Chapter 857 Fleet sailors are desperate (Part 2)

  Sokov knows some working principles of icebreakers. One is impact icebreaking, which is to use the hull to continuously hit ice blocks, so as to achieve the effect of icebreaking. The second is to fill the water tank at the stern with water, so that the bow of the ship can climb up to the ice surface, and the ice can be crushed by weight. Due to the nature of icebreaking, it means that the icebreakers are all giants. It is a bit impossible for the small gunboats of the Volga Fleet to complete this kind of work.

  Following Cuikov to the observation post not far away, Sokov raised his binoculars and looked in the direction of the sound. Fortunately, there was a moon in the sky, and with the reflection from the ice, he could clearly see that on the other side of the river, two small gunboats were constantly hitting the ice, heading towards the west bank little by little.

"Comrade Commander," Gurov asked Chuikov with a frown as he looked at the gunboats that were constantly crashing into the ice, "The river is completely frozen, and the transport team from the other side should be able to come over, why should the sailors of the fleet take the risk of breaking through the ice? "

"That's right, the river is indeed frozen." Cuikov replied with a wry smile, "But after surveying, it was found that the ice layer was only five to eight centimeters, and the last part was no more than fifteen centimeters. Not to mention the vehicles that transport supplies, even people Walking on the ice may fall into the river. I am afraid that the sailors really have no choice but to do so."

   Hearing what Chuikov said, Gurov stopped talking. He silently observed the gunboat on the other side with the help of the gunscope in the observation station. The two gunboats were about 150 meters apart, advancing side by side, constantly hitting the ice. Behind them, the shadows of some ships can still be vaguely seen, and it is temporarily unclear whether they are spares or transporting supplies?

   After more than ten minutes like this, the two gunboats gradually approached the center of the river. One of the gunboats was obviously severely damaged. After completing a new collision, the hull actually began to sink slowly.

"Comrade Commander," Gurov yelled loudly when he saw this situation, "call General Rogachev immediately and ask him to stop such adventures immediately. If this continues, the two gunboats will be finished." .”

  Chuikov picked up the microphone hanging on the pillar, and when he was about to make a call, he stopped, shook his head and said to Gurov: "Comrade Military Commissar, I cannot make this call."

   "Why?" Gurov asked strangely.

"I guess the reason why General Rogachev ordered the ship to take such an adventure is to resume the transportation on the river as soon as possible." Chuikov said with a serious expression: "Now the two gunboats are approaching the center of the river. If they stop now, All the hard work ahead will be in vain.”

  Sokov looked at the gunboat on the river that was hitting the ice tenaciously. Hearing the harsh impact, he became worried for the sailors on the gunboat. He felt that if the collision continued like this, the two gunboats would be destroyed in a short time. He also had the same idea as Gurov, asking Pugachev to stop this extremely risky attempt, even if he could barely open a channel on the river, but in such cold weather, I am afraid that the sky has not yet dawned. The river will freeze again.

  The wounded gunboat sank slowly in the eyes of everyone, first the bow sank, and after a while, the high stern also sank into the water. Before the ship sank completely, Sokov saw several black figures jumping into the water from the ship, they should be the sailors on the gunboat.

  Watching the gunboat sink, everyone felt heavy in their hearts. "Comrade Commander," Gurov said again, "we should always remember these brave sailors. They showed great courage and heroism in order to open a route on the frozen river..."

Although what Gurov said were all clichés, Chuikov still nodded and echoed: "You are right, we should all remember these brave sailors, it is with their help that we can hold this city..."

   Not long after the gunboat sank, several small boats came from behind to rescue the sailors who fell into the water. After all this was done, a new gunboat came up from behind and continued to hit the ice persistently, trying to open a channel for the transport ship to pass.

   Half an hour later, the gunboat finally arrived at the west bank, but it was already bruised. It is estimated that it would not be able to sail back to the east bank without repairs. As soon as the channel was opened, more than a dozen transport ships moored at the rear immediately drove to the west bank along the channel opened up by their comrades-in-arms.

