"Comrade Colonel," Gusin pointed to a nearby cabin and said to Sokov: "There is a small Diesel engine here, which is specially used to provide lighting for the warehouse."
The Diesel engine Gusin mentioned is what we often call a diesel generator. Since it was invented by German inventor Rudolf Diesel, this engine was named after his surname. Sokov thought that there was lighting in the warehouse, which was naturally more convenient than holding several flashlights to shine, so he urged the other party: "This is really great, hurry up and start it up."
Seeing Gusin turn around and run into the nearby hut, Sokov thought to himself: Maybe the power source used by Gusin and the others every night comes from this diesel generator.
Not long after, the roar of the generator was heard in the room. Gusin ran out of the room and said to Sokov: "Comrade Colonel, the engine has started working. Now I will help you turn on the lights." After saying that, he came to the iron door and pulled a light cord beside the door. The originally dark warehouse immediately became brightly lit.
With lights, the items placed in the warehouse can be clearly seen at a glance. Seeing the rows of artillery pieces covered with canvas, Sokov couldn't help but said to himself: Oh my god, there are so many artillery pieces! There are hundreds of them. Even if Lyudnikov is given a few, he will not be able to use artillery as infantry.
"Lieutenant Samoilov," Sokov turned around and ordered Samoilov: "Immediately count the artillery in the warehouse to see what models there are and how many of each model there are."
"Understood." Samoilov agreed, and then shouted to the soldiers he brought: "Immediately count the artillery in the warehouse to see what models there are and the quantities of each model."
Taking advantage of the opportunity when Samoilov and his men were counting the artillery, Sokov asked Gusin: "Comrade Sergeant, I would like to ask how often the artillery in the warehouse is shipped out?"
Guxin replied without thinking: "Comrade Colonel, except for the people in the factory who come every three days to count the goods, no artillery has ever left the warehouse!"
"What, no artillery has ever left the warehouse?" Gusin's words surprised Sokov. He asked in surprise: "Comrade Sergeant, how long have you been stationed here?"
"Two and a half months, Comrade Colonel." Gusin replied loudly: "Since the Germans attacked the factory, my squad has been stationed here."
Hearing what Gushin said, Sokov wanted to curse in his heart. There were so many artillery piled in the warehouse. They were not used to arm the troops defending the factory, but were piled here to collect dust. Had the factory been captured by the Germans, the guns would have fallen into enemy hands intact.
With the efforts of everyone, the number of artillery in the warehouse was quickly counted. Samoilov came over and reported to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, we have calculated the statistics. There are 38 ZIS-3 divisional 76 mm cannons, 11 M1937 152 mm field howitzers, and M1938 122 mm howitzers. 18 doors…”
After listening to the data reported by Samoilov, Sokov glanced at the shell boxes piled up beside the wall and asked casually: "Do these artillery pieces have matching shells?"
Samoilov followed Sokov's gaze and glanced at the shell boxes stacked against the wall, then replied: "I just took a quick look, and there are only 76mm cannon shells, except for high-explosive shells. There are also a lot of armor-piercing bullets.”
Sokov remembers that this ZIS-3 divisional 76mm cannon has excellent firepower performance. It can not only anti-tank, but also destroy enemy effective forces, suppress enemy artillery fire, and destroy solid bunkers. It has a simple structure and greatly reduced weight, making it easy to maneuver and fight quickly. In addition to the Tiger tank, it can easily destroy any German tank or assault gun, and because of its fast rate of fire, it becomes a nightmare for German tank soldiers. Later, after adding a tank chassis, it was changed into a SU-76 self-propelled artillery.
He pointed at the 76mm cannons with his hand and said to Samoilov: "Comrade Lieutenant, move all these cannons out of the warehouse. We are going to use them to teach the Germans a lesson. By the way, send another person." Go and inform Colonel Lyudnikov that we have found a sufficient number of artillery pieces and ask him to send artillerymen to receive the equipment.”
Although the 76mm cannon is light and can be pushed by two soldiers, Samoilov brought too few people. It is undoubtedly a huge project to move out so many external shells of the artillery. Seeing that Sokov and the others were too busy, Gusin quickly called his men and helped push the artillery outside.
While he was busy, the soldiers sent by Samoilov to find Lyudnikov came back, followed by a major. When the major came to Sokov, he raised his hand in salute and said respectfully: "Hello, Colonel Sokov! I am Major Savage, commander of the 295th Artillery Regiment, and my name is Lyudnikov, the division commander. The colonel ordered me to come to you to receive the equipment."
"Major," Sokov pointed at the cannons that the soldiers had just rolled out and said to Savage, "These are the cannons."
Savage was obviously more familiar with the models of artillery than Sokov. Seeing these artillery pieces scattered in the open space, his eyes suddenly lit up. He murmured: "Oh my God, there are so many ZIS -Type 3 cannon."
