Red Moscow

"When it's just dark, the Germans are most vigilant. Don't go into the water at this time, otherwise our scouts will be discovered by the enemy before they get close to the river." Dobrushin told the third battalion Long analyzed: "The best time to go into the water should be from 10:30 to 11:00. At this time, the Germans should be very tired. Most of them will choose to go back to the shelter to rest. The scouts go into the water at this time to reduce exposure. risks of."

If you want to cross the river to reconnaissance on the other side, the two links of scouts entering and exiting the water are the easiest to expose. In order to reduce the risk of scouts being exposed, the commander of the third battalion said to Dobrushin after some thought: "Comrade brigade commander, I have a method that may reduce the risk of scouts being exposed when entering and exiting the water."

"What way, tell me quickly!"

"The Germans are on the opposite bank. There is a watchtower every 200 meters with searchlights on it." The third battalion commander said, "Can we send sharpshooters to destroy the enemy's searchlights before we move..."

"No, we absolutely can't do this." Before the third battalion commander finished speaking, Dobrushin interrupted him, "If we really send sharpshooters to destroy our own searchlights before we take action, doesn't it mean telling The enemy, say that we are ready to take action, so that the enemy will surely strengthen the defense along the coast, so that our scouts cannot go to the opposite bank."

"Comrade Brigadier, you misunderstood me." The third battalion commander quickly pointed to the simple map on the table, and explained to Dobrushin: "For example, our scouts want to cross the river from here, then we A good sharpshooter can knock out the searchlights in several places nearby, which will confuse the enemy as to what we are going to do, so that our scouts can cross the river safely."

"Comrade Major," Dobrushin shook his head after patiently listening to the proposal of the third battalion commander, "I don't think your method is advisable. Once you shoot, the enemy will be alarmed. In order to prevent our troops from infiltrating, They will certainly strengthen the defense of the river bank, and then it will be very difficult for our scouts to get to the opposite bank."

Dobrushin rejected the proposal of the third battalion commander, and assigned him a task: "You form a reconnaissance team as soon as possible, and after ten o'clock in the evening, find a way to cross the river from the bottom of the water and get into the enemy's defense area, but find out their strength. Deployment situation. If possible, it is best to get a map of the German army's deployment."

After accepting the task, the commander of the third battalion immediately returned to the battalion, selected six scouts with good water skills and rich combat experience, and said to them: "Comrades, we have received orders from our superiors to sneak into the German army on the other side tonight. Conduct reconnaissance of the positions and find out the enemy's defense situation."

Hearing what the third battalion commander said, Sergeant Fraser, who led the team, felt his eyes light up and asked tentatively, "Comrade battalion commander, are we going to attack Belgorod?"

"Attacking Belgorod is certain, but before attacking, we must first figure out the enemy's strength and defense situation, so that our artillery can destroy as many enemy fortifications and wipe out as much as possible in the artillery preparations before the attack. Their offensive power." The commander of the third battalion said to Fraser, "You have a heavy burden on your shoulders."

"Please rest assured, battalion commander," Fraser said as soon as the third battalion commander finished speaking, "We will definitely not meet your expectations of us and successfully complete the tasks assigned to us by our superiors."

After hearing Fraser's statement, the commander of the third battalion asked casually, "Are there any difficulties?"

"Comrade Battalion Commander, I would like to ask, where do we cross the river to the other side?" Fraser, as a scout, naturally knows all about the enemy's situation on the river outside Belgorod: The blockade is very tight, in addition to searchlights and patrol boats, flares are fired from time to time, and any movement on the river cannot escape the eyes of the enemy."

"Sergeant Fraser, your superiors have considered your concerns." The commander of the third battalion explained to Fraser in detail how to use the improved gas mask as diving equipment to cross the river from the bottom of the river. Finally, he said: "Don't worry, you are not fighting alone. Before departure, I will personally lead someone to the river to cover you."

When the reconnaissance team set off, the commander of the third battalion did fulfill his promise. With two heavy machine guns and a mortar, he established a cover position on a slope more than 50 meters away from the river.

Fraser looked at the surrounding environment and felt that it was very appropriate for the battalion commander to set up a cover here. It is not more than 300 meters away from the German position on the opposite bank, so it is not easy to be discovered by the enemy. Once the German firepower is found to fire, heavy machine guns and mortars can suppress the enemy in a short time.

The commander of the third battalion held Fraser's hand and said to him, "Comrade sergeant, be careful, I'll wait for your safe return!"

"Comrade battalion commander, don't worry, we will all return safely."

