Chapter 1259: Close the door and beat the dog (Part 2)
Rotmistrov received Sokov's reply. After reading it carefully, he frowned and said to the chief of staff: "Use a 122mm cannon to directly attack the enemy's tanks at a distance of 800 to 1,000 meters."
Aim and shoot. Chief of Staff, do you think General Sokov’s method is effective?”
"Comrade Commander," the chief of staff replied cautiously: "The 122mm artillery equipped by our army can theoretically penetrate 140mm of armor at a distance of 1,000 meters. The frontal armor of the German Tiger tank turret is 102
mm, the side is 82 mm; while the Panther tank uses 80 mm 55-degree inclined hardened armor, which has good ballistic resistance. But if it is directly hit by our army's 122 mm artillery, it can completely destroy the opponent's target.
"
Rotmistrov shook his head with a wry smile and said: "You know, artillery usually aims not at a specific target, but at a place. Artillery shells focus on fire coverage, not direct hits. Let the artillery use direct-aiming shooting.
Using this method to hit a target thousands of meters away, I think it is simply a fantasy."
Seeing that Rotmistrov was so unfavorable to Sokov's proposal, the Chief of Staff was about to continue persuading him, but was stopped by the other party raising his hand: "Chief of Staff, you don't have to say anything. I don't think this Sokov is good.
Well, the advice he gave us is simply not applicable on the battlefield."
"Comrade Commander, what should we do?" asked the Chief of Staff.
"Still use the original tactics and rush through the open space at a faster speed." Rotmistrov reminded the chief of staff: "Tell the tank brigade commanders to increase the distance between tanks and use a sparse formation to attack.
, this way the chance of being hit by enemy artillery fire will be greatly reduced."
After Sokov's telegram was sent, Koida asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, do you think General Rotmistrov will adopt your opinion?"
"Comrade Colonel, when you use heavy artillery to shoot directly at a specific target a thousand meters away, the hit rate is appallingly low." Sokov smiled faintly and replied: "I think Rotmistro
My husband will definitely not accept my suggestion and will still order the troops to pass through that open area regardless of casualties."
Seeing that Sokov had already guessed that Rotmistrov would not adopt his opinion, but still sent such a telegram, Koida asked in confusion: "Since you know Rotmistrov
General Fu will not adopt your opinion, so why do you still make such a suggestion to him?"
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov explained: "Using heavy artillery to shoot directly at enemy tanks may not have a high hit rate, but it can pose a threat to German tanks and force them to change their positions. In this way,
When our tanks attack, the chance of being intercepted by enemy artillery fire will decrease."
"So that's it." After Koida figured out what was going on, he asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade Commander, do you think it is necessary to send another telegram to General Rotmistrov to tell him about this matter?
Explain it to him in detail?"
"No need." Sokov waved his hand and said: "How to attack the enemy outside Prokhorovka is General Rotmistrov's business, so we don't have to meddle in his own business. Our top priority at the moment
The task is to hold the existing positions so that the German 6th and 19th Armored Divisions cannot rush to join the Flag Guard Division and the Totenkopf Division. The connection between them must be effectively cut off so that the wounded in the enemy's front cannot be transported.
After coming down, the ammunition and fuel from the rear cannot be transported.
The German SS divisions are indeed elite, and one division is fully capable of dealing with one of our armies. But as long as their logistical supplies are cut off, even if they can fight again, when there is no fuel and ammunition, their tanks and artillery will be useless.
It will become a pile of scrap metal, and the only choice is to discard it or blow it up."
The Soviet Union and Germany launched a large-scale tank battle outside the city of Prokhorovka. Both sides fought like crazy. The tank soldiers who escaped from the destroyed tanks did not flee to their own areas as quickly as before.
, but hid next to the wreckage of the tank and used the weapons he carried to fight the enemy.
