The sound of artillery alarmed Sokov, who was drawing in the division headquarters. He put down the pen in his hand and looked up at Lyudnikov sitting opposite: "Comrade Colonel, what's going on outside? Why are the artillery firing?"
Lyudnikov also didn't know what was going on outside. He quickly picked up the phone and called Savage, the commander of the artillery regiment, and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Major, what happened? Why did the artillery fire?"
"Reporting to Comrade Division Commander," Savage said on the phone: "We are providing artillery support for the troops who attacked the No. 6 Production Workshop. They were attacked by the Germans."
When Lyudnikov heard this, he covered the microphone with his hand, frowned and asked Sokov: "Colonel Sokov, was it you who gave the order to the artillery regiment to cover the night attack troops?"
"Let the artillery cover the night attack troops?!" Sokov said confused: "I have never given such an order!" In order to find out what was going on, he took the order from Lyudnikov.
He took the microphone and said, "I am Sokov, Major Savage. Please tell me, who ordered you to use artillery fire to cover the sneak attack troops?"
"No one ordered me." Savage replied: "This was Briskey's suggestion to me. I thought it was pretty good, so I accepted it."
Knowing that the matter was related to Second Battalion Commander Briskey, Sokov quickly ordered Savage: "Comrade Major, is Captain Briskey with you? If so, ask him to answer the phone."
When Captain Briski's slightly excited voice came from the receiver, Sokov said to the microphone with a straight face: "Comrade Captain, please explain to me, what is going on?"
"Comrade division commander, please listen to my explanation." Briski heard the dissatisfaction in Sokov's tone and explained anxiously: "After we destroyed the enemy's attack with artillery fire during the day, we never saw the enemy again.
appeared, I realized at that time that although the enemy did not take the initiative to attack, with your character, you would never let them have an easy time, and would definitely organize troops to conduct night attacks. Although we are now temporarily under the command of artillery, we can
The battalion is still infantry. Even if you cannot personally participate in the night attack, you should still use your status to do something for your comrades in the friendly army..."
In the middle of speaking, Briski suddenly noticed that there was no movement on Sokov's side, so he stopped and asked guiltily into the microphone: "Comrade division commander, are you still listening?"
"I'm listening." Sokov was surprised that his subordinates could guess his combat intentions. When he heard the other party's inquiry, he quickly said into the microphone: "Keep talking."
"I guess you may order the regiment commander tonight to send out troops to sneak attack the enemies in the factory area." Briskey continued: "I'm worried that the night attack troops will not operate smoothly. After all, the enemy will not occupy the factory area for a long time."
Short of that, they have careful deployment in many areas, which will add trouble to our night attacks. Therefore, I divided each artillery position into a bombardment area and told them that once they find fire in the area they are responsible for, it must be our army.
When exchanging fire with the enemy, they can carry out artillery fire in that direction according to the actual situation, and use artillery fire to support friendly forces' operations.
Not long ago, I saw fire in the direction of Production Workshop No. 6, and I could also hear gunfire and explosions. After careful observation, I found that it was our night attack force that was discovered by the enemy and started a firefight, so I decisively ordered No. 2
The artillery positions fire to destroy those enemies that threaten our army."
When Sokov heard this, he couldn't help being surprised and happy. What surprised him was that the night attack of the Belkin regiment was noticed by the enemy, and he didn't know the casualties of the troops. What he was happy about was that Brisky asked the artillery to fire, and the night attack was exposed.
Provide artillery support to the attacking troops to minimize troop casualties.
"You did a good job, Captain Briski." After Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking, he praised the other party with a smile, and then said: "Closely monitor the enemy's movements to ensure that our night attack troops can escape successfully."
"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." Seeing that Sokov not only did not blame himself, but also praised himself, Briski couldn't help but be overjoyed. He quickly replied: "We will definitely ensure the safe withdrawal of the night attack troops."
Sokov ended the call with Brisky and dialed the number of Belgin's command post. As soon as he heard Belgin's voice, Sokov said straight to the point: "Comrade Political Commissar, you know, your night
The attack was discovered by the enemy."
Belkin also heard the sound of artillery coming from outside. He was arranging people to find out why his own artillery fired at the enemy's position. Before the people sent came back, Sokov's call came first
Called over. When Sokov said that his night attack was noticed by the enemy, he said with some shame: "Misha, after the troops attacked, something unexpected happened."
Sokov heard something amiss from Belkin's tone of voice, and quickly asked: "Comrade Political Commissar, tell me quickly, what happened?"
