Red Moscow

Although Sidolin reported to Sokov that the artillery company led by Porochenko would arrive in two hours. But Porochenko knew that the military situation was urgent, and he kept urging the artillery to speed up the march along the way. It took only one hour and twenty minutes to arrive at Liumian Street.

Led by Guchakov, Porochenko came to the room where Sokov was. Seeing the familiar figure in the room, he hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "Report to the division commander, Lieutenant Porochenko, the commander of the artillery company, has been ordered to come, please give instructions!"

"Hello, Lieutenant Porochenko." When Sokov stood up and shook hands with Porochenko, he said with emotion: "The chief of staff said that it would take you two hours to get to Liumian Street, but who would have thought that you would arrive so soon? Your movements are quite quick."

Hearing Sokov's praise, Porochenko grinned and replied: "Comrade commander, the soldiers of the artillery company have not performed combat missions for more than a month. They just stay in the tunnel every day and see the infantry comrades and The enemy is fighting, and there is a lot of energy in the stomach. Today is finally looking forward to the combat mission, and everyone wants to perform well."

Seeing the high morale of the artillery company, Sokov was very satisfied. He looked at Porochenko and asked, "Comrade lieutenant, how many people are there in your company?"

"There are 74 people."

Knowing that the artillery company had less than 100 people, Sokov was somewhat disappointed. He then asked, "Are all veteran artillerymen with combat experience?"

Porochenko shook his head and replied: "Only one third are old artillerymen with rich combat experience, and the rest are newly recruited into the army."

Sokov didn't expect that the artillery company that he had been hiding all this time turned out to be so bad now. He shook his head with a wry smile, waved his hands at Porochenko and said, "Forget it, let's have fewer veterans, anyway, this time It is to let you shoot at close range, even if you are a recruit, the hit rate will not be low."

"Fire at close range?" Hearing what Sokov said, Porochenko was stunned for a moment, and then asked tentatively, "Comrade commander, are you planning to use 'cannon with bayonet' to deal with the enemy again?"

"That's right, this time I still plan to use the 'cannon with bayonet' tactic to deal with the enemy at close range. But the only difference is that before we attacked and the enemy defended, this time it was replaced by us defending and the enemy attacking." When Sokov said this, he shook his head at Porochenko and said, "Let's go, Comrade Lieutenant, I will take you to meet those anti-tank guns."

Sergesha and Agranov had already deployed the thirteen anti-tank guns captured in five buildings in accordance with Sokov's order. Depending on the location, some buildings have three guns, while others have only two. Seeing Sokov coming, Seryozha and the others hurriedly greeted him from their hiding place.

Seryozha reported to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, the anti-tank guns are already in place, just wait for the artillery."

"This is the artillery company commander, Lieutenant Porochenko." Sokov pointed to Porochenko and said to the two: "Seryozha is very familiar with him, and it is the first time for Captain Agranov to see him. I Bring him here first to familiarize himself with the environment, and later his artillery will enter each artillery position."

Seeing that all the artillery pieces were arranged on the first floor of the building according to his instructions, Sokov turned his head and said to Porochenko, "Comrade Lieutenant, actually I think the best place to put the anti-tank guns is It should be in the basement so direct fire from enemy tanks can't hit it."

"Comrade Commander, please forgive my presumptuousness." After hearing Sokov's words, Porochenko said dumbfoundedly: "In the basements of these buildings, only the air windows are exposed to the ground. If the artillery is placed in the basement, it cannot attack the outdoors at all." Target."

Seeing that Porochenko misunderstood what he meant, Sokov quickly explained: "Comrade Lieutenant, you didn't understand what I meant. If time permits, I plan to order someone to build a platform in the basement and put the anti-tank guns on the ground. Placed on top, the muzzle can just protrude from the transom. Because the artillery is placed in a low position, enemy tanks cannot hit at all..."

Sokov's words made Porochenko's eyes light up. He didn't expect to be able to arrange artillery positions like this, and quickly asked: "Comrade commander, let's move the anti-tank guns to the basement now."

