"Hey, Malashenko, why are you still looking sad when you have so many new tanks? Isn't this the time to smile happily?"
Are you happy? Are you smiling? I’m laughing at you! I’m laughing!
Malashenko, who had a helpless smile on his face, was too lazy to explain to Lavrinenko in detail how rubbish these British tanks were.
In the final analysis, the dog-like British tanks in front of me cannot be entirely blamed on Churchill. After all, this guy was much better in terms of strength and attitude in supporting the Soviet Union than Roosevelt, who remained on the sidelines.
Moreover, the Matilda II and Valentine IV are still active tanks of the British Army. No matter how bad the British were, they sent over their own active equipment instead of obsolete rags. Compared with the "standing tanks" that were supported during the same period,
It's tall, can see far, and is convenient for seeing Comrade Lenin's "Seven Brothers of the United States" coffin, and the British infantry tanks are actually pretty good when compared.
The primary problem at the moment is how to solve the problem of the British tank's bullshit tank gun.
Malashenko, who was standing on the spot and pacing in circles, suddenly thought that he was at the Stalingrad Tractor Factory at this moment. This factory that madly produced a huge torrent of Soviet tank steel during the war has maintained a high level of production to this day.
With high productivity, hand-made T34 medium tanks come off the production line every day and are ready to go into battle.
If, just if, it is feasible to move the 76mm main gun used on the T34 tank to these British tanks for emergency replacement, is it practical?
With an idea flashing in his mind, Malashenko then calmed down and thought about it carefully, and began to gradually recall some crucial details.
In the original history, the Soviet tank soldiers, who focused on large-scale army group operations to siege cities and seize territory, were very critical of the 40-mm cannon equipped on these tanks aided by the British.
Not only because the armor-piercing firepower of this kind of tank gun is extremely poor, but also because even if these 40 small guns are equipped with high-explosive shells produced later, the power is only a little bit.
German soldiers in buildings and bunkers are not afraid of this thing as long as they bend down, and its lethality against soft targets is unacceptably weak.
Unable to bear it any longer, the Soviet tank crews made a request, and finally some of these British tanks were replaced with 76.2mm F-34 tank guns.
Although the turret with a narrow space is stuffed with a larger 76-gun breech structure, it will become more crowded, but the Soviet tank soldiers who have suffered enough in the T34 tank will not tolerate it.
What.
Fortunately, the breech length of the Soviet 76 gun was just long enough to fit into the British tank turret. If it were longer, it would be completely useless. When the tank gun was replaced, due to the change in ballistics, the gun mirror was replaced with the Soviet Union's own original goods.
, it is not a big problem for Soviet tank soldiers to get started faster.
This rapidly modified British tank with upgraded firepower has good combat effectiveness and has won unanimous praise from the Soviet tank soldiers on the front line. In particular, the Valentine tank, which is as durable as the T34, can handle no matter how hard it is, and rarely breaks down.
, the British version of "silly, big, black and thick" made the Soviet tank soldiers feel very friendly and highly recognized it.
Since replacing British tanks with cannons was feasible in history, Malashenko naturally feels that this method should be able to be used by him now, but it is not yet certain whether the Stalingrad Tractor Factory has the ability to do so in a short time.
All the British tanks had their guns replaced.
Determined to do what he said, Malashenko immediately found the nearest phone number and called the front army headquarters.
Vasilevsky on the other end of the phone was a little surprised by Malashenko's request to replace British tanks with guns. However, the pragmatic Vasilevsky, even though he was a little unclear, knew that Malashenko was the expert when it came to tanks.
, there is no need to act like a commander and pretend to understand something like this.
Vasilevsky, who was still of great use to the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment, approved Malashenko's request without much thought and allowed him to directly interview the chief engineer left behind at the Stalingrad Tractor Factory for detailed tank modifications.
plan, and approved Malashenko’s request to completely replace the equipment as long as the Stalingrad Tractor Factory has the ability to complete it.
"Go ahead and do what you want, Malashenko. The Army Headquarters will fully support your plan! But at the same time, I also look forward to your wonderful performance on the battlefield."
There is no love for no reason in this world, and there is no free lunch.
To get something, you must pay an equal price. This is an eternal and eternal truth. Malashenko, who has traveled from later generations, naturally knows this very well.
"I understand, Comrade General, please rest assured! Everything I have done is to better kill the Nazi invaders who invaded our motherland. I assure you that these modified tanks will be put to full use."
!”
After ending his brief call with Vasilevsky, he immediately put down the phone and ran to the factory.
After going through a few brief procedures and waiting for a short while, Malashenko soon got his wish and met the person in charge and chief engineer of the Stalingrad Tractor Factory who stayed behind after the evacuation: Ivan Yakelevich.
The white-haired chief engineer with a pair of thick glasses had already received a call from Vasilevsky himself. He naturally paid great attention to Malashenko, who had arrived as promised. The famous tank hero of the Red Army was here.
In the eyes of old engineers, they also deserve special respect.
"I know what you are here for, Comrade Malashenko, the front military headquarters has already called me. I summoned several technicians in the factory and the comrades in charge of production to conduct an emergency discussion to prepare for the batch of 50
It is feasible to replace 1,000 British tanks with our own tank guns, and the number of tank guns remaining in stock is sufficient. I just don’t know if you have any time requirements?”
What Engineer Old Ivan was most worried about was Malashenko's urgent urging to speed up the work.
Now the skilled workers and senior technicians in the factory have long been removed along with the important equipment, and many of the remaining workers are former apprentices, as well as women and even teenagers who were temporarily recruited to participate in production.
Without equipment assistance and unskilled technology, the production speed cannot be compared with the previous factories in their heyday. If Malashenko really presses too hard, there is really no good way to solve it.
Facing the worried questions raised by the gray-haired old engineer in front of him, Malashenko, who indeed had an almost strict requirement on time, raised his right hand and quietly raised his fingers.