USSR 1941

Compared with Manstein's nervousness, Shulka and others who are at the 51st Army headquarters are a little ashamed of the organization and command of the airborne brigade. I didn't hold out much hope for the battle.

"How's the situation?" Zolotarev asked impatiently.

"It's not clear yet!" replied Veniamenco.

"Who is in charge of the battle in the city of Milove?" Trufanov asked.

"I don't know, Comrade Trufanov!"

"And what about Heights Three?"

"I don't know either..."

"Why don't you know anything?" Zolotarev looked at his watch in puzzlement: "It's been fifteen minutes since we landed. Besides, shouldn't these arrangements have been made long ago?"

Venyaminko replied helplessly: "Believe me, Comrade Zolotarev, I also want to arrange it long ago, and it is actually very easy to arrange these in advance. We only need to assign the tasks one by one. Already!"

"Then why don't you do it, Comrade Venyaminko?" Zolotarev asked suspiciously.

"Comrade Veniamenko can't do that!" Shulka: "And it's pointless!"

Venyaminko pointed zero and explained: "This is an airborne operation, Comrade Zolotarev! And we have three attack targets, and none of us are sure where we can airborne. So, assign tasks in advance So what? If the 1st Airborne Regiment is arranged to attack the No. 3 Heights, but most of them parachute to Butur Village... Should they rush to No. 3 Heights to fight?"

Hearing this, Zolotarev and Trufanov were speechless.

This is another characteristic of airborne operations, exactly the characteristics of airborne operations during World War II: uncertainty.

The airborne point is uncertain, the mission is uncertain, and even the strength, equipment and organization of the troops are uncertain.

For example, it was originally planned to parachute a regiment to Height No. 3, but a sudden gust of wind blew... Maybe most of the people were blown to the city of Miloway.

Therefore, the first, second, and third airborne regiments are actually meaningless, and of course it doesn't make sense who is in command and who is in charge.

A considerable part of airborne combat in this era is based on luck.

For example, now, first drop the more than 3,000 paratroopers into that area, and then let them form freely and determine their superiors and subordinates by military rank, and then launch an attack based on the principle of proximity.

"Then..." Shulka asked a question: "How can they know where they are airborne, or which target should they attack?"

If this problem is modern, it will be a thing. Once the satellite positioning is turned on, you will know your position. Of course, you can also know the position and even the distance of several targets, and then it will be clear at a glance which target to attack.

But in this period, there is no such thing as satellite positioning at all. When you go airborne, your eyes will be smeared, especially at night, which requires an excellent ability to read maps and find points... This may be feasible for modern well-trained airborne troops.

But Shulka expressed serious doubts about the Soviet paratroopers who had only a few months of parachute training and were still used as infantry.

"We have also taken this into consideration!" Veniaminco replied: "So we temporarily recruited many soldiers from Milove, who are familiar with the terrain, and each company added three... So, the first thing after the troops airborne Just find them!"

"Temporary recruitment?" Shulka was a little puzzled.

Veniamenco's method can indeed be corrected

On the one hand, there are quite a few soldiers from Milloway in the army, and many of them can serve as guides at the command of an order. When they parachute to that area, they can judge their approximate location from the surrounding terrain, and then use This further action.

On the other hand, each company is supplemented with three people, that is, almost one in each row. Such airborne troops are dropped in batches, and these "guides" who are familiar with the terrain will also walk around the soldiers more evenly. The officers and soldiers of the airborne troops can easily to find them.

Shulka's doubt is...

"If it is a temporary call, there is no guarantee that they will parachute, is there?"

"Of course!" Veniamenco replied, then looked at the bewildered crowd, and asked, "They really don't know how to parachute, what's the problem?"

Shulka and Trufanov looked at each other.

This is not only a problem, but a big problem.

Although these "guides" do not need to prepare and organize their own parachutes, although they will automatically open their parachutes when parachuting... But parachuting is not just as simple as a parachute, especially at the moment of landing, if you don't know how to control the parachute Avoid dangerous areas. If you don't know the essentials of the movement when landing, you may fall and get injured, or you will be strung on a tree or your neck will be broken.

However, these seem to be nothing to the Soviet army.

Because even with these casualties, quite a few of those "guides" can still land smoothly... What's more, it doesn't matter if those "guides" fall and get injured, they are not expected to participate in the battle, they just need to recognize the location Probably where it is.

In other words, these "casualties" may all be within Lieutenant General Veniamenco's consideration.

It can be seen from this that Lieutenant General Veniamenco's thinking is quite careful, but it seems a little ruthless... But this seems to be the necessary quality for a general.

While several people were discussing, the communications soldier reported excitedly: "There is news, the 1st Airborne Regiment has landed near Height No. 3, and the positions of the 2nd Airborne Regiment and the 3rd Airborne Regiment are in the east and south of Milloway respectively. ..."

A few people couldn't help being surprised when they heard the words. Two airborne regiments were near the city of Miloway. Does this mean that Butur Village, the most difficult village, has no troops? !

But this is not the case.

Because the No. 1 Airborne Regiment here is actually just a command team with a radio... After they land, they first determine their position, and then use the radio to report to the command headquarters.

However, this at least proves that the direction of Butur is in a state of no command.

"It's not unmanned!" Veniaminco: "Because we told everyone in advance that this situation is very likely to happen after they airborne. The next battle will require them to organize and fight spontaneously !"

"But they can't contact us, that is, we can't coordinate with them!" Zolotarev complained: "Why don't you let them bring more radio stations!"

"I've already done that, Comrade Zolotarev!" Veniaminko: "But we have only twenty-one radio stations, twelve of which have been assigned to the airborne troops! But we cannot guarantee that after they land on the ground It can still be used normally!"

Soviet Union 1941 ww.16641/