Chapter 61: Chapter 61: The Artillery Duel
"Boom!" A 15-pound field cannon shell struck the Ottoman artillery position, instantly shredding a British cannon to pieces and killing a dozen Ottoman artillerymen nearby.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Continuous shells landed on the sand, each explosion sending lethal shards that sent Ottoman soldiers to their graves. Particularly vulnerable were some of the older Ottoman cannons with shorter ranges. To accommodate these older pieces, Dramali had placed his artillery positions perilously close to the French lines. This decision now resulted in even heavier losses for the Ottomans, as the French artillerymen could hit the Ottoman positions with ease, barely needing to aim.
"Damn it! What is happening to my cannons!" Dramali watched as his cannons were systematically destroyed, feeling as though his heart was bleeding, his eyes red with rage.
"Order the artillery to fire back, suppress the French artillery!" Dramali bellowed loudly.
"General Dramali, the barrels have overheated; if we continue to fire, they might burst," an Ottoman artillery officer hurriedly explained after hearing Dramali's shout.
"Then move the cannons back; we cannot just let them be destroyed by the French," Dramali urgently said. Turkey lacked the capability to produce its own cannons, so these were incredibly precious resources that could not be wasted lightly.
"Quick, move the cannons out!" Following Dramali's order, the artillery commander also quickly directed his troops.
Upon the command, all the Ottoman artillerymen rushed to their cannons, attempting to save them. Unfortunately, as soon as they touched the cannons, a searing heat surged through their palms.
"Ah! It's so hot!" An Ottoman soldier yelled, clutching his burnt hand. The temperature of the cannon barrels was extremely high, and just touching them resulted in burns for several soldiers.
"It's no use, General! The cannons are too hot; the men can't move them," an Ottoman artillery staff officer said helplessly to Dramali.
With the immovable cannons causing great distress among the Ottomans, Napoleon saw an opportunity. Realizing that the Ottomans could not relocate their artillery, he showed no mercy. Napoleon ordered all his gunners to readjust their aim and focus all firepower on Dramali's artillery positions.
"Boom!" A 15-pound field cannon shell struck the Ottoman artillery position, obliterating a British cannon and instantly killing a dozen Ottoman artillerymen nearby. The cannon in front of them, now reduced to scrap metal, would no longer fire, and they no longer had to worry about it.
"Excellent, our artillery has finally fired; I've been waiting for this moment for a long time." Major Mula, thrilled, stood within his position, using binoculars to continuously observe the dynamics of the Ottoman forces.
The poor Ottoman artillerymen seemed to lack any concept of returning fire. In an artillery duel, the side that fires first often finds itself at a disadvantage. This is because you don't know the exact location of the enemy's artillery, but the brilliant flash and thick smoke from your own gunfire can expose your position. Thus, the side with the advantage in an artillery battle will always try to conceal their artillery positions while locating the enemy's based on their shots.
This was why Napoleon initially ordered his gunners not to fire, fearing that it would expose their positions. But now there was no need for caution, as they had determined the locations of the Ottoman artillery positions.
Instantly, sixty French cannons fired simultaneously, their shells carrying flames of vengeance toward the Ottoman artillery positions.
"Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!" Shrill whistles sounded over the heads of the Ottomans operating the cannons, causing great alarm.
"Artillery, take cover!" Ottoman artillery officers screamed at the top of their lungs.
"Boom! Boom!" Shells rained down like torrential rain, causing massive explosions around the Ottoman artillery positions. Sand and stones flew everywhere, and after the explosions, large craters were left behind. Many Ottoman gunners, unable to escape in time, were killed by shrapnel scattering in all directions.
"Boom!" A massive explosion occurred as a shell hit directly on the Ottoman artillery position. Two modern British-made cannons were instantly turned into scrap metal. Even more disastrously, a pile of gunpowder stored next to the cannons was also ignited in the explosion. The resulting shockwave swept through the Ottoman artillery position like a wild storm.
"General, watch out!"
Dramali was right at the edge of the Ottoman artillery position when a violent blast swept through, almost blowing people away. Fortunately, Dramali's deputy was quick to react; otherwise, Dramali might have been severely injured by the blast.
"Never mind me, I'm fine," Dramali struggled to his feet, his eyes red with fury, staring intently at his artillery position.
"General, I think our artillery is finished," Hesh painfully informed Dramali.
"Order the infantry to attack. Even if the French fire upon them, I must annihilate this French force. Otherwise, I cannot face the Sultan when I return," Dramali said through gritted teeth.
"All forces, attack!"
Following Dramali's desperate order, every Turkish officer on the field acted with urgency. They too issued the command to their troops.
"Destroy the French to avenge our gunners!" This became the singular command echoing through the ranks of every Turkish unit.
"Charge! Avenge our gunners!"
Countless Turkish cavalry, shouting their battle cry, galloped toward the French positions, swords in hand. They were impressive, skilled riders, reminiscent of their forebears.
"First battalion, open fire!" However, Major Mula, who was prepared at the frontline, was not about to let them break through his defenses easily. Upon seeing the Turkish cavalry, he immediately ordered his troops to fire.
A volley of bullets swept across, immediately downing several cavalrymen whose bodies fell onto the sand, their blood staining it red.
More and more Turkish soldiers began their assault, leaping from their positions and ferociously attacking the French fortifications. However, they were met with relentless gunfire and artillery shells from the French.
Rifles and cannons created a tight defensive net, turning into a nightmare for the Turkish soldiers who dared to cross the bare ground. They couldn't dodge the dense bullets and the relentless bombardment of shells, falling in rows like mown grass, their lives abruptly ended.
The defensive network of rifles and cannons easily scattered the Turkish assault squads. Some Turkish soldiers could only lie prone on the ground, sporadically exchanging fire with the French. But the accuracy of rifles from that era was poor, especially when fired in panic, resulting in minimal damage inflicted.
"General Dramali, the front-line troops have done their best. But the enemy's firepower is too fierce, we simply cannot get close. Continuing like this will only lead to more casualties with no other outcome," Hesh said, unable to bear the sight of the carnage on the battlefield any longer, gathering his courage to advise Dramali.
"Darn it, I really can't accept this! Today I lost many men but failed to take down the French fortifications," Dramali said, frustrated upon hearing his deputy's advice.
"Enough, let's retreat. Like you said, continuing this fight is pointless," Dramali finally conceded with a shake of his head.
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