According to Sokov's idea, when the German army attacks the next day, let them have a good taste of the power of the new rockets. Unexpectedly, the German army's attack the next day was not as fierce as the previous two days, and the scale of the attack changed from battalion level to
Given the size of the company, rather than trying to capture Mamayev Hill, it would be more appropriate to say that they were working on foreign labor.
"What? The enemy has reduced the scale of the attack?" When Sidorin heard the report from Second Battalion Commander Vasily, he thought the other party had made a mistake and asked specifically: "Comrade Captain, are you sure about the enemy's troops that attacked you?"
, is it only company-level?" After receiving confirmation from the other party, he breathed a sigh of relief, "Okay, I understand. I will report the situation on your position to the brigade commander. If the battlefield situation changes
If there are any changes, you must report them to me immediately."
After Sidorin put down the phone, he reported to Sokov, who was half lying on the camp bed chatting with Yakov: "Comrade brigade commander, the commander of the second battalion reported that the German army that launched the attack on the Nangang position was only one company in size."
"What, the enemy who launched the attack only had one company?" When Sokov heard the news, he couldn't help being stunned. He thought to himself: "What's going on? Why did the German army only send one company to attack?"
Is there some conspiracy, or have their offensive power been exhausted?"
Seeing Sokov's delay in speaking, Sidorin interrupted and said: "Comrade Brigadier, I think the German army suddenly reduced the scale of their attack today probably because they have consumed too much of their effective strength in the previous two days of fighting.
As for the inability to deploy more troops to maintain the previous offensive intensity."
"This is impossible, Comrade Chief of Staff." Before Sokov could reply, Yakov said first: "With such a small Mamaev Hill, how many enemies can you destroy?"
In response to Yakov's question, Sidorin smiled faintly, and then replied in a calm tone: "Major Yakov, you may not know that the number of Germans killed in front of our positions this week has exceeded at least 6,000.
people."
"What, more than 6,000 enemies died in front of your position?" Yakov turned to look at Sokov and asked in surprise: "Misha, did you really kill so many enemies?"
"Since this data was told to you by the chief of staff," Sokov glanced at Sidorin standing next to him and replied with a smile, "then it must be true."
"Oh my God, it's incredible." Although Sokov had confirmed that what Sidorin said was true, Yakov still said dubiously: "Six thousand enemies were destroyed alone.
Including those wounded, it means that almost a division of your brigade has lost its combat effectiveness against the enemy on the front."
"I think you can put it this way." Sokov never asked for specific data, but he knew very well that since he had deployed defenses on Mamayev Heights in advance, the German army would have to pay a lot of effort to capture it.
The cost was several times higher than in history. Therefore, regarding Yakov's question, he said with certainty: "The German army reduced the scale of its attack today. I guess it has something to do with their heavy casualties."
While several people were talking, the phone on the table rang. Sidorin walked over, picked up the phone, put it to his ear and said: "I am Chief of Staff Sidorin, where are you?... It's you.
, Comrade Commander, hello! ...Do you have any instructions?" After listening for a moment, he covered the microphone with his hand and whispered to Sokov, "Comrade Brigadier, the Commander is asking about the enemy's attack.
Has the scale been reduced compared to yesterday?”
When Sokov heard what Sidorin said, he guessed that the scale of the attack on Chuikov must have been reduced, so he replied in a low voice: "Chief of Staff, report the situation here to Comrade Commander truthfully."
After getting Sokov's permission, Sidorin removed his hand covering the microphone and continued: "Comrade Commander, the situation here is the same. The scale of the German attack has changed from the previous battalion level to the company level.
...What? What do we think of this matter?...When you called us, we were discussing this issue. We felt that it might be that after the continuous high-intensity attacks, the German army's strength was almost exhausted, so it was unable to launch more attacks.
A massive attack."
When Sokov heard this, he couldn't help but whispered to Yakov: "Yakov, it's a pity that the effective strength of the group army has been exhausted in the counterattack in the past few days. Otherwise, we could have taken advantage of this favorable opportunity.