   When Lobov learned that Cuikov was at the observation post, he hurried over to report to him about the distribution of supplies. Seeing his appearance, Cuikov immediately greeted him and said, "Comrade Minister of Logistics, you came just in time. The other side has delivered supplies to us. You should rush to the ferry immediately and arrange for people to receive them."

   "The other side brought us supplies?" Lobov said in surprise: "Comrade Commander, the river is frozen, how did they come here?"

"Did you see the two gunboats parked on the shore?" Chuikov pointed to the two gunboats docked on the shore, and said, "The sailors of the Volga Fleet used the gunboats to open up a channel on the river. Ships transporting supplies are coming."

"What, use gunboats to break the ice?" Hearing what Chuikov said, Lobov showed a surprised expression on his face. He looked at the two scarred gunboats and said in amazement: "It's just these two ordinary small gunboats. It is simply a miracle that a channel can be opened on the frozen river."

"Okay, Comrade Minister of Logistics." Cui Kefu glanced at the approaching ship and urged, "Is it a miracle? We will discuss it later when we have time. Your immediate priority is to rush to the ferry immediately and organize manpower to receive it." Supplies."

After Lobov left, Sokov couldn't help but said to Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, the temperature is so low today, even if the sailors of the District Fleet use gunboats to open up a channel, I'm afraid it won't take long before it will be destroyed again." Refreeze. Then their efforts will be in vain."

"As long as there are ships that can pass through this waterway and transport supplies to the city, then the price they paid will be valuable." Cuikov looked at the river and said, "Even before dawn, this hard-fought waterway will It's been re-frozen, but at least another batch of supplies has been brought into the city, so that's enough to keep us going until the day the counteroffensive begins."

"Comrade Military Commissar," Chuikov and Sokov finished talking, then turned to look at Gurov, and said to him, "I think it's up to you to report this matter to the Front Army Command and let them know about the situation of the sailors. Such a heroic act."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Gurov said: "I will go back and write a report later, and report what I have seen with my own eyes to the Front Army Command. Also, I will report to General General Gachev called to thank him for what his sailors did for us in defending the city."

  The waterway has been opened, and Sokov followed Cuikov back to the headquarters to continue discussing the counterattack mission of the 41st Guards Division. Chuikov asked: "Colonel Sokov, when do you think you can launch an attack on the frontal enemy?"

"Comrade Commander, my troops are currently scattered in several positions." Sokov felt that if he wanted to fight back, he had to concentrate his troops, but now his troops were responsible for the defense of several areas at the same time. Counterattacks will also face problems such as insufficient troops and insufficient attacking forces. Therefore, he took the initiative to raise the difficulties he was facing to Chuikov: "Before the troops are gathered, I don't think our counterattack can achieve any ideal results."

  Sokov's answer somewhat exceeded Cuikov's expectations. After staring at the map on the table for a while, he raised his head and said, "Colonel Sokov, I will mobilize forces as soon as possible to strengthen the defense of the barricade factory. In this way, you can withdraw the troops supporting the barricade factory back to Mamaye Fugang."

"Where is the Workers' New Village?" Seeing that Chuikov promised to let the troops stationed at the barricade factory withdraw to Mamayev Hill, he couldn't help but asked about another one: "I still have a regiment there, among them It also includes the Marine Battalion."

"The 39th Guards Division still has a few hundred people. I can let them take over the defense of Workers' New Village." After thinking silently for a while, Cuikov said to Sukov: "The total strength of the troops returned from these two places is How many people are there?"

"I don't know very well, Comrade Commander." Although these two regiments are under the jurisdiction of Sokov, he really doesn't know how many troops are left now, "But according to my estimation, there are at least two regiments. Thousands of people."

"Two thousand people, in the current situation, this is a remarkable number." Cuikov said with emotion: "The number is more than a division, and they are all veterans with rich combat experience. They will be responsible for the counterattack mission. I'm relieved."

