While Romania was busy with reinforcements that were about to arrive in Kiev, Timoshenko had already arrived at the new headquarters in Alexandria. He would direct the Soviet counterattack against Romania here.
The transfer of the headquarters is very troublesome. There are too many items and documents that need to be transferred. Of course, the transfer of the combat headquarters is not that troublesome, but it is not easy. This is not the case when Timoshenko walked into the headquarters.
Many officers and soldiers were busy moving items. Naturally, he did not need to worry about these matters. The officers below would take care of them.
"By the way, when will the reinforcements from Moscow's 9th and 17th armies arrive?"
As soon as Timoshenko entered the door, he asked about his reinforcements.
"They are expected to arrive on 14.15, and Kiev is currently ready. Upon their arrival, they will immediately take over from the 19th Army guarding Shepetovka and the 23rd Army in Zhitomir. In this way, we can use
The strength of the combat troops will reach 178,000. If we add the equipment supported by Moscow, we will have a huge strike firepower of 947 artillery pieces, enough to fight a good battle with Romania."
The words of his chief of staff did not make Timoshenko smile. He only saw that his face remained silent. "This battle is not easy to fight. We have been confronting the Romanians for many years, and you know their strength. Since they provoked it this time
If there is a dispute, then there must be something to rely on. Although our strength has grown well in recent years, we still cannot only catch up. In the morning, Comrade Solnov sent me a telegram, indicating that they would use a division to attack a regiment garrisoned.
Helmek Mountain still failed to capture it. Although the defenders were severely damaged, the 24th Division suffered too many casualties and could no longer fight. He asked to be given some time."
Timoshenko's words made the silent political commissar on the side look a little excited. "I remember that Solnov was very capable. How could he be like this?"
"I have read the battle report he sent, and there were no mistakes in the battle. It's just that the enemy's tenacity exceeded his expectation."
Timoshenko defended his subordinate, saying that this subordinate was very capable and he did not want him to leave a bad impression on the political commissar. "I agreed to his request, but according to the intelligence we have learned, he may not be able to attack there.
Already."
"The enemy has increased its troops?"
The chief of staff reacted immediately.
"Yes, the enemy has increased the strength of one division, which has dashed my hope of taking out Helmek first. But it is a military-level battle at most, and the most important thing is our side. Only our side can fight well.
Only in this way can Moscow be satisfied.”
The chief of staff and political commissar both understood the intention of Timoshenko's words. The key point was to satisfy Moscow. Although the Soviet Union currently has more than 1 million troops, its vast territory has dispersed its troops, specifically to each military district. Currently, the Kiev Military District relies on
With an army of up to 280,000 people, it has occupied the throne of the largest military district of the Soviet Union. However, this battle is already the limit of the troops that Kiev can use. So this is why Timoshenko said this.
Although it can be mobilized, and the Soviet Union's manpower advantage can easily enable the Soviet Union to deploy an army of five to six million, regardless of the quality of such an army, the quantity alone will make many countries despair. However, the theme of the Soviet Union now is economic construction.
If it disturbs the economic construction, no one here will get any good results.
After talking about the topic of bearing weight, no one was interested in continuing.
As time went by, both the Soviet Union and Russia were intensifying their troop formations. Due to the terrain, the two sides could only resolve their opponents through mobile warfare. The Soviet Union relied on its military strength and artillery.
Romania, on the other hand, relies on aircraft and the First Armored Division. Although the Soviet Union currently has its own aviation industry, most of the aircraft used are old World War I aircraft, and the latest model is only the I-5 I-6
This improved aircraft from World War I.
At present, the Romanian aviation industry has introduced a lot of technologies and ideas from Germany and Italy under Edel's personal attention. Its latest F-3 Albatross fighter jet has reached a speed of 440 kilometers per hour. Its limit height has also reached 10,500 meters, but it is said that
Currently one of the best fighter jets in the world. And the Soviet Union’s I-5 and I-6 are no match for the Albatross.
As for the 1st Armored Division, it goes without saying. As the most lethal fist in Romania, the 1st Armored Division has 224 tanks, 78 wheeled armored vehicles, and thousands of vehicles responsible for transporting soldiers, replenishing supplies and other tasks. And the 1st Armored Division has
An armored division should creatively dismantle the turret of retired Jackal III tanks and install artillery as a mobile suppressive weapon with the army.
Such a move made the maintenance team of the 1st Armored Division stronger, and naturally its combat effectiveness was also sublimated. As the division commander, Lieutenant General Hoffman even had the confidence to defeat the interception of the three Soviet divisions, because they had never encountered it before
Overcome so many tank attacks.
Since the 1st Armored Division has such a powerful combat capability, how could General Mandif let it be idle? Naturally, it would be used as the tip of Romania's knife thrust into the enemy's ribs.
Therefore, when Lieutenant General Hoffman arrived, he personally invited him to the headquarters to explain the tasks of the armored division to him.
"The mission of your 1st Armored Division is to break through the enemy's defense line from here in Ukraine and march towards Kirovograd. I will film the 1st Cavalry Division and go with you."
Hoffman looked at the distance from Ukraine to Kirovograd on the map and couldn't help but said, "I know the First Cavalry Division, but can they keep up with our speed?"
Hoffman has his own reason for asking this, because the 1st Armored Division can currently travel hundreds of kilometers a day, and such a speed is far beyond the ability of the cavalry division. Although horses can run 20 kilometers an hour, it sounds like only
It takes 5 or 6 hours to get there. But tens of thousands of horses cannot be counted this way, and there are other equipment.
Just like a soldier can travel 15 kilometers an hour, but an infantry division can travel 30 kilometers a day, it is considered to be moving very fast. It mainly depends on the traveling speed of the equipment. Just a soldier walking with a gun on his back has no combat effectiveness.
Not to mention the impact of the terrain on the journey, and if there is a battle along the way, it will make it difficult to increase the speed.
However, Hoffman's words made General Mandif couldn't help but say, "The cavalry division is the fastest unit besides your armored division."
Facing Admiral Mandif's doubts, Hoffman said confidently, "I have a way."
"you say."
"Gather the cars together and supply them to one division, and let them follow up behind our armored division."
“How many trucks will this require?”
"1,200 trucks are enough. And according to intelligence, the Soviets built a war-ready road from Ukraine to Kirovograd, which can also handle the movement of so many vehicles and tanks. Anyway, we don't have to worry about the Soviets.
Road damage issues.”
"It seems that you have planned this beforehand."
"No, this is just a temporary idea. We have tried this kind of march before in the Armored Division."
Hoffman's words made Mandif think about it for a while, and finally nodded and said, "Then let's follow your method."
In a few words between the two, Romania's main attack direction was decided.
