Arc of Gunfire

On the second day of the attack, at 1510 hours, the 1st Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment of the Ant Guards broke through.

Commander Podolkov heard the sound of engines in the sky and grabbed an anti-aircraft machine gun, preparing to fight the air attack.

At this time, a radio call in Ant language came from the earphone: "This is the 25th Destroyer Regiment, this is the 25th Destroyer Regiment, please answer the tank unit! Please answer the tank unit!"

Podolkov: "This is the 1st Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment. I heard the sound of your engine. Please speak."

"In front of you are the Prosen tank troops that have already formed. I wish you good luck."

Podolkov: "Do you see the composition of the enemy?"

"There are quite a few Changguan No. 4s, but we haven't seen the new tanks that the front army headquarters specifically asked us to pay attention to."

"I know, thank you." When Podolkov responded, two Yak figures appeared in the sky, which should be the comrades of the 25th Destroyer Regiment.

Podolkov picked up a rag and waved it toward the sky.

Two Yaks, one on the left and one on the right, passed by Podolkov's tank in the air, and the pilot could vaguely be seen saluting the tank.

As soon as the plane passed by, someone shouted on the radio: "Guard heavy tanks, here are coyotes, here are coyotes, there is a lot of smoke ahead."

Immediately afterwards, the voice of the commander of the 1st Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment appeared on the radio: "I know, coyotes, you guys stay out of the way and don't cause unnecessary casualties. Let us deal with the enemy's tanks. Our new heavy tanks are not afraid at all." them!"

Podolkov shouted: "Avenge my heroic brother, Alexey Podolkov!"

Immediately the radio rang with shouts: "My sister Shuya takes revenge!"

"Avenge my father!"

"Revenge for my best friend Semyon!"

Podolkov always felt that after he roared, the speeding tanks ran faster.

A small plume of smoke soon appeared in front. Podolkov raised his binoculars and saw several Willys jeeps speeding across the grassland. He picked up the microphone and said, "This is the Heroic Brother's Revenge. I see coyotes." ”

Coyote is the radio call sign of the light reconnaissance battalion assigned to the 1st Guards Heavy Penetration Tank Regiment, who are responsible for driving Willys Jeeps to clear the way in front of the tank regiment.

While he was talking, Coyote's jeep passed by the Revenge, and the ensign driving the car shouted to Podolkov: "Show them how good they are! It depends on whether you can get the gold star this time!"

Podolskov: "It doesn't matter whether we take the Venus or not! As long as we can kill the Prosins!"

"Then you have to kill more!"

The scouts had already run away while they were talking.

The regimental commander's order came over the radio: "Put down the infantry in each vehicle and don't let them get involved in the tank battle."

Podolkov turned back to the infantrymen sitting on the radiator grille and shouted: "Get down, guys, it's a tank-on-tank battle ahead!"

The infantry sergeant leading the team grinned: "Let's get closer before we get off the car. Have you forgotten what we have?"

As he spoke, he patted the new weapon on his shoulder: the rocket launcher.

Podolkov smiled and said: "Okay, we will make an emergency stop and fire the gun later. At that time, you can get out of the car and be careful not to be run over by your own people."

"Okay!"

At this time, the private behind the sergeant pointed forward: "Look!"

Podolskov immediately turned around and saw the sky full of smoke and dust in front of him, as if there was a sandstorm blowing on the grassland!

Sergeant: "Hey, dear, this smoke reminds me of the spring sandstorms in my hometown."

"Spring in my hometown?"

"Yes, in spring in our hometown, there will be sandstorms. The yellow sand raised from the Gobi Desert in the west will cover the entire grassland. If you don't cover your face when you go out, your skin will become like an 80-year-old man in one day. Rough.”

Podolskov was speechless: "I must go and see it if I have the chance. I haven't been to our country in the east yet."

As he spoke, he raised his telescope and observed the billowing smoke.

————

Major Hans of the 66th Armored Battalion of Prosen was on the turret of his command tank, observing the billowing smoke in front.

"It looks like there aren't many enemies in the front, only about 20 vehicles." He radioed to the entire battalion of soldiers, "Destroy them!"

It should be said that the Prosen armored troops were indeed elite. Without any advance reconnaissance, they could directly determine the number of enemies based on the size of the smoke and dust.

Unfortunately, they did not expect that the 1st Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment opposite them had all been equipped with Rokosov I heavy tanks.

The front and sides of this thing are basically exempt from the 48 times caliber long-barreled 75mm gun of the Panzer IV.

To penetrate the Rokossov Type 1, Major Hans's soldiers had to break into a distance of 400 meters from the heavy tank, which completely violated the engagement rules of the Prosen Armored Corps.

Prosen armored soldiers habitually rely on their superb shooting skills to fire at long distances.

Major Hans turned back and glanced at the billowing smoke raised by his armored battalion. He confidently raised his hand and slashed forward: "Armor, move forward! Crush them!"

————

"Expand the formation!" the regiment leader's order came through the radio. "The enemy is more numerous than us. Fully expand the formation to ensure that we will not be flanked by a large number of enemy tanks!"

Podolkov: "Commander, have you forgotten that the back of our new tanks is just as reliable?"

"Asshole, what I'm worried about is that our turret speed can't keep up with the enemy! If Long-Gun No. 4 hits us at close range, we can still jam the turret seat or penetrate the weak points. Don't take it lightly, the enemy is an elite armored force! Very elite. !”

The group leader responded seriously.

Podolkov said nothing more, silently gave the command, and distanced himself from the escort car.

At this time the gunner shouted: "The enemy tank has entered the effective range!"

Before Podolkov could answer, the wingman opened fire, and the muzzle blast even hit Podolkov's face.

Podolkov: "Ivan (pilot), listen to my command. If I say yes, you will make an emergency stop for seven seconds! Sergey (gunner), aim at the enemy you just measured the range!"

So the "Revenge"'s turret slightly turned sideways about five degrees, and the helicopter also adjusted slightly.

"Aim completed!" the gunner shouted.

"Emergency stop!"

The tank stopped immediately, and the body swayed back and forth - after all, in order to pursue productivity and reliability, the suspension system of the Rokosov I heavy tank was relatively simple and rough, and the stability was not particularly good.

As soon as the shaking stopped, Sergei opened fire.

The smoke and dust raised by the muzzle storm suddenly blocked Podolkov's vision, making him unable to see the target's condition for a while.

The next moment, the tank started up and rushed forward, spraying dust from the fire, and Podolkov saw the Panzer IV burst into flames.

Before he could be happy, an armor-piercing round hit the tank's turret, causing a string of sparks to fly past his ear.

He was unhurt, and the infantry sergeant behind the turret shouted: "Vasily!"

Podolkov turned around and saw a private carrying a rocket launcher falling to the left and falling outside the tank body.

"Tell you to get out of the car! We have armor protection, but you don't!"

Sergeant: "The enemy is still more than one kilometer away, and it's useless for us to get out of the car now! Transport us a little further!"

Just as Podolkov was about to respond, the loader's voice came from the earphones: "Okay!"

Gunner Sergey urged: "Commander! Indicate the target!"