Red Moscow

  Chapter 461 Bargaining

  According to Sokov's idea, when the Germans attack the next day, let them have a good taste of the power of the new rockets. Unexpectedly, the German attack on the second day was not as violent as the previous two days. The scale of the attack changed from the battalion level to the company level.

"What? The enemy has reduced the scale of the attack?" When Sidolin heard the report of the second battalion commander Vasily, he thought that the other party had made a mistake, and asked specifically: "Comrade Captain, are you sure the enemy's attacking troops , only at the company level?" After getting the other party's confirmation, he breathed a sigh of relief, "Okay, I understand. I will report the situation on your position to Comrade Brigadier Commander. If the battlefield situation has any Any changes, you have to report to me immediately."

  After Sidolin put down the phone, he reported to Sokov who was half lying on the camp bed and chatting with Yakov: "Comrade brigade commander, the commander of the second battalion reports that the German army attacking the Nangang position is only the size of a company."

"What, the attacking enemy is only the size of one company?" Sokov couldn't help being stunned when he heard the news, he thought to himself: "What's going on here, why did the German army only send one company to attack? Is there some kind of conspiracy, or have their offensive forces been exhausted?"

Seeing that Sokov remained silent for a long time, Sidolin interjected and said, "Comrade Brigadier, I think the Germans suddenly scaled back their offensive today, probably because they had consumed too much of their active force in the previous two days of fighting. As for the inability to deploy more troops to maintain the previous offensive intensity."

   "That's impossible, Comrade Chief of Staff." Before Sokov could reply, Yakov said first: "Just such a small Mamayev post, how many enemies can you destroy?"

Regarding Yakov's question, Sidolin smiled lightly, and then replied in a calm tone: "Major Yakov, you may not know that the number of Germans who were killed in front of our position this week was at least six thousand." people."

   "What, more than 6,000 enemies died in front of your position?" Yakov turned to look at Sokov and asked in surprise, "Misha, did you really kill so many enemies?"

   "Since the chief of staff told you this data," Sokov glanced at Sidolin who was standing next to him, and replied with a smile, "then it must be true."

"My God, it's unbelievable." Although Sukov has confirmed that what Sidolin said is true, Yakov still said dubiously: "There are six thousand enemies alone. Including those wounded, it means that almost one division of your brigade's defensive frontal enemy has lost combat effectiveness."

"I think it's fair to say that." Sokov never asked for specific data, but he knew very well in his heart that since he had deployed defenses on Mamayev Post in advance, the German army would have to pay a lot if they wanted to capture it. The price is several times higher than in history. Therefore, regarding Yakov's question, he said affirmatively: "The German army has reduced the scale of its offensive today. I guess it has something to do with their heavy casualties."

   Several people were talking when the phone on the table rang. Sidolin walked over and picked up the microphone, and said to his ear, "I am Sidolin, chief of staff, where are you? ... It's you, Comrade Commander, hello! ... Do you have any instructions?" He After listening for a while, he covered the microphone with his hand and whispered to Sokov, "Comrade Brigadier Commander, the commander is asking whether the scale of the enemy's attack has been reduced compared to yesterday?"

  Sokov heard what Sidolin said, and guessed that the scale of the attack on Chuikov must have been reduced, so he replied in a low voice: "Chief of Staff, report the situation here to Comrade Commander truthfully."

After receiving Sokov's permission, Sidolin removed his hand covering the microphone and continued: "Comrade Commander, the situation here is the same. The scale of the German attack has changed from the battalion level to the company level. ... What? What do we think about this matter? ... When you called us, we were discussing this issue, and we felt that the German army was almost exhausted after continuous high-intensity offensives, so it was unable to launch a larger scale attack."

Hearing this, Sokov couldn't help but whispered to Yakov: "Yakov, it's a pity that the vital forces of the group army were exhausted in the counterattack a few days ago, otherwise we can take advantage of this favorable opportunity, Launch a counterattack against the German army, and I believe that good results will be achieved."

"During the delivery of equipment, I saw a lot of troops heading down the Volga River. They should be the reserve team for your supplies from the base camp." Yakov said, "When these troops arrive, you will have enough supplies." with the power of the enemy, to defeat the enemies who rushed into the city."

Seeing Yakov's confidence, Sokov smiled wryly and shook his head, saying: "Yakov, you are really optimistic about the situation. Even if there are reserve teams coming in a steady stream, due to various objective conditions, our No matter in terms of military strength or technical equipment, it is still at a disadvantage compared with the German army. To completely defeat the enemy, it will take at least one or two months to accumulate strength and hoard more technical equipment and materials.”

After Sokov reminded him, Yakov immediately thought that when he led his troops to cross the river, the water columns that were blown up by shells soared into the sky. Being bombed by aircraft, ships transporting troops and supplies are bound to suffer huge losses.

"Misha, you are right. The enemy's artillery and air force are desperately blocking the Volga River." Yakov said with a serious expression, "Even if a large number of troops are assembled on the east bank and supplies are sufficient to support the counter-offensive, it will still be impossible." It is very difficult to transport them to the city smoothly under the enemy's shelling and bombing."

"Yakov, you don't have to worry about this." Sokov waited for Yakov to say, and immediately went on to say: "It will be winter in two months, and the Volga River has already frozen. All kinds of supplies can be brought in continuously. As long as we can accumulate enough strength in the city, the end of the Germans will come."

"Comrade Brigadier." After finishing the phone call, Sidolin saw that Sokov was talking to Yakov, and hurriedly asked cautiously: "The German army is attacking the second battalion, can you see if you can use the 107 mm A new rocket launcher?"

