Arc of Gunfire

Pavlov saw Wang Zhong hang up the phone, so he said: "With our troops, it shouldn't be a problem to defeat the division in front of us. But it will be more difficult to defeat Plossen's armored division. The enemy's armored division should be fully equipped. We lost some tanks and tank destroyers when we attacked the Sai De Division before."

Wang Zhong: "We should be able to repair quite a few of them, right?"

Pavlov picked up a form on the table: "This is the report given by the maintenance department this afternoon - yesterday at five o'clock in the afternoon."

It is now past midnight on the 17th, and the 16th is yesterday, so Pavlov specifically revised the statement.

Wang Zhong took the form and frowned when he saw the total number: "So many are being repaired?"

According to the data on the form, there are 100 jeeps, more than 40 tanks and 13 vortexes under repair.

Wang Zhong: "Yesterday - the day before yesterday, I don't remember losing so many?"

"Because many tanks were still working well the day before yesterday, but today they had minor faults and needed to be repaired. Especially the vortex, except for the one whose tracks were broken the day before yesterday, the others had mechanical failures yesterday." Pavlov said.

Wang Zhong: "So seven or eight eddy currents had mechanical failures yesterday? Let me see, there are nine minor repairs in total, is the track a minor repair?"

"Yes."

Wang Zhong was shocked: "So four need major repairs due to mechanical failures? What are the problems?"

"Most of the time, the filter is not working properly, so the engine sucked in a lot of broken grass leaves, so the engine needs to be thoroughly cleaned, so it was reported as a medium repair."

Wang Zhong still looked unbelievable, and at this time Vasily said: "I talked to the maintenance staff, and they said that the ones with problems were all replaced before departure. The new batch of engines may have some problems."

"Are you sure?"

Vassily shrugged: "It was just mentioned in casual chat, but we can find the record of engine replacement. The sixth-level clerk will definitely not miss such details."

Wang Zhong corrected: "Ask the civilian colonel Karatayev. Colonel, did you hear that? Then please get the record of engine replacement."

The old man obviously snorted, and then gave instructions to the clerk beside him, and soon a clerk came over with a report.

Wang Zhong turned the armored vehicle combat readiness table in his hand to the next page: this page starts with a detailed table, which carefully records the specific tactical number of the vehicle being repaired, the fault location, the time required for repair, and other details.

Wang Zhong put the two tables together for comparison and immediately came to the conclusion: "Non-combat faults are basically concentrated on vehicles that have replaced engines since April this year. There is no doubt that the engine's yield rate has decreased."

Pavlov: "In terms of time, the workers recruited in January this year have just finished training and started production."

Wang Zhong smacked his lips. To expand production, unskilled workers must be used. There is nothing he can do about it.

He remembered that in the history of the earth, in the second year of the Great Patriotic War, the production of military products by the Russians also had serious quality problems, which even affected the armor quality of the T34 produced that year.

The T34 with poor armor could even be penetrated by the short 50 gun of the Type 3 tank.

Wang Zhong also took some measures to reduce the impact of unskilled workers-the three-month training period was proposed by him.

Unexpectedly, after three months of training, it was still useless.

The engines used by the First Mobile Army have so many problems, and the condition of the engines used by other tank units is even more worrying.

Wang Zhong: "It seems that I underestimated the impact of unskilled workers."

He put down two forms.

"We can only try to repair them."

Pavlov: "The good news is that the tanks of the First Division of the Melania People's Army are in very good condition, and they did not participate in the battle of Yeisk. Now they are fully equipped and have high morale."

Wang Zhong: "Okay, let the Melania People's Army take the lead in the attack, and let them take over the defensive positions of the Front Guards 1st Mechanized Infantry and the 225th Division. After the pincer attack is over and the retreat of the 190th Division is blocked, Melania's Davarich will launch the attack."

"Okay." Pavlov nodded, "They will be happy too."

Popov: "But in this way, we will not have the troops to destroy the enemy's armored division. We must get the support of the 40th Tank Army."

"Let's go through the regular process first and report the combat plan to the Military Order Office. I guess the Military Order Office will agree to hand over the 40th Army to us for command. If the Military Order Office does not do it, I will call His Majesty the Tsar." Wang Zhong said.

Popov nodded: "Then let's do it... Are we really just an army?"

"Of course, even if the 40th Tank Army is strengthened, we are just an army. There is still a gap between the organization of Prosen's army and the army of the front."

Wang Zhong nodded after he finished speaking, and added to himself: "Yes, it is an army."

Vassily: "In fact, when we were in Kalanskaya, we commanded troops that far exceeded the command capabilities of the headquarters."

