Chapter 358 Tver
The 1st Guards Tank Brigade was ordered to continue advancing towards Tver, while the air force, air defense units, and artillery that were originally used to cover the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade turned to cover the 1st Guards Tank Brigade.
This is not because the Supreme Command of the Soviet Army abandoned the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade unkindly, but that the headquarters has lost contact with the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade, and the air force and artillery cannot cover them even if they want to.
It was already half an hour later when the 1st Guards Tank Brigade arrived outside Tver.
The wreckage and corpses of Soviet tanks are everywhere, as well as the dark craters and blood blasted by shells, which are very dazzling in the white snow.
Fortunately, the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade was not wiped out, because a few T34s were parked behind a small mound, and the officers and soldiers of the 2nd Brigade were busy building a defense line to prevent the Germans from counterattacking...
This is actually the 1st Guards Tank Brigade who rescued them, because Kubiler did not dare to let the armored troops engage the Soviets easily after knowing that the Soviet army had rocket launchers, so he withdrew the armored troops back in advance.
In view of the entire battle, Kubil actually made a mistake in command: he should not rush to divide his troops to fight against the 1st Guards Tank Brigade.
If Kubil let the two armors cleanly encircle and annihilate the 2nd Brigade of the Soviet Army, and then use Tver as a basis to form a formation to deal with the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, then the outcome is really unknown.
However, who would have known that the Soviet Army was equipped with a new weapon?
Katukov immediately found Lavlentin, the commander of the 2nd brigade. He was hit by a piece of shrapnel in the head, and the health worker was bandaging it... The advantage of the low temperature is that the bleeding will freeze to ice and stop soon It's okay, but it will be more troublesome to take off the bandage.
"Comrade Lavlentin!" Katukov stepped forward and called.
Lavlendin avoided Katukov's gaze and said: "Yes, we lost!"
Katukov didn't know what to say, he could see that Lavlentin was embarrassed and frightened.
The embarrassment was because he wanted to compare with the 1st Brigade, but it turned out that he couldn't compare with the 1st Brigade.
Fear is because Lavlenky doesn't know what is waiting for him ahead.
Removal?
This may be considered good, losing the battle in such an important situation and losing dozens of precious T34 tanks... He didn't dare to think about it any further.
"Our radio station is broken!" Lavlendin said: "Including the tank command vehicle, so we can't communicate with our superiors!"
Katukov nodded.
This was common among Soviet troops, so nothing surprising.
"The superior must let you take over the 2nd brigade!" Lavlendin said: "I obey the order of the superior, and you can command them now!"
"No, Comrade Lavlendin!" Katukov replied: "Although the superiors did say so, I think I need your cooperation!"
"Cooperate?" Lavlendin looked at Katukov suspiciously.
"Yes!" Katukov said: "You know better about the deployment of Tver's troops and the difficulties that may be encountered when tanks attack, so I need you to command this battle with me. The superior agreed!"
Lavlendin nodded gratefully to Katukov, and then said thank you.
In fact, anyone can see that the "cooperation" is false, and Katukov can get the information he needs from the officers and soldiers of the 2nd Brigade.
So, this is actually a chance for Katukov to help Lavlenkin win a scapegoat.
So Shulka met Lavlentin at the meeting.
"The difficulty of the offensive lies in the riverbed!" Lavlentin pointed to the map and said, "The German defense line was laid along the Timaka River and the Volga River. There was no grass and no hidden objects in the river. The Germans planted mines and barbed wire in the river. A large number of roadblocks were set up on the opposite bank, and their firepower was built according to the houses of the people. Even the anti-tank guns and howitzers were moved to the houses for defense. Once we attacked the river, we would be hit by various firepower of the German army, and our Tanks can't even cross the river under the barrier of roadblocks, and can only be beaten passively under enemy fire!"
"The passability of the T34 is very strong!" Katukov frowned: "If even the T34 can't cross, then let alone the British and American tanks!"
"I think we can use artillery to blow up the barricades on the opposite bank!" Lavlentin said: "Blow up a channel for the tanks and force a breakthrough!"
Lavliangin originally planned to do this, but he was surrounded by German armored forces before he could implement it.
Katukov was silent for a while, then shook his head and said: "I don't think that's realistic, Comrade Lavlentin, maybe artillery fire can blow up mines, barbed wire, but it's very difficult to blow up barricades... It might even make The road conditions are even worse!"
Worse road conditions don't just refer to craters, these craters are indeed a problem for tanks, because the temperature of the shells will melt the ice and snow and then condense again, so it will form radial ice craters, which often trap the tank tracks so that It slips in it.
But more importantly, the roadblock with three iron pillars cross-welded together, no matter how it is blown up, even if it is blown up into the sky and circled a few times, it will still be a roadblock after falling to the ground and rolling a few times... This is the troublesome part of the roadblock.
At this time, the usual practice is to send infantry to clear obstacles ahead.
But on the one hand, the tanks were blocked by the height difference of the German defense line on the other side and could not attack quickly. On the other hand, a large number of German troops were deployed in civilian houses. Those snipers and artillery would be a nightmare for the Soviet infantry.
After thinking for a while, Katukov looked at Shulka and asked, "I think we should let the bazooka work again!"
"I agree, Comrade Katukov!" Shulka said. "As long as the tanks cover the infantry close to the enemy lines, and the artillery suppresses the interior of the houses or simply blows up the houses occupying high positions ... our bazooka can hit the enemy lines. Open up the gap!"
"Bazooka? What bazooka?" Lavlianky looked at the two suspiciously.
"We defeated the German armored division!" Katukov explained: "It is a kind of individual equipment. In addition to penetrating enemy tanks, it can be used to deal with enemy infantry as long as the ammunition is changed!"
Lavlenky looked at the two of them in surprise.
"Don't worry, Comrade Lavlendin!" Katukov said, "I think you will be equipped soon!"
"Can I have a look at this bazooka?" Lavlentin asked.
"Of course!" Katukov said: "But why don't you see its power on the battlefield? When we defeat the Germans!"
(end of this chapter)
