Arc of Gunfire

Chapter 580 "Ending Everything with Honor" (Update 34/81)

December 21, Eagle's Nest.

The Supreme Command of Proson continued to hold a countermeasure meeting.

"So what do you think about Ante's new tank?" The emperor looked at everyone at the meeting one by one, "The front line said it was immune to all our main anti-tank guns, and in the end it was barely blocked by 105mm anti-aircraft guns. But the entire army has less than 1,000 105mm anti-aircraft guns."

The president of the Imperial Academy of Sciences said: "We are studying..."

"Don't say something that takes a year or two to research, I want something that can be pulled to the front line right now for emergency!" The emperor interrupted the old scientist.

The dean and several doctors attending the meeting looked at each other in bewilderment. At this time, General Moltke, the director of armored forces, raised his hand: "Your Majesty, we do have a product that can be pulled out immediately for emergency use. It uses the chassis of the Panzer IV tank, equipped with a 52-caliber 105mm anti-tank gun, and two prototypes have been manufactured."

"Oh?" The emperor was excited, "Where are they now?"

General Moltke: "Both vehicles participated in the Battle of Barbarossa, one was damaged, and the other was transported back to the Krupp Arsenal and may be placed in the exhibition hall."

The emperor: "Produce it immediately! Ante's new tank is probably not in mass production yet. We will produce it first and send it to the front line. This time we can catch them off guard!

"Also, the Panzer VI that was beaten back to a redesign can no longer be equipped with the 88 gun. Isn't there a ready-made 105 gun? Use it!"

"Uh..." Moltke hesitated, and said, "The new plan for the Panzer VI should also have better armor-piercing capabilities if the 88 gun is lengthened. In addition, the 70-caliber 75mm gun of the Type 5 tank being tested should also be..."

"Since there is a 105mm anti-tank gun, then improve it on the basis of the 105mm!" The emperor interrupted the director of armored forces.

General Moltke surrendered: "You are right. Now we can start producing the Big Max by slightly improving the production line. When testing it on the battlefield before, we found many defects in it, so Krupp improved the design, but did not continue to manufacture new prototypes. I think we can directly manufacture new prototypes."

Emperor: "Let's do it this way. We must seize the initiative this time. Also, how is the effect of the new magnetic anti-tank grenade?"

Marshal Celtic and Marshal Bryan both looked embarrassed.

Emperor: "Just say whatever you want to say."

Marshal Bryan: "The new grenade is too heavy, and if you want to attach it to the tank, you can't throw it. Soldiers need to rush to the front of the tank with such a heavy object, suck it up, and then pull the string and run away... The requirements for soldiers are too high.

"Frontline soldiers prefer simple and reliable Molotov cocktails to this."

The emperor and the designer who created this thing were both frozen.

Designer: "You actually said this thing is not as good as a simple Molotov cocktail? This is an advanced weapon that uses a shaped charge warhead! We tried to use a rifled gun to fire a shaped charge armor-piercing projectile before, and found that the result was very unsatisfactory.

"Because the warhead fired by a rifled gun will rotate, when it hits the armor, it will produce all kinds of relative states due to this rotation, so the armor-piercing effect of the shaped charge warhead is also extremely random.

"That's why we designed the magnetic suction head, so that when the warhead explodes, it will be in a relatively stable state relative to the armor, and can stably penetrate the armor of the designed thickness!"

Marshal Brian: "I don't understand design, but the front line said that this thing is not easy to use. They also said that the Ants never used it after they captured it. They would rather throw incendiary bombs."

The designer blushed: "This... this is them..."

Emperor: "The front line feedback is not easy to use, so you should find a way to improve the design. I haven't heard of any country in the world using the shaped charge warhead. This is a good opportunity to highlight the strength of our Proson technology! Seize it well."

The designer who was arrogant just now immediately nodded like pounding garlic.

Emperor: "Currently, there are only eight new heavy tanks and new assault guns confirmed by the front line, which can only play a local tactical role. In addition, there are reports that the shooting tracks and shooting turret seats are effective, so it is not completely impossible to deal with.

"The problem now is how we can defend Shepetovka. "

Marshal Brian: "Shepetovka has a lot of permanent fortifications built when the Ants were stationed. Unless the Ants can mass-produce that new assault gun, it is basically impossible to take Shepetovka.

"I actually don't quite understand Rokossov's motive for choosing this place as a target."

