artillery arc

Chapter 711 Confrontation
October 916, 10, in the city of Ronezh, the headquarters of the First Khazaria Front.

After Wang Zhong entered the headquarters, he took off his coat and handed it to Vasily.

Vasily: "It doesn't look like the rain is heavy outside."

Wang Zhong: "Yeah, I only got a little wet after walking all the way here. Weather forecast?"

Pavlov: "It has been raining to this extent in the past week, and the impact on transportation can be ignored for the time being."

Wang Zhong: "What about the impact on aircraft takeoff and landing?"

"It can be ignored for the time being, so aerial reconnaissance is still normal." As Pavlov spoke, he placed a stack of aerial reconnaissance photos on the table, spreading them out like a stack of playing cards, with his gestures very much like Chow Yun-fat, the God of Gamblers.

Wang Zhong came to the table and picked up a photo: "Summarize it."

Pavlov: “The previous retreat of the Prosens was obviously intentional. At present, their main defense is along the Bug River. Because the entire defense line has been greatly shortened compared to this summer, the density of the Prosen troops on the other side of the river has obviously increased.

"Look at these photos. They are all of the Plosson barracks outside the range of our artillery. Most of the barracks have signs of life, which means they are full of troops."

Wang Zhong picked up the photo and looked at the traces of life circled in red. “Could it be possible that the Prosen people did it on purpose?”

“Yes, but the intelligence passed to us by the underground diocese also shows that the withdrawn Proson troops are now reorganizing on the river bank, and the density of troops is even higher than when the war just started.

"Without enough equipment, it will be difficult for us to break through the Plossom people's defense line."

Pavlov stopped and looked at Wang Zhong.

"What about our equipment?"

Pavlov: "At present, only 54% of the tanks in our armored brigades equipped with new T tanks are in combat readiness. The maintenance department reports that with sufficient repair parts, the number of combat-ready tanks can be restored to % of the establishment by the end of October."

After a brief pause, he added: "But the supply of spare parts is a bit difficult at the moment. The main production capacity is used to produce new tanks. We may need to use some of the new tanks as spare parts."

Wang Zhong: "What about the replenishment of new tanks?"

Pavlov: "Not many. The new tanks are used to replace other troops. All fronts need T54 and Rokosov I. Konstantinovich, most of our tankers are still driving T34W. This type of tank has a hard time encountering the enemy's long-barreled Type , not to mention the increasing number of new tanks appearing on the battlefield."

Wang Zhong sensed that Pavlov was speaking with a hidden agenda, so he asked, "What new tanks have the enemy put into actual combat?"

Pavlov dug out some photos of new tanks from the photos: "These were discovered by aerial reconnaissance."

Wang Zhong: "Weasel 3 and..."

He took the photo from Pavlov and stared at it intently: "And the Panzer IV artillery carrier?"

Isn't this a fictional vehicle from World of Tanks?
As expected, we have now entered the world line of World of Tanks!
Vasily asked Wang Zhong in confusion: "How do you know the models of these equipment? Did you receive some intelligence when I was not present? But all the intelligence you can read will pass through my hands, right?"

Popov: "Vassily, to the Saint worshippers this is divine revelation, to the secularists this is 'information' from the future or another time and space. Saint Andrew also often predicts the future."

That's because St. Andrew is most likely my fellow villager, Wang Zhong thought. With St. Andrew as a precedent, he could save himself a lot of trouble in explaining.

Wang Zhong: "The Prosons did not sit still and wait for death. We have the advantage in this round of armor-piercing confrontation, but this advantage will not last long. The Prosons have begun to equip themselves with weapons that can deal with our new tanks."

Similar to how Ant cannot replace all of his tanks with T54 and Rokosov I at once, the Prosens will probably be in a "high-low combination" state for quite a long time.

"The good news is that the Prosons lack rare metals, and the Allied intelligence has confirmed this." Wang Zhong said, "So the quality of the Prosons' armored steel will decline in the future because they lack rare metals such as manganese. In order to enhance their protection, they can only make their tanks bigger and heavier. And-"

Vasily: "The bad news is that the enemy has entered a defensive state and no longer needs to maneuver on a large scale in the wilderness. The impact of poor mobility has been greatly alleviated. What were you going to say just now?"

Wang Zhong looked at Vasily and continued the "and" that was just interrupted: "- It will not be possible to cross the bridges in the river network area, but if it is used for defense of key points, this problem can be ignored.

"As for us, since we have obtained the new engine production license, we can appropriately increase the weight of the new tank. The new Rokossov II breakthrough tank will have better protection and a larger caliber main gun.

