In just one afternoon, it was already the second time it was bombed. Even if Malashenko's First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment was at its peak, it couldn't afford such a toss, let alone the number of remaining tanks.
Counting the captured German tanks that were used to make up the numbers, the number was less than half.
Strictly speaking, the Stuka dive bomber, which has developed into the D-type, was not originally designed to be a full-time anti-tank. It is a multi-purpose frontline fighter that also takes into account precision bombing of large targets on the ground, at sea, and important enemy hubs.
, when it comes to anti-tank, the German ground troops were forced to do nothing by the Soviet tanks, so they forced themselves to do it.
At first, the pilots of the Luftwaffe's ground attack wing were a little uncomfortable with bombing small targets and highly maneuverable Soviet tanks. Bombs dropped at higher altitudes would always explode. The thick-skinned Soviet main tanks only needed to
Instead of being directly hit within the absolutely destructive range, it can often be activated after a brief pause, causing the Germans to experience nightmares and scream.
The German pilots, who were forced to do nothing, lowered the bombing height again and again, and gradually developed into attacking with low-drag delay fuses close to the face and then pulling them up almost from the height of the treetops.
At first, even the Germans themselves did not believe that the Stuka was capable of anti-tank work. The combat efficiency of the Stuka became more and more efficient. From the beginning, the bombs were always thrown on the wrong side. Later, people like Rudel were able to throw aerial bombs directly at the faces of Soviet tanks.
The Stuka gradually became the absolute savior of German ground troops when they were ridden in the face by Soviet tanks.
Although the Stuka fleet with a small amount of bombs could only last for ten minutes at most, it had to return home after dropping the bombs. However, the results of knocking out dozens of tanks in one wave often exceeded the casualties of the Soviet tank troops.
Withstand the limit, and then collapse the Soviet counterattack and turn the tide of the battle for your own ground forces.
Malashenko, who was currently stationed in the village performing anti-tank missions, became the best target for German pilots. The bombs whizzing down from the sky were even more accurate when dealing with heavy tanks that were difficult to maneuver.
In at least three attacks, Malashenko saw with his own eyes those 250 or 500 kilogram aerial bombs being thrown directly into the faces of his own tanks.
The power of hundreds of kilograms of aerial bomb charges is earth-shaking and cannot be compared to the power of Army howitzers.
After the mushroom cloud of black smoke rising from the ground, only a bare aerial bomb crater was left. The KV1 heavy tank originally placed there had been completely restored to the state of factory-assembled parts. Not to mention the shadow of the tank, there were even human corpses.
Less than a little residue.
The screams of the Stuka fleet were responded to with maximum firepower from the beginning. The aerial bombs raining down like free money turned the entire village into a sea of flaming flames.
The Stukas, who had a very clear goal, did not bother with the infantry trenches at all, but instead looked for the KV1 heavy tanks, which were huge and had high recognition rate from aerial view. Regardless of whether the Soviet tanks were clustered together or not, even a 500kg tank could overturn a tank.
A KV1, the Stukas would do it on the spot without hesitation. Such a scene was obviously a desperate order from their superiors.
Malashenko lost contact with half of the twenty or so KV1 heavy tanks he had left in a short time, and many of the pitiful cries on the radio channel turned into suddenly interrupted silence.
Malashenko, who had almost been bombed to the point of being unable to take care of himself, realized that this air raid was aimed at him. In this case, staying in the tank was tantamount to being a target. No matter how precious the tank was, it would be like this.
It's time to make the necessary decision.
"Everyone! Abandon the car! Abandon the car and find cover! Hurry!"
It was different from the German troops who had abandoned their tanks and fled a moment ago.
The First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment, which claims to be an elite and is led by the tank hero Malashenko, enjoys a strong collective honor no matter where it is.
The 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment, whose members are mostly veterans, has always been strict and forbidden, and the new recruits who were added to the unit to make up for the losses were basically qualified under the influence of the veterans.
Unless Malashenko personally gives permission to abandon the vehicle, in the past battles, there have been countless scenes of KV1 heavy tanks continuing to fight with aerial bombs whizzing down overhead. Red Army soldiers who played with their lives in the name of the Guards
They are far more terrifying than their skull-and-skull-headed counterparts.
But at this juncture, it is no longer the time to continue risking one's life. Malashenko knows very clearly that the most important thing he has at hand is these experienced veteran crews. Tanks are very important to the Soviet army that wins by quantity.
There are as many steel torrents as you need, but if too many veterans die, your unit's combat effectiveness will be cut into two pieces, greatly reducing it.
The tank crews who followed Malashenko's order to abandon their vehicles and escape did not mean they were absolutely safe. The few remaining bomb-preserved Stukas still hovering in the sky were like the Sword of Damocles hanging above their heads.
The tank soldiers who left the tanks and carried self-defense weapons immediately ran towards the place where they remembered the bunker. Many cellars for storing food in the village had been opened yesterday for ventilation to avoid the German bombing.
Entering these places is the most reliable guarantee.
After leaving his tank, Malashenko called to Iushkin and others and immediately ran towards the cabin not far away. Malashenko clearly remembered that there was a cellar for storing food behind the cabin, and it was huge.
It's big enough for thirty people to hide in at the same time.
It took twenty seconds for all four crew members to evacuate from the tank. The German pilots, who were hovering sideways over the village to overlook the ground, had sharp eyes. The Soviet tank crews, who were running like ants on the ground, quickly
Under their full view.
"The Russians abandoned the car, and a few people went down to give them a taste of the jelly beans."
Just because the bombs were thrown cleanly does not mean that the Stuka has completely become a toothless tiger. The two wings equipped with 7.92 mm aviation machine guns cannot penetrate the thick armor of the KV1 heavy tank, but in the face of the tank soldiers who have left the tank, their bodies are mortal.
Things will be different then.
The Stukas, which were not flying very fast, lowered their engine output and dived towards the ground. The relatively slow dive speed resulted in a longer firing time. The 7.92mm tracer machine gun barrage was like a blazing fire dragon.
It hit the tank soldiers who were fleeing in all directions.
The dirt road in the village beneath his feet was filled with dust and debris. Malashenko, who was running all the way, could even feel the burning and stinging sensation when the warm dirt splashed onto his face.