Arc of Gunfire

Lieutenant Ilyich of the 17th Guards Tank Brigade returned to his tank platoon after a meeting at the brigade headquarters. He was surprised to find that all the tank crews were looking in the same direction.

He turned his head to look in confusion, only to see a flash of red far away.

"What's going on?" he muttered.

"Lieutenant Davarisi, they said that the general came and marked the last heavy tank with the tactical number of 422." The deputy platoon leader who came to greet him said excitedly, "The general is going to charge with us!"

Lieutenant Ilyich looked at the deputy platoon leader suspiciously: "I wasn't notified at the brigade headquarters meeting? Do you really want to come?"

"The red flags are all up!" the deputy platoon leader pointed into the distance, "Look, the red flag is as red as the rising sun!"

Lieutenant Ilyich looked at the red flag again and found that the deputy platoon leader was right. The red flag was the same as the rising sun.

He waved his hand: "Don't worry about the red flag. The commander is here for a meeting and will tell you today's mission!"

The deputy platoon leader turned around and waved his hand: "Come on, today's mission is here!"

The commanders came running together, and some of them joked while running: "What else is there to do? Just step on the accelerator and rush forward. When the heavy tank is there, rush with the heavy tank. If the heavy tank breaks down, rush alone."

Lieutenant Ilyich glanced at the speaker and nodded: "That's true, but it's better to understand how to replenish the tank and how to contact the tank army when the tank runs out."

As soon as he finished speaking, another commander asked: "Is it General Rokossov who wants to personally lead our charge?"

Lieutenant Ilyich looked up and answered truthfully: "I don't know, the brigade headquarters didn't get the news. You can't see the red flag and think that General Rokossov personally charged. In fact, most of the time the general will not go to the front line in person." ”

The deputy platoon leader immediately took over: "When he goes to the front line in person, it means the situation is very dangerous. I heard that every time the general goes to the front line in person, only one tenth of the people who participate in the battle survive, but the general is sure The one who survived!"

At this time, the platoon priest finally couldn't help it: "Don't demonize the general! This is the enemy's trick! Seek truth from facts! In battles where the general personally participates, the sacrifice rate is only one-half!"

"Yeah! Okay." The commander shrugged, "That's pretty awesome!"

Lieutenant Ilyich coughed: "Okay, stop talking nonsense, remember today's supply location and radio call sign."

"yes!"

The commanders all lowered their heads and began to copy the contents of Ilyich's notebook, while he looked at the red flag again.

At this time, the messenger came running over on horseback: "Get ready to go! Get ready to go!"

Echoing the shouts of the messengers, three signal flares were launched into the sky in the distance.

Ilyich shouted: "Okay, start the tanks! Follow the heavy tanks forward!"

————

Podolkov found that it took a lot of perseverance to resist the urge to look back at the red flag.

He always felt itchy on the back of his neck and had to turn his head to relieve the symptom.

His back also felt tingling, as if he was basking in the sun with his bare back on the beach, and the sun was directly burning his skin.

But when he looked back, the red flag just fluttered quietly and did not emit a scorching light.

The infantry chaplain riding in the tank saw him like this and said, "This is a psychological effect. You have placed expectations on the red flag, so you always feel that the red flag is responding to you. This is in line with scientific laws. We have done it There are many experiments to verify this kind of thing.”

"Oh, right." Podolkov nodded, but immediately asked, "Really? Isn't this really some apparition of a saint? It's like a divine arrow. It's obviously just an ordinary rocket, but it can track the enemy. Tanks and planes!"

The military priest was silent for a few seconds before replying: "I can only tell you that psychology has given an explanation. As for whether this is a natural phenomenon that we have not yet been able to explain, I don't know. But all natural phenomena, including The guidance of the divine arrow will be explained in the future, and it will be explained when technology develops to a certain extent!"

Podolkov nodded, finding that he had to bite his lip repeatedly to resist the urge to ask questions.

Then, just like yesterday, a radio call came from the earphones from the light reconnaissance battalion scouting in front of the tank attack line: "Enemy tanks! We are in contact with enemy tanks! The number of enemy tanks... uh, only about 30! How few! And look It’s a captured T34!”

(Here the reconnaissance battalion identified the Leopard as T34)

Another voice sounded on the radio: "Isn't that right? Why do Prossen have so many T34s?"

