Red Moscow

When all the troops had withdrawn to Mamayev Post, the three regiment leaders all came to the headquarters and reported to Sokov the fighting situation of their regiment.

After waiting for Sokov to shake hands with the three commanders, Ivanov said from the side: "Comrade commander, we don't have any heavy weapons except for the MG34 machine gun and the Maxim heavy machine gun. See if you can find the superior Need some equipment?"

"Comrade Commander," Sidolin asked Sokov tentatively after Ivanov finished speaking, "Aren't you familiar with Colonel Bely? Let him send some tanks over and let us arrange them on the high ground Is it used as a fixed turret?"

"I'm afraid it won't work." Sokov rejected Sidolin's proposal without hesitation: "Our tank's depression angle is not enough. Don't think its elevation angle can be used as an anti-aircraft gun, but it is really placed on Mamayev Hill. , but could not hit the enemy at the foot of the mountain, but let the tanks be placed here as the enemy's target."

"We lack heavy weapons," Ivanov said, frowning. "If we want to fight defensively, we will suffer a lot."

"Comrade Deputy Division Commander is right." As soon as Ivanov finished speaking, the three regiment leaders agreed: "If our troops have more heavy firepower in daytime battles, the enemy will pay more price."

"We used to have a new type of rocket, which was very effective against the enemy's tanks and infantry." Sidolin said with great regret: "Unfortunately, in the previous battle, this new type of rocket has been exhausted. gone."

Ivanov once heard Sokov mention this kind of rocket in private, and now he heard Sidolin mention it again, and couldn't help asking: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you really used up that new type of rocket? No hair left?"

Sidolin shook his head and replied with a wry smile: "Comrade deputy division commander, if we still had rockets, when the Romanian army attacked Beigang a few days ago, our sailors and soldiers would not have bayoneted the enemy. Only a few days Send rockets to the past, and all the enemies crowded together will be wiped out."

"What a pity, what a pity!" After hearing this, Ivanov couldn't help shaking his head and said, "Since there is no strong defensive firepower, there may be hand-to-hand combat with the enemy in the next battle."

Speaking of defensive warfare, Sokov couldn't help but think in his heart, since Yakov couldn't send the new rockets for the time being, maybe he should be taken out by another amazing weapon to let the Germans try it out. Thinking of this, he looked up at Ivanov and Sidolin and said, "Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff, I have thought of a weapon that is no less powerful than the new rockets we use."

Hearing what Sokov said, Sidolin couldn't help showing a confused expression on his face. He frowned and asked, "Comrade commander, we really have such weapons, why didn't I know?"

"It's normal that you don't know," Sokov felt complacent when he thought that this earthen equipment, which came out a few years later, could be brought to this world in advance to exert its power through his own hands: "Because I haven't used it yet. Made it."

Knowing that this powerful weapon has not yet been manufactured, the hopeful Ivanov suddenly smiled bitterly like a deflated ball: "Comrade commander, we are discussing how to defend, this is not a joke. when."

"Why, you don't believe me?" Sukov didn't expect Ivanov to suspect that he was bragging, and said quickly: "This thing is very simple to make, as long as there are enough materials, it only takes a few hours to make it." Hundreds of them. When the enemy attacks, we can blow up the enemy to ashes as soon as we launch it."

"Okay, Comrade Commander, don't fool us." Ivanov said anxiously, "Tell me quickly, what kind of weapon is it, and how to make it?"

"It's very simple. We just need to find some empty oil drums as launchers." Sokov picked up a pen and paper and began to draw a sketch. Ivanov and others hurried over and carefully observed the sketch drawn by Sokov. Sokov explained to them while drawing: "...the principle of shooting is similar to that of old-fashioned artillery. After filling the oil barrel with propellant, put the explosive package bundled into a disc shape into it, and then ignite the propellant. Can throw dynamite packets..."

Sokov finished drawing the picture, looked up at Ivanov and Sidolin, and asked, "What do you think?"

