Chapter 1809: The Great War is Coming (Part 2)

  Chapter 1809 The Great War is Coming (Part 2)

  Yakov took out a list of weapons from his satchel, and handed it to Sokov: "These weapons are basically assault rifles and supporting ammunition, and there are also 500 new rockets."

   Knowing that the newly arrived weapons were basically assault rifles and supporting ammunition, Sokov couldn't help being overjoyed. You must know that the role of assault rifles on the battlefield is far better than that of submachine guns and rifles. If two or three divisions are replaced with assault rifles, then the combat effectiveness of the unit will be raised to a higher level.

   "Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov looked up to Smirnov after reading the list, "Contact Major General Afunin immediately and ask him to come to the headquarters immediately."

  Smirnov pulled the phone in front of him, and instead of making a call immediately, he looked at Sokov and asked, "Comrade Commander, is it just General Afunin?"

   Sokov asked Smirnov to inform Afunin to come over, because he wanted to use these assault rifles to re-equip the airborne division. Hearing what Smirnov said at this moment, he hesitated for a moment, thinking that if all the troops were changed at once, the commanders and fighters would rush into the battle without being familiar with the new weapons, and the combat effectiveness would not increase but decrease. The best way is to only change equipment for half of the troops, and after they are familiar with the new equipment, they will gradually change equipment for the remaining commanders and fighters.

  In a short while, he made a decision in his mind to distribute the equipment to the two airborne divisions. As for Kurishenko's 41st Guards Division, he used the weapons replaced by the two airborne divisions.

Having made up his mind, he said to Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, when General Afunin comes over, ask him to call the commanders of the two airborne divisions. I plan to distribute these weapons to the airborne divisions. "

   "What about the 41st Guards Division?" Smirnov heard that Sokov hadn't mentioned the 41st Guards Division, and thought he had forgotten it, so he kindly reminded him: "Did you forget them?"

"How could I have forgotten them." Sokov explained to Smirnov: "After the last battle, the 41st Guards Division was supplemented with recruits. These people have lived in Germany for a long time. Occupying the area, there is definitely no opportunity to receive military training, so it is difficult to give full play to their combat effectiveness when allocating new equipment to them. And the two airborne divisions are the elite of our army, so it is perfect for them to change their equipment .”

   After figuring out Sokov's intentions, Smirnov nodded, picked up the phone and started contacting Afunin, informing him to rush to the Army Group headquarters as soon as possible.

   "Yasha," Sokov asked Yakov while Smirnov was on the phone, "Are the next batch of weapons also light weapons like assault rifles?"

"Yes," Yakov explained: "Originally this batch of weapons was intended to equip several other Guards divisions, but because of my father's words, they were all assigned to you. There are 40,000 assault rifles in total. Rifles and 3,500 new rockets, I believe that if you change all of them, the overall combat effectiveness of the troops can be raised to a higher level."

   "I hope so." Sokov knew very well in his heart that even if it was the latest weapon, it would be difficult to give full play to its maximum effect when handed over to recruits who have not received military training. It would be better to replace them with Mosin Nagant rifles and Bobosha submachine guns. After they have a certain understanding of weapons, it is not too late to replace them with new assault rifles. "I wonder when the next batch of weapons will arrive?"

   "After handing over this batch of weapons, I will return with the hovercraft unit to bring the second batch of weapons and ammunition over."

Sokov thought that Yakov had spent 60 hours rushing from Moscow to his defense zone, and had to return to Moscow before he had time to rest. It was too hard, so he said with concern: "Yasha, I see you It's better to rest here for two days, and as for the transportation of weapons, let your men take charge."

"No, Misha." Unexpectedly, Yakov shook his head after hearing this and said, "Comrade Ustinov once explained that I must be present when taking out the weapons, otherwise no one can take them away. "

   After figuring out the reason why Yakov couldn't rest, Sokov said with emotion, "Yasha, you are working so hard. If you toss a few more times, your body will be completely exhausted."

"It's something that can't be helped." Yakov said with a wry smile, "Who asked me to take on such a hard job." After a short pause, he asked Sokov again, "Misha, are you going to send these weapons to us?" Where is it unloaded, and my people are still waiting for my order?"