"You can't be wrong. The enemy's tanks are all vertically armored. These are all sloped armor. They must be T34! And those wide tracks. We have seen many of Proson's No. 4s. Where can there be such wide tracks!"

Podolkov frowned and relayed the radio communication of the reconnaissance battalion to the whole car: "The reconnaissance battalion reported that there was a T34 captured by the enemy ahead! Pay attention to identification! Don't confuse yourself with the enemy!"

Gunner: "Don't worry, the enemy is charging towards us, and the car is facing behind. How can we admit our mistake?"

Podolkov: "That's true."

At this time, another exclamation came from the earphones: "Ivan's group is close up, and they are going to fire the rocket launcher! The rocket launcher hits the front! Wait a minute, it seems that the angle of incidence is not good, and the enemy did not stop!"

Podolkov frowned.

Although the rocket launcher newly equipped by the infantry can sometimes penetrate the enemy is very mysterious, but the T34's frontal shot should have a high probability of being penetrated.

Could it be that Proson strengthened his frontal defense?

There were already gunshots on the radio, and among the crackling sounds, the person who had just reported shouted: "The enemy's firepower is fierce, we may not be able to get back, armored troops, come up quickly! Come up quickly!"

Podolkov: "Ivan, can you go faster?"

"No, listen to the noise of the gearbox. This old guy is about to fall asleep! He hasn't changed the gearbox to support it. It's already very difficult! Stop being so harsh on it!"

As he spoke, the dust from enemy tank troops appeared in front of him.

It is true that the scale of the dust was much smaller than that of the large enemy forces with more than 80 vehicles in the previous two days. The reconnaissance team did not lie.

Podolkov held up the binoculars to see if the enemy had captured the T34.

Soon, the outline of an enemy tank appeared.

This sloped armor does look a bit like the T34 from a distance, but Podolkov soon discovered that these tanks were taller than the T34, and much taller, with thicker "necks".

He picked up the radio microphone and shouted: "The enemy's tank is not a T34! Repeat, it is not a T34! This may be a new tank of the Prossens! We are about to encounter the enemy's new tank!"

The next moment, the Prosen tank suddenly stopped and opened fire.

The Revenge was hit immediately, and the shell bounced off the angled outer armor without any surprise.

But Podolkov felt that the sparks caused by the shells were a bit exaggerated, so he shouted to the driver: "Ivan, look back at the armor on the side of the car and see how deep the scratches are!"

"I've seen it. The enemy's tank gun has a much stronger penetration capability than the No. 4 long barrel!"

Podolkov scolded: "Sukabule, the T34 brigade following us will suffer! The Guards heavy tank calls the 17th Guards Tank Brigade! The enemy is a new type of tank, and the gun penetration is higher! Be careful!"

However, the Prossens had already passed the Revenge and opened fire on the T34 group behind.

Podolkov turned around and saw two T34s bursting into flames. Members covered in fire climbed out of the tanks and rolled on the ground.

Further away, two T34s stopped, and the members were jumping out of the tanks and crawling on the ground.

The enemy continued to fire, shells flying past the Revenge on both sides.

Podolkov: "Aim at the enemy tank directly in front, Ivan, emergency stop in seven seconds, start!"

The tank braked, and the gunner, who was already familiar with the performance of the tank gun, took advantage of the swing of the gun barrel and fired directly.

The Prosen tank in front was immediately hit and burst into flames.

The penetration capability of the 100mm gun is obviously enough to restrain the armor of the enemy's new tanks.

But the enemy ignored the Revenge and continued to fire at the T34 group behind.

Podolkov was so anxious that he suddenly remembered that he still had red flags.

So he picked up the radio and shouted: "I'm General Rokossov! Shoot at me, you bastards! Don't you see the red flag?"

After shouting, he realized that the enemy was a Prosen people and generally did not understand the Ant language.

But Podoslikov did not understand Plosin.

While he was scratching his head, two shells hit the Revenge at the same time!

Ivan shouted in surprise: "The enemy's son, aim at us!"

The infantry chaplain standing behind the turret also shouted: "The enemy seems to be outflanking us! They plan to surround us!"

Podolskov: "Get out of the car. The enemy will definitely get closer in order to penetrate us. You just use the rocket launcher to deal with them! Remember not to hit the front, it may not be able to penetrate!"

Infantry Priest: "Okay! I wish you good luck! Davarich, get out of the car!"

The infantrymen responded in unison and jumped out of the vehicle in high spirits.