Red Moscow

Before dawn, the reconnaissance team sent by the headquarters sent back accurate information. The German troops who set up an ambush on the west side of the No. 1 outpost, designated the 8th Armored Division, were equipped with 25 No. 4 tanks and 80 Panther tanks. , 30 assault guns and more than fifty armored vehicles.

Seeing the report sent by the Chief of Intelligence, Sokov nodded with satisfaction, and then said to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the scouts are very efficient. In such a short period of time, they not only figured out The numbers of the German armored divisions, and even the number of enemy tanks and assault guns are known so clearly.”

"Yeah," Sameko said approvingly, "this is a great scouting team."

When the chief of the reconnaissance heard that Sokov and Sameko were praising their subordinates, he couldn't help feeling complacent. Taking advantage of the two people's happiness, he tentatively asked: "Commander, Chief of Staff, I wonder if this reconnaissance team can be commended after this battle is over?"

"No problem." Sokov said carelessly: "They can get such important information, not to mention commending them, even if they are promoted to everyone's rank, I think they should be."

The reconnaissance chief was overjoyed by Sokov's words, and he quickly said: "Comrade commander, on behalf of the reconnaissance team, I would like to express my gratitude to you for giving them the honor they deserve."

"This is what they deserve," Sokov said: "After all, they have provided us with important information."

"Comrade Director of Reconnaissance," Sameko was not completely satisfied with the results of the reconnaissance team. He waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and asked the Director of Reconnaissance straightforwardly: "If the Air Force is dispatched immediately, can they support our team?" Did the bomber indicate a target?"

Regarding the question raised by Sameko, the director of reconnaissance thought for a while, nodded vigorously, and replied: "No problem, I can contact Sergeant Iva of the reconnaissance team and ask them to stay there and give instructions for the air force to attack." Target."

"Wait a minute, Comrade Chief." Sokov heard a name casually mentioned by the chief of reconnaissance, and interrupted him in time: "Who do you think is in charge of the reconnaissance team?"

"Sergeant Iva," replied the chief of reconnaissance, "he was originally a scout of the Fomenko Division, and because of his accurate reconnaissance of the enemy's defenses in the Svetlovodsk district, the Fomenko Division avoided Unnecessary losses. I called General Fomenko a few days ago and asked him to come over."

Sokov took a sip from the teacup on the table, smiled and said to the chief of the reconnaissance department: "It seems that General Fomenko is very generous, actually giving you such an excellent scout."

The head of the reconnaissance department said with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, in fact, General Fomenko is also reluctant. It was I who asked for this excellent scout in your name."

Sokov didn't expect the Director of Reconnaissance to be so bold. Under his own banner, he went to find the dignitaries of the troops below without authorization, and suddenly felt that the tea in his hand was not fragrant.

"Comrade Director," Sameko saw Sokov's discordant face, and hurried out to smooth things over: "Why don't you ask for instructions on this kind of thing?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff," said the Chief of the Reconnaissance Division with an aggrieved face: "When I contacted General Fomenko, we were on the train to Kremenchug, and there was no time to tell Comrade Commander..."

"Okay, okay, don't talk about it." Sokov put the teacup in his hand on the table, and interrupted the reconnaissance director's words again: "Since people are coming, let him stay in your room." Sergeant Iva has done a great job this time, remember to bring him to see me when he comes back. Do you understand?"

Hearing what Sokov said, the head of the reconnaissance department realized that the other party would not pursue such a trivial matter, and quickly replied loudly: "Understood, Comrade Commander. When he comes back, I will bring him to see you as soon as possible." .”

"There is nothing for you here, you go back first." Sameko waved his hand at the chief of the reconnaissance department, and said, "If you have any latest information, come and report to us."

After the chief of the reconnaissance department left, Sameko suggested to Sokov: "Comrade commander, since we have the most critical information, please see whether to report to the front army headquarters immediately, and ask the air force to dispatch as soon as possible to bomb the German army. 8th Armored Division?"

