After all the troops had withdrawn to Mamayev Heights, the three regiment commanders came to the headquarters to report to Sokov on the combat situation of their regiments.
After Ivanov waited for Sokov to shake hands with the three regiment leaders, he said from the side: "Comrade division commander, except for the MG34 machine gun and the Maxim heavy machine gun, we don't have any heavy weapons. Can you see if you can contact your superiors?" Do you want some equipment?”
"Comrade Division Commander," Sidorin waited for Ivanov to finish and then asked Sokov tentatively: "Aren't you very familiar with Colonel Bely? Can you ask him to send a few tanks over and let us place them on the high ground? Will it be used as a fixed fort?"
"I'm afraid this won't work." Sokov rejected Sidorin's proposal without hesitation: "The depression angle of our tank is not enough. Although its elevation angle can be used as an anti-aircraft gun, it is really placed on Mamayev Hill. , but were unable to hit the enemy at the foot of the mountain, instead the tanks were placed here as targets for the enemy."
"We lack heavy weapons," Ivanov said with a frown: "If we want to fight a defensive war, we will be at a great disadvantage."
"Comrade Deputy Division Commander is right." As soon as Ivanov finished speaking, the three regiment commanders expressed their agreement: "If our troops have more heavy firepower during the daytime battle, the enemy will pay more. price."
"We used to have a new type of rocket that was very effective against enemy tanks and infantry." Sidorin said with great regret: "Unfortunately, this new type of rocket has been exhausted in the battle some time ago. ”
Ivanov once heard Sokov mention this kind of rocket in private. Now when he heard Sidorin mention it again, he couldn't help but ask: "Comrade Chief of Staff, are all those new rockets really used up?" No hair left?"
Sidorin shook his head and replied with a wry smile: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, if we still had rockets, when the Romanian army attacked Beigan a few days ago, our sailors would not have fought with the enemy with bayonets. It only took a few days. Send rockets over and all the enemies huddled together will be wiped out."
"What a pity, what a pity!" After hearing this, Ivanov couldn't help shaking his head and said: "Since there is no strong defensive firepower, in the next battle, there may be hand-to-hand combat with the enemy."
Speaking of fighting a defensive war, Sokov couldn't help but think that since Yakov could not send new rockets for the time being, he might need another amazing weapon to give the Germans a taste of their power. Thinking of this, he looked up at Ivanov and Sidorin and said: "Deputy division commander, chief of staff, I have thought of a weapon that is no less powerful than the new rockets we use."
When Sidorin heard what Sokov said, he couldn't help showing a confused expression on his face. He frowned and asked: "Comrade division commander, we really have such a weapon, why didn't I know about it?"
"It's normal that you don't know." Sokov felt a little proud when he thought that this kind of earthen equipment, which would only come out a few years later, could be brought into the world with his own hands to exert its power in advance: "Because I haven't put it into use yet. Made.”
Knowing that such a powerful weapon had not yet been manufactured, Ivanov, who was full of hope, suddenly felt like a deflated ball. He smiled bitterly and said: "Comrade Division Commander, we are discussing how to defend. This is not a joke." when."
"What, you don't believe me?" Sokov didn't expect that Ivanov would suspect that he was bragging, and said quickly: "This thing is very simple to make. As long as you have enough materials, it can be made in just a few hours." Hundreds of them. When the enemy attacks, we can blast them to pieces as soon as we launch them."
"Okay, comrade division commander, please stop tempting us." Ivanov said anxiously: "Please tell me quickly, what kind of weapon is it and how to make it?"
"It's very simple. We just need to find some empty oil barrels to use as launchers." Sokov picked up a pen and paper and began to draw a sketch. Ivanov and others quickly came over and carefully observed the sketch drawn by Sokov. While drawing, Sokov explained to them: "...the principle of shooting is similar to that of old-fashioned artillery. After filling the oil barrel with propellant, put the explosive package bundled into a disk shape into it, and then ignite the propellant. Can throw out explosive packets..."
After Sokov finished drawing, he looked up at Ivanov and Sidorin and asked, "What do you think?"