"No, it can't be used for the time being." Thinking that the German army is only attacking on a company scale, using such rockets to deal with them is like using a Tomahawk cruise missile worth more than 700,000 US dollars to fight A tent in the desert is too wasteful, so Sokov resolutely told Sidolin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, tell the commander of the second battalion and the commander of the fourth battalion that no one is allowed to use this tent without my order." A new kind of rocket."

  Sokov took advantage of the time when Sidolin was calling the battalion commanders, and secretly asked Yakov: "Yakov, give me a letter of approval. When can we get the next batch of rockets?"

   "The current production capacity is insufficient." Hearing Sokov's question, Yakov replied with some embarrassment: "We will not be able to provide you with the same number of rockets until late October at the earliest."

"Late October?" After hearing the time Yakov said, Sokov couldn't help frowning: "So, don't we have to wait for a month?" Without waiting for Yakov to answer, He continued on his own, "Yakov, you also know that each launcher is only equipped with two rockets. If you shoot up all the rockets you brought, it will be too late to get supplies. Then these launchers are like a pile of scrap metal."

"Don't worry, Misha." Seeing the displeasure on Sokov's face, Yakov hastily said: "After I go back, I will immediately ask Comrade Ustinov to let him produce rockets. The bomb factory will issue a new production plan, and you must ensure that you have enough rockets.”

"Then when will it be delivered?" Don't see that the rocket has never been used after it was transported to Mamayev Gang, but Sukov is well aware of the power of this rocket. When the stock was out of stock, he began to use the friendship between himself and Yakov to bargain with the other party: "Yakov, you must give me a clear answer? One month is too long, we must not wait So long."

"Twenty-five days." Yakov replied: "After I went back, I asked Comrade Ustinov to send me to the factory to supervise the work. I think within twenty-five days, the rockets you need should be produced. bomb."

Sokov heard that it would take twenty-five days to produce a sufficient number of rockets, and he couldn't help but feel cold. He was thinking in his mind: it will take twenty-five days to produce, and then it will take another ten days to transport on the road. After all, it would take at least forty days for his troops to be replenished.

Thinking of this, he shook his head and said, "No, Yakov, the time is too long. I don't think it can exceed twenty days." He saw Yakov opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something , quickly added, "I need to remind you, the time I said refers to the time when a new batch of rockets will arrive at Mamayev Gang."

"It's impossible." Yakov immediately jumped up from the bed when he heard this, and he said to Sokov in a loud voice: "Even if we work overtime to produce, if we want to complete the production within 25 days The length of nearly a hundred rockets is already the limit. If we want to go faster, sorry, we can’t do it.”

"Yakov," Sokov quickly reached out and grabbed Yakov's hand, patted the back of his hand twice with the other hand, and said in a flattering tone: "In order to hit him better ***Aggressors, I think it is necessary for us to have a sufficient number of rockets so that we can teach the enemy a lesson."

"Okay, Misha." Seeing Sokov begging himself, Yakov couldn't hide his face, so he could only bite the bullet and say: "I will give you a deadline, twenty-two days, including the production of rockets and How about the transportation time? This is already the fastest speed I can guarantee you for the sake of our friendship."

Sokov stared at Yakov for a while, and felt that this time should be Yakov's bottom limit. If he wanted to go faster, he would definitely not be able to do it, so he didn't force him anymore, but nodded and said: "Okay Well, then we've made a deal, and after twenty-two days, I hope to see a new batch of rockets appear in the underground arsenal on Mamayev Kurgan."

  After discussing the production of rockets, Yakov remembered another important thing, and continued, "By the way, Misha, there is one thing I almost forgot."

"What's the matter?" Sokov was happy after receiving Yakov's verbal promise, so he said carelessly: "Just tell me, if I can solve it, I will definitely help you handle it properly." post."

   "It's like this. When I was talking to Comrade Ustinov last night, I gave him a detailed report on the two new weapons you proposed."

Knowing that Yakov had reported the two new weapons he proposed to Ustinov, Sokov was eager to know the attitude of the other party, and asked quickly: "Yakov, I don't know how Comrade People's Commissar replied of."

   "Comrade Ustinov said he would discuss the manufacture of napalm bombs with relevant personnel in the military industry department." Yakov said with some embarrassment: "He asked me to ask you about the rocket launcher."

  Sokov originally thought that Yakov would ask about napalm bombs, but unexpectedly he asked about rocket launchers. He was a little surprised and asked: "Comrade People's Commissar, do you have any questions?"

"Comrade Ustinov believes that the rocket's direct range of 100 meters and its effective range of 150 meters are a bit too close. This will pose a threat to the lives of our anti-tank fighters." Yakov He said dryly: "He wants to ask, is there any way to increase the effective range of rockets?"

"Yes." As soon as Yakov's words fell, Sokov's answer blurted out: "If the comrades in charge of the military industry can make the volume of our newly developed 107mm rocket a little smaller, and then use the rocket launcher to launch it, Then the range can be effectively increased."

  Yakov originally asked Sokov with an attitude of giving it a try, but he didn't expect to get any ideal answer from him. Unexpectedly, seeing that Sokov answered with such confidence, he couldn't help asking in surprise: "If our military personnel can really reduce the size of 107mm rockets for individual anti-tank use, do you think the range can be increased to How many?"

"The range of the 107mm rocket launcher should be seven or eight kilometers?" Sokov couldn't remember the preparation data for the 107mm rocket launcher, so he could only say vaguely: "Even if the improved rocket launcher can't reach that far , Seven or eight hundred meters, or even one thousand meters can still be achieved."

"Great, this is really great." Yakov was overjoyed when he heard that the range of the bazooka could be increased several times: "One thousand meters is not extravagant, four or five hundred meters is enough. Misha , I will immediately report your thoughts to Comrade Ustinov, and let him urge the military workers to carry out the transformation work as soon as possible."

  (end of this chapter)