BXBX NOVEL Chapter 346: 2nd Guards Tank Brigade
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The train did not move on until it was dark.
Shulka believes that this is not to avoid German aerial bombing.
The reason is that at this time the Soviet army's anti-aircraft firepower has already dominated. A large number of anti-aircraft guns ambushed in the forest and snow around Moscow. Coupled with anti-aircraft balloons and air defense of fighters, German fighters are rarely seen in the sky over Moscow.
In fact, this is mainly related to the temperature and the logistics of the German army.
The Soviet Air Force has many well-equipped airports near the front line, equipped with hangars that can pre-heat fighters, which enables the formation of Soviet fighters to take off quickly and repeatedly in low temperature conditions.
Not so with the Luftwaffe, because they were all about speed from the start.
From a strategic point of view, this is true, especially since the German army is still fighting "blitzkrieg".
The problem is that the "Blitzkrieg" requires the German army not to carry out large-scale improvement of the rear facilities... When the airport facilities are completed, the German front will push forward and then occupy the new airport, and the rear airport will become useless, so this is unnecessary.
Therefore, most of the airports used by the Luftwaffe are simple and temporary, and even many airports just flatten an open space and store some fuel. This primitive, simple airport obviously cannot allow the plane to dispatch in time.
Under the ebb and flow, the Soviet Air Force and anti-aircraft firepower gradually took the initiative over Moscow, although the quality of German fighter planes and pilots still had an advantage.
This is one of the reasons why the Soviet army decided to launch a counterattack at this time.
The reason why the 1st Guards Tank Brigade still advances at night is more to avoid enemy reconnaissance... After all, this is the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, and their location is almost exposed to the direction of the counterattack.
After the train started, the instructor looked out the window for a while, then whispered, "It's Kelin!"
"What?"
"Our Destination!"
Shulka let out an "oh".
In fact, Shulka was not surprised by this at all, not only because of his historical knowledge, but also because the situation on the battlefield at this time determined that Kling was the key point of the counterattack: the German army surrounded Moscow to form a semicircle, divided into north, west, Three sides to the south, the turning point to the north and west is Kling.
Obviously, if the Soviet army opens a gap from Klin and attacks in depth, the German army can be divided, and the enemy in the north can be surrounded by the enemy in the north, and there is a tendency to surround the enemy in the west.
Of course, to attack such an important part, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade must take the lead.
But Shulka soon learned that was not the case.
The troops did get off at Klin... Shulka and others are no strangers to Klin. They have hit here several times and even set off from here to Tver.
However, when the soldiers got off the train in the dark, they almost failed to recognize this place, because it was full of tents, cars and tanks, many of which were T34.
This made Shulka and his men jealous, especially the tank soldiers.
"Captain!" Fedosiev shouted to Shulka below from the tank turret: "Can we exchange these tanks with them? I mean, the T34 is a waste in their hands!"
As he spoke, he patted the armor of the M3 medium tank.
What Fedosiev said makes sense, if the opponent doesn't know how to use those tanks.
"Don't think about it!" The instructor replied: "That's the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade, they know which tanks are better!"
Guards Tank 2nd Brigade.
It can be seen from the designation that they are the tank unit second only to the 1st Guards Tank Brigade.
In the Battle of Moscow, only three tank brigades received the designation of "Guards". The first was the 4th Tank Brigade, and the others were the 9th and 8th Tank Brigades, which received the designations of the 2nd and 3rd Guards Brigades respectively.
Obviously, the ranking is based on the combat exploits of each unit.
That is, the exploits of the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade followed closely behind the 1st Brigade.
"It's not fair!" Fedosiev said: "Why can they equip T34 and we equip these broken tanks?"
Tank soldiers especially care about this point... This is not a matter of every ounce. Whether the tank is handy and has excellent performance is directly related to the combat effectiveness of the troops and even their own lives. Of course, tank soldiers will care about this.
After Fedosiev asked his subordinates to stop the tank, he jumped off the tank and said: "Comrade Captain, we are the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, and we are the best tank soldiers. They should leave the T34 to us!"
"Forget that!" Shulka replied: "Do you think they will drive these 'Tom' tanks?"
"That's why, Comrade Fedosiev!" said the instructor: "Because we are the best, these tanks can only work in our hands!"
Fedosiev looked to the other side enviously, and complained with some reluctance: "If this is the case, we should not perform so well!"
There was a burst of laughter from the surrounding soldiers.
At this time, Shulka realized that the 1st Guards Tank Brigade was likely to be placed in the second echelon. The reason is very simple. They are equipped with British and American tanks with poor performance. This can be said to be an attempt. It can be said to be a kind of running-in.
Sure enough, Shulka's idea was verified in the subsequent meeting.
"The counterattack is divided into two directions, the northern line and the southern line!" Katukov pointed to the map and said: "The main breakthrough of the northern line is here, Kling. But we are not the main force. We follow the second guard tank as a reserve guard." Travel forward!"
The officers in the conference room became chaotic in an instant.
The army fighting on the front line is a bit strange. They not only fight against the enemy on the battlefield, but usually also secretly compete with neighboring troops, such as the honors obtained or the tasks assigned, etc.
For example, at this time, many officers were dissatisfied with the assigned tasks:
"We are the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, why are we following the 2nd Brigade instead of them following us?"
"When resisting the enemy's attack, we were at the forefront, but when we counterattacked, we were arranged behind!"
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"Comrades!" Katukov seemed to have known for a long time that such a situation would arise. He explained: "It's not that we are inferior to the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade, but because we have new tanks, and the superiors think that we should give Time for us to adapt!"
"We have already trained in Stalingrad!" Lieutenant Colonel Zakhakovic said: "I think we are good enough to undertake the task of counterattack!"
"So..." Katukov asked: "Do you think the T34 should follow behind the British tanks?"
Then everyone was silent.
This is indeed true, T34 is much faster than "Matilda" and "Valentine", there is no reason for them to follow behind.
(end of this chapter)