Jagged Germany: Chapter 575 Violent shelling ask for a monthly ticket
"General, according to the information we have received, the British Expeditionary Force has less than 300,000 troops in Le Havre. Our two armies combined have 50% more troops than them. At the same time, our Morale and weaponry are far ahead of them. If we launch an attack, they will definitely not be our opponents." Lieutenant General Ludendorff was full of confidence in this battle.
The two armies of the British Expeditionary Force in Le Havre, the 5th Army with the largest number of troops, is just a new army that has just been formed. Such a new army that has never experienced the baptism of war, how strong can they be expected to have? That is obviously unlikely. Facing the elite German Army, how could the British Expeditionary Force resist it.
Admiral Crook nodded: "The only thing we need to pay attention to is probably the attack from the sea. The British navy can send some warships to provide fire support for them. Although the Royal Navy is controlled by our high seas The fleet has been severely damaged. However, they still have some combat effectiveness. Among other things, the main guns of the large number of pre-dreadnoughts, armored cruisers, and heavy cruisers are extremely powerful. The flesh and blood of our infantry The body is simply unable to resist."
Lieutenant General Ludendorff's expression became serious involuntarily. The main fleet of the British Navy was indeed severely damaged by the High Seas Fleet. But this does not mean that the Royal Navy has no threat. As Admiral Crook said, the naval guns of the warships of the British Navy are undoubtedly devastating to ground targets.
The former dreadnoughts of the British Navy are generally equipped with 305mm main guns and 280mm secondary guns. Armored cruisers also have 280mm main guns, and heavy cruisers also have 203mm main guns. And the artillery of the army is already very powerful. But the largest caliber cannon they equip is only 150mm. Compared with the main guns on the British Navy warships, it is undoubtedly a big difference. As long as the British deploy a few warships in Le Havre, it is enough to cause great losses to the German army. Even if the fall of Le Havre cannot be prevented, at least it can make the German army pay an unbearable price.
"God! It seems that we need the help of the navy. Without the navy to help us clean up the sea in Le Havre, we have to be prepared for heavy losses here." Lieutenant General Ludendorff said.
"Yes, I have already requested support from the Admiralty. It is expected that naval reinforcements will arrive soon. At that time, they can also cooperate with us to bombard Le Havre and reinforce our operations. In this case, We will be able to win the victory with the least cost!" Admiral Crook said.
"Yes, General." Lieutenant General Ludendorff nodded. In this case, it is undoubtedly the safest.
"However, in order to speed up the progress, our attack should start tomorrow! If you find a British warship, stop the attack immediately and wait for the reinforcements of the navy." Admiral Crook continued.
"Yes, General, I have absolutely no objection!" Lieutenant General Ludendorff nodded repeatedly.
"Then let's do this! I hope that after we take Le Havre, the French will have surrendered. In this case, we have already won more than half of this battle." Admiral Crook smiled.
"France is resolved, and the rest of Britain will be left alone. The Empire will win this battle!" Lieutenant General Ludendorff is also full of confidence in this battle.
Of course, both of them automatically ignored the Kingdom of Italy.
Early in the morning on May 7, the German 1st Army and 8th Army were ready to attack Le Havre. The artillery of each infantry division has already pushed the cannons into the artillery positions. At a distance of a few kilometers from Le Havre, ferocious muzzles were raised.
Ammunition vehicles are transporting shells to the artillery positions. The reconnaissance plane of the air force found that there were no warships of the British Navy in the nearby sea. Therefore, the artillerymen can fire unscrupulously without worrying about being suppressed by the British Navy's naval guns.
At 8 am, everything is ready. The artillery commander gave the order to fire. The German cannons began to roar.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Orange red flames shone at the muzzle, and the shells, under the action of kinetic energy, flew towards Le Havre at high speed.
As for the infantry, they hid in the trenches and watched the artillery performance. According to the news they got, the firepower preparation this time will last for a whole day. In view of the great battle at Le Havre, it was probably the fiercest battle on the European battlefield. Therefore, the German army will not discount its firepower preparation. The commanders of the German army also hoped to use powerful shelling to wipe out the British Expeditionary Force entrenched in Le Havre as much as possible, to attack their will to fight, and to reduce the casualties of the troops during the attack as much as possible.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Shells fell like raindrops, and dense explosions sounded in Le Havre. The defensive position of the British Women's Expeditionary Force on the outskirts of Le Havre was completely shrouded in gunpowder smoke and flames. Huge craters appeared one after another on the positions of the British Expeditionary Force. The fortifications they painstakingly built were destroyed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Although, when the German shelling had just begun, the British Expeditionary Force withdrew from the front-line positions. However, seeing such violent shelling by the German army still scared the officers and soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force enough.
"Damn it, the overwhelming German bombardment has started again, saying that the German army's combat effectiveness is the best in the world, I think it is simply piled up with shells." An officer of the British Expeditionary Force looked resentful.
"Never mind whether the number one in the world of the Germans is piled up with shells. At least, we have nothing to do with them!" Another expeditionary officer said.
Indeed, the British Expeditionary Force was at a complete disadvantage in the face of such heavy German shelling. They could only watch helplessly as their fortifications were destroyed by German shelling. The BEF's own artillery, on the other hand, remained silent. The 1st Army of the British Expeditionary Force did not have much artillery left. When they evacuated Rouen, they almost lost their heavy weapons. Although the 5th Army of the British Expeditionary Force has a lot of cannons, it is obviously not comparable to the German Army. In order to avoid losing these cannons in the tragic artillery battle, the commander of the British Expeditionary Force ordered all the cannons to be hidden so that they could be used at the most critical time.