Chapter 2940

After entering the state of war, Zheng Agui was not so nervous. He just felt strange that Masbate Island was only about three days' flight from Manila, even closer than Bangui where he was stationed. Why could the big shots tolerate it?

The Spanish maintained a colonial settlement here for a long time.

The battalion commander once mentioned at the preparation meeting that the Haihan Army had launched military operations against Masbate Town many times and had even completely destroyed the local coastal defense forts. Since it had been done to this extent, why not completely destroy it before?

Wouldn't occupying this place prevent the Spanish from coming back?

Zheng Agui could not understand the interest considerations of the superiors, but at least the Haihan Army had captured this place several times. This should be a clear and unmistakable fact, so there was nothing to be afraid of in the current action. With the history of previous battles as a reference, Bangui Camp

As long as you act according to the formulated combat plan, you should be able to successfully capture Masbate Town.

About twenty or thirty miles away from Masbate Town, several small fishing boats appeared on the sea. Judging from their shapes and styles, they should be Spanish fishing boats from Masbate Town.

However, these small fishing boats could neither block the fleet's progress nor rush back in time to report the news. The navy did not intend to waste time and ammunition on them and simply ignored them and rushed past. Looking from the deck, one could even clearly see the frightened expressions of the fishermen on board.

look.

After entering the battle waters, more than ten warships were divided into two teams and cut into both sides of the peninsula where Masbate Town is located from the east and west directions. The Spanish armed merchant ships anchored in the port had already suffered the first wave before they had time to react.

artillery strikes.

Being attacked by multiple Haihan warships while anchored could only have one outcome. These sailing ships soon had obvious hull inclination, obviously suffering from severe water intrusion.

The sporadic counterattack firepower on the shore did not cause much trouble to the naval fleet, but instead immediately caused fierce artillery fire coverage.

Most of the naval guns currently equipped by the Navy have a range of about two to five miles, which can effectively attack nearshore targets. However, the defenders, who seriously lacked shore defense firepower, only resisted symbolically and soon fell into silence.

After the firepower formed a suppressive situation, the flagship "Weitai" issued an order for the Bangui Battalion to immediately implement the landing according to the combat plan.

Two troop transport ships rushed to the coast of the peninsula from the east to the west and carried out a forced landing under the cover of naval artillery fire. The two companies carried by these two ships will cut off the connection between the peninsula and the inland where the town of Masbate is located, ensuring that

The Spanish in the town had no way to escape before attacking them again.

As expected, Zheng Agui's company was not assigned to attack the task, but continued to stand by on the ship as a mobile team. From their position, they could not see the battle situation of the landing force, but judging from the sound of gunfire from a distance, the landing force was

The intensity of resistance encountered should not be great.

Half an hour after the other two companies carried out the landing, Zheng Agui's company finally received the order to carry out landing operations at a fishing port on the northeast side of the peninsula.

This landing point is several miles away from the location of the other two companies, almost at both ends of the peninsula, separated by the entire town of Masbate, which means that they cannot form an effective response with the other two companies when they land.

.The order from the headquarters requires them to attack the town from north to south after landing, forming a pincer attack with the two companies in the south.

This is one of several planned action plans. They have also done detailed research on this in the past few days and are relatively well prepared.

"Brothers, prepare to go ashore!"

After the company commander gave the order, the soldiers filed out of the cabin and began to assemble on the deck.

Less than a hundred feet in front of the bow is a fishing port. On the shoal there are several fishing boats turned upside down for maintenance, and there are many fishing nets spread out to dry. In the distance, you can also see some fleeing local residents. Look

It seemed that they had a relatively clear understanding of the strength of the Haihan Army and did not overestimate their capabilities in trying to resist head-on.

The ship they were traveling on was not a regular troop carrier, and there was no opening and closing springboard on the bow specially designed for landing operations. Therefore, when the ship approached the shoal, the soldiers could only grab the rope net from the side of the ship and get down together.

Then walk ashore in knee-deep water.

On the sea behind them, there are two expedition-class warships responsible for covering the landing operations. These two warships will face the coast to ensure sufficient firepower output. However, there is no counterattack on the coast.

The two ships did not open fire blindly, but quietly maintained a state of alert.

Zheng Agui jumped into the water. The heavy backpack interfered with his body's center of gravity. If his right hand hadn't been holding on to the rope net on the side of the ship, he would have fallen backwards into the sea.

However, Qin Bo, who jumped down after him, was not so lucky. After falling into the water, he sat down. If Zheng Agui hadn't quickly grabbed his clothes with quick hands and eyes, he and his bag would have been submerged in the water.

"Stand still! Follow me!" Zheng Agui glared at Qin Bo, and then walked toward the shore one step at a time.

In this combat plan, landing ashore is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous links. If the defenders launch a counterattack at this time, or fire cold shots near the coast, it may cause casualties to the landing troops.

But perhaps the Spaniards in the town were attracted by the landing force in the south. Zheng Agui's group did not encounter any trouble during the landing. The two warships responsible for covering them did not fire a single shot, and the company had already

Ashore.

However, no one dared to be careless at this time. The company commander still followed the combat plan and dispatched scouts to the periphery of the fishing port. At the same time, he established a beachhead and unloaded heavy equipment and combat supplies ashore one after another.

The small Spanish fishing boat in the fishing port was immediately put to use. The soldiers pushed it next to the troop carrier to transfer the materials unloaded from the ship ashore. Heavy field artillery and ammunition were the first batch of materials to be unloaded.

, as long as the artillery positions are set up, the beachhead position is basically stabilized.

Zheng Agui's squad was responsible for guarding the beach, and the two upside-down fishing boats on the beach were used as temporary bunkers. However, there were no enemies to hinder their actions at the moment, which made them repeatedly think about the firefight situation on the beach before taking action.

Zheng Agui breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time he couldn't help but feel a little bit disappointed.

Another squad that disembarked at the same time as them was assigned the task of building artillery emplacements. This was a laborious and physically demanding task. The soldiers each had a shovel and dug earthen bunkers at the positions designated by the artillery.

After the surrounding area is cleared, the field artillery will move forward with the troops. The gun emplacements built on the beach will not be wasted and will become a temporary location for the company headquarters and a storage point for combat supplies.
Chapter completed!