Chapter 81
The only 76mm cannon on the position opened fire.
The armor-piercing shell struck the enemy tank, sending a shower of sparks flying, followed by the turret being blown sky-high.
Other tank commanders turned their binoculars, trying to locate the 76mm cannon's position among the cover.
But to protect the sole 76mm cannon, the camouflage in front of the position had been meticulously arranged, making it quite difficult to spot despite the large muzzle smoke.
The only issue was that the camouflage had been damaged during the earlier artillery preparation, leaving some flaws.
But the Prossenians, caught off guard by this sudden attack, still failed to locate the cannon's position.
Then the 45mm cannons opened fire.
Compared to the immediate effect of the 76mm cannon, the 45mm cannons' performance was rather embarrassing.
One armor-piercing shell lodged itself in the front armor of a Type IV tank, while another simply ricocheted off the side armor like a ping-pong ball, flying far before landing again on the now nearly grassless field.
The Prossenian tanks began firing their machine guns wildly, trying to flush out the hidden anti-tank guns.
At this moment, the Type IV with tactical number 251 suddenly stopped and fired a shot.
It had mistaken a wooden dummy anti-tank gun for the real thing.
The dummy gun was blown sky-high by the 75mm high-explosive shell, along with the straw man disguised as a gunner-complete with a paper smiley face nailed to its head!
----
Watching the battle unfold from the overhead view, Wang Zhong recalled the praise for the Soviet anti-tank guns' excellent camouflage techniques in "Tiger King" Carius's memoir on Earth.
Despite the smoke and flash from firing, the positions under Yegorov's guidance remained undiscovered!
Yegorov, observing the situation beside Wang Zhong, remarked, "We learned this from the Manaheimers during the Winter War."
Manaheim was a region, and its inhabitants were called Manaheimers.
Hearing Yegorov's words, Wang Zhong felt it was no surprise the camouflage was so effective. In the future, even if Yegorov disguised anti-tank guns as talking trees, he wouldn't be shocked.
The 76mm cannon fired again.
The hit Type IV tank continued moving at its original speed, but the crew began bailing out one after another. Flames soon erupted from the turret base, turning the tank into a "chariot of fire" rumbling forward.
Only when the ammunition inside detonated did the tank slowly come to a stop.
At this point, the commander of enemy Vehicle 231 finally spotted the 76mm cannon's position. The tank halted and began rotating its turret.
In the blink of an eye, a 45mm anti-tank shell struck between the turret and turret ring of Vehicle 231, jamming the turret.
The enemy didn't give up, turning the hull to aim instead. Once roughly aligned, the gunner fired immediately.
The poorly aimed shell landed in front of the 76mm cannon, blowing all the camouflage sky-high.
The explosion also alerted other tanks, and eight tanks stopped simultaneously!
This was the advantage of the Prossenians' dense attack formation. While devastating under 203mm heavy artillery fire, with single shells claiming dozens of lives, the formation's benefits against direct anti-tank fire were immense.
In an instant, eight high-explosive shells landed around the 76mm cannon.
Wang Zhong frowned. Initially, he thought the enemy's sharp eyes had spotted the 76mm cannon hidden behind the wall, but now he realized at least six of the eight tanks had fired at the impact point of Vehicle 231's shell.
Only two shells in this volley landed accurately in front of the 76mm cannon, sending the protective sandbags flying.
Three of the 76mm cannon's crew were killed instantly.
The gun commander shouted, "We're spotted! Fall back!"
The survivors desperately dragged the 76mm cannon by its extended supports, pulling it back.
Seeing this, the person guarding the mules and horses immediately brought two mules to tow the cannon away.
Machine gun fire raked the area, pinging off the cannon's gun shield.
The two 45mm cannons fired at full capacity, trying to cover the 76mm cannon's retreat.
The 45mm cannon commanded by Alexei Balafionovich scored three consecutive hits on a Type IV, forcing its crew to abandon the tank.
As he directed the cannon toward a second target, he suddenly saw it stop and turn its gun toward them.
"Fall back!"
Alexei shouted while physically dragging the cannon, and the crew forcibly pulled it from its position.
