Chapter 458 Overseas Supply (Part 2)
"Then how are you going to arrange the **** mission?" Xiao Jie asked. This action is of great importance and cannot be sloppy at all.
"Since the Azores have been completely recovered by our army, the Mediterranean Fleet has been able to allocate a large part of its warships for other combat missions. Therefore, this time we plan to allocate 70% of the warships from the Mediterranean Sea to serve as transport ships. In this way, even if we encounter the interception of the US fleet, we can easily defeat them." Eck said.
Xiao Jie nodded, so basically everything is safe. Seventy percent of the Mediterranean Fleet has more than 60 warships. Although it is only equivalent to two American fleets in number, it can definitely defeat three to four American fleets in terms of real combat effectiveness. The U.S. Navy has at most three fleets deployed in the western South Atlantic.
"That's it. You go down and prepare. Remember to keep in touch with Marshal Dawu and pay attention to cooperation." Xiao Jie said.
Dougal, Eck and Roddy nodded. Then go down and get ready to go.
Under the secret order of the General Staff and the General Logistics Department, a large number of strategic materials and soldiers began to secretly gather in southern Iberia. The navy's transport ships and requisitioned merchant ships also assembled in batches at the Gibraltar Fortress. After the combat supplies and soldiers arrived, they boarded the ship immediately. Then the transport ship sailed out to sea. They will wait here for all the supplies before they are shipped to South America.
"Marshal, the General Staff has called. Now the General Staff is deploying materials and troops. The General Staff will replenish us with 60,000 troops and enough supplies and ammunition for 100,000 people to consume for half a year." Brad said excitedly. It is conceivable that when the supplies of the General Staff arrived, the French 1st Army could basically restore its original combat effectiveness.
A smile appeared on Davout's face. He was originally a strong general, but in order to preserve his strength, he had to lead his troops to hide in the mountains and forests, which made him feel very aggrieved. After the new supplementary troops arrive, he should be able to flex his muscles. "The general staff said when will the supply fleet arrive?" Davout asked.
"The supply fleet is expected to set sail on June 20 and arrive in Georgetown around July 2," Brad said.
"Oh, there's still half a month left. But it's time to make preparations," Davout said.
"The U.S. military has only 10,000 troops stationed in Georgetown. This is nothing to worry about. The only thing we have to worry about is the reinforcements of the U.S. military. If we can't stop them, then our operation will be difficult to complete." Brad said.
"We still have about 45,000 troops. Excluding the 10,000 guarding the position, we still have 35,000 troops to fight. I think 15,000 troops are enough to attack Georgetown. The rest All the 20,000 people in the army can be used to block the reinforcements of the US army." Davout thought for a while and said.
Brad nodded: "The U.S. military has only 50,000 troops stationed east of the Guyana Plateau. In addition to the 10,000 troops in Georgetown, there are another 20,000 troops stationed in Paramaribo and Cayenne. I If the U.S. military relies on the river to block the attack, it should be able to intercept all the U.S. troops. Of course, the prerequisite is that the U.S. South American Command does not transfer troops from other places to support."
"Although the U.S. military has a full 400,000 troops in South America, plus Canada's 100,000 troops, there are a total of 500,000 troops. But South America is really too big. Except for the troops scattered in other regions, the U.S. military can't use it. More than 250,000 people. Moreover, there is the Amazon River blocking them. Without a long period of preparation, they cannot mobilize heavy troops to threaten us. Except for the eastern part of the Guyana Plateau, the US military is only in Manaus and Obidos There are 25,000 people stationed there. As for the western and northern areas, there are Negro River and Orinoco River blocking us, so we don't need to worry too much in a short time." Davout said while looking at the map. Although more than 200,000 U.S. troops seem to be a lot, because they are scattered around the Guyana Plateau, this gives the French 1st Army a chance to concentrate their superior forces to defeat them individually. Davout had already planned in his mind to launch a large-scale counterattack against the U.S. military after the supply of troops adapted to the environment here, in order to break the blockade of the U.S. military on the Guyana plateau and spread the French army's forces around the Guyana plateau. .
"Then when will we send troops to attack Georgetown?" Brad asked.
"Let's set off on June 27. At that time, I will lead the army to attack Georgetown, and you will lead the army to block the reinforcements of the US army. Try to delay the time as much as possible, so that we have enough time to transport the supplies back." Davout said .
