Sameko, who was criticized by Sokov, said with a shame: "Comrade Commander, this is my negligence in work, because considering that the troops have just arrived in the new area and are frequently mobilized every day, if Kosky town strengthens its vigilance, it will affect the mobilization work."
Sokov knew very well that although Sameko was the chief of staff of the army, he was just an executor of orders most of the time, and the former commander Ozorov arranged the work. However, his reply made Sokov very satisfied, which showed that the chief of staff was a very responsible person and would not easily blame others.
"Precisely because the troops have just been formed and have arrived in a new area, the security of the Group Army Command is the top priority at present." Sokov said calmly: "Didn't I bring a guard company? From tomorrow, they will be responsible for the security of the headquarters."
"That's great." Sameko agreed with Sokov's statement: "The guard company you brought must have rich security experience, and it's great that they are responsible for the safety of the headquarters."
"Report!" While the two were discussing strengthening the headquarters' security work, a commander came in from outside the door. He raised his hand to salute the two and reported to Samek, "Comrade Chief of Staff, Major General Poluboyarov, the commander of the 4th Army of Guard Tank, is ordered to come. I am waiting for your order, please instruct!"
"General Poluboyarov, you are here just in time." Sameko walked forward with a smile, grabbed Poluboyarov's hand, brought him to Sokov, and introduced him to him, "I'll introduce you to the new commander."
"The new commander?" Poluboyarov looked at the young Sokov in front of him, and his mouth twitched quickly: "Is he the new commander?"
"Hello, General Poluboyarov." Sokov took the initiative to extend his hand to Poluboyarov and said, "Come and get to know him. I am Major General Sokov and have just been transferred from the commander of the Sixth Army to the commander of the 27th Army."
"Sokov?!" Since Sokov had stretched out his hand, Poluboyarov could not seem too rude. He hurriedly held Sokov's hand and said thoughtfully: "I seem to have heard of this surname somewhere, but I can't remember it for a while."
"General Poluboyarov, of course you have heard of it." Sameko interrupted, "General Sokov has not been the commander of the Sixth Army for a long time. Before that, he was the commander of the 41st Division of the Guards."
"The 41st Guard Division?" Hearing the number of this unit, Poluboyarov raised his eyebrows and asked in surprise: "It was the 41st Guard Division that stood by Mamayev's hill, which kept the German army from approaching the ferry and eventually captured Paulus."
Hearing Poluboyarov's question, Sokov and Sameko looked at each other. He saw the praise in the other's eyes, then turned to face Poluboyarov and replied with affirmative answer: "That's right, Comrade General, the troops I command are indeed the 41st Guard Division you just mentioned."
When he learned that the young and different new commander in front of him was actually a hero who stood by Mamayev's post. Poluboyarov quickly stood at attention and saluted: "Comrade Commander, Poluboyarov, the chief of the 4th Guard Tank Army, report to you, I will wait for your order, please instruct!"
"General Poluboyarov, don't be so polite." Sokov raised his hand to give the other party a greeting, and greeted him to sit down, and said, "In the future, we will fight the enemy side by side. We are all our own people. There is no need to be so polite. Please sit down quickly."
After Poluboyarov sat down, Sokov asked, "General Poluboyarov, your army has just been incorporated into our army. If there are any difficulties, please raise them to me."
"Comrade Commander," Poluboyorov quickly stood up from his seat and straightened his body to Sokov: "I happen to have an objection and want to ask you."
"Sit down and say, sit down and say!" Seeing that a general who was much older than him and was so respectful to him, Sokov was somewhat uncomfortable. He quickly called the other party to sit down again, and then asked with concern: "If you have any opinions, just say it."
"As soon as our army entered our defense zone, the Group Army Command ordered us to build fortifications." Poluboyarov said with some displeasure: "According to the construction drawings distributed by the superiors, if the fortifications are really built in the defense zone, then our tanks will have no room for movement and can only be placed in the fortifications as fixed turrets. If this is the case, what do we need to do? It is better to directly transfer two artillery divisions to come, and the effect may be better."