The battle outside Prokhorovka made Manstein realize that if the Soviet attack could not be stopped, the offensive launched on the southern front of Kursk might collapse. Therefore, he assigned the 6th and 19th
The commander of the armored division issued an order for them to break through the Soviet defense line as soon as possible at all costs, rush to the outside of Prokhorovka, and join the troops there.
The combat effectiveness of the 6th Armored Division was not the strongest in the German army. In addition, the division commander was killed in a recent battle, which had a great impact on the morale of the troops. After receiving Manstein's order to attack, the acting division commander immediately
An armored battalion was dispatched to cover two infantry battalions, and a fierce attack was launched towards the 188th Division's position.
If the area they attacked was the area defended by General Malankin's Guards Division, maybe their attack could make some progress. But what they have to face now is the enemy who killed their own division commander, and the commander on the opposite side
The officer is still a character that makes many German commanders frown, so they are a bit constrained in fighting and cannot even exert half of their usual combat effectiveness.
On the contrary, the 19th Armored Division fighting on their right wing performed extremely well. The offensive troops were the 1st Battalion of the 27th Armored Regiment and the 2nd Battalion of the 117th Panzergrenadier Regiment. More than 20 tanks covered more than 500 people.
The soldiers launched a fierce attack on the Guards Division's position.
Perhaps because they learned that the main force had launched a counterattack outside the city of Prokhorovka, the commanders and soldiers of the Malankin Division felt that victory was in sight, and they could not help but feel a little underestimating the enemy. Facing the enemy's attack, they fought lacklusterly.
.The battle lasted less than half an hour before a position was breached by the Germans.
When he learned that the position had been breached, Malankin was suddenly frightened and broke into a cold sweat. Only then did he realize that what Sokov had reminded him was not alarmist, but words from the bottom of his heart. In order to save the situation, he quickly asked Tru
Fanov asked for help and asked the other party to send a tank battalion to counterattack at the breach and eliminate the enemies there.
The German officers and soldiers who had just broken through the position were counterattacked by the infantry supported by tanks before they could gain a foothold. After more than ten minutes of fierce fighting, they were all driven out of the Soviet position.
Malankin and Trufanov, who were standing in the command post, couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the German officers and soldiers who broke into the position and were driven out by the counterattack troops. Trufanov said to Malankin
Said: "Comrade Malankin, it seems that the enemy is determined to rush over to reinforce the enemy outside Prokhorovka. This attack was repelled, and they will launch a new attack soon. In order to prevent your
The defense line has been breached again, I think you need to adjust your deployment."
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Malankin said to Trufanov: "When we went to General Sokov's headquarters, he once suggested to us that tanks that had malfunctioned and would be difficult to operate again in a short period of time
, placed on the position as a fixed fort. At that time, I felt that it was a bit unnecessary. The enemy was not able to break through our position yesterday, could it be possible to break through today?
But it turned out that there was a problem with my judgment. The enemy's offensive today was even crazier than yesterday. And after yesterday's battle, my troops had already suffered serious attrition. If fixed forts were not deployed on the position,
I'm afraid the enemy will break through our position again."
"I understand, Comrade Malankin." After returning from the temporary headquarters in Sokov, when Malankin proposed to use those failed tanks as fixed forts, Trufanov strongly opposed it, feeling that there was no such thing.
Necessarily, even if there is a problem with these tanks, they should be used in other directions. But the facts at this moment show that the Guards Division, which has been severely weakened, will be difficult to hold its position without the cover of tanks. "I immediately asked someone to
Put those tanks that have malfunctioned and put them on the position to be used as fixed forts."
…………
"Comrade Sokov?" Sokov's troops had just repelled two attacks by the 6th Armored Division when they received a call from Konev: "I'm Konev, how is the situation there?
?”
"Report to Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov quickly replied: "The enemy's 6th Armored Division launched two attacks on the 188th Division's defense line, but we were repelled both times."
Knowing that Sokov's troops were still holding on to their position, Konev suddenly felt more at ease: "Comrade Sokov, General Rotmistrov's troops are currently fighting with the enemy outside Prokhorovka.
