Before dawn, the reconnaissance team dispatched by the headquarters returned accurate information. The German troops ambushed to the west of Outpost No. 1, designated as the 8th Armored Division, were equipped with 25 No. 4 tanks and 80 Leopard tanks.
, 30 assault guns and more than 50 armored vehicles.
Seeing the report sent by the intelligence chief, Sokov nodded with satisfaction, and then said to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the scouts are very efficient. In such a short period of time, they not only figured out
He knew the numbers of the German armored divisions and even the number of enemy tanks and assault guns so clearly."
"Yeah," Sameko said in agreement, "This is an amazing reconnaissance team."
When the director of the reconnaissance department heard that both Sokov and Samyko were praising his subordinates, he couldn't help but feel complacent. Taking advantage of the two men's happiness, he tentatively asked: "Commander, chief of staff, I wonder if after this battle is over, whether
Would you like to commend this reconnaissance team?"
"No problem." Sokov said carelessly: "They were able to obtain such important information. Not to mention commending them, even if they were promoted to military ranks, I think they should be all."
Sokov's words made the director of the reconnaissance department overjoyed. He quickly said: "Comrade Commander, on behalf of the people of the reconnaissance team, I would like to express my gratitude to you for giving them the honor they deserve."
"This is what they deserve," Sokov said: "After all, they provided us with important intelligence."
"Comrade Director of the Reconnaissance Division," Samyko was not completely satisfied with the results achieved by the reconnaissance team. After Sokov finished speaking, he asked the Director of the Reconnaissance Division directly: "If the Air Force is dispatched immediately, what can they do for us?"
Are the bombers directed to attack targets?"
In response to the question raised by Samek, the director of the reconnaissance department thought for a while, nodded vigorously, and replied: "No problem, I can contact Sergeant Iva of the reconnaissance team and ask them to stay there to instruct the air force to attack."
Target."
"Wait a minute, Comrade Director." After Sokov heard a name casually mentioned by the Director of the Reconnaissance Division, he interrupted him in time: "Who do you think is in charge of the reconnaissance team?"
"Sergeant Iva." The head of the reconnaissance department replied: "He turned out to be a scout of the Fomenko Division. Because he accurately detected the enemy's defense situation in the Svetlovodsk District, the Fomenko Division avoided
There was unnecessary loss. I called General Fomenko a few days ago and asked him to come over."
Sokov took a sip from the tea cup on the table, smiled and said to the director of the reconnaissance department: "It seems that General Fomenko is very generous, actually giving you such an excellent scout."
The director of the reconnaissance department said with some embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, in fact, General Fomenko was reluctant to part with him. It was in your name that I got this excellent scout over."
Sokov did not expect that the director of the reconnaissance department would be so bold, using his own name to go to the troops below to ask for someone, and suddenly felt that the tea in his hand no longer smelled good.
"Comrade Director," Samyko saw the discord on Sokov's face and quickly came out to smooth things over: "Why don't you ask for permission on this kind of thing?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," the director of the Reconnaissance Department said with an aggrieved look: "When I contacted General Fomenko, we were on the train to Klemenkoug. There was no time to call Comrade Commander..."
"Okay, okay, stop talking." Sokov put the tea cup in his hand on the table and interrupted the reconnaissance director again: "Since people are coming, let him stay in your possession.
Let me go. Sergeant Ivar has done a great job this time. When he comes back, remember to bring him to see me. Do you understand?"
After hearing what Sokov said, the director of the reconnaissance department realized that the other party would not pursue such a trivial matter again, and quickly replied loudly: "Understood, Comrade Commander. When he comes back, I will bring him to see you as soon as possible."
.”
"You have nothing to do here, you should go back first." Sameko waved his hand to the director of the reconnaissance department and said: "If you have any latest information, come back and report to us."
After the director of the reconnaissance department left, Samyko suggested to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, now that we have mastered the most critical information, would you like to report it to the front army headquarters immediately and ask the air force to dispatch as soon as possible to bomb the German army?"
8th Armored Division?”
"I think it's okay, let me report it myself." Although it was still dark at the moment, Sokov thought it was a good opportunity to go out, so he agreed to Samyko's proposal and asked the director of the communications corps to pick him up.
