"Comrade Commander," Dobrushin grinned after hearing Sokov's praise, and then thought of a key question: "I would like to ask, can our brigade be tasked with forcing a crossing during the attack?"
"To carry out the forced crossing mission, there must be enough ships." The war was approaching, and Sokov found that if his troops wanted to break through the German defenses, they had to carry out a forced crossing operation. At this time, the number of ships he had was pitifully small, and every time he returned, he had to carry out a forced crossing operation.
It is not enough to send a platoon of troops across. Using such troops to carry out a forced crossing is tantamount to throwing an egg at a stone and letting the soldiers die in vain.
Sokov looked at Dobrushin and asked: "Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin, does your brigade have a way to solve the ship problem?"
"It's hard to handle, Comrade Commander." Dobrushin scratched the back of his head and said in embarrassment: "Although there is a large forest where our brigade is stationed, the rafts made of these logs are going to the river.
Once it is released, it will sink to the bottom of the river as quickly as possible."
"How about we use the reconnaissance team to cross the river and get all the troops across the river?" Seeing that both Sokov and Dobrushin were in trouble, the third battalion commander couldn't help but express his thoughts.
"Comrade Major, you think about the problem too simply." Although the third battalion commander's statement was wrong, Sokov did not blame him. On the contrary, he patiently explained to him: "The method of crossing the river under the water is only suitable for small troops.
, and are not suitable for the actions of large troops. Moreover, the commanders and fighters passing through the river bottom can only carry light equipment and the ammunition they carry is also very limited, so they cannot fight for a long time."
"Then what should we do?" The third battalion commander asked curiously: "If we don't have enough equipment to cross the river, we can't let our soldiers swim across the river, right?"
"Comrade Commander, I have a bold idea." Dobrushin said: "We can use firepower to cover the engineers to set up a pontoon bridge on the river. As long as the pontoon bridge is set up, even if there is not enough equipment to cross the river, our commanders and soldiers can rush
To the other side.”
Regarding Dobrushin's proposal, Sokov shook his head like a rattle: "No, no, absolutely no." He looked at Dobrushin and said sternly: "Doing this will make our engineers
Huge casualties were incurred. Under the enemy's powerful firepower, even if all our engineers were sacrificed, they might not be able to complete the construction of the pontoon bridge."
Seeing that Dobrushin seemed to have something to say, Sokov quickly reached out to interrupt him, turned to the third battalion commander and said: "Comrade Major, you have nothing to do here, you can leave."
When the third battalion commander heard what Sokov said, he immediately realized that what might be discussed next was something that a commander of his level had no right to know. He quickly agreed, raised his hand in salute, turned around and walked out of the headquarters.
After the third battalion commander left, Sokov continued: "Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin, tell me, if you are given enough river crossing equipment and necessary artillery cover, how long will it take for you to break through the enemy's defense line?
"
"Comrade Commander, the width of the river in front of us is only 150 meters, and the current is not fast. Logically speaking, it will not be too difficult to cross." Only Sokov and Dobru were left in the command post.
Shen and Dobrushin did not conceal their views and said truthfully: "The only problem is that we cannot figure out the enemy's defense deployment on the other side. When carrying out forced crossing, we are vulnerable to enemy long-range artillery fire and shore attacks."
Cross fire from machine guns on both sides.”
"I'm considering whether we can sneak across the river at night. In this way, the enemy's artillery fire will be of no use, and our river-crossing troops can also reduce unnecessary casualties."
After some thought, Sokov directly rejected Dobrushin's proposal: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, have you forgotten that the enemy monitors the river very closely? If we want to carry out smuggling, we may not wait until the smuggling troops can carry it out."
If a boat is launched into the water, it will be discovered by the enemy on the other side."
"Comrade Commander, I think we can take the risk." Dobrushin recalled the plan that the third battalion commander once proposed to him, and said to Sokov: "Before taking action, we first send out sharpshooters to destroy the enemy's weapons on the other side.
