Chapter 1259 The trend of closing the door and beating the dog (Part 2)

Rotmistrov received Sokov's call back, and after carefully browsing it, he frowned and said to the chief of staff: "Use the 122mm cannon at a distance of 800 meters to 1,000 meters to directly attack the enemy's tanks. Take aim and shoot. Chief of Staff, do you think General Sokov's method is effective?"

"Comrade Commander," the chief of staff replied cautiously: "The 122mm artillery equipped by our army can theoretically penetrate 140mm armor at a distance of 1000 meters. The frontal armor of the German Tiger tank turret is 102mm. mm, the side is 82 mm; while the Leopard tank uses 80 mm 55-degree inclined hardened armor, which has good anti-ballistic performance. However, if it is directly hit by our army's 122 mm artillery, it can completely destroy the opponent's target. "

Rotmistrov shook his head with a wry smile and said, "You know, artillery usually does not aim at a specific target, but at a place. The artillery shells pay attention to the coverage of firepower, not the direct hit. Let the artillery use direct-pointing fire. The way to hit a target thousands of meters away, I think it is simply a fantasy."

Seeing that Rotmistrov was so disapproving of Sokov's proposal, the chief of staff was about to continue persuading him, but was stopped by the other party raising his hand: "Chief of staff, you don't need to say anything. I think this Sokov is just Well, the suggestions he gave us are simply not applicable on the battlefield."

   "Comrade Commander, what shall we do?" asked the Chief of Staff.

"Still using the original tactics, speeding up and rushing across the open land." Rotmistrov reminded the chief of staff: "Tell the tank brigade commanders to widen the distance between the tanks and attack in a sparse formation. , so that the chance of being hit by enemy artillery fire will be greatly reduced."

  After Sokov's telegram was sent, Koyda asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, do you think General Rotmistrov will adopt your opinion?"

"Comrade Colonel, if you use a heavy artillery to shoot directly at a specific target a thousand meters away, the hit rate is appallingly low." Sokov smiled lightly and replied, "I think Rotmistello The husband will certainly not adopt my suggestion, and will still order the troops to pass through the open land regardless of casualties."

Seeing that Sokov had already guessed that Rotmistrov would not accept his opinion, but still sent such a telegram, Keida asked in puzzlement: "Since you know that Rotmistrov General Husband will not adopt your opinion, so why do you still make such a suggestion to him?"

"Comrade Colonel," Sokov explained: "Using heavy artillery to shoot directly at the enemy's tanks does not have a high hit rate, but it can pose a threat to the German tanks and force them to change positions. In this way, When our army's tanks attack, the chances of being intercepted by enemy artillery fire will drop."

"So that's the case." After figuring out what was going on, Koyda tentatively asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, do you see if you need to send another telegram to General Rotmistrov to explain this matter?" Explain it to him in detail?"

"No need." Sokov waved his hand and said, "How to attack the enemy outside the city of Prokhorovka is the business of General Rotmistrov, so we don't have to meddle in our own business. Our priority now is The task is to hold the existing positions so that the German 6th and 19th Armored Divisions cannot rush to join the Banner Guard and Skull Divisions. It is necessary to effectively cut off the connection between them so that the wounded in front of the enemy cannot be transported. Down, the ammunition and fuel in the rear cannot be transported up.

  The SS divisions of the German army are indeed elite, and a division is fully capable of dealing with our army group. But as long as their logistics supplies are cut off, even if they can fight again, when they run out of fuel and ammunition, their tanks and cannons will become a pile of scrap iron, and they can only choose to discard or blow them up. "

  The Soviet Union and Germany launched a large-scale tank battle outside the city of Prokhorovka, and both sides went crazy. Those tank soldiers who escaped from the destroyed tanks did not flee to their own area as quickly as before, but hid next to the wreckage of the tank and fought the enemy with the weapons they carried.

  The battle outside the city of Prokhorovka made Manstein realize that if the Soviet attack could not be stopped, then the offensive launched by the Kursk southern front might collapse. So he gave orders to the commanders of the 6th and 19th Armored Divisions, asking them to break through the Soviet defense line as soon as possible at all costs, rush to the outside of Prokhorovka, and join the troops there.

