Napoleon once said: "A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier." Sokov's goal is not just to be a general, he even has a dream to become a marshal of the Soviet Union one day in the future. Although this dream
It was very slim and far away, but he never gave up, just in case it would come true one day.
When Sokov was distracted, he suddenly heard Samek calling him, turned around and asked: "Chief of Staff, what's the matter?"
"Commander Konev wants to speak to you." Samyko said and handed over the microphone in his hand.
Sokov quickly stood up and took the microphone from the other party's hand, put it to his ear, and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, what instructions do you have?"
Konev's displeased voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Sokov, didn't I tell you that once the losses of the German 8th Armored Division are calculated, you will report them to me immediately? How long has it been?
, why haven’t you reported it yet?”
Faced with Konev's accusation, Sokov did not dare to defend himself. He quickly covered the microphone with his hand and asked Samyko in a low voice: "Chief of Staff, have the losses of the German 8th Armored Division been calculated?"
"I just received the report from the reconnaissance office, and I haven't had time to report it to you yet." Samek said, passing a piece of paper in front of Sokov: "This is the loss of the German army."
Sokov took the paper, quickly read through the contents, released his hand covering the microphone, and reported to Konev: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, according to the statistics of our reconnaissance team, the bombing before dawn destroyed
21 German Panzer IV tanks were destroyed, 4 survived; 51 Panther tanks were destroyed, 29 survived; 19 assault guns were destroyed, 11 survived. In addition, German armored vehicles and trucks were destroyed..."
"Okay, no need to say more." Konev interrupted Sokov before he could finish, "Except for German tanks and assault guns, I have no interest in other vehicles."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov said, he was very satisfied with the results of this bombing. The 8th Armored Division originally had 135 tanks and assault guns. After this round of bombing, 91 tanks and assault guns were lost, accounting for 67.4% of the total.
Such a record is quite gratifying: "The effect of this round of bombing by the Air Force against the German army was very obvious. The German 8th Armored Division had less than half of its tanks and assault guns left. In the following battle, they basically
It won’t have much effect.”
"Comrade Sokov, does such a small victory make you complacent?" Konev said on the phone: "You know, when our bomber group bombed German tanks and assault guns, these battles
The vehicles were all parked in place, almost like targets, but our bombing still failed to wipe them all out, which is really a pity."
Konev's words made Sokov dumbfounded. The German 8th Armored Division only had a total of 135 tanks and assault guns, and now 91 of them have been destroyed. You are not satisfied with such a result. Do you really want the entire German army to be annihilated?
?
However, Sokov did not argue with Konev on this matter, but followed his intention and said: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, after this bombing, I feel that to defend the landing site, we really cannot do without the support of the air force.
.As long as they can provide us with air cover at any time, the enemy will never think of taking the landing site from our hands."
"How much air force do you think I should provide you with?"
"I think there are at least two aviation divisions." Sokov replied without thinking: "One is the bomber aviation division, and the other is the attack aircraft aviation division. The former is for bombing enemy artillery and infantry, and the latter is specifically for dealing with German tanks.
.”
"Okay." What Konev was thinking was that as long as Sokov's troops could hold the landing site and ensure that his main force could successfully cross the Dnieper River, it would be worthwhile to give him more support: "If I give
What you want, can your troops hold the landing site?"
"It's hard to say if only one of our armies holds on." Sokov said resolutely: "Now there are two armies on both sides of the Dnieper River. We are enough to block any large-scale German attack."
"Very good, very good!" Konev was very satisfied with Sokov's answer: "Do you have any other requirements?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Could it be that when Konev asked him to take the initiative to make conditions, Sokov would not let it go easily: "Can you allow us to establish direct contact with the Air Force, so as not to
When we need air support, we need to ask for instructions at all levels, which leads to delays in fighter aircraft."
Konev realized the seriousness of the problem as soon as he heard Sokov mentioning delaying the fighter plane. He frowned and thought about it, and felt that Sokov's words made sense: according to normal procedures, when Sokov needed air support
, you must first call yourself or Zakharov to ask for instructions. After obtaining approval, Zakharov will then give orders to Goryunov of the Air Force. After Goryunov receives the order to attack, he will order the fleet to prepare.
This time and again, at least half an hour has passed. Every minute is precious on the battlefield. If the commanders and fighters holding the position are not supported by the air force for a long time, they may be repulsed by the enemy.
Thinking of this, he said to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, I will inform General Goryunov to contact you as soon as possible, and the two of you will discuss air-ground coordinated operations."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he excitedly said to Samyko, Managarov and others: "The commander of the front army has just informed me of my request, allowing us to establish direct contact with the air force. In this way, when the landing site
When the defenders need air support, we can immediately contact the air force to attack, and we no longer have to report to each other as before."
Managarov and his men were overjoyed when they heard the news. They all had experience in cooperating with the air force. Every time they asked the air force to attack, they had to contact the front army headquarters first. After obtaining approval, their request could be processed.
Passed it to Goryunov. This wasted a lot of time.
But when Samyko heard the news, he was not as excited as his friendly comrades. Instead, he frowned and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the airport is hundreds of kilometers away from us. From the time the fighter planes took off to the time they appeared on the battlefield,
Even if everything goes well, it will take more than half an hour. Since we have to ask for air force support, it means that the German offensive is fierce. I don’t know if the troops holding on to the position can hold on until the air force arrives?"
"I think there should be no problem." Derevyanko said thoughtfully: "No matter how fierce the German offensive is, if our commanders and soldiers can persist for half an hour, it should still be possible."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov remembered that when he went to the Provisional Mechanized Army Headquarters, he had seen an airport north of the city, so he said to Samyko: "Isn't there an airport north of Kremenchug?
