Chapter 101 Bloody Smolensk (2)

In earlier offensive operations, the hillock marked as Highland 142 on the Soviet strategic map did not receive timely attention from the Soviet army. Only one infantry company and one anti-tank gun platoon were deployed. A defensive force is better than nothing.

But in the eyes of the Soviet army, this hillock was not even a strategic location, but in the eyes of the German army, it was a tactical location of great strategic value.

After a short-lived assault that burned blood and steel, the 29th Motorized Infantry Division of the German Wehrmacht, acting as the attacker, successfully captured and occupied Hill 142 with its overwhelming superiority, wiping out all the Soviet troops defending this place. Infantry company and an anti-tank gun platoon.

After occupying Hill No. 142, the German 29th Motorized Infantry Division, which had been reinforced by a heavy artillery battalion deployed by its superiors during the pre-war preparations, immediately began to deploy artillery positions on the high ground.

Relying on the altitude advantage brought by Hill 142, the artillery unit of the German 29th Motorized Infantry Division, which had been greatly enhanced in terms of firing range, was finally able to cover the entire city of Smolensk with artillery fire, almost through radio communication. The on-call fire support method provides timely and efficient artillery support for German troops in siege operations.

With on-call artillery support and air strikes, the German siege troops went on a smooth offensive and overcame obstacles. However, the Soviet troops who tried to rush into the city to support the city defense troops and expel the German troops from Smolensk were in a different situation. scene.

Whenever the Soviet support troops made some progress and were about to break through at the last moment, waves of roaring German artillery bombardments would always fall accurately on the heads of the Soviet troops, causing their success to fail.

After realizing that these German artillery strikes with a range far enough to cover the entire city of Smolensk came from the occupied Hill 142. Marshal Timoshenko was so angry that he threw his drawing pencil on the spot. He was furious. After dismissing and investigating the Soviet division commander in charge of the No. 142 Highland Defense Area, he immediately ordered the Rokossovsky Group Army closest to this place to smash the German highland. .

In order to recapture this German artillery high ground that was a thorn in his side, Rokossovsky, who was responsible for launching a roundabout and outflanking offensive on the flanks of the German army group, tried his best.

Three consecutive waves of division-level charges were blocked by the German artillery's condescending artillery fire (large elevation angle bombardment, similar to the principle of mortars) and extremely timely air force support.

Seeing that the deadline for the military order guarantee he had given to Marshal Timoshenko was approaching, Rokossovsky, who gritted his teeth, invested the offensive strength of three infantry divisions at once, and then placed the newly formed troops directly under his command. The First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion commanded by the Army Headquarters entered the battle as the last bargaining chip.

There is no doubt that Malashenko at this moment is the last chapter trump card played by Rokossovsky.

The First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion, which was galloping across the hilly grasslands with a line-up front offensive, was operating at full capacity, but it actually did not reach a very high attack speed.

The KV1 heavy tank, which can reach a maximum highway speed of 36 kilometers per hour, will have a hard time once it encounters rugged and hilly off-road conditions. The transmission system, which is directly taken from the chassis of the 1920 Hongqi tractor, simplifies the production process to a certain extent and shortens the time required for each vehicle. The manufacturing hours and costs of a KV1 heavy tank.

However, this mechanical transmission system, which was originally designed for civilian tractors, was obviously overwhelmed after being applied to the KV1 heavy tank with a total combat weight of 46 tons.

The poor off-road steering and forward speed caused by the broken transmission system made the first heavy tank breakthrough battalion, which originally looked majestic, look like a stupid bear trapped in the quagmire. Even a steep slope with an angle of more than ten degrees is enough to prevent the KV1 heavy tank from turning smoothly. This also makes Malashenko, who is accustomed to the flexible maneuvers of the T34 tank, feel extremely painful.

"What the hell! With firepower and protection but no mobility, it's fucking disgusting that this turtle can crawl at the same speed!"

No matter how depressed Malashenko, who was complaining in his heart, was, the German anti-tank gun crews who had already put several T34 tanks, which were the pioneers of the First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion, into the sighting ring of the gun scope, would not pay attention to this.

"Distance 800 meters, T34 tank, aiming completed!"

"Fire!"

Following the German gunner's order, several PAK38 50mm anti-tank guns deployed at the forefront of the position immediately erupted with scorching flames as their muzzles shook.

Boom——Boom——

A near miss exploded next to the Soviet T34 tank that was maneuvering quickly. Even with the deafening explosion, pieces of soft soil wrapped around the turf were set off. In order to accurately hit the tank, which is famous for its high-speed maneuvers in battle, The moving target of the Soviet T34 tank is actually quite difficult.

Even though the large number of T34 tank crews who were pioneers had tried their best, using the ever-changing S-shaped attack route to wander and maneuver, they tried to create obstacles for the German anti-tank gun team. However, these German anti-tank gun teams, which had experienced the German blitzkrieg in Europe and had found the feel and experience in the British and French armored forces, still accurately hit three Soviet T34 tanks after the first salvo.

Although these Type 40 tungsten core armor-piercing projectiles fired by the PAK38 50mm anti-tank gun do not have the ability to penetrate the Soviet T34 tank body from the front at a distance of 800 meters.

But I don’t know whether I should say that the German army was lucky or the Soviet army was unlucky. In short, of the three Soviet T34 tanks that were accurately hit by the German anti-tank gun team, one of them had its tracks broken and drifted in a circle due to inertia. After swinging his tail, he was paralyzed on the spot and unable to move.

Seeing this scene in the center of the rear heavy tank group of the entire first offensive echelon, Malashenko, who was holding the commander's periscope in front of him, immediately grabbed the communicator at the side and opened his voice to communicate with the entire battalion. The channel shouted loudly.

"Car No. 212, your track is broken! Don't stay in the tank anymore, abandon the vehicle and escape! Move quickly!"

On the raging white battlefield, a tank whose tracks were broken and unable to move was actually no different from a terminally ill patient waiting to die.

Tanks that have lost their mobility will undoubtedly become the next focus of fire targets for the enemy. The so-called chivalry spirit of a fair duel has long ceased to exist on the cruel battlefields of World War II. The only thing that is regarded as truth is "while you are sick." , it will kill you." Beat the drowned dog rule.