Sokov frowned and thought for a while, then shook his head and said: "Judging from the sound of artillery outside, the enemy is using heavy artillery, and it must be very far away from us. In this way, our troops deployed on the other side
Artillery can't hit the enemy's artillery positions at all."
He walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back for a while, then stopped and said to the radio operator who followed him: "Operator, immediately send a message to Lieutenant Grisa and ask him where he is. He still has rockets left in his hand.
How much?"
The operator agreed and immediately began to send a telegram to Grisa. Bely joined Sokov after arriving at the Red October Factory. Naturally, he did not know who Grisa was, so he asked curiously: "Comrade Brigadier, this is
Who is Lieutenant Grisa?"
Sokov remembered that Bely did not know Grisa, so he explained to him: "Comrade Colonel, it's like this. Half a month ago, I sent a small force to the enemy's rear to destroy the German transportation lines and communications.
Line, attack the enemy's warehouses, military depots and military camps, preventing them from launching an all-out attack on us. The commander of this small force is Lieutenant Grisa."
"So that's it." Beilei nodded and said thoughtfully: "You are contacting him at this time. Do you want to use him to contain the enemy's attack?"
"Yes, that's how I thought about it." Seeing that Bely had guessed what he was thinking, Sokov did not hide it, but said truthfully: "Some time ago, they successfully attacked the people who were preparing to attack the Red October Factory.
The 24th Armored Division prevents the enemy from arriving at the designated location within the specified time to launch an attack on our army."
"Comrade Brigadier," Sokov's words aroused great curiosity in Bely: "I would like to ask, a small force operating behind enemy lines is at best equivalent to a guerrilla force. How did they give the German armored divisions
, causing huge losses?”
Sokov was stunned by Bely's question, but he quickly remembered that the other party did not know about the small troops he sent behind enemy lines, and the powerful rockets. After all, this thing was still classified, so he explained to him
Said: "Comrade Colonel, we have a new type of rocket..."
"A new rocket?" Bely asked in surprise: "Is it the kind of rocket used in rocket launchers?"
"almost."
When Bely heard what Sokov said, he immediately thought about the soldiers marching hard through the forests and grasslands carrying rockets about the same height as him. He couldn't help but shuddered. He shook his head and said: "
Comrade Brigade Commander, if you ask soldiers to carry such heavy rockets and operate behind the enemy's rear, it will affect the mobility of the troops. Moreover, you need at least one rocket launcher to shoot out these rockets. But this is the case.
First of all, our actions behind the enemy's rear cannot be easily detected by the enemy."
After hearing this, Sokov realized that Bely knew nothing about the new rockets, so he briefly introduced him to the new rockets and the results achieved. He finally said: "Comrade Colonel, this is
This new type of rocket is not only easy to carry, but also easy to launch. Even if the launch tube is damaged, the rocket can be placed on the ground and fired using battery ignition."
Because Bely was not of high rank, he naturally had no way of knowing about this highly confidential new rocket. After listening to Sokov's explanation, he couldn't help but said in surprise: "Comrade Commander, if this kind of rocket
It’s really so powerful, why don’t we produce more and use it to equip our troops in large quantities, so that we can inflict greater damage to the enemy in battle.”
Sokov didn't want the arsenal to produce more rockets, but due to production capacity issues, this rocket was destined to be used only by specific troops for a long time to come. He explained to Sokov: "
Due to limitations in production capacity, the output of this rocket is limited. However, Yakov has assured me that the finished products will be provided to my troops first."
As soon as Sokov mentioned Yakov, Bely remembered that after the other party left the command post with him, he disappeared. He couldn't help asking Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, where did Major Yakov go?"
Where is the place? Why didn’t he come with us?”
"Colonel, you should know Yakov's true identity, right?" After Sokov finished saying this, seeing Bely nodding in affirmation, he continued: "He came to Stalingrad this time to improve me.
