Chapter 449 Selection
Time was passing by bit by bit, and there were a few gunshots outside the headquarters from time to time. It was the enemy and ourselves fighting each other and demonstrating coldly.
The sound of the guns seems to be urging the officers with a certain rhythm, telling them that time is running out. If the enemy reinforcements arrive, the possibility of occupying Zhankoi will be reduced in series.
"We may be able to attack in another direction!" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov said: "If it is the enemy's new tank, I don't think they have a lot of equipment!"
"Perhaps their equipment is really small!" Lieutenant Colonel Zakhakovic agreed: "Because if they are equipped with a lot of such tanks, they can even launch a counterattack without any scruples!"
This is the same as the reason why the T34 tanks played against the German "No. 3" and "No. 4" tanks... If the "No. 3" and "No. 4" tanks can only penetrate the front of the T34 at a distance of 100 meters, then they are often on the battlefield. It is not a matter of quantity.
In particular, there is another point that is the strength of the German army and the weakness of the Soviet army: coordination.
This weakness allowed the Germans to match and even defeat the Soviets when tanks were at a disadvantage.
Now, the German army has the advantages of coordination and the advantage of the "Tiger Type". It can be said with certainty that if the number is not completely disproportionate, the German army should launch a counterattack no matter what.
Although Katukov agrees with this, he is not optimistic about this method.
"But those are tanks!" Katukov said: "They can move with our attack, and they don't need many tanks to block our attack this way!"
Shulka did not speak.
He knew that the analysis of Zaha Kavic and others was correct. The number of "Tiger Types" was indeed very small when they first entered the battle. Even Shulka knew that the "Tiger Types" at this time should have a high failure rate... It entered combat for the first time in history, and three of the four had to be blown up with explosives because they failed to move.
However, this problem can be avoided as much as possible in defensive warfare. For example, the German army let it hide in the tank bunker and shoot instead of driving on the rough snow.
Of course, Shulka at this time did not know that Sponek even used rails to make up for the high failure rate of the "Tiger" tank.
So, in fact, they can indeed adjust the direction of defense as needed even if the number is insufficient, as Katukov said.
On the other hand, because Zhankoy is at the center of the circle and the Soviets are at the periphery, the distance the Germans need to adjust will be much shorter than the Soviets, so they have more time to react.
The command fell silent again.
"Maybe we should attack from several sides at once!" Shulka said.
Katukov laughed: "Shuerka, we only have one tank brigade, and now there are only a hundred tanks left. We don't have enough strength to attack from several sides at the same time!"
One hundred tanks, even if they are divided into three directions, there are only 30 tanks in each direction. The impact of this attack is too small, and the number of tanks will become less and less, and eventually they will not even have the ability to attack.
"They don't know how many tanks we have!" Shulka said.
"No, they know!" Lieutenant Colonel Zaha Kavic said: "They may even know our designation number!"
"The enemy's spies cannot be underestimated, Shulka!" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov said.
"That's not what I'm talking about!" Shulka explained: "What I'm saying is that it's true that they don't know in which direction our offensive preparations are going!"
Katukov suddenly raised his head when he heard the words, then nodded slightly, and said, "I know what you mean, Shulka, it is indeed a good idea! Why don't we play a guessing game with the enemy?"
So the plan was quickly launched. The 1st Guards Tank Brigade was divided into three parts and attacked Zhankoy from three directions.
Information was quickly passed to Lieutenant General Sponek's headquarters.
The first reaction of the adjutant was that these Russians were crazy.
"They're just bluffing, General!" said the adjutant. "We know they only have one tank brigade, and they only have the ability to attack in one direction. They think they can fool us by doing this!"
Lieutenant General Sponek doesn't think so.
"Do you think it's that simple?" Lieutenant General Sponek said, "Yes, they do only have the ability to attack in one direction. But...can you tell me which direction?"
The adjutant's smile froze involuntarily.
"We basically rely on the defense line held by those 'Tiger' tanks!" Lieutenant General Sponek continued: "If they only attack in one direction, then the problem is easy to solve. Now... we may need to choose among three directions. One, or, spread them out?"
The number is indeed flawed. Although there is a heavy armored battalion of "Tigers" reinforced to Zhankoy, there are actually only 4 "Tigers".
But Lieutenant General Sponeck was not a kind person, he whispered a few words to the adjutant, and then let him make arrangements.
On the other side, Shulka and Katukov were holding binoculars in the trench to observe the front position.
This is an opportunity for them. In fact, there are many Soviet scouts at the front of the position observing the front of the position, and they will shoot a few flares from time to time.
This is because the Soviet army is at least now certain that the enemy's "new tanks" are in the tank bunkers in the front position. If the German army wants to transfer them to other directions, they must be dragged out of the tank bunkers and moved in other directions.
However, at this time, a shell was suddenly fired from the direction of the German army, and then several smoke bombs hit the center of the position. In an instant, a cloud of smoke and dust rose in front of the position. What is going on.
Then, there was a faint "rumbling" sound of tanks in the smoke.
"They were fooled!" Katukov said happily: "They moved the new tanks to other directions!"
Shuerka felt something was wrong.
"No, Colonel, I don't think they transferred the new tanks! They're still here!"
"You mean to say..."
"I think this is a scam!" Shulka said: "They could clearly cover the motor of the tank with the explosion of shells, but they didn't do it, or they deliberately exposed this flaw for us to discover!"
Katukov opened his mouth halfway, then nodded: "If we attack with all our strength, I'm afraid we will lose another dozen tanks!"
"Yes!" Shulka said: "So, I think we need to shift the main force to the flank. No matter which flank, I don't think we will encounter the 'new tank'!"
(end of this chapter)