An enemy high-explosive shell landed immediately, its shrapnel striking the 45mm cannon's small gun shield.
Alexei, the only one exposed outside the shield, flinched as his shoulder was hit, but he gritted his teeth and kept pushing the cannon, yelling, "Hurry! To the reserve position!"
The mules originally assigned to this gun crew had been killed in the enemy's preparatory bombardment, leaving them to move the cannon manually.
As Wang Zhong watched, Yegorov lowered his binoculars: "Two of the three gun crews have been forced back. The last one will be in danger if they keep firing."
He leaned out the window and gestured to the soldiers below.
The veteran below saw Yegorov's gesture, nodded, and ran off.
Wang Zhong asked curiously, "What did you say?"
"Told the last gun crew to retreat to the preset second sniper position."
Wang Zhong: "We have a second sniper position?"
Earlier, Wang Zhong had delegated the defensive arrangements entirely to Yegorov while he scouted the villages outside, so he had little idea of the fertilizer plant's main position layout.
Yegorov explained, "I referenced my experience at Upper Peniye. Once enemy tanks enter complex terrain, their fields of fire and visibility are limited, while infantry can use their familiarity with the terrain to quickly eliminate accompanying infantry and destroy tanks with incendiary bottles."
"This fertilizer plant's terrain is far more complex than Upper Peniye's Y-shaped main road. If the enemy dares to enter, we'll turn this place into their grave!"
----
The Prossenian forces were unaware of Yegorov's arrangements or that all anti-tank guns had withdrawn from the first-line positions to the second-line positions.
They continued firing at anything resembling an anti-tank gun.
The fertilizer plant's walls were riddled with breaches-these fake positions had been deliberately placed to funnel the Prossenians into the plant.
As the enemy closed to close-combat range, the accompanying infantry fanned out at the battalion commander's order, forming a skirmish line and advancing past the tanks.
They cautiously approached the freshly blasted wall breaches, only to find no anti-tank guns-just sticks, dummy gun shields, and straw-man gunners.
A sergeant stepped over the sandbags of a fake position and was immediately cut down by machine gun fire.
The machine gun's position was cunningly placed, invisible to the tanks outside the wall, preventing direct fire.
The Prossenian sergeant leading the wall-side troops instinctively threw smoke grenades.
But the machine gun ignored the smoke, firing three-round bursts to keep the entrance blocked.
Faced with wounds that would leave them half-dead at best, even the bravest Prossenian soldiers hesitated to cross the forbidden zone.
The situation was similar at another breach, leaving the Prossenians stuck outside the wall.
The Prossenian platoon leader's command tank decided to act, breaking the stalemate. The platoon leader, who had been observing from the hatch, ducked inside, and the steel beast roared forward, charging at an unbreached section of the wall.
Presumably, the platoon leader assumed no breach meant no carefully placed machine gun.
The brick wall collapsed under the impact, and the steel giant rumbled into the yard, only to be met by two incendiary bottles.
The first missed, striking the driver's observation window, with some burning liquid splashing into the compartment-quickly extinguished by the mechanic.
The second landed perfectly on the tank's engine intake and radiator fins, the flames causing secondary damage that engulfed the entire engine.
The Prossenian tankers reacted swiftly, bailing out without orders, only to be gunned down by submachine gun fire as they emerged.
The tank then suffered an induced explosion.
With the platoon leader "sacrificed for the nation," the other tanks halted.
One tank fired a high-explosive shell at the wall, blasting a new hole.
The tank platoon began rapid high-explosive fire, leveling a section of the wall.
The accompanying infantry charged in with a howl, only to be mowed down by machine guns placed on the flanks.
----
Watching the battle from the overhead view, Wang Zhong couldn't help but praise, "Your crossfire setup is excellent."
"This fertilizer plant underwent three expansions, each planned separately, resulting in incredibly complex terrain. Most buildings are reinforced concrete, hence this outcome," Yegorov said modestly.
As Wang Zhong was about to speak, he noticed an enemy platoon of tanks and infantry turning toward the right, seemingly attempting to flank from the chemical plant's north.
