Chapter 294: show weakness

Chapter 294 Show the enemy weak

On the second day, several T26 and KV1 vehicles entered the underground warehouse and were incorporated into the Fourth Tank Brigade.

In fact, these T26 and KV1 are command vehicles, that is, the kind equipped with communication equipment, and they are here to train with T34.

Shulka knew from Major Zakhakovich that this was Katukov's idea... Major Zakhakovich called the hospital to ask for Katukov's opinion.

Katukov’s suggestion is: “Training is only necessary if there is communication equipment, and even training without communication equipment will not be of much use. Let the command vehicle participate in the training, and other tanks of the same model will follow the command vehicle!”

This is indeed a solution, but everyone, including Major Zaha Kavic, knows that there is no way.

Because the Soviet tank troops were commanded in this way before, the results of the actual combat were obvious...Because the command vehicle was at the forefront, it was easily recognized by the Germans and destroyed first, and then the other tanks lost command and fought on their own.

If there is any difference between the 4th Tank Brigade and them, it is the addition of tank phones.

Even so, the training time is pitifully short.

"We only have three days for training!" Major Zahakavic said helplessly to Shulka: "Because we need time to attack!"

Shulka understood what this meant.

It took two days to plan and implement the bombing of the railway bridge, three days of training, and then only five days left to counterattack Tula.

Five days... Shulka wasn't even sure whether the Soviets drove the Germans out or the Germans routed the Soviets.

"We're going to focus on minesweeper tanks!" Shulka said.

"Minesweeper tank? Why?" Major Zakhakovic asked.

"We mainly use mines to delay the German attack in the direction of Tula!" Shulka said: "If the mine-sweeping tank is captured by the Germans..."

So Major Zakhakovic understood that if the mine-sweeping tank fell into the hands of the German army, they could use it to go straight to Moscow.

This question attracted enough attention from Major Zakhakovic, and a series of questions were derived from it, which finally even alarmed Zhukov.

The first problem is how to ensure that the minesweeping tanks do not fall into the hands of the German army.

This looks easy on the surface, because when the minesweeper tank malfunctions or is about to be captured, it only needs to be blown up, which only takes a few seconds with a grenade.

The problem is...the Germans have a lot of T26s captured from the Soviets.

In other words, what they need is not the T26, but the minesweeping roller in front of the minesweeping tank.

The German engineers only need to remove the mine-sweeping roller and install it in front of T26 or even other tanks to perfectly "produce" the mine-sweeping tank and advance to Moscow.

Even this kind of minesweeping roller is not difficult to produce, and the German army can imitate it immediately... Of course, this time may not be enough, after all, as the temperature drops, the German army, which is in a severe supply situation, even has serious shortage of clothing to keep out the cold, let alone consider other things. up.

Secondly, if the Soviet army wants to attack the German army and use mine-sweeping tanks, it will clear several tank passages in the minefield.

These tank passages are difficult to fill with mines in a short time, and at the same time, there are very obvious track marks left by the snow, so the German army can launch a counterattack along these track marks.

So I finally came to a conclusion: If there is no certainty of victory, it is not suitable to put minesweeping tanks into the battlefield at this time.

But the certainty of victory... Who can be sure of victory in the battlefield? Not to mention the current situation of the Fourth Tank Brigade.

So Major Zaha Kavic summoned the officers to the headquarters to discuss this issue.

"No, I don't think this situation is suitable for attack!" Major Gavrilov said: "Because this is simply helping the Germans open the way to Moscow!"

"It's not a matter of fit or not!" Major Zakhakovic said: "We have to do this, it's an order!"

Shulka was silent for a while, then said: "Comrade Major, I think we need training!"

"We are training!" Major Zaha Kaewicz replied.

"I mean...we're going out to practice!"

"Going out for training?" Major Zakhakovic looked at Shulka suspiciously: "Are you crazy? The Germans will immediately know that we only have 30 T34s, so they will launch an attack immediately!"

"Don't we just want them to attack?" Shulka asked back.

"What's the meaning?"

"I'm talking about the 3rd Armored Division!" Shulka said: "I believe that the reason why it dare not let go to attack Moscow, apart from supply difficulties and being blocked by landmines, is also because it is worried that the 4th Tank Brigade will !"

"Of course!" Major Zaha Kavic said: "This is one of the reasons why we have to stay in the underground warehouse and almost isolate it from the outside world..."

Before he finished speaking, Major Zaha Kavic was stunned.

"You mean... we deliberately let the enemy know that we only have thirty T34s, so that they can attack?" Major Zakhakovic asked.

"Yes!" Shulka said: "To be precise, we don't need to tell them that there are thirty, we can even tell them that we only have twenty or even less!"

"That's right!" said Major Gavrilov. "If they knew we had only twenty T34s, they wouldn't be concerned about the 4th Tank Brigade, or less so...so the 3rd Armored Division had It is possible to attack in the direction of Moscow, which will break into the minefield of our army, so...we can attack according to the original plan instead of being passive like we are now!"

The reason is very simple. The difference between them lies in whether the German armored division is deeply trapped in a minefield.

If the German army made up its mind to take Tula first and then attack Moscow, then the Fourth Tank Brigade would have no chance to take advantage of it and could only launch an attack as Zhukov ordered.

Otherwise, even if the fourth tank brigade has only a few T34s, it is still possible to defeat the German armored divisions trapped in minefields by virtue of minesweeping tanks... This is Shulka's original plan.

Major Zakhakovic nodded, and then said with some concern: "Comrade Shulka, have you ever thought... In this way, the shortage of T34 in our army will be exposed to the Germans, which may make the German army Launch a more violent attack!"

"Yes, Comrade Major!" Shulka said: "I thought about it, but we have no other way... Even if we don't do this, when we counterattack Tula, the Germans will also know our strength!"

Major Zakhakovic was persuaded, and he responded immediately: "I will report to Zhukov immediately, we must hurry up, otherwise there will be no rush!"

(end of this chapter)