Chapter 1242 A More Important Task

The roaring steel machine is the favorite of every passionate man. Men with passion and steel are naturally immune to this kind of thing, even more so than the attraction of the opposite sex.

This is still no exception even for Comrade Zhu, who has become a marshal.

"How many new heavy tanks has your division received? How is the actual use effect?"

Zhukov is very interested in the details, which is directly related to the specific combat effectiveness of the Stalin Guards First Tank Division led by Malashenko in the upcoming battle.

Zhukov's instinctive worry and worry about the new equipment made him unable to give 100% absolute trust to this seemingly powerful and majestic new heavy tank.

Any equipment is a process of continuous improvement, upgrading and optimization from its initial birth to complete perfection on the battlefield. Zhukov, who knows this well, hopes to get a reassuring answer from Malashenko.

"Not many, Comrade Marshal."

"Because it is a new type of equipment that has just started mass production, Comrade Kokin told me that according to the current capacity conversion, he can only maintain a monthly output of about 40 vehicles at most before March."

"After March, this number will increase, but at present, this is the limit under the premise of taking into account the production of IS2. We can't stop all production lines at once and replace them with IS6 production lines. The impact on the monthly production of heavy tanks will be unacceptable."

The huge gap in heavy tanks for the front-line troops makes it impossible to immediately switch to IS6 production. Kokin needs to gradually convert more production lines to produce IS6 heavy tanks while maintaining the acceptable production efficiency of IS2 heavy tanks.

The advantage of doing this is that it will not have a big impact on the total monthly production of heavy tanks, and at the same time, it also takes into account the development and production increase of new heavy tanks.

It can be said that this is killing two birds with one stone, but it is also possible to say that it is a compromise. The key lies in the perspective from which to look at this matter, and Malashenko, who understands why Kotin did this, certainly chose the former.

"Our division has received a total of 51 of these new heavy tanks. In addition to the necessary distribution of command vehicles at the regiment, battalion, and company levels, the rest are all equipped with the first heavy tank regiment as the main force, and Colonel Kurbalov is responsible for commanding the operation. I plan to concentrate this elite force and use it as an assault spearhead to tear open the enemy's defense line."

"Oh, and, Comrade Marshal. This batch of new heavy tanks performs very well. They have larger diameter road wheels and better engine output power. They are much better than IS2 in mobility and off-road passability.

"The tests in these days have not found any major problems with them, and the comrades have responded well to the feedback from the use of this new heavy tank. It is fast, efficient, well-protected, and indestructible. Except for the relatively slow loading time of large-caliber shells, it has no other disadvantages. Those fascist lackeys are about to experience their powerful power. "Whether a weapon is good or not is not decided by its designer, but by the actual users, that is, the soldiers on the front line. After hearing such a report from Malashenko, Zhukov, who had already reached a basic conclusion, nodded slightly, and finally stopped with Malashenko at the end of the review queue. "Then, use them well! Let the enemy fully experience the powerful power of our Red Army heavy tank forces, Malashenko." "I will suggest to Moscow that more production resources be allocated to this new heavy tank, but it will take some time. If you can use them to show more brilliant results on the front line, I believe my suggestion will be implemented much more smoothly. Comrade Stalin has been closely watching the details of the front-line battle situation, and he will definitely notice this change. ”

For the “small request” raised by Comrade Lao Zhu, Malashenko could only respond with a grin, indicating that Zhukov just needed to wait and see patiently.

“I will go to see the more specific situation of other regiments in your division, let Comrade Petrov take me there. We have met before. He is a very outstanding and respectable old Red Army soldier and an outstanding Communist Party member. I just happen to have some discussions with him about the spiritual outlook and ideological education of your division. ”

“As for you, you have other more important tasks here”

Other more important tasks?

Zhukov did not directly point out the words, but kept it a secret with a little joke, which made Malashenko a little confused. Our Comrade Lao Ma really couldn’t figure out what could be more important than himself as a military commander, accompanying the marshal to inspect the troops.

“See the group of reporters over there? "

Zhukov raised his hand and pointed far away, and Malashenko looked in the direction of his finger.

"I see, Comrade Marshal, but what does this have to do with me?"

Before Malashenko finished speaking, Zhukov, who was ready to give orders, interrupted Malashenko's speech and spoke.

"Your task is to deal with that group of reporters, but they are not our own reporters. You can decide whether to accept the interview according to the situation. The key is those Americans and British. "

"Americans and British?"

Malashenko had a question mark and disbelief on his face, as if he was wearing big black pants when he went to bed last night, and when he woke up this morning, he found that he had changed into a pair of red pants without realizing it. Which one was sung?

"Yes, those reporters from the United States and Britain."

"I think you should all know that the coalition forces composed of the United States and the British have just landed in Sicily and lit a fire in the back garden of Fascism. We have intelligence that Hitler is furious about this and angrily scolds his generals. They are a bunch of idiots with no strategic vision or ability to predict, leaving all strategic decisions to him alone.”

Regarding Zhukov's remarks, Malashenko could only slowly shake his head and smile helplessly. If the head of state were not like this, would he still be called a head of state? Only the raging head of state has inner taste.

"The war on the European continent is approaching, and the cooperation between Britain and the United States is also deepening. These American and British reporters are here to interview and report on the fighting with the Germans. Their governments hope to give soldiers more time before a large-scale war begins. It creates an image that the Fascists are not invincible and are just waiting to be conquered, which increases the morale and determination of the troops.”

"They have already gone to the Fighter Aviation Unit before and interviewed Major Pokryshkin, who has outstanding combat achievements. Now they want to understand the situation on land, and it is best to have a deep understanding of how to contain the Fascist armored forces. Frontline commanders and combatants, this is what they ask for.”

"Teach those British guys and Americans a good lesson, Malashenko! This is the task I assigned you. But remember, don't tell everything. Do you understand what I mean?"