Chapter 226: Airport and Harbor

The intensity of the battle at Belfast Airport deeply intimidated the German paratroopers from the very beginning. Even Count von Blücher, who prided himself on having an iron will, was left speechless upon witnessing the scene after arriving at the airport with his soldiers and recoilless guns. At this moment, the remaining perimeter of barbed wire around the airport had been largely destroyed by a combination of aerial bombs, artillery shells from various directions, grenades from paratroopers, and other weapons. The defensive positions constructed by the British military were strewn with shattered limbs, blood-stained debris, and twisted components of anti-aircraft guns. Near the gun emplacements, many empty ammunition boxes and shells lay scattered, indicating the fierce resistance put up by the British gunners before being overwhelmed. Closer to the runway, there were more bodies clad in light gray paratrooper uniforms, most of whom had succumbed to direct bullet hits, with some not even having had the chance to unpack their parachutes.

The nauseating smell of burnt flesh pervaded the air, as German paratroopers, with numb expressions, either leaned against walls smoking wearily or hastily dealt with the bodies of comrades and enemies alike. Occasionally, shells landed in the fields near the runway, and the sounds of pistols and submachine guns could be heard emanating from some warehouses and underground shelters. Apart from sporadic resistance from remaining soldiers, most of the British forces defending the airport had withdrawn towards the port. The British warships that had previously been patrolling in the harbor had either been sunk by German dive bombers or had evacuated the harbor on their own. Now, the only ones bombarding the airport were a few British warships stranded nearby.

"First Platoon, set up the artillery over there, yes, utilize the cover left by the Brits! Keffer, reinforce the defense with your machine gun team! Second and Third Platoons, gear up and come with me!"

The count, with a stern expression, led one of his gun crews across the eastern side of the airport runway, while the second LG40 gun crew from his unit, which had been involved in the initial attack on the airport, also regrouped and joined the battle. According to the organizational standards of the 1st Airborne Division, each parachute infantry battalion was equipped with a heavy mortar company, which, in addition to three regular platoons equipped with 50mm mortars, also had an additional special platoon equipped with either three 75mm or two 105mm LG40 mortars. In reality, due to limited production numbers, most of these platoons were currently equipped with only two 75mm or one 105mm recoilless guns, with the rest of the personnel carrying standard paratrooper equipment for combat.

Several oil tanks at the airport and harbor were still burning, shrouding the area in thick smoke. The count eventually established his position at a British defense position less than 2 kilometers from the harbor, where damaged eight-barreled ping-pong guns still remained in the gun emplacements. The ground was littered with blackened shells of exploded bombs, some miraculously unexploded. As the gunners pushed the cannons into position and reinforced the defenses with sandbags, the count used his high-powered binoculars to observe the situation in the harbor:

After being ravaged by war, the once beautiful harbor was now enveloped in smoke. Beneath the sea breeze, the water surface shimmered with scales-like ripples. Massive battleships, resembling sleeping giants, lay quietly beside the docks. They boasted sleek lines and sturdy bodies, with towering bridges and solid turrets already in place. However, until the armored steel plates were laid, they looked like metallic skeletons. In the large shipyard on the north side of the harbor, a carrier under construction with a compact and exquisite bridge and a spacious flight deck could still be found. According to the original plan, it should have been completed three months ago. However, due to the occupation of England by German landing forces, intense bombing of northern military facilities by the Luftwaffe, and increasingly stringent naval blockades, its construction progress had been significantly delayed. In fact, out of the British warships that were supposed to be completed by the end of 1940 and the beginning of 1941, ninety percent were unable to be completed on schedule!

Surveying the entire harbor, another massive vessel could be seen on the water surface near the northern shore of the outer harbor. As the German Air Force launched a fierce air raid, it, along with several cruisers and destroyers moored in Belfast Harbor, attempted to leave the port quickly. Although they successfully evaded the first two attacks by German dive bombers, luck was not on their side. As they approached the harbor's outer limits, they were ambushed by German submarines lurking there. As a result, the forward starboard section was hit by a torpedo—the ship, which had already suffered previous damage, was dealt another blow. After undergoing two modernization upgrades, the old battleship's speed plummeted instantly. It had barely escaped the harbor when the third wave of German bombers arrived menacingly.

