USSR 1941

"Don't need to find the target?"

Both Mikhailvich and Andrianka looked at Shulka in doubt. As for the attack aircraft...if they don't find the target, how can they destroy it?

Shulka gave the answer: "Remember how the Germans bombed our defenses and buildings?"

"Dive bomber?"

"But we don't have a dive bomber! And it's not suitable for such a battlefield with poor visibility!"

"Then what else?"

"I don't know!" said Mikhailvich, "but Comrade Shulka is certainly not talking about dive bombing!"

...

"Gasoline, comrades!" Shulka interrupted the quarrel between the two: "The Germans often throw gasoline and bombs together, which can achieve better bombing effects! Why don't we do that?"

Mikhailvich and Andrianka were stunned for a moment, and then said in unison: "Good idea!"

"The building is a mixed structure of brick and wood!" Mikhailvich said: "And the water level has flooded to the second floor, and of course it also poured into the building. If we throw gasoline... the gasoline will flow into the building with the river water!"

"Yes!" said Andrianka, "then all we have to do is strike a match!"

"I want to know a few pieces of information!" Shulka said: "Whether the Il-2 attack aircraft can drop gasoline barrels, and if so, how many oil barrels filled with gasoline can each fighter jet drop, and... do we have enough gasoline!"

"Yes, Comrade Shulka!" Andrianka responded: "I will contact the Air Force immediately!"

After Andrianka left, Mikhailvich laughed and said, "Although I am not surprised at all, but Shulka... you still surprised me! No one can think of this way, except you!"

Shulka shrugged, the solution was actually forced out.

After a while Andrianka returned.

"Comrade Shulka!" Andrianka said: "Although the Il-2 can't throw gasoline, Comrade Khryukin said that it is easy to modify. You only need to weld two bomb hanging points on the oil barrel! "

It really is very simple,

But it should be very simple. There are two hanging points on the aerial bomb, one in front and one behind. These hanging points can be connected to the pylon, and then as soon as the pylon is unlocked... the bomb will fly towards the target relying on gravity and inertia.

Now, it's just changing bombs to oil barrels.

"And what else?" Shulka asked again.

"Each Il-2 can only carry two oil barrels!" Andrianka replied: "Il-2 has six pylons in total, four of which are inside the fuselage and two are on the wings. The space inside the body, so..."

Shulka nodded, this is not a big problem, because the number of Il 2 can make up for the lack of pylons.

"Gasoline is not enough!" Andrianka said: "Our preparation time is too short. Before that, more of our capacity was used to transport shells and aviation fuel!"

As I said before, the 51st Army was originally a sacrificed unit, so the supply has not been much.

And when Shulka formulated a combat plan to make the 51st Army the focus again, the preparation time was only one day.

During this day, the Supreme Command has done everything possible to deliver supplies to the 51st Army.

However, this day deliveries are most urgently needed.

For example, two new aviation divisions are transferred, of course, aviation fuel, aviation bombs, necessary parts and ammunition need to be delivered to these two aviation divisions.

Another example is the preparation of artillery fire for an hour, of course a large number of shells are required.

As for the gasoline needed by the 51st Army... a certain reserve is needed, but it is not the most urgent. Next, the 51st Army can move supplies forward while advancing to the rear, and can even be air-dropped by transport planes.

So the amount of gasoline is in an embarrassing situation... If gasoline is used for Surovikino, then the 51st Army may not even be able to advance tanks.

"Immediately increase gasoline!" Shulka said: "At the same time, let the Air Force modify the oil drums!"

"Yes!" Andrianka replied.

But of course this is not something that Shurka can order. Shurka is just a regiment commander, so it has to be transferred from the Army Command.

It was Zolotarev who answered the phone. As soon as Shulka told him the plan, Zolotarev readily agreed.

"Don't worry, Comrade Shulka!" Zolotarev said: "We will do everything possible to prepare enough gasoline!"

Of course Shulka knew what Zolotarev meant by "we", which was the Supreme Command.

If the Supreme Command "does everything" and still can't reach the goal, I'm afraid no one will be able to achieve it.

Sure enough, the Supreme Command was quickly mobilized to mobilize all resources to provide gasoline for the 51st Army.

This order was even issued by Stalin himself. He immediately convened a meeting and said at the meeting: "A new situation has emerged in the counteroffensive in the direction of Stalingrad. The hope of victory is concentrated on the 51st Army and its attack on Suroviki. Promise direction. Therefore, we must ensure the needs of the 51st Army at all costs, especially the key needs!"

Then, a bomber aviation division and a transport pilot rushed to Surovikino from all directions.

The main task of the bomber aviation division rushing to Surovikino was not to participate in the battle, but to bring gasoline to the 51st Army.

Then these bombers were also included in the ranks of dropping gasoline bombs... because what this plan requires is to drop a large amount of gasoline on the target area in a short period of time, so as to have a better killing effect.

On the other hand, the military column transporting gasoline rushed all the way to Surovikino, and even the Don River Front Army squeezed out another train to transport gasoline to Surovikino when it was short of gasoline.

Of course, the gasoline transported by the train could not reach Surovikino in time, and they were to prepare for the follow-up needs of the 51st Army.

Originally, Shulka was also worried that he would not be able to prepare before the water level fell... If the water level drops, then the effect of the incineration will be greatly reduced, because the burning gasoline will be farther from the roof.

But Shulka soon realized that this worry was unnecessary. It took only an hour and ten minutes before and after, and everything was ready.

This can also be said to be a miracle of the Soviet army: a unit that is notoriously slow to respond can meet the requirements so quickly in this particular period.

This made Shulka a little unbelievable.

Then, following Trufanov's order, the first batch of more than one hundred planes took off from three airports in different directions.

Unlike before, they carried gasoline canisters instead of bombs under their wings.