Chapter 156
December 18, 2020, 10:20, Yongsan-ku B2 bunker (ROK Military Joint Command Center), Seoul
The landing and paratrooping missions were all successful. When the report about taking out the Yentai and Weihai forces came in, everyone at the Command Center was in high spirits.
The heavy armored brigade deployed in Long chung had taken over the supply bases and government buildings one by one. The four other paratrooper brigades also began their guerilla missions across the map to cause internal chaos. However, only the 77th and 199th Infantry divisions were taken out, and the 8th Armored Division that was considered as the 26th Army Group remained. Also, according to the Apollo reconnaissance satellite, the 12th Army Group stationed at the Lianyungang began to move toward Shandong Province.
Since the results were a huge success, the Commanders of the Joint Chiefs of Staff could now lessen their anxiety a bit. However, to seal their success, they had to execute their main plan. Their first move was the landing mission at the Shandong peninsula.
* * *
December 18, 2020, 11:00, Incheon-si Incheon Port, the 2nd Fleet’s Incheon Seas Defense Command
At the Incheon Navy Base, the 10th Amphibious Fleet and 7th Maritime Flotilla’s Hocula destroyers returning from Yentai were docked to receive supplies. Also, at the pier was the 6th Marine Brigade under the 3rd Marine Mobile Division waiting to board the ships.
The 3rd Marine Mobile Division (firedrake) was founded in early 2019. It was deployed in the field with the latest equipment. Considering their power in terms of division units, they rivaled the 7th Mobile Corp’s 20th Armored Division. Since they were a mobile armored division, they had multiple armored vehicles, tanks, self-propelled guns, and MLRS armored vehicles. To transport all of their vehicles five 100,000-ton civilian ships were called in as well.
The civilian container ships docked on the pier used their 100-ton cranes to move their heavy equipment aboard. Despite it being a frigid winter day, the Korean Navy men did all their best to aid the civilians in moving the heavy equipment aboard. Everyone had been busy since early morning to keep things moving on schedule.
The winter weather at Incheon was ice cold. Because of the Siberian northwest winds blowing, temperatures dropped to -15 degrees Celsius on the navy’s pier. However, the navy men and marines were moving busily unhampered by the cold because of their protective suits. The civilians were wearing the heated innerwear made for commercial use that was restricted from exports until 2021, which enabled them not to be bothered by the cold.
“What’s our loading status?”
Major General Jo Gyu-hong, Commander of the 3rd Marine Mobile Division (firedrake), rode out onto the pier in a Hummer and asked the Logistics Director while looking at the heavy equipment.
“Yes, sir. The third container ship has just finished loading and now the fourth ship is going to begin loading.”
“Our progress is faster than we expected.”
“You are right, sir. All the staff from the pier are here and thanks to them things are running smoothly.”
“Operations Director!”
“Yes, Commander.”
“The weather is freezing so don’t leave the marines out in the elements and have them start boarding the landing ships. It will be better for them to rest aboard the ship rather than a cramped warehouse.”
“Yes, sir. I will contact the staff for the landing ships and have them board immediately.”
“Ah, one more thing. In cold weather like this, some fish cake soup really hits the spot. When the marines finish boarding, give them some soup to warm them up.”
“Yes, sir.”
When the Logistics Director smiled and answered, General Jo Gyu-hong glanced at his watch and spoke.
“We have a briefing about the landing mission, so let’s head back to base, shall we?”
“We will head out, sir.”
* * *
December 18, 2020, 11:30 (China Standard Time 10:30), Weihai Port, China
The special forces from the 3rd Paratrooper Special Forces Brigade were moving busily. After they had taken over the port, the men had begun to identify the staff members at the port. They were preparing to set up for the arrival of the 3rd Marine Mobile Division (firedrake). Precautions were taken as most for the Chinese crane operators since the heavy equipment was being brought in by civilian container ships. Therefore the identities of the port’s workers were being investigated thoroughly.
“How is it going? Are there any suspicious individuals?”
Dozens of Chinese civilians were waiting in a corner of the large office to be interrogated when Brigadier General Kim Hong-won, Commander of the 3rd Paratrooper Brigade, entered.
“Atten hut! Salute!”
“Sir!”
Commander Kim Won-hong, a charismatic and lean man, responded to the salute of his men with his own.
“At ease!”
“We have no suspicious civilians so far, Commander!”
Major Lee Un-woo, who was in charge of interrogating the civilians answered.
“Yes, make sure of it! The Commander in Chief has given us the order himself. If there are any Chinese special forces within these workers, then they could bomb the equipment.”
“Yes, sir. I will make sure of it.”
When the Major answered in a disciplined manner, Brigadier General Kim Hong-won tapped him on the shoulder and answered.
“Yes, keep up the great work and finish the interrogation by morning so we can run a simulation in the afternoon.”
“Yes, sir.”
* * *
December 18, 2020, 14:30 (China Standard Time 13:30), 12 kilometers east of Yentai Province, China
All the unmanned drones form the 2nd Marine Division were deployed to the Laiyang area. They were trying to see the movements of the 8th Armored Division from the 26th Army Group.