"Can this work?" Don't look at what Sokov said just now, but Ivanov still has no idea in his heart. He tentatively asked: "What if our soldiers detonate the propellant inside when they ignite the propellant at the bottom?" Wouldn’t the explosives cause huge casualties to our own people?”

"Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Commander." Sokov had carefully observed the structure of this "flying thunder cannon" when he visited the military museum in his previous life, and he knew the way of making it very well. Knowing that the explosives ejected from the oil drum will cause huge damage to the enemy's infantry, fortifications, tanks, etc., so the enemy even gave it the nickname "unconscionable gun" with fear. "I am confident that this improvised weapon can inflict great casualties on the enemy."

"Comrade deputy division commander," Sidolin saw that Ivanov still had a disbelieving expression on his face, and quickly chimed in, "You may not know that the new rockets we used some time ago were designed and developed by the division commander. Developed."

Sidolin's words changed Ivanov's view of Sokov. He looked at Sokov in surprise and said, "I really didn't expect Comrade Commander to be able to design weapons. Then I want to ask you, are you going to use How heavy is the explosive package fired by the oil drum, and how far is the range?"

"At least ten kilograms of explosives are needed." Sokov replied without hesitation: "As for the range, according to my calculations, it can reach a distance of 150 to 200 meters."

After listening to Sokov's words, Ivanov showed a pleasant expression on his face: "Comrade commander, if this weapon is really as powerful as you said, we can attack the attacking enemy on the top of the hill. Fire them, and drain them of their vital energy. By the way, what are you going to call this weapon?"

"Flying Thunder Cannon." Sokov didn't want to use the name "Unconscionable Cannon", so he used the commonly used name: "Do you think this name is nice?"

"Sounds good!" Sidolin nodded, and asked thoughtfully: "Comrade commander, I don't understand why you spend so much effort on designing such a simple yet powerful weapon. What about the development of new rockets?"

"Chief of staff, the reason is very simple." Sokov knew that if he didn't explain it clearly to Sidolin, there would always be a knot in his heart: "The aim of this flying thunder cannon is too low, but it is used as a launcher when it is fired. The gasoline barrel in the barrel will also roll over, causing the ejected explosive package to not fly very far."

After Sokov's explanation, Sidolin's face showed a sudden realization. He felt that what the teacher said made sense. Using gasoline barrels to launch explosives temporarily is not very reliable, and the accuracy is also the reason. Inevitably.

"If we want to use the Thunder Cannon, we need a lot of explosives." Sokov looked at the three regiment leaders and asked, "Which regiment leader is willing to take people to the Red October factory to get enough explosives back?" ?”

"I'll go, I'll go..." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, the three regiment leaders rushed to carry out this task.

Sokov's eyes swept over the faces of the three of them one by one, and finally settled on Ershakov. He took a step forward, put his right hand on the opponent's left shoulder, and said: "Colonel Yershakov, this task is up to you to complete."

"Comrade commander, why is this?" Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko was not convinced when Sokov handed over the task to Yershakov: "Our regiment can also complete this task."

"Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko," Sokov turned to face Papchenko and said, "The reason why I gave the task to the 125th regiment is because they are stationed in Beigang, which is close to the Red October factory. It is more convenient to move supplies; Second, Lieutenant Colonel Ershakov’s troops once covered the retreat of the Gurdiyev Division and the Gorishny Division during the day, and he will definitely meet the commanders and fighters of these two divisions when he goes to the factory. Friendly forces The commanders and fighters will definitely thank Lieutenant Colonel Ershakov for covering their retreat, and will provide necessary assistance to our fighters when they move supplies."

When Papchenko heard what Sokov said, he immediately shut his mouth obediently. Among other things, just covering the retreat of the two divisions during the day was enough to make the commanders and fighters of the friendly army feel grateful to him. However, he didn't want to stay idle in Mamayev's post, so he took the initiative to ask Sokov: "Comrade commander, since you have given the task of carrying the explosives to the 125th regiment. Then, please send the 125th regiment who made the flying mine cannon Let the mission be completed by our regiment."