It was evident that the German Air Force had meticulously planned its operations. Among this batch of bombers, most of the Ju-87s were equipped with heavy armor-piercing bombs, with over twenty of them immediately launching attacks on the wounded British battleship. After dropping more than a dozen near-misses, one bomb finally struck the midship deck, causing a violent explosion that blew off half of the funnel and destroyed the aircraft hangar. The battleship's speed further decreased to a pitiful 4 knots. Subsequently, another armor-piercing bomb hit the No. 3 turret. Given the consistent vulnerability of surface vessels during the period of the Anglo-German naval arms race, the bomb successfully penetrated the turret's top armor and exploded inside, causing the ammunition and propellant charges stored inside the turret to detonate. The entire turret was blown apart like a matchbox. Moreover, the intense explosion swept through two lower compartments, killing all personnel and equipment inside. If it weren't for the 102mm thick armor laid on top of the ammunition storage areas during the second modernization upgrade of the Queen Elizabeth-class battleships, even the lower ammunition storage compartments would have been in jeopardy!

Dealt a heavy blow, the lonely battleship lay stranded by the coast. Although the fires onboard had been mostly contained, the billowing smoke turned it into a floating beacon. The remaining three main gun turrets pointed weakly towards the harbor's entrance. The 15-inch guns possessed immense firepower against coastal targets, but for some reason, whether due to malfunctioning gunnery systems or other issues, the battleship remained unusually quiet after running aground, with even the starboard secondary guns not providing support for the battle at the airport!

A faint buzzing sound emanated from the north, prompting the paratroopers to be on alert. Less than half an hour had passed since the first wave of German aircraft had ended their bombing runs, and the skies above the harbor were only patrolled by a few Bf-110s. Despite the significant weakening of the Royal Air Force in the past two months, the performance of the twin-engine long-range fighters of the German Air Force remained disappointing. The disillusioned Air Force Command had already begun transforming them into long-range reconnaissance aircraft and night fighters. Both had undergone significant improvements in radio equipment—the former for communication and the latter for detection and positioning.

As German paratroopers reluctantly observed, British aircraft, organized into several squadrons, soon appeared over Belfast. In addition to the familiar Spitfires and Hurricanes, the Royal Air Force had once again assembled a diverse group of bombers through unwavering perseverance: the exceptionally long "Wellington" single-engine bomber, the twin-engine "Handley Page Hampden" nicknamed the "Flying Suitcase," the newly produced four-engine "Avro Lancaster," and some older single-engine biplane bombers trailing behind the younger ones, still maintaining a semblance of grandeur but only in appearance.

The air defense system of Belfast Airport had been largely destroyed by the German Air Force, forcing the paratroopers to seek shelter in the defensive positions and shelters left by the British troops. At this moment, the green and brown parachutes used by the 1st Airborne Division became coveted items among the German soldiers, their vast spread providing ample camouflage for a recoilless gun.

On the ground, German troops scrambled to prepare for air raids. Near the harbor, the paratrooper units that had launched the initial assault temporarily halted their advance. Meanwhile, in the sky, German pilots flying Bf-110 fighters bravely formed up to intercept. However, their fierce frontal firepower couldn't compensate for their lack of maneuverability, and they were quickly scattered by British fighters. Amidst the prolonged wails, white parachutes blossomed one after another. Some were fortunate enough to land in German-controlled areas, while those descending towards the central and harbor areas could only hope for the best.

With the path cleared by the fighters, the incoming British bombers began their indiscriminate low-altitude bombing runs. However, the Royal Air Force, already suffering severe "anemia" due to earlier heavy losses, found itself in a dire situation. Most of the surviving veterans were languishing in German prisoner-of-war camps. Now, the low-altitude bombing raids were conducted not only by seasoned instructors from flight schools but also by inexperienced novices, with their aircraft either refurbished reserves or newly manufactured ones that had undergone only preliminary testing. Particularly, the "Lancaster" heavy bombers, formally introduced into service just before Christmas, were prone to technical malfunctions during combat. Thus, from the ground, the British air fleet's chaotic combat posture seemed more like a raid on German soil rather than soaring over their own airspace. Bombs lacking precision rained down on runways and the remaining buildings at the airport. As German aircraft appeared on the eastern horizon, many British bombers hastily dropped their payloads and turned back—no matter how powerful a nation, or how formidable its army, when pushed to the brink of exhaustion and depletion, only second or third-rate performance could be expected!