If we launch a counterattack against the German army, I believe we will achieve good results."
"On the way to transporting equipment, I saw a lot of troops heading south towards the Volga River. They should all be reserve teams from the base camp to supply you." Yakov said: "When these troops arrive, you will have enough
Use your strength to defeat the enemies who rush into the city."
Seeing Yakov being so confident, Sokov smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying: "Yakov, you are so optimistic about the situation. Even if there are reserve teams coming in a steady stream, due to various objective conditions, we cannot
No matter whether it is compared with the German army in terms of military strength or technical equipment, it is still at a disadvantage. If we want to completely defeat the enemy, it will take at least one or two months to accumulate strength and hoard more technical equipment and materials."
After Sokov's reminder, Yakov immediately thought of the water columns that were blown up by artillery shells when he led his troops across the river. Even if they were crossing the river at night, they would not only be bombarded by artillery when crossing the river during the day, but also be attacked by artillery.
Being bombed by aircraft, ships transporting troops and supplies are bound to suffer huge losses.
"Misha, what you say makes sense. The enemy's artillery and air force are desperately blocking the Volga River." Yakov said with a serious expression: "Even if a large number of troops are assembled on the east bank and sufficient supplies are hoarded to support the counterattack,
It is difficult to transport it smoothly to the city amid enemy shelling and bombing."
"Yakov, you don't have to worry about this." Sokov waited for Yakov to say, and immediately continued: "It will be winter in two months, and the Volga River has already frozen. By then we will
All kinds of materials can be transported continuously. As long as we can accumulate enough strength in the city, the end of the Germans will come."
"Comrade Brigadier." After making the call, Sidorin looked at Sokov talking to Yakov and quickly asked cautiously: "The German army is launching an attack on the second battalion position. Do you think it is possible to use No. 107 mm?
New rocket launcher?”
"No, it can't be used yet." Thinking that the German army is only conducting a company-scale attack now, using such rockets to deal with them would be like using a Tomahawk cruise missile worth more than 700,000 US dollars to attack them in future generations.
A tent in the desert was too wasteful, so Sokov ordered Sidorin firmly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, tell the second and fourth battalion commanders that no one is allowed to use this tent without my order.
A new type of rocket."
While Sidorin was on the phone with the battalion commanders, Sokov secretly asked Yakov: "Yakov, please give me a guarantee, when will we get the next batch of rockets?"
"The current production capacity is insufficient." Hearing Sokov's question, Yakov replied with some embarrassment: "We will have to wait until late October at the earliest before we can provide you with the same number of rockets."
"Late October?" After hearing the time mentioned by Yakov, Sokov couldn't help but frowned: "So, don't we have to wait for a month?" Without waiting for Yakov's answer,
He continued minding his own business, "Yakov, you also know that each launcher is only equipped with two rockets. If all the rockets you brought are used up and supplies are not available for a long time,
Then these launch tubes are equivalent to a pile of scrap metal."
"Don't worry, Misha." Seeing the unhappy expression on Sokov's face, Yakov quickly expressed his position: "After I returned, I immediately made a request to Comrade Ustinov to produce rockets.
The bomb factory has issued a new production plan, and you must ensure that you have enough rockets."
"Then when can the delivery be delivered?" Don't see that the rockets have not been used since they were transported to Mamayev Ridge, but Sokov knew the power of this rocket well. In order to prevent it, Sokov
When there was a shortage of goods, he began to use his friendship with Yakov to bargain with him: "Yakov, you have to give me a clear answer, right? One month is too long, and we definitely can't wait."
So long."
"Twenty-five days." Yakov replied: "After I go back, I ask Comrade Ustinov to send me to the factory to supervise the work. I think within twenty-five days, we should be able to produce the rockets you need."
bomb."
When Sokov heard that it would take twenty-five days to produce a sufficient number of rockets, his heart froze. He was thinking: It will take twenty-five days to produce, and then another ten days to transport them on the road. This way
Calculated, it would take at least forty days before his troops could be replenished.
