Chapter 277: Crossing the River

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Several artillery officers were writing and drawing on the ground, while others occasionally stood up to observe the situation on the other

Several artillery officers were writing and drawing on the ground, while others occasionally stood up to observe the situation on the other side through scissor-type periscopes. Six 150mm heavy artillery pieces were stationed there, fiercely attacking their targets.

Besides the cannon Rein had just seen, not far from where their tanks were parked, there were five more stretching across the block. To cover the infantry and armored vehicles crossing the river, the 1st SS Panzer Division had also secured four 75mm field guns. Seven Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns and three 88mm anti-aircraft guns were stationed nearby.

“That’s a huge investment,” Rein said, climbing into his tank and putting on his headphones to muffle the deafening roar of the artillery, which had been firing for nearly ten minutes and was still roaring tirelessly.

“Baumann, start the engine. Clark, check the hull machine gun ammunition. Bruce, load the high-explosive shells,” Rein pressed the throat intercom and gave combat orders. “Be careful when driving on the pontoon, and tilt the turret slightly to the left. Our artillery suppression is weaker there.”

“This is Tank 113! This is Tank 113! Please reply if you hear me!” Then he changed the frequency and began to test the radio system.

“This is Tank 112. I will follow you. Leave the right to me! I will do my best to help you eliminate any threats,” Marcus’s voice came over.

Another voice came from the headset. It was the company commander tank. “I am Carter. I can hear your voice clearly. We can start the action! There will be infantry following us from behind. Don’t slow down during the entire crossing of the river.”

“Forward! Forward! Let’s go,” Rein shouted loudly. Following his shout, Tank 113 began to slowly rock. With the clinking and grinding of metal, accompanied by the bumps and undulations of the road, the tank, with its side skirts, led the charge towards the pontoon bridge the engineers had just erected.

On either side of the bridge stood improvised machine gun emplacements. Two MG42s and a 75mm anti-tank gun were fiercely firing across the water. Clearly, the French firepower was being suppressed by the fierce German grenadiers. Judging from the noise, the return fire from the other side was apparently weak.

The supposedly constructed pontoon bridge was actually only a few meters from the other side, where a hastily laid iron plank lay beneath it, transforming it into a downhill path leading to the riverbed. The bodies of several German engineers were scattered here and there due to the French soldiers’ desperate resistance, making it clear why the pontoon bridge had not been built across the river.

As the tank swayed, Rein’s crew finally reached their battle area. Rounding a low wall, their tanks appeared within sight of the German covering forces. A cheer echoed, and Rein saw grenadiers waving at them.

Peeking out of the water, he carefully scanned the French positions on either side of the opposite bank through his binoculars. Rein ordered Andre, “See that broken tree on the left? That’s it. About two meters to the left of it, there’s a designated area. Fire a shot first to avoid trouble later.”

“Boom!” Adjusting the angle, André followed Rein’s command without hesitation. The shell struck accurately, sending up a puff of black smoke. There seemed to be no valuable targets there, but now it was certain there was no threat.

Reloading another high-explosive round, Rein climbed into the turret and firmly closed his hatch. Then, his tank carefully moved onto the pontoon bridge and inched towards the other side.

“Da! Da! Da! Da!” The French defenders on the other side of the river saw that the situation was not good. A machine gun position hidden in the corner opened fire fiercely. The bullets hit the German tanks like a storm, splashing sparks.

Rein and the others sat in the tank, as if listening to the sound of raindrops hitting the roof of a car. Although the sound was not very obvious inside the tank, it could reflect the intensity of the battle. He leaned his eyes against the driver’s periscope and carefully examined the surrounding situation.

“Boom!” A shell landed in the river not far away. The French artillery began to counterattack. Although the accuracy was not very good, it was easy to judge the caliber of the shell by the sound of the explosion.

“Marcus! Did you find anything?” Rein pressed the intercom to ask Marcus, who still had not reached the bridge.

Marcus’s voice immediately came over the headset: “I don’t see any heavy weapons! But I’ve been watching your right side for you. You’ll need to take care of the left side yourself.”

“Baumann! Keep moving! Don’t let the tank stall! They’re firing on us. I’m afraid there’s hidden anti-tank fire.”

