Chapter 516 Welcome Back

Malashenko picked up a broken branch and scratched it in the soft mud at his feet. He explained his combat intentions while doing it, and seemed very determined to win.

"We have a lot of tanks on hand. If we gather them all together, we will not be able to take advantage of our manpower and rush into the village in one go. In the worst case, we will even be stuck at the entrance of the village."

"In the upcoming battle, Deputy Regiment Commander Lavrinenko and I will lead the regiment's tanks to rush into the village first. The first and second battalions will encircle the village on the left and right wings, and the third battalion will go around the back of the village to block the Germans' retreat! Once we rush into the village from the front, those Germans will definitely find a way to withdraw from the end of the village and regroup their tank formation. That will be the best time for you to perform."

After all, the courageous Malashenko finally decided to take the lead and rush into the village in person as before. Hiding behind the large army and being timid and issuing orders as if the tanks were a mobile command center has never been Malashenko's style. A real man should knock down the German tanks head-on!

Since the formation of the First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment at the Battle of Moscow, it has been under the command of Malashenko, fighting all the way to beat the arrogant Germans and make them flee in disgrace. Even the elite troops such as the Wehrmacht's Great German Infantry Regiment also fell under the tracks of the First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment.

As the saying goes, what kind of generals lead what kind of soldiers. With the leadership of Malashenko, a regiment commander who chased the Germans all the way, the battalion commanders and company commanders below did not feel anything strange after receiving the combat mission. Isn't it a fine tradition of the First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment that the regiment commander personally led the team to charge and fight?

It has been a long time since the last time he personally entered the tank to fight. Malashenko asked himself that he even missed this long-lost feeling and was a little excited.

Malashenko's vehicle after some painting: the IS1 prototype tank has been replaced with the summer camouflage that will be used in advance.

Under Malashenko's personal instruction, the white number 177, which symbolizes the beginning of everything, was painted on the front of the vehicle. The head of a giant bear with the Iron Cross in its mouth was vivid at the rear of the turret. In contrast, the red flag logo of the Guards was also painted on the turret.

The IS1 prototype tank, which looks a bit fancy but still can't hide its majestic atmosphere, is undoubtedly the most powerful heavy tank in the world at this time. This steel behemoth accelerated by Malashenko is about to make its first appearance.

"Adjust the gun mirror, Iushkin. Kirill, prepare to load high-explosive bombs. The first wave of attacks will first destroy the Germans' defense positions outside the village."

Kirill, who had been lying in the field hospital for more than three months, was finally allowed to leave the hospital when he was completely well. Kirill, who returned to the crew, couldn't hide his excitement when he finally saw Malashenko and hugged his commander and cried.

In contrast, Malashenko returned the harmonica that he had kept temporarily to Kirill.

"Welcome back, Comrade Loader."

The roaring diesel engine immediately surged up under the violent push and pull of the joystick by the driver Seryosha, and the black engine exhaust burst out from the abandoned port like an octopus spraying ink.

Feeling the shaking of the vehicle body and finally moving forward, Malashenko could not hide his excitement. This bad feeling that he hated at first and even wanted to escape from at one time has now become a strong melody like his heartbeat and is inseparable from it.

"Brighten your neck and prepare to accept the cordial greetings of communism, Germans!"

The noise of dozens of heavy tanks charging in groups was even more than the galloping of thousands of horses of cavalry in ancient times. Several German soldiers who were sitting on the machine gun bunker at the entrance of the village and smoking like immortals felt the vibration from under their buttocks. This fear of being forgotten that they had not experienced for a while immediately made the first German soldier who reacted full of horror.

"Damn it, it's Ivan's heavy tank group! Shoot and notify everyone!"

Bang--

A loud gunshot that pierced the sky echoed throughout the village, lingering for a long time. It is true that gunshots are the best orders for soldiers. The German soldiers who were busy with their own things in the village and even washing clothes immediately threw away their things and ran away.

"We have been discovered, comrade commander! Those Germans are preparing to welcome us!"

"I saw it! Kirill loaded high-explosive bombs, Iushkin aimed at the machine gun positions of those Germans at the entrance of the village, and knocked down the troublesome things you can see first!"

"As you wish, comrade commander!"

As soon as the tank filled with the roar of diesel engines entered the combat state, they could only communicate by yelling and punching. Malashenko, holding the commander's periscope in his hand, continued to yell and give orders while staring at the target.

"Two o'clock direction, 800 meters away, the German machine gun position at the village entrance, kill him!"

Boom--

The IS1 heavy tank, which was running at full speed, finally fired the first commemorative shot under the order of Malashenko. Iushkin, who was constantly fighting with the gun sight, tried his best to make the high-explosive shells fired by his hands more accurate, although the final result of doing so seemed to be somewhat futile.

The 85mm high-explosive bomb splashed the slushy snow several dozen meters away before landing.

It exploded in an open space about thirty meters away from the German machine gun position. This regrettable first 85mm high-explosive bomb only smeared a large lump of mud on the face of the German soldier and then had no effect.

"Damn it! Russian mud is smelly and sour! It got into my mouth!"

"Can you complain later? The Russian tanks are coming! Do something!"

"What? Are you crazy? Those are heavy tanks. Do you think this iron pipe can penetrate Ivan's armor?"

"You can't just stand there. This is too bad!"

While cursing and arguing, the MG34 general-purpose machine gun with the bullet in the barrel immediately burst out with a storm of rapid bullets.

Ding ding ding ding ding——

The green tracer machine gun bullets instantly made Malashenko's precious car clang. This time, in order to pursue a swift attack, Malashenko did not bring any external infantry, so he could naturally rush forward without fear, ignoring the useless and futile actions of the German army.