Arc of Gunfire

July 25 at noon.

On the B24 heavy bomber with tactical number 501 of the 5th Long-Range Bomber Regiment of the Ant Air Force, the voice of the bomb observer suddenly sounded in the in-plane communication.

"Hey Major, I see smoke on the ground, it looks like a cavalry charge."

"Are you sure it's not an armored convoy?"

"No, the smoke from the armored convoy is not that thin. The most important thing is that I saw something like ants moving forward on the grassland. I don't think it was a tank. No, it is definitely not a tank."

The captain, Major Ivan, picked up the map board at hand and looked at it and said: "If I guess correctly, we are flying over the Nanant grassland now. Recently, the Army seems to have discovered that the cavalry is quite useful on the Nanant grassland, so it added this The troops are activated."

The bombardier was silent for a few seconds and then said: "Our current course should be from west to east, right?"

"yes."

"The cavalry below is marching to the northeast in fighting formation. Will our cavalry troops be like this?"

Major Ivan frowned and stared at the map board. Although he also drew the route on his map board, he estimated this based on the plane's flight direction and instrument panel readings.

This route is almost certainly inaccurate and can only give an approximate indication of the aircraft's current location.

So Major Ivan asked on the internal line: "Navigator! Where are we now?"

The navigator immediately replied: "Over the grasslands of South Ant."

"I know! Just look at the scenery below. I'm asking for the specific location!"

The navigator has more instruments and can determine the aircraft's position more accurately.

After a brief silence, the navigator reported: "We are about a hundred kilometers west of Yeisk, and we will fly over Yeisk soon."

Major Ivan frowned. He turned on the radio and called to the fleet: "The formation leader checked the flight information. According to our instrument data, we are one hundred kilometers west of Yeisk. The coordinate grid - please follow the tactics Number to answer your calculations."

After finishing speaking, each aircraft on the radio began to report the position they calculated based on their own instruments. This can effectively avoid yaw caused by instrument errors.

A minute later, Major Ivan determined that he should be near General Rokossov's troops.

So he ordered the telegraph operator (the heavy bomber formation command plane has its own radio and also has a telegraph operator): "Send a report to General Rokossov's First Mobile Army and ask them whether there are large-scale cavalry units active."

"yes."

The next moment, the clatter of a telegraph resounded in the cabin, not even covered by the roar of the engine.

Soon, the telegraph operator reported: "Received a reply that all cavalry units under the command of the First Mobile Army are resting!"

Major Ivan and the co-pilot looked at each other.

At this time, the voice of the bombardier came from the internal communication: "Do the Plosans have cavalry? How do I remember that they disbanded all the cavalry and sent all the horses to the logistics troops?"

Major Ivan: "But now we see the cavalry. According to the situation map, there are only troops commanded by General Rokossov. His cavalry has not moved. Then these cavalry belong to the Plosans. They may be planning to bypass them now. General Rokossov's defense line, sneak attacks on the transportation system in the rear, and even artillery positions.

"Telegraph operator, send a message to General Rokossov immediately!"

The co-pilot reminded: "We are about to fly to Yeisk. Maybe it will be faster to call by radio, and the telegram needs to be decoded."

Major Ivan: "We don't have a communication code with the army... What the hell! The code must also report this news to General Rokosov!"

After speaking, Major Ivan began to adjust the radio, and at the same time urged the telegraph operator through the internal communication: "Send the message quickly! A two-pronged approach! Radio may not be reliable!"

The electrical equipment on B24 are all products of United States, and theoretically speaking, they are more reliable than Ante's own products. However, the No. 501 bomber has participated in many battles. During maintenance, many parts produced by Ant were replaced, so it became less reliable, including the radio.

After adjusting the radio frequency, Major Ivan immediately started calling: "The Fifth Long-range Bomber Regiment is calling the First Mobile Group Army! There is an emergency military situation! The Fifth Long-range Bomber Regiment is calling the First Mobile Group Army! There is an emergency military situation!"

After repeating it once, Major Ivan waited for a while and was about to call again when a voice came from the radio: "The First Mobile Army is calling the Fifth Bomber Regiment. You have violated radio communication disciplines. I hope you have something important enough."

Major Ivan was overjoyed: "First Mobile Group Army, we have discovered a large cavalry unit that is outflanking you to the north. Please be careful when outflanking you from the north. Please repeat what you hear!"

Asking the other person to repeat it is to ensure that the information is conveyed correctly.

After a brief silence, a retelling came over the radio: "You have discovered that a large cavalry force is outflanking us to the north. The retelling is complete."

"Correct! Good luck to you, First Mobile Army! The Fifth Long-Range Bomber Regiment is completed."

"Thank you for the information. The First Mobile Group Army is completed."

Major Ivan breathed a sigh of relief. At this time, the co-pilot, who also heard the other party's answer through the in-plane communication line, said: "Do you think this is the famous Rokosov?"

"How is that possible! How could Rokossov answer the radio call personally! I hope it is him. It is said that after talking to him, you will get good luck and you will be unscathed even if you are caught in a hail of bullets!" Major Ivan said.

Co-pilot: "Maybe we will run into each other?"

"Stop dreaming!"

————

Wang Zhong put down the radio's headset and microphone and looked at Pavlov: "The bombers saw the cavalry and were outflanking us to the north."

