The counterattack and pursuit operations commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Schwarzenegger were terminated by the fierce fire of 54 self-propelled howitzers of the 16th Armored Division of the US Army (36 m7 105mm self-propelled howitzers and 18 m12 155mm self-propelled howitzers of the US Army (M1 155mm howitzers) temporarily attached to the US Army's 16th Armored Division were terminated.

Although these raindrops fell American shells did not destroy any precious tanks and tank destroyers, they still destroyed four wheeled vehicles and caused dozens of German paratroopers to be killed and killed!

When Lieutenant Colonel Schwarzenegger retreated from the battlefield with the smell of gunpowder smoke, his angular face seemed quite solemn.

The battle on Newfoundland Island has been going well, but the difficulties have gradually emerged.

First of all, the combat effectiveness of the US military is stronger than originally expected! Although they lack combat experience, they are obviously well-trained and have fully mastered the advanced weapons they have.

Secondly, the German army's strength on the island was too weak, there were no heavy tanks, and the number of artillery was seriously insufficient, and there were almost no heavy artillery. On nights when air superiority was difficult to exert, there were almost no effective fire support methods.

The third is that the German army's air superiority is not as great as that on the Eastern Front battlefield, and it lacks professional ground attack aircraft, and is even more "inorganic" at night, so it cannot effectively support ground operations and suppress US firepower. If this is the Soviet-German battlefield, the medium-sized bomber group composed of do217 and ju188 had long blown up the cannon that had just opened fire at the Schwarzenegger cluster.

However, in Newfoundland, German ground forces did not receive support from medium-sized bombers. Only German carrier-based aircraft and heavy bombers such as me264 were able to provide air support.

After returning to the command center, Lieutenant Colonel Schwarzenegger immediately found his boss, Major General Hydet, first reported on the pursuit operation, and then told his superior Hydet about his thoughts.

Finally, he also said: "General, now we must get more favorable fire support! The number of people can be supplemented by airdrops. Today (it is midnight now, it is early morning on the 26th). We can always get a few thousand to ten thousand more. But the difficulty we are facing now is mainly insufficient firepower. If this problem is not solved, it will be difficult for us to capture the entire Newfoundland Island."

Hydet nodded and said to Schwarzenegger: "Gustav, the upper class is thinking of ways, we will get reinforcements... The three assault battalions of 102, 103 and 104 are coming, and they will be able to counterattack with the support of carrier-based aircraft after dawn."

Schwarzenegger didn't have much joy, and he said: "But the enemy will also increase troops... The shelling attacks my people just suffered were more fierce than ever before, which means they received reinforcements (18 M1 155 howitzers were just in place). After dawn, we will face more enemies. If there is no strong enough firepower, the battle below will be very difficult."

Insufficient firepower is the biggest difficulty facing the German army on Newfoundland, because the landing operation has not yet begun, and the troops are transported by air, and the supply and heavy equipment are also transported from the Azores by plane. The distance of more than 2,500 kilometers seriously limits the capabilities of the German Air Transport Command and cannot deploy enough heavy firearms to Newfoundland. The United States, although it has transferred many fighter jets from Newfoundland, caught the German army off guard, but they did not transfer the two things, tanks and cannons, are not a problem for the American productivity, as much as they need!

Under such circumstances, the German army faced the difficulties of severe insufficient firepower and being suppressed by the opponent on Newfoundland.

It was not only Lieutenant Colonel Schwarzenegger who noticed this problem, but also the commanding leaders of both sides had discovered this problem by the early morning of April 26 (Newfoundland time).

"Mr. President, the situation on the island is generally beneficial to us." At the White House cabinet military meeting, Army Chief of Staff Marshall told the president, "Our 16th Armored Division is fighting fiercely with the German armored forces, achieving some results, and shattering the myth of the invincible German armored forces.

In addition, Lieutenant General Collins, the commander of the 6th Army, also found that the German troops on Newfoundland lacked sufficient firepower (this was told by Major General Ross, the commander of the 16th Armored Division, and British Lieutenant General Fraser, told Collins). We had an overwhelming firepower advantage."

"An overwhelming firepower advantage?" President Truman finally heard some good news, "Then can we win?"

"Yes." Marshall said very surely, "We will win, as long as the Germans cannot send enough cannons and tanks to Newfoundland... Although they have air and sea advantages, Newfoundland is a large island with an area of ​​more than 110,000 square kilometers. Without sufficient army firepower, the Germans cannot win."