"I think it's okay, so let me report it myself." Although it was not yet dawn, Sokov thought it was a good opportunity to dispatch, so he agreed to Sameko's proposal and asked the director of the communications corps to help him receive the report. Passed the Front Army Command.

There was no war between the two sides at this moment, and it was the most leisurely time for the Front Army Command. Zakharov, who was on duty, was sleeping on the table. When he was sleeping the most soundly, he suddenly heard the ringing of the phone placed aside. As soon as the bell rang twice, Zakharov had already grabbed the microphone, put it against his ear, and said feebly, "I'm Zakharov!"

"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov's voice came from the receiver: "We have already figured out the number of the enemy's troops and the size of their troops..."

Hearing what Sokov said, Zakharov's drowsiness disappeared without a trace. He clamped the microphone with his shoulder, picked up the pen and paper on the table, "Comrade Sokov, please tell me , I am going to record."

"The German troops ambushing on the west side of the No. 1 outpost have been verified by our scouts to be the German 8th Armored Division." Sukov said clearly and slowly: "They are equipped with 25 No. 4 tanks, 80 Panther tanks and 30 assault guns, and more than fifty armored vehicles."

After recording what Sokov reported, Zakharov couldn't help taking a breath: "The enemy's scale is not small. If Solomatin's two brigades launch a counterattack after dawn as planned, once Entering the enemy's ambush circle, there is no possibility of escape. Comrade Sukov, you still have a keen eye, and you discovered the trap set by the Germans for our army in time, thus avoiding many unnecessary losses."

Sokov called Zakharov, not chatting with him, and quickly said: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, can the Air Force attack now?"

"Let the air force attack now?" Zakharov said in surprise: "It is still an hour before dawn, and our air force is attacking at this moment. After reaching the target, we can't see anything. How can we attack the ground target?"

"You can rest assured about this." Sokov said confidently: "The reconnaissance team we sent is now hiding in the location of the German 8th Armored Division. They will indicate the exact attack target for the Air Force."

Now that Sokov has said everything to this point, Zakharov knew that it would be inappropriate for him to refuse, so he said into the microphone: "Well, Comrade Sokov, I will immediately report to Goryunov. The general called and asked him to immediately dispatch the air force to launch an air strike against the German 8th Panzer Division."

Just when Zakharov was about to put down the phone, he suddenly remembered a key question, and asked quickly: "Comrade Sokov, after our air force arrives at the designated location, how will your scouts indicate the target for them to attack?"

"It's easy." Regarding Zakharov's worries, Sokov had already thought of a solution in his mind: "Our scouts hiding nearby will launch signal flares and flares into the air. The Air Force's bombers know that they have reached the target; the flares are designed to allow our pilots to see the targets on the ground clearly."

Seeing that Sokov had already considered all the issues that should be considered, Zakharov felt more relieved: "Well, I will call General Goryunov and ask him to dispatch the bomber formation immediately."

After Zakharov finished talking with Sokov, he immediately called the headquarters of the 5th Army of the Air Force. The phone also only rang twice, and an impatient voice came from the receiver: "I'm Goryunov, is this Chief of Staff Zakharov?"

"Yes, it's me." Zakharov asked with some surprise: "General Goryunov, how do you know it was me who called?"

"When you talked to me last time, didn't you say that you would call me again before dawn?" Goryunov on the other end of the phone said, "I guessed it might be you when I heard the phone ring. What? So, does the 27th Army have any further information?"

"You guessed it right, General Goryunov, I called you just to tell you that the latest information from the 27th Army has arrived." Zakharov told Goryunov what Sokov reported. After the report, Ryunov said: "Comrade Sokov hopes that your bomber formation can set off before dawn to bomb the enemy while they are still sleeping."

"My Comrade Chief of Staff," Goryunov cried bitterly after Zakharov finished speaking, "It is still more than an hour before dawn, and my plane only needs half an hour to reach the sky above the target." But if you can't see the attack target on the ground, it's useless to go there."

"You don't have to worry about this." Zakharov comforted Goliunov and said, "Comrade Sokov said that his scouts will lurk near the German 8th Armored Division, waiting for our bomber formation to enter the attack range." Afterwards, they fire flares and flares to indicate and illuminate the target for the Air Force to attack."