Thinking of this, he shook his head and said, "No, Yakov, it's too long. I don't think it can exceed twenty days at most." He saw Yakov open his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.
, and quickly added, "I need to remind you that the time I am talking about refers to the time when the new batch of rockets are transported to Mamayev Heights."
"This is impossible." When Yakov heard this, he immediately jumped up from the bed. He raised his voice and said to Sokov: "Even if we work overtime to produce, if we want to complete it within twenty-five days,
The length of nearly a hundred rockets is already the limit. If we want to go faster, sorry, we can't do it."
"Yakov," Sokov quickly reached out and grabbed Yakov's hand, gently patted the back of his hand twice with his other hand, and said in a flattering tone: "In order to better strike.
***Invaders, I think it is necessary for us to have a sufficient number of rockets so that we can teach the enemy a lesson."
"Okay, Misha." Seeing Sokov begging him, Yakov felt a little embarrassed and could only bite the bullet and said: "I will give you a deadline of twenty-two days, including the production and production of rockets.
How about the transportation time? This is the fastest speed I can guarantee you for the sake of our friendship."
Sokov stared at Yakov for a while and felt that this time should be Yakov's limit. He would definitely not be able to go any faster, so he did not force it anymore, but nodded and said: "Okay.
Well, let’s make a deal, after twenty-two days, I hope to see a new batch of rockets appear in the underground arsenal on Mamayev Hill.”
After discussing the issue of rocket production, Yakov remembered another important thing, and then said: "By the way, Misha, there is something I almost forgot."
"What's the matter?" Sokov was very happy after receiving Yakov's verbal promise, so he said carelessly: "Just tell me, if it's something I can solve, I will definitely help you do it properly.
Post.”
"That's right. When I spoke to Comrade Ustinov on the phone last night, I gave him a detailed report on the two new weapons you proposed."
Knowing that Yakov had reported the two new weapons he proposed to Ustinov, Sokov was eager to know the other party's attitude and quickly asked: "Yakov, I don't know how Comrade Comrade People's Commissar responded.
of."
"Comrade Ustinov said that he would discuss the manufacturing of napalm with relevant personnel from the military industry department." Yakov said with some embarrassment: "He asked me to ask you about the rocket launcher again."
Sokov originally thought that Yakov would ask about napalm bombs, but instead he asked about rocket launchers. He was a little surprised and asked: "Comrade Comrade People's Commissar, do you have any questions?"
"Comrade Ustinov believes that the direct-aiming range of the rocket is 100 meters and the effective range is 150 meters. It is a bit too close, which will pose a threat to the life safety of our anti-tank crews." Yakov.
He said dryly: "He wanted to ask if there is any way to increase the effective range of rockets?"
"Yes." As soon as Yakov finished speaking, Sokov's answer blurted out: "If the comrades in charge of military industry can make the size of our newly developed 107mm rocket a little smaller, and then use a rocket launcher to launch it,
Then the range can be effectively improved."
Yakov originally just asked Sokov with a try attitude, and did not expect to get any ideal answer from him. Who knew that Sokov answered so confidently, and he couldn't help but asked in surprise: "What if our military industry
People, it is really possible to reduce the size of 107mm rockets and use them for individual anti-tank use. How much do you think the range can be increased?"
"The range of the 107mm rocket launcher should be seven or eight kilometers, right?" Sokov couldn't remember the preparation data of the 107mm rocket launcher, so he could only say vaguely: "The improved rocket launcher can't even reach that far range.
, the range of seven to eight hundred meters, or even one thousand meters can still be achieved."
"Great, this is really great." When he heard that the range of the rocket launcher could be increased several times, Yakov was overjoyed: "Don't expect one thousand meters, four to five hundred meters is enough. Misha
, I will immediately report your ideas to Comrade Ustinov and ask him to urge the military industry personnel to carry out transformation work as soon as possible."