Chapter 361 Lezhev

"Fortunately!" Katukov continued: "According to information from the 39th Army, the Germans only have a small number of tanks in the direction of Rzhev, and it is said that they have conscripted many horse-drawn sledges from the common people for use in battle! "

"They plan to use horse-drawn sleds to deal with our tanks?" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov joked: "What a surprise, they learned our tactics!"

The officers burst into laughter, but only Shulka was still frowning.

"Is there any problem?" Seeing this, Katukov cast a puzzled look at Shulka.

"Comrade Colonel, I think this is a good tactic!" Shulka replied.

"You mean using a horse-drawn sled to deal with our tanks?" Katukov spread his hands, "I don't see any good in this tactic!"

Shulka walked up to the map and said: "The German Ninth Army can be said to be the mainstay for the Germans to stabilize the defense line, so I have reason to believe...the German air power is mainly used to cover the Ninth Army! "

Speaking of Shulka, he turned his eyes to Katukov. This was only his guess, but a reasonable guess.

"Yes!" Katukov nodded: "That's true, the Germans concentrated their air force in the Rzhev area!"

"So, the Germans have at least partial air supremacy in the Rzhev area!"

Katukov nodded again.

Although the German Air Force is at a disadvantage as a whole, just like they concentrated their efforts to seize the air superiority over Tver before... they still have the ability to occupy local air superiority.

"That's the problem, Colonel!" Shulka said. "Our tanks are slow, while the enemy's horse-drawn sleighs are just the opposite. So, although we have thick armor and much more firepower than them, But they can't catch them! The Germans just need to run away on the sleds and call for air support on the radio..."

Shulkado didn't need to say anything about the next thing.

As soon as the German Air Force came, the attack on the Soviet tank troops was fatal.

Even if the German Air Force did not come for a while, it is entirely possible that the Soviet army could not catch up or beat the German army, so the heavy armor defense and powerful firepower could not be used at all... Tanks were originally fast mobile units, but in this On a specific battlefield, after the horse-drawn sleigh gained an absolute speed advantage, it turned the tank into a heavy infantry chasing the cavalry, and the final result was that the heavy infantry could be exhausted even if they were tired.

The laughter in command died away in no time.

"But Comrade Captain!" Lieutenant Colonel Zahakavic said: "Our task this time is to open a gap in the enemy's defense line and rescue the trapped friendly troops. If they escape... it means that we can successfully open the gap." gap!"

"No, Comrade Zakhakovich!" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov replied: "If we open the gap, it means that they let us in. Therefore, we cannot rescue them, we will be surrounded Another brigade!"

Katukov could not help but fall silent.

Because he knew that what Shulka said was right, the advantage of horse-drawn sleds is here. Under the cover of air power, they will quickly avoid the frontal attack of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, and then attack its flank rear guards The 1st Brigade of Tanks was cut off from the follow-up units.

At that time, the 1st Guards Brigade, driving clumsy British and American tanks, will be helpless and can only watch the enemy surround or even cut and annihilate themselves.

After a pause, Katukov went on to say: "The Germans deployed their main armored forces inside the line of defense, as well as anti-tank equipment. If we are deeply encircled by them...the consequences will be disastrous!"

This is of course, the speed of the "Matilda" tank is less than 10 kilometers per hour, and even if it is released to let the Soviet army escape, it may not be able to escape.

"We are not suitable for this rescue operation, Comrade Colonel!" Shulka said: "This is determined by the tanks we are equipped with. Their low speed will make us very passive in rescue operations!"

"Yes, I agree!" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov said: "Besides, we are equipped with rocket launchers, which are also suitable for melee combat, so they should send us to attack fortified positions, like attacking Tver... because some people need to attack The strategic location will not move!"

"The problem is that the superiors think that only we can save those 9 divisions!" Katukov said: "The situation is very critical now. The 39th and 29th Army have repeatedly launched attacks on the German army to open the gap but were defeated. They need Tank support... Most of their tanks were organized into the 9 divisions that broke into the German defense line and were surrounded by the enemy!"

This is the embarrassment of the Soviet army, which is caused by the immature command of the Soviet army and the underestimation of the enemy... They thought that the German army at this time could only be beaten, so they organized all the elite into the first 9 divisions and left them far away. The follow-up troops broke into the enemy's line of defense and outflanked their rear. Who would have thought that the German army would kill their carbine and surround their elites, so the Soviet army inside could not fight out because of lack of ammunition, and the Soviet army outside could not fight in because of lack of equipment.

"Even if you put aside the orders of your superiors!" Katukov said: "If the enemy is allowed to encircle and annihilate these nine divisions, it means that the German Ninth Army will be able to gain a firm foothold in the Rzhev area. The flanks of the army pose a threat!"

After thinking for a while, Shulka replied: "Comrade Colonel, I don't think we should just try to tear through the enemy's line of defense and rescue our besieged troops!"

"What do you mean?" Katukov asked.

"The enemy has already made preparations in the Solomino area!" Shulka said, pointing to the map: "Because we have torn a hole there and broke through, the enemy will definitely strengthen the defense in this area, and it is also the focus of the Air Force. The key area. If we still break through from this point, I'm afraid we won't be able to change the situation of the battle!"

"You mean, we're going to change the direction of attack?" Katukov asked.

"Yes!" Shulka nodded and said, "As Comrade Gavrilov said, our equipment determines that we are more suitable for attacking. If we are not trying to tear through the enemy's defense line but take down one An important support point and hold it...then the entire German defense line will be affected!"

Katukov searched the map for a while, then raised his head and said, "Rzhev!"

It is not difficult to see this, since Rzhev is a protrusion in the German line and at the same time a turning point in the German line, like a corner of a rectangle.

If the Soviets could occupy this corner, they would be able to threaten both sides of the German defense line from both sides at the same time, thus shaking the entire defense line instead of just rescue.