“Bang!” In the German position, a sniper pulled the trigger. A bullet from his G43 automatic sniper rifle flew across the river and struck a French soldier in the forehead. The grenade in the French soldier’s hand fell smoking into the trench, causing screams from the surrounding French soldiers.

“Boom!” The grenade exploded, sending up a cloud of dust and scattering gravel. But the silence was brief, and then the entire position erupted in activity again. Various weapons opened fire on the Panther tanks that had reached the center of the river, a barrage of bullets.

However, the French clearly lacked heavy weapon support. After all, the German artillery fire on the French defenses on the opposite bank was so intense that the French could not deploy their heavy weapons there against such heavy firepower. However, it would be a grave mistake to say that the French had given up resistance.

Soon, Rein encountered his first major challenge since crossing the river. A French tank, braving German fire, inched its way up the opposite bank.

However, the moment the bulky French tank emerged, Rein spotted it. He shouted to André, “Left! 11 o’clock! A French tank! Fire your high-explosive rounds!”

“Boom!” Without hesitation, a high-explosive round slammed directly into the face of the French tank, a Somua S35 equipped with a 47mm gun. While not penetrating the tank, the crew inside was severely shaken, and the entire tank froze, motionless.

The S35 was France’s best tank of World War II. It boasted superior mobility, firepower, and armor protection, surpassing the German Panzer III in protection, but lacking firepower and power.

However, due to the French army’s poor tactics, the tanks were used only in isolated operations, failing to fully realize their potential. The S35 tank’s turret and hull are cast in steel, with a graceful curvature. With a combat weight of nearly 20 tons and a crew of three, the S-35 boasts 55mm of armor on the front of the turret and 40mm of armor on the hull, including 20mm at the rear, providing excellent protection.

The S35 was armed with a 47mm cannon, the most powerful tank gun in the French armored forces, nearly identical to the one used on the B1 heavy tank. Powered by an eight-cylinder gasoline engine developing 190 horsepower, it could reach a top speed of 40 kilometers per hour on the road.

However, like other French tanks, the S35 suffered from the heavy workload placed on its commander, who had to command the tank while also overseeing the loading, aiming, and firing of the cannon and machine gun. This inevitably affected its firing rate, hindering the tank’s full effectiveness.

However, it was now clear that the tank was no longer capable of fighting. The Panther’s second armor-piercing round arrived, duly delivered. With devastating force, it tore through the hull of this advanced French tank, destroying its equipment and killing its crew. The loss of this tank clearly shattered the French defenders’ confidence, and the counterattacks began to slacken.

Clark, manning the forward hull machine gun, had already emptied both of his drum magazines. The French defenses on the riverbank were collapsing. Many French soldiers fled their trenches, only to be cut down by German snipers and machine gun fire from the opposite bank. Clark had already killed at least ten French soldiers, but he still showed no mercy.

“Rein! Our tank is about to enter the water! Get ready!” Baumann’s voice rang out, and the entire tank began to tilt downward.

“Our upper armor is exposed. Watch carefully! Don’t get ambushed!” Rein shouted.

As soon as their tanks entered the water, before their rear tracks had even left the pontoon bridge, the impatient No. 112 tank behind them rushed onto the bridge. Marcus’s voice followed, “Rein! Keep covering my left side. I’m on the bridge!”

Rein didn’t reply, as their tank, carrying the river water, had already reached the opposite bank. The feeling of contact with the ground was truly wonderful. The tank tracks kicked up mud and sand, dripping with icy water, giving it a chilling feeling.

“Captain! I’ve reached the other side! The French are retreating! I’m expanding the bridgehead! Where are our infantry? Where are the infantry supporting us?” Ryan shouted into the intercom.

“The infantry can’t catch up until Marcus crosses the river. Now it’s all up to you,” Carter’s voice boomed through the headset.

“Tell the supporting fire, we need rear cover! Extended fire! Extended fire!” Rein pleaded for support, adjusting the intercom frequency and issuing his own orders: “Baumann! Back up! Try to find cover! Clark! Keep up the machine gun fire, suppress the enemy fire directly ahead.”

The Panther tank tumbled awkwardly on the riverbank, looking unsightly, but like a primordial beast, it stood firm in the hail of bullets. No matter how the French attacked, the tank remained operational, its turret blazing, mowing down the French soldiers who tried to approach, one by one.