Devil's Army

Chapter 1986 Attack on Ningbo

Upon hearing that the "Devil Force" Qinghai Fleet was heading south, the Japanese Army Ministry worried that they would lose the remaining cities in China: Ningbo, Wenzhou (most of Wenzhou was under the control of the government forces in 43, and the Japanese only occasionally invaded from the sea), Shanghai, Haizhou (Lianyungang), and Dongtaijiang Port. So, they gritted their teeth and sent fleets from Yokosuka and other places on the mainland to provide support.

At this time, the Qingdao Fleet destroyed the Japanese artillery positions in Ningbo Port and launched continuous bombing of the Japanese bases and strongholds in Ningbo Port.

Captain Ji also arranged for a fleet to continue south to encircle and annihilate the Japanese fleet patrolling around Wenzhou Port and Taizhou Port.

After the Qingdao fleet bombed Ningbo Port, the naval soldiers prepared to land on the beach, but were met with stubborn resistance from the Japanese army.

To avoid further casualties among naval personnel, the Qingdao fleet temporarily halted its amphibious landing, but continued intermittent bombing of Japanese fortifications in Ningbo.

At this time, the Independent Brigade and the 12th Brigade also intensified their attacks on the Japanese army from the land.

After a fierce battle, the Independent Brigade of the First Army broke through the Japanese army's heavily fortified hilly and valley positions.

The Japanese troops responsible for covering the rear took turns providing cover as they retreated towards Ningbo.

The 3rd and 4th Regiments of the Independent Brigade of the First Army pursued the Japanese army along the Hangzhou-Ningbo Highway. The two sides encountered fierce resistance from the Japanese army at the Kuaiji Mountain Pass.

In order to prevent the Independent Brigade from entering Ningbo, the Japanese army deployed tanks and armored vehicles at the pass to block the Independent Brigade's advance.

The First Army Air Force launched a massive bombing raid on the Japanese positions, tanks, and armored vehicles at the pass.

In no time, the Japanese tanks that had been firing wildly were reduced to piles of scrap metal.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Japanese army had not yet recovered from the air raid, the soldiers of the 3rd Regiment of the Independent Brigade launched a fierce attack on the pass.

Although the Japanese army put up a fierce resistance, their firepower was far inferior, their manpower was insufficient, and their reinforcements could not arrive in time. Finally, the Third Regiment broke through the Kuaiji Mountain Pass.

After breaking through the most treacherous Kuaiji Mountain pass, the 3rd and 4th Regiments of the Independent Brigade continued their advance to attack Ningbo Port and the Zhoushan Islands.

The Japanese troops that retreated to Ningbo, along with the Japanese and puppet troops originally stationed there, were attacked from both land and sea by the Independent Brigade and the Qingdao Fleet. The situation was extremely unfavorable for the Japanese troops in Ningbo.

Because they were pursuing the fleeing Japanese army with light equipment, the Independent Brigade's artillery and other supplies could not keep up.

This was quite disadvantageous for the Independent Brigade's attack on the Japanese troops in Ningbo who were hiding in their fortified strongholds.

Fortunately, the First Army Air Force arrived quickly and provided strong air support to the Independent Brigade.

With strong support from the air force, the Independent Brigade divided and encircled the Japanese and puppet troops in Ningbo, gradually eroding their strength.

The Japanese and puppet troops in Ningbo lost their defensive positions one after another, and their room for maneuver became smaller and smaller.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Captain Ji, with the powerful support of the ship's guns, ordered the naval soldiers to storm the beach and launch a pincer attack on the Japanese and puppet troops in Ningbo from the sea.

At this time, the Qinghai Fleet's reconnaissance aircraft discovered that the Japanese naval base in Yokosuka had sent reinforcements to provide support.

The Qinghai Fleet Air Force, together with the Anhui Air Force, launched an air raid on the Japanese Yokosuka Naval Fleet, slowing down the Japanese naval reinforcements.

Meanwhile, the Qinghai Fleet Navy intensified its amphibious landing operations.

Meanwhile, the Independent Brigade had already broken through the west gate of Ningbo Port and was steadily advancing into the depths of Ningbo.

Another air force unit in Anhui Province also intensified its air raids on Japanese troops in Ningbo.

Commander Shimomura and some officers of the Ningbo Command were killed in an air raid by the First Army Air Force.

The Japanese troops in Ningbo were left leaderless and fighting independently.