Knowing that Sokov had arranged a reconnaissance team to indicate the attack target for the bombing bomber, Goryunov hurriedly said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I immediately ordered the 132nd Division of the Bomber Air Force to take off and go to the direction of the landing field. The armored division launched an air strike."

"General Goryunov," Zakharov reminded the other party: "Although it is not yet dawn, the enemy's fighter jets cannot appear so soon, but I think you should send fighter jets to escort them to avoid accidents."

"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff." Goryunov originally thought that the bomber formation would bomb in the dark and then withdraw after the bombing was over. At that time, the German air force hadn't recovered, and it was too late to dispatch. It made no difference whether there was a fighter escort or not. of. But since Zakharov specifically ordered this matter, he had to pay attention: "I will send an independent fighter flight regiment to accompany the bomber formation to protect the safety of the bomber formation."

"Very good." Zakharov was very satisfied with Goryunov's arrangement: "Then I wish you brilliant results in advance and good luck!"

When the bombers of the 132nd Division of the Bomber Air Force took off one after another, completed formation in the air, and flew towards the landing field on the right bank, Sergeant Iva and his reconnaissance team had just received a telegram from the reconnaissance office.

After reading the telegram, Iva said to his subordinates: "Comrades, I just received a telegram from the reconnaissance office. Let us stay here and wait for our army's bomber formation to arrive and indicate the attack target for them."

"Comrade Sergeant," a soldier asked Sergeant Iva, "this place is full of darkness, how can we guide the air force to attack targets?"

"When we heard the bomber fleet approaching, we immediately fired signal flares into the sky to let the air force confirm the location of the attack." Sergeant Iva explained to everyone: "After they approached, we fired a few flare flares so that our pilots could See clearly the attack target on the ground."

The soldier continued to ask: "The enemy is scattered in several places. Which target should we let the air force attack first?"

"The first target to attack must be the German Panther tank. It can be said to be the nemesis of our T-34 tank. If we don't give priority to destroying them, our tank brigade will suffer a lot in the next battle. .”

"I think the artillery should be attacked first." Another soldier suddenly said, "You know, half of the more than 30 artillery pieces of the German army are heavy artillery. Once the enemy fires, it will cause huge casualties to our army."

Iva glanced at the soldier and said, "We want to attack the German artillery position as the last target. Because its movement is not as easy as tanks or assault guns, after our air force destroys all the tanks , it’s not too late to deal with it.”

Seeing that Iva had already considered the air force's attack sequence, the soldiers stopped talking and began to make preparations one after another. They could only guide them to attack targets as soon as the bomber fleet arrived.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, the roar of aircraft engines came from the air. Iva immediately became excited when he heard this sound, and he greeted his subordinates: "Comrades, our bomber fleet is here, everyone is ready!" Yet?"

"Ready, Comrade Sergeant." Several scouts replied neatly.

Iva listened carefully to the roar of the engines coming from the air, and felt that the distance was close, so he raised the flare gun in his hand, fired three blue flares into the air, and told the bombing fleet that the attack target was just around the corner. it's here.

After waiting for another two or three minutes, signal flares were raised in several different places at the same time, illuminating the attack targets on the ground for the bomber fleet entering the bombing area.

With the help of the light from the flares, the bombers in the air saw clearly the tanks and armored vehicles parked neatly below, and then swooped down one after another, dropping the bombs they carried.

As clusters of flames rose, the German tanks were shot one after another and burst into flames, burning and exploding on the spot. The awakened tank soldiers rushed out of the tent, trying to move their tanks to a safe place, but the aerial bombs falling from the sky made their attempt come to naught. Many tank soldiers were blown to death before they could get close to their tanks. No bones remained.

The Leopard tank was the first target of the bombers. After the first round of dive bombing, half of the tanks were burning, and the flames illuminated the tanks that had not been bombed. The pilots who completed the first round of dive-bombing pulled up their planes one after another. After circling in the air for a week, they swooped down again towards their target and dropped their aerial bombs on the still intact Leopard tank.