The 1st Guards Tank Brigade was ordered to continue to advance towards Tver. At the same time, the air force, air defense troops and artillery originally used to cover the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade were switched to cover the 1st Guards Tank Brigade.

This is not because the Soviet Supreme Command was unkind and abandoned the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade, but that the command has lost contact with the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade, and the air force and artillery cannot cover them even if they want to.

It was already half an hour later when the 1st Guards Tank Brigade arrived outside Tver.

There were wreckage and corpses of Soviet tanks everywhere, as well as dark craters and blood exploded by artillery shells, which looked very dazzling in the white snow.

Fortunately, the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade was not completely wiped out, because there were still a few T34s parked behind a small mound, and the officers and soldiers of the 2nd Brigade were busy building a line of defense to prevent the Germans from counterattacking...

In fact, it was the 1st Guards Tank Brigade that saved them, because Kubil knew that the Soviet army had rocket launchers and did not dare to easily let the armored troops engage in battle with the Soviet army, so he withdrew the armored troops in advance.

Looking at the entire battle, Kubil actually made a mistake in his command: he should not have rushed to divide his troops to fight the 1st Guards Tank Brigade.

If Kubiler let two armored units neatly encircle and annihilate the 2nd Soviet Brigade, and then rely on Tver to form a formation to deal with the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, then the outcome is really unknown.

However, who could have known that the Soviet army was actually equipped with a new weapon?

Katukov immediately found Lavrentin, the commander of the 2nd Brigade. He was hit in the head by a piece of shrapnel, and the health worker was bandaging it... The advantage of low temperature is that the bleeding blood will freeze into ice soon.

Stop it, but it will be more troublesome to take off the bandage.

"Comrade Lavrentin!" Katukov stepped forward and shouted.

Lavrentin avoided Katukov's gaze and said: "Yes, we lost!"

Katukov didn't know what to say; he could see that Lavrentin was embarrassed and frightened.

It was embarrassing because he wanted to compete with the 1st Brigade, but it turned out that he couldn't compare with the 1st Brigade.

He was afraid because Lavrentin didn't know what was waiting for him ahead.

Removal?

This may be considered a good thing. He lost the battle under such important circumstances and lost dozens of precious T34 tanks... He did not dare to think about it any further.

"Our radio stations have been damaged!" Lavrentin said: "Including the tank command vehicle, so we can't contact our superiors!"

Katukov nodded.

This was common among Soviet troops, so there's nothing surprising about it.

"The superiors must let you take over the 2nd Brigade!" Lavrentin said: "I obey the orders of the superiors, you can command them!"

"No, Comrade Lavrentin!" Katukov replied: "Although my superiors did say so, I think I need your cooperation!"

"Cooperate?" Lavrentin looked at Katukov doubtfully.

"Yes!" Katukov said: "You know better about Tver's troop deployment and the difficulties that may be encountered when tanks attack, so I need you to command this battle with me. The superior agreed!"

Lavrentin nodded gratefully to Katukov and said thank you.

In fact, everyone can see that the "cooperation" is false. Katukov can definitely get the information he needs from the officers and soldiers of the 2nd Brigade.

Therefore, this is actually Katukov helping Lavrentin win an opportunity to make meritorious deeds on his behalf.

So Shulka met Lavrentin at the meeting.

"The difficulty of the attack lies in the riverbed!" Lavrentin pointed to the map and said: "The German defense lines were laid out along the Timaka River and the Volga River. There was no grass in the river and there was no shelter. The Germans planted mines and barbed wire in the river.

A large number of roadblocks were set up on the other side, and their firepower was based on the structures of civilian houses. Even anti-tank guns and howitzers were moved into civilian houses for shielding and deployment... Once we attack the river, we will be hit by various German firepower, and we

The tanks were even unable to cross the river due to roadblocks and could only be passively beaten under enemy fire!"

"The passability of the T34 is very strong!" Katukov frowned: "If even the T34 can't pass, then let alone the British and American tanks!"

"I think we can use artillery to blow up the roadblocks on the other side!" Lavrentin said: "Blow out a channel for the tanks and then force a breakthrough!"

Lavrentin originally planned to do this, but before he could implement it, he was surrounded by German armored forces.

Katukov was silent for a while, then shook his head and said: "I think this is unrealistic, Comrade Lavrentin, artillery fire may indeed be able to blow up mines and barbed wire, but it is very difficult to blow up roadblocks... It is even possible.

Makes the road worse!"

Worse road conditions don't just refer to craters. These craters are indeed a problem for tanks, because the temperature of the shells will cause the ice and snow to melt and then condense again, thus forming radiating ice craters, which often trap the tank tracks.

It slips in it.

But more importantly, a roadblock with three iron pillars cross-welded together, no matter how it explodes, even if it flies into the sky, spins a few times, and falls to the ground and rolls a few times, it is still a roadblock... This is where the trouble lies with roadblocks.

.

At this time, the usual approach is to send infantry ahead to clear obstacles.

But on the one hand, the tanks were blocked by the height difference of the German defense line on the other side and were unable to attack quickly. On the other hand, a large number of German troops were deployed in civilian houses. Those snipers and artillery would be a nightmare for the Soviet infantry.

After thinking about it, Katukov looked at Shulka and asked: "I think we should let the rocket launcher work again!"

"I agree, Comrade Katukov!" Shulka said: "As long as the tanks cover the infantry close to the enemy's defense line, and use artillery to suppress the houses or simply blow up the houses occupying high positions... our rocket launchers can attack the enemy

Open a gap in the defense!"

"Bazooka? What rocket launcher?" Lavrentin looked at the two of them doubtfully.

"The thing we used to defeat the German armored divisions!" Katukov explained: "It is a piece of individual equipment. In addition to being able to penetrate enemy tanks, it can be used against enemy infantry as long as the type of ammunition is changed!"

Lavrentin looked at the two of them in surprise.

"Don't worry, Comrade Lavrentin!" Katukov said: "I think you will also be equipped soon!"

"Can I see this bazooka?" Lavrentin asked.
Chapter completed!