"Tsaritsa River?" Captain Kharichev couldn't help but widen his eyes after hearing the plan: "Is it the Tsaritsa River we are going to land on?"
"Yes, are there any questions?" Major General Batrakov asked.
"No, no problem!" Captain Kharichev replied, and then thought for a while and asked: "But... Comrade Batrakov! I want to know, how can we maintain our supplies? I mean, if 00 amphibious landing ships
If you use it all to log in!"
"We don't need to consider supply issues!" Shulka replied: "Because our goal is to blow up the railway bridge, land as quickly as possible, then raid along the river bank, occupy it, and return quickly after completing the mission!"
This is actually the quick attack and quick retreat in special operations.
"We may be able to complete the mission, but..." Captain Kharichev pointed to the map and said: "As you said, the enemy has deployed a large number of artillery on the south bank. They may not have time to react when our army attacks, but when we attack
When the army retreats..."
"I will organize artillery to cover your retreat, Comrade Kharichev!" Batrakov interrupted Captain Kharichev.
"Yes, Comrade General!" Captain Kharichev responded helplessly, but there was a trace of dissatisfaction in his eyes.
Shulka couldn't help but frowned.
This can be said to be Shulka's omission. The reason is that the railway bridge was too important to Stalingrad, so all attention was focused on how to blow it up without considering retreat.
As for Major General Batrakov, this may not be something he considers at all... In order to complete the mission and defend Stalingrad, such a sacrifice is obviously worth it, and any resistance and doubt will be cowardly.
Anyone who understands the so-called "covering the retreat with artillery" knows that it is just a kind of psychological comfort.
It is true that the Soviet army was able to receive some artillery reinforcements after dark, but the strength of the Soviet artillery was far behind that of the German army. At the same time, the German army was still flanked by the German army on the banks of the Charitsa River. The Soviet army was unable to suppress the German artillery at all.
.
If the Soviet army did this, there was only one possibility, and that was that the artillery would be ruthlessly destroyed by the German army again.
As a result, the commando team will suffer heavy casualties in the blocking fire of enemy artillery.
Captain Kharichev is a veteran and a highly qualified naval officer... Compared to the infantry, the Soviet Navy has a higher level of education and training, plus it has combat experience, so of course he knows what is going on.
After the meeting, Captain Kharichev sat alone at his desk in the corner and stared at the map in a daze.
Shulka walked to the side and handed Kharichev a cigarette. Just as he was about to say something, Captain Kharichev said first: "I know what's going on, Comrade Shulka, we should obey! For the sake of Stalin
Grad, for the Soviet Union! I just..."
"It's a bit hard to accept, isn't it?"
Captain Kharichev was stunned for a moment, then nodded and replied: "Yes! I would rather hear the truth!"
Shulka nodded silently.
He understood Captain Kharichev's mood at this time, a feeling of being deceived and used.
If Major General Batrakov tells the truth: "Now is the time for your sacrifice, we cannot guarantee your safe return!"
This will actually make people feel more comfortable.
Captain Kharichev took the cigarette and said: "But it doesn't matter, I will tell the truth to my subordinates!"
"Sorry, Comrade Kharichev!" Shulka said.
"It's not your fault!" Captain Kharichev replied while lighting a cigarette and shaking his head: "I have heard of you and know what you have done. The Crimean landing battle and even the amphibious landing craft were all your inventions...
…It’s really great and the Navy needs it! So, I believe you have no choice!”
Shulka took a deep breath and said, "Actually, we have a choice!"
"Oh?" Captain Kharichev raised his eyebrows: "But it's not a very good choice, is it?"
Shulka had to admit that Kharichev was smart enough, because if it was a "very good" choice, Shulka wouldn't need to use such an expression or tone on this occasion.
"Yes!" Shulka nodded.
"I'm listening, Captain!" Captain Kharichev said. "How could it be worse?"
Shurka pointed to the map and said: "As we know, the enemy has deployed many artillery units on the south bank of the Tsaritsa River, and in order to cover the Soviet-controlled areas as far as possible, these artillery units are very far away from the Tsaritsa River.
close!"
This is common sense. The longest range of artillery is only a dozen kilometers.
The German artillery positions deployed on the south bank of the Tsaritsa River were on the one hand due to safety and the Tsaritsa River as a barrier. On the other hand, the Soviet artillery was completely suppressed, so the Germans would move the artillery positions as far north as possible.
to increase the area covering the enemy.
"You mean..." Captain Kharichev looked at Shulka with doubtful eyes: "attack the enemy's artillery position?"
"Yes!"
"No, Captain!" Captain Kharichev laughed: "The enemy has many artillery positions, but we only have one battalion... The result of the attack is that none of us can come back!"
Shulka said nothing.
Captain Kharichev realized that the answer would not be that simple, so he asked: "Isn't it?"
"The attack on the artillery position is just a superficial gesture, Comrade Kharichev!" Shulka explained: "The problem is that the enemy does not know our strategic goals!"
"What's the meaning?"
"If you were a German commander and suddenly discovered in the middle of the night that the enemy had crossed the Tsaritsa River at lightning speed and tore open the defense line!" Shulka said, "and then launched an attack on its deep artillery positions, what would your reaction be?
?”
Kharichev thought for a while, nodded, and said: "I would think that the enemy was launching a large-scale counterattack, and that the enemy's target was the artillery position, and I would urgently order the artillery to retreat..."
"Yes, Comrade Kharichev!" Shulka said: "Artillery is also their weakness. No one will use artillery to directly face the enemy's infantry attack. If the German commander can misjudge and think that our target is
Its artillery... Then we have won half the battle! I mean, while the enemy's artillery was panicking and worried about being attacked and even busy retreating, we have completed the mission and returned to the north bank!"
"A very good idea, Comrade Shulka!" Kharichev asked with some confusion: "But... why do you think this is not a good choice?"
"Because we want to attack the artillery position, Comrade Kharichev!" Shulka pointed to the map and said: "We must have at least a company-sized force. After landing, we will use the darkness and the mobility of the amphibious landing ship to search and attack.
The enemy's artillery position may cause the enemy to misjudge!"
Hearing this, Kharichev understood.
"They will be left on the south bank forever?!" Kharichev said. (To be continued)