Chapter 0772: Gaining a Foothold

"Ratatat!" 

On the beach, a German Navy machine gun from the Marine Corps was sweeping the area, its rapid-fire bullets striking the British trenches, sending plumes of dust into the air. The British soldiers, huddled in the broken trenches, could only lower their heads in fear, terrified of being struck by the bullets and losing their lives. 

The German machine gun had an incredibly high rate of fire. A belt of 250 rounds was exhausted in less than half a minute. Once the belt was spent, the gun crew quickly moved to another location, avoiding being targeted by enemy mortars. 

On the battlefield, machine gunners were always the first targets to be eliminated. Both sides understood that the enemy's machine guns would inflict severe casualties. As a result, snipers and mortars would often target them first, causing machine gunners to perish rapidly in combat. 

Barely ten seconds after the machine gun team had relocated, a mortar shell struck the position they had just vacated. Had they not moved, they would have been torn to shreds by the British mortar fire, and their machine gun would have been reduced to scrap metal. 

It must be acknowledged that the British Army had adapted quickly to the battlefield. Despite the heavy losses they suffered, they learned a great deal. If the German Army had not been advancing as well, keeping the British at bay would have been far more difficult. 

"How is the situation at the front?" asked General Alexander Linzinger. 

"General, the 1st Regiment is enduring heavy losses. Despite the immense casualties inflicted by our naval artillery and aircraft, their fighting spirit remains unbroken. They have not collapsed. As a result, the 1st Regiment has been overwhelmed by the enemy's superior numbers and is completely suppressed," reported the aide. 

"Contact the Navy and request additional support!" ordered General Linzinger. 

At this critical juncture, only further support from the Navy could inflict greater damage on the British, forcing them to retreat. 

"Yes, General!" The aide immediately set off to make the call. 

Upon receiving the Marines' plea for help, the Navy did not hesitate. Rear Admiral Richard Fielts ordered a squadron consisting of two light cruisers and five destroyers to approach within just three kilometers of the shore and bombard the British positions. At such a range, it was as though the guns were being fired point-blank at the enemy. 

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The 150mm naval guns and 88mm rapid-fire cannons fired relentlessly. The dense barrage of shells rained down on the British lines like a torrential downpour. 

The explosions reverberated across the battlefield, and the British positions were engulfed in smoke and fire. Countless British soldiers were torn apart by the blasts. 

As the German warships extended their firepower, it was as if two massive iron plows were driving through the British lines, cutting them apart. 

"Charge!" Taking advantage of the suppression, the German 1st Marine Division's 1st Regiment launched its assault. With overwhelming fire support, the British suffered heavy casualties and were unable to resist the German advance, resulting in the breakthrough of their first line of defense. 

Although only part of the defense line was breached, it was enough to alarm the British. General Douglas Haig immediately ordered the recapture of the position at all costs. 

However, the British counterattack had to endure not only the devastating fire from the German Marines but also the bombardment from the warships offshore and the aircraft overhead. Despite their efforts, the British could not retake the position, suffering heavy losses in the process. Meanwhile, General Linzinger ordered the remaining forces of the 1st Marine Division to land immediately. 

Once the additional regiments and an amphibious tank battalion had successfully landed, it was clear that the British would never reclaim the position. With the reinforcements bolstering the German forces, the Marines could press on to extend their gains. 

"Order the landing forces to establish a secure beachhead. Send a telegram to the Army to prepare for their landing once we succeed!" General Linzinger commanded. 

"Yes, General." The aide immediately went to send the message. 

By midday, although the 1st Regiment had suffered nearly half of its casualties, it had achieved its primary objective. As other units of the 1st Division expanded the gains and fortified the beachhead, the landing operation was deemed a success. 

General Linzinger was not arrogant enough to believe that a single regiment of Marines could withstand a British counterattack. When it mattered, the Army was the key. In ground defense operations, the Army was far better suited than the Marines. 

"Screech! Screech!" 

The amphibious tank battalion, with over seventy tanks, was deployed. While these tanks had relatively weak armor, they were well-suited for conventional battles.

"Ratatat!" 

The tanks' machine guns fired wildly, claiming the lives of British soldiers. 

The Marines followed the tanks, offering close protection while utilizing the tanks to break through the enemy's defenses and minimize their own casualties. 

"My God! The Germans have deployed tanks! Quickly bring up our anti-tank guns!" an officer of the British forces shouted. 

"Boom!" 

A tank shell exploded next to the British officer, tearing him apart. 

Despite the British having the ability to penetrate the amphibious tanks' armor with ease, they could not prevent their retreat in the face of the Germans' relentless advance. 

By the afternoon, the 1st Marine Division had established a beachhead on the shores of Margate, measuring four kilometers in length and two kilometers deep. While not large, it was sufficient for the Army to land. The situation was further enhanced as the engineers began to construct simple wooden bridges extending into the sea, speeding up the Army's disembarkation. 

Other Marine divisions had achieved similar success. 

The German Army's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Corps began landing according to plan, reinforcing the beachhead defenses to ensure the German forces could secure a foothold on the beach.