Chapter 531: After the Modification: Chapter 531 He Really Hopes I Become the Supreme Commander
This is one of the advantages of vehicle-mounted rocket launchers.
A rocket launcher regiment consists of only 36 vehicles, with no excess personnel. All logistical support and non-essential vehicles can hide in tunnel fortifications and do not need to join the rocket launchers on the battlefield.
These 36 vehicles can instantly unleash the firepower of 10 artillery regiments, or to be precise, the firepower of 12 artillery regiments (each rocket launcher has 12 launch tubes), and can then withdraw quickly, even if the well-trained German Army gives them only 10 minutes.
The German artillery has seemingly only two ways to counteract this: one is to shorten their reaction time, and the other is to predict the rocket launchers’ retreat routes and intercept them.
However, both seem unlikely.
Tijani even established an excellent launch site.
He found a north-south oriented high ground on the north bank of the Meuse River, only 6 kilometers away from the German artillery in the "River Bay District."
There is a road at the foot of the high ground to the north, which is in the blind spot of the German artillery. The rocket launchers can maneuver, hide, replenish ammunition, and rest on this road with confidence.
North of the road is an open grassland. As long as the vehicle-mounted rocket launchers advance a mile into the grassland, the rockets can be launched over the high ground towards the "River Bay District."
Tijani moved the command post to the front line, setting up the command post in the tunnels to the north of the high ground, just over 200 meters from the rocket launcher supply base.
This not only makes it easier to command the rocket launcher regiment but also allows Tijani to witness the miracle of the rocket launchers.
He even prepared a camera in advance and followed the rocket launchers on a sidecar during their first launch.
Tijani affectionately called it "close-up photography."
Although he was mentally prepared, the spectacular scene when the rocket launchers were fired still overwhelmed him.
Flames burst from behind the launch tubes, rockets shot skyward with a "whoosh," and the area was instantly shrouded in thick smoke. The grassland behind the launch tubes caught fire, and the ground without grass was scorched black.
Everything happened within a few minutes, and the rockets were soon all launched, with calm restored once again.
Tijani stood dazed for a moment, then suddenly remembered the need to "fire quickly and retreat quickly" with the reminder of his staff.
"Retreat!" Tijani ordered loudly as he jumped onto the sidecar to leave.
The rocket launcher regiment withdrew to the safe zone within five minutes, thanks to the open and spacious grassland and the multiple planned retreat routes.
It was only when Tijani raised his camera on the road again that the German Army’s artillery barrage began, raining down on the empty grassland and creating numerous craters.
Tijani quickly pressed the shutter, capturing these "precious" images. While taking pictures, he sarcastically remarked, "Your aim is precise, but they are innocent!"
The rocket launcher regiment’s task was to change artillery positions and repeat this process.
They could fire 432 rockets each time, and with 20 launches a day, they could launch 8,640 rockets.
With rockets not relying on chamber pressure or rifling, their lifespan far exceeds that of traditional artillery. Despite the lack of precision, launching tens of thousands of rockets into the "River Bay District" over two days was bound to yield some "results."
Strictly speaking, the rocket launches were not just "testing luck."
Shire positioned artillery observers on the high ground so that when the German artillery retaliated, the flashes and smoke from their muzzle blasts exposed their precise positions.
(Note: For convenience of command, artillery is usually positioned by battalion, sometimes even by regiment, due to outdated communication equipment. The more dispersed the setup, the harder it is to unify firing data and quickly respond.)
Then, the next batch of rockets would target these "precise positions."
An excited Tijani sent a telegram to Shire:
"You were right, Major General. Everything is happening as you predicted."
"We don’t need to worry about range; we don’t need to worry about precision."
"The enemy is completely on the defensive. I’m sure they must be feeling desperate right now!"
...
Shire was still in Paris. He had not rushed back to the front line.
There was no need to hurry. The troops had not launched a full-scale attack yet. This was the phase of using rockets to wear down the German artillery, depleting them to the brink of collapse before launching the main attack.
If the armored units were pushed forward now, the German artillery could simply ignore the rocket launchers’ "lack of precision" and direct their fire at the tank groups.
Sitting in the conference room of the Ritz Hotel in Paris, Shire held a cup of hot water, warming himself by the fire and waiting patiently.
Taking "open-cockpit" flights in winter was hardly pleasant, and despite wearing many layers, Shire was still shivering and had not recovered until now.
Hot water was a wonderful thing, quickly carrying warmth through his body and circulating it with his blood.
It wasn’t long before there was a knock at the door, and Fuxu appeared at the door with a forlorn expression.
"Hey, Major General," Fuxu approached and shook hands with Shire, with an envious gleam in his eyes.
"General!" Shire stood up respectfully to greet him and only sat down after Fuxu took a seat on the sofa.
"What’s the matter? Surely you don’t want me to be your advisor?" Fuxu joked.
Shire did not need an advisor, and no one could take on the role of his advisor, especially since Fuxu was a founding father of "offensive theory."
However, Shire responded sincerely, "If you are willing, you can always be my advisor, General."
Fuxu’s eyes lit up; he was tempted.
Fuxu was not a vain person. Although he valued face, he would give up everything if he could stay in the military and continue commanding troops in battle.
However, Shire added, "But I believe you should not just be an advisor, General."
Fuxu gave a self-deprecating laugh. "It’s been a month, and you’ve become more eloquent."
Fuxu hinted that Shire was being evasive. Clearly, Shire did not want him as an advisor but had deliberately stated, "You should not just be an advisor."
"I am serious, General." Shire pushed the prepared hot coffee towards Fuxu, responding leisurely, "I think you are more suited to be the commander-in-chief, the French Army Commander-in-Chief, and the Allies Commander-in-Chief."
Fuxu was taken aback, then chuckled, taking a sip of coffee.
It was impossible. He was currently assigned as the "Director of the Military Research Center."
However, Shire wasn’t joking, nor was there any sarcasm in his eyes. He just quietly sat and looked at Fuxu, waiting for his reply.
Fuxu’s smile gradually disappeared, replaced by shock and doubt.
This young man was serious; he genuinely wanted me to be the Commander-in-Chief!