Red Moscow

Regardless of the fact that Sokov once commanded the 53rd Army, there are many people who disagree with him. In order to quickly establish his prestige, Sokov decided to start with the equipment of the troops. As long as the troops are equipped with excellent weapons, the chances of winning the battle will be greatly improved. Once a few victories are won, the impression of commanders at all levels will completely change.

To obtain weapons and equipment, the first person Sokov thought of was naturally Yakov. Although the desired equipment can be obtained according to the normal steps, the waiting time is very long, and the weapons and equipment obtained through Yakov can arm the army in a few days at most.

With the help of the director of the communications corps, the call was quickly connected.

"Yasha, it's me."

"It's Misha." Yakov on the other end of the phone was obviously absent-minded: "I called your home last night, why didn't anyone answer, where did you go?"

"I was at General Konev's headquarters last night."

"Oh, it turned out to be General Konev's headquarters." After Yakov said this casually, his whole body was shocked, and then he stood up suddenly from his seat and asked in surprise: "What, you At General Konev's headquarters? I said, why did you suddenly go to the front without making a sound?"

"Major General Tarasov, the commander of the 53rd Army, was injured and could no longer command the troops. General Konev applied to the Supreme Command for me to take over as the commander of the Army." Sokov explained: "Due to the military situation, Urgent, as soon as the appointment was approved by the Supreme Command, I flew to the front."

"I really didn't expect you to return to the front line so soon." Yakov said with emotion: "I thought that even if you finished your studies, you would have to wait a few more months before returning to the front line. By the way, call me What's up with the phone?"

After Yakov asked this question just now, before Sokov could answer, he guessed the answer: "Misha, you called me, isn't it because of weapons and equipment?"

Now that Yakov had already guessed his intention, Sokov did not hide it, but truthfully told the other party about the current equipment situation of his troops, and finally said: "Yasha, you have to help me this time." Otherwise, my troops will definitely be beaten to pieces by the Germans who broke out. To be honest, I have fought for so long, and I have never encountered a situation where the quality of soldiers is so poor, and the weapons and equipment are so bad..."

When Smirnov next to him heard Sokov talking about his troops, the muscles on his face couldn't help twitching violently. He deliberately reminded Sokov not to say that, so as not to damage the image of the troops. But just as he was about to move forward, he was stopped by Ponejelin, who shook his head at him, signaling not to disturb Sokov's call.

In order to find out what was going on, Smirnov pulled Ponegerin aside and asked in a low voice: "Old fellow Ponegerin, you heard how the commander commented on the troops, can't I remind him?" , so as not to damage the image of the troops?"

"Smirnov, you may have misunderstood the commander." Ponejielin explained: "Don't look at the commander saying that the troops are useless, but only through this miserable way can we get what we want. Weaponry."

"However, doing so may affect the image of our troops."

"Pull it down, Smirnov." Ponejielin said with a smile: "Comrade Commander is not a nonsense person, what he said today, if it is not an old friend like Colonel Yakov, it is It's not going to be said at all. It's just a joke among their friends and it won't have any adverse effect on the image of the troops."

Smirnov did not know Yakov's real identity, so he was skeptical of Ponegerin's statement: """Is it true?"

"Smirnov, you and I are old friends for ten or twenty years, and I don't want to hide some things from you." Ponegerin asked back: "Do you know who Yakov is?"

"Who is it?" Smirnov replied foolishly, "Isn't it a colonel in the weapons and equipment department? You know, the most common staff working there are field officers."

"But the identity of this school-level officer is not simple." Pornegerin looked around and saw that no one was paying attention to him, so he lowered his voice to Smirnov: "You may not know, but he is the Supreme Commander himself The eldest son Yakov. In the Armament Department, even Comrade Ustinov will give him three points. Although he is only a colonel now, he will become a general sooner or later."

"Ah, the commander is talking to the son of the Supreme Commander himself?" Smirnov was startled into a cold sweat: "My God, this is simply unbelievable."

