artillery arc

Chapter 628 War of Attrition
On July 916, 7, the 2st Armored Battalion of the Prosonampra Armored Division.

The battalion commander looked at his watch and sighed: "Let's not wait for the Panther tanks, let's go on our own."

After that, he jumped onto the battalion command tank and turned around to wave at the other auxiliary vehicles of the battalion: "After we repel the Ante troops, we will send you a signal, and then you can follow."

"Yes, Captain." The deputy captain saluted. "Happy hunting."

The battalion commander nodded, looked forward again, put the earphone halfway on his head (that is, only on one ear), and picked up the radio receiver: "Attention, everyone, I am the battalion commander, start the attack!"

----

1st Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment.

The regiment commander looked at the tank commanders gathered in front of him and said loudly: "Thanks to the efforts of the regiment support battalion last night, the number of tanks we can fight has been restored to 10. There are two tanks with broken tracks that are being repaired. They are expected to catch up with us halfway!"

In yesterday's tank battle, only two tanks of the 1st Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment were damaged by enemy tank crews using magnetic anti-tank grenades.

The remaining losses were all due to broken tracks, stuck turret rings, and mechanical failures.

Among them, mechanical failures were the most numerous. After all, the 1st Guards Regiment advanced such a long distance yesterday, and even if it was just a normal cross-country march, there would be many breakdowns.

After all, the Rokossov Type 1 tank is a heavy tank, with an empty weight of more than 40 tons. Together with the ammunition, fuel, and the miscellaneous items that each tank crew member carries, the combat weight exceeds 50 tons. Such a heavy tank will break down when going off-road.

The regiment commander said: "Although we only have ten tanks left, there is good news. The 60th Tank Brigade has arrived to join us. They have 40 intact T34Ws and infantry units to cooperate with them.

"They will attack with us! All right, return to your tanks and make final preparations! Disband!"

The tank commanders saluted together, then turned around and walked towards their tanks in twos and threes.

Podolskov was walking with his head down when Alex, the captain of car No. 276, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Hey, I heard your crew had a good performance yesterday?"

"Not bad. Three of them were shot down by the infantrymen sitting on our vehicles." Podolskov laughed. "I don't know who should be credited with the victory. Let's paint it on our gun barrels. It really wasn't us who shot them down, and the infantrymen don't have the habit of marking their achievements on their bodies."

Alex: "Isn't it said that when a sniper kills an enemy, he will carve an iron cross on the butt of his rifle?"

"That's a sniper. The sniper's rifle will always be with them. After all, different guns have slightly different ballistics, and they won't be used to using other guns. But the infantry's rifle is thrown away after shooting."

Podolskov shook his head and added: "We should add a new medal to reward those infantrymen who destroy tanks alone. It seems that Prosen has this armband."

Alex nodded. "Indeed, I've seen this on the sleeves of some dead Proson soldiers. Especially those Proson soldiers who rushed towards our tanks with 'funnel', most of them had it.

"I saw several of these before my last tank was destroyed."

Most of the tank crew members of the 1st Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment are veterans transferred from other tank units. Most of them have lost comrades in previous battles, and the tank commanders have rich experience in seeing off their subordinates.

Podolskov casually asked: "How many people were left in your last car?"

"Two, one for me and one for the loader."

"Are both men in the turret alive?"

"Yes, and before abandoning the vehicle, we sent away the Type 4 that destroyed us. The engine caught fire right after it fired, so we had to abandon the vehicle." Alex suddenly laughed, "It's different now. The Prosens can't do anything to our armored vehicles! Thanks to General Rokossov for the weapons!"

Podolskov: "It would be great if my brother could drive the Rokossov I. His crew is made up of brave guys! Their skills and tactics are better than ours!"

"You can fight as well as your brother!" As Alex was speaking, his tank arrived, so he stopped and nodded to Podolskov, "Drive your Revenge to Prothenia! Let your brother also see the destruction of the enemy's capital!"

Podolskov nodded: "As long as I am still alive at that time, I will definitely do it!"

"Don't be so discouraging!" Alex yelled.

Podolskov turned around and walked towards his own tank not far away (their two tanks were parked together).

Ivan, the driver, stood up when he saw Podolskov coming over. "I have already lubricated all the parts. This guy is in good condition. He will definitely be able to run another 100 kilometers today!"

Podolskov laughed: "One hundred kilometers? Do you know that if we run another hundred kilometers, we will meet the 'Pliers' on the other side?"

"That's great!" Ivan laughed. "Now we have surrounded hundreds of thousands of enemies!"

Podolskov: "Okay, let's go! The enemy will definitely counterattack today. We will attack the enemy together with our friendly T34Ws."

The gunner who was eating on the grass next to the tank finished the bread in his hand in three bites, his bulging cheeks moving, and then he stood up.