Passed through the front army headquarters.
There was no fighting between the two sides at the moment, and it was the most leisurely moment for the front army headquarters. Zakharov, who was on duty, was lying on the table sleeping. When he was sleeping most soundly, he suddenly heard the phone ringing beside him. The ringing had just lasted two seconds.
At the next moment, Zaharov had already grabbed the microphone, put it to his ear, and said feebly: "I am Zaharov!"
"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov's voice came from the receiver: "We have figured out the enemy's troop number and troop size..."
After hearing what Sokov said, Zakharov's drowsiness suddenly disappeared without a trace. He held the microphone with his shoulder, picked up the pen and paper on the table, "Comrade Sokov, please tell me."
, I’m going to record it.”
"The German troops ambushing the west side of Outpost No. 1, verified by our scouts, are the German 8th Armored Division." Sokov said clearly and slowly: "They are equipped with 25 No. 4 tanks, 80
Panther tanks and 30 assault guns, as well as more than 50 armored vehicles."
After Zakharov recorded what Sokov reported, he couldn't help but take a breath: "The enemy's size is not small. If Solomatin's two brigades launch a counterattack after dawn according to the plan, once
Entering the enemy's ambush circle, there is no possibility of escape at all. Comrade Sokov, your sharp eyesight allowed you to discover the trap set by the Germans for our army in time, thus avoiding many unnecessary losses."
Sokov called Zakharov, not just to chat with him. He quickly said: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, can you allow the Air Force to attack now?"
"Let the air force attack now?" Zakharov said in surprise: "There is still an hour before dawn. Our air force is going to attack at this moment. After reaching the target, we can't see anything. How can we attack the ground target?"
"You can rest assured of this." Sokov said confidently: "The reconnaissance team we sent is now hidden in the location of the German 8th Armored Division. They will indicate accurate attack targets for the air force."
Now that Sokov had said everything to this extent, Zakharov knew that it would be inappropriate for him to refuse again, so he said into the microphone: "Okay, Comrade Sokov, I will give it to Goryunov immediately.
The general called and asked him to immediately dispatch the air force to launch an air attack on the German 8th Armored Division."
Just when Zakharov was about to put down the phone, he suddenly remembered a key question and asked quickly: "Comrade Sokov, after our air force arrives at the designated location, how will your scouts indicate the attack target for them?"
"This is easy to handle." As for the problem that Zakharov was worried about, Sokov had already thought of a solution: "Our scouts hidden nearby will launch signal flares and illumination flares into the air. The signal flares will make
The Air Force bombers know that they have reached the target; and the flares are to allow our pilots to see the target clearly on the ground."
Seeing that Sokov had considered all the issues that should be considered, Zakharov suddenly felt more at ease: "Okay then, I will contact General Goryunov and call him and ask him to dispatch the bomber formation immediately."
After Zakharov ended the call with Sokov, he immediately dialed the headquarters of the 5th Air Force Army. The phone rang only twice, and an impatient voice came from the receiver: "I am Goliu.
Nov, is this Chief of Staff Zakharov?"
"Yes, it's me." Zaharov asked in surprise: "General Goryunov, how did you know it was me who called?"
"When you talked to me last time, didn't you say you would call me again before dawn?" Goryunov on the other end of the phone said: "When I heard the phone ringing, I guessed it might be you. Why?
So, is there any further information from the 27th Group Army?"
"You guessed it right, General Goryunov. I called you just to tell you that the latest information about the 27th Army has been transmitted." Zakharov reported Sokov's report to Goryunov.
After the briefing, Liunov said: "Comrade Sokov hopes that your bomber formation can set off before dawn and bomb the enemy while they are still sleeping."
"My comrade chief of staff," Goryunov said bitterly after waiting for Zakharov to finish: "There is still more than an hour before dawn, and my plane will only need half an hour to reach the target.
.But if you can’t clearly see the attack target on the ground, even going there will be in vain.”
"You don't have to worry about this." Zaharov comforted Goryunov and said: "Comrade Sokov said that his scouts will be lurking near the German 8th Armored Division, waiting for our bomber formation to enter the attack range.