"When you get to the other side, remember to send a signal to let me know that you have reached the other side safely." After explaining the tasks that should be explained, the commander of the third battalion patted Fraser on the shoulder with his left hand and said, "It's time." ,lets go."

"Yes!" Fraser raised his hand to salute the commander of the third battalion, then turned and said to the team members standing beside him, "Let's go!"

Although it was only 50 meters from the cover position to the river, in order to prevent being discovered by the enemy, Fraser and the others naturally couldn't swagger past, so everyone adopted a prostrate posture and moved towards the river with hands and feet.

Seeing the six scouts crawling into the water like frogs, the commander of the third battalion turned around and said to the second lieutenant who was in charge of the cover: "Comrade second lieutenant, please pay attention to the situation on the other side of the river. If they are spotted by the enemy, use mortars to attack them." Cannon and machine gun fire cover their retreat. As soon as they give the signal of a successful landing, come to the battalion command post and report to me."

Half an hour later, the second lieutenant came to the battalion command post and reported to the third battalion commander: "Comrade battalion commander, the scouts have safely reached the opposite bank and sent us a signal back."

Knowing that the reconnaissance team had successfully landed, the commander of the third battalion couldn't help feeling ecstatic, but just to be on the safe side, he asked, "Comrade Second Lieutenant, are you sure it was the signal from the reconnaissance team?"

"Yes, Comrade Battalion Commander." The second lieutenant replied in an affirmative tone: "The other party sent a signal with a flashlight covered in a red cloth, one long and two short, and after an interval of 30 seconds, he sent it again. Confirmed, it is the signal sent by our reconnaissance team."

"Thank you, Comrade Second Lieutenant." After expressing his gratitude to the second lieutenant, the commander of the third battalion continued: "You continue to stay by the river to monitor the movement on the other side. If the reconnaissance team encounters any danger, you are responsible for covering them to evacuate safely. .”

After dismissing the second lieutenant, the commander of the third battalion picked up the phone and wanted to report to Dobrushin that the reconnaissance team had successfully landed on the opposite shore. But as soon as he put the microphone to his ear, he realized that it might be more appropriate to report such important information to Dobrushin in person, so he left his command post and rushed to the brigade headquarters, preparing to report to Dobrushin .

Walking into the semi-underground earthen shelter, the third battalion commander saw Dobrushin standing at the door with his back behind his back, so he called out loudly: "Comrade Brigadier, can you come in?"

Dobrushin turned around, nodded to the third battalion commander, and said, "Come in, Comrade Major!"

"Comrade Brigadier!" The third battalion commander took two steps forward, and then reported: "Please allow me to report to you about the reconnaissance team."

Unexpectedly, Dobrushin raised his hand to stop him and said, "Major, report to Comrade Commander."

Only then did the commander of the third battalion notice a young general sitting by the table, looking at him. This is the commander, Major General Sokov? The third battalion commander thought so, and his heart beat faster.

After taking a deep breath, he raised his hand to salute Sokov, and then reported clearly: "Comrade Commander, please allow me to report to you about the situation of the reconnaissance team."

"Please speak, Comrade Major." Sokov said very politely.

"The reconnaissance team successfully landed on the other side a few minutes ago and sent us a safe signal."

"Are you sure it's the signal from the reconnaissance team?" Sokov asked.

"Yes, Comrade Commander." The third battalion commander nodded vigorously, and replied in an affirmative tone: "According to the report, the signal from the other side is exactly the same as the signal we agreed in advance."

Sokov heard a key detail from the words of the third battalion commander: "Why, Comrade Major, you just listened to the report instead of seeing it with your own eyes?"

"Comrade Commander, please listen to my explanation." Seeing that Sokov frowned, the third battalion commander quickly explained: "I personally saw that the members of the reconnaissance team dived into the water before returning to my command. So. I set up a cover position fifty meters away from the river, and deployed two heavy machine guns and a mortar. Able to use machine gun and mortar fire to cover the safe evacuation of the squad."

A smile appeared on Sokov's face again: "Comrade Major, it seems that you are very thoughtful. You actually placed heavy machine guns and mortars on the river bank to cover the safety of the reconnaissance team."

After saying these few words, Sokov turned his head and said to Dobrushin: "Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin, your subordinates are very thoughtful. Before I came here, I was worried that after the reconnaissance team landed. , may be in trouble because of being discovered by the enemy. But I didn't expect your subordinates to deploy a cover position in advance, so that even if something unexpected happens, I believe that the reconnaissance team can withdraw safely."