Red Moscow

The reconnaissance team was very efficient, and sent back a lot of reconnaissance information the next night.

Based on this information, Sokov knew that an armored regiment of the Imperial Division was now stationed in Rockinsick Town, north of the Red Army Village, and controlled more than a dozen villages around the town; two regiments of the Skeleton Division were stationed in the northwest. Controlled more than 20 settlements and villages.

After listening to the reconnaissance director's report, Sokov asked back: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, according to your reconnaissance, how did the enemies stationed in these places get replenished?"

"According to our reconnaissance," upon hearing Sokov's question, the head of the reconnaissance quickly replied, "The supply of the Imperial Division comes from the direction of Barvinkovo. The supply of the Skeleton Division comes from Bav in the northwest direction." Logler."

After knowing the supply route of the two German troops, Sokov nodded slightly, and said again: "Go ahead."

"The Germans' supplies to the left bank of the Dnieper River are transported through two routes." The director of reconnaissance pointed to the map and introduced to Sokov and Vitkov: "One is through the first route in Dnepropetrovsk. The Dnieper Bridge transports supplies to Pavlograd, and then transfers them to Igyum and Barvenkovo ​​respectively. The other one is the Dnieper Bridge in Zaporozhye, which transports supplies..."

Witkov saw that Sokov asked very carefully about the German army's transportation line, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, are you planning to cut off the German army's supply line?"

"That's right, because our material reserves are insufficient, there are not many troops involved in the battle, and it is unlikely to encircle the enemy. Therefore, we can only attack the transportation line to cut off the German army's supplies."

"According to the information we have, due to the major counter-offensive carried out by our army some time ago, the guerrillas who were active in the enemy's rear basically joined forces with the main force and were incorporated into various units." Vitkov reminded Soko Fu said: "Therefore, I think it is unrealistic to use guerrillas to harass the German army's transportation lines."

If the troops were located in Russia, Sokov would have some sense in his request to the guerrillas to harass the German transportation line, but the composition of the guerrillas in Ukraine is complex, even if you know that there are several guerrillas in the rear of the German army team, but how do you know whether he is pro-Soviet or pro-German?

Sokov didn't want to take risks, so he decided to solve the problem of disturbing the German transportation line by himself. He said to Witkov: "Chief of Staff, our reconnaissance team that goes deep behind enemy lines, are we carrying new rockets?"

"No." Vitkov shook his head and said, "In order to obtain information from the German army as soon as possible, the scouts we sent were all lightly armed and only carried some conventional weapons."

Knowing that the scouts were all lightly armed and carried some conventional weapons, Sokov was somewhat disappointed. This kind of equipment is fine against lone enemies, but once they encounter organized enemies, they will have to flee for their lives. He thought for a while, and told Witkov: "Chief of Staff, you immediately call the division commanders of the first echelon, and ask them to send sabotage teams to the enemy, carrying more new rockets, to attack the German transportation lines. We cannot allow the enemy to smoothly transport supplies to the front.”

"Comrade Commander, the sabotage team we send can only carry a small number of rockets each time, and they are far away from the target area." Witkov said worriedly: "I'm afraid it will be difficult to achieve the desired results."

"Now we can only treat a dead horse as a living horse doctor," Sokov said with a sigh, "In fact, there is a better way, which can destroy the enemy's communication lines. But in the current situation, I can only think about it. But it’s hard to put it into practice.”

Lunev, who was silent all the time, couldn't help but interjected when he heard Sokov say this: "Comrade commander, what solution are you talking about, why don't you tell us. Maybe I have a solution that can solve your problem." There's no question."

Sokov knew very well in his heart that even in Lunev's capacity, it would be very difficult to meet his own conditions. But it would be worth it if I could pass him and feed back my thoughts. Sokov said: "If the superior is willing to send out the air force to carry out uninterrupted bombing of the German army's transportation line, then the German army that is confronting us will not be able to obtain enough supplies, and our attack will be very beneficial to us at that time." .”

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, he was refuted by Witkov: "Comrade Commander, I think it is a waste to dispatch the air force to bomb the German transportation line."

"Why?" Sokov asked a little puzzled.

"Comrade commander, think about it, our bomber formation needs at least 12 aircraft in three or four formations for each attack?" Witkov said to Sukov: "If it is bombing a fixed target, then consume some Ammunition and fuel are still acceptable. But we don’t know when the German transport convoy appears every day and how large it is. If you dispatch several times in a row and you don’t even see the enemy’s transport convoy, I’m afraid you will be ashamed Ask Commander Rokossovsky to help us contact the Air Force."

Sokov still agrees with Witkov's statement. He knew very well that unless he accurately provided the location of the German transport team before requesting the air force to dispatch, the air force could carry out effective bombing. If they just blindly ask the other side to send out bombers to search for the enemy's transport convoy, those air force pilots will not disobey the order, but they will not pay too much attention when looking for the attack target.

Just when Sokov was wondering whether he should call Rokossovsky and ask him to contact the Air Force for him, a staff officer came in and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, there are several Air Force officers outside. Commander wants to see you."

"The commander of the air force wants to see me?" Sokov couldn't help being stunned for a moment when he heard the report, thinking what the commander of the air force came to see him for? In order to find out what was going on, he quickly ordered the staff: "Please come in!"

Soon, four air force commanders followed the staff officer just now. They came to Sokov, raised their hands in salute, and reported their names, positions and military ranks in turn: "Comrade commander, hello, I am Colonel Nechepolenko, commander of the 202nd Division of the Bomber Air Force."

"I am Lieutenant Colonel Shalimov, political commissar of the 202nd Division of the Bomber Air Force."

"I am Colonel Nemtsevich, commander of the 205th Fighter Aviation Division."

"I am Lieutenant Colonel Ananiyev, political commissar of the 205th Fighter Aviation Division."

After listening to the report of the four, Sokov instinctively raised his hand to return the salute, and said with some puzzlement, "comrades, commanders, what are you doing here?"

Colonel Nechepolenko lowered his head and took out an envelope from his satchel, stepped forward and handed it to Sokov, and said with a smile: "Comrade Commander, after reading this official letter, you will understand what is going on. "

Confused, Sokov opened the envelope and took out the official letter inside. After reading the above content, the whole person was stunned, and saw that it said: "In order to effectively strengthen the air power of the Sixth Arms Combined Army, from now on, the 202nd Division of the Bomber Air Force and the 205th Division of the Fighter Air Force Division, assigned to your command. The inscription is Antonov, the deputy chief of the general staff."