Afterwards, they will launch flares and illumination flares to indicate and illuminate the target for the air force to attack."
Upon learning that Sokov had arranged a reconnaissance team to direct the bombers to attack targets, Goryunov quickly said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I immediately ordered the 132nd Bomb Aviation Division to take off and head towards the landing site to attack the German 8th Infantry Division.
The armored division launched an air attack."
"General Goryunov," Zaharov reminded the other party: "Although it is still dark and the enemy's fighter jets are unlikely to appear so soon, I think you should still send fighter jets to escort you to avoid any accidents."
"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff." Goryunov originally thought that the bomber formation would bomb at night and then withdraw after the bombing. At that time, the German air force had not recovered and had no time to dispatch. It was the same whether there was fighter escort or not.
But since Zakharov specifically warned about this matter, he had to pay attention: "I will send an independent fighter flight group to accompany it to cover the safety of the bomber formation."
"Very good." Zaharov was very satisfied with Goryunov's arrangement: "Then I wish you brilliant results in advance and good luck!"
When the bombers of the 132nd Bomb Aviation Division took off one after another, completed their formation in the air, and flew towards the landing site on the right bank, Sergeant Ivar and his reconnaissance team had just received a telegram from the reconnaissance office.
After reading the telegram, Ivar said to his subordinates: "Comrades, we just received the telegram from the reconnaissance office. Let us continue to stay here and wait for our bomber formation to arrive and give them instructions for attacking targets."
"Comrade Sergeant," a soldier asked Sergeant Ivar, "there is so much darkness everywhere, how should we guide the air force to attack targets?"
"When we hear the bombers approaching, we will immediately launch flares into the sky to let the air force confirm the location of the attack." Sergeant Ivar explained to everyone: "After they approach, we will launch a few more flares so that our pilots can
See clearly the attack target on the ground."
The soldier continued to ask: "The enemies are scattered in several places. Which target should we let the air force attack first?"
"The first target to attack must be the German Panther tank. It can be said to be the nemesis of our T-34 tank. If we don't destroy them first, our tank brigade will suffer a big loss in the next battle.
.”
"I think we should attack the artillery first." Another soldier suddenly said: "You know, half of the more than thirty artillery pieces of the German army are heavy artillery. Once the enemy fires, it will cause huge casualties to our army."
Ivar glanced at the soldier and said: "We will use the German artillery position as the last attack target. Because its movement is not as easy as that of tanks or assault guns. After our air force has destroyed all the tanks,
, it’s not too late to deal with it again.”
Seeing that Ivar had already considered the attack sequence of the air force, the soldiers stopped talking and began to make preparations. They could only guide them to attack targets as soon as the bomber group arrived.
After waiting for more than ten minutes, the roar of aircraft engines was heard in the air. Hearing this sound, Ivar immediately became excited. He called to his subordinates: "Comrades, our bomber group is coming, everyone is ready."
Yet?"
"Ready, Comrade Sergeant." Several scouts replied neatly.
Ivar listened carefully to the roar of the engine in the air. When he felt that the distance was almost there, he raised the flare gun in his hand and fired three blue flares into the air to tell the approaching bombers that the target was about to be attacked.
it's here.
After waiting for another two or three minutes, flares were raised in several different places at the same time, illuminating the attack targets on the ground for the bomber group entering the bombing area.
The bombers in the sky used the light of the flares to clearly see the neatly parked tanks and armored vehicles below, and then swooped down one after another and dropped the aerial bombs they carried.
As the flames rose up, the German tanks were hit one after another and burst into flames, burning and exploding on the spot. The awakened tank soldiers rushed out of the tent and tried to move their tanks to a safe place, but the aerial bombs falling from the sky
But their attempts came to nothing, and many tank soldiers were blown to pieces before they even got close to their tanks.
The Panther tank was the first target attacked by the bombers. After the first round of dive bombing, half of the tanks were burning, and the fire illuminated those tanks that had not been destroyed. The pilots who completed the first round of dive bombing,
They all pulled up their planes, circled in the air for a week, and then dived towards their targets again, dropping the aerial bombs they carried on the Panther tanks that were still intact.