"Assembly! 3rd Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 1st Company, follow me!"

As the roar of the British aircraft still echoed, German paratrooper officers were already using sharp whistles to summon their soldiers! Curiously, the young Count turned around and saw a tall platoon leader from a neighboring unit standing tall like a fir tree by the runway, armed with a rifle, submachine gun, and machine gun, while paratroopers, under the command of their section leaders, quickly gathered from their temporary shelters. In a matter of minutes, a force of over 120 men was ready for battle—standard paratrooper units numbered around 190, so the reduced numbers indicated casualties or missing personnel, likely lost during the parachute drops. For conventional infantry, such a loss ratio would warrant withdrawal from the battlefield, but for paratroopers, even under worse circumstances, they had to persist in combat!

Parading on the relatively open airport was akin to inviting disaster, so after each section reported its numbers, the tall platoon leader quickly calculated and led his unit towards the harbor. As their footsteps faded away, other officers from different units could be heard summoning their soldiers:

"3rd Regiment, 1st Battalion, 1st Company, assemble!"

"2nd Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 1st Company, assemble!"

...

Before long, systematically organized paratrooper platoons set off one after another, all heading towards the growing sounds of gunfire and explosions in the harbor. German fighters and dive bombers concentrated their firepower on the densely built-up area, with bombs falling near the docks creating tall white columns of water!

The paratroopers belonging to the 7th Airborne Division were the first to rush to the new battlefield, leaving only the soldiers of the 1st Airborne Division's 1st Regiment behind. Feeling somewhat despondent, a familiar voice shouted:

"Company and platoon leaders of the 1st Airborne Division, assemble!"

Count von Blücher, now holding the rank of lieutenant, was capable of assuming the role of a company commander, but due to his young age of only 23, it was decided after discussions at higher levels that he would continue as a platoon leader, which somewhat displeased him—especially now that the outcome of the British campaign in Britain seemed imminent, making it appear as though the war would soon be over!

Shortly after, Lieutenant Terlberde returned from the battalion headquarters with orders: the 2nd Mortar Platoon would remain behind, while the rest of the units were to move immediately towards the harbor!

Though the orders were hasty, they reignited the count's inherent eagerness for battle. He instructed his gunners to push forward with two LG40 recoilless guns. Fully armed paratroopers hurried past them, each seemingly eager to lead the marathon race, and within a dozen minutes, the gunfire in the harbor area had become intense!

About to leave the airport, the count heard the increasingly clear buzzing sound and turned back to look. The sky above the airport was still shrouded in thick smoke, but the "Auntie Ju" transport planes showed no signs of retreat. Some likened their three-engine configuration to a "pig's snout," but as they emerged from the fog, their formidable presence was undeniable—guided by the paratroopers, the first Ju-52 landed forcefully within an area of less than 50 meters at the eastern end of the runway, while the second landed on the uneven ground beside the western runway. Following closely behind, the remaining transport planes each found their flat areas near the runway to land. As the cabin doors opened, fully armed soldiers poured out, and some modified transport planes even carried motorcycles without sidecars. Riding their "BMW" motorcycles, the paratroopers raced towards the harbor area.

In just over ten minutes, as two waves of Ju-52s dropped a large number of paratroopers over the harbor area in succession, the count finally understood why these early airborne units had rushed to the harbor at top speed—according to traditional military thinking, deploying paratroopers with light weapons into densely built urban areas was practically suicidal. They were likely to become separated between buildings and streets, unable to quickly regroup and form combat effectiveness, and then be eliminated by the responding enemy forces. However, fixed patterns of combat thinking are meant to be broken. As long as there is courage, determination, and wisdom, any risk holds the potential for success!