The next day, several T26 and KV1 vehicles drove into the underground warehouse and were incorporated into the Fourth Tank Brigade.
In fact, these T26 and KV1 are command vehicles, that is, the kind equipped with communication equipment. They are here to train together with the T34.
Shulka knew from Major Zahakavich that this was Katukov's idea... Major Zahakavich called the hospital to seek Katukov's opinion.
Katukov's suggestion is: "Training is necessary only if you have communication equipment. Without communication equipment, even training will not be of much use. Let the command vehicle participate in the training, and other tanks of the same type will follow the command vehicle!"
This is indeed a solution, but everyone including Major Zahakawicz knows that it is a hopeless solution.
Because the Soviet tank troops were commanded in this way before, the results of the actual combat were obvious... Because the command vehicle was at the front, it was easily recognized and destroyed by the Germans. Then the other tanks lost their command and fought on their own.
If there is any difference between the 4th Tank Brigade and them, it is the addition of tank phones.
Even so, the training time is pitifully short.
"We only have three days to train!" Major Zahakawicz said helplessly to Shulka: "Because we need time to attack!"
Shulka understood what this meant.
It took two days to plan and implement the bombing of the railway bridge, three days of training, and then only five days were left to launch the counterattack on Tula.
Five days...Shurka was not even sure whether the Soviet army drove the German army out or the German army defeated the Soviet army.
"What we want to focus on are mine-clearing tanks!" Shulka said.
"Mine clearing tank? Why?" Major Zahakavich asked.
"We mainly use landmines to delay the German attack in the direction of Tula!" Shulka said: "If the mine-sweeping tank is captured by the Germans..."
Then Major Zahakavich understood that if the mine-sweeping tank fell into the hands of the Germans, they could use it to reach Moscow.
This issue attracted enough attention from Major Zahakavich, which led to a series of questions that finally even alarmed Zhukov.
The first problem is how to ensure that mine clearing tanks do not fall into the hands of the German army.
This doesn't seem difficult on the surface, because when the minesweeper tank malfunctions or is about to be captured, you only need to blow it up, which only takes a few seconds with a grenade.
The problem is...the German army has many T26s captured from the Soviet army.
In other words, what they need is not the T26, but the mine clearing roller in front of the mine clearing tank.
The German engineers only need to remove the mine-clearing roller and install it in front of the T26 or even other tanks to perfectly "produce" a mine-clearing tank and then advance towards Moscow.
Even this kind of mine-sweeping roller is not difficult to produce. The German army can imitate it immediately... Of course, this time may not be enough. After all, as the temperature drops, the German army is in a severe supply situation and even has a serious shortage of cold-proof clothing, let alone considering other considerations.
Yes.
Secondly, if the Soviet army wanted to attack the German army and use mine-sweeping tanks, it would clear several tank channels in the minefield.
These tank passages would be difficult to fill with mines in a short time, and the snow would leave very obvious track marks, so the Germans could launch counterattacks along these track marks.
So we finally came to a conclusion: if there is no certainty of victory, it is not appropriate to put the minesweeper tank into the battlefield at this time.
But the certainty of victory... who can be sure of victory on the battlefield? Not to mention the current situation of the Fourth Tank Brigade.
So Major Zahakavich summoned the officers to the headquarters to discuss the issue.
"No, I think this situation is not suitable for an attack!" Major Gavrilov said: "Because this is simply helping the Germans open a road to Moscow!"
"This is not a question of whether it is suitable or not!" Major Zahakawicz said: "We must do this, this is an order!"
Shulka was silent for a while and then said: "Comrade Major, I think we need training!"
"We are training!" Major Zahakavich replied.
"I mean...we're going out to train!"
"Go out for training?" Major Zahakawicz looked at Shulka in confusion: "Are you crazy? The Germans will immediately know that we only have thirty T34s, so they will launch an attack immediately!"
"Don't we want them to attack?" Shulka asked.
"What's the meaning?"
"I'm talking about the 3rd Armored Division!" Shulka said: "I believe that the reason why it did not dare to attack Moscow was that in addition to supply difficulties and being blocked by mines, another reason was that it was worried about the Fourth Tank Brigade.
!”
"Of course!" Major Zahakavich said: "This is one of the reasons why we must stay in the underground warehouse and be almost isolated from the outside world..."
Before he finished speaking, Major Zahakavich was stunned.
"You mean...we deliberately let the enemy know that we only have thirty T34s, so that they can launch an attack?" Major Zahakawicz asked.
"Yes!" Shulka said: "To be precise, we don't need to tell them that there are thirty vehicles. We can even tell them that we only have twenty vehicles or even less!"
"That's right!" Major Gavrilov said: "If they knew that we only had twenty T34s, they would not worry about the 4th Tank Brigade, or it could be said that they would not be so scrupulous... Therefore, the 3rd Armored Division
It is possible to attack in the direction of Moscow, which will break into our army's minefield, so... we can attack as planned instead of being passive like now!"
The reason is simple, the difference lies in whether the German armored division is trapped in a minefield.
If the German army made up its mind to capture Tula first and then attack Moscow, then the 4th Tank Brigade would have no chance and could only launch the attack as ordered by Zhukov.
Otherwise, even if the Fourth Tank Brigade only has a few T34s, it is still possible to defeat the German armored division trapped in the minefield with its minesweeper tanks... This was Shurka's original plan.
Major Zahakavich nodded, and then said with some worry: "Comrade Shulka, have you ever thought about it... This will expose our army's T34 shortage to the Germans, which may cause
The German army launches a more violent attack!"
"Yes, Comrade Major!" Shulka said: "I have thought about it, but we have no other way... Even if we don't do this, the Germans will still know our strength when we counterattack Tula!
"
Major Zahakavich was convinced, and he immediately agreed: "I will report to Zhukov immediately, we must seize the time, otherwise we will not be in a hurry!"