"I think in the battle to defend the factory, these cannons are more effective than the large-caliber howitzers still parked in the warehouse." As soon as Sokov said this, he suddenly remembered that Lyudnikov's troops had no troops left. How many people were there, he asked Savage tentatively: "Comrade Major, I want to ask you, how many people are there in your regiment?"
"There are more than fifty people, Comrade Colonel." Savage replied with a wry smile: "Since the regiment's artillery was lost in the battle, we have been used as infantry."
"There are 38 cannons in the warehouse," Sokov said with a frown after listening to Savage's words: "You only have more than fifty people, I'm afraid..." He stopped here, wondering if After Belkin arrives with his troops, then select some soldiers who have served as artillerymen to assist Savage and the others in using these artillery?
Seeing that Sokov's words stopped abruptly in the middle of his words, Savage guessed that the other party must be worried about the small number of artillerymen, and quickly said: "Comrade Colonel, although the gun crew of this kind of artillery is composed of eight people, but we are now Due to the shortage of manpower, I can reduce the establishment to four people, so that we can use at least twelve doors at the same time."
"Comrade Major, you misunderstood." Seeing that Savage had gone astray, Sokov explained to him: "You don't have enough manpower. I can find a way to help you supplement it. I'm thinking about how to get your people and The question of the mixing of my men.”
As he was talking, several people trotted over from a distance. Still far away, the visitor shouted: "Comrade teacher, you are here, I am looking for you everywhere."
Sokov looked around and saw the second battalion commander, Captain Briski, and several of his company commanders. When they came to him, they asked curiously: "Why are there only a few of you? Where is the political commissar?"
Briski knew very well that the political commissar Sokov was talking about was their regiment commander Belkin, so he quickly replied: "Report to the division commander, the regiment commander is still behind with the first battalion and the troops directly under the regiment. I will first Came here with the Second Battalion.”
"Comrade Captain," Sokov looked at Briski and asked, "How many people are there in your battalion?"
"There are still nearly five hundred people in the whole battalion." After Brisky finished talking about the number of people in the battalion, he saw an unexpected expression on Sokov's face and quickly added: "While we were stationed at the Red October Factory, we never Among the recovered wounded, soldiers were replenished once."
Sokov made a mental calculation and temporarily assigned Briski's second battalion to Savage's command, so that all 38 cannons could be utilized. Thinking of this, he said to Briskey: "Comrade Captain, let me introduce to you. This is Major Savage, commander of the Artillery Regiment of the 138th Infantry Division. From now on, your battalion will be under his command."
"What, put us under his command?" Briski heard Sokov's order and asked in surprise: "Comrade division commander, why is this?"
"Colonel Sokov," Savage also felt that Sokov's order was a bit hasty and quickly reminded him: "The artillery is a professional arm. Even if you put them under our command, the role they can play may be limited. "
Sokov raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling the two of them to stop talking. After they all calmed down, Sokov first said to Savage: "Comrade Major, there are many soldiers who have been artillery in this battalion that I assigned to you for temporary command. As long as you organize it properly, I believe they will play a great role in the battle."
"But, Comrade Colonel, we don't know when the Germans will launch their attack again." Savage said awkwardly: "I don't have that much time to confirm who among your men is a qualified infantryman."
"There are 38 cannons that I will hand over to you later." After Sokov waited for Savage to finish speaking, he explained to him: "You can send a gunner for each cannon to take aim, and my people Then I’ll be responsible for loading and pulling the gun rope, do you think that’s okay?”
Savage thought that it would be a good choice for his men to be responsible for aiming, while Sokov's men loaded and pulled the gun ropes. He nodded and agreed to Sokov's arrangement.
After Savage agreed to his proposal, Sokov turned to Brischi and said to him: "Comrade Captain, the enemy will launch a new attack soon. If you are allowed to serve as infantry, fight against the enemy." In battle, in the absence of heavy weapons, you will definitely suffer heavy losses. But if you temporarily change to artillery, when the enemy is still far away from our position, you can use artillery fire to destroy them and reduce your casualties to The lowest. Let me ask you, which situation would you choose?"
"Comrade Commander, you are right." Brisky thought for a while and felt that Sokov's arrangement was reasonable. He nodded and said, "I will resolutely obey your order. From now on, the whole battalion will obey Savi." It is under the command of Major Qi." After he finished saying this, he paused for a moment, and then asked a little embarrassedly, "I wonder when our battalion can be restored?"
"Whenever the troops withdraw from the barricade factory, you will return to build it!" Sokov understood Brisky's mentality. The other party was worried that he would be assigned to the command of other troops from now on, and he might be completely separated from the 41st Guards Division. The establishment of the government gave him reassurance, "You don't have any objections, do you?"
After listening to Sokov's explanation of the time for the troops to return to the army, Briski's heart finally fell to the ground. He replied with a smile: "Comrade division commander, I have no objections and I will resolutely obey your orders!"
