Chapter 2370

While Sokov, Lu Jin and others were discussing the possibility of Tianhuang surrendering the imperial edict, a battalion of troops had already boarded a transport plane parked at the airport. As the transport planes took off, the Guards Airborne Division airdropped. The training officially kicked off.

The division commander, Major General Ye Liaoming, looked up at the gradually rising group of transport aircraft and said to Kravtsov, the commander of the 12th Guards Regiment standing next to him: "Comrade Colonel, your regiment was the first to parachute today. How did you perform?" How it works will directly affect the training results of the entire division."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Kravtsov naturally understood what Ye Liaoming was worried about, so he took the initiative to say to him: "Among the 400 commanders and fighters who boarded the plane, there were five cadres and soldiers with rich airborne experience. Ten people. I believe that with them here, the commanders and fighters of the first battalion will be able to successfully complete today’s airborne training.”

When the fleet reached a height where parachuting was possible, the captain of the leading aircraft walked out of the cab, found the commander of the first battalion, leaned into his ear and said loudly: "Comrade Major, we have reached the parachute area. You can Let’s start skydiving.”

The battalion commander nodded, then stood up and shouted to the soldiers in the cabin: "Everyone, stand up! Hook up!"

Although the noise in the cabin was deafening and the soldiers couldn't hear what the battalion commander was shouting, they saw the battalion commander getting up and taking the lead in hanging the hook that fixed the parachute rope on the steel cable in the cabin, so they followed suit. , all got up and hung up the paracord, and stood in line at the door of the cabin.

After the cabin door opened, the battalion commander took the lead and jumped out of the cabin door towards the tail of the aircraft to take advantage of the wind and mitigate the impact from the side. Following closely behind were two experienced airborne veterans, who also jumped out of the hatch with skillful and graceful gestures.

 Most of the soldiers in the cabin only knew the basics of parachuting and jumped down from a simple high platform without actually jumping from the air. Although he saw the battalion commander and two senior veterans jumping down, the soldier standing at the cabin door still became timid when he saw the height of several hundred meters and couldn't help but take a few steps back. But behind him stood a veteran who was specifically here to help these stage-frightened soldiers parachute. Without saying a word, the veteran kicked him in the leg and kicked him out of the hatch.

When the soldier screamed and fell down, the veteran called to the soldiers behind him: "Quickly, head down one by one."

 The pilot of the transport plane following behind saw that the lead plane had already begun to parachute, so he notified the commander in the cabin and asked them to parachute with the soldiers.

 After all the soldiers in the cabin jumped out, the transport plane began to return, preparing to return to the airport to pick up the next group of soldiers and continue airborne training.

Ye Liao Ming stood beside the runway, holding a telescope to carefully observe the paratroopers landing in the air, feeling particularly uneasy. The parachuting of the soldiers was only the first part of the airborne operation. Whether they could all land safely was what he was most worried about. If there are casualties, it will definitely have an adverse impact on the training of subsequent troops.

Seeing the transport plane begin to return, Ye Liaoming turned to Kravtsov and said: "Colonel, hurry up and contact your subordinates to see if they have landed safely."

Kravtsov couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Anyone who was not blind could see that the first batch of parachuting commanders and fighters were still floating in the air. Although the 1st Battalion carries the most advanced walkie-talkies, if you want to communicate with them, you have to wait until everyone else has landed before contacting them.

“Comrade Division Commander,” Kravtsov said with a smile: “The commanders and fighters of the first battalion are still in the air. After they land, I believe the battalion commander will contact me as soon as possible.”

Hearing what Kravtsov said, Ye Liaoming realized that he was too anxious. He laughed twice and said: "Comrade Colonel, I am also anxious. The training time left by our superiors this time is too short. The soldiers only After learning basic airborne knowledge and conducting simple training, we directly arranged for them to jump from the sky. If it goes well, that's fine, but if something unexpected happens, I'm worried that it will affect the morale of the commanders and soldiers behind."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Although Kravtsov felt uneasy, in front of the Commander Ye Liaoming, he still pretended to be calm and said: "I believe in my soldiers, they will definitely complete this mission successfully. training mission."