"In addition, we are copying the captured new Plossen shells. With the new shells, the 100mm gun will also have better penetration - and worse aftereffects of hitting."

Sub-caliber armor-piercing shells trade the aftereffect of a hit for penetration, and because the diameter of the shell is much smaller than the caliber, it is impossible to stuff much gunpowder into it.

The ultimate development of this idea is the "steel needle" that War Thunder players are very familiar with, commonly known as the "small flying stick", which has no charge at all and kills members by fragments after penetrating.

Pavlov: "Time is on our side."

At this time, there was a sound of quarreling outside the headquarters.

"Let us in! We have an important invention that could change the tide of the war!"

"This is the headquarters, you've come to the wrong place!"

"The Marshal is also the Chairman of the Equipment Committee. We are not in the wrong place!"

"Don't be so loud! We are formulating a very important war plan here. What if your noise affects the plan?"

"We just want to make noise! ​​The marshal will let us in if he hears us!"

Wang Zhong thought to himself, aren’t you afraid that the marshal will suddenly get angry and not let you in?

But his curiosity was aroused. Logically speaking, inventing and creating things should not be the specialty of the ANT Army. What about "important inventions that changed the war situation"? Could it be that some soldier drank vodka and then rubbed a nuclear bomb with his hands?

So he shouted, "What's the noise outside?"

A second lieutenant from the Guards came in immediately and said, "Report! I am the officer on duty today. Two people said they have an invention that can change the situation of the war!"

Wang Zhong: “Let them in.”

Vasily: "I think we should test their alcohol content before letting them in."

Popov: "I agree with Vasily this time."

As they were talking, the two of them were brought in by the guards.

Wang Zhong: "Please introduce yourselves, gentlemen."

"My name is Anatoly Ivanovich Kitov, a second lieutenant commander of the 1st Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division."

Wang Zhong: "Is there anyone in the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division who can be called a Guard?"

"Just one, 21 enemy planes shot down in the Battle of Abavakhan," Pavlov replied immediately.

Wang Zhong: "Do you have a computer in your head? I mean, a tape recorder that records all the information in the form of tapes."

In this era, there were already magnetic tape drives for storing information.

Pavlov: "No, normally I wouldn't remember such trivial things, but their division is different. Their most famous achievement is your plane."

Wang Zhong: "Ah? The anti-aircraft artillery that shot me down? So they also have the title of Guards?"

Pavlov: "You signed it."

"Ah? I signed it?"

Oh no, the fact that I signed without reading the document is about to be exposed.

Wang Zhong: "Oh, yes, I signed and approved it. I think they have made amends by shooting down many enemy planes out of shame."

After saying that, Wang Zhong forcibly changed the subject: "Lieutenant Kitov, your friend should also introduce himself."

At this moment, Wang Zhong felt that the last name Kitov sounded familiar.

At this time, another young man reported: "Viktor Grushkov, Technical Sergeant First Class of the 1st Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division."

Wang Zhong immediately remembered who they were. They had been on John Khan's show! They seemed to be planning to work on big data in the Soviet Union in the 1960s. They were also pioneers in machine compiled languages ​​and cybernetics, but their achievements were overshadowed by their untimely birth.

After remembering everything, Wang Zhong stepped forward and extended his hand to the two men: "Nice to meet you." The two young men were startled, not knowing why the marshal suddenly became so amiable.

Kitov, who had a higher military rank, timidly shook Wang Zhong's hand: "Uh... Nice to meet you too, Marshal--Your Excellency?"

Wang Zhong: "You can just call me Davarish. What inventions did you bring?"

Kitov: "Well, we read in the newspapers that the Prosens were advocating that remote-controlled bombs and remote-controlled cars would change the course of the war, so we—"

Wang Zhong: "You built a jamming device?"

"Indeed, we did build one," Groshkov replied. "It's an active electronic jammer. The downside is that it will also jam our radio communications. But that's not what we're here to talk about this time."

Wang Zhong: "What did you bring?"

"Remote-controlled rocket," Kitov said. "We have built a wire-controlled rocket with a range of 1800 meters, using a shaped charge warhead from a rocket launcher."

Wang Zhong: "Rocket controlled by wire?"

Kitov: “Yes, because it is controlled by wire, there is no fear of interference.”

Wang Zhong: "But how do you solve the guidance problem? The enemy's remote-controlled bombs have a set of lights installed on the tail to ensure that the operator can see the bomb, but the effect is not ideal."

Kitov smiled and said, "Yes, but we are building a rocket. During the flight, the tail of the rocket is always spewing fire and smoke. The trajectory is very obvious. The operator will definitely see it."

Pavlov shook his head. "No, no, this kind of sophisticated electronic product requires high-precision semiconductors, and there aren't many factories in the entire Ante that can produce this stuff."

