Chapter 2028 Redemption

Iushkin disliked the fact that the Panther II still used a 75mm main gun, which resulted in the high-explosive shells being too weak and useless. ₆₉ₛₕᵤₓ.cₒₘ

But this was only his one-sided opinion from the perspective of a gunner. For Artyom, the loader, it was a completely different story.

"But at least it's much lighter, and it's a fixed load. The loading speed is much faster, which allows you to fire at a higher rate of fire, right?"

After hearing this, Iushkin still shook his head. Iushkin, who loved his motherland very much, was not very willing to admit that the Germans' things or designs were excellent, unless the thing was really too good.

"Forget it, I still like to hit the target with one shot. The 130mm barrel is so powerful! One shot, boom!!! The German's mother is in heaven, and you can watch the German being blown to pieces in your scope. That is really the most wonderful moment."

Iushkin, who upholds the truth that "caliber is justice", likes things with strong power. Knowing that Iushkin is like this, Artyom did not say much and did not argue.

In addition to the "old four" of Seryosha, Iushkin, Artyom, and Malashenko, there is a new comrade in the crew who deserves attention.

On the No. 177 IS7 prototype, this new comrade is Artyom's partner and assistant loader, responsible for working together with Artyom to serve the 130mm cannon.

On the No. 114 "Beast Tank" Panther II, the non-existent second loader position made this new comrade lose his corresponding position and have no work to do.

But as the saying goes, "When you close a door, you open a window for it." The Panther II crew, which does not have a second loader, has another position that needs to be manned.

Yes, that's right, it's the position of the co-pilot electromechanical operator and vehicle body heading machine gunner, which has been cancelled on the main heavy and medium tanks in service of the Soviet Army.

Compared with the loader who was busy from the beginning of the battle, the co-pilot's position is indeed a very easy job, and it is mostly a good job.

Since the new comrade joined the crew, there has not been much communication. Thinking about asking about the situation, Malashenko immediately bent down from the commander's position and asked at the front of the vehicle body that was not physically blocked but connected to the turret fighting room.

"Sergey, are you familiar with that position? Are the equipment and weapons all right?"

Hearing Malashenko's question, the brother sitting in the co-pilot's position at the front of the vehicle body just turned back and smiled, and then gave a thumbs up to the commander comrade.

"No problem, we can do it! The German machine gun is easier to use than our DT, but it's a little troublesome to change the bullets. You have to pry open the cover."

The man called Sergei is not an ordinary person. He has a very sad and painful past. He just came out of the shadow and cheered up not long before joining Malashenko's crew.

All this is because he is the loader of the first tank battalion of the first tank regiment of the leader division, the former company commander Kirill's crew, one of the few Red Army survivors of the Battle of Marinovo Village, only 17 people, and the only one who survived in Kirill's crew.

"Take it, give it to my uncle, cough cough, give it to Comrade Political Commissar! After I die, be strong and cheer up, and continue to move forward to defend the motherland"

For a long time after the Battle of Marinovo Village, Sergei, the only survivor of the entire crew, has been struggling in the vortex of pain, self-blame, and sadness.

Sergey will probably never forget the scene where the tank commander, with his face covered in blood, held his favorite harmonica in his hand, leaned against the wreckage of the tank and told him his last words, but died before he finished speaking.

During that time, Sergey suffered from insomnia and tossing and turning at night.

Even if he was lucky enough to sleep occasionally, Sergey would think of the past as soon as he closed his eyes, thinking of the scene when the tank commander died before rescue arrived because of excessive blood loss and the puncture of the lung lobe by fragments, which made his already exhausted lung function more difficult to breathe and severe blood loss.

Sergey was afraid of darkness and the night. When the tank commander closed his eyes, he was probably facing endless darkness, right? Such empathy entangled Sergey like a nightmare, and he just refused to let go of this already miserable survivor, until Political Commissar Petrov, who could not sit idly by, found him.

"Comrade Division Commander's crew needs a new loader. I signed up for you, and I think you will be the most suitable one."

""

Sergei couldn't believe what he heard was true. He felt that he was about to be useless.

Even if he was expelled from the leader's division now, he would accept it.

He was almost tortured crazy by that scene. It was really not suitable for him to continue to stay in this heroic unit named after the great leader. Continuing to command would bring shame to the unit, at least Sergei himself thought so.

"I I"

"Don't tell me you can't do it, young man."

"You are the only successor to Kirill's legacy. He handed the great banner of the unfinished cause to you, allowing you to continue to carry on with what your comrades failed to complete."

"I am a Communist Party member, a political commissar, and an atheist, but I believe that if Kirill knew that you took over his legacy and continued to move forward firmly, this would be the best and most comforting news for him. You are not fighting alone. Behind you are three comrades who have already died, and all the comrades who died in the entire company in that battle. They are all watching you!"

The political commissar, who had said this, put Kirill's pistol, which was the pistol with some blood stains that may never be wiped off: the Tokarev TT33 pistol, on the table beside him.

Pick up the gun, and the road ahead is to continue to fight the enemy to the death in the Patriotic War.

Ignore the gun, and the road behind is to be haunted by nightmares forever, and die in pain, regret and self-blame.

"Kirill is waiting for you, kid. He will wait for you in front of the monument to the heroes after the great Patriotic War. All your crew members are waiting for you to bring them the news of victory. Only you can remember their voices, smiles and every bit of their lives. You are so special and unique."

"Everyone has only one chance to live. This is how a person's life should be spent. When we look back on the past, we can't regret wasting our time, nor will we be ashamed of doing nothing. When I die, I can proudly say that my entire life and all my energy have been dedicated to the most magnificent cause in the world, fighting for the liberation of all mankind."

"Don't regret your choice today, kid. This is the only thing I can do for you."

"Comrade Division Commander has picked up Kirill's harmonica, and I hope you can do it too. Because you and Comrade Division Commander are both people Kirill cherishes, don't let him down."

At least in the quiet little room after Comrade Political Commissar closed the door and left, the final sound was the sound of checking the magazine, pulling the slide, closing the safety, and loading the gun into the holster.

This is already the best result, nothing else.

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