บท 349: Chapter 426 Preparations for Landing (1)
Snowflakes as large as goose feathers began to float in the sky, and the bombing operations against the British mainland were forced to a halt. Only the V-3 cannon tirelessly poured shells towards London.
The barrel of the V-3 cannon had been replaced several times, and the replaced barrels were not wasted. With minor modifications to the barrel walls, they were turned into 155mm howitzer cannons. Mounted on the chassis of a Jackal tank, they became self-propelled howitzers.
The howitzer is a type of artillery that has the characteristics of both a cannon and a howitzer. When firing with a large charge and a low angle, its trajectory is flat, resembling that of a cannon, suitable for tasks that require cannon-like performance; when firing with a small charge and a high angle, its trajectory is more curved, resembling that of a howitzer, suitable for tasks that require howitzer-like performance. In 1915, Germany developed the world's first modern howitzer. During World War II, combatant nations widely equipped themselves with howitzers, characterized by a barrel length/caliber ratio between 39 and 45. When using a large charge and a low angle, the trajectory characteristics are close to that of a cannon; when using a small charge and a high angle, the trajectory characteristics are close to that of a howitzer.
As they were second-hand goods, their durability was not as good as that of newly minted barrels, but at least they were a form of recycling, and the cost-effectiveness was quite high. The weapons department even planned to continue processing the retired 155mm howitzer barrels, converting them into 160mm heavy mortars.
That day, Wilhelm convened a high-level military meeting to discuss the matters concerning the landing operation against England.
Among all combat styles, amphibious landing operations have always been known as the most difficult to organize. In every amphibious operation, if the attacking side makes even a slight mistake, it could result in a devastating defeat or even the annihilation of the entire force.
If the defending side lacks heavy weapons, the landing troops can more easily break through the enemy's defense lines; but if the defenses are solid and the firepower is strong, then the landing site will turn into a bloody slaughterhouse.
Why did "Saving Private Ryan" become a classic? It's because the film realistically reflects the cruelty of the battlefield towards individual soldiers—soldiers who are lively one second might be taken by bullets, shells, or landmines the next, not to mention the incomplete limbs and the chaotic craters all over the ground.
To reduce the German defenses in Normandy, the Allies used all kinds of "schemes and tricks." To create the impression of preparing a major attack on Calais, they not only created a fake First Army Group internally but also appointed Patton as the commander, with troops always on standby, ready to advance towards Calais, even deceiving the ordinary soldiers.
Furthermore, they deliberately allowed the German army to intercept their telegrams and even "accidentally" leaked important combat meeting reports. The Allies used all this to demonstrate their determination to attack Calais.
After obtaining this intelligence, Germany quickly shifted its defensive focus to Calais, significantly reducing the defensive forces in Normandy.
Even so, in the Battle of Normandy, the Allies suffered casualties of up to 122,000. If not for learning from the disastrous experience of the Dieppe landing, this number might have doubled.
In North Africa, Rommel's Afrika Korps was pressing on Egypt; in the Atlantic, German submarines caused huge losses to the Allied maritime transport; in the Soviet Union, German troops were at the gates of Stalingrad. Especially in the Soviet Union, after more than a year of heavy losses in the war, it could almost be said to be at the end of its tether, urgently in need of assistance.
Faced with such a critical situation, the United States, which had not been in the war for long, believed it was an opportune time to take advantage of the German elite troops attacking the Soviet Union, and urgently requested a large-scale amphibious landing in the English Channel in September, the most suitable month for landing, to open up a second front. But Britain, having experienced three years of war, knew all too well that even with full American support, it would be difficult to achieve victory in a cross-sea landing operation.
Therefore, Britain originally did not plan to launch an amphibious landing in 1942, at most sending small commando teams to carry out some raids on the European continent. However, heavy pressure from several sides forced Britain to act.
Against this backdrop, the British wartime cabinet requested the joint command responsible for organizing and leading the Allied forces to develop a plan for a large-scale amphibious landing on the European continent. Under the leadership of General Louis Mountbatten, the command, based on past experience, ultimately chose the small port of Dieppe, a warring state's sea chestnut, as the landing site.
Dieppe is located in northern France, adjacent to the English Channel. The coast is characterized by distinctive white cliffs, steep and rugged, like natural fortresses. The Arques River flows through the town area into the English Channel, dividing the town area in two, with natural docks formed on both sides of the riverbanks. Historically, the area was a famous haven for Nordic pirates, and in modern times, it has become a famous sea chestnut tourist destination.
After France's surrender, the German army had many military facilities nearby, including a radar station and an airfield. Along the banks of the Arques River, from east to west, there were five coastal artillery companies equipped with more than 20 150mm heavy guns, and there were also several anti-aircraft artillery companies around the coast. The seawall was equipped with obstacles such as barbed wire, and the German army had buried a total of 14,000 landmines on the beach and the open areas leading to the inland. On the steep hills on both sides of the Arques River's mouth and even on the rooftops of many seaside buildings, there were fire points set up with many light and heavy machine guns. The German 302nd Infantry Division stationed in the area had a total force of about 8,000 men, a force with considerable combat capability.
On August 18, 1942, the Allies launched an attack, which ended in a dismal failure.
The army suffered 3,610 casualties, 2,200 missing, accounting for all the landing troops, and also lost a large amount of material and equipment, including 30 tanks; the navy lost one escort destroyer and 33 landing craft, with 550 personnel casualties; the air force lost 106 aircraft, with 190 aircrew casualties. The total number of casualties and missing for the three services was 6,550, while the German casualties were only 650. The bodies, tank wrecks, weapons, and damaged landing craft strewn across the beaches of Dieppe became the best evidence for Germany to proclaim its impregnable Atlantic Wall.
The extremely heavy losses were, for the Allies, as Churchill first said, also "a treasure trove of experience" (Churchill's political skills were always top-notch, turning a disaster like Coventry, which was clearly due to a lack of defense, into an unavoidable loss and conspiracy theory, and cleanly shifting any blame he thought was London's misjudgment). The Allies learned many valuable lessons from the disastrous defeat at Dieppe, and these experiences, bought at the cost of precious lives and blood, were an invaluable asset for the Normandy landing two years later. In the planning of the Normandy landing, two principles regarded as golden rules came from Dieppe—never land directly at a port and powerful naval and air firepower preparation must be conducted before landing.
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