"Is this possible?" Even though Sokov just said it clearly, Ivanov still had no idea in his heart. He asked tentatively: "What if our soldiers detonated the propellant inside when they ignited the propellant at the bottom?" Wouldn’t the explosive pack cause huge casualties to our own people?”
"Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Commander." When Sokov visited the military museum in his previous life, he had carefully observed the structure of this "flying thunder cannon" and was familiar with its production method. Knowing that the explosives ejected from the oil drums would cause huge damage to the enemy's infantry, fortifications, tanks, etc., the enemy fearfully gave it the nickname "Heartless Cannon". "I am confident that this simple weapon can cause huge casualties to the enemy."
"Comrade Deputy Division Commander," Seeing that Ivanov still had an expression of disbelief on his face, Sidorin quickly helped and said, "You may not know that the division commander participated in the design and development of the new rockets we used some time ago. Developed.”
Sidorin's words changed Ivanov's view of Sokov. He looked at Sokov and said in surprise: "I really didn't expect that comrade division commander can actually design weapons. Then I want to ask you, do you plan to use How heavy is the explosive package fired from the oil barrel, and what is its approximate range?"
"At least ten kilograms of explosives are needed." Sokov replied without hesitation: "As for the range, according to my calculations, it can reach a distance of 150 to 200 meters."
After listening to Sokov's words, Ivanov showed an expression of surprise on his face: "Comrade division commander, if this weapon is really as powerful as you said, we can attack the attacking enemy on the top of the hill. Launch it and consume a lot of their vitality. By the way, what are you going to name this weapon?"
"Thunder Cannon." Sokov didn't want to use the name "Heartless Cannon", so he used the commonly used name: "Do you think this name sounds good?"
"Sounds good!" Sidorin nodded and asked thoughtfully: "Comrade Commander, I don't understand why you spend so much energy designing a weapon that is so easy to make and powerful. And what about developing new rockets?”
"Chief of Staff, the reason is very simple." Sokov knew that he would not explain it clearly to Sidorin, but there would always be a knot in his heart: "The aiming head of this kind of thunder cannon is too low, but when it is fired, it is used to launch The gasoline barrel will also roll over, causing the ejected explosive package to not fly very far."
After Sokov's explanation, Sidorin's face showed a look of realization. He felt that the division commander was right. Temporarily using gasoline barrels to launch explosive packets was unreliable, and the accuracy was also wrong. It's inevitable.
"If we want to use thunder cannons, we will need a lot of explosives." Sokov looked at the three regiment leaders and asked: "I wonder which regiment leader is willing to take people to the Red October Factory to collect enough explosives and come back? ?”
"I'll go, I'll go..." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, the three regiment leaders rushed to carry out this task.
Sokov's eyes swept across the faces of the three people one by one, and finally landed on Yershakov. He took a step forward, put his right hand on the other person's left shoulder, and said: "Colonel Yershakov, it is up to you to complete this task."
"Comrade division commander, why is this?" Seeing Sokov handing over the task to Yershakov, Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko was unconvinced: "Our regiment can also complete this task."
"Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko," Sokov turned to face Papuchenko and said, "The reason why I gave the task to the 125th Regiment is because they are stationed in Beigang, close to the Red October Factory. It is more convenient to transport supplies; secondly, Lieutenant Colonel Yershakov's troops once covered the retreat of Gurdiev Division and Gorishny Division during the day. When he goes to the factory, he will definitely meet the commanders and fighters of these two divisions. Friendly Forces The commanders and fighters will definitely be grateful to Lieutenant Colonel Yershakov for covering their retreat, and will provide them with the necessary assistance when our soldiers carry supplies."
When Papuchenko heard what Sokov said, he immediately shut his mouth obediently. Not to mention anything else, just covering the retreat of the two divisions during the day was enough to make the friendly commanders and fighters grateful to him. However, he did not want to stay idle in Mamayev Ridge, so he took the initiative to request Sokov: "Comrade Division Commander, since you have handed over the task of carrying explosives to the 125th Regiment. Then, please give me the task of making the flying thunder cannon." Leave the task to our group to complete.”