Before Sokov could express his opinion, Starcha was dissatisfied again, and he said to Papchenko: "Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko, our regiment can complete the task of making flying mine cannons, you can't do it with us." Grab the mission. Don’t forget, during the day my regiment covered you up safely.”

Stalcha's words choked Papchenko because it was the truth. After the 122nd regiment withdrew from its defensive position, it first retreated to the position of the 124th regiment, and then moved to Mamayev's post. Without the cover of the Starcha regiment, they might not be able to return to Mamayev Post smoothly.

Seeing that Papchenko was speechless, Sokov hurriedly came out to smooth things over: "Okay, we don't just use the flying thunder cannon on the south hill, but also on the north hill. Papchenko Colonel, your troops and the 125th Regiment are now stationed in Beigang, so you will be responsible for making the thunder cannons needed by Beigang."

After saying this, Sokov turned his head to see the displeasure on Starcha's face, and added: "And you, Lieutenant Colonel Starcha, if your regiment can't complete fifty soldiers at dawn I can only ask you about the production of the flying thunder launcher and the required explosive package."

After the three regiment leaders who had accepted different tasks happily left the headquarters, Ivanov smiled and said to Sokov: "Comrade commander, I really didn't expect that in just one day, the three regiments under me My boss obeys your orders so much, I am worried for nothing."

"Deputy division commander and chief of staff, let's discuss the placement of the thunder cannon." Sukov thought that the range of the thunder cannon is limited, and if the position is not good, the effect will be greatly reduced, so he asked Ivano Husband and Sidolin said: "Now I understand why in ancient wars, the artillery was placed at the forefront, because the artillery at that time had a limited range. If it was placed behind a large army, it might not be able to hit the enemy when fired. , but hit our own people. This kind of thunder cannon has the same problem, so we have to position it as far forward as possible.”

"It's not easy, Comrade Commander." Sidolin frowned and said, "Now our positions are halfway up the mountain. If we want the Feilei Cannon to be positioned at the front, it must be placed in front of the position. But this As a result, soldiers firing explosive packages are easily attacked by the enemy."

"That's right, if our defensive position is still on the hillside, then the Thunder Cannon can only be deployed at a position that is vulnerable to enemy attacks." Sokov drew a sketch again on paper with a pen: "But If we move the defensive position to the crest of the hill, we can place the mine cannons closer to the western ridge."

Sidolin knew that the original defensive position was originally on the hillside, but it was moved to the middle of the mountain when Witkov acted as brigade commander. At this moment, I heard Sokov saying that he was going to move his position back to the top of the hill, but there was no objection. But Ivanov didn't know the location of the original position, so he immediately raised an objection: "Comrade commander, is it appropriate for us to shift the defensive position at this time?"

When Sokov heard Ivanov's question, he was taken aback for a moment, and then remembered that the other party had just arrived at Mamayev Post, and he still didn't know where his original defensive position was. Then he smiled and said to him: "Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Commander, there will be absolutely no confusion. You know, our original position is at the top of the hillside."

"Since it was originally arranged at the top of the hillside." Ivanov asked inexplicably, "I don't understand, so why did it move to the middle of the mountain?"

"The reason is very simple." Sidolin explained to Ivanov: "Because the division commander was injured for a while, Colonel Vitkov, the deputy chief of staff of the army, acted as the brigade commander. As you know, every commander All members have their own characteristics, so the first thing he did when he came here was to move our defensive position to the mountainside. The division commander’s proposal is nothing more than to return our defensive position to its original position.”

"On the top of the hill, how do you hit the enemy?" Ivanov asked puzzled.

"Our defensive positions are at a certain distance from the ridgeline. As soon as the enemy rises, our soldiers can hit them. But the enemy has already been shot before he finds out where we are. In this way, we can use the minimum casualties and achieved great results.”