Chapter 335: Overwhelmed
What Shulka didn’t say is that compared with the British and American troops, the overall quality of the Soviet army is worse, or it can also be said that the Soviets are generally more careless... They always like to deal with things simply and rudely. So-so is about right.
So, for the British army in Africa, two types of equipment are mixed at the same time, and it is only a tank machine gun that uses American equipment. I am afraid that it is not a big problem.
But for the Soviet army, it is definitely a nightmare to use British, American, and Soviet-style equipment at the same time.
This can actually explain the problem. The situation of the British army is completely different from that of the Soviet army. It is obviously inappropriate for Colonel Stephen to boss around the Soviet army with the idea of "having experience in fighting the German army".
In particular, the so-called "experience" of the British army is still combat experience in the high-temperature desert of Africa, while the Soviet army fought in low-temperature snow.
Not to mention that most of the British army was chased and beaten by the German army.
"Okay!" Colonel Stephen spread his hands and replied, "I agree!"
"Also..." Shulka said: "I think these tanks are more suitable for fighting enemy infantry, so we should train against enemy infantry divisions!"
"No, Captain!" Stephen's face became very ugly: "You mean, do you mean that our tanks are vulnerable to the Germans? I think you are wrong, we used these tanks to block the Germans on the battlefield attack..."
"So, can you tell me what victories you fought?" Shulka asked back: "Or how many German tanks were destroyed in the battle? 'No. 3', 'No. 4'? Or the Italian M11, M13 tank?"
A surprise flashed in Stephen's eyes. He thought that the Soviets didn't know what happened on the African battlefield, but that didn't seem to be the case...at least the captain in front of him knew the model of the Italian tank.
Actually, Shulka knew much more than Stephen imagined.
But he seemed to have slipped his mouth just now, so he hurriedly added: "Colonel, we also have Italians here, the Italian Expeditionary Force... We can get some information from them, so we are not ignorant!"
Stephen nodded helplessly, and spread his hands: "Okay, Captain! This is your battle, you can do whatever you want! I just want to remind you... If you use these tanks against enemy infantry, then what are you going to do against the Germans?" What about the Armored Forces?"
This is indeed a problem.
The best tank is of course the T34, but because the Soviet army is relocating industries to the rear, the production of tanks is seriously insufficient. The tanks produced in Stalingrad are far from enough to consume on the battlefield. The status of the tanks available... Before the First Guards Tank Brigade, there were still a dozen T34s, but because they were coming to Stalingrad to receive these British and American tanks, those dozens of T34s were assigned to other troops for use on the battlefield.
On the other hand, the Far East Front Army’s main opponent is the Japanese, and the Japanese tank Su Bian has experienced it in the Battle of Nomenhan...Su-style T26, KV1 and other tanks are sufficient to deal with it.
This caused the Far East Front Army who came to reinforce them to have not many T34s in their hands.
Stephen said: "So, I think you'd better ask your superior, Captain!"
"This is something we need to consider, Colonel!" Shulka dropped this sentence and left.
Then Shulka found Katukov. At least Stephen was right. Shulka really needed to ask his superiors for advice.
"I think all our training is unnecessary, Comrade Colonel!" Shulka reported to Katukov with some frustration: "These tanks are not suitable for fighting the Germans, if they must be sent to the battlefield... They are better suited against enemy infantry!"
"What do you think..." Katukov asked.
"I don't think these tanks should be our equipment!" Shulka said: "We are the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, and we are experienced tank soldiers. We should use T34 so that we can compete with the Germans on the battlefield. DOWN! If these tanks are used... we won't even be able to program the T34 anymore!"
This is determined by the speed of the tank. "Matilda" and "Valentine" tanks have a maximum speed of 24 kilometers per hour on the road and 15 kilometers off-road. The M3 medium tank is better, with a maximum speed of 42 kilometers per hour on the road and 26 kilometers off-road. Combining with these tanks meant that it had to slow down to adapt to the "Matilda" and "Valentine".
And this is simply a nightmare for the Soviet army without air supremacy, they will be blown up by German air power on the way to the march.
The 1st Guards Tank Brigade should not be wiped out by the enemy on the battlefield like this.
"Comrade Shulka!" said Katukov, "That's one of the reasons why I put you in training!"
"What?"
"We have no choice!" Katukov said: "Actually, not long ago I had the same idea as you, throw these tanks to others, and let the superiors arrange T34 for us... But you know Comrade Zhukov's answer? "
Without waiting for Shulka to ask, Katukov continued: "He told me on the phone: If you don't plan to use these tanks, then go to fight the enemy with rifles! Do you want this?"
"No!" Shulka shook his head.
Of course not, infantry is hard against armor unless there is a lake everywhere and the Germans are tricked every time.
"Then find a way to use them!" Katukov said.
Speaking of this, Katukov looked around and said in a low voice: "We are organizing a counterattack, understand?"
Shulka nodded.
It’s almost time for a counter-offensive. The temperature dropped sharply and the reinforcements arrived, but the German army seemed to be at the end of its battle. Launching a counter-offensive at this time can not only smash the German army’s plan to attack Moscow, but also hit the German army’s vital forces and lay a buffer zone for Moscow. .
And counterattack means putting in all the equipment, whether it is British, American or Soviet.
At the same time, only the 1st Guards Tank Brigade can use these equipments.
However…
"But their cross-country top speed is only a dozen kilometers per hour, Comrade Colonel!" Shulka said: "It's unimaginable that we actually have to drive them to chase the enemy. They are even slower than horse-drawn carriages, and they may have high failure rates." Rate!"
"I know this, Comrade Shulka!" Katukov replied: "But we must use it!"
Shuerka sighed, it seemed a bit difficult.
(end of this chapter)