Empire Conquest-Chapter 899 - 119: Fighting Alone (Part 2)

To put it simply, the two artillery brigades have their own logistical units.

The 708th Brigade is a Low Altitude Assault Brigade.

Unlike the air support brigade reinforced to the 17th Armored Division, this brigade has an armed assault battalion equipped with over 30 armed helicopters and about 50 armed reconnaissance helicopters. Additionally, there are four assault transport battalions, equipped with over 300 general-purpose helicopters and heavy helicopters in total.

Because of the large number of armed helicopters, the 708th Low Altitude Assault Brigade possesses the strongest combat power in the entire military.

However currently, only five operational brigades, excluding the 709th Brigade, two artillery brigades, and some elements of the division’s direct subordinate battalions are deployed in Alal, with other units still in the rear.

The main reason is that there are not more places around Alal for covert deployment of troops.

In order to maintain concealment and avoid the enemy guessing the operational intent, the 7th Armored Division has not even built a field airport!

Of course, this is not a big problem.

The choice of Alal is precisely because there is a road leading into Iraqi territory, with its endpoint at Nuhayb.

Moreover, there is also an existing road starting from Nuhayb.

This means that the armored forces do not need to march in the wild and can advance along the road, while the logistical support units can transport supplies to the front line via the road.

Obviously, this is the key point.

The 17th Armored Division, in Samawa, had to expand the local airport and solve problems through air transport because there was no direct road.

With an existing road, other units can be dispatched after the attack begins.

However, the situation has already changed.

Upon arriving at Alal, Ding Zhennan went to find Major General Lu Liangyuan of the 7th Armored Division.

In fact, Lu Liangyuan was also waiting for Ding Zhennan.

To be honest, Ding Zhennan was originally a subordinate of Lu Liangyuan. It was only by performing outstandingly under Lu Liangyuan that he got the opportunity to showcase his talents in front of Shi Shouliang, thus rising to prominence.

Of course, after going to the Battle Zone Headquarter, Ding Zhennan did not forget his old superior.

In fact, Lu Liangyuan is only 20 years older than Ding Zhennan, just over 50, and is considered quite young among the army major generals.

After meeting Lu Liangyuan, Ding Zhennan first clarified the situation.

The critical point is that the conflict might break out anytime on the Southern Subcontinent, and Admiral Shi Shouliang might return to the Northwest War Zone soon, so they need to accelerate the attack on Baghdad and be fully prepared as the 17th Armored Division in the south may not be able to offer help.

The reason is simple, the 17th Armored Division might be dispatched to the Southern Subcontinent.

Ding Zhennan did not mention this to Fu Weimin, as he was worried that Fu Weimin might hold back during the battle and not exert full effort.

Although the Southern Subcontinent falls under the jurisdiction of the Southern War Zone, and the 17th Armored Division is under the Western War Zone, the Southern War Zone lacks an adequate armored force.

Additionally, the focus of the Southern War Zone is actually Aus in the Southwest East Ocean.

The Southern War Zone has only deployed a Mechanized Infantry Division in the Southern Subcontinent.

In the strategic system of the Empire’s army, the Western War Zone is tasked with assisting the Southern War Zone when necessary.

To be exact, it’s about dispatching troops to the Southern Subcontinent.

The main reason is that two-thirds of the Southern War Zone’s main forces, namely two of the three A-Class Regular Divisions, are deployed in Aus of the Southwest East Ocean. Even if the Empire Navy gives its all, it is impossible to swiftly send two fully equipped main divisions to the battlefield in case of sudden war on the Southern Subcontinent.

In comparison, drawing troops from the adjacent Western War Zone is more convenient.

Furthermore, this is even more so during a Global War.

If the threat from the Newland Republic becomes more apparent, or if it’s certain that the Newland Republic will join the war, troops cannot be extracted from the Southern War Zone.

At that point, the Western War Zone must undertake the operational task on the Southern Subcontinent direction.

Hence, in recent years, the Western War Zone has consistently focused on this issue, hoping to include the Southern Subcontinent within its jurisdiction.

By doing so, the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division stationed in that region could be reassigned to the Western War Zone.