"Although the identity of Colonel Yakov is not a secret in the Weapons and Equipment Department." After explaining Yakov's identity to Smirnov, Ponejielin specifically reminded the other party: "But here, we still need to be strict. It's confidential, so don't tell it."

When Pornedelin and Smirnov returned to the table, Sokov had finished his phone call and was sitting at the table in a daze. Pornegelin asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, have all the problems with weapons and equipment been resolved?"

Sokov looked up at Ponejielin standing in front of him, frowned and said: "Colonel Yakov promised to give me a batch of 75mm artillery, which can be transported to Height 239 as soon as this afternoon."

"75mm artillery?" Ponejielin said a little puzzled: "Our army uses 76.2mm artillery. Where did these 75mm artillery come from? Comrade Commander, Colonel Yakov will not Is it wrong data?"

"No, Major Ponegerin." Sokov shook his head and said, "When I first heard about the caliber of this artillery, I was also worried that he might have made a mistake. Wrong."

"But, what the hell is this 75mm gun?" Pornejelin continued: "I may have never added a gun of this caliber."

"Comrade Commander," Smirnov asked at this moment, "can you tell me the name of this artillery?"

"Call, call..." Hearing Smirnov's question, Sokov looked extremely embarrassed, because he didn't remember the name of that artillery at all.

Just as Sokov was in a dilemma, Smirnov asked again: "Comrade Commander, are these 75mm guns Bofors field guns produced by Sweden?"

Smirnov's words reminded Sokov. He nodded vigorously, and then said: "That's right, that's the name Yakov said. Why, Comrade Chief of Staff, what do you think about this kind of field artillery?" Do you also understand?"

"Comrade Commander," Smirnov did not answer the question immediately, but asked instead: "Do you know what position I held at the beginning of the war?"

"I know, I know." Sokov still knows Smirnov's resume very well: "In the early days of the war, you were the principal of the Podolsk Infantry School. At that time, the German armored column bypassed our army's defense line, along The road went straight to Moscow, and it was you who led the cadets to block the attack, which slowed down the speed of the enemy's advance to the capital, and enabled our army to use this precious time to build a sufficient number of fortifications."

Seeing that Sokov knew so much about his past history, although Smirnov tried his best to control his emotions, the slightly upturned corners of his mouth still revealed his true inner thoughts. "Comrade Commander, you must know that the students I commanded at that time were not only infantrymen, but also students of the Artillery Academy, so I have a little understanding of artillery common sense."

"tell me the story."

"This 75mm Bofors field gun is produced by the Bofors factory in Sweden."

Seeing Sokov's bewildered expression, Smirnov began to educate him: "Comrade Commander, the Bofors company that produces this kind of field gun is indeed not well-known. It is just a Swedish company that produces artillery. Enterprise. However, it has a long history. It was a company acquired by Nobel in order to change the backwardness of military production in the motherland. But half a century after the establishment of this company, the scale was not large, and only produced a small amount steel and explosives."

Taking advantage of Smirnov's time to teach Sokov, Ponejielin poured a cup of hot tea, put it in front of Sokov, and said politely: "Comrade Commander, please drink tea!"

"Bofors started to produce artillery after the end of World War I." Smirnov said: "At that time, Germany, a defeated country, was restricted by the Treaty of Versailles, and military industrial enterprises could only produce light weapons, not even heavy machine guns. Production, let alone production of artillery. At that time, the German artillery giant Krupp was in danger of going bankrupt because it could not produce artillery. At this time of survival, some shareholders suggested that they could adopt cooperation with military enterprises in other countries Collaborate in such a way that the business can continue to sustain itself.

When choosing a partner country, Krupp first thought of Sweden, because this country had a good relationship with Germany during World War I, and even secretly helped them do a lot of things. Therefore, under the coordination of relevant parties, Krupp found the Swedish Bofors company and proposed cooperation.