After a day of discussion yesterday, Brian, Celtic and other senior imperial officers have accepted Rokossov's conclusion that he intends to attack Shepetovka, or rather, pretend to accept it.

"Of course, it is to catch us off guard." The emperor's mouth corners slightly raised, "Everyone will be arrogant. He was dazzled by his previous series of deceptions and began to become paranoid. He deliberately used unexpected tricks to trick us. This time he will get a bloody head, and his myth will be shattered!"

After speaking, the emperor laughed, and everyone laughed with him.

After laughing, the emperor continued: "Of course, we must be careful not to let his feint attack troops take Borsk. We also need to pretend to be fooled, so I plan to withdraw the 11th Army from Army Group A to return to Borsk for defense."

Marshal Brian's smile froze: "What? Withdraw an army? Then do we still need to attack the mountain pass?"

Emperor: "It's winter now, and many places in the mountains are blocked by heavy snow. The enemy's mountain front's supply situation will deteriorate, and they will not launch an attack at this time.

"Just set up defenses along the ridge line, and wait for a new summer campaign next year, and we can control the White Sea coast in one fell swoop."

The generals looked at each other.

Emperor: "Moreover, the 11th Army has been fighting since the Battle of Primorsky Krai. It's time to rest. With them in Borsk, even if Rokossov really attacks Borsk with his entire army, it is unlikely to be completely captured."

Marshal Celtic: "That's the truth, but in this way, isn't it equivalent to us setting up defenses in both directions? It's just that the reserve troops of the headquarters were not mobilized in the Borsk direction."

Emperor: "Isn't this the safest way? Or do you have more good ideas?"

Gil Ace: "I have no objection to this plan. But...the losses in episode 11 are really huge, and they haven't received enough reinforcements. If Rokosov really hits them with a right hook, can they really stop it? "

The emperor thought for a while and said, "Then let Shiplin command his old troops! He failed to rescue the Sixth Army, so let him redeem himself this time - I mean, if Rokosov hits him with a right hook."

Gil Es still looked worried: "Even if we send excellent generals, it's hard for a good cook to cook without rice. We still have to give him some new troops, even a division!"

The emperor did not answer his best friend, but Marshal Celtic spoke up: "All the new divisions formed by the empire in the second half of the year have been sent to the front line, and the remaining divisions are still in training. The headquarters still has the last division. If it is sent out, Proson will really have no soldiers to fight. "

The marshal did not continue to speak. If he continued, the words between the lines would be filled with the three words "total mobilization", which was a bit too rude to His Majesty the Emperor who insisted on not mobilizing.

The emperor had a gloomy face: "We can withdraw an armored division from the Western Front to the Eastern Front and hand it over to Shiplin. However, we can't take this risk. Once the Allies land in Carolingia, they can directly threaten our hinterland. No, I can't take this risk. "

Silence fell directly on the conference table.

At this moment, everyone felt very unbearable.

The emperor suddenly stood up and sighed: "Two months ago, our army was still marching forward, as if victory was within reach, and the enemy collapsed and was defeated.

"At that time, I flew to the front line in person, met Admiral Frederick, met the soldiers who made meritorious contributions in the battle, and swore an oath with them.

"The scene of all things competing for vitality is still in front of us. In just two months, Nanant has changed and become the burial place of the empire? "

Marshal Celtic and Marshal Brian looked at each other.

General Moltke, who had always been favored, and Grand Duke Meyer, Marshal of the Air Force, both lowered their heads and remained silent.

The emperor continued: "Ever since this Rokosov appeared in our war reports, the empire has suffered again and again because of him! He is just the last one! As a result, none of you officers of the Wehrmacht with excellent grades can beat him!

"One by one, you have all been defeated by him! You can't even beat the last one, and the entire Proson military education system has lost face because of you!"

Gil Es said: "Your Majesty, our continuous failures are not entirely due to Rokosov's credit. In fact..."

Even Gil Es didn't dare to say this.

- In fact, the failure of the Proson Empire may have been doomed at the moment of attacking Ante.

The emperor turned his head and looked at Giles: "I know what you want to say. Don't mention these useless things. Let's think about how to end this decently under the current circumstances."

The generals all noticed that the emperor no longer desired victory.

His goal now has become "end this decently."

Everyone present felt sad at this moment.

Including the emperor himself.