Ignoring that his actual view couldn't see them, he asked Yegorov, "The enemy is flanking us from the north! What do we do?"
Yegorov: "There's only a narrow one-lane road there-two vehicles meeting would butt heads. I've already made arrangements. Just watch."
----
Vasily's buddy, the drummer Filippov, ducked back as soon as he saw the Prossenian tanks and said to his partner, "They're coming!"
The partner frantically cranked the generator to charge the detonator.
After about ten turns, he touched the terminal and got such a shock his hair stood on end.
"Done!" he said, inserting the detonation rod into the detonator.
Yes, Ante-produced detonators required on-site charging due to poor battery performance, and testing for a full charge relied on how much it hurt-pain meant it was ready.
Very... Ante Empire style.
Filippov peeked out again, watching the enemy tanks and infantry enter the lane.
He waved vigorously, and his partner twisted the detonation rod hard.
The explosives buried in the road detonated, engulfing the lead tank and infantry.
"Ura!" someone shouted, and young soldiers behind the walls hurled lit incendiary bottles over.
The road became a sea of fire in moments.
The last tank tried to reverse out of this hell, but an agile soldier scaled the wall, jumped onto the tank, lifted the hatch, and tossed in two grenades.
The soldier was immediately gunned down by Prossenians.
More soldiers peered over the wall, firing into the lane.
A Prossenian squad was wiped out in this ambush!
----
Wang Zhong clicked his tongue in amazement.
Yegorov didn't know he had witnessed the whole thing: "Don't worry, the young men are doing great, the enemy will be wiped out."
That's right, though some had sacrificed their lives due to carelessness, the enemy was indeed eliminated.
Just then, the phone rang.
Wang Zhong was startled: "It's fixed?"
Yegorov had already picked up the phone: "This is the forward command. What? Understood."
Covering the receiver, he said to Wang Zhong: "The garrison reports no enemy attacks on their side. They're asking if we need reinforcements-they can spare a battalion."
"We do," Wang Zhong answered decisively. "Order them to come immediately. We must drive all enemies who've broken into the factory area out!"
By now, the situation was already clear.
The enemy had only committed two tank-reinforced battalions to the assault, which our single battalion had severely depleted using the terrain. With another fresh battalion joining, the enemy would likely retreat-maybe we could even capture an intact Type IV tank.
The tank taken out by grenades could probably still run if we scraped the gore off its dashboard.
----
Major General Randolph observed the front line: "The enemy seems well-prepared. With so few troops, we probably can't break through."
The Chief of Staff agreed: "Our artillery barrage may not have been very effective. Tomorrow we should concentrate firepower for artillery preparation to maximize enemy casualties and destroy their fortifications."
"Tomorrow? No, no, we'll do it today. Have the troops lay smoke and pull back! Then the artillery can keep shelling-they haven't used much ammunition on this route anyway."
After all, battles often ended before the artillery could even join.
Just then, the communications officer rushed over: "Major General, the 223rd Grenadier Regiment has captured Nizhny village. They can soon advance from there to outflank Loktov."
Randolph: "Is this confirmed?"
"Confirmed."
"Hmm, then delay the artillery preparation until the 223rd arrives. Expected time-" Randolph checked his pocket watch, "-3 PM today. Deploy all units along the frontal arc simultaneously and commence artillery preparation. After two hours, launch a full assault! Coordinate with the air force if possible, but it's fine if not."
----
When Wang Zhong saw the enemy deploying smoke, he immediately realized they were retreating.
"Yegorov! Have the young men charge, but remember not to go beyond the smoke-inflict as many casualties as possible within it!"
Yegorov turned his head: "Sergeant, sound the whistle. Attack."
After giving the order, he asked Wang Zhong: "Should we have the artillery open fire? There shouldn't be any reconnaissance planes now-B Position can fire without being detected."
Wang Zhong: "No, I want to keep this secret a little longer. We'll give the enemy a surprise at the critical moment."
As soon as he finished speaking, the phone rang.
Wang Zhong picked up the receiver: "This is Brigadier General Rokosov."
