engaged in battle.

Even though they received air support, lacking armored strength, the infantry with only light weapons could at most hold their positions.

When Liu Zunshan led the assault forces to arrive, the situation improved.

At this point, Liu Zunshan had completed the combat missions arranged by Ding Zhennan.

Rumaila is less than 40 kilometers from Basra and is a satellite town of Basra. Advancing to Rumaila is considered to have reached the outskirts of Basra.

By the morning of the 20th, when assault forces strongly attacked Rumaila, two infantry battalions that landed north of Kuwait City finally got prepared.

With over 100 tracked armored vehicles, mainly Army BZ-68 armored transporters.

In the Marine Corps, especially the infantry units, there are no infantry fighting vehicles, using amphibious assault vehicles instead, alongside quite a few armored transporters.

Of course, this also relates to the combat environment of the Marine Corps.

In the organizational system of the Marine Corps, amphibious assault vehicles with floating capabilities, capable of directly transporting personnel from landing ships to the beach, and providing certain armor protection, are equivalent to Army infantry fighting vehicles. Since operations primarily take place in coastal areas, the Marine Corps does not need specialized infantry vehicles.

As for the BZ-68 series armored transporters, whether in the Army or the Marine Corps, they play the role of battlefield taxis, transporting combat personnel from the rear to the frontline, minimizing casualties during transport, without undertaking accompanying tank combat or such combat missions.

On the tactical level, BZ-68 replaces military jeeps.

Despite being more expensive and much slower, BZ-68 is a genuine tracked vehicle, far superior to jeeps in field driving performance.

That is, BZ-68 has truly granted Army infantry the capability to advance alongside tanks.

Consequently, armored transporters have become the most equipped tracked armored vehicles.

The BZ-68 model, developed and procured before the Boi War, with a combat weight of less than 15 tons, is capable of carrying a crew of 2 and accommodating 10 personnel. Not only has it produced approximately 50,000 units over the past 20 years, equipping armies across dozens of countries including the Empire Army and Marine Corps, but it also now serves as the main transport platform of the Empire Army, having developed into dozens of improved versions.

For instance, self-propelled mortar vehicles equipped with 120mm mortars.

Furthermore, there are infantry fighting vehicle models equipped with a turret and 30mm machine guns.

BZ-68’s large output and wide procurement by so many countries are not due to its superior performance but because it is sufficiently cheap.

To be fair, BZ-68’s performance cannot be considered good at all.