Just as Bely was squatting next to the radio operator, waiting for him to get in touch with Lieutenant Valenla, the squad leader of the Guards responsible for the defense here ran up to the rooftop and politely asked Sokov, who was holding a telescope: "Lieutenant Colonel Comrade, is there anything I can do for you?"
When Sokov and the others first arrived, the squad leader was polite to them because the other party's military rank was much higher than his own, and his attitude toward them was respectful but distant. Seeing Sokov's troops repelling the German attack so easily made him realize that if he wanted to hold on to the club and save his own life, it was necessary to hug Sokov's thigh, so he took the initiative to come. court.
"Comrade Sergeant," seeing the squad leader's respectful attitude towards him, Sokov also said to him in a friendly tone: "Can you please find someone to bring us the telephone line to the rooftop so that we can better communicate with him?" Command the troops."
When Bely heard what Sokov said, he immediately echoed: "That's right, Comrade Sergeant, we can't understand the situation on the battlefield in time while we stay in the office. Please arrange manpower as soon as possible to help us connect the phone lines. Come to the rooftop."
"Is this your request?" The squad leader felt that Sokov and Bely's request was too simple, so he stood still and said, "Don't you need me to send some food and drink to your soldiers?"
Since the other party offered to send water and food to the soldiers, Sokov naturally would not object. However, he still asked: "Comrade Sergeant, can the defenders at the school and stadium also send them water and food?"
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," the sergeant squad leader said with some embarrassment to Sokov's question: "Our squad is responsible for guarding the club, and the rest of the area is not our responsibility."
The squad leader's words made Sokov realize that his request was a bit excessive. After all, there was only one class and asking them to deliver food and water to the school and the stadium. Firstly, there were not enough manpower, and secondly, their food reserves may not be enough. Thinking of this, he waved to the squad leader and said: "Comrade Staff Sergeant, then you first arrange manpower to connect us with a telephone line. Then, send food and water to the soldiers stationed in the club." Staff Sergeant He agreed with a smile, turned around and left the rooftop.
After spending a long time, Bely finally got in touch with Lieutenant Valianla. He asked anxiously: "Comrade Lieutenant, where have you been? How long will it take to reach us?"
"Comrade Colonel," Valenla said with a sad face, "We have just left the gate of the factory. I'm afraid it will take half an hour at the fastest to get to you."
"What? We still have to wait half an hour?" Hearing what Valianla said, Bely became a little angry: "Can't the speed of a spherical tank reach up to 60 kilometers per hour?"
"Comrade Colonel, you also know that that is the maximum speed." Valianla explained to Bely: "We are driving a prototype vehicle, which cannot reach that speed at all, and the tank has been thrown several times since leaving the tank depot. Anchor. I don't even know now if we can successfully drive to your location."
Sokov never dreamed that the spherical tank for which he had high hopes would be so unreliable. It would break down frequently on a road of just two or three kilometers. If it really went into battle, I'm afraid its battlefield performance would be... It won't be to the extent that I imagined.
But since they are all here, whether they are mules or horses, they must be taken out for a walk, so he walked to Bely's side and said to him: "Comrade Colonel, don't blame Lieutenant Valenla, I think he has done his best. As for how the spherical tank performs on the battlefield, we will find out once it is put into combat."
The reason why Bely got angry at Valianla was because he was worried that Sokov would be angry when he saw the spherical tank was late, so he taught his subordinates a lesson in front of the other party, which was also a way to find a way out for himself. At this moment, hearing that Sokov didn't care so much, he felt at ease: "Okay, Lieutenant Valenla, you don't have to say anymore, I understand your situation. Your task now is to drive the tank over as soon as possible. As for whether to use you, we will see how the battle develops later. Do you understand?"
"clear!"
After Bely handed the earphone and microphone back to the operator, he apologized to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, I'm really sorry. The performance of my subordinates has let you down."
"Look what you said," Sokov said to Bely with a smile on his face: "This spherical tank is just a prototype. Whether it can be put into actual combat is a question. It is also inevitable that some malfunctions will occur while driving on the road. It’s inevitable. Don’t blame Lieutenant Valianla, it’s not easy for him either. He has been acting as a tank repairman all the way.”
