After receiving the telegram from the infantry brigade, Samyko smiled and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, you see, Major Guchakov was worried that he would be blamed if he did not launch a counterattack, so he sent a special telegram I’ll give you an explanation.”
Sokov took a look at the telegram and then told Samyko: "Chief of Staff, please reply to the telegram to Major Guchakov. The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly. I grant him the power to deal with the situation on an ad hoc basis. There is no need to report everything to the commander." Report to the Ministry of Defense so as not to delay the war effort."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Samyko agreed readily: "I will immediately ask the telegraph operator to send a telegram to Major Guchakov so that he can feel at ease as soon as possible."
"General Sokov." Derevyanko felt very puzzled by Sokov's behavior of delegating power. He asked curiously: "You give the troops below the power to make emergency decisions. Aren't you worried that at a critical moment, Is there a situation where the troops cannot be commanded?"
"General Derevyanko," faced Derevyanko's question, Sokov explained to him: "If every unit has to ask for instructions and report before taking any action, it will definitely waste a lot of time. If there is a crisis in the war and they may not be able to contact the headquarters, can they only choose to wait passively and watch the fighter plane miss before receiving the combat order from their superiors?
Giving subordinate units the power to deal with emergencies is to facilitate the commander of the unit to adjust the tactics used in a timely manner according to changes in the battlefield situation to avoid delaying fighter opportunities.
As for what you're worried about, it doesn't exist at all. I believe that my men will carry out the combat orders to the letter after receiving them. "
Seeing that Derevyanko seemed to want to say something, Managarov stopped him and said to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, General Sokov is right. As the troops under our command become more and more There are more and more things coming, and if we have to take care of everything, we as commanders will simply be overwhelmed. Properly delegating power to the troops below may be more conducive to the flexibility of the troops."
Although Derevyanko always disagreed with Sokov's approach, now that Managarov had expressed his opinion, he gave up the debate with Sokov and instead nodded to Managarov: " Comrade Commander, you are right. It seems that we should also learn from General Sokov in the future and delegate command authority to the lower-level commanders below."
…………
The German attack on the landing site lasted for two days. Although they did not capture even an inch of land, the Soviet troops responsible for the defense mission also paid a heavy price.
After Samek told Sokov about the situation, he said worriedly: "Comrade Commander, after these two days of fighting, more than one-third of the troops standing on the front line have suffered casualties. Do you think we should withdraw them?" Rest and recuperate, and let the follow-up troops take over their defense?"
"There is no need." Sokov waved his hand and said: "Our two artillery divisions and several rocket launcher battalions have been deployed on the left bank of the Dnieper River. Once the German army launches another attack, we can use long-range artillery fire to attack the attacking enemy. Intercept and kill a large number of their effective forces."
"The ammunition reserves of our artillery are not ideal." After hearing what Sokov said, Samyko quickly reminded him: "I'm afraid it is not enough to support a long-term artillery bombardment."
"How many shells does each gun have?"
Sameko opened his notepad, took a look at it, and replied: "Except for the 76.2 mm caliber artillery, which has three base numbers of shells, the other heavy artillery only has one base number of ammunition."
"Heavy artillery only has one base number of ammunition?" Sokov knew very well that if he wanted to use artillery fire from the left bank of the Dnieper River to support the landing site on the right bank, he had to use heavy artillery. One base number of ammunition was too little: "The superiors gave us When will the additional ammunition be delivered?”
"Comrade Commander, since the superiors have to prioritize the ammunition needs of the troops attacking Poltava, the supplies to us may be slower."
Hearing Samyko's cautious words, Sokov asked impatiently: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I know that my superiors will give priority to the troops attacking Poltava in terms of supplies, but I want to know when they will Can you provide us with a sufficient number of artillery shells?”
After Sokov finished speaking, Sameko stopped talking. To be honest, he didn't know when his superiors would be able to provide supplies under the current circumstances.
Seeing that Samyko didn't speak for a long time, Sokov became a little impatient: "Comrade Chief of Staff, why don't you answer me?"
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, I don't know." Samyko replied in a panic: "As far as I know, the troops commanded by General Rokossovsky did not receive any soldiers or ammunition for a period of time. supplement, because the superiors want to give priority to supplementing these things to the troops on other fronts."
"Comrade General," Sokov felt that what Samyko said was very reasonable. Out of overall considerations, his superiors would definitely give priority to supplying the 5th and 7th Guards Armies attacking Poltava. For a long time, you may have to think of ways to raise ammunition on your own. He remembered that the 53rd Army was now under his command, and he might be able to get some help from Managarov, so he asked tentatively: "I would like to ask, how is your artillery ammunition reserve?"
Derevyanko had long guessed that Sokov would ask this question, so he answered truthfully: "General Sokov, most of our artillery is equipped with 76.2 mm artillery. There are not many large-caliber artillery, so the matching Ammunition is also very limited.”
When Sokov heard what Derevyanko said, he suddenly felt cold. According to his idea, he also planned to borrow some artillery shells from the 53rd Army to ensure that his artillery unit had sufficient ammunition. But now it seems that this plan has been ruined. .
"Comrade Chief of Staff, let me explain to General Sokov." Seeing Sokov's frustrated look, Managarov interrupted Derevyanko's words and smiled at him. Sokov said: "Although we have a small number of heavy artillery, each gun is equipped with two base shells. I think we may be able to help you at a critical moment." Samyko received the message from the infantry brigade. After receiving the telegram, he smiled and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, you see, Major Guchakov was worried that he would be blamed if he did not launch a counterattack, so he sent a telegram to explain to you."
