Arc of Gunfire

Wang Zhong's original plan was to leave some volunteers behind in the artillery holes of the position to resist the enemy's fire preparations and delay the attacking infantry.

The main force retreated back and waited at the reserve position - yes, under the command of Aolaqi Wang Zhong, layers of defensive positions were dug and a lot of soil work was carried out.

He had no choice but to deploy his troops like this. If he wanted to face the superior enemy, he had to build more fortifications.

After the war, if he was asked to write a pamphlet on defensive warfare, he would definitely write this: "If your troops are not large enough, prepare more fortifications."

Of course, these fortifications built by Wang Zhong also had flaws.

One is that the black soil in Kozalia is too soft, and without enough concrete it is basically impossible to build solid underground fortifications.

The second is that the terrain near Aolachi is too flat. Although the forest provides cover, there is a lack of anti-slope anti-gunnery.

In response to this situation, Wang Zhong also made some designs. The most important design was that except for the tank bunkers, the first two levels of positions were not protected from artillery.

Due to the entrance structure of the tank bunker, artillery shells fired from near Orachi can easily penetrate, and it is not very protected against artillery.

This design is because the first two levels of positions are used for ambush, and the third level is the main position.

But if the enemy does not have soldiers in the first two levels of positions, he must prepare these two positions with firepower when he attacks in the morning.

All these combat experiences are not Wang Zhong's own. They are all obtained from various "pamphlets". As a military fan, Wang Zhong has collected many such pamphlets, including "How to Fight Tanks" and "How to Fight Tanks" issued by our country. "How to Masturbate", the theoretical knowledge is extremely rich.

All in all, when Wang Zhong ordered the artillery fire, his main force had already retreated to the next position, and the only ones left in the third position were volunteers - or death squads.

There is a strong concrete bunker on the third position that was finally squeezed out. Even if the people hiding inside are bombarded by enemy heavy artillery for two hours, they still have a high probability of surviving. These people can use the machine guns of the position to block the enemy's attacking troops. .

But now that the enemy reconnaissance plane is gone, the situation is simple: you cover me, and I will cover you. No one can even think of organizing an attack immediately after the bombardment is over.

The suicide squads who originally played the leading role now became insurance, preventing the enemy from being so powerful that they could immediately organize an attack wave after being bombarded.

Now, just after Wang Zhong opened fire, the enemy also opened fire.

However, the main force on Wang Zhong's side has withdrawn, and the remaining suicide squads are also in solid support points. The enemy's infantry in the forest didn't have time to withdraw - probably they didn't expect the plane in the sky to leave either.

Wang Zhong looked at the red markings disappearing in the forest and couldn't help laughing: Haha, I won this exchange again!

He looked at his watch. It was already three o'clock in the afternoon. When the coverage was over and the reserve team was deployed to counterattack and recapture the entire position, today's battle should be over.

He waved his hand and climbed onto the tank as the commander of a reserve battalion: "General, do you want us to dispatch?"

"Yes, the second and third battalions will re-enter the positions they just exited. The task of clearing out the remaining enemies in the forest will be left to you."

The first battalion commander saluted: "Guaranteed to complete the mission!"

This answer is very similar to the army Wang Zhong is familiar with.

————

In the bunker of the headquarters of the 5th Beshensk Regiment, the messenger Misha sighed and said to the regiment leader, Lieutenant Colonel Eugene: "Why is it that we have nothing to do with you? Look at the lively fighting over there! Does the general look down on us?" "

"Don't talk nonsense." Captain Andrei, who was assigned to the 5th Beshensk Regiment as chief of staff, said loudly, "The position we are responsible for is also very important. This is the only high ground overlooking the entire plain. The artillery observation post is here. , if the whole situation is lost here, it will be passive.”

Misha asked: "How passive?"

"Let's put it this way, if we lose this place, the general may sacrifice half of his division to regain it. Even if Aolaqi City is lost, this place cannot be lost."

As soon as Captain Andre finished speaking, Orlov, the battalion commander of the 13th Armored Battalion of the Fifth Tank Corps, opened the curtain at the bunker door and came in: "My tank crews need water and food."

Lieutenant Colonel Eugene didn't say a word when he heard Misha's complaint. Now when he heard Orlov's words, he nodded immediately: "I will order someone to get it right now."

Orlov turned and asked Captain Andre: "Who commanded the digging of this bunker? It's quite good. Although the size of the bunker is not suitable for our T26 series and slightly affects the shooting range, as long as the tank is parked back, it will The height of the slope to get out of the bunker is almost enough.

"In this kind of bunker, even those Prosons can't hit us accurately."

Captain Andrei: "Of course it was dug under the command of General Rokossov. This is the general's original bunker. There is no such bunker in any combat manuals and doctrines issued by the Imperial Armored Corps Headquarters."

Orlov nodded: "I know that, I am a tank driver! Your Excellency, the Director of Armored Forces, will say that the main task of a tank is to attack, attack, and keep attacking!"

The battalion commander imitated the director's tone, but his serious look seemed a bit funny.

Orlov: "I would say that the director is a Prossen fan! Just like the Tsar was a follower of Frederick the Great!

