After receiving the telegram from the infantry brigade, Samyko smiled and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, you see, Major Guchakov was worried that he would be blamed if he did not launch a counterattack, so he sent a special telegram
I’ll give you an explanation.”
Sokov took a look at the telegram and then told Samyko: "Chief of Staff, please reply to the telegram to Major Guchakov. The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly. I grant him the power to deal with the situation on an ad hoc basis. There is no need to report everything to the commander."
Report to the Ministry of Defense so as not to delay the war effort."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Samyko agreed readily: "I will immediately ask the telegraph operator to send a telegram to Major Guchakov so that he can feel at ease as soon as possible."
"General Sokov." Derevyanko felt very puzzled by Sokov's behavior of delegating power. He asked curiously: "You give the troops below the power to make emergency decisions. Aren't you worried that at a critical moment, you will
Is there a situation where the troops cannot be commanded?"
"General Derevyanko," faced Derevyanko's questioning, Sokov explained to him: "If every unit had to ask for instructions and report before taking any action, it would definitely waste a lot of time.
If there is a crisis in the war and they may not be able to contact the headquarters, can they only choose to wait passively and watch the fighter plane miss before receiving the combat order from their superiors?
Giving subordinate units the power to deal with emergencies is to facilitate the commander of the unit to adjust the tactics used in a timely manner according to changes in the battlefield situation to avoid delaying fighter opportunities.
As for what you are worried about, it does not exist at all. I believe that my subordinates will definitely carry out the combat orders to the letter after receiving them from me."
Seeing Derevyanko, he seemed to want to say something, but Managarov stopped him and said to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, General Sokov is right. As the troops under our command become more and more
There are more and more things coming, and if we have to take care of everything, we as commanders will simply be overwhelmed. Properly delegating power to the troops below may be more conducive to the flexibility of the troops."
Although Derevyanko always disagreed with Sokov's approach, now that Managarov had expressed his opinion, he gave up the debate with Sokov and instead nodded to Managarov: "
Comrade Commander, you are right. It seems that we should also learn from General Sokov in the future and delegate command authority to the lower-level commanders below."
…………
The German attack on the landing site lasted for two days. Although they did not capture even an inch of land, the Soviet troops responsible for the defense also paid a heavy price.
After Samek told Sokov the situation, he worriedly said: "Comrade Commander, after these two days of fighting, more than one-third of the troops standing on the front line have suffered casualties. Do you think we should withdraw them?"
Rest and recuperate, and follow-up troops will take over their defense?"
"There is no need." Sokov waved his hand and said: "Our two artillery divisions and several rocket launcher battalions have been deployed on the left bank of the Dnieper River. Once the German army launches another attack, we can use long-range artillery fire to attack the attacking enemy.
Intercept and kill a large number of their effective forces."
"The ammunition reserves of our artillery are not ideal." Samyko heard what Sokov said and quickly reminded him: "I'm afraid it is not enough to support a long-term artillery bombardment."
"How many shells does each gun have?"
Sameko opened his notepad, took a look at it, and replied: "Except for the 76.2 mm caliber artillery, which has three base numbers of shells, the other heavy artillery only has one base number of ammunition."
"Heavy artillery only has one base number of ammunition?" Sokov knew very well that if he wanted to use artillery fire from the left bank of the Dnieper River to support the landing site on the right bank, he had to use heavy artillery. One base number of ammunition was too little: "The superiors gave us
When will the additional ammunition be delivered?”
"Comrade Commander, since the superiors have to give priority to the ammunition needs of the troops attacking Poltava, the supplies to us may be slower."
Hearing Samyko's cautious words, Sokov asked impatiently: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I know that my superiors will give priority to the troops attacking Poltava in terms of supplies, but I want to know when they will
Can you provide us with a sufficient number of artillery shells?"
After Sokov finished speaking, Sameko stopped talking. To be honest, he didn't know when his superiors would be able to provide supplies under the current circumstances.
