Chapter 96 War Clouds (1)

Malashenko turned his sight away from the huge cold breech block in front of him and turned his head back. Then he saw another change that surprised him within the scope of his vision.

"The first ammunition rack of the turret? God, this design is finally not anti-human!"

The so-called first ammunition rack of the turret is a design that adds an ammunition rack to store spare ammunition in the internal space of the turret, and moves the shells originally stored in the vehicle body up to the inside of the turret for temporary storage.

Throughout the entire course of World War II, the design of the first ammunition rack of the turret can be said to have advantages and disadvantages.

Under normal circumstances, the front area of ​​the turret, which has the highest probability of being hit by bullets in the entire vehicle, is undoubtedly the part most likely to be penetrated in battle. In this case, the first ammunition rack built inside the turret is undoubtedly faced with the same situation. It's very dangerous.

Once the first ammunition rack inside the turret explodes because the armor is penetrated and the ammunition is ignited, then the entire crew inside the two tanks will definitely die. The powerful ammunition's detonation power is even enough to lift off the turret of a heavy tank weighing more than ten tons. This is where the so-called tank "detonation flying head" comes from.

But from another perspective, the advantages brought by the built-in first ammunition rack in the turret are also obvious.

The additional first ammunition rack inside the turret can not only expand the storage space of the entire vehicle's artillery shells, but also increase the number of ammunition in the entire vehicle, thereby improving the long-lasting battlefield combat capability of the entire tank to a better level.

At the same time, the first ammunition rack placed in the turret can also greatly increase the loading speed of the tank's main gun. The loader who originally had to bend down into the tank chassis to retrieve the shells now only needs to turn around, remove the ammunition from the first ammunition rack of the turret, and then load it directly into the main gun to complete the loading.

So in general, the tank design with the first ammunition rack built into the turret can basically be determined to have more advantages than disadvantages.

In the late World War II, they included the latest German "King Tiger" heavy tank, the powerful Soviet "Stalin" IS-2 heavy tank, and the Soviet "Stalin" IS-3 heavy tank that appeared at the 1945 military parade in Berlin. , all adopt this design of the first ammunition rack built into the turret.

Although the design of the first ammunition rack built into the turret has advantages and disadvantages, as a future time traveler, Malashenko is still happy to see this design destined to be the mainstream trend in the future.

When he was commanding the 1941 T3476 tank in battle earlier, the lack of a first ammunition rack built into the turret made the already inexhaustible loader Kirill have to bend back and forth every time he loaded a shell. The not-so-light 76mm custom shells need to be taken out of the ammunition rack on the chassis of the car body and returned to the turret to complete the loading.

This sounds like a relatively easy job, which is nothing on ordinary days, but if it is completed in a turret that is extremely narrow and shakes due to wartime maneuvers, it is not something that can be done casually.

"One, two, three, forty."

When Malashenko, who was looking around and mumbling numbers, finished counting, he was obviously very satisfied with the total number of ammunition in the first ammunition racks placed on the left and right bulkheads inside the turret.

"One ammunition rack is equipped with five rounds of ammunition, and the two first ammunition racks on the left and right have a total of ten rounds of ammunition, which is good. Kirill, the boy, probably jumped up when he heard the news. The combat reloading speed is estimated to be as fast as that of the original T34 tank. The basics have improved a lot.”

In addition, the internal space of the turret is wider than the original T34 medium tank. The KV1 heavy tank turret is more than one level wider. Even after the first ammunition rack of the turret is built-in, there is still a considerable surplus space, making the previous T34 On tanks, the problem of the tank commander being forced to work part-time as the gunner because the space inside the turret was too narrow was finally solved.

Now, the five-man crew led by Malashenko, who has roped in the newly recruited Second Lieutenant Iushkin, can finally exert its full combat effectiveness.

Driver Seryosha, electromechanical operator Nikolai, loader Kirill, gunner Iushkin, and finally the commander Malashenko.

Malashenko, freed from his part-time job, can finally concentrate on assuming his responsibilities as a vehicle commander and focus on combat command and vehicle crew coordination tasks in future battles.

For Malashenko, who has long been fed up with one person taking on two roles, the huge changes brought about by a complete five-person crew are the best way to improve the combat effectiveness of the entire vehicle.

After touching his brand-new car inside and out, the best condition of this car, which had just come off the tank factory and had been carried out field maintenance by Captain Karamov himself, was enough. Malashenko, who had just taken over his new car, was very excited.

Stains, oil smell, rust, structural wear, armor fatigue

All the defects and shortcomings that existed in the previous T34 tank have completely disappeared in this brand-new prototype KV1 heavy tank. This carefully maintained and brand-new new vehicle is exactly what Malashenko has always wanted. The perfect car I've always wanted!

As Malashenko jumped off the turret and walked out of the tank warehouse, preparing to go to the camp for some follow-up work, among the leading troops of the 2nd Armored Group under the German Army Group Center dozens of kilometers away from the city of Yartevo , a German general with three general stars on his shoulders was riding a German military car called a "bucket truck" to inspect the headquarters of his subordinate divisions.

In July, the summer season on the east bank of the Dnieper River can be described as beautiful and pleasant. The Dnieper River, which has not been polluted by the modern industrialization process of mankind, is simply as beautiful as a silver ribbon passing across the grassland.

Looking at the broad and charming clear river within his field of vision, the general of the National Defense Forces, who seemed to be intoxicated by the beautiful scenery, could not help but speak softly to the adjutant sitting next to him in the back seat.

"The Bolsheviks had such a vast land and rich resources but did not use it and allowed it to be abandoned. Although this kind of scenery is intoxicating and beautiful, it is still a manifestation of industrial backwardness and inability to develop. What do you think? Harrion.”

The young adjutant gently held his military cap and then cast his gaze in the direction pointed by his superior officer. The sparkling river surface was reflecting the sun's rays and refracting the bright golden light.

"As the head of state said, the swords of German soldiers will obtain land suitable for cultivation and living space for the plows of the German people. And we are undoubtedly the practitioners of the will of the head of state and the interests of the people, Commander Guderian."