Steel Soviet Union

After having an organized medium tank unit, Malashenko did feel that it was much more convenient. Heavy tanks with strong armor and powerful guns and good at attacking cities often had difficulty reaching the battlefield quickly. In the past, light tanks were fragile and had weak guns. It is difficult to play a decisive role.

At this time, all we need to do is send in medium tank troops. These are excellent Soviet-made medium tanks that basically achieve the maximum balance in the three elements of firepower, mobility, and protection. Not only does it run much faster than a heavy tank, but its firepower is more powerful than its younger brother, a light tank.

As long as the opponent is not too difficult, for example, if you encounter the enemy's heavy tank group.

Medium tank troops that rush into the battlefield in groups and quickly can usually stabilize the front quickly or even directly reverse the situation! Of course it doesn't matter if there is no way to reverse the situation.

As long as they can stand firm and ensure that the troops are undefeated, the heavy tank troops that follow will play a decisive role. The most important task of the medium tank troops is to hold on until the heavy tank troops arrive. At least in the Stalin Guards 1st Tank Division, which is a mixture of light, medium and heavy tanks, the rationale and tactical arrangement are that simple.

The opponent he has to face this time is different from the past. Through advance battlefield reconnaissance intelligence, Malashenko has learned that among the German troops in front of him, there is a relatively complete organization that has received some reinforcements after withdrawing from Kursk. , the Wehrmacht Armored Division, which is considered the strongest among the surrounding theaters, is located here.

He has to stay in the center and command the main force. Being in the enemy's hinterland may encounter unexpected emergencies at any time. Malashenko clearly knows that the main force cannot do without him.

However, the person who needs to be sent to the front of the battle line to coordinate and command cannot be too low-level. Kulbalov is the most capable main force officer under Malashenko. But now Malashenko hopes that Kulbalov can stay in the nearest place and take orders at any time. It is best to be prepared at any time. This is one of the practical experiences that Malashenko has summed up.

Moreover, Kulbalov was not actually a division-level commander but a regiment-level commander, while Alexi's reconnaissance company was a unit directly under the division headquarters.

Malashenko was really worried that Alexi, a stubborn donkey, would get off his feet at a critical moment. This brat who dared to disobey his orders and change his ways to execute them would probably do some harm to Kulbalov. The orders also fell on deaf ears.

"I am a unit directly under the division headquarters. You, a regimental commander, do you care about me?"

It may sound a bit blunt and jarring, but that's really what Li'er is.

Although unlikely, it does happen.

Taking this into consideration, Malashenko decided to change his generals on the spot and instead of sending Kulbalov, he directly sent his deputy Lavrinenko.

Are you Alexi awesome? Big rack, right?

Well, you kid is playing tricks on your comrade, the division commander, who is far away in the rear area, saying, "Generals are out there, and military orders are not obeyed." The deputy division commander is riding on your face, you can't possibly still be like a stubborn donkey. Just give it up, right?

This is the second-level division-level commander under the serious old horse. To put it bluntly, if the division commander is in trouble and temporarily unable to direct the battle, then Lavrinenko has the final say in military affairs. At the very least, it should be discussed with the political commissar and the chief of staff.

If Alexi still can't be controlled, Malashenko feels that he should really deal with this bastard.

"I hope nothing happens. Alexi just needs to be patient this time."

Feeling the cold wind whistling in his ears and looking at the snow-white horizon in the distance, Malashenko, who was really worried, couldn't help but murmur to himself and said.

Lavrinenko, who received the order from Malashenko, moved very quickly. All the medium tanks in Kulbalov's main 1st Tank Regiment were mobilized and taken away by Lavrinenko. This is an entire medium tank battalion, with a total of 38 medium tanks, a force that should not be underestimated.

It is worth mentioning that Lavrinenko's vehicle is a huge and bulky IS4 heavy tank that cannot keep up. This kind of war machine is equivalent to an invincible behemoth once it arrives on the battlefield. Let alone keep up with the medium tank troops known for their high-speed mobility, even the IS6, which is also a heavy tank but is designed with high-speed mobility, can hardly catch up. superior.

Therefore, Lavrinenko, who was helpless by reality, could only temporarily change his vehicle, seconded an IS6 heavy tank from the guard heavy tank company directly under the division headquarters, and changed vehicles on the spot.

The four-man crew in two different heavy tanks quickly swapped in less than a minute. The Lavrinenko crew, which has indeed fought on the IS6 for a period of time, does not have the problem of insufficient proficiency with this equipment.

The IS6 is a high-speed heavy tank with the best maneuverability among heavy tanks. Before the birth of the IS7 equipped with a torpedo boat engine, this was the fastest heavy tank in the entire Stalin heavy tank family.

Therefore, after changing vehicles, Lavrinenko was fully able to keep up with the forward speed of the medium tank troops. The entire rapid support force rushed towards the reconnaissance force several kilometers away in a straight line at the maximum speed with the accelerator pedal pressed to death.

Although there are very few artificially dug solid roads in the wilds of the Soviet Union, the vast majority are simply dug dirt roads. But fortunately, Lavrinenko's luck was obviously pretty good this time. Along the way, the entire army basically encountered solid frozen ground.

Although the road is undulating and the ice and snow are agglomerated, which still affects the forward speed, it is still a hardened road and not a muddy snow-melted road. The medium tanks and heavy tanks equipped with winter tracks could still barely reach the speed limit. The scene of large tracts of flying snow rolled up by the tracks flying in the air behind the column and spreading everywhere was truly spectacular.

"We have entered the radio communication range, Comrade Commander. We can now directly contact the people of the reconnaissance company, and they have been connected."

In addition to loading ammunition, the loader, who was also responsible for debugging the vehicle radio and serving as an electromechanical operator, stood closest to Lavrinenko, holding a microphone in his hand and speaking. And Lavrinenko, who was already anxious, responded with a simple answer.

"Give me the microphone."

After taking the microphone, Lavrinenko was about to speak, but unexpectedly, Alexi, who already knew that the support troops were about to arrive, sent an extremely dangerous signal before Lavrinenko could.

"Calling for reinforcements, this is the reconnaissance company Alexi! The Germans have discovered us, and they are trying to encircle us! They have heavy firepower! Please come and help us when you hear the news!"