Lieutenant General Sōsaku Suzuki thought for a moment, then said, "Have the 22nd Field Artillery Regiment, the 100th Division Artillery Unit, and the 102nd Division Artillery Unit prepare. They will enter the battle in half an hour!"
"Yes, Commander." Major General Miyoshi Tomochika replied.
The 22nd Field Artillery Regiment was an artillery unit subordinate to the 16th Division. As artillery attached to a four-unit division, it was quite formidable, equipped with thirty-six 75mm Field Guns and twelve 120mm Howitzers.
As for the artillery units of the 100th Division and the 102nd Division, they were comparatively weaker, because the 100th and 102nd Divisions themselves were relatively weak. These two divisions each had two infantry brigades under their command, but no regimental structure. Each infantry brigade included four independent infantry battalions and a communications unit. The artillery units subordinate to the divisions were only comparable in strength to those of independent mixed brigades, equipped with twelve 75mm mountain guns and six 75mm Field Guns. The reason was that both divisions had been upgraded from independent mixed brigades. This made them stronger than independent mixed brigades, but unable to compare with normal divisions. Even three-unit divisions were stronger than them.
While the Island Nation's Army artillery put on its performance, the German artillery also became busy. The 23rd Heavy Artillery Brigade, the 227th Infantry Division, the 229th Infantry Division, along with the artillery of the 225th Infantry Division and the 228th Infantry Division, were all adjusting their firing coordinates, preparing to give the Island Nation's Army artillery a vicious blow.
Less than five minutes after the Island Nation's Army artillery began its rampage, the German artillery had completed its preparations.
"Fire!" At Major General Abraham's command, the commander of the 23rd Heavy Artillery Brigade, the German artillery immediately began shelling.
The 23rd Heavy