Steel Soviet Union

The Combat Engineer Battalion is the most elite and most combat-effective heavy infantry unit in the division. The equipment it uses is of course the best in the division's infantry combat order. It is also the only experimental unit in the division and even the entire Red Army. The troops are being restructured and equipped with new assault rifles.

Strictly speaking, in the battle sequence of the troops under Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division, the combat engineer battalion, which was established the latest among the infantry, is the heart and soul of the division commander.

It is always used sparingly on weekdays and not used at critical moments. Even if it is really engaged in combat, it must be used at the decisive moment. Good steel is used on the blade. Being cannon fodder or fighting conventional warfare basically has no chance with the combat engineering battalion.

But now, Malashenko started to act just because of a so-called "premonition" in his heart. He wanted to mobilize the infantry aces who were reluctant to use even in the final battle and go out immediately.

All kinds of abnormal and unreasonable things are really difficult for the political commissar comrades to understand. However, it is almost impossible to oppose Malashenko's current situation. Just from Malashenko's expression, we can see that he Understanding the urgency of time.

Comrade Comrade Political Commissar, who simply considered the matter from a different angle, did realize that Comrade Commander's trip was not safe, and that there were huge dangers along the way, as Malashenko said.

In this case, the 1st Stalin Guards Tank Division has now completed its combat mission anyway. In addition, the actual losses of the 1st Stalin Guards Tank Division in the Cherkasy battle were not large, and they almost always had superior forces throughout the fight. Add advantageous equipment to forcefully crush.

So from the actual situation, the actual conditions do allow Malashenko to do this.

There's just one thing. Malashenko, who usually stays in the tank, this time has to pick up a gun and fight in person.

Compared with the IS4 heavy tanks with strong armor and sharp guns and abnormal defenses that were almost impossible to be destroyed by ground fire on the battlefield in 1944, the danger of Malashenko personally fighting is undoubtedly more than dozens of times higher.

But Malashenko, who was in a hurry, could not just wait for the tank to pass, and it was even more impossible for Malashenko to stay and take command while someone else led the team to the battlefield. Political commissar comrades who were familiar with Malashenko's temper were You know, this kid is a stubborn donkey who won't be able to pull ten cows back if he sees something happen, so he must quickly think of a safe and secure expedient.

"It's too dangerous for you to go to the battlefield as an infantryman with a gun. I won't allow you to do this. I can let you go, but you have to make some concessions. You have to listen to me on certain issues of principle. . You are the comrade commander of our division who must be protected, not the captain of the death squad who leads the charge!"

""

Malashenko did not reply. He just continued to look at Comrade Political Commissar without saying a word, as if waiting. Of course, there was no hint of denial on his face.

"As usual, you stay in the tank and command. This is the limit that I can make concessions and allow you to lead the team in person. Of course, it is unrealistic for you to continue to lead the team with your command vehicle. The speed of IS4 is too high. It’s slow, it’s the slowest tank in our division.”

"Let's see, you go to the medium tank battalion and change a vehicle to a new T43 medium tank, a command type. Then bring a battalion of medium tanks with you to ensure your personal safety. Look like this how?"

Comrade Political Commissar's proposal was to give priority to ensuring Malashenko's life safety, but when it came to Malashenko himself, he didn't think so.

"One battalion? No, the huge amount of equipment in the tank will slow down the marching speed. I forgot to tell him in Varosha just now that I only plan to take away two companies of the combat engineer battalion. If I take more, I won't need so much. The soldiers also slow down the marching speed. This time, the speed must be fast enough. This is the priority! The consequences of moving slowly may be disastrous!"

The political commissar wanted to protect the personal safety of the division commander, while the division commander was focused on how to complete the task better and faster.

This can be said to be a disagreement. Of course, it can also be said to be just a matter of different starting points between the division commander and the political commissar.

Fortunately, Malashenko and Political Commissar Petrov are both people who can understand each other, and they will not waste time in pointless bickering about one issue.

In the end, the total strength of this small escort force led by Malashenko was determined to be one tank company plus two infantry companies.

The tanks accompanying the team did not include the big, wide and fat Stalin heavy tanks. They were all the latest T43 medium tanks with better performance than the T34 and the improved T3485.

This new medium tank designed by Morozov is considered to be excellent. It has already proven itself in the actual combat trials at this stage and is very impressive. It has moderate armor protection that is considered reliable among medium tanks. and excellent maneuverability.

Although the new 85mm main gun is not as fierce as the German's 71x caliber 75mm fishing rod, it is much inferior in armor-piercing firepower, but it is basically enough. It can penetrate the turrets of Panther 1 and Panther 2 head-on, causing A fatal blow.

Taking a company of T43s on an expedition can basically deal with German tank troops of the same level. If they encounter slightly weaker German armored troops without heavy tanks, they can even crush them.

Sitting on a tank and riding a convertible is the most common operation for soldiers who are accustomed to the tank knight mode. Of course, this one company of medium tanks alone cannot pull two companies of combat engineers. Combat engineers with a lot of belongings and equipment take up more space. Moreover, Malashenko does not allow too many people to squeeze into a tank and play with Indian characteristics. If the battle suddenly starts, there will be no time to run.

The remaining infantrymen of the Combat Engineer Battalion are in armored vehicles, yes, armored vehicles.

It's just that this batch of distinctive new armored vehicles received are not Soviet-made weapons and equipment, but American-made equipment.

As the elite heavy tank unit of the Soviet Union, the 1st Stalin Guards Tank Division has never received American tanks. British tanks were only used during the Stalingrad period, when conditions were the most difficult, and were quickly lost. Now there are more Naturally, good domestic equipment cannot use the tatters of the United States and Britain.

However, when it comes to armored personnel carriers, Malashenko, who is personally responsible for inspecting and selecting equipment, only has his eye on an American vehicle: the M3A1 half-track armored personnel carrier.

Just by hearing the name, you can tell that this thing is not actually a heavy firepower and heavy armor equipment used for frontal combat, but a light armed troop carrier similar to a battlefield taxi.

In addition to the driver and co-pilot, it can also pull an infantry squad. The car has enough batteries and a complete electrical system to support high-power radio communications. It also has a popular 7mm M2 Laoganma heavy machine gun and a Equipped with a 62mm Browning machine gun, it has good self-defense firepower, and the armor protection can also withstand conventional small arms fire.

It is obviously suitable to be attached to the combat engineer battalion as a reconnaissance vehicle and battlefield personnel carrier.