Red Moscow

  Chapter 1801

   "I think it is possible to design a 57mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun." Sokov replied: "Not only is the range longer than the 37mm, but it is also more powerful."

"If it is a 37mm twin anti-aircraft gun, it can also be installed on the base of the T-26 tank." Yakov asked: "If a dual 57 mm anti-aircraft gun is used, what kind of tank base should it be installed on?" ?”

Sokov thought that the 57mm twin-link self-propelled anti-aircraft guns of later generations would be installed on the base of the T-54 tank, but now where to find the base of the T-54 tank, he had to choose the next best thing. -34 base. Thinking of this, he said to Yakov: "Yasha, I think this self-propelled anti-aircraft gun can be installed on the base of the T-34 tank and continue to use an open protective turret."

  Yakov had participated in the design of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. Hearing what Sokov said now, he had a perceptual understanding of this new weapon that was still in the research and development stage in his mind. He thought for a while, and then asked Sokov: "Misha, if we really follow your suggestion to manufacture this anti-aircraft gun, how do you think it will work on the battlefield?"

"Whether the newly launched weapon is easy to use needs to be tested on the battlefield." Sokov said to Yakov: "If you can provide me with this new self-propelled anti-aircraft gun as soon as possible, I can use it in a very short time. Inside, provide you with the necessary parameters."

   "Well, that's fine." Yakov nodded after hearing this, and said, "I will fly back to Moscow overnight and talk to the engineers in the R&D institute to try to produce a prototype as soon as possible."

   Seeing that Yakov adopted his opinion, Sokov couldn't help being overjoyed, and quickly asked: "Yasha, how long will it take to produce a prototype car?"

  Yakov looked at Sokov, thinking about how to answer him. After a while, he said: "Although in the design office, everything is ready-made. However, after the prototype is produced, we still need to spend some time to test it. Waiting for everything to be completed, we will need a car at the soonest." After a month."

"What, it will take a month." Hearing what the other party said, Sokov immediately shook his head like a rattle: "No, no, it's too long. If it really takes that long, it is estimated that the enemy's aircraft will cut it off." Cities like Erkasy and Kirovograd were blown into rubble."

   "Then tell me, how many days is more appropriate?"

  Sokov originally wanted to talk about it for a day, but considering the prototypes produced in this way, I am afraid that there will be serious quality problems. After thinking for a while, he stretched out three fingers and said to Yakov: "Three days! After three days, I want to see the prototype!"

"Misha, you are joking!" Yakov jumped up from his seat: "Even if you don't count the time to build the prototype, just talk about transportation, there are more than 1,000 roads from Moscow to here, and March is thawing during the Spring Festival in Ukraine. Season, our transportation situation is already poor, how could it be possible to send the sample car you need here within three days?"

"If you use rail or road transportation, it is indeed impossible to send the prototype here within three days." Sukov remembered that the weight of this 57mm double-linked self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was not heavy, and the Weapons and Equipment Department even sent the original five pairs of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. The number of road wheels was reduced to four pairs, so a bold idea came to his mind: "But what if it is transported by air? I am afraid that it will only take a few hours to transport the prototype vehicle with a transport plane."

"Misha, your idea is too far-fetched." After listening to Sokov, Yakov retorted: "Do you know how heavy our T-34 tank is? I want to use this tank chassis The weight of the self-propelled anti-aircraft gun is probably not much lighter, and we don't have such a powerful transport plane that can transport the prototype here."

Sokov had already guessed that Yakov would say this, so he said with a smile: "Yasha, since you said that you don't have a powerful transport plane that can transport the prototypes you produced, you might as well unseal two more hovercraft for special use. How about transporting a prototype car?"

  Yakov heard this, realized that he had been caught in Sokov's trap, pointed at him and said, "Misha, you, you, you actually made such a big circle in order to let me provide you with a hovercraft."

   Seeing that Yakov was not angry, Sokov said while the iron was hot: "Instead of letting so many hovercraft eat ashes in the warehouse, it is better to send them to the front, and they can play a greater role."

  After saying this, he deliberately paused for a moment to observe Yakov's reaction. Seeing that the other party did not speak for a long time, he continued: "Yasha, if the aircraft launched by the German army towards the city passes over the defense zone, my troops may be helpless because of the lack of effective anti-aircraft weapons. with the city under attack."

