artillery arc

Chapter 691: Proson's Defense
August 8, Plossen, Army Group South Headquarters.

Marshal Shiplin placed his marshal's baton on the table, put on a monocle, and looked at the four armored division commanders who had just been transferred to his command.

"It looks like the food on the Western Front is pretty good." Marshal Shiplin teased, "The Kingdom of Sardinia and the Carolingian Empire are both rich in delicious food, which is understandable."

The division commander standing on the far right shouted: "Report to the Marshal, we have not neglected training for a moment!"

Marshal Shiplin: "You are all experienced veterans. You should know that training and actual combat are different! You are facing the Ant Guard Armored Forces. They may lack training, but they are veterans who have been tempered in actual combat. Their experience and courage are different from the enemies you have faced before.

"Especially the troops under Rokossov's command. You'd better forget all the bullshit that the Imperial Propaganda Minister said. Remember what I said. The Ants are terrible warriors. They are experienced and courageous. Those who despised them have all gone to hell."

The armored division commanders had stern faces and serious expressions.

Marshal Shiplin: “Especially Rokossov’s new tanks, because we haven’t captured a complete tank yet, and we don’t have the time to study the wreckage of the tank. We don’t know where its weaknesses are, and the memories of the veterans who have fought against them may be biased.

"If you don't handle it carefully, you will get into trouble."

"Marshal, we dealt with Carolingian heavy tanks during the Carolingian Campaign. We know how to fight against these things that we cannot defeat with armor-piercing shells for the time being," said a division commander.

Marshal Shiplin shook his head: "No, you don't understand, Rokossov and his troops are different. Although his troops have fought many arduous battles, they have more veterans than other ANT troops, so they are not only brave in battle, but also cunning like foxes.

"This is a terrifying enemy that the Empire has never encountered before. In addition, I am very worried that except for the four divisions of yours that have just been transferred here, the replenishment status of our other troops is very poor.

"Some divisions only received 24 tanks! Can you believe it? 24! And aerial reconnaissance showed that Rokossov had already concentrated thousands of tanks.

"Including hundreds of new tanks that have beaten us so hard before. With just these armored forces, Rokossov can launch a very powerful offensive."

"Your Excellency Marshal," said the commander of the 29th Division, "We still have the Tiber River. Tanks cannot cross the river underwater. The Empire's underwater tanks are simply incapable of being developed by the Ants!"

Marshal Shiplin: "Do you think we can hold the beach? Do you know how many reinforcements our infantry divisions have received? So far, only 10 battalions have been added. They said that by September 10, 140 battalions can be added, but what can 140 battalions do?

"You guys came from the Western Front, so you may not know the consumption on the Eastern Front. Yesterday was a relatively calm day on the Southern Front, but our army also suffered more than 5,000 casualties! This is the result of the enemy's artillery, snipers, and night-time undercover reconnaissance troops!
"140 battalions with men were all lost in just half a month! Do you think our shabby infantry divisions, relying on the fortifications we have repaired in the past ten days, can stop Rokossov's attack?
"Damn it, why did they send us armored divisions but not infantry divisions?"

The commander of the 29th unit asked solemnly, "Has the fortification not been repaired yet?"

"We just fled across the river in early August, leaving no time for building fortifications. Moreover, our workers in Khazaria are starting to slack off as they see liberation coming. Cement and various materials needed for building fortifications are now becoming extremely scarce." Shiplin also looked helpless.

29th Division Commander: "Why don't you let the Imperial Household Ministry and the Military Police arrest people?"

"They are no longer afraid. When the military police catch them, they will laugh at them and say, 'Kill me, and then when our troops arrive in your hometown, we will treat your relatives, friends, wife and children the same way we treat us.'"

The commander of the 15th Armored Division, who had been listening, couldn't stand it any longer: "Then kill them all!"

Shiplin: "Killing them won't help them build fortifications, and they might even make them dawdle. When I was in the Eagle's Nest, I disdained your Majesty's judgment that Rokossov would attack in September, but after just a few days back, I realized that if Rokossov really seized this opportunity and attacked in September, we would be in great danger. "Your Majesty believes that Rokossov did this to achieve a surprise victory. I would say that Rokossov was in a hurry to attack in order to seize the gap that we were not prepared for. If it weren't for your four new armored divisions as a fresh force, we would definitely be pierced by Rokossov like paper."

Several armored division commanders held their heads high and said, "We will definitely live up to everyone's expectations!"

Marshal Shiplin raised his voice: "You must do this! If you don't, the South will collapse! The entire flank of Army Group Center will be exposed! Next year Rokossov will definitely choose a right hook and go straight to the Baltic Sea from Melania. Then it will be over. Army Group Center and Army Group North will be surrounded and can only retreat from the Baltic Sea."

The commander of the 15th suit spoke up: “We were on the train and saw that the border between Melania and Khasalia was already a fortified area. I think it will not be easy for Rokossov to break through Melania.

"Melania's guards have been fighting with Melania's national army for many years and have rich combat experience, especially urban warfare experience. It is unlikely that Rokossov will be able to quickly take over so many modern cities."

Shiplin: "You have to remember that many of Rokossov's troops were awarded the title of Guards in the Battle of Abavakhan. They know how to fight in urban warfare. Moreover, they have a new assault gun prepared for urban warfare! It's called the Urban Cannon! What a funny name."

As he was speaking, a major general of the Asgard Knights entered the headquarters and saluted Shiplin: "Report, the 504th Independent Tank Destroyer Battalion has arrived! We are all equipped with the latest Panzer IV tank destroyers!"

Shiplin was not impressed: "Tank destroyer? Why didn't I hear that an independent Panzer IV tank destroyer battalion would be sent to the front? I thought these Panzer IV destroyers would be used to supplement those divisions that were in urgent need of tanks!"

Major General Asgard smiled and said, "You must have thought that this type of tank destroyer was modified from the chassis of the Panzer IV tank and ignored them, thinking that they were just consumables, but this type of tank destroyer is equipped with a 70-caliber long-barreled 75mm gun, and has the same firepower as the latest Panther tank!

"This is not just an emergency measure. It will severely damage all the Ante Armored Soldiers who underestimate it!"

The commander of the 75th tank sneered: "This is not an emergency product. It's just a long-barreled mm gun with a caliber of times. Why not just give it to the Type tank? Tanks with turrets are more trustworthy!"

The commander of the 29th tank said: "The Type 43 is already very heavy, with a -caliber long-barreled gun and additional armor welded on it, which often shatters the first pair of road wheels.

"I can't imagine getting another 70 times the sutra."

Another armored division commander said: "The turret was removed to reduce a lot of weight, and then a 70-caliber gun was inserted. Did the designers get it? They stopped wasting tonnage?"

At this time, Shiplin raised his hand to stop the whispering of the division commanders, and said to the commander of the 504th Independent Tank Destroyer Battalion: "You are assigned to the river east of Loktov. There is a shallow beach there, which is likely to be attacked. You should reinforce the 340th Infantry Division defending there and let them help you dig a good annihilation bunker.

"To prove that the tanks you have obtained are not just for the job, you should attack Ant's attacking force right there!"

"Yes!" The Major General of the Asgard Knights saluted, turned and left.

The Army Group Chief of Staff came over and whispered, "Using the Panzer IV hull as a tank destroyer means that either the turret production can't keep up, or the production capacity can't keep up, so we have to shorten the production time and make something emergency to deal with it."

Shiplin shook his head: "Forget it, we just need to take the ready-made equipment and do our duty."

(End of this chapter)