At the beginning of the 20th century, with the advent of industrial warfare, the heavy machine gun that came into being became one of the important equipment in land warfare.
During the First World War, it played the role of a firefighter on the battlefield and had a significant impact on the stalemate in positional offensive and defensive battles.
During the Sino-Japanese War, China's volunteer army also began to be equipped with this new type. After the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, the squadron under the fragile defense industry mainly relied on Western aid to obtain heavy machine guns.
On the battlefield in the early stage, the elite units of the National Revolutionary Army, equipped with American weapons, sniped many military exploits of "ten thousand deaths and one life" with heavy machine guns. As the war progressed, heavy machine guns began to spread to most of the army and became the basic firepower equipment of infantry battalions.
However, the use of heavy machine gun systems differs from other small-caliber **,It requires a lot of manpower and material resources to ensure its normal functioning.
In the anti-Japanese war environment with scarce materials, a heavy machine gun is equipped with more than 100 people, how does this seemingly extravagant establishment play an effective role on the battlefield?
On the battlefield of the War of Resistance Against Japan, heavy machine guns can be described as the most important infantry unit and the most core equipment. Its high rate of fire, long range, and powerful lethal firepower can effectively suppress the momentum of the Japanese charge.
A swarthy heavy machine gun, like a "keel" rooted in the position, set up a solid fire defense line for the infantry.
Judging from the standard establishment, the heavy machine gun company is a combat unit under the jurisdiction of the infantry battalion that specializes in heavy machine gun combat. A company of heavy machine guns with standard equipment should be equipped with 8 heavy machine guns. Theoretically, there were only 8 guns, but the actual number of men was as high as 109.
It turns out that heavy machine guns are not as simple as ordinary gunsIt requires a large number of dedicated personnel to operate, maintain and maintain, and only in this way can it be used to the maximum power.
The composition of a heavy machine gun company is quite complex, with a company headquarters, four heavy machine gun platoons and one ammunition squad. There are 23 people in the company headquarters who are responsible for command, dispatch, and various support work.
Each platoon has 11 people in 2 squads, and 8 people in each squad operate 1 heavy machine gunThe ammunition squad has 10 people dedicated to ammunition supply。The company commander has full-time personnel such as clerks, quartermasters, military doctors, and communications to ensure logistics and communication liaison.
The platoon commander has well-trained squad leaders and gunners who are proficient in handling heavy machine gun shooting. Ammunition men worked around the clock to transport ammunition, and mules and horsemen were busy transporting guns and supplies, as well as caring for the horses.
Feeders, repairmen, and caretakers performed their duties, and the whole company was in good order. It can be said that the heavy machine gun company is like a big family, and everyone has their own work.
Without these humble positions, these cold machines would not be able to "live".Unleash their immense power on the battlefield. Everyone is an integral part of the team.
In addition to dominating the battlefield with 8 heavy M1917 Browning heavy machine guns,The Heavy Machine Gun Company is also equipped with a variety of light and agile auxiliaries** for increased mobility.
The most notable of these were 15 replica Thompson submachine guns. This classic equipment from the United States is given to the commanders of the company department and the platoon commanders of each platoon, which allows the commander to be flexible and mobile on the battlefield and attack quickly.
The lightness of the submachine gun contrasted strongly with the steady firepower of the heavy machine gun.
In addition, 47 replica M1903 Springfield rifles were distributed, and this veteran gun that had been fought all over Eurasia with the US military was equipped with thoseIn the hands of infantrymen who do not need to directly operate heavy machine guns, they can be used for self-defense and to increase the density of the defense of positions.
The rifleman is always on standby in the dead end of the heavy machine gun, forming a fire system with the heavy machine gun that is a horn of each other. There is even the M1 anti-tank grenade aided by the United States, this powerful anti-tank **.
Heavy machine gun batteries can be used against enemy tanks or dense charges, causing effective blasting and damage over a large areaThe addition of grenades gave the heavy machine gun company some anti-tank capabilities.
These different types of ** equipment perfectly complement the shortcomings of heavy machine gunsTurn the heavy machine gun company into a multi-functional platform for all-round operations.
Let's take a look at the use of heavy machine gun companies on the battlefield, which can be divided into two main aspects:
The first is defensive warfare, in which a heavy machine-gun company takes a firm position and imposes a strong defense against the enemy。At this time, the heavy machine gun company would select key heights capable of forming crossfire in order to suppress the enemy's offensive line.
Fighters would dig tunnels, build permanent fortifications of reinforced concrete, and cover heavy machine guns with terrain. They transported ammunition and quickly formed ammunition reserves to ensure that they could fight for a long time.
The heavy machine gun company was firmly entrenched in its position, like a steel fortress, and sprinkled a dense rain of bullets on the enemy, and the powerful firepower suppressed the offensive, making it difficult for the enemy to advance in the slightest.
The second is offensive warfare, in which the heavy machine gun company relieves itself of the defensive burden and quickly maneuveres to follow up and fight alongside the main force.
The heavy machine gun company will be flexible and can support the main force to break through the breachQuickly build improvised fortifications and strike at enemy forces that block the main advance.
Heavy machine guns can also play a strong supporting role in attacks, use heavy firepower to open a breakthrough for the main forces, or build a fire network to buy time for the main forces when they retreat.
It is this ability to flexibly use heavy machine guns, coupled with strong logistics support and abundant auxiliary equipmentLet the heavy machine gun company become the strongest combat blade of the ** infantry battalion.
During the war-torn War of Resistance Against Japan, in the face of the well-equipped Japanese army,**The only infantry companies can rely on is these old heavy machine guns and rudimentary equipment.
But it is precisely the firm belief and tenacious style of each member of the heavy machine gun company,These cold ** equipment were mobilized and organized, and they exerted amazing combat power.
Everyone is doing their own job and doing seemingly simple and ordinary workBut the combined combat power has exceeded the power of the ** equipment itself.
The strength of this unity is the firm belief in the victory of the war and the infinite love for the homeland。No matter how difficult the situation on the battlefield was, the heavy machine gun company still forged ahead and lit the dawn of victory.