He uses the existing tanks of the army instead of picking up guns and fighting the enemy like us. Therefore, unless it is absolutely necessary, I will never let him be in danger."
"I can ask," he said with great interest when it came to Bely's expertise: "How are they going to improve our existing T-34 tanks?"
Sokov had proposed an improvement plan to Yakov and Kalashnikov some time ago, but Bely was not there at the time, so he had to explain the plan again at this moment: "According to our assumptions: the existing T-34
A tank has only four members, namely the commander, driver, gunner and loader. The commander also serves as the gunner at ordinary times, which results in the low combat efficiency of our tanks. Therefore, it is necessary to change the two-man turret to a three-man turret.
, add a gunner to provide combat efficiency.
Secondly, in order to deal with our tanks, the German army will inevitably introduce new tanks continuously. By then, our 76mm tank gun may not be able to penetrate the enemy's frontal armor. Therefore, increasing the caliber of the tank gun is also
It’s completely necessary…”
When Bely heard this, he couldn't help but asked: "Comrade Brigade Commander, what caliber do you think the artillery should be changed to?"
"I think 85mm is more suitable." Sokov replied: "We have 85mm anti-aircraft guns that can destroy German tanks at long distances. It should be more suitable to transplant it to tanks."
Bely secretly thought: Even though the brigade commander only knows a little about tanks, some of the ideas he mentioned are worth learning from. If our tanks are really improved in the way he said, then the combat effectiveness will be greatly improved.
Promotion. He said thoughtfully: "Comrade Brigadier, I think your idea is very good. If the higher-ups can listen to your opinion, the newly launched tanks will be a nightmare for the Germans on the battlefield..."
Before he finished speaking, he heard the radio operator calling Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, Lieutenant Grisa has called back."
When Sokov heard what the telegraph operator said, he was overjoyed and asked quickly: "What did Grisa say in the telegram?"
After the operator translated the contents of the telegram, he said to Sokov with a sad face: "Lieutenant Grisa's telegram said that the rockets he carried have been exhausted. The troops encountered the enemy's superior strength the day before yesterday. After some
After a fierce battle, with more than half of the casualties, he asked you for instructions on what to do next."
The operator's words were like a bucket of ice water poured down on Sokov, chilling his whole body. Sokov never dreamed that the small unit he had placed high hopes on would actually suffer a major blow.
losses, let alone letting them contain the enemy now, even if they were allowed to stay behind enemy lines for a longer time, there would be a danger of the entire army being destroyed.
Seeing Sokov's frown, Bely immediately guessed what he was thinking, and said cautiously: "Comrade Brigade Commander, how about we let Grisa's troops withdraw first? They can't do much if they stay behind enemy lines."
If it doesn't work, it will make unnecessary sacrifices."
"You are right, Comrade Colonel." Sokov had thought about Bely's proposal in his mind, but when he heard Bely's words, he finally made up his mind. He turned to the radio operator
Said: "Call back to Lieutenant Grisa. Since you can no longer survive behind enemy lines, in order to preserve the effective strength of our army, immediately find a way to withdraw to Mamayev Heights."
Before the operator could send out the telegram, the phone on the table rang. Hearing that the gunfire outside seemed to have stopped, Sokov guessed that the call might be from Vanya, so he quickly walked over and picked up the receiver.
: "I am Sokov!"
Sure enough, Vanya's voice came from the receiver. It might be the explosion of artillery shells, which made his ears hard to use. When he spoke, he was shouting at the top of his lungs: "Comrade Brigadier, I am Vanya."
Niya, the enemy has begun to attack."
"How many troops does the enemy have?"
"There are about two companies and five tanks in the direction of the school." Vanya replied: "And here, we have eight tanks and almost a battalion of infantry."
After listening to Vanya's report, Sokov did not simply order them to hold their position and not retreat even a step. Instead, he said tactfully: "Comrade Captain, I authorize you to use new rockets and do everything possible to repel them."
Enemy attack."
