The Jacksons received two messages, one shortly before the other, and from very different sources.
Firstly, from the RCT commander, ordering two of the powerful SP guns across the valley and up in support of the hard-pressed left flank.
Two of the Jacksons pulled out and moved off to the west.
The second message was unequivocal, and without need of words.
A high-velocity 75mm shell took the rearmost tank destroyer in the engine compartment, wrecking it completely.
A second shell sought out the other Jackson and penetrated the thin turret rear, exiting the nearside front armour, just to the left of the mantlet, having passed through the gunner and loader on its inexorable advance.
The TD commander came apart mentally and started to scream, the awful sight of his gun crew immediately flipping his mind.
Driver and radio man needed no second invitation to quit the damaged vehicle, jumping out and heading for cover, even as a second shell arrived and put an end to both the vehicle and the screaming.
Finally reacting, the two remaining tank-destroyers turned their barrels and prepared to engage the pair of Panthers that had emerged from the woods.
Within the space of two seconds all four vehicles had fired and the high velocity shells passed each other on the battlefield.
All missed their target.
“Standby, driver. As soon as they fire their next shot, we’ll halt. Gunner, make it count.”
“Hai.”
The reply came in unison and both men steeled themselves.
A shell streaked across their front.
“Stop!”
The Panther came to a halt and the gunner waited briefly as the suspension recovered.
The 75mm spat its shell.
“Move!”
Slowly pulling away, the driver watched as a white blob crossed the divide, seemingly intent on hitting him.
The clang was incredible, the solid AP shot deflecting off the corner of the glacis immediately to the left of his head.
Hamuda shouted over the intercom, but he might just as well not have bothered.
The driver’s hearing was temporarily shot by the stunning impact, and all attempts to get the tank to halt fell on unreceptive ears.
The radio op’s machine gun started to rattle, as American soldiers started to fire or run, depending on how they coped with the approach of the deadly Panther.
Hamuda ducked into the interior and slapped the driver’s shoulder, using hand gestures to pass on his orders. The driver immediately steered the tank to the left of the infantry positions ahead.
Clicking to the tactical frequency, he made a call, completely ignoring the procedures, noting one of the remaining enemy TDs now burning brightly
“Ashita from Masami. Enemy infantry dug-in in strength ahead. Turn left…,” Hamuda quickly checked the map before continuing, “Move around south of Luxuzhen and rejoin the others. Over.”
“Ashita. Understood.”
In truth, Sergeant Major Kagamutsu didn’t wholly understand, but recognised that his commander had just committed them both to a very dangerous course of action indeed.
The two Panthers, bouncing along at the best possible speed, moved to the left of the infantry position and into an environment filled with unexpected opportunities.
Ahead was the logistical train of the American force.
Kagamutsu was pleasantly surprised, the progress of the two tanks virtually unmolested, save for some hastily fired mortar shells that arrived where they had been nearly a minute beforehand.
Occasionally a hard target presented itself; jeeps, carts and lorries mainly.
One of the TD unit’s M20 armoured cars had attempted to draw the two tanks away from a gaggle of lorries.
Both Hamuda and his senior NCO were impressed with the bravery of the crew in making such a worthless sacrifice.
Once the armoured car was destroyed, the two Panthers turned their attention to the supply unit, and wiped it out in less than two minutes.
Beyond that, a group of mule carts containing everything that a Chinese infantry battalion needed for war were the next victims.
Despite being an animal lover, Hamuda felt he had no choice. Using the machine guns sparingly, the two Panthers fell into column formation and drove down the road, crushing everything in their path.
A Sherman sporting a 105mm Howitzer tried its hand, planting a shell in the ground only six feet in front of Hamuda’s tank.
The driver, hearing slowly recovering, was suddenly afflicted by a lack of vision, as a large portion of China was thrown over the front of the tank, blocking episcopes and vision blocks.
The gunner and radio operator shouted.
“I’m blind!”
“Can’t see!”
Neither could Hamuda, a huge lump of soil and bamboo strewn over the top of his cupola.
Going from a snatch of memory, he shouted an order.
“Steer right!”
They were saved by Kagamutsu.
The Sergeant Major stopped his tank, making sure that his shell went home.
The Sherman withdrew, the howitzer now at an odd angle, set in a mantlet distorted by a direct strike.
Looking at his leader’s tank, it was obvious what their problem was.
“Masami from Ashita. Enemy tank down. You may halt quickly. Over.”
“Received.”
He watched as Masami came to a halt. Small figures emerged to push at the earth and vegetation that had covered the Panther.
Within thirty seconds, Masami was moving again, sights firmly set on a group of vehicles that were desperately manoeuvring to escape over a small bridge ahead.
Beyond the chaos at the crossing point, Hamuda could clearly see American tanks reversing out of the woods, firing as they went.
‘Midori Takushi’ was too much of a mouthful, so Hamuda cut it down.
“Takushi from Masami, over.”
The classical voice of the Marquis Hirohata returned, bringing a smile to Hamuda’s face.
“Takushi from Masami. We are to your south-east, advancing to the river and on the flank of your enemy tank force. Over.”
“Masami from Takushi, received. I see you. Suggest you take the tanks in the flank and then we join up at the bridge. Over.”
“Takushi from Masami. Agreed. Out.”
“Ashita from Masami, over.”
Kagamutsu acknowledged.
“Ashita from Masami. Orient to the north. Watch our flank. Out.”
“Received.”
The two Panthers went about their separate tasks.
“Goddamnit! George, have some of your men reposition to the south-east. The bastards are going round behind us!”
Bloomquist was on it in a moment, repositioning some of his assets to face the threat of the Panthers moving to the south of Luxuzhen.
Colonel Painter was doing the same job with some of his own troopers, moving anti-tank guns to cover to the south-west.
A bazooka-heavy platoon took to its vehicles and pushed south
The enemy force to his front was cowed, but not yet beaten, the damn Tiger tank proving invulnerable, despite several definite hits on the turret.
He decided, quite rightly, that the main threat now lay with the tanks to his rear and in the western woods.
The 413rd’s guns were redirected to the woods, as close as humanly possible to the retreating Shermans and infantry.
Hamuda had also contacted his artillery, and a steady fire fell amongst the traffic jam at the river bridge.
Before his eyes, the resolve of the American and Chinese troops broke as the final straw of the Panther’s arrival finished off the work started by the artillery.