Before Sokov could express his position, Starcha was dissatisfied again. He said to Papuchenko: "Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko, our regiment can also complete the task of making thunder cannons. You can't do it with us." Grab the mission. Don't forget, it was my regiment that covered your safe withdrawal during the day."
Starcha's words choked Papuchenko speechless because they were the truth. After the 122nd Regiment withdrew from its defensive position, it first retreated to the 124th Regiment's position, and then moved to Mamayev Hill. Without the cover of the Starcha Regiment, they might not be able to return to Mamayev Heights smoothly.
Seeing that Papuchenko was speechless, Sokov hurriedly came out to smooth things over: "Okay, we are not just using thunder cannons in Nangang, we also need to use them in Beigan. Papuchenko is in the middle Colonel, your troops and the 125th Regiment are currently stationed in Beigang, so you will be responsible for making the flying thunder cannons needed by Beigang."
After saying these words, Sokov turned around and saw Starcha's unhappy face, and added: "And you, Lieutenant Colonel Starcha, if your regiment cannot complete fifty by daybreak, I can leave it to you to make the mine launcher and the required explosive packets."
After the three regiment commanders who accepted different tasks happily left the headquarters, Ivanov smiled and said to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, I really didn't expect that in just one day, my three regiment commanders If you obey your orders like this, I’m worrying for nothing.”
"Deputy division commander, chief of staff, let's discuss the placement of the thunder cannon." Sokov thought that the range of the thunder cannon was limited. If the location was not good, the effect would be greatly reduced, so he asked Ivano Husband and Sidorin said: "I now understand why in ancient times, artillery was always at the front in battles. This was because the artillery at that time had a limited range. If it was placed behind a large force, it might not be able to hit the enemy when fired. , but hit our own people. This kind of flying thunder cannon has the same problem, so we must position it as far forward as possible."
"It's not easy, Comrade Commander." Sidorin frowned and said, "Now our positions are halfway up the mountain. If we want the flying thunder cannon to be positioned closer, it must be placed in front of the position. But like this Once this happens, the soldier who launches the explosive package will be easily attacked by the enemy.”
"Yes, if our defensive positions are still placed on the hillside, then the thunder cannons can only be deployed in positions that are easily attacked by the enemy." Sokov drew another sketch on the paper with a pen: "But If we move the defensive position to the top of the hillside, we can place the torpedo cannon closer to the western ridge."
Sidorin knew that the original defensive position was originally on the hillside, but it was moved halfway up the mountain when Vitkov was the acting brigade commander. At this moment, I heard Sokov say that he was ready to move the position back to the top of the hillside, but there was no objection. But Ivanov did not know the location of the original position, and immediately raised an objection: "Comrade division commander, is it appropriate for us to move our defensive position at this time?"
When Sokov heard Ivanov's question, he was stunned for a moment. Then he remembered that the other party had just arrived at Mamayev Hill not long ago, and he still didn't know where his original defensive position was. Then he smiled and said to him: "Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Division Commander, it will definitely not cause any chaos. You know, our original position was on the top of the hillside."
"Since it was originally arranged on the top of the hillside." Ivanov asked puzzledly: "I don't understand, then why did it have to be moved to the middle of the mountain?"
"The reason is very simple." Sidorin explained to Ivanov: "Because the division commander was injured for a period of time, Colonel Vitkov, deputy chief of staff of the group army, acted as the brigade commander. You also know that every commander Every soldier has his or her own characteristics, so the first thing he did when he got here was to move our defensive positions halfway up the mountain. The division commander's proposal was nothing more than to return our defensive positions to their original positions."
"How to attack the enemy on the top of the hillside?" Ivanov asked puzzledly.
"Our defensive position is a certain distance from the ridge. As soon as the enemy appears, our soldiers can hit them. But the enemy has already been shot before they find our position. In this way, we can use the minimum force to deploy the defense. casualties and achieved huge results.”