  The combat effectiveness of the Sixth Armored Division was not considered the strongest in the German army. In addition, the division commander was killed in a battle not long ago, which had a great impact on the morale of the troops. After receiving the offensive order from Manstein, the acting division commander immediately sent an armored battalion to cover the two infantry battalions, and launched a fierce attack on the position of the 188th Division.

  If the area they attack is defended by General Marankin's Guards Division, maybe they can make some progress in their attack. But what they have to face now is the enemy who has killed their own division commander, and the commander on the other side is still a role that makes many German commanders look pale, so they are a bit restrained when they fight, even with half of their usual combat effectiveness. Can't play it.

   On the contrary, the 19th Armored Division, which was fighting on their right flank, performed extremely eye-catching. The offensive troops were the 1st Battalion of the 27th Armored Regiment and the 2nd Battalion of the 117th Panzergrenadier Regiment. More than 20 tanks covered more than 500 soldiers and launched a fierce attack on the position of the Guards Division.

   It may be because of the news that the main force has launched a counterattack outside Prokhorovka. The commanders and fighters of the Malankin Division felt that victory was in sight, and they inevitably felt a little underestimating the enemy. Facing the enemy's attack, they played lackluster. Within half an hour of the battle, a position was about to be breached by the Germans.

  Knowing that the position had been breached, Marankin was frightened into a cold sweat. Only then did he realize that what Sokov had reminded himself was not scaremongering, but heartfelt words. In order to save the situation, he hurriedly asked Trufanov for help, asking him to send a tank battalion to counterattack the breach and destroy the enemies there.

  The German officers and soldiers who had just broken through the position were counterattacked by the infantry with the cooperation of tanks before they could gain a firm foothold. After more than ten minutes of fierce fighting, they were all driven out of the Soviet position.

   Standing in the command post, Marankin and Trufanov couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when they saw the German officers and soldiers who broke into the position and were driven out by the counterattack forces. Trufanov said to Marankin: "Comrade Marankin, it seems that the enemy is determined to rush over to reinforce the enemy outside Prokhorovka. This attack has been repelled, and they will launch soon. A new attack. In order to prevent your defense line from being breached again, I think it is necessary for you to adjust your deployment."

"Comrade Deputy Commander," Marankin said to Trufanov, "when we went to General Sokov's headquarters, he suggested to us that tanks that had broken down and were difficult to start again in a short time , placed on the position as a fixed fort. At that time, I thought he was a bit superfluous. The enemy failed to break through our position yesterday. Could it be possible to break through today?

   But it turns out that my judgment has gone wrong. The enemy's offensive today is even crazier than yesterday. And after yesterday's battle, my troops have suffered serious attrition. If we don't arrange fixed forts on the position, I'm afraid the enemy will break through our position again. "

"I see, Comrade Marankin." When he returned from Sokov's temporary headquarters, when Marankin proposed to use those broken tanks as fixed battery, it was Trufanov who strongly opposed it, and felt that it was completely unnecessary. Necessary, even if something goes wrong with these tanks, they should be used in other directions. But the facts at this moment show that it is difficult for the severely weakened Guards Division to hold its position without the cover of tanks. "I immediately asked people to put all the malfunctioning tanks on the ground and use them as fixed turrets."

  ...

"Comrade Sokov?" Sokov's troops had just repelled two attacks from the 6th Armored Division when they received a call from Konev: "I am Konev, how is the situation there?" ?”

   "Report to Comrade Front Army Commander," Sokov quickly replied: "The enemy's 6th Armored Division launched two attacks on the 188th Division's defense line, both of which were repelled by us."

Knowing that Sokov's troops were still holding their ground, Konev felt relieved: "Comrade Sokov, General Rotmistrov's troops are now fighting the enemy outside Prokhorovka. Fierce battles. According to the report he gave me, it is possible to repel the enemy before dark. Therefore, I made this call to you specifically, hoping that you can find a way to block the retreat of the defeated German army."

