Chapter 611: Change to a Cup of Black Tea

"Hey, Malashenko, why are you still frowning when there are so many new tanks to use? Shouldn't this be a time to be happy and smile?"

Happy? Still smile? I'm laughing at you!

Malashenko, with a helpless smile on his face, was too lazy to explain to Lavrinenko in detail how rubbish these British tanks were.

In fact, these fucked-up British tanks in front of him couldn't be blamed entirely on Churchill, the fat naval otaku. After all, this guy was much better than Roosevelt, who kept waiting and watching, in terms of both strength and attitude in supporting the Soviet Union.

Besides, the Matilda II and Valentine IV were still active tanks of the British Army. No matter how bad the British were, they sent their active equipment instead of obsolete rags. Compared with the seven American brothers' coffins that came to support at the same time, which "stood high, saw far, and were convenient to meet Comrade Lenin", the British infantry tanks were actually okay in this comparison.

The current primary problem is how to solve the problem of the shitty tank guns of British tanks.

Malashenko, who was standing there pacing and turning in circles, suddenly thought of himself at the Stalingrad Tractor Factory. This factory, which had produced a huge amount of Soviet tank steel during the war, has maintained a high productivity until now. Every day, handmade T34 medium tanks come off the production line and can be put into battle.

If, just if, is it feasible to move the 76mm main gun used on the T34 tank to these British tanks for emergency replacement?

Malashenko, who had a flash of inspiration in his mind, then calmed down and thought carefully, and began to gradually recall some crucial details.

In the original history, the Soviet tank soldiers who focused on siege and large-scale army group operations criticized the 40 small guns equipped on these tanks assisted by Britain.

Not only because the armor-piercing firepower of this tank gun is extremely poor and can't keep up with the pace, but also because even if these 40 small guns are equipped with high-explosive shells produced later, the power is only so small that it can make a sound. The German soldiers hiding in buildings and bunkers are not afraid of this thing as long as they bend down. The lethality to soft targets is so weak that it is unacceptable.

The Soviet tank soldiers who couldn't bear it anymore made a request, and finally replaced some of these tanks from Britain with 2mm F-34 tank guns.

Although the already narrow turret will become more crowded if a larger 76 gun breech structure is stuffed into it, the Soviet tank soldiers who have suffered enough in the T34 tank can bear it and it's nothing.

Fortunately, the tail length of the Soviet 76 gun is just enough to be put into the British tank turret. If it is longer, it will be completely useless. When replacing the tank gun, the gun mirror was also replaced with the Soviet original goods because of the change in trajectory. For Soviet tank soldiers, it is faster to get started and there is no big problem.

This kind of British tank with fast modification and firepower upgrade has excellent combat capability and has been well received by Soviet tank soldiers on the front line. In particular, the Valentine tank, which is as tough and durable as the T34, can be used no matter how it is tossed, and rarely breaks down. The British version of "stupid, big, black and rough" makes Soviet tank soldiers feel very close and highly recognized.

Since replacing the guns of British tanks worked in the original history, Malashenko naturally thinks that this method should also be used for himself now, but it is not certain whether the Stalingrad Tractor Plant has the ability to replace the guns of so many British tanks in a short time.

Malashenko, who made up his mind to do it, immediately found the nearest phone and called the front headquarters.

Vasilevsky on the other end of the phone was a little surprised by Malashenko's request to replace the guns of British tanks, but the pragmatic Vasilevsky, although a little confused, knew that Malashenko was an expert in tanks, and there was no need to pretend to know something on such a matter.

Vasilevsky, who still had great use for the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment, approved Malashenko's request without much thought, allowing him to directly discuss the detailed tank transformation plan with the chief engineer left behind at the Stalingrad Tractor Plant, and approved Malashenko's request to replace all the equipment as long as the Stalingrad Tractor Plant was able to complete it.

"Go ahead and do it according to your plan, Malashenko, the front command will fully support your plan! But at the same time, I also look forward to your wonderful performance on the battlefield."

There is no love without reason in this world, and there is no free lunch.

To get something, you must pay an equal price. This is an eternal truth that has never changed. Malashenko, who came from the future, naturally knows this very well.

"I understand, Comrade General, please rest assured! Everything I do is to better kill the Nazi invaders who invaded our motherland. I promise you that these modified tanks will be put to good use!"

After ending the brief call with Vasilevsky, he immediately hung up the phone and ran to the factory.

After going through a few simple formalities and waiting for a while, Malashenko soon got what he wanted and met Ivan Yakovlevich, the person in charge and chief engineer of the Stalingrad Tractor Plant who stayed behind after the evacuation.

The white-haired chief engineer wearing a pair of thick glasses had received a call from Vasilevsky himself. Naturally, he attached great importance to Malashenko who came as scheduled. The famous name of the Red Army tank hero was also worthy of special respect in the eyes of this old engineer.

"I know what you are here for, Comrade Malashenko, the front army headquarters has already called me. I summoned several technicians in the factory and the comrades in charge of production to conduct an emergency discussion to prepare the batch of 50 It is feasible to replace 1,000 British tanks with our own tank guns, and the number of tank guns remaining in stock is sufficient. I just don’t know if you have any time requirements?”

What Engineer Old Ivan was most worried about was Malashenko's urgent urging to speed up the work.

Now the skilled workers and senior technicians in the factory have long been withdrawn along with the important equipment. Many of the remaining workers are former apprentices and women and even teenagers who were temporarily recruited to participate in production.

Without equipment assistance and unskilled technology, the production speed cannot be compared with the previous factories in their heyday. If Malashenko is really too urgent, there is really no good way to solve it.

Faced with the worried questions raised by the gray-haired old engineer in front of him, Malashenko, who was indeed very demanding on time, raised his right hand and quietly raised his fingers.