Searchlight. While they were in chaos, our stowaway troops quickly rushed to the river, put the boat into the water, and then used all their strength to row the boat to the other side. Before the enemy could recover, our leading troops
Already landed on the other side."
"Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin, the method you mentioned seems feasible." Sokov nodded and said, "But this matter is of great importance. I must discuss it with other group army leaders."
Sokov left Dobrushin's headquarters more than an hour later. According to the original plan, he was supposed to go to the infantry brigade, but at this moment he was eager to discuss Dobrushin's plan with Samyko and others.
Feasible, he hurriedly returned to his headquarters.
When Sokov proposed Dobrushin's sneak attack plan and told Samyko and Lunev, Samyko suddenly felt his eyes light up, and then said to Sokov anxiously: "Commander
Comrade, I think Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin's plan is feasible. Think about it, for sailors, it only takes three to five minutes to row through an area of 150 meters. And in such a short period of time, they are trapped in
It is difficult for a chaotic enemy to respond in time."
Seeing that Samyko also felt that this plan was feasible, Sokov asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it seems that you very much agree with Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin's plan. Otherwise, we will report this plan to the front army headquarters.
What do you think of your superiors’ opinions?”
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I very much agree with Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin's combat plan." Samyko said in a positive tone: "If we attack at night, the enemy's artillery fire deployed in the city will not be able to target our crossing of the river.
The troops pose a threat. As for the firepower points on the river bank, we can use mortars or new rockets to destroy them so that the troops crossing the river can land smoothly."
"Comrade Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff." Just when Sokov and Samyko agreed, Lunev expressed his own opinion: "Whether it is a forced crossing during the day or a sneak crossing at night, the equipment for crossing the river is indispensable.
The river crossing equipment we have now is pitiful, where should we go to replenish it?"
Sokov picked up the phone in front of him and said: "I will immediately report this plan to the front army headquarters, hoping that General Vatutin can provide us with the necessary river crossing equipment."
After the call was connected, the voice of Front Army Chief of Staff Ivanov came from the other end: "Hello, Major General Sokov! I'm Ivanov, you called me so late, what's the matter?"
"Is Marshal Zhukov at the headquarters?"
"It's so late, he and Marshal Vasilevsky have already gone back to their residence to rest."
"What about General Vatutin?" Knowing that Zhukov was not at the headquarters, Sokov felt a little disappointed. Without Zhukov's support, the speed of obtaining supplies would be greatly slowed down.
"He also went to rest." Through Sokov's question, Ivanov realized that he might have something urgent, and quickly asked: "If you have anything, please tell me. I am on duty tonight.
I can handle anything."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, the situation is like this." Seeing that Zhukov and Vatutin could not be found, Sokov could only report the smuggling plan proposed by Dobrushin to Ivanov, and finally said: "Staff
Comrade Chang, whether we end up crossing by force during the day or by sneaking across the river at night, the equipment for crossing the river is indispensable. I called you so late because I hope that the front army headquarters can help us solve the problem of the equipment for crossing the river."
"Major General Sokov, I'm afraid this will be difficult." Regarding Sokov's request, Ivanov also felt very embarrassed: "You know, not only is the west of Belgorod blocked by rivers, but also the north.
There is also a river that separates us from the German defense line. If you want to launch an attack on Belgorod, not only will your troops need river crossing equipment, but even the troops attacking from the north will also need a huge amount of river crossing equipment."
From Ivanov's words, Sokov realized that it might not be an easy task for him to obtain the equipment for crossing the river. He tried to explain the difficulties he was facing now: "Comrade Chief of Staff, our army has
The river-crossing equipment is limited, and at most one platoon of troops can be sent to the other side at a time. If we really want to launch an attack on Belgorod, this 150-meter-wide river will become the largest obstacle on our offensive path.
obstacle."
"Major General Sokov, I understand the difficulties you are facing today." Ivanov has a good impression of Sokov, and he also wants to help him, but a good woman cannot make a meal without straw, and he now also lacks the equipment to cross the river.
