There was no big trouble on the way towards the encirclement point. Kulbalov led a group of tanks on a rampage and advanced wildly. In this formation, even with the German defensive positions,
As long as it is not systematically arranged, heavily guarded, and the firepower echelon is well configured, it will still not have the slightest blocking effect and can only be pierced on the spot.
The real change occurred when Kulbalov approached the last three kilometers of the encirclement point. The forward scouts suddenly sent news that surprised Kulbalov, who was commanding from the center.
"Comrade Commander, there is a situation! The village at the encirclement point is guarded by Germans, and the enemy has been discovered!"
"What? Are there any Krauts there?"
When he heard the news, he trembled all over. As a quick thinker, Kulbalov really didn't expect that the Germans would be so fast. Could it be that the division commander really got it right? The German armored forces were the first to attack him.
The land has been occupied and is waiting for you to deliver it to your door?
With countless thoughts and possibilities flashing through his mind, Kulbalov did not dare to neglect, and immediately picked up the radio transmitter at hand, pressed the talk button, and asked questions.
"What kind of enemy? What is the configuration of the troops? How many are there approximately? Do you see clearly?"
If it is a small group or even a medium number of enemies, Kulbalov is confident that he can crush them before the large force led by Comrade Division Commander arrives. His own group is the strongest main tank in the entire Stalinist Guards 1st Tank Division.
The regiment now also has a newly added medium tank battalion. The entire regiment has a total of three battalions of heavy tanks and one battalion of medium tanks, with a total of nearly one hundred vehicles.
As long as the Germans on the opposite side were not a fully equipped armored division, Kulbalov would press hard and kill this group of Germans before the main force of the division arrived and seize the encirclement point.
Men, sometimes they just fight for this breath.
In Kurbalov's view, completing the tasks assigned to him by the division commander before the main force of the division arrives is a proof of his strength and a manifestation of his commanding ability. If he can't even solve this small problem, why wait?
If the comrade division commander personally leads a team to wipe his own butt, then even if the comrade division commander does not hold him accountable, he will have nowhere to put his face.
The other Sunzi commanders will definitely laugh themselves to death! Aren’t you, Kulbalov, capable? Aren’t you leading the main regiment with the best equipment, the most veteran vehicles, and the strongest overall combat capability in the entire division? How about this actual combat?
Just pull it off like that?
Kulbalov, who has a strong self-esteem, does not want to see this happen, and will try his best to avoid it if there is even the slightest possibility. What happens next will be directly related to Kulbalov's next action plan.
"There are tanks, Comrade Commander! But... there are not many. At least there are not many that I can see from my angle outside the village. There are only single digits of No. 4 and Panther tanks. It is a bit far away and I can't see the specific ones.
Model. The Germans are building a position. It seems they want to hold on here. The infantry is digging trenches outside the village. It has reached a certain scale. What should we do? Comrade Regiment Commander."
Not many tanks, not many tanks, not many tanks.
Important things have to be said three times. For Kulbalov, after hearing the keyword "there are not many tanks", it is like a big stone falling to the ground instantly in his heart. It is no exaggeration.
"Get ready to attack! All the vehicles and crews of the whole regiment are on top! You must crush this position before enemy reinforcements arrive. The first wave of attacks will completely defeat the enemy!"
Although Kulbalov experienced a large range of emotional changes, it did not affect his command ability with clear judgment.
From the situation reported by the scouts, Kulbalov could probably guess such a situation.
The Germans are most likely aware of their own intention to encircle them, and are desperately trying to do something to save their own fate.
Control what they think is a possible encirclement point and hold it until more soon-to-be-encircled German troops arrive, and then work together to break out of the encirclement.
Whether the German troops controlling the village at the encirclement point were reinforcements forward that had just arrived, or a German army that was about to close the encirclement and spread out to open the way to seize the point, it didn't make much difference to Kulbalov.
These Germans must either die or surrender. Victory must and can only belong to themselves and the Red Army. There is no other possibility or outcome.
Kurbalov always believed in this and was convinced that he had the ability to do it.
By the time the German troops encircling the village realized that something was wrong, what was rumbling in the field of view of the telescope was no longer the T70 light tanks of the forward reconnaissance force, but the main force roaring in the dust like a sandstorm.
Tank cluster.
"Oh...oh...hell! Tanks, Russian tanks! Lots of tanks!!!"
"Defense! Everyone enter the combat position and prepare to defend, quick!!!"
"Bring the machine gun, damn it, where did you put the bullet box!? Get it back for me quickly!"
Obviously, the German troops stationed in the village most likely had just arrived here not long ago.
Not only was half of the position dug out yet to be completed, but even the equipment he brought with him was thrown here and there and a piece here and there was not at hand.
The German soldiers dropped their shovels and pickaxes and stopped repairing the earth. They were so frightened by the horrific scene that half of their souls flew out of their wits. One by one, the German soldiers were quickly looking for defensive weapons to prepare for battle.
Boxes of iron fists were brought up one after another. The lids of the wooden boxes were kicked open, and then a bunch of people rushed up and rushed into battle. You hold two, and I will take three to take these iron fists back to the future.
On the completed position, one was distributed to other comrades in the same class to prepare themselves.
The German army defending the village was not a pure infantry unit. Just like the reconnaissance intelligence that Kulbalov had just heard, they had an unknown number of tanks to support them, possibly a smaller number.
In this case, the concept of the whole thing is different, and the opponent is instantly upgraded to a mixed battle group of infantry and tanks.
The number may be small, but it is definitely worth paying attention to.
But is the truth really as simple as it seems? These Germans only have these skills, and they are a hastily engaged force that has not even finished digging their positions shortly after arriving?
Kurbalov had no time to think about this, but he would soon be able to witness the truth with his own eyes.
The advance reconnaissance force did not report that the Germans had anti-tank guns or dug anti-tank gun bunkers, which was undoubtedly quite good news.
The T43 medium tanks at the front are the latest second batch of improved models delivered. The physical thickness of the armor on the front of the vehicle body has been increased to 70 mm, which greatly improves the defense.
Tests have shown that the second batch of T43, with the equivalent blessing of reinforced inclined armor on the front, can completely withstand the bombardment of the Iron Fist. Therefore, even if it rushes to a distance within the range of the Iron Fist, there is no need to worry too much. It stands to reason.
But what happened next with the roar of cannons and the explosion of fire was nothing like that at all.