Arc of Gunfire

At 0300 hours on July 8, the headquarters of the 2nd Armored Corps in Asgard, Plossen.

Weidel, commander of the Second Armored Corps, was listening to the final report before the start of the offensive.

"The current number of tanks in our army has been restored to 100, 27 of which are new King Tiger tanks No. 6. These tanks were supposed to be launched into the counterattack on the 3rd, but the poor road conditions prevented these tanks from moving to the starting position in time. "The military chief of staff raised his head after reading and looked at Weidel.

Weidel sighed: "100 tanks. When we hit the remaining 100 tanks a year ago, the Ants had already lost thousands of tanks!"

Chief of Staff: "The enemy's Rokosov I tanks and Vortex anti-tank destroyers are very effective. Although our new weapons have also arrived at the front line, most of them have broken down on the road. It is not our responsibility, General. ”

Weidel was silent for a few seconds and asked: "How many troops are expected to be in front of us in front of the enemy?"

"According to reports from the aerial reconnaissance and motorized reconnaissance battalion, the enemy we are facing is the 1st Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment, the 11th, 17th, 24th and 26th Guards Tank Brigades. It is said that the 1st Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank The regiment was led by Rokosov himself."

Weidel turned around sharply: "Are there so many?"

The chief of staff hurriedly explained: "Ante's armored brigade is actually not as well organized as our armored battalion. The number of tanks in their brigade is roughly equal to half of our battalion."

Weidel: "But the number of tanks we have is only equivalent to one battalion."

An armored battalion in Prosen can have 90 to 110 tanks. Now the Second Armored Army only has 100 tanks left in combat readiness, which is not the establishment of a battalion.

Chief of Staff: "The enemy also lost a lot of tanks. Today we predict that the enemy will only have about a hundred tanks that can attack us."

Weidel: "Then why does everyone look so sad?"

"Because the intelligence we have received shows that the frontal enemy is also supported by a brigade of new assault guns, the kind with a 100mm main gun. And they probably used the past two days to build defensive positions."

Weidel: "Is that so? What you're saying is that we definitely can't push back the enemy's attack today, right?"

The chief of staff hesitated for a while and replied: "Yes. In addition to armored units, the Ants also have a large number of infantry. A large part of the infantry units in Rokossov's hands are caped Guards veterans. They are all Having received education in hatred, my fighting spirit is high.”

As soon as the chief of staff finished speaking, one of the officers who came to the meeting said: "I don't think they need hate education, they will hate us."

Everyone turned to look at the lieutenant colonel who spoke.

The lieutenant colonel spread out his hands: "Don't you know what we do in our homes? If the Ant people have hatred education, the teachers of this education are ourselves."

Weidel: "Be careful what you say, Lieutenant Colonel Finn. We will not report our companions to the military police and the Imperial Household Ministry, but that doesn't mean they won't hear."

"Thanks for the reminder."

Weidel: "This is the situation. We will launch an attack at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. After destroying the enemy's tank troops, we will continue to advance towards the enemy's infantry troops and completely cut off the enemy's attack spearhead.

"You may have heard that the Third Armored Army has collapsed, and even the military headquarters was destroyed by the Ants. We received many defeated troops of the Third Armored Army.

“But we still have to attack, because we are the Knights of Asgard and the Plosin soldiers. In the long history of Plosin, the Plosin soldiers have never refused to fight because they are destined to lose.

"Disband!"

All school-level officers on the scene stood up, preparing to return to their units and participate in this final counterattack.

I don’t know who suddenly started:

No matter it's a strong wind, a blizzard, or the scorching sun!

This is the Plossen military song "The Panzer Song", which every Plossin tanker can sing.

Then everyone else who was about to leave stopped and joined in the chorus:

Whether it's a hot day or an icy night.

Even if the dust blows in our faces, we are still in a happy mood and happy!

Everyone sang and stamped their feet in time with the rhythm, and the sound of leather boots hitting the ground neatly was like a war drum.

Our tanks were racing, heading in the direction of the storm.

Accompanied by the roar of the motor, we were as fast as lightning, and under the protection of armor, we faced the enemy.

Weidel looked at his subordinates who held their heads high, his expression gradually softened, and finally, he sang along with his subordinates:

Once the enemy's army appears in front of us, just fill up the throttle and rush straight into the enemy camp!

What is our value?

What's the value?

It is our highest honor to die in battle for our motherland.

The passionate melody of the song rushed out of the small room and into the sky.

A touch of fish belly white appeared on the eastern horizon, and the entire sky was dyed a glaze color by the early morning light.

The song reaches its final stretch.

The officers of the Second Asgard Armored Corps sang in unison:

If fate abandons us,

If we can no longer return to our hometown,

If a bullet shoots at us and ends our fate,

End your destiny!

