Struggle in Soviet Russia

In this report, the Artillery Command believes that the Soviet 45MM artillery can use armor-piercing shells at a flank position between 500 and 600 meters, posing a lethal threat to the German Tiger tanks.

If the 76MM artillery is used, it can pose a fatal threat to the Tiger tank at a flank position of 1,000 to 1,200 meters, or a front within a range of 600 meters.

For this reason, the artillery command’s regulations require that 45MM and 76MM artillery be deployed in the same defense zone at least during the operations of battalion-level units. Type IV or other types of tanks, and the latter needs to be the first to attack Tiger tanks.

Nor can it be said that there are any problems with these regulations. It can only be said that the artillery command's expectations for the 76MM artillery are too high.

Barsukov quickly returned with a document. He sat on the sofa next to Victor and handed the documents to Comrade Stalin, saying: "In order to deal with the new German tanks more effectively, we It is always believed that the deployment of the 122MM heavy howitzer, or the 85MM anti-aircraft gun, should be increased, which is more effective than the 76MM artillery."

Hearing what Barsukov said, Viktor understood it. It seemed that it was not that the artillery command was not aware of the problem, but that the number of 85MM anti-aircraft guns and 122MM heavy howitzers that could be put into battle was insufficient on the front line.

Victor didn't know what was in the document in Comrade Stalin's hand. He put the document in his hand on the coffee table and turned to look at Vasilevsky, who was looking down at a watch.

Perhaps he felt Victor's gaze. He raised his head and glanced in this direction, and when Victor was looking at himself, he nodded and smiled at him.

"Give this report to Comrade Anastas Ivanovich." Comrade Stalin did not spend too much time on that report. He only glanced at it twice before returning the report to Barsukov. , Said.

What he called Anastas Ivanovich, that is, Mikoyan. As the Deputy People’s Commissar of the People’s Committee of National Defense, Mikoyan is now responsible for the production of artillery and ammunition. Don’t ask, Barsu. The report by Cove should have requested an increase in the production of 85MM anti-aircraft guns and 122MM heavy howitzers.

"That's it, Comrade Stalin," said Vasilievsky. "Even in accordance with the recommendations of the Artillery Command, we have increased the production and deployment of the 85MM anti-aircraft gun and the 122MM heavy howitzer to a certain extent, but it still cannot be mobile. Sexually solve the antagonistic shortcomings. To this end, I think it is necessary to design a new, more powerful tank to suppress the current advantage of the German army."

On the battlefield, the best weapon against tanks is always another more advanced tank, at least in today's war. Therefore, in this respect, Vasilevsky's proposal is not wrong.

Comrade Stalin frowned. It is not easy to design a brand new tank. The cycle required for it is too long. Not to mention the design process, just the test process, it cannot be completed in a few months. .

"Perhaps we can design a tank destroyer equipped with an 85MM anti-aircraft gun or a 122MM heavy howitzer while designing a new tank." Victor endured, but finally couldn't hold back and said, "Use the existing artillery directly. , And add a T34 chassis. I think this design should be much simpler and conducive to our mass production."

Destroyer tanks and tanks are not the same thing, because the barrel is fixed and the armor is much weaker. Therefore, destroyer tanks cannot be compared with tanks in terms of manufacturing or investment.

However, although this thing has many shortcomings, it also has a good advantage, that is, its firepower is fierce and cheap.

"This is a good idea," Zhukov agreed. "You can consult Comrade Joseph Yakovlevich to see if it is possible to come up with a design plan in the shortest time."

Joseph Yakovlevich Kotin, the current First Deputy People’s Commissar of the Tank Industry, is responsible for the technical work of tank production. At present, 86 tank factories in the Soviet Union are under his control. At the same time, 5 tanks The Institute of Technology is also under his control. The People’s Commissar of the Tank Industry is Vyacheslav Alexandrovich Maryshev, but Maryshev is mainly responsible for the overall work, including communication with various support departments, and is not responsible for specific production technical work.

It is worth mentioning that at the beginning of the position of Deputy People’s Commissar of the Tank Industry, Comrade Stalin was more willing to let Mikhail Ilyich Koshkin take the post, who was the maker of the T34 tank.

