Chapter 1002 Comrade Kokin's Concerns

Malachenko didn't expect that his trip to Chelyabinsk would be so quick. When he got up the next morning, he, who had finished all his work the day before, actually started to do nothing.

"What the hell can I do? There are still four days left for the holiday, and five days if today is counted. It would be a waste to go back to the army immediately. I have to find something to do in these few days."

Holding a cigarette in his hand, he kept thinking about what he should do next. Sitting at the desk on the windowsill, Malachenko thought for a long time but couldn't think of any good solution. In the end, he could only sigh and decide to go home and return to Moscow to finish the matter.

"Forget it, it's better to leave quickly instead of thinking about this. Isn't it nice to go home and accompany my wife?"

Malachenko, who simply packed his bag, did not go directly to the train station, but came to Kotin to say his final goodbye to him.

Hearing that Malachenko was going to stay at home for a few more days, Kotin smiled and nodded, looking very happy, and then responded with a smile.

"I have never had the time to visit your home. I always heard that the wife of the tank hero Comrade Malashenko is very beautiful. It seems that I will not have the opportunity to see her again this time."

It is a good thing to be praised for the beauty of your wife. Malashenko, who feels very proud, smiled confidently. Our buddy's wife is praised wherever she goes.

"Before I leave, I have one last thing to ask you, Comrade Kotin. When can our brigade receive your new heavy tanks at the earliest?"

Although it is confirmed that Kotin is working hard and working overtime to complete multiple tank projects at the same time, Malashenko, who did not get a definite answer, still hopes that he can get some information from Kotin, even if it is just an approximate time point, so that he will not be worried about when he can use the new equipment after returning to the front line.

Facing Malashenko's question, Kotin, who never easily disclosed the specific plans of his projects to outsiders and always kept his mouth shut, spoke without any hesitation after a moment of contemplation.

"If everything goes well, the IS1 heavy tank with upgraded firepower can be delivered to you in one to two months at the earliest. In addition, after you left last night, I urgently summoned people to study your suggestions for improving the upper armor. Basically, there are no major problems and difficulties. It is expected that the first batch of upgraded IS1 heavy tanks will all adopt the new design."

The first encounter with the 502 Heavy Armored Battalion did make Malashenko feel the oppressive and powerful strength of the Tiger tank.

This heavy and powerful heavy tank has outstanding combat power and is extremely fierce. Malashenko, who originally expected the IS1 to at least tie with it, did feel that the IS1 still had a gap with the Tiger tank in terms of comprehensive combat performance. ̢̜̳̱͈̹͓͛͜ḩ̷̻̩͍̱̗͔̺̏̓͊̀͂̀ͅṵ̵̙̻͉̦͙̗̥̉̓̓͊̑̂̑x̸͍̘̳͂͊̂̊̀͊̕͘.̷̹̦̆̆c̶͙͈͚̽̄̈̎̒͜ó̶̧̧̝̳̠͇͕̺̲̔̈́̃͝͝ ̹m̷̗͓̽̂̌̋̃̌

In addition to the 85mm DT5 tank gun, which needs to be close to 500 meters to have a high probability of destroying the Tiger tank head-on, it is facing an imminent upgrade.

The IS1's upper front armor plate with the driver's observation window is also a big problem.

The armor at this position is too weak and has a large projection area, close to the base of the turret. The Tiger tank's accurate 88mm main gun can easily and accurately shoot this position. It is almost inevitable that it will penetrate at a regular combat distance, which is very deadly.

After the war, all the damaged and irreparable tank wreckages were looked at one by one, and Malashenko finally concluded that the armor plate with the driver's observation window on the front of the hull was a greater weakness than being destroyed by the turret front armor.

The semi-arc turret front and the edge of the gun shield are At least the bullets can ricochet, and it is not certain to die once it is hit. However, the armor plate on the front of the hull is extremely criticized. Once it is hit by the 88 gun, it is almost certain to be penetrated, just like a huge coin slot.

Malashenko can probably guess that this is the result of Kotin's conservative use of the hull design of the previous generation KV heavy tank, but judging from the current situation, this bad design is bound to face improvements, just like the IS2 heavy tank produced in 1944 in the existing history.

Change the front of the hull to a large angled plate similar to the IS6 heavy tank The high-angle tilted armor was the final improvement suggestion that Malashenko proposed to Kotin.

After listening to Malashenko's battlefield situation description and suggestions, Kotin also felt that this was an excellent suggestion that should be adopted and improved. It is not difficult to change the front of the vehicle body into a whole piece of high-angle tilted armor, and it can even save some additional armor cutting and welding processes, saving materials and working hours. Kotin himself is also happy to see such an improvement.

"In addition, regarding the two new heavy tank design plans, it will inevitably take a long time."

"Currently, the 252 project is the closest to completion and the fastest in development speed. If you just change the electric transmission to mechanical transmission, it won't waste too much time. You only need to re-plan the layout of the power compartment on the design drawing, and the overall design of the tank does not need to be changed."

"Project 701 has only completed the design of the prototype of the hull and turret. The details of the power compartment layout are still being planned, and the running gear and suspension system need to be adjusted. It will take at least half a year for this project to have the first prototype. Malashenko, the current situation is that I can't put all my energy into it. There are too many things waiting to be done. I hope you can understand."

"In addition, I also need you to help me say something for Project 701, at least let more people in Moscow hear our voices. No matter what method you use, I hope to get more support, whether it is specific work or politics."

If someone else heard Kotin say this, they might still be confused and confused.

But Malashenko clearly knew that Kotin's concern was essentially due to his great lack of confidence in Project 701, the "super tank".

In the history of the development of the Red Army's heavy tanks, any project that was related to the word "super tank" or even had a similar meaning eventually ended in failure.

Although most of the reasons are because the performance of the prototypes of these "super tanks" is really unbearable, this situation is bound to wear down the confidence and patience of the Moscow bosses for similar projects in the future, even including Comrade Ci Dad, who sits on the throne of supreme power in the Kremlin.

Comrade Ci Dad Stalin is indeed an avid fan of heavy tanks and cannons with larger calibers, but liking heavy tanks does not mean that Comrade Ci Dad collects steel garbage. How will Comrade Ci Dad view the "super tank" projects that have failed too many times when they are proposed again? This is what Comrade Kotin, who is good at guessing business, is most worried about.

For this reason, he needs a strong partner to help him speak in Moscow, and Kotin's own identity as a "son-in-law" is far from enough.