"Comrade Front Army Commander, please rest assured about this." Sokov said: "I have ordered the tank army to dispatch at three o'clock in the afternoon to cut off the retreat of the Banner Guard Division and the Skeleton Division, and they must be wiped out at Prokhorov card area."

   "Are you really sure?" Konev asked.

"Yes." Sokov replied confidently: "I am currently concentrating the strength of nearly two divisions to hold the position of the 188th Division and block the advance of the German 6th Armored Division. Our tank corps and two infantry divisions will be stationed in the middle of the two defense zones at three o'clock in the afternoon to cut off the retreat of the German army."

Konev knew that Sokov had a lot of ghost ideas, so he didn't ask him about the specific combat plan, but nodded and said: "Well, Comrade Sokov, since you have the confidence to block the enemy, then I believe you .If you need anything, just call me directly."

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov wanted to deal with the German tanks, and it would be best to use the air force. It is said that during this period, the Soviet Army had developed an aerial bomb that specifically attacked ground targets, so he asked tentatively: "I wonder if you can provide us with air support?"

  He was deeply afraid that Konev would disagree. After all, most of the air force is still in the sky outside Prokhorovka, competing with the Luftwaffe for air supremacy. I'm afraid he will still find it difficult to ask the other party to allocate a part of his strength to support him.

  Sokov's guess is correct. It is very difficult for Konev to agree to provide air cover for his troops. Since the Steppe Front Army is a reserve force, the air force is relatively weak. Not to mention the small number of aircraft, fuel and ammunition are also very limited. Every time it takes off into the air, it can only provide air support to troops in a local area. The place where the fighting is most intense today is outside the city of Prokhorovka, and the area where Sokov's troops are located no longer provides air support.

Hearing that Konev did not speak for a long time, Sokov sighed secretly in his heart, and said: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, if the Air Force really can't provide us with air support, it doesn't matter, we will still try everything we can. , to cut off the enemy's retreat."

  After Sokov finished talking with Konev, he held the microphone and thought for a long time. I managed to set up a position to close the door and beat the dog. If the superior cannot provide me with air cover, then the enemy may break out from the defensive zone I hastily deployed, and the plan to encircle and wipe out the enemy will fail.

After some thought, Sokov dialed the number of the Group Army Command, and when he heard Sameko’s voice coming from the receiver, he asked straight to the point: “Comrade Chief of Staff, I want to ask you, now How many new rockets do we have?"

"There are probably more than 800 pieces." Sameko quickly replied, "Colonel Yakov just ordered someone to deliver it yesterday." He knew that there must be a reason for Sokov suddenly asking about this matter, so he quickly Asked, "Comrade Commander, why do you think of asking this?"

"I just spoke to General Konev, and he told me that in the upcoming battle, I am afraid that we will not be able to provide air support for us." Sokov felt the need to let Sameko know everything about it, so he said to him : "Therefore, we can only rely on our own strength to stop the defeated enemy."

  Sameko obviously anticipated this situation a long time ago, and he asked Sokov calmly: "Comrade Commander, how do you plan to distribute these new rockets?"

"Leave 100 for the troops standing by the Pushol River, and send 100 to Colonel Koyda's 188th Division." Sukov had already thought about how to distribute it: "The remaining rockets , all to the troops deploying defenses in the middle zone."

"Comrade Commander, isn't it too much to give them 600 rockets for two divisions?" Sameko reminded Sokov: "You need to know whether the area they are holding on to will be attacked by the Germans." The attack is still unknown, is it a bit too wasteful to give them so many rockets?"

"It's not a waste at all." Sokov said firmly: "There are no decent fortifications in the middle area, otherwise the 305th Division of the friendly army would not have been easily defeated by the Germans two days ago. Since there are no strong fortifications for Defense, then we can only rely on weapons to make up for the shortcomings. With these rockets, I believe our commanders and fighters will be able to block the enemy."

  (end of this chapter)