Early the next morning, as soon as Yakov left with his hovercraft detachment, Kurishenko came to the headquarters angrily and asked Sokov to launch an attack.
"Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff," Kurishenko asked with a straight face: "I would like to ask, why are the two airborne divisions issued assault rifles and new rockets, but our division has nothing?
"
"Who said there isn't?" Smirnov heard what Kurishenko said and immediately retorted: "Didn't a large part of the weapons that were replaced by the two divisions be given to your division?"
"Our division already has those equipments." Kurishenko said, somewhat dumbfounded: "Give us another batch, and it won't be of much help to improve the combat effectiveness of the troops."
"You can't say that." Smirnov continued: "In the early battles, your division not only suffered heavy losses in soldiers, but also in weapons and equipment. So much so that after the new troops were replenished, many recruits did not have weapons.
The weapons distributed to you last night are just enough to arm the new recruits."
"Even if we replenish this batch of weapons, we are still facing the problem of insufficient firepower." Kurishenko raised his voice and said: "We are about to launch an attack on the German Uman Group. Without strong firepower, our division will be
When you attack, you will definitely pay a huge price."
"Comrade Kurishenko," seeing Smirnov preparing to reprimand Kurishenko, Sokov quickly reached out to stop him, took over the conversation and said: "Do you know why I don't issue new weapons to your division?
"
"Why?"
"Because your division has a high proportion of recruits." Sokov said bluntly: "Even if you are assigned assault rifles and new rockets, the recruits can master the use of these new weapons in a short period of time, and
Can you use it skillfully? It was with this in mind that I decided to give priority to the weapons shipped by Colonel Yakov to the two Guards Airborne Divisions."
"Comrade Commander, have you forgotten that you once served as the commander of the 41st Guards Division." Kurishenko said: "It can be said that this unit is your old subordinate."
"Yes, General Kurishenko." Sokov did not deny this: "Yes, I am the second division commander of the 41st Guards Division, but this has nothing to do with the fact that I did not issue new weapons to you.
What does it matter?"
"Why doesn't it matter?" Kurishenko couldn't help but feel a little angry when he saw Sokov's disapproval. He said emotionally: "Although there are not many veterans left when you were the division commander. But for
How to use assault rifles and new rockets, they are no worse than the commanders and fighters of friendly forces, and are even much better."
When Sokov heard this, he was stunned for a moment, then raised his hand and slapped himself on the forehead, and said angrily: "Damn it, how could I forget about this?" Maybe it was because he had been away from this army for too long.
It took so long that Sokov had forgotten that the commanders and fighters of the division were proficient in using assault rifles and skillfully firing new rockets at enemy positions.
Seeing Sokov's reaction, Kurishenko couldn't help feeling secretly happy. He continued: "Comrade Commander, even if you don't give us assault rifles, you must give us some new rockets.
As long as we have new rockets, we will be able to suppress the German army with firepower during the attack, thereby reducing unnecessary casualties."
Although Sokov felt a little regretful and felt that he had not considered the matter comprehensively enough, now that assault rifles and new rockets have been distributed to the Airborne Division, it is definitely unrealistic to take them back, and it may also arouse the emotions of the Airborne Division commanders and fighters.
Unstable. Therefore, even if the 41st Guards Division needs to be re-equipped, it will have to wait until Yakov delivers the second batch of weapons and equipment.
After thinking about this, Sokov said to Kurishenko: "General Kurishenko, now all the weapons and equipment we have obtained have been distributed. Even if I want to give it to you at this time, I can't give you anything.
"
When Kurishenko heard this, he couldn't help but feel cold. He said with a grimace: "I didn't expect that they are all troops of the 18th Guards Army, but the equipment of our division is one level worse than that of friendly forces..."
"Don't worry, there will be assault rifles, there will be new rockets, there will be everything." After casually saying this modified quote, Sokov continued: "Colonel Yakov has returned
Moscow, it will take at most five days for him to transport the second batch of weapons and ammunition, and I will give you priority at that time."
