Steel Soviet Union

The Iron Fist is mainly designed to fight tanks, but it can also fight against fortifications and bunkers. Especially in close, narrow, close-quarters battles when rushing into trenches, it has very good destructive power against the German machine gun fire points and densely populated areas.

And you have to say that this thing is heavy, but it really doesn't weigh much. When not in use, just tie ropes on both ends and hang it on the back. It does not affect the use of light weapons in the hands of the soldiers. At best, it just feels a little heavy on the back, the physical strength is exhausted too quickly when walking, and the movement speed is slowed down.

Being able to carry an iron fist on the back is just a basic operation. Malashenko estimates that the fierce veterans in his division can carry two or even three of them without any problem.

Of course, this is not a forced choice.

Malashenko told Varosha that he only needed to let the soldiers carry as much as they thought was appropriate according to the actual needs of the combat situation. If you can carry one, then carry one, if you can carry two, carry two. If you feel that you are as strong as an ox and can shoot a light machine gun from your waist as easily as you can with your hands, no one will stop you with three on your back. In short, just don't show off.

So when the 1st Stalin Guards Tank Division set off again, many of the Red Army "tank knights" riding on the tanks had more or less brand-new Kraut fists on their backs and temporarily served as the commanders of their respective squads. A breakthrough player, ready to play a greater role on the battlefield.

One of the most perverted ones is the newly established "Combat Engineer Battalion" under Varosha.

After the Battle of Stalingrad, Malashenko saw with his own eyes how ferocious the combat engineers were and how powerful they were in actual combat, and he came up with the idea that his own army should also have a combat engineer unit.

It was not until the Stalin Guards 1st Tank Division was formed and the force's organization was completely upgraded that Malashenko, who did have enough surplus strength on hand, was finally able to put this idea into practice.

Compared with other combat engineer units, this combat engineer battalion in Varosha has somewhat different actual uses and combat methods. In addition to the tasks normally performed by combat engineer units, the combat engineer battalion under Malashenko also has these other combat tasks.

Since the 1st Stalin Guards Tank Division faces mostly field battles and very few urban battles, at least for now, this is the situation.

Therefore, the actual fighting method of the combat engineer battalion is no longer like that in the Battle of Stalingrad, where they hold Bobosha in their arms and rush forward non-stop, using their flesh and blood bodies to carry steel body armor and act as "human tanks" ".

When facing the enemy's complete three-dimensional position under field conditions, this level of firepower cannot be withstood by the flesh-and-blood infantry wearing a steel plate body armor. To line up and charge forward recklessly is to court death.

These special combat engineers need to be escorted by the tank troops of the Stalin Guards 1st Tank Division, advance to the final distance close to the position and then dismount. The firepower encountered along the way will be absorbed by the tanks in front that act as mobile bunkers.

After rushing into the trenches, the combat distance was forcibly shortened. Many battles took place at close range face to face, as well as close encounters in trenches and traffic trenches.

At this time, the combat engineers wearing steel plate body armor came into use when facing the submachine guns in the hands of the Germans, which were convenient for use in the trenches. In hand-to-hand battles where tanks can no longer provide cover, they continue to serve as the vanguard of the charge.

There were even times when not only were the Germans' submachine guns effective, but in the previous offensive and defensive battle, a strange incident occurred when combat engineers and German riflemen faced each other and fought with bayonets.

The German rifleman rushed up with a Mauser 98K with a bayonet attached. When the bayonet was stabbed into the chest, there was only a "bang" sound. The bayonet, which was already brittle from the cold in the cold winter, broke off the blade on the spot and did not stab at all. Go in and be stunned on the spot.

Then, he was shot and killed on the spot by the combat engineer who raised the wave of sand in his hand. It was really an injustice to his death.

Because they shoulder the mission of leading their comrades forward in close combat, these combat engineer units can be said to have the highest iron fist equipment rate at the moment.

At a glance, one can see quite a lot of personal equipment. He has a steel helmet on his head, a steel plate body armor on his body, a close assault tool in his hand, a grenade in his waist, and spare ammunition hanging on his butt. Drums, and an iron fist on the back specially used to attack German targets.

Such a heavy piece of equipment would be really difficult for a person of average stature to carry. Therefore, even in the combat engineer battalion, which is basically full of burly men, there are only a few people who dare to use this set of equipment that seriously affects movement speed and consumes excessive physical strength.

In order to save trouble, some soldiers even took off their steel body armor and iron fists, and placed them directly on the tail compartment of the tank engine that was easily accessible, and then added them at any time when a battle broke out.

Similar situations are not uncommon, and many veterans of combat engineer battalions have chosen to do this. Because even if this complete set of equipment is neatly worn and does nothing, just sitting on the tank engine compartment, the heavy burden it brings to the body is unimaginable. Who the hell has nothing to do in the middle of winter? Want to hold an iron knot in your arms?

But neither Malashenko nor Political Commissar Petrov nor Varosha stopped these soldiers from doing this.

Put the heavy armor within easy reach and put it on quickly during the battle to conserve your energy during the march and save it for combat. This method has been used since ancient times. As long as the response is quick in wartime, there is nothing wrong with it. Malashenko does not think there will be any big problems with "using ancient methods today".

It was really uncomfortable to be covered in a tank that was full of feet, sweat, gunpowder, and diesel. As long as it was not in wartime, Malashenko would be more willing to stick his head out of the car to breathe fresh air and blow in the cold wind. Sober up.

Malashenko, who had just put a cigarette in his mouth, was about to take out a lighter to light the fire for himself. However, at this moment, the radio transmitter in the car suddenly rang.

"Contact the reconnaissance force, if there is any situation, Comrade Commander."

The first person to receive the microphone was loader Artyom. He was the person closest to Malashenko in the turret. He was naturally obliged to answer the message when Malashenko was half-body outside the vehicle. , report the situation.

"Give me the microphone."