Steel Soviet Union

If the previous attack on the Germans' first line of defense was just an appetizer, then now is the time to truly test whether Malashenko's use of medium tanks in the heavy tank force is correct.

No matter how maneuverable a heavy tank is, it cannot be compared with a medium tank. Of course, a certain kind father, Comrade No. 7, is a special exception.

The addition of new medium tanks has greatly enhanced the flexibility of Malashenko's troops and has greater scalability in terms of tactical application and command.

A variety of tactical thinking that was previously impossible due to extreme maneuverability are now possible.

But as for whether the theory of "maneuver determines tactical effects" conceived by Malashenko is applicable, it is difficult to say until it has been tested in actual combat. Now it is time to verify whether the tactical concept summarized by Malashenko's research and judgment brought by later generations is feasible. when.

After receiving the order from Malashenko, Kulbalov quickly launched an operational deployment. A medium tank battalion under his command immediately followed the order and launched an all-out attack. At extreme cross-country speed, he quickly separated from the heavy tank troops accompanying him. distance.

A large group of T3485 and T43 painted in winter snow camouflage paint disappeared from sight after a while.

What followed closely behind him was a cluster of IS6 heavy tanks that were also advancing at full speed. The scene of more than forty IS6 heavy tanks speeding across a vast white snowfield was truly awe-inspiring. Spectacular, unprecedented.

The only embarrassing thing is that the IS4 heavy tank, which has a total combat weight of 60 tons and is not as maneuverable as the IS6, is obviously unable to keep up.

Malashenko's idea is good and generally speaking, there is nothing wrong with it. Allocating the IS4 heavy tank with the strongest comprehensive combat performance to regiment-level commanders and fighters as command vehicles can ensure the maximum survival rate of commanders on the front-line battlefield.

This Soviet steel behemoth with thick armor that can crush the Maus super-heavy tank is almost unbeatable. Even if the Germans want to destroy it from the side, it will take a lot of effort, let alone a head-on attack.

Seeing that his command vehicle was obviously far away from him, and was about to become a "bare commander" and a "lonely man", Kulbalov, who was really anxious and angry, immediately turned his head towards the driver at the front of the chassis. Ask questions.

"Can't you go faster? Even the ordinary IS6 is faster than my crappy car now!"

The internal space of the turret of the IS4 heavy tank is indeed larger. The huge and heavy turret gives the members inside the turret enough fighting space, but this is not the case for the driver at the front end of the chassis. .

"This is already the fastest speed, Comrade Commander! This tank is not as easy to drive as you think. It is so hard to even shift gears. It reminds me of the days when I drove the KV1."

The driver's seat, which is surrounded on both sides by propellant cartridges, ammunition racks and mechanical controls, is undoubtedly the most miserable member of the IS4 heavy tank crew.

When he first received the IS4 heavy tank, Malashenko, who was curious about the changes inside, even went to the driver's position with a ruler to measure the actual data.

The next result was that Malashenko, who was over 1.9 meters tall, really felt that it was extremely difficult for him to even pass through the huge gun breech and get into the driver's seat. "Climb" is no exaggeration to describe it.

The thick and huge homogeneous steel armor plate welded on the front of the vehicle body is arranged at a large angle. Although this provides a nearly invincible and solid equivalent defense, it also causes the driver of the IS4 heavy tank to even stand up and drive the tank. The most direct reason why he couldn't do it and had to lie down to posture this steel behemoth.

If you lie in bed and play with your mobile phone for a long time, your neck will get sore. You have to change positions and play sideways to feel comfortable, but this is not the case for the IS4 driver.

Because only by keeping a reclined position with your head raised can you clearly see the situation outside the periscope half-buried in the driver's window.

Even if you sit at a straight 90-degree angle to control the tank and shift gears, it is already very difficult. The IS4 heavy tank with a rear transmission requires a mechanical transmission shaft that connects to the body and chassis and passes directly through it to control the rear gear change. The tank performs tank shifting and speed control.

Without hydraulic assistance, it is naturally difficult to manually control this 4-meter-long mechanical transmission shaft.

What's more, the power-to-weight ratio of IS4 is not based on human subjective consciousness. No matter how anxious Kulbalov is or how hard the driver comrade tries to pull and push the joystick

Sorry, what speed should this 60-ton guy go at? It won't be even a little bit faster.

"It's terrible! It's terrible, comrade division commander! My new car is running slower than a donkey cart, and I am now being forced to leave my unit. What should I do?"

Kulbalov, who was "crying without tears", conveyed this sad and embarrassing news to Malashenko. Unfortunately, our old comrade Ma had no good solution. The IS4 heavy tank was indeed sacrificed. It is reasonable and impossible to trade a certain speed for powerful and almost invincible armor protection.

"Follow your troops closely behind, Kulbalov. You won't be thrown too far, at least not out of the communication range of the vehicle radio."

"Isn't your deputy using an IS6? Let him command the front line before you arrive on the battlefield. This won't last long."

""

There was no reply from Kulbalov except a simple "received". Malashenko, who could already see the lagging Kulbalov's car through the commander's periscope, was speechless for a while.

Damn it! How could I have forgotten this in the first place! ?

The IS4's just-qualified maneuverability can't catch up with the IS6. What's the matter?

Even the IS6 heavy tank, which is the fastest and far surpasses the IS2 and IS4, will take some time to arrive on the battlefield.

When the medium tank troops at the front ran all the way and fought their way to the main battlefield in the fierce exchange of fire, the Il-2 attack aircraft group, which had exhausted all aerial bombs and rockets, still refused to leave. Air cannons and large-caliber aircraft machine guns fired in unison, frantically harvesting all priority targets on the ground who dared to resist fiercely.

The more knowledgeable or timid German soldiers will most likely not be swept away by the death whirlwind of Il-2, because the man hiding in the trench holding his head did not even dare to poke out the muzzle of his gun.

From a tactical perspective, at least they pose no threat now. Those Germans who hold the guy in their arms and shoot wildly are obviously more hateful to the Soviet pilots in the sky.

There is a reason why the Soviet attack aviation pilots in the sky are working so hard. The existing perception that after taking out the German anti-tank guns as a priority, there is no serious anti-armor threat is obviously wrong.

Just look at the remains of the T-70 light tanks burning on the battlefield and you will know that the power of the "new infantry cannon" in the hands of the Germans is not as simple as scratching the tank's itch.