My Italy - Chapter 675 Battle of Nice (2)

The Principality of Monaco is one of the four principalities in Europe. However, compared to other principalities, Monaco is more controlled by other countries. That’s right, I’m talking about the French. France’s peek at Monaco is simply naked.

Not only did it take away the ownership of the two major towns of Menton and Roquebrune in Monaco, reducing its territory from 20 square kilometers to 1.98 square kilometers, it also fully respected the premise of France’s political, economic, navigation and military interests. exercise sovereignty.

In addition, the Grand Duke of Monaco signed a treaty with France in 1910, stipulating that once the head of state dies without a male descendant, Monaco will be incorporated into France.

As for why it is ahead of history, we have to ask about the pressure Italy put on France. When Germany and Italy clearly showed their hostility, Paris, which was under great pressure, became impatient with the Principality of Monaco, a small piece of territory embedded in the Nice area. Therefore, during the second Moroccan crisis, the naked desire to annex Monaco was thrown on the face of Albert I shortly after he took the throne.

Faced with the naked intention of annexation by the French, Grand Duke Albert I of Monaco could only place his hopes on his children. Yes, as long as there are male heirs, the Principality of Monaco will always exist.

As for why I want to talk about Monaco, it’s because now it has become a battlefield. At this time, there was a sea of ​​fire in Monaco, and this coastal area was being bombarded continuously.

The heavy artillery fire coverage from the 18th Army and the Southern Front Army increased to the 18th Army, so that the French officers and soldiers stationed here could only hide in the anti-gun holes and tremble.

As for the artillery counterattack, the French artillery did not dare to move at this time, because the artillery formation led by the Kamal six kilometers away from the coastline was preparing for a counterattack while shelling.

The 210, 150, 120, and 105 mm naval guns in this formation, with their high magnification advantage, are enough to shoot a range of more than ten or twenty kilometers.

How can the 75mm rapid-fire cannon equipped by the French army compete with it.

After the French artillerymen were beaten black and blue, they no longer believed in the 75mm rapid-fire cannon. Now it purchases, collects, and builds large-caliber artillery everywhere, even in museums. But now the French army does not have many artillery pieces above 100 mm, and these artillery have to give priority to the Battle of Paris, so there are not many in the hands of the French army on the Italian-French border.

There was no way to compete with the artillery in the hands of the Italian army, so the artillery was left until it was more useful. This is a hardship for the infantry who took the lead. Now they can only wait for the Italian artillery bombardment to end.

Suddenly a roar came from the sky, and the expressions of the French officers and soldiers hiding in the anti-gun cave changed.

A French soldier said, “Damn it, these devils in the sky!”

What the French officers and soldiers called the devil was the Italian DF-3 aircraft.

Speaking of which, after the outbreak of the war, airships shone brightly during this period, and their light even overshadowed another type of aircraft of the same era.

That’s right, I’m talking about airplanes. At this time, due to the short range and high failure rate of the aircraft, the aircraft could only perform reconnaissance work, and its tactical application was extremely limited. Therefore, when aircraft are used in the military field, their performance is naturally not as exciting as airships.

But this was just for other countries, for Italy, under someone’s guidance, the gadget of shooting coordinator was quickly designed.

With the shooting coordinator, the pilot’s best shooting method, nose-forward shooting, is born.

The DF-3 aircraft is currently the top work of the Italian aircraft manufacturing industry.

The aircraft has a total length of 6.9 meters, a height of 2.7 meters, and a wing length of 8.7 meters. The aircraft weighs 690 kilograms and has a maximum take-off weight of 950 kilograms.

The aircraft engine is a Siegel II radial engine researched by Siegel and the Power Laboratory. The engine has a maximum horsepower of 200 horsepower. This horsepower can propel the aircraft to 195,000 per hour.

This also allows the maximum lift-off height of the aircraft to reach the limit of 4,500 meters.

Judging from the performance of this aircraft, it has reached the standards of the mid-to-late period of the original historical World War I.

One more thing to say here is that due to the early invention of aircraft, all countries started researching aircraft early. At present, the general performance of aircraft in various countries has reached the level of the mid-term World War I in the original time and space. Even so, Italy is better than other countries with its many years of heavy investment.

As for why the French officers and soldiers were shocked, it was because of the two Maxim machine guns on the nose of the DF-3. The thousand rounds of ammunition it carries are enough to shoot at the ground more than ten times.

