Chapter 66 Waiting for Hans (Part 1)

Following the loader Kirill's roar, Malashenko, who had already aimed the main gun at the target before loading was completed, immediately stepped on the firing pedal without hesitation.

boom--

A flash of muzzle flash flickered and a hooded armor-piercing grenade was ejected again. This time, Malashenko, who was 70% sure that he could hit the target accurately, chose a vehicle as the target of his attack. The car had just stopped and was about to open fire on the No. 3 tank.

Just like the No. 2 tank that had been destroyed by Malashenko's previous fire, this No. 3 tank was penetrated by a shot of the turret armor and then detonated the warhead warhead and exploded in the turret. Even if The strong explosion shock wave opened the turret roof and released a thick black smoke straight into the air.

The 108-gram TNT warhead charge contained in the 76mm BR-350B hooded armor-piercing grenade almost exploded at the moment, enveloping the flying shrapnel and flames, killing everyone in the turret, including the commander. Three crew members.

Through the gun scope in front of him, he saw the wreckage of the No. 3 tank that was emitting thick black smoke. The mechanical and electrical personnel and driver who were lucky enough to survive escaped in a hurry. After the successful attack, Malashenko had not waited. The German armored force, which had lost another tank, opened fire on it again in retaliation, and then disappeared behind a row of wooden houses at the entrance of the village through the predetermined retreat route under the precise reversing of the driver Seryosha.

In his commander's periscope, he saw the T34 tank that killed two of his own tanks through a sneak attack. After it reversed and disappeared at the entrance of the village, those continuous rows of tanks stretched deep into the center of the village. The wooden houses in the Soviet countryside almost completely blocked Lieutenant Heizenauer's view of continuing the search. Lieutenant Heizenauer realized that he had once again lost track of the target and couldn't help but feel a burst of anger in his heart.

"Damn Soviet bastard! Cowardly coward! All vehicle crews continue to advance in search formation with alternate cover. The infantry and half-track vehicles advance into the village to find the Soviet tank. We must completely kill this Soviet tank. !”

Following Lieutenant Heizenauer's angry but still rational order, the SS soldiers who were originally following the tanks and half-tracks immediately grasped the weapons in their hands and stretched forward from their own formation.

Under the cover of half-track vehicles that could withstand infantry light weapons attacks, these cautious SS infantrymen immediately began to rush straight towards the small Soviet village in front of them, which was once again plunged into silence.

Theoretically speaking, there is actually no problem with Lieutenant Heizenauer's current order for the infantry to enter the village to explore the way to find out the situation and launch a probing attack.

Compared with the nimble infantry, the Panzer III tanks, which are bulky and have a hand-operated steering wheel in the turret, are slow to rotate and respond. Once they enter the village, if they encounter a sneak attack and ambush by the Soviet T34 tank again, they will definitely be surrounded from all sides and passively beaten. situation.

When the enemy is in the dark and we are clear, we dispatch flexible infantrymen to infiltrate into the village and find out the specific location of the Soviet T34 tank before taking action. This is very important to the armored company currently commanded by Lieutenant Heizenauer. It is undoubtedly the best choice.

However, there is undoubtedly a prerequisite for the smooth execution of such a combat plan, and that is that there is no other Soviet ambush in this small Soviet village except for the only T34 tank. Otherwise, they will be reckless and unaware of the situation. The German infantry who descended into the hinterland of the village were bound to encounter a ferocious attack by the Soviet ambush force and suffered heavy losses.

For this possible situation, Lieutenant Heizenauer, as a qualified commander of grassroots armored forces, was not unexpected.

But now, after our own side encountered a sudden attack by the Soviet T34 tank, there was still no sign of any Soviet troops opening fire at the same time. On this point alone, Lieutenant Heizenauer relied on his combat experience to almost He instantly concluded that the Soviet troops could not be so calm, and there should be no other Soviet ambush troops in the small village in front of him.

Secondly, Lieutenant Heizenauer, who was secretly attacked by the lone Soviet T34 tank and knocked out two of his own tanks in a preemptive strike, was now very angry.

To say that he just let the Soviet T34 tank go without a care or to throw it aside and take a detour, such a result is undoubtedly for the young Lieutenant Heizenauer who always thinks highly of himself and is arrogant. is unacceptable.

What's more, if the news that a Soviet T34 tank walked away after destroying two of his tanks was spread out like this, it would take into account some of the opinions that his superiors may have towards him and his own face issues. Lieutenant Heizenauer, who had little hesitation, was not only doing it for his own future but also for the man's dignity and face. Naturally, he was unwilling to give up so easily.

"Yes, my judgment should not be wrong. Those Ivans must have only one lone T34 tank in the village. Just like what was circulated in the Battle of Raseniai a few days ago, these lone Ivans After all, the ten thousand tank soldiers still don’t lack the courage to fight to the death.”

After some secret analysis, I immediately thought of the widely circulated example in the military of the Soviet Union's KV2 tank with one man in charge a few days ago. In the midst of self-comfort and affirmation, I couldn't help but connect the two consciously or unconsciously from the subjective consciousness. Together.

Lieutenant Heizenauer, who thought he had made a correct judgment, quickly determined that the Soviet T34 tank he was encountering was exactly the same as the one that had performed the same battle as the one in the Battle of La Seniai a few days ago. Like the unparalleled Soviet KV2 heavy tank, it is a rare case where a single Soviet tank was left behind to slow down the own movement and to fight against the enemy.

Thinking of this, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that his analysis was the correct answer. After strengthening his determination, Lieutenant Heizenauer immediately pressed the communication button by his throat again and spoke to his own mechanized infantry unit that had already marched to the edge of the village. Ordered.

"Second Lieutenant Schlaine and Second Lieutenant Reinhardt, after you enter the village, immediately have your respective troops launch search formations to find Ivan's lone T34 tank as soon as possible. After we capture this place and confirm its safety, we have other options. Things need to be done, hurry up!”

"Order confirmed, Lieutenant, we will comply."

In his commander's wide-angle peripheral mirror, he saw the German infantry using SDKFZ251 half-track vehicles as mobile bunkers slowly approaching the village entrance.

Without waiting for Malashenko, who slightly raised the corners of his mouth, to whisper to himself, the driver Seryosha, who was in the chassis of the car and also vaguely saw this scene through the driver's window, immediately spoke first and asked.

"Comrade Commander, do you think these Germans will take the bait?"