Seeing Samyko's delay in speaking, Sokov became a little impatient: "Comrade Chief of Staff, why don't you answer me?"
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, I don't know." Samyko replied in a panic: "As far as I know, the troops commanded by General Rokossovsky did not receive any soldiers or ammunition for a period of time.
replenishment, because the superiors want to give priority to replenishing these things to the troops on other fronts."
"Comrade General," Sokov felt in his heart that what Samyko said was very reasonable. Out of overall considerations, his superiors would definitely give priority to supplying the 5th and 7th Guards Armies attacking Poltava.
For a long time, he might have to think of ways to raise ammunition by himself. He remembered that the 53rd Army was now under his command, and he might be able to get some help from Managarov, so he asked tentatively: "I want to ask,
What is your artillery ammunition reserve?"
Derevyanko had long guessed that Sokov would ask this question, so he answered truthfully: "General Sokov, most of our artillery is equipped with 76.2 mm artillery. There are not many large-caliber artillery, so the matching
The amount of ammunition is also very limited."
When Sokov heard what Derevyanko said, he suddenly felt cold. According to his idea, he also planned to borrow some artillery shells from the 53rd Army to ensure that his artillery unit had sufficient ammunition. But now it seems that this plan has been ruined.
.
"Comrade Chief of Staff, let me explain to General Sokov." Seeing Sokov's frustrated look, Managarov interrupted Derevyanko's words and smiled at him.
Sokov said: "Although we have a small number of heavy artillery, each gun is equipped with two basic shells. I think we may be able to help you at a critical moment."
Knowing that the opponent had heavy artillery and two basic ammunition, Sokov felt much more at ease. Even if there were only a few heavy artillery, it could cause a lot of casualties to the German troops attacking the landing site. He quickly said: "Comrade General, this is really
Great. Please deploy all these heavy artillery on the banks of the Dnieper River as soon as possible. When the enemy's attack begins, you can use the heavy artillery to give them a severe lesson."
"Yes." Managarov agreed very readily: "Chief of Staff, you should immediately contact the heavy artillery regiment and order them to deploy on the left bank of the Dnieper River as soon as possible and be ready to provide artillery support to friendly forces at any time."
But after hearing this, Derevyanko reluctantly said to Managarov: "Comrade Commander, we only have one heavy artillery regiment, and their mission is to provide artillery support for the defense forces. If we now
If they are transferred to the Dnieper River, they will not be able to provide artillery support to other troops."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, don't be so stingy." Managarov naturally understood what his Chief of Staff was worried about, so he said with a smile: "Judging from the current situation, the enemy's attack focus is on the landing site on the right bank, and they will not cross the river for the time being.
We are fighting on the left bank, so the heavy artillery regiment will not be of much use in the short term. It is better to lend it to General Sokov and them for a period of time."
Derevyanko was unwilling to lend the heavy artillery regiment to Sokov. In fact, he also had his own difficulties. The entire 53rd Army only had such a heavy artillery regiment. After loaning it out, it might be assigned to the command of friendly forces; even if it could be restored in the end
, I am afraid that heavy artillery may also be lost or shells may be exhausted.
But now that Managarov has made his attitude clear, no matter how much he objects as the chief of staff, it may not help. He can only bite the bullet and reply: "Okay, Comrade Commander, I will immediately give the heavy artillery regiment
Call the commander and ask him to rush to the Dnieper River to set up defenses as soon as possible."
Sokov was also a smart man. He couldn't tell what Derevyanko was worried about, so he comforted him and said: "General Derevyanko, don't worry, I will return your heavy artillery regiment to you intact. Just
However, our army currently does not have enough heavy artillery, so we can only borrow it temporarily for a period of time."
Now that Sokov's attitude has been made clear, Derevyanko stopped being pretentious and nodded and said: "General Sokov, when this battle is over, please remember to let our heavy artillery regiment return to its original state.
"
"No problem, no problem." Sokov replied carelessly: "I will definitely let them return to work."