Fierce fighting. According to the report he provided me, it is possible to repel the enemy before dark. Therefore, I made this call specifically to you, hoping that you can find a way to block the retreat of the defeated German army."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, please rest assured about this." Sokov said: "I have ordered the tank corps to dispatch at three o'clock in the afternoon to cut off the retreat of the Flag Guard Division and the Skeleton Division, and must annihilate them all in Prokhorov
Card area."
"Are you really sure of that?" Konev asked.
"Yes." Sokov replied confidently: "I am currently concentrating nearly two divisions of troops to hold the position of the 188th Division and block the path forward of the German 6th Armored Division. In addition, I am stationed on the banks of the Pushol River.
The tank corps and two infantry divisions will be stationed in the middle of the two defense areas at three o'clock in the afternoon to cut off the German army's retreat."
Konev knew that Sokov had many clever ideas, so he did not ask him about the specific combat plan. Instead, he nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Sokov, since you are confident in blocking the enemy, then I will believe you."
.If you need anything, just call me directly.”
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov asked tentatively as he wanted to deal with the German tanks. It would be best to use the air force. It is said that during this period, the Soviet army had developed an aerial bomb specifically designed to attack ground targets:
"I wonder if you can provide us with air support?"
He was deeply afraid that Konev would not agree. After all, most of the air force was still competing with the German Air Force for air supremacy in the sky outside Prokhorovka. If the other party dedicated a part of its force to support him, he would probably still
I feel very embarrassed.
Sokov's guess was correct. It was difficult for Konev to agree to provide air cover for his troops. Since the Steppe Front Army was a reserve force, its air force was relatively weak, with a small number of aircraft and very limited fuel and ammunition. Each time
Airborne operations can only provide air support for troops in a local area. The most intense fighting today is outside the city of Prokhorovka, and the area where Sokov's troops are located is no longer within the scope of providing air support.
Hearing Konev's delay in speaking, Sokov sighed secretly in his heart and said: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, if the Air Force really cannot provide us with air support, it doesn't matter, we will still try our best to
, to cut off the enemy’s retreat.”
After Sokov ended his call with Konev, he held the microphone and thought for a long time. He finally set up a close-door-dog-fighting formation. If his superiors were unable to provide him with air cover, then the enemy might escape from his hastily deployed defenses.
If you break out of the enemy's territory, your plan to encircle and annihilate the enemy will come to nothing.
After some thought, Sokov dialed the number of the Army Headquarters. When he heard Samyko's voice coming from the receiver, he asked straight to the point: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I want to ask you, now
How many new rockets do we have?"
"There are probably more than eight hundred." Samyko quickly replied: "Colonel Yakov just ordered someone to send it yesterday." He knew that there must be a reason for Sokov to suddenly ask about this, so he quickly
He asked, "Comrade Commander, why do you want to ask about this?"
"I just spoke with General Konev, and he told me that he may not be able to provide us with air support in the coming battle." Sokov felt that it was necessary to let Samyko know the whole story, so he told him
: "Therefore, we can only rely on our own strength to stop the defeated enemy."
Samyko had obviously anticipated this situation. He calmly asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, how do you plan to distribute these new rockets?"
"Leave a hundred rockets for the troops standing by the Pushor River, and send another hundred to Colonel Koida's 188th Division." Sokov had already thought about how to distribute the remaining rockets.
, all handed over to the troops deployed for defense in the middle zone."
"Comrade Commander, is it a bit too much to give them 600 rockets for two divisions?" Samek reminded Sokov: "You have to know whether the area they are holding will be attacked by the Germans.
Their attack is still unknown. Isn’t it a waste to give them so many rockets?”
"It's not a waste at all." Sokov said resolutely: "There are no decent fortifications in the middle area, otherwise the friendly 305th Division would not have been easily defeated by the Germans two days ago. Since there are no solid fortifications for
Defense, then we can only rely on weapons to make up for the shortcomings. With these rockets, I believe our commanders and fighters will be able to block the enemy."