While the two were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps coming from the door of the rooftop. Turning around, they saw that it was the squad leader walking up with a communications soldier carrying a coil. The squad leader came to Sokov, nodded and asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you know where to put the phone?"
Sokov casually pointed to the location of the sandbag fortification and said: "Comrade Sergeant, just put the sandbag here."
The squad leader nodded and asked the communications soldier to start connecting the phone lines. The communications soldier was very quick with his hands and feet. In just a few minutes, he installed the new telephone in place. After passing the test, he nodded to the monitor and indicated that the phone had been installed. The squad leader turned to Sokov and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the telephone has been installed. You can make calls now."
"Thank you, Comrade Sergeant." Sokov said gratefully for the squad leader's help: "If necessary, I will put in a good word for you in front of General Guryev."
The sergeant squad leader is also a smart man. He naturally knows what Sokov means by saying good things for himself in front of his division commander, which means that he has a bright future waiting for him. Therefore, after thanking Sokov profusely, he left the rooftop with the communications troops.
As soon as the sergeant and the signalman left, the German army began to attack the school again. The Germans were very smart this time. They did not bombard the school with heavy artillery before the attack, because they knew that the damage that artillery bombardment could cause to the Soviet army was limited. If they wanted to finally resolve the battle, they could only fight close to each other.
Before the attack, the German army fired a large number of smoke bombs at the school. For a time, the entire school was shrouded in smoke. Sokov couldn't help but frowned when he saw that the school in the distance could only be seen in outline due to the smoke. Just when he was about to call Vanya to find out the situation, the other party called first.
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Vanya said anxiously on the phone: "The enemy fired a large number of smoke bombs into the school, making it difficult for us to see where the enemy is. What should we do?"
"Comrade Captain, don't panic." Sokov looked at the smoke in the distance and felt anxious. However, in order to prevent his subordinates from panicking, he forced himself to say calmly: "We can't see the enemy clearly. The enemy They can’t see us clearly either. Let the soldiers stay in the trenches and shoot as soon as they see moving figures.”
"But, Comrade Brigadier, the smoke is so thick, our visibility is limited." Vanya continued: "By the time we see a figure moving, the enemy is not far away from us."
"Listen, Comrade Captain." Seeing that Vanya seemed a little nervous, Sokov quickly emphasized to him: "The smoke released by the enemy has exactly the same impact on both sides. You can't see them clearly, and they can't see them clearly either." I don’t know about you. As long as the soldiers hide in the trenches and remain motionless, the enemy will not be able to detect them. In this way, the enemies that rush up will become targets for the soldiers to shoot. Do you understand? "
"I understand, Comrade Brigadier." After Sokov's analysis, Vanya suddenly burst into confidence. He quickly expressed his position: "Don't worry, I will never let an enemy break into the school."
Sokov put down the phone, raised his binoculars and looked at the school shrouded in smoke, his face full of worry. Seeing his situation, Bely quickly asked with concern: "Comrade Brigadier, what's wrong with you? You seem to be worried?"
"Comrade Colonel, look." Although Sokov knew that nothing could be seen clearly in the school, he still pointed there habitually: "The main force of the first company is deployed in the direction of the entrance of the school, and the teaching staff But there are not many people guarding the building. If the Germans use the cover of smoke to bypass the tightly defended front and rush directly to the teaching building, our soldiers may be attacked from both sides."
Regarding Sokov's statement, Belei thought for a moment, nodded in agreement and said: "Yes, Comrade Brigade Commander, you are right. The direction of the teaching building is the weak link in our defense. If the Germans really Bypassing the school gate and rushing directly to the teaching building, and relying on solid buildings for defense, our troops deployed in the direction of the school gate may be surrounded by the enemy."
"Is there any way you can prevent Yilian from being attacked from both sides?"
"Let me think about it carefully." Bely stared at the direction of the school for a long time, and finally said to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the only way is to move the tank platoon around the teaching building. , to stop enemies who may rush towards the teaching building."
