Chapter 192: Combined Arms Operation
A train, hauling a few cars, slowly rolled into the tank base, screeching to a halt amidst clouds of steam that instantly turned the surroundings into a hazy white mist. The railway extension into the tank base had been ordered by Gallieni himself. This setup would allow tanks to be rapidly transported to any front line where they were needed most and would also keep the tank base well-supplied with essential resources and provisions.
This time, however, the train brought more than just supplies. It was laden with mortars, shells, and a team of instructors.
...
Colonel Broni inspected a fully assembled mortar on the ground, raising an eyebrow in puzzlement. "This is the new weapon you invented?" he asked.
Charles nodded. "I believe it may be the solution to the issue you raised earlier, Colonel."
A bit surprised, Broni looked at Charles before breaking into a chuckle. "You're joking, right? Using this tiny cannon to handle German field artillery?"
But Charles's expression remained serious, and Broni quickly adjusted his tone. "Alright then," he said with genuine interest. "Let's hear how this works."
Broni trusted Charles implicitly, ever since they had won the Marne River campaign using tanks. Whenever something seemed far-fetched, Broni had learned to question his own understanding rather than Charles's ideas.
Charles led Broni to the shelter of an awning, picking up a pencil from the table to sketch a line on the training map. "We might need to adjust our tactics a bit, Colonel," he explained. "We can't always rely on the tanks to lead the way and bear the brunt of the enemy's defenses. Otherwise, we're just watching them get blown up one by one."
Broni looked momentarily stunned. All the tactics he and Colonel Estigny had been developing revolved around tanks shielding infantry as they advanced. But now, Charles was suggesting they rethink the tanks' protective role?
"But… we've always done it this way," Broni said, bewildered.
"That's only because the enemy wasn't prepared for our tanks," Charles replied. "Or, to put it another way, they didn't know how to counter them—or even that they should."
Charles paused, then added, "But if the enemy knows what to expect, as you mentioned earlier, they just need to set up field artillery behind their lines, and our tanks will become sitting ducks."
Broni thought about it and nodded.
In the Battle of the Marne, the Germans were completely unprepared for tanks, with no countermeasures in place. During the Lafoux campaign, the German artillery had all been concentrated along their front line, which allowed Charles to attack their weakly defended flanks. If he'd attacked head-on, even the Mark I tanks wouldn't have lasted, nor would the infantry behind them.
But if they couldn't rely on tanks to protect the infantry, Broni wondered, did that mean they were supposed to do the opposite?
"You mean," Broni asked, still unsure, "we're supposed to have the infantry protect the tanks?"
"In a way, yes," Charles nodded. "In fact, they should protect each other: tanks cover the infantry, and the infantry also provide cover for the tanks. If a threat to the tanks arises, it's essential for the infantry to handle it. Otherwise, they'll soon be exposed without tank support."
"You're right about that," Broni conceded. "But how are infantry supposed to protect the tanks?"
From Broni's perspective, the infantry, being mere flesh and blood, couldn't exactly stand in front of the tanks to block incoming artillery.
Charles drew another line on the map, roughly 700 meters from the enemy lines. "We need to create a 'buffer zone' about 700 meters out from their defenses. At this distance, it's challenging for the enemy to spot or target the infantry accurately, while tanks are obvious targets."
Broni nodded. That made sense. Tanks, with their towering profiles and rumbling engines, naturally drew enemy attention. In clear visibility, enemy artillery could lock onto a tank without binoculars, while infantry, advancing in small groups or crawling on their bellies, would be much harder to hit at that distance.
"So," Charles concluded, "at this range, it's the infantry's job to shield the tanks."
Broni's face lit up in realization. "You're saying the infantry advance first to prepare the battlefield for the tanks?"
"Exactly," Charles replied. "The infantry will clear obstacles like mines, roadblocks, and barbed wire, sometimes even marking paths to help the tanks avoid mud pits or other hazards."
Broni nodded thoughtfully. "Then it's the tanks' turn…"
"Not quite," Charles interrupted. "Next, the mortars come in."
Charles gestured to the line of mortars stationed nearby.
Broni blinked in surprise, then nodded as it clicked. "Of course. Their range is 700 meters, so the mortars can start firing from here."
Then he frowned, reconsidering. "But the mortars still can't reach the enemy's field artillery—they'll be set up further back."
The German field artillery had a five-kilometer range, far exceeding the mortars' reach. All the Germans would need to do is position their artillery further back, safely out of range of the mortars.
Charles, however, just smiled. "We don't need to hit the artillery, Colonel. We just need to blind it. The mortars will fire smoke rounds."
Broni's eyes widened as he nodded. "Of course! The mortars can obscure the enemy's line of sight with smoke!"
"Along with a steady bombardment," Charles pointed to the enemy's defenses on the map. "The smoke, dust, and shrapnel will create enough chaos, combined with suppressive fire from our artillery and aircraft… and that's when we bring in the tanks."
Broni listened, spellbound. This approach was something entirely new to him.
Charles continued, "Before, we coordinated only between infantry and tanks. Now…"
Broni finished the thought, "Now we'll synchronize infantry, artillery, tanks, and air support. It's a complex, coordinated effort, but if we pull it off—even partially—the enemy will be overwhelmed and helpless."
Charles smiled, satisfied that Broni understood the principles of combined arms. Estigny was better suited for strategic command, but Broni had an exceptional aptitude for these tactical synergies.
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