At least our faithful chariot will give us a steel tomb!

————

The assembly area of ​​the 1st Heavy Breakthrough Tank Brigade of the Ant Guards, 0600 hours on July 8.

Podolskov returned to his team's tent with a sad face and told everyone: "No way, then Lao Deng just won't sign and the gearbox and engine will have to be replaced."

The driver Ivan shrugged: "Then let's get a T34 and drive it. We can kill the Prossens."

The loader was very worried and said: "The T34 must not be able to defeat the enemy's new tanks, right? The fishing rod cannon, even the Rokosov-type armor is not enough. Our Revenge was almost penetrated. It should be The armor of the Rokosov I has been strengthened.”

The gunner patted the loader on the back: "So what? We are not afraid of sacrifice, just death."

Podolskov: "No, no, you have to live to get revenge! General Rokossov taught us to preserve ourselves and destroy the enemy. What's the sound?"

He stopped talking and turned to look in the direction of the sound.

The rest of the crew came to him and stood in a row, looking in the same direction.

"Violin?" the driver Ivan said hesitantly.

Podolkov nodded: "Like, but I don't know. I only heard the violin once at a concert organized by the church. It seemed to be playing some D major key. It was quite long. (It was actually Tchaikovsky. Violin Concerto in D major, Podolkov did not remember this long name)"

Driver: "I used to hear it a lot. There was always a girl playing at the intersection where I lived. Every morning when I went to work, I would see her standing next to the flower bed in the middle of the street, playing the piano."

Podolkov: "Really? Are you pursuing her?"

"How is that possible? I'm a worker and I don't even have a suit."

Podolskov: "You are right. Ask the priest! He will definitely tell you that there is no barrier between you. If you like it, you should be brave enough to pursue it!"

The driver didn't answer, he just took out the flask and took a big sip.

At this time, someone drove a seized BMW motorcycle and shouted: "A new tank is coming! A new tank is coming!"

Podolkov's crew was originally listening to the violin, but now their attention was drawn to it.

Podolkov shouted: "Pietro! What new tank?"

The man driving the BMW turned back: "This morning, aerial reconnaissance found the enemy tank assembly area, so the front army reserves moved towards us. They are all new tanks that have just arrived! New models! It is said that they have not been named yet!"

Podolkov and his men looked at each other and waved their hands energetically: "Let's go and have a look!"

After saying that, he jumped into the jeep immediately, followed by a group of people, and the Willys Jeep drove out in a matter of seconds.

A large group of people had already gathered around the new tank, and the originally empty grassland became noisy.

Someone recognized Podolkov and shouted from a distance: "Are you coming to see the new tank too?"

"Let's see what's going on!" Podolkov responded, his eyes falling on the new tank on the grassland.

This new tank is very low overall. The egg-shaped turret is a bit like the Rokosov I, but it is rounder and looks like a pot lid that is upside down on the body.

As soon as the pilot Ivan saw the pot lid, he was speechless: "It looks like its defense capabilities are very good."

The gunner's focus is on the barrel: "Is its barrel a little longer than ours? The penetration depth must be higher, which is enough to face the enemy's new tanks!"

Finally, the jeep arrived in front of the new tank. Podolkov pulled the handbrake, jumped out of the car, and shouted to the people on the tank: "What is the tonnage of this tank? It looks lighter than our tank!"

The tank driver on the egg-shaped turret replied: "It is said to be thirty tons, used to replace the T34W! Darling, this gun will definitely not be unable to penetrate the reinforced front of the No. 4."

The commander of the new tank laughed: "No. 4? Are you kidding? Our gun has been lengthened a little bit on the original basis, saying it is a precautionary measure to deal with the enemy's new tanks in the future!"

Podolskov quickly ran up to the new tank and patted the mantlet on the front of the turret: "How about this frontal defense?"

The commander of the new tank: "It is similar to the Rokosov I. The main side and rear defense of this vehicle are not as good as the Rokosov I. After all, the Rokosov I is a heavy breakthrough tank, just like the previous heavy cavalry. , to attack the enemy head-on.

"Our main goal is to run fast and have high reliability. You see, we had 45 cars when we set off, and after traveling so far, there are still 27 cars left!"

Podolkov nodded repeatedly: "Okay! Okay! Our first breakthrough tank brigade only has a few vehicles left that can fight, and they are still repaired. This is a great new tank."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone blew a whistle and drove a motorcycle from a distance. The man in the motorcycle compartment shouted with a loudspeaker: "Everyone, please return to your troops! The enemy is approaching! Damn it, don't surround the new tank." As long as you can survive, you can drive it, go back to the army!"