"I have to admit that Island Nation's Army fought very bravely. At least I have never seen any country's army still be able to launch an attack bravely after being bombarded by 210mm Heavy Gun, as if they were not afraid of death at all." Major General Abraham said.
Major General Eric Hansen and Major General Felix Steiner both nodded. Island Nation's Army's brave and fearless fighting really shocked them greatly.
"Indeed, Island Nation's Army's fighting will is very tenacious, which is undoubtedly unmatched by the armies of other countries. Of course, the fighting will of our German Empire army will never be worse than Island Nation's Army!" Major General Eric Hansen said.
"It's a pity that it's not decades ago anymore. The disparity in strength is difficult to make up for with courage. No matter how tenacious Island Nation's Army is in fighting, they will definitely lose in this battle. Imperial Army will get rid of them all." Major General Felix Steiner said with absolute certainty. With the military strength of Germany, if the main force was not dragged elsewhere, it would be easy to deal with Island Nation.
"How long does the command require us to hold on at Kinabatangan?" Major General Abraham asked.
"I don't know! Maybe we have to hold on until they think the time is right. I know that the 23rd Armored Division, 221st Mechanized Infantry Division, and 222nd Mechanized Infantry Division are nearby. It's just that they are well hidden and have not been discovered by the islanders. Wait until the islanders After people are beaten to death in front of our defense line, they will launch an attack and deal with the islanders in one fell swoop! In this case, we can definitely hit the islanders hard," Major General Eric Hansen said.
"Even if we can severely damage the Island Nation people in this battle, it will be very difficult to hold on in Borneo. The Island Nation people's military advantage is too obvious. Up to now, they are still continuously transporting troops from the country to Philippine Islands. I have to admit, Americans handed over Philippine Islands to the Island Nation people, which created a very big trouble for us. Using Philippine Islands as a springboard, the Island Nation people can ensure the safety of the sea transportation line and attack South Seas and Australia. "Major General Felix Steiner said.
"Okay, forget about those strategic issues. Anyway, before our main force is freed up, just drag the Island Nation people behind South Seas and Australia. The problem before us now is to withstand the Island Nation's Army attack, and then annihilate them all!" Major General Eric Hansen said.
German military was ready at Kinabatangan, waiting for the Island Nation's Army to launch the attack.
On the morning of March 9, two buses Island Nation's Army arrived at Kinabatangan one after the other. After they arrived, they immediately surrounded Kinabatangan, as if they wanted to eliminate all German military here.
In the afternoon of that day, Island Nation's Army 55th Division, 31st Division, 49th Division and 53rd Division launched an attack on the German military position of Kinabatangan from four directions.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Island Nation's Army's 75mm mountain cannon and field cannon opened fire like crazy. Many divisions of the Island Nation's Army are equipped with mountain artillery regiments. These mountain artillery regiments are equipped with 36 cannons. Most of the regiments are all equipped with 75mm mountain guns or 75mm field guns. Only a small number of divisions are equipped with 105mm Howitzer. It can be seen that the artillery strength of the Island Nation's Army is not on the same level as that of the German Army.
The divisions under the Netherlands East Indies Expeditionary Army, except for 2nd Division and 18th Division, which are four-unit divisions, and the subordinate artillery regiments have 105mm Howitzer, the rest of the divisions and subordinate regiments are almost all mountain artillery regiments. This also means that the cannons they equip are almost all 75mm mountain guns or field guns.
The cannonball fell on German defensive line, bursting out into clouds of fire. However, German military's soldiers have already hid in the fortifications. Island Nation's Army's mountain artillery and field artillery pose little threat to German military's defenses.
"Artillery counterattack, suppress the Island Nation people's artillery!" Major General Abraham ordered.
The 72-door 210mm Howitzer of Heavy Artillery Brigade is also divided into four positions to deal with enemies from four directions. The same is true for the artillery of 225th Infantry Division and 228th Infantry Division. The two Infantry Division have a total of 36-door 150mm heavy-duty Howitzer, 54-door 105mm Light Howitzer and 108-door 75mm Field Gun.
German artillerymen launched a fierce counterattack against the artillery of the Island Nation's Army. When these cannons opened fire, the Island Nation artillery's momentum was suddenly suppressed. Artillery shells fell on their artillery positions one after another, destroying their cannons and killing their artillerymen. Especially those shells from large-caliber heavy artillery caused great losses to the Island Nation artillery.
Lieutenant General Sakurai Shōzō and Lieutenant General Honda Masanori, as well as the other Island Nation's Army and Division Commander, looked very ugly when they saw this situation. Although they don't want to admit it, this is the fact. In terms of artillery, there is undoubtedly a very big gap between the Island Nation's Army and German Army.
"Baga! Damn Germany people, their artillery firepower is so powerful! After we occupy South Seas and Australia, we won't have to worry about resources. By then, we will be able to equip our troops with more larger-caliber artillery!" Lieutenant General Sakurai Shōzō said through gritted teeth.
Lieutenant General Honda Masanori on the side also nodded repeatedly. Island Nation's resources were so scarce that it was difficult for the Island Nation's Army to equip more large-caliber artillery. After all, those artillery were too resource-intensive. In addition, Island Nation's main resources and financial resources were previously tilted towards the navy, which severely restricted the development of the army. As a result, there is undoubtedly a huge gap between the Island Nation's Army and the world's first-class armies. Once on the battlefield, Island Nation's Army will pay an extremely heavy price for this. They even had to use their lives to make up for these gaps.
At this time, German Air Force 5th Air Group's fighter planes also arrived on the battlefield and joined the bombing of the Island Nation's Army. These fighters have been transferred from Borneo Eastern Airport to Borneo Western Airport. But they can still provide strong air support for the German Army.
Dive Bomber and Attacker launched an attack on the artillery position of the Island Nation's Army. When these Bomber dropped their bombs and left in a swagger, the artillery on Island Nation Road had already suffered heavy losses.