Arc of Gunfire

Yeisk is under the control of the Prosin Army.

In addition to Colonel Busse's battle group, a battalion of tanks and accompanying infantry arrived yesterday evening.

Prosen's tank battalion is different from Ant's tank battalion. Ant's tank battalion and tank regiment are the same organization with different names, with a total of 21 tanks.

Proson's tank battalion is generally called an armored battalion. It is now configured with three No. 3 companies and one No. 4 company. There will be 80 No. 3 vehicles and 28 No. 4 vehicles.

Generally, Plossen's armored division will have two such armored battalions plus one panzergrenadier battalion, as well as a large number of auxiliary troops.

So an armored force equivalent to half a division arrived in Yeisk. Together with the original armored forces of the Busai Battle Group, two hundred tanks had already filled all the open spaces in Yeisk.

As a city without railways, it is not easy for Yeisk to find so many open spaces - railways mean there will be a large number of cargo yards, and cities with railways are generally more industrialized, with more cars and parking lots. Just more.

Anyway, Yeisk is now crowded with tanks and armored vehicles.

So when Colonel Busey heard on the radio that Car No. 217 and Captain John reported that 24 four-engine heavy bombers were coming this way, his heart dropped.

He threw down his earphones and shouted to the staff officer next to him: "Air defense alert! Let the infantry release smoke to cover the tank assembly area!"

The staff officer immediately turned around and ran outside.

The Busse battle group formed an air defense force, and Proson's air defense forces all carried hand-cranked air defense alarms. They regarded the sounding of alarms as part of the air defense operations.

Soon, air raid sirens sounded throughout Yeisk.

After the staff came back, he said to Colonel Busey: "How about we set off now? Even if we are crowded in the city with smoke cover, we will suffer heavy losses if we are covered, especially our infantry. High-altitude bombing against the moving convoy The effect is very poor.”

Colonel Busse looked serious: "The armored battalion that just arrived yesterday is not in our original attack formation. If we set off hastily to avoid the bombing, we will fall into chaos."

Colonel Busey's original plan was to set off to pick up the anchored forward after breakfast and equipment inspection.

As the leader of the entire unit, a platoon of the 333rd Motorized Reconnaissance Battalion has already set off. This platoon has been reinforced with two No. 2 tanks, for a total of 3 tricycles, 4 half-tracks and two No. 2s.

Yesterday, the leading company reported that the enemies that killed the reconnaissance group did not have weapons exceeding 20 mm, and they should be light infantry. The firepower of the motorcycle reconnaissance platoon is enough to deal with ordinary light infantry.

As for the other troops in the battle group, the staff has already compiled the order of departure.

However, the tank battalion that arrived last night was not in this departure queue. If they all leave the city now, they will definitely fall into chaos.

So after a brief hesitation, Colonel Busey made the decision: "If we don't attack, we will just conduct air defense in the city. The city is so big, and they may not be able to bomb our parking lot."

"When the bombing is over, we will set off in accordance with the original departure order. The tank battalion that has just arrived will wait for us all to set off before deciding on the departure time."

Chief of Staff: "Yes."

————

The 3rd company and 1st platoon of the 333rd Motorized Reconnaissance Battalion of Proson, which had already set off, actually heard the communication between Captain John and Vehicle No. 217.

When the platoon leader heard the news of 24 heavy bombers, he raised his head and glanced at the sky.

Already they could see the track clouds of high-altitude bombers.

The platoon leader was speechless: "This reminds me of the time when we entered Ant. At that time, the bombers of the Prossen Air Force also flew to the hinterland of Ant in overwhelming numbers. Things are changing."

At this time, the sun was just rising from the east, so the platoon leader could only squint his eyes when looking at the sky, so he did not see the swooping fighter jets - fighter jets full of bombs.

By the time he saw the fighter jet, it was too late.

"Enemy plane! Air strike!"

While the platoon leader shouted, the first diving fighter had already pulled up.

Then the platoon leader saw a bomb inserted into the road in front of the half-track he was riding.

The bomb's delayed fuse prevented it from detonating immediately, so the platoon leader had time to tuck himself into the half-track and let the surrounding steel provide a modicum of protection—at least psychological protection.

The next moment he felt light and airy, and he immediately realized that the half-track had been lifted into the air.

Before he could react, the car crashed to the ground and the platoon leader fainted.

After the air raid ended, the sergeant in car No. 2, who was following the platoon leader's car, stuck his head out of the car. He noticed at the first sight that the platoon leader's car had overturned, and shouted over the radio: "Deputy platoon, the platoon leader's life or death is uncertain. It's time to You commanded."

Prosen's platoon usually has only one officer, and the deputy platoon commander is the sergeant major. Generally, the sergeant major will have a better relationship with the soldiers.

Sometimes soldiers would even prefer a master sergeant to command them.

The deputy platoon leader's voice came over the radio: "It just rolled over, right? Open the tailgate and see if you can rescue people. Don't just roll the car over, as it may cause secondary injuries."

"Understood." The sergeant immediately ordered the leader of his squad, "Open the tailgate and rescue the people inside."

