Although Malashenko, his deputy Lavrinenko and most of the Red Army tank crews escaped the shelling, those tanks that were unable to move and were unmanned were not so lucky.
Of the 16 KV1 heavy tanks parked in the factory and being ready for use, six of them were directly hit by the terrifying K5 train gun and then reduced to parts. The 7-ton KV heavy tank turret was even directly hit by the terrifying 28mm
The shock wave from the giant cannon flew up to the roof of the factory.
But in contrast, as the most powerful heavy tank on the Soviet-German battlefield and even in the world in 1941, the KV1 heavy tank with strong armor and powerful guns undoubtedly had a powerful defense like an unyielding wall.
As long as it is not a direct hit or an explosion at a very close range, pure chemical energy explosions and shrapnel shock waves pose almost no threat to the 47-ton KV1 heavy tank.
The fragments of shells whose flight speed is seriously attenuated are no more than scratching the itch of the KV1 heavy tank, which can only be chewed by the 88 gun. The interior of the KV1 heavy tank is not equipped with cutting-edge precision electronic equipment like modern main battle tanks, and it is not afraid of explosions.
Shockwave, as long as the sight and radio are in good condition, the KV1 heavy tank, which has a solid mechanical structure and is protected by thick armor, can go to the battlefield at any time.
As soon as Malashenko, who commanded the troops to accelerate away from the crushing factory, ran out of the factory gate, a huge crater that was large enough to cut the entire road into two was placed in front of him.
"The bullets hit here!"
Three KV1 heavy tanks belonging to Malashenko's First Independent Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion were directly overturned and paralyzed in an upside down or sideways posture beside the huge crater, unable to move.
This huge 28mm artillery shell hit the center of the armored column not long after the bombardment started, directly knocking off three KV1 heavy tanks that were less than ten meters away from the center of the blast like children's toys, and all the
With one T4 reduced to parts and four GAZ trucks transporting spare parts for maintenance, it was equivalent to directly wiping out the strength of a tank platoon.
Captain Karamov, who had left the factory first and came out to prepare the team in accordance with Malashenko's order, was directing the remaining intact KV1s to use cable traction to try to move these overturned behemoths back. Each vehicle
Even if the KV1 heavy tank that can be recycled is severely damaged internally, it is still possible to be repaired and put on the battlefield.
Seeing Malashenko leading the troops out of the factory, Captain Karamov, who was directing the tank towing work, immediately handed over the work to his deputy and ran forward.
"How is the condition of the new tanks? Comrade Battalion Commander, how many of them can still be used?"
"It's not good. A German cannon hit a KV1 in the face, completely destroying the other five KV1s parked densely next to it. Now only the remaining tanks that can still be used are
10 kv1s and that one t5, the situation is really bad."
Even in his wildest dreams, Malashenko, who had a black line on his face, never thought that one day he would be able to enjoy the imperial-level supreme experience of the German giant train gun.
During the entire World War II, a large number of German siege artillery, including Gustav, Dora, Karl, and Sturmtigger, were only produced in total, no more than 50, and without exception they were not used.
It has been used in siege and evacuation of cities in major battles.
But now, Malashenko, who was just dissatisfied with the establishment of a heavy tank battalion, was actually wiped out by this terrifying anti-city treasure. This kind of weird bad luck has a chance of breaking out. It is no exaggeration to say that it is simply
It's even worse than winning 500 million after buying a lottery ticket only once in your life.
It was still unclear what type of giant train gun the Germans used to bombard their own side. Malashenko, who had already imagined the terrifying appearance of the Gustav and Karl mortars in his mind, felt a shiver all over his body. This almost
Malashenko never wanted to experience the shocking feeling that his soul was about to be ripped out alive.
"There is no time to delay any further, Karamov. Those Germans may launch a second wave of artillery attacks at any time, and their artillery observation planes are hovering above our heads."
"Leave the minimum tractor trailers and necessary tanks for operations, and the remaining large forces will move away from here immediately! If we can't even save the last troops, we will have no chance of supporting Uritsk!"
Just as the impatient Malashenko commanded his troops to start moving, preparing to escape from this terrifying place that might turn into a purgatory again at any time, the Smolny Palace in the same city of Leningrad took full command of the entire front army.
General Zhukov, who was fighting, also received news of the shelling at the same time.
"I have just received a report from the frontline garrison. After observation and calculation, the location where the German artillery attack was initiated was very far away. The straight-line distance was at least fifty kilometers. It was far beyond the artillery strike range of the front-line defense troops deployed outside the city. It was impossible to launch an artillery battle to suppress it.
and fight back.”
The report from Chief of Staff Huo Jin was obviously not good news for Zhukov, who was currently in internal and external difficulties. The frowning Red Army God of War immediately asked.
"How is the situation over there at the old site of the Kirov Factory? How serious was the damage caused by the shelling?"
After listening to Zhukov's questioning, he shook his head slightly. The solemn expression on Chief of Staff Huo Jin's face clearly indicated the bad news.
"It has been confirmed that Engineer Ivankov, the person in charge of the factory, died in the shelling. There are so many missing and killed workers that the current rough statistics exceed more than half. The large-caliber cannon used by the German army outside the city is so powerful that some factory buildings
It was even directly blown down, and many workers were buried underneath, causing heavy casualties."
"The rescue team composed of militiamen and some workers has rushed to the former site of the Kirov factory to prepare for rescue, but the German army outside the city does not know whether it will continue to launch a second wave of artillery bombardment. The German artillery observation plane overhead has just been expelled by the air defense force. Everything is in doubt.
It’s still unknown.”
General Zhukov, who was listening to the report from Chief of Staff Huo Jin beside him, stood solemnly in front of the war zone map and stared intently. His sharp eyes like an eagle kept wandering over the intertwined battle fronts, looking for any possible key points.
"Malashenko and his boys had just fought a beautiful tank encounter, and these German fascists blew up the former site of our Kirov tank factory with this unprecedented huge artillery.
"
Zhukov's eyes were fixed on the location of the old site of the Kirov Tank Factory on the map. Zhukov, who had already noticed the true intention of the German army's shelling, blurted out with a firm expression.