Even though the combat capability of the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division is not the strongest, acquiring this division would make the Western War Zone the only zone with four A-Class Regular Divisions.

This matter has not been approved by the Army Headquarters because the Northwest War Zone is unwilling to agree.

According to Shi Shouliang, should the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division be transferred to the Western War Zone, the Northwest War Zone would require an additional A-Class Regular Division.

Unfortunately, the Empire’s army has no extra slots.

Additionally, the army’s budget cannot accommodate the addition of an A-Class Regular Division during peacetime.

To be honest, the parliament’s bigwigs would certainly not approve the budget for expanding an A-Class Division.

No matter what, if a war breaks out on the Southern Subcontinent and the 5th Marine Division’s reinforcements cannot withstand Fanluo Country’s million-strong army, the 17th Armored Division might be dispatched to provide emergency support, leading to the 7th Armored Division attacking Baghdad by itself.

Lu Liangyuan provided a firm answer to this.

Even without support from the 17th Armored Division, the 7th Armored Division can capture Baghdad.

However, Lu Liangyuan also raised two issues.

First, is there sufficient assurance for logistical supplies?

Additionally, without the 5th Marine Division and the 17th Armored Division, can the situation in southern Iraq be maintained, and will it affect the 7th Armored Division’s operations in the north, such as drawing forces from the 7th Armored Division to control southern cities?

Ding Zhennan responded promptly to the first question.

As long as the 7th Armored Division can capture Ramadi and Karbala per plan, seize the airports there, or establish field airports nearby, even if the supply line is threatened, transport planes originally assigned to the 17th Armored Division can be redeployed to assist the 7th Armored Division.

Transporting 5,000 to 7,500 tons of ammunition and supplies to the front line daily is enough to sustain the 7th Armored Division’s offensive operations.

Regarding the latter issue, Ding Zhennan’s answer was not as straightforward.

He understood that Lu Liangyuan was not being difficult but was reminding him to find a solution to this crucial problem promptly.

No matter how formidable the 7th Armored Division is, even if upgraded to a corps-level combat unit, it cannot manage everything simultaneously.

Do not forget, both armored divisions, after expansion, have reached corps-level scale, and two corps together already match a Group Army’s level.

Furthermore, the 7th Armored Division hasn’t been upgraded; it remains a division-level combat unit with a total force just over 40,000, only having one additional Infantry Brigade responsible for logistical support compared to the 17th Armored Division. The actual frontline combat troops aren’t significantly more than those of the 17th Armored Division.

This discrepancy in level not only manifests in troop strength but also in command systems and available weapons and equipment.

For instance, Group Army-level combat units are often equipped with a War Zone-level missile division armed with dozens of land-based cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missile launch systems, capable of launching fire strikes independently within the War Zone range, i.e., targets 300 to 1,000 kilometers away.

Corps-level combat units generally lack War Zone strike capability, let alone division-level units.

Under these circumstances, it’s even less feasible to expect the 7th Armored Division to handle everything.

According to Lu Liangyuan, it’s about allies stepping up; after the 5th Marine Division completes the sweep, the Allied Forces handle the remnants, controlling the occupied areas to ensure the 7th Armored Division’s operations aren’t burdened more after the 17th Armored Division’s withdrawal.

Ding Zhennan was well aware of this.

That night, he took a transport plane back to King Khalid Military City.

Although not explicitly mentioned by Lu Liangyuan, the "Allied Forces" referred to are the Saudi Royal Army.

Do not forget, Saudi Arabia is the leader of the oil-producing group on the southern coast of Boss Bay and the financial master of the Mua world, possessing the most wealth in the New Moon Region.

The key is that the fight against Iraq is essentially defending Saudi Arabia.

If not for the Allied Forces, the Iraqi army would have likely seized Riyadh by now.

Even though King of Saudi Arabia has long expressed willingness to bear most of the war expenses, given the current situation, merely financing the effort is far from sufficient.

The Global War has already erupted, and it’s obvious that Saudi Arabia cannot continue hiding behind the Allied Forces.

Moreover, if Saudi Arabia is unwilling to deploy troops, other oil-producing countries would also hesitate.

Only by securing Saudi Arabia’s involvement can other oil-producing nations be legitimately engaged in ground combat!