We can have people clean up the airport and let the Air Force fighter planes station there. When we need air support, they can provide timely support."
Sokov's words made Samyko's eyes light up: "Comrade Commander, this is a good idea. If the Air Force's fighter planes can really station at the airport in the north of the city and take off from here, they can reach the battlefield in a few minutes at most, which will provide our
The troops provided air support and carried out air strikes against the enemy."
Derevyanko laughed when he heard this, as if he did not agree with Sokov and Samyko's proposal.
Managarov turned to look at his chief of staff and said with some displeasure: "Comrade chief of staff, don't you agree with General Sokov's proposal?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Derevyanko replied seriously: "Having the air force stationed at the airport north of Kremenchug can indeed reach the battlefield in the shortest time and provide air cover for our ground troops. However,
Have you ever thought about how much fuel and ammunition are needed to launch so many fighter planes? Since Poltava is still in the hands of the Germans, our transportation lines can now barely maintain the supplies of our two armies.
If there are two more aviation divisions, can their supplies be met?"
Derevyanko gave Sokov a heads-up that by allowing the aviation division's fighter planes to station at the Kremenchug airport, they could indeed arrive at the battlefield in the shortest possible time and provide air cover for ground troops, but the fuel needed by the fighter planes
And ammunition is a huge problem. He doesn't think that today's unstable transportation lines can ensure that the fuel and ammunition needed by fighter planes can be transported in time. Without fuel and ammunition, fighter planes can only park at the airport and serve as targets.
"Comrade Commander, your call." When Sokov was considering how to solve the problem of fighter fuel and ammunition, a staff officer reported simply and hastily next to him: "It was General Goryunov, commander of the 5th Air Force Group Army.
Come."
Sokov was waiting for Goryunov's call. When he heard that the other party called, he quickly followed the staff officer to the telephone, picked up the phone and put it to his ear, and asked politely: "Hello, may I ask?
Is this General Goryunov? I am Sokov, commander of the 27th Army."
"Hello, General Sokov. I am Air Force Lieutenant General Goryunov." Goryunov said on the phone: "I received a call from Commander Konev saying that you want to establish direct contact with us.
, in order to better carry out air-ground coordinated operations."
"Yes, General Goryunov, I do have such an idea." Sokov replied in a positive tone: "As long as a direct connection is established between us, then when we need air support, we will be able to
I will make a request to you as soon as possible to shorten the time for fighter planes to arrive on the battlefield."
"General Sokov," Goryunov said without comment on what Sokov said, "Our airport is two to three hundred kilometers away from the landing site on the right bank. Even if you make a request to us in time,
It also takes our fighter planes half an hour, or even longer, to reach the battlefield."
"I understand, Comrade General." Sokov hesitated for a moment, and finally said what he was thinking: "I have an idea, which is to ask your aviation division to station at the airport north of Kremenchug, so that your
Fighters can appear over the battlefield in the shortest possible time."
"General Sokov, don't you think your idea is too absurd?"
Sokov was stunned: "Where is this ridiculous?"
"Although Kremenchug is now in our hands, there are still enemies in many nearby areas." Goryunov said: "If the enemy shells the airport, the aircraft in the airport will definitely suffer serious losses.
"
Sokov knew that Goryunov still had something to say, so he did not interrupt him, but listened quietly. As expected, Goryunov continued: "Even if the enemy does not bombard the airport, have you ever considered that so many
How much fuel and ammunition do fighter planes need if they have to fly every day? Do you think that with our current supply capabilities, we can provide enough fuel and ammunition for fighter planes in a timely manner?"
"You are right, Comrade General." Sokov waited for Goryunov to finish speaking and then said: "Placing the fighter planes of the two aviation divisions on the Kremenchug airport is indeed too big a target.
Not only will this attract the attention of the Germans, causing them to do everything possible to cause damage, but the supply of fuel and ammunition is also a big problem. How can the aircraft participate in the battle without fuel and ammunition?"
"General Sokov," seeing that Sokov's views were the same as his own, Goryunov couldn't help but smile, and then asked: "Since your views are the same as mine, then you still insist on letting the aviation division's fighters enter Klei
Menchug?”
"It's obviously not possible if both aviation divisions are stationed." Unexpectedly, Sokov said: "After all, our communication lines are not stable, and we will definitely not be able to provide them with enough fuel and ammunition. But if we are stationed in Kremlin,
The fighter planes at Lemenchug Airport are not two aviation divisions, but two aviation regiments? Comrade General, do you think the ammunition and fuel they need can be supplied in time?"
Goryunov's smile froze on his face: "General Sokov, in that case, do you still hope that fighter planes will be stationed at the airport in Kremenchug?"
"Yes, Comrade General." Sokov was worried that Goryunov would reject his proposal, so he took the initiative to lower his request: "If you think that two aviation regiments are too many, then it is okay to equip us with two flying squadrons.
Okay, so there shouldn’t be any problem in meeting their fuel and ammunition supplies.”
"Two flying squadrons?" Goryunov exclaimed in surprise after hearing Sokov's request: "Oh my God, what role can two flying squadrons play on the battlefield?"
"Comrade General, you must not underestimate these two squadrons." Seeing that Goryunov did not understand his intentions, Sokov explained to him: "The fighter planes that take off in advance can contain the enemy.
More fighter planes arrived to buy precious time."
When Goryunov thought about it, it seemed that this was indeed the case. As long as the number of German aircraft dispatched at one time was not large, then his two squadrons could completely interfere and contain them, allowing more fighters to rush to the battlefield.
Buying precious time. Thinking of this, he said cheerfully: "Okay, General Sokov, you have successfully convinced me. Let's do this. You can send someone to clean up the airport first. There will be people there early tomorrow morning.