"There are more than a thousand highways from here to Moscow. And it's the spring thaw season, and the entire Ukrainian plain has turned into a quagmire." Kurishenko said with a wry smile: "Even if Colonel Yakov
They transported it as quickly as possible, and by the time the second batch of weapons and ammunition was encountered, almost half a month had passed. And there were only five days left for our army to launch the Uman Campaign. It seemed that our division was
I can’t wait to change my clothes before the battle.”
"You can rest assured on this," Sokov said truthfully, thinking that the hovercraft matter was no longer a secret in the Soviet army. For a division commander like Kurishenko, there was no need to hide it.
The hovercraft unit commanded by Colonel Yakov drives a special vehicle that can not only travel on the road, but also travel very fast in swamps, lakes or quagmire. I believe they will definitely be used in battles
Before we start, bring us the second batch of weapons and equipment."
Now that Sokov had made a promise to him, Kurishenko felt that there was no need to stay any longer, so he stood up and prepared to leave: "Comrade Commander, I am going back to the army. Do you allow me to leave?"
Sokov did not immediately agree to his departure. Instead, he asked: "When will your division leave?"
"According to the order of the army, we will set off at ten o'clock tomorrow morning." After Kurishenko reported the departure time of the troops, he continued: "After our division enters Safran, we will seize the time to build defensive positions and prepare for the attack.
All preparations beforehand.”
Sokov said "hmm" and then said to Kurishenko: "General Kurishenko, if you encounter any difficulties when building the defense line, remember to get in touch with me in time, and I will find a way to help you solve it.
.”
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Kurishenko raised his right hand to his forehead: "Now, please allow me to leave!"
"Permission!" Sokov nodded and said, "Go back to the division as soon as possible. Pay attention to safety on the road."
…………
According to the intelligence fed back by the scouts, Sokov knew that the Safran area was a plain area with no permanent fortifications and could be said to be undefeable. The German army had long abandoned this area. Kurishenko's 41st Guards
When the division is stationed here, they won't encounter any big trouble.
Unexpectedly, when Kurishenko's troops arrived in Safran after two days of march, they were unexpectedly blocked by the German army. After more than an hour of fighting, Kurishenko discovered that although Safran
There are no permanent fortifications, but the Germans have built field fortifications here, which can completely stop their troops with only light weapons.
Sidorin, the chief of staff who was staying in the observation post, saw that the troops' attack was frustrated, so he said to Kurishenko: "Comrade division commander, without the cover of heavy weapons, we simply cannot break through the German defense line. If we attack by force, even if it is barely
If we break through the defense line, I'm afraid the troops will also suffer heavy casualties."
Kurishenko raised his telescope and looked at the German positions still smoking in the distance, as well as the remains of soldiers scattered in front of the positions. He nodded and agreed to Sidorin's proposal: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, then you can tell me
The commander reported that when our division was stationed in Safran, it was completely blocked by the German army. The troops were unable to seize the enemy's position while marching, and asked our superiors to provide us with fire support."
After receiving the telegram from Sidorin, Sokov couldn't help but fell into deep thought.
Seeing Sokov's expression, Smirnov asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, what kind of help do you think we should provide to the 41st Guards Division?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, the road leading to Safran has not been repaired yet," Sokov said with a frown: "This means that our tank brigade cannot go there to support. Moreover, it is too far away from our current defense area and beyond
Without the effective range of the artillery, even artillery support cannot be provided to them."
"Then what should we do?" Smirnov became even more anxious after hearing what Sokov said: "As the two airborne divisions in the second echelon, they are still thirty kilometers away from the 41st Guards Division. Even if
If we speed up the march, we may have to wait until dark before we can arrive. Our troops are not familiar with the terrain and cannot go into battle after dark. We can only wait for the next day to fight again. I am worried that if it takes such a long time, the enemy may
There is enough time to prepare so that our army can make greater sacrifices in the new round of offensive."
"You are right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov looked up at Smirnov: "Therefore we cannot delay until tomorrow, we must find a way to have the 41st Guards Division stationed in the Safran area today.
