If it's just a small-arms firefight, Vatutin's guards can definitely hold on, and their well-trained combat qualities are most vividly reflected in mid- to close-range battles.
Before the group of gangsters trying to cut leeks on the opposite side really got close, they were violently attacked by a combination of semi-automatic rifles and submachine guns at a distance of three to two hundred meters.
The battlefield is fair for both warring parties. Vatutin's side lacks bunkers that can be used for concealment and movement, and the same goes for the group of Ukrainian bandits opposite.
There is no place to hide bullets on the unobstructed charge. As long as you enter the final section of two to three hundred meters, it is the death zone. If you want to fight this kind of battle without the cover of armored troops, you have to do it.
It is better to be prepared to pay extremely heavy casualties, provided that no other weapons that can change the situation of the battle are involved in the battle.
But, that's exactly where the problem lies.
The group of Ukrainian gangsters opposite had mortars in their hands. Although the caliber was not larger than 100 millimeters, a cannon was a cannon, and its advantage over firearms and light weapons was overwhelming.
As soon as the bandit leader Anton's order was given, it didn't take long for the mortar position to rumble.
Due to Anton's order not to blow up vehicles, the bandits' mortars sounded like they were firing, but the actual killing effect was not very good.
Many artillery shells flew straight over the roof of the car with standard parabolic trajectories and landed outside the killing range. The flying dust and deafening roar swept towards the ears overwhelmingly. Although they were not injured, the ears were hurt.
Vatutin felt that he could hardly hear the sound. The adjutant who was fighting with a gun on the side saw this scene and quickly lowered his head and asked.
"Comrade Commander, the enemy's firepower is too fierce! This is at least a platoon of mortars firing. We lack bunkers and don't have counter-weapons. If that doesn't work, we should cover you and withdraw first!"
Putting the comrade commander under the enemy's artillery fire without any obstruction is one of those terrible things that just sounds enough to scare people out of their wits. But now it is actually happening before our eyes.
It was happening and would continue, which made the young adjutant feel anxious like never before, like an ant on a hot pot.
Vatugin, whose ears were ringing with ringing, could not hear clearly. He only heard a general idea and basically understood what the adjutant wanted to express about retreat, but his subsequent response was still firm and without hesitation.
"Continue to defend, Malashenko's men will be here soon! Tell comrades, persistence is victory! Use your tenacious fighting will to fight back the enemy's charge!"
"...."
The young adjutant felt that he was really speechless at this moment. Vatutin's stubborn donkey temper that he could not pull back even ten oxen once he made a decision remained the same even at this moment.
As long as it is something he is sure of, others will generally not want to change it.
Just like when Vatutin decided to come to the front line to inspect the front line in person earlier, Zhukov personally advised him to let the chief of staff act on his behalf and he stayed at the headquarters to take command. Vatutin was so stubborn that he even listened to Zhukov's suggestions.
Those who don't go in must come to the front line to see the situation in person and get the most accurate first-hand information.
Moreover, it was a frontline inspection with only one guard platoon. You must know that this is a large-scale battle at the front level that has not yet been completely ended. He is probably the only front commander who dares to run to the front line with only one guard platoon.
Knowing that talking was useless, the adjutant did not continue to persuade. He just replaced the new drum of the Bobosha submachine gun in his hand and continued to fight hiding behind the car. A new wave of enemy infantry charges had already begun under the pressure of mortars.
, the number of people was far greater than the first two waves of charges that had been repelled before!
Perhaps realizing that too cautious shelling was a waste of ammunition, the bandit mortars began to become more and more bold after firing for a long time without even hitting the target.
The shrinking shelling envelope is getting closer and closer to the core of the convoy where Vatutin and his party are, and the mortar's falling range is shrinking like an iron ring squeezed by external forces, getting closer and closer.
Finally, a mortar shell fell straight from the sky and hit the side of the second vehicle behind the lead vehicle, only less than five meters away.
After a loud bang, even the Gas jeep that was used as a bunker was shaken three times, and the tires were off the ground, like a baby rocking a stroller. The soldiers of the guard platoon who were hiding behind the car kept leaning out to shoot.
It is even more tragic.
The shell fragments that struck at high speed swept away the three nearest soldiers like autumn leaves. One of them was hit by the fragments and his helmet was shot on the head. The other two were covered with fragments all over their bodies and were swept into a sieve.
He immediately fell to the ground and saw that he would not survive.
Only one soldier who was relatively lucky was only hit in the calf by shrapnel, but he was bleeding. This soldier, who didn't even have time to bandage his wound, was briefly knocked to the ground and returned within a few seconds.
After regaining consciousness, he got up again. Without saying a word, he picked up the SVT-40 semi-automatic rifle at his feet and continued to fire in the battle.
Vatugin, who witnessed this scene with his own eyes, had a solemn look on his face. He leaned on the car cover behind him to change bullets for the pistol in his hand, and said to the adjutant who was beside him.
"Tell your comrades to move the enemy closer and reduce the number of times you lean out from behind the vehicle. Try to avoid casualties as much as possible. We don't have many people left!"
"knew!"
After fierce fighting till now, Vatutin's guard platoon has suffered heavy losses and there are not many troops left.
The three squads that were originally fully equipped were beaten to pieces by the bandits' guns and artillery, causing heavy casualties. Taking advantage of the gap between changing bullets, Vatutin glanced around and made a rough estimate of the current situation. He could still carry it.
Guns, soldiers who persisted in fighting, and several headquarters officers who accompanied him were also counted as combat strength, and there were less than twenty people left in total.
However, this group of unidentified beasts on the opposite side is still increasing their offensive power and investing more troops. The current wave of charges currently in progress has at least 200 people.
The suppressive firepower of machine guns and mortars was fired without regard to ammunition consumption. Many soldiers were suppressed and unable to raise their heads, or were shot by fragments of projectiles flying in all directions as soon as their heads emerged, or bullets fired from unknown sources.
Put him to the ground.
Based on the current posture, Vatutin estimated that if Malashenko hadn't arrived yet, his dozen or twenty men might really be wiped out here.
Thinking of this, Vatutin, who didn't want to put pressure on Malashenko, but had no other choice at the moment, could only pick up the radio transmitter again and press the button.