"Don't worry, Comrade Brigadier." After learning that Sokov allowed him to use the new rockets, Vanya smiled so much that his lips almost reached his ears. He said proudly: "I will let the Germans have a good taste.
The power of the rockets left an unforgettable impression on them."
"Also, Comrade Captain." Sokov emphasized before Vanya put down the phone: "Remember, use more wisdom and don't let the soldiers bleed more. Do you understand?"
"Understood!" Vanya agreed loudly and hung up the phone.
After Sokov put down the phone, he said to himself: "I wonder when General Guryev's troops will be withdrawn?"
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Bely heard something in Sokov's words and asked quickly: "Are you worried that they won't be able to withdraw?"
"It is entirely possible." Sokov smiled bitterly and said: "You also know that the counterattack we implemented cannot last due to the lack of soldiers, equipment and supplies; in addition, there are not enough artillery.
And tank cover, the Air Force has not been able to control the air, and it is basically impossible to achieve the desired results. Therefore, I only hope that the Guards Division can return more people after this counterattack."
At this point, he paused intentionally for a moment and said in a voice that only he could hear: "If the Guards Division is exhausted, then we will have to stay here and fight a cruel positional battle with the enemy."
When the German tanks approached the school and the stadium, the Soviet tanks hidden in two places opened fire one after another, blowing up the German tanks rushing at the front. The commanders and fighters of the first and second companies used MG34 machine guns to shoot at the infantry following the tanks.
Beat them to death in pieces around the burning tank.
Donkan, who was watching the battle with Sokov on the rooftop, saw this situation and couldn't help but said with emotion: "Comrade Brigadier, I really didn't expect that the troops under your command could block the German attack so easily.
, and the casualties are still within the acceptable range.”
"Colonel Bely," hearing Bely's praise for himself, Sokov replied with a smile: "Fortunately, we have the assistance of the tank platoon under your command, otherwise we would have to pay a lot of money just to blow up those few German tanks."
price."
The German attack lasted for more than ten minutes, and after leaving behind seven or eight burning tanks and more than two hundred corpses, they returned to the starting position of the attack in dejection.
Seeing that the German army began to retreat, Bely felt a little itchy in his heart. He tentatively asked Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the enemy has begun to retreat. Should we dispatch the reserve team to pursue it?"
"Pursuit, why pursue?" Sokov looked at Bely and asked strangely: "Comrade Colonel, don't you know that the enemy's artillery is waiting for us. As soon as our infantry leaves the fortifications, they will be attacked immediately.
Covered by artillery fire, our soldiers will suffer heavy losses."
As if to confirm that what Sokov said was correct, the German artillery stopped and fired. The shells they fired exploded a wall of fire in front of the Soviet position. In this case, let alone the soldiers'
Flesh and blood will be blown into powder; even if a T-34 tank rushes forward, it will probably become a pile of burning wreckage.
Seeing this situation, Bely couldn't help but raise his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and said with some fear: "It's really dangerous, Comrade Brigade Commander. Fortunately, you didn't give the order to attack, otherwise the commanders and soldiers of the first and second companies would have suffered heavy casualties.
"
The enemy's attack being repulsed is just a common thing for Sokov. What he is concerned about now is when the spherical tank will arrive. It has been so long, but he has not even seen its shadow.
. He raised his hand to look at his watch and turned to Bely: "Comrade Colonel, I wonder when the spherical tank will arrive?"
If it hadn't been for Sokov's reminder, Bely would have really forgotten that a spherical tank was going to participate in today's battle. He quickly replied: "I'll contact Lieutenant Valenla to see where they are?"
Bely came to the operator, knelt down and said to him: "Comrade operator, immediately call Lieutenant Valenla and ask him where the tank he is driving is currently."
Although Bely didn't say anything about tanks, as the telegraph operator who always followed the commander, he didn't understand what he meant. He quickly picked up the microphone and started calling Lieutenant Valenla.