Popov was shocked: "Proson still has cavalry? I mean, in addition to the carriages of the baggage train and the messengers on horseback, they also have horse units?"

Wang Zhong: "Even the messengers are riding motorcycles. In terms of motorization, only the United States can match Prosen. Call the chief officers of the two cavalry corps here immediately! It's an emergency."

Pavlov: "In addition to cavalry, maybe light armored reconnaissance troops can be used to drive the enemy away?"

Wang Zhong: "No, in such a vast grassland, light armored troops chasing cavalry will soon be attrited due to mechanical failures. This grassland is a paradise for cavalry. I don't know where the Prosen people picked up cavalry from. Maybe it was those who haven't yet The troops of the fully integrated country, in short, we have to dispatch cavalry to meet them!

"The key is not to defeat them, but to prevent them from getting close to Yeisk and prevent them from discovering that our tanks are fake."

At this time, the commanders of the two cavalry corps arrived one after another - their troops were resting in Yeisk City, so they naturally arrived very quickly.

Wang Zhong: "We have an urgent mission for you now! The Air Force's long-range bombers have just seen enemy cavalry units preparing to outflank us from the north. Don't let the enemy's cavalry approach Yeisk, and don't let the enemy take the information out!" "

The smiles on the faces of the two cavalry generals froze. Rodionovich, commander of the 20th Army, frowned: "I thought it was about calling us for awards, but it turned out to be military information? But where did the Prosen people come from? Cavalry troops? Did the people on the plane see it wrong?"

Wang Zhong shook his head: "The pilot did not hesitate to violate the radio communication order but also notify us. I think there is nothing wrong. In short, you immediately send troops with radios to see what's going on! If it is the enemy's armored unit, notify our armored forces Troops go to intercept!"

Rodionovich nodded: "Okay! Shall our two armies attack together?"

Wang Zhong thought for a while and shook his head: "No, the enemy has no reason to only outflank one side. There may be other troops outflanking from the south. The 21st Army will reconnoiter and advance to the south. I know your soldiers are very tired, and the horses are The fat hasn’t grown back yet, but now we have to dispatch you, it’s up to you!”

Rodionovich smiled: "It is our responsibility to block the enemy's cavalry reconnaissance. We just go back to our old business! But we never thought that we would have the opportunity to do our old business."

Wang Zhong urged: "Then let's go!"

The two army commanders saluted Wang Zhong.

————

Gorokov, commander of the First Regiment of the 33rd Division of the 20th Cavalry Corps, personally led his troops from Yeisk. After trotting on the grassland for two hours, he saw smoke and dust on the grassland in the distance.

Gorokov immediately ran up the hill and picked up a telescope to observe the smoke. The regiment staff officer and the chaplain accompanying the regiment also rode up the hill and looked in the direction of the smoke with their binoculars.

After a while, Gorokov said: "I thought it was the enemy's cavalry. Damn it, when I received the order to attack, I thought General Rokossov was teasing us. It turned out to be the enemy's cavalry!"

The chief of staff looked serious: "We didn't bring spears. Will there be problems when the cavalry is hedging?"

The priest accompanying the army was even more pessimistic: "Let alone spears, we haven't conducted cavalry versus cavalry combat training for a long time. At that time, we can only rush up and slash with the enemy's sabers."

Gorokov picked up the Bobosha hanging on the saddle: "No, we still have this."

Both of them laughed: "You're right. You can just pull out the saber after firing the submachine gun."

Gorokov: "Okay, order the troops to form a traditional wall formation! Damn it, I haven't charged in a wall formation for a long time."

Priest accompanying the army: “Do you want to blow the trumpet?”

"Of course, how can we not blow the trumpet when the cavalry is charging! Let the bugler blow louder!"

Soon, the 1st Cavalry Regiment of the 33rd Cavalry Division of the 20th Cavalry Corps formed two horizontal lines - this is the so-called wall formation. In this formation, the horses will be stimulated to race and start to move forward desperately. Rush, much braver than usual.

The most fearful thing when cavalry collide is that their own horses will faint first.

Gorokov shouted: "Blow the trumpet! Blow the trumpet!"

The six buglers of the whole regiment picked up the trumpets together and blew the horns for the cavalry attack.

The wall formation moved across the grassland, gradually accelerating towards the enemy, literally pressing across the grassland like a steamroller.

The Prosen cavalry also showed its outline on the grassland. They also formed a wall formation, and the two sides faced each other and gradually accelerated——

Whichever horse falters first will lose.

This is a cavalry duel method that has been passed down from the era of the conqueror's line infantry more than a hundred years ago!

The mount under Gorokov's crotch became more and more excited as it ran, and its speed became faster and faster!

However, the entire wall formation was accelerating, so Gorokov did not break out of the formation!

There are only one hundred meters left!

Gorokov picked up the wave sand and started splashing water. The people around him also followed suit. The storm fired by the submachine gun instantly swept through Prosen's cavalry array.

The Proson cavalry, equipped only with rifles, were caught off guard and fell in large numbers.

The confidence of the horses, which was built on the wall formation, collapsed in an instant, and all the horses carrying the knights fled in all directions.

Gorokov: "Get rid of them! Don't let any of them escape! Charge! For Mother Ant! For His Majesty the Tsar! For Rokossov! Ura!"

"Ura!" With the deafening sound of Ura, the cavalry rolled across the grassland and overwhelmed the enemy with overwhelming force.