Sokov took a look at the telegram and then told Samyko: "Chief of Staff, please reply to the telegram to Major Guchakov. The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly. I grant him the power to deal with the situation on an ad hoc basis. There is no need to report everything to the commander." Report to the Ministry of Defense so as not to delay the war effort."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Samyko agreed readily: "I will immediately ask the telegraph operator to send a telegram to Major Guchakov so that he can feel at ease as soon as possible."
"General Sokov." Derevyanko felt very puzzled by Sokov's behavior of delegating power. He asked curiously: "You give the troops below the power to make emergency decisions. Aren't you worried that at a critical moment, Is there a situation where the troops cannot be commanded?”
"General Derevyanko," faced Derevyanko's question, Sokov explained to him: "If every unit has to ask for instructions and report before taking any action, it will definitely waste a lot of time. If there is a crisis in the war and they may not be able to contact the headquarters, can they only choose to wait passively and watch the fighter plane miss before receiving the combat order from their superiors?
Giving subordinate units the power to deal with emergencies is to facilitate the commander of the unit to adjust the tactics used in a timely manner according to changes in the battlefield situation to avoid delaying fighter opportunities.
As for what you're worried about, it doesn't exist at all. I believe that my men will carry out the combat orders to the letter after receiving them. "
Seeing that Derevyanko seemed to want to say something, Managarov stopped him and said to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, General Sokov is right. As the troops under our command become more and more There are more and more things coming, and if we have to take care of everything, we as commanders will simply be overwhelmed. Properly delegating power to the troops below may be more conducive to the flexibility of the troops."
Although Derevyanko always disagreed with Sokov's approach, now that Managarov had expressed his opinion, he gave up the debate with Sokov and instead nodded to Managarov: " Comrade Commander, you are right. It seems that we should also learn from General Sokov in the future and delegate command authority to the lower-level commanders below."
…………
The German attack on the landing site lasted for two days. Although they did not capture even an inch of land, the Soviet troops responsible for the defense mission also paid a heavy price.
After Samek told Sokov about the situation, he said worriedly: "Comrade Commander, after these two days of fighting, more than one-third of the troops standing on the front line have suffered casualties. Do you think we should withdraw them?" Rest and recuperate, and let the follow-up troops take over their defense?"
"There is no need." Sokov waved his hand and said: "Our two artillery divisions and several rocket launcher battalions have been deployed on the left bank of the Dnieper River. Once the German army launches another attack, we can use long-range artillery fire to attack the attacking enemy. Intercept and kill a large number of their effective forces."
"The ammunition reserves of our artillery are not ideal." After hearing what Sokov said, Samyko quickly reminded him: "I'm afraid it is not enough to support a long-term artillery bombardment."
"How many shells does each gun have?"
Sameko opened his notepad, took a look at it, and replied: "Except for the 76.2 mm caliber artillery, which has three base numbers of shells, the other heavy artillery only has one base number of ammunition."
"Heavy artillery only has one base number of ammunition?" Sokov knew very well that if he wanted to use artillery fire from the left bank of the Dnieper River to support the landing site on the right bank, he had to use heavy artillery. One base number of ammunition was too little: "The superiors gave us When will the additional ammunition be delivered?”
"Comrade Commander, since the superiors have to prioritize the ammunition needs of the troops attacking Poltava, the supplies to us may be slower."
Hearing Samyko's cautious words, Sokov asked impatiently: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I know that my superiors will give priority to the troops attacking Poltava in terms of supplies, but I want to know when they will Can you provide us with a sufficient number of artillery shells?”
After Sokov finished speaking, Sameko stopped talking. To be honest, he didn't know when his superiors would be able to provide supplies under the current circumstances.
Seeing that Samyko didn't speak for a long time, Sokov became a little impatient: "Comrade Chief of Staff, why don't you answer me?"
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, I don't know." Samyko replied in a panic: "As far as I know, the troops commanded by General Rokossovsky did not receive any soldiers or ammunition for a period of time. supplement, because the superiors want to give priority to supplementing these things to the troops on other fronts."
"Comrade General," Sokov felt that what Samyko said was very reasonable. Out of overall considerations, his superiors would definitely give priority to supplying the 5th and 7th Guards Armies attacking Poltava. For a long time, you may have to think of ways to raise ammunition on your own. He remembered that the 53rd Army was now under his command, and he might be able to get some help from Managarov, so he asked tentatively: "I would like to ask, how is your artillery ammunition reserve?"
Derevyanko had long guessed that Sokov would ask this question, so he answered truthfully: "General Sokov, most of our artillery is equipped with 76.2 mm artillery. There are not many large-caliber artillery, so the matching Ammunition is also very limited.”
When Sokov heard what Derevyanko said, he suddenly felt cold. According to his idea, he also planned to borrow some artillery shells from the 53rd Army to ensure that his artillery unit had sufficient ammunition. But now it seems that this plan has been ruined. .
"Comrade Chief of Staff, let me explain to General Sokov." Seeing Sokov's frustrated look, Managarov interrupted Derevyanko's words and smiled at him. Sokov said: "Although we have a small number of heavy artillery, each gun is equipped with two base shells. I think we may be able to help you at a critical moment." Sokov listened to Derevyanko Saying this, his heart suddenly went cold. According to his idea, he also planned to borrow some artillery shells from the 53rd Army to ensure that his artillery unit had sufficient ammunition, but now it seems that this plan has been ruined.
"Comrade Chief of Staff, let me explain to General Sokov." Seeing Sokov's frustrated look, Managarov interrupted Derevyanko's words and smiled at him. Sokov said: "Although we have a small number of heavy artillery, each gun is equipped with two base shells. I think we may be able to help you at a critical moment."
