Both Mikhailovich and Andrianka looked at Shulka in confusion. For an attack aircraft... if it doesn't find the target, how can it be destroyed?
Shulka had the answer: "Remember how the Germans bombed our defenses and buildings?"
"Dive bomber?"
"But we don't have dive bombers! And they are not suitable for battlefields with such poor visibility!"
"What else could it be?"
"I don't know!" Mikhailovich said: "But Comrade Shulka is certainly not talking about dive bombing!"
…
"Gasoline, comrades!" Shulka interrupted the quarrel between the two: "The Germans often throw gasoline and bombs together to achieve better bombing effects! Why don't we do this?"
Mikhailovich and Andrianka were stunned for a moment, and then said in unison: "What a great idea!"
"The building is a mixed structure of brick and wood!" Mikhailovich said: "And the water level has reached the second floor, and of course it has also poured into the building. If we throw gasoline...the gasoline will flow into the building with the river water!"
"Yes!" Andrianka said: "Then all we have to do is light a match!"
"I want to know some information!" Shulka said: "Whether the IL attack aircraft can throw gasoline barrels? If so, how many barrels filled with gasoline can each fighter jet throw? In addition...do we have enough?"
gasoline!"
"Yes, Comrade Shulka!" Andrianka responded: "I will contact the Air Force immediately!"
After Andrianka left, Mikhailovich laughed and said: "Although I am not surprised at all, Shulka... you still surprised me! No one can think of this method,
except you!"
Shulka shrugged, the method was actually forced out of him.
After a while Andrianka came back.
"Comrade Shulka!" Andrianka said: "Although Il cannot throw gasoline, Comrade Khryugin said it is easy to modify. You only need to weld two bomb hanging points on the oil drum!"
It is indeed very simple, but it should be very simple. There are two bomb hanging points on the aerial bomb. These bomb hanging points can be connected to the pylon, and then as soon as the pylon is unlocked... the bomb relies on gravity and inertia to move towards
The target flies away.
Now, it's just a matter of changing the bomb into an oil barrel.
"What else?" Shulka asked again.
"Each Il can only carry two oil barrels!" Andrianka replied: "The Il has a total of six pylons, four of which are in the fuselage and two on the wings. The diameter of the fuel tank exceeds the fuselage.
space, so..."
Shulka nodded, this problem is not a big problem, because the number of Il can make up for the lack of racks.
"There is not enough gasoline!" Andrianka said: "Our preparation time is too short. Before this, more of our transportation capacity was used to transport artillery shells and aviation fuel!"
As mentioned before, the 51st Army was originally a sacrificed unit, so supplies were never abundant.
And when Shulka formulated a combat plan to once again focus on the 51st Army, the preparation time was only one day.
During this day, the Supreme Command did its best to deliver supplies to the 51st Army.
However, what was delivered on this day was the most urgent need.
For example, if two new aviation divisions are transferred, it will of course be necessary to transport aviation fuel, aerial bombs, necessary parts, and ammunition to these two aviation divisions.
Another example is to prepare for artillery fire for one hour, which of course requires a large number of artillery shells.
As for the gasoline needed by the 51st Group Army... it is necessary to reserve it, but it is not the most urgent. Next, the 51st Group Army can move the supplies forward while advancing to the rear, or even use transport aircraft to airdrop it.
So the amount of gasoline used is in an embarrassing situation... If gasoline is used in Surovino, then the 51st Army may not even be able to advance its tanks.
"Immediately add more gasoline!" Shulka said: "At the same time, let the Air Force refit the oil barrels!"
"Yes!" Andrianka answered.
But of course this was not something Shulka could order. Shulka was only the regiment commander, so he had to change hands from the army headquarters in the meantime.
The person who answered the phone was Zolotarev. As soon as Shulka told him the plan, Zolotarev simply agreed.
"Don't worry, Comrade Shulka!" Zolotarev said: "We will make every effort to prepare enough gasoline!"
Of course Shulka knew what Zolotarev meant by "us", which was the Supreme Command.
If the Supreme Command is still unable to achieve the goal despite "trying its best", then I'm afraid no one will be able to achieve it.
Sure enough, the Supreme Command was quickly mobilized to mobilize all resources to provide gasoline for the 51st Army.
This order was even issued by Stalin himself. He immediately convened a meeting and said at the meeting: "There are new circumstances in the counteroffensive in the direction of Stalingrad. The hope of victory is concentrated on the 51st Army and its attack on Sulovki."
The direction is promising. Therefore, the needs of the 51st Group Army must be ensured at all costs, especially the key needs!"
Then, a bomber aviation division and a transport aircraft division rushed to Surovino from all directions.
The main mission of the bomber aviation division rushing to Surovino was not to participate in the war, but to bring gasoline to the 51st Army.
These bombers were then organized into dropping gasoline bombs... because this plan required dropping a large amount of gasoline on the target area in a short period of time, so as to have a better killing effect.
On the other hand, the military trains transporting gasoline rushed all the way to Surovino. Even the Don Front Army squeezed out another train of gasoline to transport to Surovino despite its own shortage of gasoline.
Of course, the gasoline transported by the train could not reach Surovino in time. They were prepared for the subsequent needs of the 51st Army.
Originally, Shulka was worried that preparations would not be made before the water level dropped... If the water level dropped, the effectiveness of the incineration would be greatly reduced because the burning gasoline would be further away from the roof.
But Shurka soon discovered that this worry was unnecessary. It only took one hour and ten minutes, and everything was ready.
This can also be said to be a miracle of the Soviet army: a force that is notoriously slow to react can meet the requirements so quickly in this specific period.
This made Shulka a little unbelievable.
Then, following Trufanov's order, the first batch of more than a hundred planes took off from three airports in different directions.
The difference from before is that they carry gasoline barrels under their wings instead of bombs. (To be continued)