As for why a plane and not an airship?

The reason is simple. After being hit by airships in the early days, the French army quickly developed anti-aircraft guns. Although this is just a small-caliber gun with a longer barrel, it is enough for shooting airships. However, airships that can hit large targets at a slow speed are not enough for small and flexible aircraft.

After the sound of the aircraft engine resounded through the French position, the explosion extended to the rear of the position.

At this time, the French observation post saw the enemy.

“Quick, the enemy is attacking.”

Amid the shouts of the sentries, French officers and soldiers entered their positions one after another, preparing to meet the Italian attack.

The officer is much busier. While he has to direct the soldiers to defend their positions, he has to pay attention to the situation in the air.

At this time, a fierce battle is about to begin in the Monaco area, and the officers and soldiers of the two sides will also engage in a bloody fight.

The fighting was not unique to the Monaco region. From Monaco on the coast to the Lombard Pass, the Italian army launched a fierce attack from the southern border of the two countries.

Although it is a full-scale attack, the Nice that the two countries compete for is mainly mountainous, which also results in only so many routes of attack. At this time, the two parties were fighting around various passages, and the most fierce one was at Buro Pass.

The Bro Pass is located five kilometers west of Sospele in a straight line. The pass is the only way from Sospele to Les Carrennes. As long as you get here, you can go to Nice, Conte or Le Ventoux. Can.

Currently, Italian and French officers and soldiers are fighting fiercely at the mountain pass.

“Mortars, destroy the opponent’s machine gun positions.”

Halfway up the south peak of the mountain pass, the Italian officer who was in charge of commanding the attack kept giving orders.

Under the officer’s order, several soldiers quickly organized the mortar, and at the same time the mortar position was also built.

“Peng Peng Peng~”

After the test firing, several consecutive shells destroyed the machine gun firepower point.

After solving the offensive obstacles, the offensive began again. At this time, we were only 500 meters away from the enemy’s position. After the team’s light machine guns were set up, they began to suppress the firepower of the enemy’s position.

At this time, the mortars also fired smoke grenades.

That’s right, it’s smoke bombs. Using mortars to fire smoke bombs can block the enemy’s sight and provide convenience for the attacking troops. Although the mortar team following the offensive carried a limited amount of ammunition, it carried at least one-third of the smoke bombs. This is a common offensive tactic used by the Italian army. It uses smoke to block the enemy’s sight to reduce soldier casualties.

Since the smoke grenade was invented a few years ago, the Italian army has begun to study its use, not to mention that it has studied many tactics. This gadget may seem inconspicuous for enriching offensive and defensive tactics, but it has a significant effect. Therefore, machine guns, mortars, various grenades and smoke grenades have become the most trusted weapons of Italian offensive soldiers.

As the elite 11th Army of the Italian Army, it was even more comfortable in using this tactic.

But despite this, Lieutenant General Cavilla, as the commander of the 11th Army, did not take it lightly. Although his troops’ attack seemed to be going smoothly, the terrain here was really terrible.

The location of Buro Pass is composed of four mountains, divided into four peaks: southeast, northwest and northwest. Among them, the east peak is the shortest, the south peak is second, the north peak is the second, and the west peak is the highest. They are distributed in a diamond shape.

The road from Sospele to Lescarene first goes south to the foot of the East Peak, then goes around the valley inserted between it and the South Peak, then goes all the way between the South Peak and the North Peak, and then goes west past the West Peak. , then follow the valley to Les Carrennes. A large number of characters appeared.

Therefore, conquering the south peak is nothing. You have to conquer the west peak to open the road to Lescarenes. Lescarene is only the first town that the 11th Army needs to conquer, and he has three more towns to conquer.

Of course, the offensive and defensive battle at Bro Pass is also its most difficult point, because there are two French divisions stationed here. With superior firepower and a series of new weapons such as aircraft, Lieutenant General Caviglia is still very confident in conquering the Buro Pass.

However, the speed of attack is the key. It can quickly threaten Nice’s flanks early, and it can also help relieve pressure on friendly forces elsewhere. If you are slow, you are waiting for others to help you.

How could Lieutenant General Caveglia, the commander of the 11th Army, not understand this gap?

At this time, Lieutenant General Caviglia already had the idea of ​​a quick breakthrough and was waiting for the opportunity.