Arc of Gunfire

Erwin took the camera specially customized for him by Leica and clicked the shutter on the beach piled with debris and crowded with surrendering soldiers.

The top commander on the beach hurried over and saluted Erwin: "Congratulations, Marshal, on your brilliant victory."

Erwin nodded and looked towards the sea: "Where has the enemy's fleet gone?"

"The Imperial Academy of Sciences invested in new anti-ship missiles and launched a total of 200 missiles. Six of them successfully resisted enemy interference and hit the target. Then the enemy fleet retreated."

Erwin snorted: "Six out of 200, no kid from the Scout camp would have such a bad target shooting score!"

All the generals present looked embarrassed.

The liaison officer of the Imperial Academy of Sciences was also embarrassed. After all, the hit rate was really ugly. Only Technical Lieutenant Colonel Oliver May of the 603 Technical Test Group in charge of missile launches loudly defended: "The enemy released jamming chaff and also used Other interference measures can hit enemy ships in so many chaffs, which shows that our weapons are reliable and efficient!”

Erwin turned his head and pointed to the sea: "But I didn't see any Allied ships being sunk. Is it because these ships were out of sight? Your Excellency Air Force Colonel Franz, has the Air Force seen the Imperial Academy of Sciences? Is the victory achieved? As far as I know, it takes several hours for a large warship to sink!"

The Air Force colonel shook his head: "Our observation plane clearly saw that the Allied cruiser that was hit safely evacuated the battlefield. In addition, what Technical Lieutenant Colonel Oliver May just said was wrong. There were indeed many missiles that were interfered with by chaff, but they were intercepted by the enemy. "Almost as many missiles were shot down by anti-aircraft artillery as were lost to jamming."

Lieutenant Colonel Oliver May: "What?"

Air Force Colonel Franz: "The missiles of the Imperial Academy of Sciences are too big, and although they are very fast, their ability to penetrate the enemy's anti-aircraft fire network using VT fuzes is really low.

"To be honest, if the Air Force dispatches 200 Stukas, it will definitely get more than 6 hits."

Oliver May: "But if the Stuka is shot down, a pilot and a rear seat gunner will be lost. When our army completely loses sea control, these valuable talents will become prisoners."

The naval officers present were embarrassed.

The Prosen Navy has just lost its last large ship in the Kingdom of Sardinia theater, and now only destroyers and torpedo boats are available.

Moreover, the Plosen navy's air defense capability is very weak and it is very afraid of Allied aircraft, so it can only operate within the cover of the air force.

Colonel Franz still wanted to defend, but Marshal Erwin raised his hand: "Okay, the enemy fleet has been driven away, and it is a fact that we cannot provide naval gun support. Originally, we planned to use the K5 train gun to drive away the enemy's battleships. It is a pity that The train gun’s rate of fire is too slow to effectively attack enemy warships that are constantly moving on the sea.”

"General," the marshal's adjutant took a step forward, "our artillery in Navarone has been built, using radar to provide shooting elements. The fort is built inside the cliff. It is completely impossible for the enemy's bomber pilots to crash into the cliff unless they risk their lives. Destroy these two cannons! It is impossible for the enemy to launch any more landing operations within the range covered by the cannons."

Marshal Erwin: "No matter whether the enemy lands or not, and where they land, we will drive them into the sea."

He handed the camera to the adjutant and looked at the rough Adriatic Sea with his hands behind his back: "In Mamluk, the supplies limited my performance! Now we have sufficient supplies, the Allied Marie, and the Adriatic Ke, they are no match for me!”

After a brief pause, Erwin said: "I want to go to the Eastern Front now and meet that Rokossov. Is it time for him to be promoted to marshal?"

Adjutant: "According to the latest news, he has indeed been promoted to marshal."

Erwin: "Very good, I believe the duel with him will be very enjoyable!"

At this time, the communications staff officer came over, stood at attention and saluted: "Your Majesty, Marshal, your Majesty's phone number."

Erwin: "The phone line was closed so quickly?"

Communications staff officer: "On the way here, we left people behind to pull the phone lines to ensure direct communication with the Eagle's Nest."

Erwin nodded and strode towards the command vehicle. Another staff officer was already waiting for him at the door of the command vehicle with a phone in hand.

Taking the receiver, Marshal Erwin said loudly: "Your Majesty, I salute you. Congratulations on another victory!"

"Is it your victory, Lord Erwin? Or should I call you teacher? You taught me my infantry offensive tactics."

Marshal Erwin: "Are you still concerned about the B- I gave you?"

The emperor was obviously in a good mood and laughed loudly: "If you didn't mention it, I would have forgotten it."

Emperor Prossen had to receive a military school education. Erwin was the school's new infantry instructor. However, because the old instructors did not dare to teach the emperor, the job was left to him.

After the pleasantries, the emperor's tone suddenly became serious: "Marshal Erwin, let me ask you, if I appoint you as the commander-in-chief of the Western Front Command to command the Plossen Army of the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Carolingian Kingdom, do you have the confidence to do so? Competent?"