Several battalion commanders and company commanders standing behind Kravtsov suddenly felt confident when they heard what he said. They all thought in unison that if the first battalion could land smoothly, then we could also successfully complete the landing. The mission is to let all the soldiers land smoothly on the ground.

When the transport fleet began to land at the airport, the radio operator came to Kravtsov with an earphone: "Comrade commander, the commander of the first battalion wants to talk to you."

Because the roar of the aircraft engine was too loud, Kravtsov, who put on the headphones, could not hear what the first battalion commander was saying. He could only take the radio operator to the dispatch room not far away. As soon as he closed the door, the noise outside immediately became much quieter, and he could finally hear the other party's voice clearly: "I'm Kravtsov, tell me quickly, how is the situation there?"

"Comrade commander," a battalion commander reported loudly, "the entire battalion landed smoothly, except for two soldiers who injured their feet due to incorrect landing posture."

 “Is the situation serious?”

"It's not serious." A battalion commander said: "Although I am walking with a limp, my bones are not injured. I will be able to return to normal in a day or two at most."

“Well done, First Battalion Commander.” Kravtsov said happily: “I will inform the whole regiment about your situation so that they can feel at ease during training...”

Before Kravtsov finished speaking, he suddenly felt someone put his hand on his shoulder. He turned around and saw that it was Lieutenant Colonel Denis. Seeing Kravtsov turn his head, Denis said: "There is a call from the headquarters. Do you think you should answer it, or should I let General Ye Liaoming answer it?"

Kravtsov threw the earphone and microphone in his hand to the operator and said: "I'll pick it up."

When Kravtsov picked up the microphone and put it to his ear, he immediately heard Yakov's voice: "I am Yakov, who are you?"

"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." Knowing that the person calling him was General Yakov, Chief of Staff of the Army Group, Kravtsov quickly and respectfully identified himself: "I am the 12th Guards Airborne Regiment. Colonel Kravtsov, the regiment commander." Yakov knew the sequence of today's airborne training, so when he heard it was Kravtsov, he immediately asked: "The first parachute jump of your regiment should have ended. How is the situation? ?”

“Reporting to Comrade Chief of Staff, the situation is very good.” Kravtsov reported excitedly: “More than 400 commanders and fighters of the first battalion have all landed safely.”

Knowing that the first batch of parachuting commanders and fighters landed safely, Yakov felt much more at ease. However, out of caution, he still asked cautiously: "Comrade Colonel, are you sure they all landed safely and there were no casualties?" According to His idea was to let a group of soldiers with no airborne experience go skydiving after only a few days of training, which was tantamount to asking them to commit suicide. Therefore, Yakov somewhat didn't believe that they all landed smoothly.

"There must have been no casualties." Kravtsov said: "Only two soldiers accidentally sprained their feet, but neither of them hurt their bones. They will be able to walk normally in two days."

"Very good, Comrade Colonel." The stone in Yakov's heart fell completely. He continued to speak into the microphone: "But you can't be proud. After all, only one battalion has completed the training. After the entire regiment of the fortress has completed the training, it will still be able to If you maintain such results, you will be commended by the command."

"Really, Comrade Chief of Staff?" Hearing Yakov's words, Kravtsov was particularly excited. Even if he organized the troops to do a parachute jump, he would be rewarded. Where could he find such a good thing? He tried Question: "Will we really be rewarded?"

"That's right, Comrade Colonel." Yakov said in a positive tone: "I keep my word."

“Comrade Chief of Staff,” Kravtsov tentatively asked after making sure that Yakov was not joking with him: “Can I report this news to the division commander?”

"Of course." After Yakov agreed to Kravtsov's proposal, he added: "Since your regiment is the first group to parachute, this honor is only available to your regiment. Regarding this, you have to Make it clear to General Ye Liaoming."

“Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff, I understand.” Kravtsov was extremely happy when he learned that the commendation from his superiors was only for his regiment. Even if Yakov didn't warn him, he didn't plan to tell other commanders about this, lest the other commanders would be jealous of him: "I will never betray your trust."

After Yakov put down the phone, he reported to Sokov and Lukin the first round of airdrops of the 12th Guards Airborne Regiment, and tentatively asked Sokov: "Misha, the number of transport aircraft we can use now is limited. It is obviously unrealistic for the entire 4th Guards Airborne Division to be parachuted behind enemy lines. How about just airdropping Colonel Kravtsov's 12th Regiment?"