"We used the original parts of radios and walkie-talkies to make the remote control mechanism. The whole structure is very simple." Grushkov excitedly opened the drawing board in his hand and showed the blueprint.

Wang Zhong didn't understand, but he pretended to understand: "Ah, very clever. I will give you a transfer order now. You must return to Yebao immediately and organize a design team to come up with a mass production plan for this rocket."

Kitov and Grushkov high-fived:

"Great!"

"I said I could understand what the Marshal said!"

While the two of them were celebrating, Vasily had already written the order and brought it to Wang Zhong: "It will take effect once you sign it."

Wang Zhong immediately took out a pen and signed it, handing it to the two of them: "I wish you a safe journey. Also, I have a lot of things to discuss with you two after the war is over."

Kitov and Grushkov saluted Wang Zhong together: "I wish you a triumphant return!"

Wang Zhong: "You should say see you in Prothenia."

"See you in Prothenia, Marshal Davarish!"

After saying this, the two turned and left.

Wang Zhong looked at the second lieutenant of the guard regiment who was still standing there and said, "You fulfilled your duty and did not let them in. You deserve praise and I will reward you with a bottle of vodka."

The lieutenant grinned, "Thank you, Marshal!"

"Continue the mission!"

"Yes!" The second lieutenant and the guard saluted together and left with satisfaction.

When they were all gone, Pavlov said, "Another trump card, isn't it?"

Wang Zhong: "Yes, at least we won't have to resort to Molotov cocktails to exchange for enemy tanks as in the beginning of the war."

Popov: "This time it is the enemy's turn to forcibly replace our tanks. As you said, it is their turn to bleed and sacrifice, and use their blood to wash our tracks."

In the first year of the time travel, Wang Zhong stole Patton's speech, which had an outstanding effect. It is said that many priests still say this when they are mobilizing people.

----

"We can't passively defend! That would just be washing the tracks of the Ants with the blood of our soldiers!" Emperor Proson punched the map, "No, we can't passively defend! You've seen the results before. We transferred four armored divisions from the Western Front, but we still couldn't stop Ant's attack! Defense means giving the initiative to the enemy!"

Marshal Rundstedt: "But when the troops are insufficient, the attack will be worse than the defense."

"No! Rokossov thinks so too! I can already figure out what he's thinking! I predicted that he would attack in September! And all my senior generals thought he would act after the Tiber River froze over! I understand him better than you do!"

As the emperor spoke, he threw the pencil in his hand onto the map.

Because he threw it so hard, the pencil jumped high.

"I want to attack! We have assembled four battalions of Panther tanks, a total of 400 tanks! And four battalions of King Tiger tanks, a total of 200 tanks! Using these troops will catch Rokossov off guard! He will not have enough time to repair the damaged new tanks in his hands!"

(The emperor was right about this.)

Marshal Celtic: "Even if the armored forces achieve a breakthrough, our army does not have enough infantry to keep up. The troops will not be able to complete the replenishment until the end of this year."

Emperor: "We can follow up with the newly formed infantry units!"

Celtic Marshal: "Your Majesty, most of the newly formed troops lack combat experience and are not suitable for offensive operations!"

The emperor was about to retort, but Giles suddenly interrupted, "If we attack rashly now, even if we succeed, we don't have the supplies to continue the attack.

"The current situation on the entire southern front is more suitable for defensive counterattacks. Such a short front is not suitable for Rokossov to launch a large-scale deep attack. It will not be too late to launch an attack after their troops are exhausted in our fortified areas."

The emperor looked at Gilais.

The red-haired young man said decisively: "I think we should defend and counterattack."

Emperor: "But the initiative——"

"The change of initiative requires a suitable opportunity, Your Majesty," said Giles.

Emperor Proson took a deep breath and said, "Well, you are right."

----

At the same time, Eagle's Nest secondary freight elevator.

As the bell rang, the elevator's inner door opened.

The soldier in charge of opening the outer gate looked at the colonel in the elevator in surprise: "You... this is a freight elevator!"

"I have a confidential mission. You are not allowed to ask about it and I am not allowed to report it to anyone!" said the colonel as he took out his officer ID.

The soldier immediately stood at attention: "Yes!"

Colonel: "Open the outer gate!"

The soldier immediately unlocked the door with a key and opened the outer gate.

The colonel stepped out of the elevator, careful not to let his handbag touch the elevator door.

"Your Majesty, is you still in a meeting?" he inquired.

Soldier: “Yes!”

"Very good, remember, you didn't see me."

"Yes! I didn't see you!"

The strange colonel just strode away with his handbag.

(End of this chapter)