Marshal Erwin: "I would rather go to the Eastern Front, where the situation is very critical, and fight with Marshal Rokossov."

"Grandma, grandma, grandma! (meaning 'no' in Prosen language)" the emperor's voice rose an octave.

“When you arrive on the Eastern Front, it will take at least a few months to familiarize yourself with the situation, and Rokosov’s next offensive is imminent.

"The generals believed that Rokossov might launch an attack when the muddy period was over and the river was frozen. They also plausibly said that Rokossov liked to take advantage of the advantages winter brought to Ant!

"Their opinions are very reasonable from a military perspective, but they did not take Rokosov into account! I know it all too well!"

The Emperor sounded very confident.

"Rokosov will definitely attack in September. If the generals think that he will rest until early November and use the ice to attack, then he will definitely cross the river in September!

"He has been using this method to tease our well-trained Junkers officer corps and achieve great victories again and again!

"I firmly believe that Rokossov will cross the Tiber in September!"

Marshal Erwin frowned slightly. In fact, he did not agree with the emperor's speculation. Using "knowledge of the enemy generals" to make judgments was too outrageous no matter how he thought about it.

But he did not refute: "But if we attack in September, there won't be much we can do besides changing generals, right?"

"Of course." The emperor paused, "We have a total of nine armored divisions in Carolingian and Sardinia, and you have four under your name. If I appoint you as the commander-in-chief of the Western Front, are you confident that you can use four Can one armored division withstand the Allied attack?"

Marshal Erwin frowned: "Four armored divisions? Guard Sardinia and Carolingian?"

"Yes, you have already fought with the Allies. Before you, Marshal Catherine also fought with them in Sicily. One division of 29 units caused huge trouble to the Allies."

Marshal Erwin sighed: "Your Majesty, this can't be done."

"Why? You used two Mamluk armored divisions plus a light armored division to hit the outskirts of Alexandria!" The emperor's tone became serious.

The marshal did not back down: "That's because the Mamluks looked vast, but in fact the main settlements were very concentrated, and the actual combat area was not large. But the Carolingian, Flanders and Burgundian battlefields were quite vast, and the It would take at least three armored divisions to hold Lorraine.

"The Kingdom of Sardin also needs at least three armored divisions!"

After a brief silence, the emperor said: "Five armored divisions, no more. I will transfer four fully equipped armored divisions to the eastern front to give Rokosov a head-on attack on the Tiber River! This is It’s much simpler and more effective than mobilizing you!”

Marshal Erwin: "Okay, when will these four armored divisions come back?"

"After defeating Rokossov's winter offensive, they will be transferred back to the western front. By then the armored divisions on the eastern front have been replenished, and they will have enough Panther tanks and King Tigers. We will target Rokossov's It’s time for the ‘Steel Helmet Head’ tank to be manufactured!” the emperor assured.

"I understand." The marshal stood in front of the phone with his head held high, "I promise to complete the mission."

"Very well, then I have other things to do, that's it."

The emperor took the initiative to hang up the phone.

When the marshal handed the microphone back to the communications staff officer, the adjutant asked with concern: "What's wrong?"

"His Majesty appointed me commander-in-chief of the entire Western Front, commanding our troops in the Carolingians and Sardinia."

All the officers immediately applauded: "Congratulations, Marshal!"

"Congratulations!"

Erwin waved his hand: "Don't rush to congratulate, His Majesty is about to transfer two of our four armored divisions, and two of the five armored divisions in the Carolingian direction will also be transferred!"

The adjutant frowned: "How could this be? Your Majesty's armored divisions on the Western Front had always had a high priority for equipment replacement. This year, new tanks were provided to the Eastern Front first, and all the improved models of No. 3 and No. 4 were replenished first. On the Eastern Front, are we going to deploy armored divisions on the Western Front again?”

Erwin once again returned to the rock overlooking the beach, looking towards the Adriatic Sea with his hands behind his back: "Maybe my success made him feel that the Allies were not afraid, and he was determined to mobilize the power of the Western Front."

The chief of staff of the Sardinian Army Group muttered: "We have galloped through the Carolingian plains before, and it was too difficult to defend three armored divisions. Especially in the Norman area, where there are hedges everywhere, it is very unsuitable for armored forces to fight. But counterattack requires armored forces."

Erwin: "His Majesty said that as long as we hold on until the end of this year, and then the eastern front stops Rokossov's offensive, we will mobilize the troops back."

All the officers present were silent, because since the beginning of the war, as long as Rokossov attacked, the Prosen army has not blocked it once.

Yes, not once - even though Rokosov has always been called the Imperial Iron Wall by the Ants.

Erwin looked at the Adriatic Sea again and found that the sea surface was dyed red by the setting sun.

He suddenly smiled: "Now the showdown with the Allies has become interesting. Right?"

All the generals looked at each other.