"Where is our reinforcements? When will we go to the island?" President Truman still felt that it was not safe and asked about the reinforcements.

"There will be reinforcements today." Marshall replied, "In fact, they are already on the road. They are paratroopers of three divisions transported by 1,000 transport planes. They will parachute before dawn. After the airport on Newfoundland is restored, fortunately some of the armored soldiers will be airlifted to Newfoundland."

"1,000 aircraft transport three divisions? There are almost 50,000 people, right?" Truman asked, "Is 1,000 transport aircraft enough?"

"Enough!" said General Arnold, commander of the Army Air Force. "The officers and soldiers of the three divisions are not equipped with weapons. Because there are enough weapons on Newfoundland Island for them to use."

"Okay, okay, this is a good idea." Truman nodded repeatedly. "If the island is equipped enough, we should airdrop more troops there." The president suddenly thought of something, "But the Germans still have air superiority, right?"

Newfoundland's land advantage undoubtedly belongs to the Allied forces led by the United States, but the air superiority is in the hands of the Germans, otherwise there would be no airborne.

"We have a way." Naval Operations Minister Ernest King took over the question, "Mr. President, we can use the fleet to divert the German aircraft carrier from near Newfoundland Island and then launch a general offensive on land."

Although the US Navy was severely injured in the Bermuda War, it was still an extremely powerful maritime force. In addition to more than a dozen powerful Essex-class aircraft carriers, the No. 5 and No. 6 of the Iahua-class battleship also entered service in the first quarter of 1945. In addition, the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 of the Alaska-class battleship (called large cruisers in the United States) were also launched from the end of 1944 to March 1945.

In other words, excluding the old battleships of the World War I era, the US Navy now owns 2 Iowa-class and 6 Alaska-class, a total of 8 new battleships/battlecruisers.

In addition, the Midway-class aircraft carrier, the first Midway-class aircraft carrier, was launched in March 1945 and is currently in place. It will be put into service as early as September 1945. The Midway-class ship No. 2, Roosevelt, will also be launched in the New York Shipyard in the past few days and will be put into service before the end of October as soon as possible.

While the two Midway class aircraft carriers are about to enter service, the US Navy is also stepping up training of the 7 carrier-based aircraft troops. Because the 7 is relatively large and it is not convenient to take off on the Essex class aircraft carrier, it is a carrier-based aircraft specially prepared for the Midway class.

As for the main force of the US aircraft carrier force, the "Essex" class aircraft carrier, soon the new and powerful carrier-based aircraft 8, which was used to replace the 6 Naval fighter. It completed its first flight as early as August 21, 1944, and the first production model was also taken off the line on December 31, 1944. On February 17, 1945, the launch test began. The test proved that the aircraft had good aircraft carrier adaptability and showed good landing, takeoff and deck handling characteristics.

As the war became increasingly tight, the process of 8 boarding the ship was greatly accelerated. In early April, the Navy issued the flight operation procedures for 8, and at the same time began to form 8 carrier-based aircraft training squadrons and began to use aircraft carrier training aircraft carriers to train 8 carrier-based aircraft pilots.

At the same time, the US Navy also placed orders for up to 10,000 aircraft. According to the plan, by the end of 1945, the main carrier-based aircraft of the US Navy will change from 6 and 4u to 7 and 8. By then, the US Navy's carrier-based aircraft forces will regain the strength to compete with the EC carrier-based aircraft forces on the Atlantic.

But...it's not the end of 1945 yet.

"President," Ernestkin told Truman, "the 56th Fleet will get several battleships and battlecruisers that originally belonged to the 3rd Fleet, and then approach Newfoundland Island. This will ensure that the 56th Fleet has sufficient air defense capabilities.

In addition, the 56th Special Mixed Fleet will be deployed near the east coast of the United States to ensure support from shore-based air force. Moreover, they will be far away from the combat radius of me264 based on the Azores."

Ever since the Germans played with missiles, the me264 has become a daunting anti-ship weapon! Especially with the TV-guided anti-ship missile, the me264 can launch missiles at an altitude of 10,000 meters and away from the air defense fire range of US surface ships.

If the escort of the me262t is dispatched at the same time, the US carrier-based aircraft with weaker high altitude performance will almost never be able to fight against it. Therefore, the 56th Special Mixed Fleet can only hide from the me264 with a large range, which is really a bit awkward.
Chapter completed!