"
"But, you just said that we can't provide any help to the 41st Guards Division now." When Smirnov said this, he suddenly thought of the German V1 missiles and said with emotion: "If we also have Germans
With missiles like that, you don’t have to worry about this kind of thing.”
Sokov laughed and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, even if we really have missiles like the Germans, I don't dare to use them. You know, the accuracy of those things is not high. Don't let the enemy not hit them when the time comes.
Blow up one of our own."
After saying this, he paused for a moment, thought for a moment, and then asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, can you contact General Riazanov?"
"General Ryazanov?" Smirnov asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, are you talking about General Ryazanov, commander of the 1st Assault Aviation Corps?"
"Of course." Sokov nodded and asked: "Besides him, are there other generals Ryazanov?"
"Are you going to let him dispatch the air force to support the 41st Guards Division?" After he said this, he carefully observed Sokov's expression, and when he saw the other party nodding in affirmation, his mood suddenly became excited: "I
I think it would be most appropriate to ask the Air Force to come forward to support the 41st Guards Division, and I will call General Ryazanov right now."
The call was quickly connected, and Smirnov said into the phone: "Hello, General Ryazanov, I am Smirnov. I need your help now..."
But before he finished speaking, Sokov took the microphone from his hand, put it to his ear and said: "I am Sokov! Hello, General Ryazanov!"
"Hello, Comrade General!" Hearing that the person speaking was Sokov, Ryazanov immediately asked respectfully: "Do you have any instructions?"
"When the 41st Guards Division was ordered to enter the Safran area, it was blocked by the German army." Sokov said concisely: "I hope to get your help."
"Understood, Comrade General!" Riazanov replied readily after hearing this: "I will immediately send an attack group to the Safran area to support our ground troops."
"Wait a minute, General Ryazanov." Just as Ryazanov was about to hang up the phone, he heard Sokov asking: "I want to ask, what about the flying fortress I mentioned last time?
Was the renovation successful?"
"Comrade General, the modification has been successful." Riazanov replied: "We have installed twin 14.5 mm anti-aircraft machine guns on the transport aircraft and shot ground targets from the hatch. After testing, the effect is very good.
.”
"I wonder how many transport planes you have converted and how much ammunition each plane can carry?"
"We have only modified one aircraft so far." After Ryazanov said this, he was worried that Sokov would be disappointed, so he quickly added: "But the bomb load is 6,000 rounds, which can provide enough ammunition for the ground troops.
Fire support.”
Sokov thought that although there was only one flying fortress, it was more than enough for ground support. But for the sake of safety, he still suggested to Ryazanov: "General Ryazanov, let's
Let's attack this flying fortress together with the attack group you just mentioned."
After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, General Riazanov will soon send an attack group to support the 41st Guards Division. You call them back immediately and tell them about this."
Inform Kurishenko and Sidorin and let them prepare for ground guidance."
After Smirnov arranged for the telegraph operator to send the report, he returned to Sokov and asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, how do you think the Flying Fortress performed in this battle?"
"I don't know." Sokov answered simply. He had never seen such a modified aircraft put into actual combat. Naturally, he didn't know how effective it would be on the battlefield. "I'm afraid we can only wait for the air fortress to arrive on the battlefield."
Know whether it has any value."
The reason Sokov said this was because he wanted to decide whether to convert more transport aircraft into such aerial fortresses based on the performance of the aerial fortresses in this support operation, or to abandon the plan completely.
Smirnov had the same mentality. He nodded slightly and said, "I hope the performance of the Sky Fortress in this ground support battle will not disappoint us."
After the 41st Guards Division, which was blocked near Safran, received the telegram from the headquarters, Sidorin began to deploy manpower to prepare for the incoming air force to indicate the direction of the attack target.
After doing all this, Sidorin said to Kurishenko: "Comrade division commander, after our air force carries out air strikes on the enemy's positions, we can launch another ground attack."
This chapter has been completed!