"This is a good idea." Sokov thought to himself that several tanks in a tank platoon were deployed around the teaching building at the same time. Once they discovered that the enemy was coming, they could quickly assemble and give the enemy a head-on blow. He said to Bely: "Comrade Colonel, then order the crews of the tank platoon to take action and set up defenses around the teaching building to prevent the enemy from approaching there."
Bely immediately walked to the walkie-talkie, picked up the transmitter and contacted the second company commander Ivantsov: "Captain Ivantsov, I now order you to immediately have all the tanks in the tank platoon drive to the school for teaching. The perimeter of the building was cordoned off to prevent possible German sneak attacks."
Seeing that Bely had finished the call, Sokov was about to hand the earphone and microphone back to the operator, so he stopped him: "Comrade Colonel, please wait a moment."
Bely raised his head, looked at Sokov with strange eyes and asked: "Comrade Brigadier, is there anything else?"
"I estimate that the German troops attacking the school may not have many tanks. Why not let the spherical tank go over and see how effective it can be on the battlefield."
Bely has been thinking about when and where the ball tank should be put into use. Since Sokov had already suggested sending the spherical tank in the direction of the school, he did not object. Instead, he connected to Valenla's communication and said bluntly: "Comrade Lieutenant, you should head towards the school immediately to provide reinforcements." Our troops are there. I repeat, you move to the school immediately to reinforce the troops there."
After hearing Bely's order, Valianla responded loudly: "Understood."
…………
The smoke that shrouded the school gradually dispersed, and the commanders and soldiers standing guard at the school gate suddenly realized that no trace of the enemy was found in front of them. On the contrary, behind them, there was the roar of tank engines. There were experienced soldiers who immediately recognized that it was a German tank and couldn't help but panic.
A Soviet tank parked northwest of the teaching building noticed the outline of a tank emerging from the smoke. Before he could see clearly what kind of tank it was, the tank had been hit by an armor-piercing projectile fired first by the Germans. The metal jet of the armor-piercing projectile produced a splash effect after penetrating the armor, splashing everywhere in the tank body, first killing the tank crew inside, and then hitting the shell and causing a fatal explosion.
Just hearing a loud "boom", the top cover of the T-34 tank was blown off by a huge shock wave, and then a dazzling flame, like a volcano erupting, spurted out from the hatch without a top cover and rushed directly onto the tank. A height of thirty or forty meters.
The German tank driver who fired the gun did not expect that one of his shells could achieve such a great result. While they were clapping and celebrating inside the tank, they suddenly heard the roar of the tank engine coming from the front. According to the commander's judgment, at least three Soviet tanks were coming towards them. He quickly issued a combat order, asked the loader to load the shells, and fired without hesitation as soon as the Soviet tank's position was locked.
The smoke that shrouded the school gradually dispersed, and the commanders and soldiers standing guard at the school gate suddenly realized that no trace of the enemy was found in front of them. On the contrary, behind them, there was the roar of tank engines. There were experienced soldiers who immediately recognized that it was a German tank and couldn't help but panic.
A Soviet tank parked northwest of the teaching building noticed the outline of a tank emerging from the smoke. Before he could see clearly what kind of tank it was, the tank had been hit by an armor-piercing projectile fired first by the Germans. The metal jet of the armor-piercing projectile produced a splash effect after penetrating the armor, splashing everywhere in the tank body, first killing the tank crew inside, and then hitting the shell and causing a fatal explosion.
Just hearing a loud "boom", the top cover of the T-34 tank was blown off by a huge shock wave, and then a dazzling flame, like a volcano erupting, spurted out from the hatch without a top cover and rushed directly onto the tank. A height of thirty or forty meters.
The German tank driver who fired the gun did not expect that one of his shells could achieve such a great result. While they were clapping and celebrating inside the tank, they suddenly heard the roar of the tank engine coming from the front. According to the commander's judgment, at least three Soviet tanks were coming towards them. He quickly issued a combat order, asked the loader to load the shells, and fired without hesitation as soon as the Soviet tank's position was locked.