"Time does not allow." Sokov shook his head and rejected Porochenko's proposal: "Building a platform in the basement where anti-tank guns can be placed will take continuous time; and transferring anti-tank guns to the basement will also take time. .And it is impossible for the enemy to give us such a long time. I estimate that they will attack again in ten minutes or even less time."

While Sokov and Porochenko were talking, Agranov, who was standing aside, asked Seryosha in a low voice: "Comrade Lieutenant, what's the matter with the artillery company of the division? The Guards Division doesn't seem to have this establishment?"

"Comrade Captain, you don't know something, let me explain it to you slowly." Knowing that Agranov had not been here for a long time, it was normal for him not to know that there was such a unit, so he introduced it to him. : "As early as when we were still in the Istria battalion, there was an artillery platoon in the battalion. The platoon leader was this Porochenko. He was a second lieutenant at the time. Later, when it was expanded into an infantry brigade, the artillery platoon became Artillery company, Porochenko was promoted to company commander, and his rank was also promoted by one rank..."

Just when Agranov learned about the history of the artillery company of the division, the conversation between Sokov and Porochenko also came to an end. He finally asked: "Comrade Lieutenant, is there any question?"

"Comrade Commander," Porochenko said with some embarrassment, "the artillery deployment is too scattered, and it is not easy to command in battle."

"Comrade Lieutenant, I didn't arrange the anti-tank guns like this for you to shoot salvos." In response to Porochenko's question, Sokov replied: "Some anti-tank guns are used to deal with enemy tanks. ; some are to deal with enemy infantry. In each building, you can assign an experienced gunner to decide when to fire on the enemy."

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Porochenko waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and immediately stated: "I will go back immediately and arrange manpower to enter each artillery position."

After Porochenko left, Sokov saw Seryosha and Agranov in front of him, and said to them with a serious expression: "Whether we can hold Liumian Street or not, the role of these anti-tank guns depends on It is very important. Therefore, you must send capable personnel to protect the safety of these anti-tank guns."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." As soon as Sokov's voice fell, Agranov replied: "I have deployed 30 soldiers in every building where anti-tank guns are installed. I believe, They will certainly ensure the safety of these artillery pieces."

"The situation here is similar to mine." Seryozha continued, "I placed 20 soldiers in each of the two buildings where anti-tank guns were placed." He also specially emphasized, "Comrade commander, you also know the number of people in our company. This is already the limit I can arrange."

"The enemy may be attacking soon." Sokov looked at his watch and said to the two of them, "You all go back to your respective troops and prepare. I will stay in my headquarters all the time. What's the matter?" , remember to call me."

"Yes!" The two company commanders replied neatly.

...

A quarter of an hour later, the enemy's attack began.

Opening the way ahead were two assault guns. After driving forward for a certain distance, they stopped and fired at the window of the room where the Soviet army might be hidden. After a loud bang, countless bricks and rubble fell from the sky like rain.

After the assault artillery fired more than a dozen shots, seeing that there was no movement in Liumian Street, they drove forward slowly again. The German infantry, on the other hand, bent over and followed closely in skirmish formation.

In the building where Porochenko is located, there are three anti-tank guns, all of which are prepared to fire armor-piercing projectiles, which are specially used to deal with German tanks or assault guns. Now seeing two assault guns coming towards him, he quickly gave an order to the artillerymen next to him: "The enemy's assault guns are coming, get ready to shoot immediately!"

After a while, the three gunners reported one by one: "Company commander, the No. 1 gun is ready!" "The No. 2 gun is ready!" "The No. 3 gun is ready!"

Porochenko visually measured the distance between the two assault guns, and then ordered again: "No. 1 and No. 2 deal with the assault guns in front, and No. 3 deals with the assault guns behind!" Although the moving targets behind were not easy to hit, but He still only deployed one anti-tank gun for shooting, and used the main force to deal with the assault guns in front.