On June 20, the French transport fleet was fully loaded with various supplies and soldiers and was on standby 10 kilometers south of the Gibraltar fortress. There were nearly 300 transport ships in total, forming a very large fleet. After receiving the order to set sail from the General Logistics Department, all the transport ships anchored and sailed to the Atlantic Ocean. They will join the **** fleet of the Mediterranean Fleet in the Atlantic Ocean. The convoy will **** them to South America.
On June 22, the transport fleet joined the **** fleet of the Mediterranean Fleet. The **** fleet immediately dispersed to protect the transport fleet in the middle, and sent several 'Dolphin' class destroyers to explore the way 50 nautical miles ahead, so that if they encounter the US fleet, they can quickly notify the transport fleet to change course .
I don't know if it was the luck of the French transport fleet or what, but there were no dangers along the way. On the way, I encountered the patrol fleet of the US Navy several times, but they were far away from them.
On June 27, the French 1st Army also began to move. Except for the 10,000 people who remained on the Guyana plateau, the remaining 35,000 people were divided into two groups, and under the personal leadership of Davout and Brad, they headed for their respective destinations.
On the evening of June 29, after two days of rapid march, Davout led 15,000 French troops to the forest 20 kilometers west of Georgetown.
"Order all the ministries to rest and reorganize, but no fire is allowed. Tomorrow morning, start the attack." Davout ordered.
The messenger quickly conveyed his order, and the French army began to disperse into the forest, sitting on the ground and eating dry food. They need to recover their physical strength in the shortest possible time so that they can exert their best strength in tomorrow's battle.
The night passed quickly, and when it was daylight, the French soldiers were already eating breakfast and making final preparations before the battle.
At six o'clock in the morning they left the forest and began to march toward Georgetown. When they arrived in Georgetown, it happened to be 7:30 in the morning, which is the time for American soldiers to eat breakfast. A large number of American soldiers crowded the cafeteria, waiting for the distribution of breakfast. Only a few sentries still insisted on their posts, but their attention was all on the breakfast exuding an attractive aroma.
"Order the infantry to prepare. After the artillery bombardment, the infantry will immediately charge and try to break through the US defense line with one blow." Davout put down the binoculars and said.
Under his order, the artillery quickly pulled out the only two 75mm field guns and 20 mortars, and set them up in the grass outside the forest.
"Get ready, let go!" Following the command of the artillery commander, the cannon began to roar. More than 20 shells hit the US positions. The violent explosion caused panic among the U.S. troops who were gathering outside the cafeteria. Some went back to the barracks to get their weapons, while others searched for hiding places. The scene was very chaotic. Until the US military commander came out to control the chaotic scene, but when the US military calmed down, it was already 20 minutes later. At this moment, the French army had broken through the weak defense line of the US military.
At the beginning of the shelling, the French army of the two regiments charged. The American sentries fled immediately in fright, and only a few dared to shoot at the French army. However, their obstruction could not slow down the advance of the French army at all. With only one charge, only a small number of US defense positions were broken by the French army.
Then ~www.mtlnovel.com~ a large number of French troops poured into Georgetown, and at this time the U.S. military reacted. On the one hand, it asked for help from the U.S. South American Command, and on the other hand, it organized troops to fight street battles with the French army to resist the French army's attack.
However, as more and more French troops entered Georgetown, the American troops began to retreat steadily. When Davout threw all his troops into the attack, the resistance of the American army finally collapsed. Brigadier General Mike, the supreme commander of the US military stationed in Georgetown, saw that there was nothing he could do, so he had to order the troops to retreat north. However, except for a few of the 10,000 U.S. troops who died in battle, only more than 2,000 people withdrew, and the rest were forced to lay down their weapons and raised their hands to the French army.
In just half a day, Georgetown, where 10,000 U.S. troops were stationed, was captured by the French army. The news reached the U.S. South American Command. On the one hand, the U.S. military ordered the U.S. troops stationed in Paramaribo and Cayenne to go to the rescue; The army prepares to fight back.
However, the U.S. troops heading north from Paramaribo and Cayenne were intercepted by the French army relying on the river, unable to advance, and the U.S. offensives from Manaus and Obidos were also frustrated.
On the morning of July 2, the French supply fleet arrived in Georgetown without any risk, and a large amount of various combat materials and soldiers began to be loaded and unloaded from the transport ship. The strength of the French 1st Army has been greatly improved.