   "Don't worry, Yasha." Sokov said: "When General Afunin arrives, I will explain to him a few words, and then you can lead people to send these weapons to his defense zone."

  Yakov is also a smart person, and he immediately understood Sokov's intention: "Oh, you want me to unload the weapons and equipment directly in the defense area of ​​the replacement troops, so that we can save a link."

"That's right, that's how I think about it." Sokov also explained seriously: "If you unload the equipment with me, General Afunin will contact the vehicle later to bring the equipment back to his troops. , and then distributed to the troops below. And you send the equipment directly, you can save the steps of dispatching the convoy, loading and unloading, and save precious time.”

"When did you launch an attack on Uman?" As soon as Yakov finished speaking, he immediately realized that he might have asked something that should not be asked, and quickly added: "If it is not convenient for you to say, just pretend that I didn't ask." Pass."

"Although to the enemy, the timing of our attack is a top secret." Sokov said with a smile: "But to you, Yasha, there is no need to keep it secret, because even if I don't tell you, when you return to Moscow, you will know You can know the time of attack, and even see the detailed combat plan. Our army will be the first echelon of the entire front army and launch an attack on the enemy on March 9."

"We are going to launch an attack on Uman's enemies on March 9?" Yakov couldn't help being surprised when he knew the time of the attack: "Misha, there are only a few days before the start of the attack. The hovercraft detachment returned to Moscow and only had time to deliver the second batch of weapons."

   "Enough." Since the battle was imminent, Sokov did not expect that all the equipment promised by his superiors would be in place before the battle began. Yakov was able to provide himself with two batches of light weapons through the super transportation capacity of the hovercraft. "Yasha, you and your subordinates will rest at my place for one night, and leave after dawn tomorrow. After all, people are not machines. If they are spinning continuously, they will easily get tired and go wrong. What's more, after such a long journey, the hovercraft also needs to be overhauled. Maintenance, otherwise you may lie down halfway."

  According to Yakov's idea, after unloading this batch of weapons and equipment, he immediately returned to Moscow with his hovercraft unit. However, after hearing what Sokov said, I think it makes sense. After 60 hours of bumps on the road, not only people have to rest, but the hovercraft also needs to be maintained overnight, otherwise there may be problems in the middle of the journey.

   "Comrade Commander," when the conversation between Sokov and Yakov came to an end, Stirlitz's voice suddenly came from the side: "I would like to ask, when will our division be able to change its equipment?"

  Hearing Stirlitz's voice, Sokov remembered that there was a guide who brought Yakov here beside him, and couldn't help but apologize, "I'm sorry, Colonel Stirlitz, I forgot that you are still here."

Ignored by Sokov, Stirlitz didn't care. What he cared about was when he could replenish his troops with weapons and equipment. He asked again: "Comrade Commander, my troops have not lost their strength in the battle that ended not long ago. , not only the loss of soldiers, but also a lot of equipment, I hope you can replenish it for me as soon as possible."

In the battle on Heights 239, in addition to Kurishenko's 41st Guards Division, Stirlitz's 116th Division performed the most. Sokov will naturally not forget this heroic unit on the battlefield: "Colonel Stirlitz, you just heard that the first batch of weapons and equipment to arrive, I plan to distribute to the two airborne divisions of the 18th Guards Corps. If you want to get supplementary weapons and equipment, you can only wait for Ya The second shipment of supplies from Colonel Koff."

  Stirlitz knew for a long time that the weapons and ammunition parked in his defense zone must not be his own. Hearing Sokov say that the second batch of weapons and equipment will be distributed to him when it arrives, he feels more at ease. But he still couldn't help asking: "Comrade Commander, how much equipment can our division get?"

"Colonel Stirlitz, I think you have just heard the conversation between me and the chief of staff," Sokov said, "If you change all the equipment, one is that there are not so many weapons, and the other is that everyone is interested in the new weapons." It is a process of adaptation. But we don’t have so much time for the commanders and fighters to get familiar with the new equipment, so only half of the commanders and fighters of the two airborne divisions will be able to change the equipment.”

   "Then how many commanders and fighters in our division can change equipment?"

"Your division has recently recruited a lot of new recruits locally." Sokov looked at Stirlitz and said, "They don't have any combat experience, nor have they received special military training, and they are issued new assault rifles. , It is obviously inappropriate. So I only plan to change the combat backbone of your division, and use the weapons they replaced to arm those recruits."