Following Porochenko's order, three anti-tank guns fired simultaneously. After the sound of the gun, none of the shells hit the target, but landed next to the assault gun and exploded, and three pillars of mud shot up into the sky.

Seeing that the first round of shooting failed to hit the target, Porochenko couldn't help feeling anxious, but he remained calm when he gave the order: "Reload, shoot again!"

In the second round of shooting, an armor-piercing projectile hit the first assault gun. When he saw a burst of flames from the front of the assault gun, Porochenko waved his arm excitedly and said loudly: "Load, Keep shooting!"

Now that one assault gun has been destroyed, in the next shooting, the three anti-tank guns will aim at the rear assault gun at the same time. Two of the three shells hit the target accurately, and the shot assault gun drove forward for more than ten meters, and then stopped on the side of the road and burst into flames.

The German soldiers following the assault gun saw that the assault gun was destroyed by the artillery fire, and hurriedly fired their machine guns, and retreated hastily. Although the machine gunners in the building fired in time, only a dozen soldiers were knocked down, and the rest escaped alive.

"Well done, brothers!" Seeing that the two assault guns were destroyed, and the enemy attacking with the assault guns also fled, Porochenko waved his fist excitedly, and said to his subordinates: "No matter how many Germans come, Tanks, we can all wipe them out."

The results obtained by Porochenko and the others soon reached Sokov's ears. He called Porochenko specifically and said with a smile: "Lieutenant Porochenko, you did a good job. Wait." Go back to Mamayev, and I will order a reward for your artillery battery."

Hearing that his troops would be rewarded, Porochenko was certainly happy, but he still had one thing on his mind, so he carefully raised it while Sokov was happy: "Comrade commander, I have a request. "

"Comrade Lieutenant," Sokov heard Porochenko say this, and said instinctively: "If you have any request, just ask, as long as I can do it, I will definitely fulfill your wish."

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Porochenko said with some embarrassment: "Although we are an artillery company, we haven't had a chance to participate in battles for a long time because all our artillery has been lost. See if we can Bring all these anti-tank guns back to Mamayev Gang, at least when the German army sends out tank attacks in the future, we can destroy them condescendingly."

Porochenko's request made Sokov a little moved, because there were no long-range anti-tank weapons on Mamayev Hill, so every time he could only watch the enemy tanks showing off their might at the foot of the mountain. If you really get all these anti-tank guns back, if the enemy tanks come again, then you can beat them all to scrap iron after a long distance.

Just when Sokov was about to agree to Porochenko's request, he suddenly remembered an important thing: "Comrade Lieutenant, the distance from Liumian Street to Mamayev Hill is not close. Without traction vehicles How are you going to get these anti-tank guns back under the circumstances?"

Sokov's words stopped Porochenko. He only thought of getting Sokov to agree to his request and bring these anti-tank guns back to Mamayev Gang, but he forgot that under the current situation, there was no way to find them. any towing vehicle. Moreover, on the way he came, he had also seen that the roads were very bad. Even if people pushed them, it would be impossible to get these dozens of anti-tank guns back to Mamayev Post within a day or two.

Although Porochenko did not speak again, Sokov already guessed the loss in his heart from his silence, and quickly comforted him: "Comrade Lieutenant, although we have no chance to get the anti-tank guns back to Mama this time." Yevgang, but after capturing the enemy’s artillery later, I will order people to find a way to get it back and rearm you.”

After listening to Sokov's words, Porochenko's mood became better again: "Comrade Commander, even if these anti-tank guns cannot be transported back to Mamayev Gang, it is still very important for us." It has been rewarding. Our recruits have been tempered in battle and gained valuable combat experience. When we have new artillery in the future, I think they will definitely play a great role."

Seeing that Porochenko had figured it out, Sokov felt more at ease in his heart. He said into the microphone: "Comrade Lieutenant, although you have just destroyed two enemy assault guns, you must not be proud. Next The battle will be very brutal, you and your subordinates must be mentally prepared."