USSR 1941

The 23rd Panzer Division was advancing faster than Manstein had imagined.

This is inseparable from the urging and reasonable dispatch of Major General Linus, the commander of the 23rd Armored Division... He let the vanguard take the lead in cars and motorcycles under the cover of light tanks to occupy and reconnaissance in the front, and the engineers followed Road construction, exploration, and then the main armored force went straight to the destination unimpeded.

This should be said to be the most reasonable way of marching. The fast scouts will eliminate all possible dangers including guerrilla ambushes in the front, and the slow main force will not be delayed for a moment.

For these, Major General Linus, who has been fighting with Manstein for many years, is no stranger to this. This bought ten minutes of preparation time for the German 23rd Armored Division.

Although these ten minutes are not enough to build defensive fortifications, it is enough for the armored forces to form a defensive formation... Major General Linus originally wanted to have an offensive formation, because in his opinion, the best defense is offense.

But Manstein ordered him not to attack.

"Although I know that attacking is more beneficial to us!" Manstein said: "But you have to know that the enemy's strength is several times that of ours. You must hold your position, otherwise the enemy will take advantage of your attack. Slip around!"

"Yes, Your Excellency the Marshal!" Major General Linus replied, so he ordered the defense.

The difference between the tank's defensive formation and the offensive formation is that the main tank with thick armor and strong firepower is usually placed in front when defending, because this can protect the light tank and enable the firepower of the light tank behind to continue to play.

As for the offensive formation, the light tanks are often placed at the front... This is not only because the light tanks can attack the enemy's defense line more quickly, but also because the enemy's anti-tank firepower will expose them when attacking these light tanks position, so the main tanks following behind will be able to target and reduce losses.

At this time, Major General Linus put the "No. 3" and "No. 4" tanks in front, including some "No. 3 assault guns".

At this time, the "No. 3 assault gun" was not purely used to attack the enemy's defense line. As I said before, the German "No. 3" and "No. 4" tanks generally lacked firepower when facing the Soviet T34. Penetrating the opponent upwards is often at a disadvantage in pure tank fighting.

So the German army considered installing the more penetrating PAK41 anti-tank gun directly on the tank chassis for anti-tank.

In fact, this can no longer be called an "assault gun", but a tank destroyer that was later called "tank destroyer".

Tank destroyers are especially useful in defense,

Because it can extend the effective range of the entire defensive formation to a distance similar to that of the enemy T34 or even farther.

Before the 27th Armored Division was fully ready, enemy tanks appeared in the aperture of Major General Linus' telescope.

"Alarm, 10 o'clock direction!" Major General Linus shouted, and the adjutant immediately conveyed the order.

Soon, more and more tanks appeared in front of Major General Linus.

Major General Linus was a little puzzled, because in that area, enemy tanks should not be able to pass through without any obstacles. At least a few of them would be stuck in the mud and could not move. This idea just flashed through the mind of Major General Linus, because he knew that the Russian T34 had wide tracks, so its passing rate in swamps and even snow was much better than that of German tanks.

Then, Air Force fighter planes passed over the 23rd Armored Division.

This is a way of German air-ground coordination. The air force will launch an attack when the enemy and the enemy are about to meet the enemy, so that the enemy will be attacked from the ground and the air at the same time.

The battle started a minute later. The gun barrel of the German tank kept fine-tuning as the target moved, and then fired a shell with a "boom"... It was surprising that it hit the target but it could act.

It would be fine if it was just an example, but there are many such cases.

"What's going on?" Major General Linus raised his binoculars and looked towards the target, and then he knew the reason... Those were not tanks at all, most of them were cars or armored vehicles disguised as tanks, and the German tanks fired The armor-piercing shells hit those camouflages and penetrate them, so of course they won't affect the target.

Of course, the air force's attack on them is still very lethal. Whether it is an attack aircraft or a bomber, top-down strafing and bombing can make these "pseudo-tanks" mess up or even fall into the sky.

But Major General Linus immediately sensed that something was wrong: If the enemy's troops in disguise are in front of him, where is the enemy's main force?

Major General Linus immediately ordered: "Contact the Air Force and let them find the enemy's main force!"

Major General Linus thought that the enemy's main force might be on his flank, and was preparing to outflank the 23rd Armored Division at this time.

Major General Linus was right to worry, but he guessed wrong.

After the order was given, Major General Linus reported to Manstein.

"We intercepted the enemy's camouflaged troops!" Major General Linus said: "They are not tanks at all, but camouflaged with cars! We were fooled!"

At the beginning, Manstein didn't think it was a problem, because the Russians used the tactic of camouflaging tanks with cars, especially when tempting the Luftwaffe to attack, so Manstein had long been familiar with it.

However, another report from Major General Linus surprised him.

"Your Excellency the Marshal!" Major General Linus said, "The Air Force reported that they found no enemy main force nearby, that is to say...there is only this main force in disguise in front of us! I don't understand what these Russians are doing!"

Manstein didn't know either, but he had a very bad premonition.

The main force of the Russians could be behind this camouflaged main force...but that's unlikely because it doesn't make much sense unless they're trying to consume the ammunition of the Luftwaffe.

What's more, if this is the case, Air Force reconnaissance planes can also spot them.

At this time, the adjutant took a telegram and reported: "Your Excellency Marshal, Morozzo Railway Station and nearby railway lines have been bombed by enemy fighter planes on a large scale!"

Manstein turned his attention to the map and found the location of the Morozzo railway station on it... It was between Karachi and Milove, and it was the only way to go.

The next second Manstein understood.

"We've been fooled, Vincent!" Manstein said. "Their target is not Milovey at all!"

"Where is that?" the adjutant asked suspiciously.

"Here we are!" Manstein replied: "Karachi!"