Pavlov sighed as if he recalled something painful: "At that time, I was really exhausted. The organization was still that of a divisional headquarters, but the things I had to deal with were at the army or even front level. So this time when I formed the army headquarters, I deliberately overstaffed a large number of staff and clerks, and the result was really as I expected."

Wang Zhong turned his head and glanced at the staff officers and clerks filling the warehouse, thinking to himself, good guy, Pavlov, a guy like you with thick eyebrows and big eyes, is also playing tricks!

————

Ye Castle, Summer Palace, Ant Empire Headquarters.

General Turgenev put down the telegram he had just sent and looked at Defense Minister Marshal Boris: "Rokossov wants command of the 40th Tank Corps. It seems that he is preparing to take a bite of the enemy's armored division."

Marshal Boris glanced at the small door leading to the Tsar's office, and then said to General Turgenev: "As long as his performance this time is acceptable, he should be the commander of the front. It doesn't matter if you give him more troops in advance. The problem is, Will General Andre accept it?”

Turgenev shook his head: "I definitely don't accept it. In fact, there are not a few army commanders who support his decision. Many army commanders who have received orders to retreat have already started taking action.

"The only one that has not moved at all now is the First Mobile Army. The shadow of being surrounded by the Prosens last year still lingers in the minds of many of our commanders."

Marshal Boris sighed: "Yes, no one wants to be the one surrounded. Tell these commanders Rokossov's opinion, and they may also bring out Skolo, who was shot by Rokossov himself last year." Where is General Bo?”

After the words fell, the two senior command officials fell silent.

A few seconds later, Turgenev broke the silence: "It is also summer, and we are on the grassland. We cannot blame the commander for having the idea of ​​​​escape. We can only use the authority of the headquarters to force them to stay where they are, at least until Luo Kosov completes his offensive and Prince Myshkin retreats to the Caucasus Mountains."

Marshal Boris: "That's all we can do. Who signed the order to Suhayaveli Front?"

"Sign my order." Olga's voice came from the side door.

The two of them turned around and saw His Majesty the Tsar walking into the room, and quickly stood up straight.

Olga: "I was ordered to sign. If anything goes wrong, I will be responsible. Follow Rokosov's intention to attack the enemy and support Duke Myshkin in his battle."

Turgenev and Boris looked at each other, and then Marshal Boris, who had a higher military rank, spoke: "Your Majesty, it's not that time yet. And the signature of one of us two is enough for the army commanders to stop We retreated. If this order leads to very bad results, we can also take the blame and resign."

"Oh, that's right." Olga nodded, and then asked doubtfully, "Where are the officers trained by Alyosha and Rokossov? Where are they?"

General Turgenev: “Continuing to accumulate experience, most of them have now been promoted to division-level and corps-level commanders, and only a small number have served as group army commanders.

"Your Majesty, one thing I must let you know is that so many army-level commanders are eager to retreat this time. Just because last year's failure had a great impact on them, it does not mean that they are unqualified as commanders."

Olga was a little surprised: "Really?"

"Yes, even experienced commanders, after experiencing the defeat of Agsukov last year, will worry about becoming the next to be surrounded by Plosin. This tendency can only be achieved by defeating Plosin People come to overcome.

"We cannot remove these commanders just because they obey General Andrei's orders, and we do not have so many qualified army-level commanders to replace them."

After General Turgenev finished speaking, Olga stared at him for a few seconds and said, "If I didn't know your work very well, I might suspect that you are a rebel."

General Turgenev spread his hands: "Leading the army is not black and white. Of course, General Andrei, who ordered the retreat, can be replaced. He did behave too conservatively and ignored friendly forces, but the army generals under him, The next order is just to tell them not to retreat."

At this time, General Boris said: "How about we transfer General Gorky, who works closely with Rokossov, to command the Suhayaveli Front?"

General Turgenev thought for a few seconds and said: "How about the commander of the Western Front be Ivan Stepanovich, who has been the chief of staff of General Gorky since the St. Andrew's Front?"

Marshal Boris: "Ivan Stepanovich? Yes, I have long felt that he is too qualified to be a chief of staff, so I might as well let him give it a try."

Olga: "Is it really okay? Move all the generals who can fight to the Suhayaveli Front?"

General Turgenev: "Actually, the replacement of high-level military officers has a limited impact on the troops, because the troops are really familiar with their direct leaders, and who issues orders has little impact on the combat style of the grassroots troops. After all, not everyone A general likes someone like Rokosov who frequently appears in front of the soldiers on the front line. "

Olga nodded: "Okay, let General Gorky cooperate with Rokossov."