"Okay," Stirlitz knew that this was the best benefit he could get, and he couldn't get more even if he continued to entangle, so he readily agreed: "Then I will wait patiently for Colonel Yakov to send you Second batch of weapons."

   When Afunin led Konev and Rumyantsev into the headquarters, his face was still dazed. He didn't know why Sokov was in a hurry to recruit him because something urgent happened.

After raising his hand to salute Sokov, he couldn't wait to say: "Comrade commander, my troops and I are busy repairing the roads in the defense zone. I don't know if you called us urgently. Is there anything important? "

"General Afunin, let me introduce you to someone." Sokov brought Afunin in front of Yakov and said with a smile on his face, "Come and meet him, this is Yakov from the Armament Department." Colonel Husband."

  Although he saw that the other party had a lower rank than his own, since Sokov introduced it so solemnly, it proved that the other party must have a strong background, so Afunin took the initiative to greet the other party: "Hello, Comrade Colonel."

  Yakov stood up, and instead of saluting Afunin, he stretched out his hand and said friendlyly: "Hello, General Afunin, nice to meet you!"

While the two were shaking hands, Sokov said from the side: "General Afunin, Colonel Yakov just sent us a batch of weapons and ammunition, and I plan to distribute these equipment to your army." After speaking, he realized that his expression was not accurate enough, and added, "This batch of equipment is only allocated to two airborne divisions, and the 41st Guards Division has no share."

Afunin was naturally happy when he heard that a batch of weapons would be distributed to himself, but after hearing what Sokov said later, he had a puzzled expression on his face: "Comrade Commander, I don't understand, since the weapons are distributed to our army Yes, why only two airborne divisions and not the 41st Guards Division?"

"The light weapons assigned to you this time are all new assault rifles, and new rockets that can carry out long-range strikes on the enemy at any place." After briefly introducing these weapons, Sokov continued: "Because of these Weapons are new types of equipment for our commanders and fighters. Only commanders and fighters who have undergone special military training and rich combat experience can master it in the shortest possible time and maximize its role. The 41st Guards Division There are a large number of new recruits, even if they are assigned, it may be difficult to master the method of use in a short period of time."

  Afunin agrees with Sokov's explanation. But considering that the two airborne divisions can get supplementary weapons and equipment, but the 41st Guards Division can't get anything, the division commander Kurishenko will definitely have an idea: "Comrade commander, if The other two divisions can be supplemented, but if the 41st Guards Division gets nothing, I am afraid that General Kurishenko will have some bad associations."

"Don't worry, General Afunin." Smirnov interjected, "You don't have to worry about this, the commander has already considered it. You can hand over the replaced weapons to the 41st Guards Division, so that Ku Rishenko armed his recruits with these weapons, and I don't think he would have anything to say."

Now that Sokov had arranged everything, Afunin didn't worry about it, but looked at Sokov and asked, "Comrade Commander, when will the weapons sent by the superiors meet us?" Army defense zone?"

"These weapons were brought by Colonel Yakov, and they are now parked in the defense area of ​​Colonel Stirlitz's 116th Division." Sokov pointed to Yakov and said to Afunin: "Later, you Colonel Yakov acts as a guide and asks him to send the weapons and equipment directly to your defense area, so that you don't have to contact vehicles for transportation."

   When Afunin and others took Yakov to leave, Sokov personally sent him out the door, and kept telling Yakov to rest for one night before returning to Moscow after unloading the weapons and equipment.

Seeing that Sokov was so attentive to Yakov, Stirlitz couldn't help but aroused his curiosity. He secretly asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I think the commander's attitude towards this colonel is quite warm." , do you know what his origin is?"

   "This Colonel Yakov from the Weapons and Equipment Department is not only a good friend with the commander." Smirnov said in a low voice: "More importantly, Colonel Yakov is the eldest son of the Supreme Commander himself."

  As soon as Stirlitz heard it, his mouth became O-shaped, and he didn't close it for a long time. He was a little stupid. He never dreamed that the colonel he brought to the headquarters had such a big background. Fortunately, I have been very polite to him all the way, and there is nothing to offend him.

  (end of this chapter)