"Aren't you surprised that on the matter of radios, the Superintendent has drawn a clear line with the Prossens again! Every Prossin tank has a radio, but we only have it in the platoon leader's car!"

Captain Andre was a little embarrassed: "I don't know much about the armored force. I studied the army."

Lieutenant Colonel Eugene: "I study minerals."

Orlov looked at the Lieutenant Colonel in surprise: "What?"

"I am the mine director. In accordance with the relevant laws of the empire, I transferred from a clerk to a military position." Lieutenant Colonel Eugene shrugged, "I know that you two will be very uncomfortable being commanded by me."

Orlov: "That's not true. You organized the defense very well."

The lieutenant colonel pointed at Captain Andre: "He did it all. I just guided the excavation of the anti-gun tunnel. The soil here is similar to the one where I was the mine director. To dig the tunnel safely, we need to do it well." Structural support…”

Then the phone rang.

Captain Andrei went over to pick it up: "It's the Beshensk Regiment. Well, I understand."

After putting down the phone, the captain looked at the lieutenant colonel: "The artillery observation post saw that the tanks in front of us began to retreat."

Battalion Commander Orlov smiled: "Isn't that true? We destroyed at least 20 of their No. 3 and No. 4 vehicles, plus the No. 1 and No. 2 vehicles destroyed in the road melee. The enemy division was severely damaged by us. I I thought our battalion was going to be doomed, but in the end we won so easily.

"The general told me that in addition to winning, my mission is to survive. I thought I couldn't accomplish either, but now I've accomplished both."

It can be seen that Olof is very happy.

He continued: "It's a pity that the general only commanded a temporary infantry division. If he had commanded our Fifth Tank Corps, then maybe we would not have been defeated so pointlessly."

The other people in the room looked at each other in confusion. They were miners and infantry, so there was no way to point out to Orlov that even if General White Horse commanded T26, he probably wouldn't be able to achieve any great results.

Orlov came to the observation window of the regiment command post and looked at the retreating enemies in the distance.

At this time, his deputy battalion commander came in and saluted: "Batalion Commander, the losses have been counted. We still have 14 tanks intact. I reorganized the tank crews that had lost personnel and found that there were 8 gaps for the gunners and the driver. Four more.”

After that, the deputy battalion commander handed over a clipboard with documents: "Look."

Orlov took the clipboard and read out the names of the fallen tank crews one by one.

At this time, the messenger Misha said: "General Rokossov seems to be able to memorize all our names. He has seen people in the regiment directly call them by name several times."

Lieutenant Colonel Eugene nodded: "I've heard that too, but it's normal for a general like an outstanding soldier to be knowledgeable and knowledgeable."

Captain Andre: "This has a huge effect on boosting morale. The general must have remembered it all because of this."

Misha sighed again: "Hey, I originally thought that after we fought this battle, it was time to move to the Guards. The old man in the cloak is so handsome, but now the battle is fought by others."

Just as Lieutenant Colonel Eugene was about to speak, the gunfire outside stopped.

The lieutenant colonel immediately came to the observation window and looked out together with Battalion Commander Orlov.

No more shells are falling in the direction of the forest.

The enemy bombardment also stopped at about the same time.

Lieutenant Colonel Eugene: "What's going to happen? A tank battle?"

Battalion Commander Orlov: "I don't know, but I think the infantry should retake the position. Today's battle should be almost over."

Misha: "Hey! We didn't win the fight!"

Captain Andre looked at him, then turned to Lieutenant Colonel Eugene and suggested: "We should let the priests calm down the soldiers' emotions. It's a good thing to be eager to fight, but it's a bad thing to suppress your emotions."

The lieutenant colonel nodded: "Okay. In addition, I, the mine manager, am pretty good at other things. Come on, Misha, tell me about it!"

"Do you need to say this? Lieutenant Colonel! I want to become a Guard as soon as possible. That cape is so handsome!"

The lieutenant colonel shook his head: "No, we are not fighting for handsome cloaks. We are fighting to protect our hometown from the ravages of the enemy. We are..."

Battalion Commander Olof looked at the deputy battalion commander and said, "This preaching tone sounds like my mother."

The deputy battalion commander just smiled.

At this time, a song suddenly came from outside the bunker, it was "We will be found under the ruins":

Please lift us out of the ruins,

Say goodbye to my beloved tank forever.

Let the artillery volley fire the chariots in formation,

Send us on our last journey.

Let the artillery volley fire the chariots in formation,

Send us on our last journey.

Orlov angrily came to the door of the bunker and cursed outside: "How could the good "Tanks Roaring in the Fields" be changed like this! Who changed it? Is it you Kumach! Come here!"

The tank driver named Kumach came over: "Reporting to the battalion commander, I am just expressing my feelings about the annihilation of the entire army yesterday!"

"We are not completely wiped out! Our battalion is still there, isn't it? Today we made the Prosen Japs look good! In the future, we will continue to make the Japs look good! You are not allowed to change songs like this again!"

"Yes." Kumach saluted.

Orlov: "If you think about it carefully, the lyrics about the roar of tanks in the wilderness are not very good. Let's sing something cheerful, like "Black-Eyed Girl"!"

After that, Orlov started singing by himself, and the cheerful melody echoed on the battlefield.