   Seeing that Cuikov was so quick, he assigned himself a counterattack mission. Sokov could not object, so he could only agree with a bitter face: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, I don't think they will let you down."

Chuikov raised his hand to look at his watch, pointed to the camp bed placed at the foot of the wall, and said to Sokov: "Colonel Sokov, there are still five or six hours before dawn, you should lie down for a while. Wait until dawn , I'll wake you up again."

  Since entering the barricade factory, Sokov has hardly closed his eyes. He not only has to assist Lyudnikov in guarding the factory, but also draws a schematic diagram of an assault gun for director Peter. Seeing that Cui Kefu let him rest at this moment, he didn't refuse. After thanking him, he went to the bedside and lay down with his clothes on.

   Sokov, who was lying on the bed, closed his eyes, but he didn't feel sleepy at all. The scene of the gunboat colliding with the ice layer kept appearing in his mind, and he was deeply moved by the bravery of the sailors. He was thinking in his heart: Have all the sailors on the sunken gunboat been rescued? In such a cold day, if you don't get timely treatment, you will be frozen to death.

  He was thinking about this question when he heard Chuikov on the phone: "General Pugachev, I am Chuikov! First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you for transporting supplies for us."

"Secondly, I would like to ask, have all the sailors in the sunken gunboat been rescued?" Probably because he was worried that the other party would not give him the correct answer, he also emphasized: "I saw the gunboat sailing from the east bank with my own eyes. to the West Bank."

  Pugachev originally planned to hide the casualties of the sailors from Chuikov, but when he learned that the other party had witnessed the whole process, he changed his mind and said truthfully: "Six people were sacrificed, and two are missing."

   Sokov, who was lying on the camp bed, couldn't help but thumped in his heart when he heard this, thinking to himself that in the piercing river water, people couldn't last long at all, and the two missing sailors must have died.

   Hearing Chuikov lower his nod, Sokov couldn't lie down any longer. He turned over and got out of bed, came to Chuikov, straightened his body and said, "Comrade Commander, it's getting late, please allow me to return to the army."

  Chuikov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said with some surprise: "Colonel Sokov, you just lay down for less than ten minutes, why did you get up so quickly?"

Sokov naturally would not tell the other party that he did not continue to sleep because he heard the casualties of the sailors and felt uncomfortable, but said vaguely: "Comrade commander, I have been away from the barricade factory for a long time. I'm worried that something will happen, so I want to go back as soon as possible."

   "Isn't there Colonel Lyudnikov in the barricade factory?" Chuikov raised his eyebrows and said, "He knows what to do. You should stay here until dawn."

Gurov, who had just finished writing the report, saw that Chuikov wanted to keep Sokov, and also interrupted: "Yes, Colonel Sokov, anyway, it is not a few hours before dawn, you should continue to lie down and sleep, and wait until dawn. It's not too late to go back to the barricade factory."

  From the words of the two, Sokov could hear his concern for himself. His nose was sour, and tears almost fell down. Although it was safe to rest here, he still stubbornly said: "Commander, Comrade Military Commissioner, thank you for your kindness. I didn't stay with the soldiers, and I still feel uneasy. You should let me go back."

Seeing Sokov's stubbornness, Chuikov and Gurov looked at each other, nodded slightly, and said, "Well, Colonel Sokov, since you insist on returning to the army, we won't keep you. The way back is not peaceful. , you have to pay more attention to safety. By the way, are there guards accompanying you back to the barricade factory?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sokov nodded and said, "When Colonel Lyudnikov left, he left me a guard squad. You all know the commander who led the team. He just returned from the enemy's rear Not long Samoilov."

"It turned out to be him." Chuikov was worried about Sokov returning to the barricade factory late at night, but when he heard that the commander in charge of security work was Samoilov he knew, he felt more at ease: "There is He is here, and your safety must be guaranteed."

   After finishing speaking, he stretched out his hand to Sokov: "Then, I wish you a safe journey!"

  (end of this chapter)