, even the troops attacking from the north could not be satisfied, and Sokov had no time to take care of the west. However, in order to prevent Sokov from getting emotional, he felt that he had to explain: "The base camp may not have considered that we would be in such a situation.
We launched an attack on Belgorod in a short period of time, so we did not prepare enough equipment to cross the river..."
After patiently listening to Ivanov's explanation, Sokov suddenly understood that the issue of the river-crossing equipment was out of the question, and he could only find another way to solve the problem of the river-crossing equipment.
Seeing Sokov put down the phone and just sat there smoking a sullen cigarette, Samyko immediately realized that he might have hit a snag at the front army headquarters, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, what happened?"
"The chief of staff, General Ivanov, answered the call. He told me that not only do we have enough rivers here and the enemy's positions, but we also face the same problem in the north." Sokov said with a frustrated look: "Because the base camp provides a river crossing
The equipment is limited, and even the troops in the north can't satisfy it, let alone us. What he meant is to let us find ways to solve the problem of crossing the river by ourselves."
"Oh my God." Samek held his forehead and said, "We are an army and not a navy. Where can we find so many river-crossing equipment?"
"Comrade Commander, actually I don't think you need to worry." Compared with Sokov and Samyko's anxiety, Lunev seemed much calmer, "You have channels to get suitable river crossing equipment."
"Do I have a way to get the equipment for crossing the river?" Lunev's words made Sokov confused, but he soon thought of a possibility: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you want me to ask Yakov for help?"
"That's right." Seeing that Sokov had always guessed his intention, Lunev said with a smile: "You know, Yakov is from the Weapons and Equipment Department. He can help you get a batch of river crossing equipment. It shouldn't be too big.
question."
"However, there is no problem in asking Yakov to provide us with weapons and equipment, but can he get us the equipment to cross the river?"
"Comrade Commander, I think you don't need to worry about this." Lunev comforted Sokov and said: "I wonder if you remember that when I first transferred to you as your deputy, I told you that the Weapons and Equipment Department
We are developing a new type of transportation."
Lunev's words reminded Sokov. He remembered that Yakov had been organizing people to develop hovercrafts and did not know what the current progress was. He asked Lunev cautiously: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you mean to let us
Use that new type of transportation to forcefully cross the river?"
"Yes, that's what I thought about." Seeing Samek's confused look, Lunev said to the two of them: "I once learned about this kind of transportation, and it is said that it can travel on any terrain.
Since it can drive on swamps, I think it won’t be a big problem on rivers.”
"I called Yakov to see if he could provide us with such transportation."
Sokov picked up the high-frequency phone on the table, put it down again before dialing, and said with some anxiety: "It's so late, I think Yakov may have rested, so I'd better call him during the day tomorrow.
"
"Comrade Commander, this is a time of war, and normal work and rest times have long been forgotten by everyone." Lunev smiled and said to Sokov: "You might as well try to make a call, maybe he is still working overtime in the office.
maybe."
Although there is no such thing as 996, just as Lunev said, it is during the war, and everyone voluntarily works overtime in order to make greater contributions to the motherland. Sokov called Yakov
office, and found that the other party really stayed in the office and did not leave.
Yakov was a little surprised when he heard the call from Sokov: "Misha, is there something urgent that you called me so late?"
"Yasha, I want to ask you, can you get enough equipment for crossing the river?"
Yakov did not directly answer Sokov's question, but asked: "What do you need the river crossing equipment for?"
"That's it. I'm afraid we will launch an attack on Belgorod soon." Sokov knew that with Yakov's status, it would not be difficult at all to understand the Soviet army's next move, so he did not go around in circles.
, but said bluntly: "But our defense area and the enemy's defense area are blocked by a river. If we want to capture the city, we must find a way to cross the river, but now we lack enough river crossing equipment, so we can only ask you
Please help."
This chapter has been completed!