When the T34 was first designed, it was not valued by the People’s Committee of the National Defense Industry. At that time, the T50 designed by Kejing was selected. As a result, Koshkin refused to accept it. He drove two T34s as test objects for thousands of kilometers in twelve days and drove the tank directly from Kharkov to Moscow. On the day in Moscow, it was personally inspected by Comrade Stalin, and finally the T34 was approved by the People’s Committee of the National Defense Industry for its excellent performance.

As a result, Koshkin also contracted pneumonia because of this long journey, and died a few months after returning to Kharkov from Moscow. Subsequently, his competitor Kotin became the deputy people's commissar of the tank industry.

Comrade Stalin nodded and said to Vasilevsky: "Later, you can relay Comrade Viktor's opinion to Comrade Kotin, so that he can do this work as soon as possible."

After a pause, he added: "It's best to come up with a result before the summer offensive is launched."

This is tantamount to issuing an administrative order with a time limit. It is estimated that Comrade Kejing will have something to do for some time to come.

Of course, what Victor doesn't know is that with his simple proposal, both SU-85 and IS-2 will be on the stage of history in advance.

"What's the matter with you?" When Vasilevsky made a record, Comrade Stalin turned his gaze to Victor and asked.

"Regarding the intelligence work of the People's Committee of National Security, I have some new ideas," Victor took out the report in his arms and handed it to Comrade Stalin, and said, "This is a sorted report. "

Comrade Stalin took the report and flipped it at will. With a relatively large number of pages, he reached out and took the glasses on the coffee table. While putting it on his face, he said to Zhukov and others: "You go back and rest first. , Regarding the summer combat plan, we will discuss it at the base camp representative meeting tomorrow."

As Zhukov and others stood up, he added: "I still hope that you can carefully consider the plan for the base camp. I do not recommend continuing to expand the battlefield on the southern front until the threat to Moscow is completely removed."

Obviously, Comrade Stalin is still sticking to the base camp's summer combat plan. Neither Vasilievsky nor Zhukov was able to convince him in the end.

However, one thing that can be clearly felt is that after the first year of the war, after the entire line of defeat, especially after experiencing the impact of the Moscow battle, his attitude towards campaign command is no longer the same as that in the early days of the war. Frozen. More often, he was able to listen to the suggestions of commanders and staff.

"Tell me what you think," said Comrade Stalin leaning back on the sofa after Zhukov and the others left, looking through the report while saying.

Victor gave a light cough and began to talk about what he had mentioned in the report. In the process, Comrade Stalin occasionally asked some questions. Most of these questions were extended. Fortunately, Victor answered well.

"In the last two days, our intelligence team in New York came back with a piece of information," Victor said after he finished his report. Penicillin, this brand-new drug has very strong antibacterial and anti-infective effects. Pfizer is currently producing this drug with all its strength, and the main procurement convenience is the US military. If nothing happens, this drug will prevent soldiers Play an important role in post-traumatic infection."

After a pause, Victor continued: "I have issued an order to the intelligence department in New York, asking them to master the formula and mass production technology of this drug as soon as possible, but the problem now is that our intelligence department did not pay attention to similar things in the past. Pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer have not penetrated their intelligence. Therefore, all work now has to be done from scratch, which undoubtedly reduces our efficiency in obtaining intelligence to a large extent."

Seeing Comrade Stalin closing the report and looking at his face, Victor continued: "Of course, this is just one of the many examples I can give. It is based on this that I think the National Security Committee The intelligence work of the People’s Republic of China needs to be expanded to a deeper and broader field. I believe that any new technology, new dynamics, new diplomatic trends, etc., should be the target of the intelligence department’s attention. Yes, the intelligence work attitude that only targets military and military technology can no longer meet the needs of the alliance."

Comrade Stalin withdrew his gaze. He put Victor's report on the coffee table, took his pipe, played with it in his hand, and muttered: "This is a very important proposal, Comrade Victor, I agree with you. , But this opinion needs more comrades’ discussion before the final decision can be made."

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Victor nodded and said.

He also knows that the content of this report is too important, and there are many issues involved. It is impossible for Comrade Stalin to give him an answer here.