Sokov was thinking that, together with the heavy artillery regiment of the 53rd Group Army, he would have four heavy artillery regiments in his hands, and the consumption of artillery shells would be very large. If he blindly waits for supplies from his superiors, he still doesn’t know how long it will take.
It was the year of the monkey and the month of the horse. Thinking of this, he began to consider whether to contact Yakov to see if he could provide him with some help.
The purpose of calling Yakov was to solve the logistics supply problem through his channel. If the headquarters used to be staffed by our own people, we could just pick up the phone and make a call. But now that the command is merged with the 53rd Army, some phone calls are
Not suitable for beating in public.
After thinking clearly about this, Sokov called his director of the communications corps aside and asked in a low voice: "Comrade director of the communications corps, I want to call the weapons and equipment department in Moscow. Can you help me find a quiet place?"
?”
The director of the communications corps was also a smart man. When Sokov asked himself this question, he immediately understood the content of the other party's call. He didn't want more people to know about it, so he nodded and said: "Comrade Commander, I can connect a phone line."
Go to your room so that you won't be disturbed by others when talking to your superiors."
"Then you arrange manpower as soon as possible to help me find a line that can connect to Moscow. I am in urgent need here."
Ten minutes later, the director of the communications corps reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the phone has been connected. You can talk to Moscow at any time."
Sokov quickly returned to the room where he usually rested, picked up the microphone on the table, and talked to the person on the other end of the phone: "Hello, hello! Can you help me find Colonel Yakov?"
After three seconds of silence, the other party asked in an indifferent voice: "Who is looking for Colonel Yakov?"
Sokov knew that if he did not identify himself, he might not be able to contact Yakov today, so he answered truthfully: "I am Major General Sokov, commander of the 27th Group Army. Please help me find Colonel Yakov."
."
"It turns out to be General Sokov." The voice on the phone immediately became enthusiastic: "Please wait a moment, I will connect you to Colonel Yakov's office immediately."
The call was quickly connected, and Yakov's familiar voice came from the receiver: "I am Yakov, where are you?"
"Hello, Yasha!" Sokov said with a smile, "Can you hear my voice?"
"Misha, it's you." Hearing that the person who called him was actually Sokov, Yakov was also very happy. But his happiness only lasted for a second, and then disappeared without a trace.
He asked cautiously: "You called me today, did you have anything important to do?"
"What can be the matter?" Sokov laughed and said, "I just miss you and I want to call you to say hello."
Yakov, who has dealt with Sokov many times, although he has never heard of the idiom "go to the Three Treasures Palace for nothing", he also knows that Sokov called him today with no good intentions. He must have done it again.
He was looking for something to do for him, "Come on, Misha, we are so familiar with each other, you don't have to hide it anymore. Tell me, what important thing do you want to get from me this time?"
Seeing that his little trick was so easily discovered by Yakov, Sokov was not upset, but said with a smile: "Yasha, you are right, I am looking for you this time, it is indeed important."
I want to talk to you about something."
"You and I have nothing to talk about." Yakov quickly clarified the relationship between the two: "If you call me and ask about Asiya's current situation, I can tell you the truth. But
If you want to get some equipment from my hands, then I tell you, don’t bother trying, I will never help you again this time.”
Sokov directly chose to ignore Yakov's statement. He said with a playful smile: "Yasha, you see we have been good friends for so many years. If you have good things, you must give priority to your friends. You
Say so?"
Yakov sighed softly and said feebly: "Okay, Misha, you win. Tell me, what weapons and equipment do you want today? As long as I can help, I will definitely help you."
."
"Yasha, actually I called you today just to get some heavy artillery shells from you."
"What, you want heavy artillery shells?" Yakov was surprised by the request for payment. He picked up a folder on the table, opened it and looked at it, and then said in surprise: "This morning, I just gave the grassland
The front army sent 50,000 heavy artillery shells, and yesterday it also sent 40,000 shells. If there are no problems with the vehicles transporting the artillery shells, the artillery shells should have reached the front of Poltava by now."
This chapter has been completed!