In front of the German position, the Soviet Exocet rockets suddenly created a "safe zone" with a width of 1,500 meters.
Of course, the Soviet army didn't quite believe that the cloudburst warhead of the Flying Fish rocket was really that efficient. Therefore, the weakened version of the Catfish rocket in the second round was specially used for last-minute damage.
The Soviet soldiers just opened their eyes and cheered for the mushroom cloud created by their own rockets. No one stood up. Everyone knew that the second round of bombardment was coming soon. Compared with the first round, the second round of attacks would be more difficult if you
If you don't hide well enough, you may be accidentally injured!
The weakened version of the Catfish rockets were launched, and in just fifteen seconds, they hit the intended target - which was still a large area.
In terms of accuracy, even if it is weakened, it is still much better than Katyusha rockets, and in terms of lethality, they were developed as weapons specifically for fighting infantry, and the effect is very good!
During the bombardment of Exocet rockets, the Germans instantly suffered more than 200 casualties. It was a powerful attack that exceeded their expectations. Many people who were not harmed were frightened. There was a German battalion in the bombarded area.
, they lost one-third of their troops, and the battalion commander also died on the spot during the bombardment.
In fact, if the Soviet army launched an attack at this moment, there would be no problem in breaking through the position.
Since Lavrenti didn't want to take risks, he carried out the commander's second round of bombardment order in an orderly manner.
The German officers and soldiers who had just escaped a disaster were soon struck by a new blow. Even the weakened Catfish rocket launcher still reached the power equivalent to a 155mm howitzer. The violent vibrations stunned many people.
The tiny flying shrapnel penetrated the bodies of all the soldiers who were not hidden.
Some fragments even flew to the Soviet ambush more than 2,000 meters away.
A piece of shrapnel was already the end of the force, but the crackling sound of them splashing on the armor of the BT tank still made Chekov inside sensitively aware of it.
"It's incredible. Could it be fragments from our rockets? The enemy is going to be finished this time."
The driver said disdainfully: "So I said, the commander pays too much attention to the enemy. The fascists of the 707th Division are a bunch of fools, and the commander actually treats them as enemies like the armed SS."
"It's good to pay attention to the enemy." The gunner said happily, "The enemy has been building the Great Wall for three months and has also set up mine arrays. After our bombing, is there any real obstacle? I guess the enemy will collapse immediately.
"
The discussion by his subordinates made Chekov feel at ease. He knew that it would soon be his turn to fight, and a good attitude was crucial to victory.
"Comrades, stop chatting. Check your equipment, check the machine guns and artillery, and count the ammunition. In a moment we will lead all the armored trucks to charge! Brothers, who is the first to break the German position?"
"We!" everyone said in unison.
Due to the low use of high-energy fuel and the subsequent conventional bombing of Catfish rockets, the possibility of suffocation in the area no longer exists. The thick precipitated gas has been blown away, and new oxygen has filled the explosion area.
Lavrenti leaned on the tree and raised his binoculars. After scanning the area, he waved his hand without saying anything. That was the "troops assault" command.
"Finally! It's our turn to perform! Driver, move forward!" Under the leadership of Chekov's tank, fifteen armored trucks left the ambush.
Just like the battle on the 16th, the trucks were followed by the officers and soldiers of the 284th Division's Second Regiment. They served as the first echelon. A total of 16 armored vehicles and 1,800 soldiers became the most ferocious assault force.
The parachute brigade, the remnants of the first regiment of the 284th Division, the remnants of the artillery regiment, and the temporary elderly regiment, these 6,000 people are the second echelon. The remaining troops and everyone in the frontline headquarters are the third echelon.
The fog on the Soviet offensive road had disappeared, and it was only just seven o'clock in the morning.
The warm sunshine illuminated the battlefield filled with thick smoke, and the breeze slightly deformed the five mushroom clouds. Above the ground, thousands of Soviet troops aimed at the gap in the German defense line they had just blasted and swarmed over.
At the beginning, all the armored vehicles of the Soviet army maintained a satisfactory speed, and the violent counterattack they expected from the German army did not happen for a time.
The counterattack did not begin until the Soviet army was convinced that it was only 500 meters away from the German position.
The front armor of the BT tank was also stacked with some sacks filled with moist soil. When bullets penetrated, there was only a muffled sound.
Chekov felt these vibrations. He continued to stare into the periscope and noticed the approaching fire.
"Gunner, eleven o'clock direction, German machine gun."
"Okay, I want to adjust the turret! Adjustment completed! Fire!"
The 37mm high-explosive shells of BT tanks are average in power and have little problem against ordinary machine gunners.
However, on the German position, there were at least ten machine gun positions in counterattack, and even the firepower of the German defense line in the distance began to be projected onto the flanks of the Soviet offensive formation.
"Hell, it's a mistake to continue dilly-dallying!" Chekov bared his teeth and ordered, "Driver! Use full power!"
"Platoon leader, we don't wait for the people behind us?"
"There is no time to waste time, we are the strongest! Brothers, for victory! Ula!"
The three people inside the tank seemed to have drank a whole bottle of vodka, and their fighting enthusiasm increased sharply! The driver stepped on the accelerator to the bottom, and the entire tank started racing.
Thanks to the Christie suspension of the BT tank, it was still racing at a high speed of 50 yards on the rugged battlefield full of craters, and it actually quickly rushed into the German position.
Not far away, the troops who were still enduring German firepower and advancing tenaciously saw the red flag on their own tank flying in the German position, and their morale was immediately boosted.
"Okay brothers, your Patriotic War Medal is indispensable. Now let's continue the show! The driver moves, the gunner, fight with the coaxial machine gun. Let us sweep their defense lines."
Under Chekov's order, the BT tank repeated its old tricks. It moved very fast, and the Germans could not destroy it with grenades, and it was not equipped with the German version of RPG weapons. It was pointless to pour firepower on it with the ZB26.
The Soviet tanks did not intend to continue charging north, but frequently circled above the German positions, well realizing its ability to attract fire and cover large forces.
At the same time, the Soviet machine gunners on the armored trucks also fired desperately to suppress the German firepower.
The smoothness of the battle completely exceeded Lavrenti's expectations. He was watching the battle with a telescope from behind. When the red flag on the tank kept shaking at the skill position, his body also trembled violently. He reluctantly looked at his watch and saw the time.
It was just half past seven. In other words, the Soviet army had only been fighting for more than forty minutes, including the rocket bombardment.
The German army built their position for three months and was finally breached in forty minutes. Sometimes this magical thing happens on the battlefield.
None of the fifteen armored trucks was damaged. They broke through the German position and crushed the last incomplete barbed wire barrier. The 1,800 soldiers behind suffered 100 casualties because they were blocked by flank and a small amount of frontal fire.
There were many people. However, compared with the victory achieved by the Soviet army, these casualties were really small.
The armored trucks were unable to break through the trenches due to their structural limitations. Their advance came to an end for the time being, but there were metal plates on both sides of the trucks and even some bags of dirt hung on them. This was excellent armor. Some soldiers climbed onto the trucks and carried them to the end.
He fired his machine gun and attacked the German soldiers in the trench from a high position.