"Yasha, you have to know that the place where the airborne troops landed is behind enemy lines hundreds of kilometers away." Sokov looked at Yakov and said: "In addition, the airborne troops cannot carry heavy weapons. Once they fall into the enemy's trap, During the encirclement, do you think they can sustain it until our main force arrives?"

Sokov's words made Yakov hesitate for a long time, and finally shook his head and said with regret: "I think it may not work. No matter how weak the Kwantung Army's combat effectiveness is, it should still be impossible to annihilate an airborne force without heavy weapons. What a problem."

“Misha, let me share my opinion, okay?” Lu Jin interrupted.

Even though Lukin’s military rank is lower than Sokov’s, his status and experience make Sokov look up to him. Since he said he had opinions to express, Sokov would naturally not object. He gestured to Lu Jin, indicating to him to express his opinion.

"I have carefully considered that if we want to seize the enemy's deep cities, we must send the entire airborne division behind enemy lines." Seeing that Yakov seemed to want to say something, Lukin quickly raised his hand to signal to the opponent, telling him not to stop. Interrupting himself: "Although a lot of transport planes and gliders are needed, with the strength of the air force, they should still be able to get them."

"Even if the Air Force can provide us with a sufficient number of transport aircraft and gliders to carry the airborne troops, it will be of no use." Yakov said with some regret: "Solon's airport is too small and cannot accommodate more aircraft. Even if the plane comes, there is no place to land."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, our troops are constantly advancing forward." Lujin said: "In other words, we will soon occupy a new city, and maybe the airport there can accommodate more planes. "

"What if it doesn't work?" Yakov unknowingly quarreled with Lukin: "If the airport is as big as Solon's, its role will be limited. If it is not as good as here, then even if it is The airport will not be of much help to our air landing."

"Yasha, listen to me." Sokov realized that if the two of them continued to talk like this, they might have a dispute, so he quickly came out to smooth things over: "As long as we have enough airports, we can disperse the troops to various airports to board the plane. If we rush to the same location for airborne landing, we can land the entire airborne division in a big city behind enemy lines and complete the occupation of the city before our main force arrives."

"Misha, if we send so many transport planes at one time, how many fighter planes are needed to **** us?" Yakov expressed his worries again: "What if there is no fighter plane **** and the enemy planes take off to intercept? You know, then The powerful troops are just lambs to be slaughtered if they stay in the aircraft flying in the air. If enemy planes take off to intercept them, they will have no choice but to be slaughtered."

Yakov's worries affected Lukin, and he said with a sad face: "Misha, the chief of staff is right. If you take the transport planes and gliders of the airborne troops without a sufficient number of fighter escorts, once the enemy planes take off to intercept, I'm afraid that before our airborne landings begin, a considerable number of aircraft will be shot down, causing huge casualties to the troops."

Sokov was thinking that during Operation Market Garden conducted by the Allies, many transport planes and gliders were shot down by German fighter jets and ground anti-aircraft fire while in flight. What was even worse was that when the airborne troops parachuted, they were already on the ground. It was full of German troops, who shot at the paratroopers scattered in the air like target targets, causing many paratroopers to be shot to death before they landed. But in my own memory, when the Soviet airborne troops landed in Fengtian, they were not intercepted by enemy planes or hit by ground anti-aircraft fire. Not only did they land smoothly, they also successfully captured Emperor Kant of Manchukuo, which is considered a success. Great achievements in battle.

Thinking of this, he said to Lukin and Yakov: "Comrade Deputy Commander, Yasha, there are still a few days before the real airborne operation, and the situation on the battlefield may change. I think it is better to wait for confirmation. After knowing the time and location of the airborne landing, let’s discuss whether we should send fighter planes to **** us.”

Lukin felt that what Sokov said made sense, and nodded in agreement: "I agree with Misha. Maybe in a few days, we will be able to occupy more cities. Not only will there be more airports to take off and land planes, but even It can be closer to the airborne location, thereby increasing the success rate of our airborne operations."

 (End of this chapter)