At this time, the machine gunner of the half-track vehicle suddenly said: "Look! There is smoke ahead!"

The sergeant looked ahead and saw a lot of smoke.

He stood up and picked up a telescope to observe - Proson's squad leader usually had to command machine guns, so he would be equipped with a telescope.

Through the telescope, only the enemy's small car could be seen, and the marching column behind it was completely blocked by smoke and dust.

The sergeant has never seen the small car at the beginning. It may be equipment from the United States.

"Damn it." The sergeant cursed, picked up the radio microphone and shouted: "The enemy's large force is approaching! The enemy's large force is approaching!"

The deputy platoon leader was very calm: "Don't panic, it may be the enemy's light infantry, No. 137, No. 138, spread out to the left and right wings!"

"clear."

The two No. 2 tanks immediately spread out to the left and right wings, so the platoon's main marching column and the two tanks parked on the road formed a division sign.

But the tank commander was frightened at first: "Such a big smoke, is it the enemy's tank force? My 20mm gun can only be polished by the T34!"

At this time, the car at the front began to shoot at this area with its vehicle-mounted machine gun.

Tank commander: "If the enemy dares to charge towards the tank, this is definitely Ant's tank unit! Release the smoke and retreat quickly!"

The deputy platoon leader hesitated for a second and then ordered: "Release the smoke and retreat!"

At this time, the sergeant of the No. 2 car asked: "What about the platoon leader? He may still be alive!"

"I don't care about this much anymore. Get out quickly."

The No. 2 tank had already activated its smoke tube and fired smoke bombs.

Although the sergeant of the No. 2 vehicle wanted to say something else, he still carried out the order and operated the smoke grenade launcher of the half-track vehicle to fire.

————

Wang Zhong suddenly received a call from one of the two troops bullying the enemy: "Khwarizm calls Genghis Khan, and Khwarezm calls Genghis Khan. The enemy in front of our team releases smoke. Repeat, the enemy in front of our team releases smoke."

Wang Zhong responded while switching angles, and sure enough he saw enemy smoke in front of the enemy team's Willis Jeep.

Then Wang Zhong discovered something. Although the field of view shared by the troops was not highlighted, this field of view was not blocked by smoke.

As long as the enemy is not hiding in the smoke, he can see it.

Of course, the dust from the enemy's vehicles would still interfere with his vision, but it would not make him completely invisible.

The Willys Jeep was dragging a broom behind it, so the smoke was so thick that I couldn't see clearly.

In short, Wang Zhong clearly saw that the Prossens in front of the jeep convoy had two No. 2 tanks. These two No. 2 tanks could beat the crap out of the jeep convoy.

But it's different now that the enemy starts running.

The armor of the Panzer II tank is actually just like that. The side and rear armor can be penetrated by the M2 heavy machine gun.

The most important thing is that if the enemy flees, if the bullying troops do not pursue him, the enemy may react and strike back, which will be dangerous.

So Wang Zhong ordered: "Continue to pursue and strive to annihilate the enemy."

According to the code word agreed before departure, striving to annihilate the enemy means: "Keep in contact with the enemy and put enough pressure on it."

Even if the Prosans eavesdropped on radio communications, there would be no problem!

"Understood!" The bullying troops probably didn't know that the enemy had No. 2, so they answered very firmly, "Strive to annihilate the enemy!"

————

Colonel Busey's brows knitted into knots: "Were you attacked by an air strike?"

"Yes, and we also encountered an enemy tank unit." The chief of staff looked serious. "The life or death of the reconnaissance platoon leader is uncertain, and the remaining troops are retreating to Yeisk under the leadership of the deputy platoon leader."

Captain John: "This must be one of the two armored units reported by Car 217."

Colonel Busey nodded: "Is the new tank ready to move?"

Captain John looked embarrassed: "Not yet. The fault has just been eliminated. The technicians from the maintenance battalion are installing the road wheels. It will take a while."

"How long is one o'clock? Captain, you should know better than to use such vague words on the battlefield."

Captain John: "Yes! Eight hours maximum, Colonel."

"Eight hours to install a wheel?" The colonel was shocked.

Captain John: "At most. If it's quick, it can be completed in five hours."

Colonel: "How proud are you after five hours?"

Captain John spread his hands and said in a very helpless tone: "There is no way. In order to ensure the best walking ability, the new tank uses double rows of road wheels. Each disassembly and assembly requires a day or two of work. The maintenance battalion has done its best."

Colonel Busey was speechless: "So you can't participate in the next defensive operation? It seems that the only thing we can do is let the boys in Long Control No. 4 get some Ankhs."

Captain John also smiled: "Of course there is no problem."

At this time, the air defense siren sounded again outside, and Colonel Busey and others immediately fell down.

However, after waiting for a long time, the bomb did not fall.

The door of the headquarters suddenly opened, and a staff officer came in to report: "The air defense battalion requests to lift the air defense alert. The enemy's heavy bombers are not here to bomb us."

Colonel Busey stood up cursing: "How much more unreliable intelligence are we going to receive this morning?"