"Finish your meal first!" said Podolskov, "or else the crumbs will fall out and cause the car to break down!"

Gunner: "The machines made by Proson may stop because of a piece of bread crumbs, because their machines are delicate. Our machines are not so delicate, right?"

In fact, the gunner said this to the pilot, but it looked like he was talking to the Vengeance.

The loader sitting on the top cover of the tank turret laughed: "The hero's machine will not stop working!"

Just as Podolskov was about to answer, a flare was launched into the sky in the distance, standing out against the backdrop of the early morning sky.

Everyone was stunned when they saw the flare, but Podolkov reacted the fastest: "It's the reconnaissance unit, they encountered the enemy! Get in the car! Those who are repairing, hurry up! Your repair vehicle is more precious than our tank, hurry up, hurry up!" The repair vehicle was imported from the United States. Currently, all of Ante's production capacity is used to build tanks, and it basically does not produce repair vehicles, so Podolkov said that.

The people in the maintenance camp were also quick to jump onto the maintenance vehicle, turn around and run back. The mechanic who had just helped to repair the Revenge's engine turned around and shouted, "Good luck to you! Kill more Prosens!"

Podolskov waved his hand, climbed onto the tank, and pushed the loader who was drilling through the hatch: "Hurry up!"

"Stop pushing, Captain! I hit my head!"

At this time, a jeep drove over, and several infantrymen who had been on the Revenge yesterday jumped out of the jeep: "Captain, we got nine more barrels!"

Podolskov: "Okay! Come on up, we're leaving!"

At this time, car No. 267 next to it had already started, and the engine roared forward.

Podolskov got into the tank, stood at his position, confirmed that the driver had also climbed into the front cockpit, and patted the top of the turret: "Start the tank!"

The tank's engine roared and black smoke spewed out of the exhaust pipe.

Seeing this, the infantrymen swiftly climbed onto the tank, grabbed the handles on the edge, took out their rifles and prepared for battle.

The voice of the driver Ivan came from the headset: "Hold on tight!"

"Let's sit tight, let's go."

So the Revenge spewed black smoke and crushed the green grass in front of it - the tracks had clearly crushed the grass yesterday, but after a night, the grass stood up again.

Podolskov picked up the telescope and saw the reconnaissance unit's Willys jeep speeding across the grassland.

"They're having a great time," Podolskov muttered.

The infantry sergeant behind the turret said: "In fact, the casualties of the reconnaissance troops have always been high. The jeep cannot always rely on mobility to shake off the enemy's firepower. Although this thing running wildly on the grassland is indeed difficult to hit."

Podolskov: "It's safer to have armor, but unfortunately you can't run as fast with armor. It's a hard decision."

"Maybe in the future there will be tanks that are armored and can run just as fast!" said the sergeant.

"Come on, how could such a tank appear!" Podolskov shook his head. "If such a tank really existed, it would definitely eliminate all heavy and medium tanks. The entire army would only be equipped with such tanks."

As he finished speaking, the jeep of the reconnaissance unit was already in sight. The scout operating the machine gun on the jeep shouted to the Revenge: "There is about one enemy battalion, one enemy battalion! They are very powerful! Be careful!"

Podolskov only had time to wave his hand before the jeep rushed past. When he turned around, he could only see the dust rising from the rear of the car.

Podolskov picked up the microphone and said: "The reconnaissance troops reported that the enemy has a battalion and nearly a hundred tanks. I repeat, the enemy has a battalion and nearly a hundred tanks!"

The regiment commander's curse came over the radio: "Damn it, we only have fifty T34Ws, including those from our brother units!"

"The enemy can't penetrate us." A tank commander said nonchalantly, "Let's show them how powerful we are!"

"Seeing dust ahead!"

Podolskov also saw that gray dust was rising towards the horizon, like a sandstorm - hey, where did he hear this word?

He shook his head, cleared away all distracting thoughts, and raised the telescope to search for the first target.

"Turn the turret five degrees left, and you should be able to see the first target!" He gave the first combat order of the day.

A day of fierce artillery battle is about to begin.

----

12 hours later.

Podolskov finally heard the deputy commander's order in his headset: "All tanks stop, set up camp on the spot, and wait for the maintenance battalion to come forward."

He immediately ordered: "Okay, Ivan, stop the car!"

The tank came to a sudden stop with its brakes, its engine grumbling loudly.

Ivan climbed out of the cockpit and cursed, "I know there's a big problem just by hearing that sound. I have to check it carefully. Maybe when the maintenance team comes up, I'll have to replace the engine."

Podolskov: "I leave it to you."

As he spoke, he took off his headphones and threw them on the top cover of the turret along with the microphone, then turned around to look at the back of the turret.

The engine grille was empty, with only blood and minced meat everywhere.

"Sukabulie!" Podolskov cursed.

(End of this chapter)