Sokov could hear that there was anger in Poluboyarov's tone, and comforted him, "Comrade General, I understand your mood. If the tank loses its mobility, it can only be used as artillery, but due to the caliber of the tank, the usefulness they can play is far from comparable to that of the artillery."
"Comrade Commander, you are right." Seeing that Sokov actually expressed his support to him, Poluboyarov seemed very surprised and hurriedly said: "Our army now has three tank brigades and an infantry brigade, all equipped with T-34/76 tanks. If we are used as artillery, it can only be equivalent to a 76.2 mm caliber cannon division."
"Wait a minute, Comrade General." Sokov heard this and keenly captured a data: "What did you just say? Your army is equipped with old-fashioned T-34/76 tanks?"
"Comrade Commander, I think you may be wrong." Poluboyarov was stunned at first, and then explained to Sokov: "The T-34/76 tank is already the most advanced tank of our army, and the new tank may still be under development..."
"No, no, General Poluboyarov, don't debate with me." Sokov interrupted Poluboyarov's words without saying a word. "As early as the Battle of Stalingrad, the tank brigade that was equipped with our combat operations was equipped with the latest model of T-34/85 tanks. They were very effective against the German Tiger tanks."
"What did you say, Comrade Commander, the tank brigade you are fighting with is equipped with T-34/85 tanks?" Poluboyarov asked in surprise: "You are not wrong, are you?"
"How could it be wrong?" Sokov said unhappily: "I saw it with my own eyes when the Red October factory delivered the tanks to the troops. Is there any mistake?"
As a commander of the tank army, Poluboyarov naturally hopes that his troops can equip the best tanks so that the troops can survive on the battlefield can improve the survival rate of the troops. After Sokov finished speaking, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, do you know when your superiors plan to start changing clothes for us?"
Sokov recalled the information about the T-34/85 tank in his mind, and remembered that in order to deal with the German Tiger and other new tanks, the Soviet army began to modify 85mm artillery on the T-34 tank in the autumn of 1943 and added a tank crew. It was not until December that mass production began. However, due to his own appearance, the new tank appeared one year in advance and was tested in the battle to defend Stalingrad.
He looked at Poluboyarov and said, "Comrade General, this new tank not only has greatly improved its firepower and armor, but also has added a tank crew. If you want to change your army, I wonder if you have enough tank players to replenish it?"
"Comrade Commander, don't worry about this." Poluboyarov said excitedly: "There are many tank soldiers in the infantry brigade to which we belong. If the superiors really change our clothes on a large scale, I can draw the original tank soldiers from the infantry brigade to enrich the troops after the clothes change."
Considering the Kursk Battle that was about to break out in a few months, Sokov felt that if the 4th Guard Tank Army could be arranged to change clothes as soon as possible, they would play a greater role in the subsequent battle. In order to achieve this goal, he decided to contact Yakov to see if the other party could negotiate with Ustinov and give priority to changing clothes for his tank brigade.
However, considering that this matter may be affected by some uncertain factors, he did not give Poluboyarov an accurate answer, but said tactfully: "Comrade General, I will contact my friends in the Equipment Department as soon as possible to see if he has a way to change some tanks for us..."
Poluboyarov's breathing became rapid: "Comrade Commander, even if he only had a tank brigade, no, a tank battalion. As long as there was a battalion equipped with T-34, 85 tanks, our combat effectiveness could reach a higher level."
"I will contact you as soon as possible when changing clothes." After Sokov finished speaking, he shifted the topic to the construction of fortifications in time: "Now, let's continue to talk about fortifications."
When Sokov mentioned the fortifications, the light in Poluboyarov's eyes suddenly dimmed. He sighed softly and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, it would be great if the fortifications were not repaired, so that the mobility of our tanks would not be affected."
"You are right, Comrade General," said Sokov. "I plan to order the troops to stop the construction of all fortifications."
"Stop the construction of all fortifications?" Poluboyarov asked in surprise: "Why?"
Chapter completed!