Steel Soviet Union

"Are you sure you want to lead the troops yourself? Your own vehicle is also a heavy tank. How can you lead those T34s to launch the first wave of impact?"

What Lavrinenko says is not unreasonable.

It's just a new turret and an 85mm tank gun on the KV1 heavy tank chassis. The transmission system and engine are all intact. The KV85 heavy tank essentially still has the same old problems as the original KV1. It can't run fast and has poor off-road performance. is its biggest problem.

However, Malashenko, who had already considered the issue Lavrinenko mentioned at this moment, did not take it to heart, and blurted out words that almost made him miss the mark as a response.

"Anyway, my crew is still short of one person for the time being. I will leave my car behind and use a T34 command vehicle to take the first group of vanguard troops there first. You can just arrive with the larger troops later. That's it. !”

"What did you say?!"

Lavrinenko was almost so frightened by the words Malashenko said that his hair stood on end. He knew that Malashenko had always been bold but had never expected that he would be so bold. Immediately he shouted in a very fast tone.

"Those T34s are not your KV85 vehicles! As long as you aim accurately, the Germans' 50mm anti-tank guns can penetrate them, not to mention that they are now equipped with a small amount of those new 75mm anti-tank guns! You do this It’s too dangerous, Malashenko! Even if someone needs to lead the first batch of troops, it should be me. Who will command the troops if you die?”

Malashenko, who had already eaten the weight and became determined, did not intend to continue reasoning with Lavrinenko. Malashenko put his finger on the call button of the microphone but did not press it, and immediately lowered his head. , and spoke loudly to the driver Seryosha, who was concentrating on driving the car.

"Stop the car, Seryosha! Everyone, get ready and bring the necessary belongings. We have to change cars temporarily!"

Several crew members who had been informed by Malashenko in advance were not surprised. After hearing Malashenko finally gave the order, they immediately stopped the car and picked up their small backpacks and self-defense weapons. According to the Malashenko suddenly had an impromptu decision in the middle of the battle and started to leave the tank after giving the order just now.

Seeing that the crew members around him began to leave the car in accordance with the order, Malashenko, who felt that he needed to communicate with Lavrinenko again, immediately pressed the microphone in his hand and continued.

"The regiment commander is dead, deputy commander. If you die again, the political commissar will still be there to protect you! The entire Red Army tank unit does not lack one or two of us. Lavry, if the city of Tula falls without timely support, what will happen to you?" Know what the outcome will be.”

Hearing Malashenko's calm voice from the other end, Lavrinenko, who originally wanted to try his best to stop Malashenko's crazy behavior, couldn't answer for a while and became speechless.

The facts are exactly what Malashenko said just now and are by no means alarmist.

Once the city of Tula, which is only 190 kilometers away from the main city of Moscow in a straight line, is lost, the German armored group that has pulled out the last nail on the road will no longer be able to stop it. The straight line distance of 190 kilometers is very important for the theoretical requirements of the blitzkrieg at this time. Under this situation, the birth of the German armored cluster that emphasized high mobility was simply a matter of kicking the accelerator.

Realizing that he had just put his personal emotions above his duties and status as a soldier, Lavrinenko finally felt that there was something wrong with what he did. He just wanted to try to persuade Malashenko to replace him, but the other end of the channel The delay in receiving a response clearly indicates that Malashenko has taken action.

"Damn it, this Malashenko is really messing around! Stop the car and let me get out. I want to ask him personally what he thinks!"

Before the car could stop, Lavrinenko opened the turret roof above his head and jumped straight down the turret in three steps and two steps. Less than a hundred meters away, Malashenko had just stopped the T34 tank column in front. He was greeting the crew of a command vehicle to get out of the car. He obviously took a fancy to this tank and planned to requisition it temporarily.

"Crazy, really crazy"

Lavrinenko, who was dumbfounded in his heart, ran forward without thinking too much. He blurted out the words almost without hesitation and immediately shouted loudly at Malashenko, who was still more than ten meters away.

"Malashenko, you stay, you come to command the troops! Let me take over the task of commanding this group of T34s. I know how to command medium tanks better than you."

Normally, after hearing Lavrinenko's remarks, Malashenko might still be slightly dissatisfied and talk to him.

But at this critical moment when time is counted on fingers, Malashenko, who has no intention of arguing anymore, spoke directly.

"This is not a question of personal ability and what I am good at, Lavri. I need to have the most basic and comprehensive understanding of the battle situation outside Tula City as soon as possible. Only in this way can I make a command decision! This kind of thing can only I, as the chief military officer, will do it myself, just like Comrade Zhukov often goes to places covered by German artillery in order to understand the situation on the front line."

After finishing his sentence, Malashenko paused for a moment, feeling that his words might not be enough to completely convince Lavrinenko, and then he added something.

"If you were the military commander, I wouldn't stop you, Lavery, this is a matter of responsibility! The radio station doesn't know how many anti-tank guns there are on the frontline German positions and where they are placed. I can only know this after seeing it myself.”

When it comes to commanding the T34's ability to fight, Malashenko may not be a match for Lavrinenko, the Soviet Army's number one tank ace in history.

But when it comes to talking heads, even if ten Lavrinenkos are bundled together, they are still no match for Malashenko who traveled from time to time.

He had never defeated Malashenko even once in terms of talking nonsense. Lavrinenko, who was unable to say a word for a long time after being attacked by a barrage of "reasonable arguments", finally had to sigh in response.

"When we were in school together, your mouth was so stupid that even the instructor was amused by you. I really don't know where you developed your speaking skills to this level."

"No matter what, Malashenko, you must be careful when commanding this group of T34s! Once you reach the perimeter, don't provoke those Germans. They are an entire armored division! You'd better wait until I bring the heavy I’ll come up with some ideas after the tanks meet up.”