Pavlov's voice came from the other end: "Brigadier General, we have some new developments here. You should come to brigade HQ. The phone lines might be tapped by spies."
Wang Zhong nodded: "Understood, I'm on my way."
After hanging up, he shouted to Grigori: "Prepare a vehicle! Do we still have one?"
Grigori nodded and left.
----
As Wang Zhong exited the forward command, he saw "Baby's Breath Boy" Alexei Balafionovich being bandaged and said: "If you're injured, go to the hospital. You've already done your duty."
The young man looked at Wang Zhong: "But Brigadier General, you're injured too. Why are you still at the front?"
Wang Zhong glanced at his shoulder and suddenly realized-he'd been holding a static plank position for two hours despite the wound. This physique... truly a bear's constitution.
While Wang Zhong was lost in thought, the young man asked again: "Brigadier General?"
Wang Zhong: "Ah, this is just a light wound."
"Mine too! The bullet went clean through, didn't even do much damage-didn't hit bone." Alexei Balafionovich said proudly, "So I'm staying at the front with my gun crew!"
Just then, his loader shouted: "Actually, he just wants to show off so he can brag to his girl later!"
Everyone laughed, including Alexei himself.
Wang Zhong smiled too. Though the city had been bombed and shelled, Natalia was surely much safer with the laundry team than at the front.
Amid the commotion, someone started singing:
I remember a provincial town,
Desolate, remote, and melancholy.
Its tree-lined avenues, marketplace and church,
And the hazy mist lingering over the waters.
I see-
A dear, familiar figure,
A blue round hat,
A blue coat;
A dark skirt, a maiden's form,
My fleeting love!
Tanya, Tanyusha, my Tatyana,
Do you recall that scorching summer?
I cannot forget those days,
Those days of ardent love!
Wang Zhong stood by until they finished the song before turning to board the vehicle Grigori had brought.
Perhaps because death and destruction loomed so near, love on the battlefield held a peculiar beauty. Wang Zhong sincerely blessed the young couple.
Only upon reaching brigade HQ did he learn Natalia had died in the air raid.
Not knowing how to break the news to young Alyosha, Wang Zhong never got to tell him before the boy fell in battle.
----
"To summarize, I have three good news and one bad news." Pavlov looked even more haggard than when Wang Zhong last saw him, and even balder.
Soon enough, Wang Zhong would have a bald Chief of Staff.
Wang Zhong: "Start with the bad news. Let's see how bad it is."
Pavlov: "Enemy armored grenadiers have taken Nizhny village, driving out our troops who were resting there. Now they can outflank us from Nizhny. We must redeploy forces to defend the city's southeast."
Wang Zhong's brows immediately furrowed.
This instantly doubled their defensive perimeter. With current troop numbers spread so thin, their line would be paper-flimsy.
"Then tell me the good news," he changed the subject.
"First, our mission has changed."
Pavlov paused as if waiting for Wang Zhong to ask.
Wang Zhong: "Changed to what? No need to hold until July 11th?"
"Correct. Now we hold until the 63rd Army Group arrives to relieve us."
Damn, holding until the 11th would've been better-at least that was a fixed date. If the 63rd Army Group just sat on their hands while allies were in trouble, they'd be screwed.
Wang Zhong: "Second piece of good news?"
"The remnants of the 23rd Tank Corps have entered the city and will reach us soon. They have about 20 BT7 tanks left."
Wang Zhong went "Oh"-this barely qualified as good news.
Though the BT-7 had practically no armor, it was fast and its gun could penetrate a Type IV's sides and rear. By War Thunder standards, "it's a good tank"-if it's fast and can penetrate, it's good!
"And the third?" Wang Zhong pressed.
Pavlov: "The railway should be repaired before nightfall. The Crown Prince's reinforcement train is already waiting-it'll depart as soon as the tracks are fixed."
Wang Zhong frowned: "More parade specialists? Please don't tell me it's T35s."
That said, given the situation, they'd have to use T35s too. Their guns weren't just for show-they could still be somewhat useful.
Pavlov shrugged.
(End of Chapter)