When any of their forces were found, the 8th and 9th Marine Artillery Battalion fired. China’s 8th Armored Division marched to Yentai in groups of battalions to reduce their losses.
That was the intent of the 2nd Marine Division, which only had the 2nd Armored Battalion as their armored force. They were battling against the 26th Army Group’s subordinate force the 200th Infantry Division and the Defense Reserve Division. The 2nd Marine Division was outnumbered and attempted to spread the 8th Armored Division’s forces thin by scouting their movements with the spider drones and artillery strikes.
But the larger threat to the 2nd Marine Division was the 7th Chopper Regiment’s attack choppers. The 511th Chopper Battalion’s type Z-10 attack choppers at the Pongrai International Airport were destroyed. However, after further analysis, 48 out of the 64 choppers destroyed were old Z-9 type choppers. A total of 100 choppers remained.
The 7th Chopper Regiment owned 100 attack choppers, and it was a force to contend with. Korea’s Joint Chief of Staff temporarily stationed 6 KF-21P Phoenix fighter jets, 12 KA-11P Phoenix land attackers, and the 10th Amphibious Fleet’s 24 WAH-91SP Peregrin falcon choppers at Pongrai International Airport. The 7th Amphibious Strike Battalion was tasked with sentry duty for the airport.
The Shandong peninsula’s Northeastern areas were a messy entanglement of Korean and Chinese encampments.
<ul>
The 8th Armored Division’s forces are on the move along the G15 highway, sir.”
</ul>
When the spider drones detected the 8th Armored Division’s tanks on the move, the headquarter company’s Commander immediately reported to the Battalion Commander.
“What’s their size?”
<ul>
Commander! Sending you the footage now. They seem to be the size of a regiment at least, sir. It seems to be the main forces.
</ul>
The spider drone’s footage showed up on the K-22 commanding armored vehicle’s monitor. Excluding the armored vehicles, there seemed to be at least 100 tanks. They were 19 kilometers away from the battalion’s position. After analyzing the Chinese armored vehicles, tanks were identified as the third generation-type 99G MBT tanks. They were inferior to Korea’s K-2 Black Panther tanks, but they outnumbered the Korean tanks three to one and their anti-tank armored vehicles were the greatest threat. Luckily, the Chinese forces were detected while in formation ready for movement rather than while already in battle.
“All right. Have the battalion headquarters prepare for any aerial strikes coming from the rear. Over.”
<ul>
Yes, sir understood.
</ul>
“Operations Director! Contact the division headquarters and send in the coordinates to request for aerial support!”
“Yes, sir.”
The 8th Armored Division had spread their forces into two regiments to make a flanking attack from being under fire by two artillery battalions. The 1st Regiment, that was the main force, was moving at high speeds along the G15 highway that was connected to Yentai Province.
A moment later, sounds of cannon fire can be heard coming from the 2nd Armored Battalion’s rear. Soon the sound of something flying across the sky rang out in the cloudy sky. The sound was so loud it seemed capable of tearing the sky in half.
Boom! Bang! Booooooom!
The 8th Armored Division’s battalion’s tanks moving on the highway were suddenly struck down as asphalt pieces fell around them. Soon they exploded and the cluster bombs falling from the sky tore the type 99G tanks into pieces and stopped them at their tracks.
“Disperse! Disperse! Change formation to horizontal battle formations.”
The Regiment Commander’s voice rang out through the armored regiment’s communication line. Dozens of bombs had caused two dozens of tanks to burst into flames while the surviving tanks moved over the guardrails to make evasive maneuvers on the rice fields.
“We are off to a good start.”
The 2nd Armored Battalion’s Commander, who was watching the battle through the spider drone, moved his headset’s microphone closer to his lips and gave an order.
“When our aerial support comes in, have the 1st and 2nd Company on the lead and move. The 3rd Company and headquarter companies will follow. There will be a threat of enemy aerial strikes. The headquarters company will prepare for the interception before moving out. Over.”
<ul>
First Company confirmed, over!
Second Company confirmed, over!
Third Company confirmed, over!
Fourth Company confirmed, over!
</ul>
The Korean Marine’s artillery fire had stopped, and now the 6 KA-11P Phoenix land attackers and 12 WAH-91SP Peregrin falcon choppers stationed at the Pongrai International Airport had emerged from the Chinese forces in twelve o’clock position.
Meanwhile, the 8th Armored Division’s 50 Z-9 and Z-10 type attack choppers flew in formation toward their direction as well. A battle between armored vehicles and attack choppers typical of the twenty-first century was about to begin.
When the allied planes and choppers moved above the 2nd Armored Battalion’s heads, the Battalion Commander gave the order to attack.
“Battalion, engage in battle formations. Move out!”
Forty of the K-2 Black Panther tanks revved up their engines and shot forward at once. The 2nd Marine Division’s 2nd Armored Battalion moved in the shape of a triangle and tore through the blizzard toward the Chinese tanks.
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