The way of cooperation is very simple: Krupp provides all research data and technical personnel, and allows Bofors to share. But Bofors is not allowed to monopolize the success of the research, and needs to provide venues, equipment and skilled workers, etc.

With the full support of Krupp, the production level of Bofors has naturally improved by leaps and bounds, and it has become a first-class military enterprise in Europe in a short period of time. They have produced various types of artillery. In addition to the famous 40mm anti-aircraft gun, there are also 75mm field artillery mountain guns, 155mm howitzers, etc., which can be regarded as very classic weapons and equipment.

The Bofors 75mm field guns are all 22 times the diameter. They can fire grenades and armor-piercing projectiles. The maximum range reaches 9 kilometers. The maximum penetration depth of 500 meters using armor-piercing projectiles also reaches about 30mm. The cadets under my command used a Bofors field gun to destroy at least fifteen German Panzer III tanks at a distance of 300 to 500. "

Originally, Sokov dismissed this Bofors field artillery, but after listening to Smirnov's narration, he realized that he had picked up a treasure. Using such artillery to equip the divisional artillery regiment, whether it is offensive or Defense can achieve good results. He loved to make a decision in an instant: "Yakov said that the artillery was seized from the occupied German warehouse, and there is no sign of use. Anyway, it will be sent directly to Heights 239 later, and they will all be used. Equip the artillery regiment of the 41st Guards Division, and when the German army breaks out to the south, they can put these field guns on the high ground and cover the German army breaking through with firepower."

Seeing that Sokov decided to allocate all the Bofors field guns to the 41st Guards Division, he tentatively asked: "Comrade Commander, do you know how many field guns there are? What is the ammunition base for each gun? "

"I don't know." When Sokov talked to Yakov just now, he was somewhat uncomfortable when he learned that the other party planned to give him such a cannon whose name he had never heard of. Naturally, he would not ask about the quantity and equipment of the cannon Ammunition situation. Hearing Smirnov ask at this moment, he replied with some embarrassment: "I forgot to ask."

Smirnov just smiled and said, "It's okay, I'll call the 41st Guards Division and get them ready to receive it."

Seeing that Smirnov was going to pick up the phone, Sokov remembered a key question: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I want to ask you something."

"what's up?"

"Who is the commander and political commissar of the 41st Guards Division now?"

"The division commander is Major General Kurishenko, and the political commissar is Colonel Afanasy." Smirnov also specifically emphasized: "These two commanders were transferred to the 41st Guards Division after the Battle of Kursk. .”

"Oh, I see."

The enthusiastic Smirnov also asked: "In addition, the commanders of the 122nd, 124th and 126th Guards Regiment, and the 89th Guards Artillery Regiment, do you need me to report the list to you?"

"No, no, no." Sokov waved his hands and said, "I just arrived in the army, so I can recognize the commanders at the division level. I can't remember the commanders at the regiment level. I'll wait until I get used to it for a while." After time, slowly introduce the regimental commander to me."

But Sokov regretted it as soon as he finished saying this sentence. If it was another division, it is understandable for him to say so, but the 41st Guards Division is also regarded as his old subordinate. How can he be so indifferent?

Wanting to understand this, he quickly asked, "Who is the chief of staff of the division today?"

"The chief of staff of the division is Sidolin!" Smirnov replied: "He is a very good staff officer, who was promoted to the rank of colonel not long ago."

"Comrade Chief of Staff." Upon hearing Sidolin's name, Sokov felt very relieved. This commander died in the early stages of the Stalingrad Defense War, but now he is still alive because of his own reasons. Live well. If his luck is good enough, there is no problem in surviving to win the war. "I very much agree with you. Sidolin is indeed a very good staff member. It would be a bit too condescending for him to be the division chief of staff."

Smirnov knew that Sidolin had fought side by side with Sokov and had a deep friendship in battle. Since the other party said so, he must have wanted to arrange a suitable position for Sidolin, so he asked quickly: "Commander Comrade, where do you plan to place him?"

"There is an intelligence department under the group army. If possible, arrange for him to be the chief of the department."