"That's it, Misha." Belkin originally planned to wait until the troops returned from their mission before reporting the sewer blockage by the enemy to Sokov, but at this moment he felt that concealing it any longer might have a negative impact on the situation at hand.
Misjudgment: "Captain Paulkoski, the commander of the first company, reported to me that during their movement through the sewers to the No. 6 production workshop occupied by the enemy, they found that the sewers leading to the factory were blocked by rubble. It was probably the enemy.
We will do this intentionally to prevent our army from using the sewers to make sneak attacks."
"Comrade Political Commissar, why didn't you report this to me earlier?" Sokov was angry that Belkin had concealed something from him on such an important matter, but he tried to control his emotions and tried his best to speak calmly.
He said in a tone of voice: "The troops who just attacked Factory No. 6 were exposed and exchanged fire with the enemy. Fortunately, Captain Briskey was smart and guessed that you would have a night attack at night, so he ordered the artillery to be ready to support you."
"It turns out that the sound of artillery coming from outside is our artillery firing." After figuring out where the sound of artillery came from, Belgin breathed a sigh of relief: "The artillery position is far away from the area where we attacked.
It’s only seven to eight hundred meters. At such a close distance, artillery can completely shoot directly and destroy more enemies with high-explosive bombs.”
Sokov heard the lively sound of gunfire outside. He no longer cared about Belgin hiding from him the fact that the sewer was impassable, but was eager to inquire about the results of the night attack troops: "Comrade Political Commissar, the night attack troops you sent
, are there any results to report back?"
"No," Belkin quickly replied: "So far, I have not received any report."
While the two were talking on the phone, Vanya, the regiment chief of staff on the side, suddenly said to Belkin in surprise: "Comrade regiment leader, Captain Paulkosky is back."
"Misha, the first company commander, Captain Paulkoski, is back." Seeing Paulkoski walking in from the door, Belkin quickly said into the phone: "Don't hang up the phone, I'll ask him first.
What happened?"
Belkin put the microphone on the table, looked at Paulkoski and asked: "Comrade Captain, how is your company's sneak attack mission going?"
"Report to Comrade Commander, our company's mission has failed." Paulkoski replied with a grimace: "The enemy blocked all the sewers leading to the factory. We tried to approach the enemy's station from the ground, but the combat team sent
, but stepped on a landmine not far from the factory, killing three people and seriously injuring two others. If we had not received a sudden burst of artillery support during the retreat, I am afraid the casualties of the troops would have been even greater.
"
"The artillery regiment that provides you with artillery support is Captain Briski's artillery regiment." Belkin said with a straight face: "You go down and rest first. After the other two companies of night attack troops come back, we will summarize this time."
Lessons learned from night raids.”
After Paulkoski left, Belkin picked up the phone again and said to Sokov: "Misha, you heard it, right? Paulkoski and the others accidentally stepped on the phone when they were approaching the factory.
The operation failed because of the mines. It seems that the enemies in the factory are more cunning than the enemies we have come into contact with before..."
"Comrade Commander," before Belkin finished speaking, he suddenly heard someone yelling outside. He covered the microphone with his hand and asked dissatisfied: "What happened? Who is yelling outside?"
Calling, are you interrupting my call with the teacher?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a soldier rushed in from outside. Belkin took a closer look and saw that it was the soldier he sent out to understand the situation. He lowered his tone and asked, "What happened?"
"Yes, comrade commander, something happened, something serious happened." The soldier reported to Belkin in a panic: "The enemy has increased its troops. The enemy has increased its troops to the defenders of the No. 4 assembly workshop south of the factory."
"What, the enemy has increased its troops?" Belkin frowned and asked, "Did you see it with your own eyes?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." The soldier nodded vigorously and replied: "I was just on a nearby building and saw through the telescope that a large number of German soldiers entered the No. 4 assembly workshop in various vehicles...
…”
Belkin realized the seriousness of the problem, quickly released his hand covering the microphone, and said to Sokov: "Misha, the situation in the factory has unexpectedly changed. The enemy has added troops to the No. 4 Assembly Workshop.
"
"Has the enemy increased their troops?" Upon hearing the news, Sokov couldn't help being shocked and quickly asked: "Comrade Political Commissar, do you know the strength and equipment of the newly arrived Germans?"
Belkin did not answer immediately, but looked at the soldier who reported the news. The soldier quickly shook his head, indicating that he could not provide accurate data. Belkin sighed softly and said to Sokov: "Mi
Sha, we currently don’t know enough about the enemy’s situation, so I will immediately send out manpower to conduct reconnaissance in the direction of Factory No. 4 and report to you as soon as possible.”