What Sokov said later finally convinced Yakov. After sitting down again, he nodded slowly and said, "Okay, Misha, I will report this matter to Comrade Ustinov when I return to Moscow." Make a report and try your best to persuade him to agree to unseal these hovercraft and put them back into the battlefield."

Hearing what Yakov said, Sokov felt that his goal had been achieved, so he was going to say something applicable to Yakov, and he should express his gratitude to him: "Yasha, you can't find out just by looking at the photos. Effective way to deal with German aircraft."

   "Then do you have any way to get more useful information?"

"If we can capture an aircraft, we may be able to figure out its structure." Sokov just said this method, but he denied it in the next second: "No, no, this is unlikely. Don't talk about the launch by the Germans. The base is well-defended, even if it isn't, and our fighters got an aircraft, but how can we get such a heavy thing back?"

"It's unrealistic to seize it," Yakov thought very clearly. This newly developed new weapon must be regarded as a treasure by the Germans. It may be a top secret inside them, and the number of people they can contact is very limited. Wanting to seize it directly is simply a fantasy. Since they couldn't be captured directly, they could only do the next best thing: "Misha, see if you can send someone to collect relevant information so that we can learn more about the German aircraft."

Although Sokov is well aware of the performance and data of the V1 missile, under the current circumstances, he can only bite the bullet and continue to pretend to be confused: "Okay, Yasha, I will immediately contact the scouts ahead and let them Find a way to collect more information about the aircraft."

The phone on the table rang, and Smirnov reached out and picked up the receiver. After listening for a while, his face showed joy, and he told the receiver: "Come to the headquarters immediately, face me and talk to me. Comrade Commander reports."

   Sokov, who was talking to Yakov, heard the call from Smirnov and asked curiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, who is calling?"

   "It's the Director of Reconnaissance." Smirnov said excitedly, "He said he had obtained some valuable information and wanted to report it to you immediately."

   "Valuable information?" Sokov asked tentatively: "Is it related to the German aircraft?"

   "That's right, it's related to the German aircraft." Smirnov said, "So I asked him to come over and report to us in person."

   A few minutes later, the director of reconnaissance appeared in the headquarters.

  Seeing the appearance of the Director of Reconnaissance, Smirnov walked up to meet him quickly, and asked with a smile, "Our Director of Reconnaissance is here. I wonder what good news you have brought us?"

  The head of the reconnaissance department first saluted several people, and when he was about to report, he suddenly found a strange colonel present, and swallowed the words that came to his mouth.

"Comrade Director, this is Colonel Yakov from the Weapons and Equipment Department." Sukov saw the scruples of the Director of Reconnaissance, and quickly introduced Yakov to him, emphasizing: "He is not an outsider, you have Say whatever you want."

"Hello, Comrade Colonel." Even though the director of reconnaissance is also a colonel, he saw that Yakov's identity was unusual, so he quickly raised his hand to salute him, and then reported to Sokov: "Commander Comrade, the thing is like this, a reconnaissance unit just sent a telegram saying that they captured a German signal soldier and found an order from him, which is to let the V1 missile At three o'clock, attack on Cherkasy."

   "Wait, what did you say?" Sokov was shocked when he heard the director of reconnaissance say the name of the V1 missile, and then asked, "What missile?"

   "It's the kind of aircraft that attacks villages." The director of reconnaissance thought that Sokov really didn't know anything, and specially explained: "The Germans call it a V1 missile."

"Oh, so that's the case. I understand." Sokov nodded pretending to be Ruoyou, then turned to Yakov and said, "Yasha, have you heard it? It turns out that the Germans newly developed The aircraft, the name is the V1 missile."

"It's a strange name." Yakov interjected, "Apart from the name of the V1 missile, is there any other useful information?" In order to let the reconnaissance director understand what he meant, he also specifically explained, "For example, What did the Germans use to control the missiles and directly hit the target at a range of up to 100 kilometers?"

   "I'm sorry, Colonel Yakov, I don't know." The director of reconnaissance was stopped by Yakov's question, and he replied with some embarrassment: "My scouts didn't get more detailed information."

Seeing that no more useful information could be obtained from the chief of the reconnaissance department, Yakov was somewhat disappointed. He raised his hand and looked at the time, and then said: "I will fly back to Moscow as soon as possible, and report the situation here to Us Comrade Zinov reports."

In order to ensure Yakov's safety, Sokov called Koshkin and told him: "Comrade Lieutenant, Colonel Yakov is going back to Moscow by plane. Now I give you a task, which is to bring a platoon of guards, Escort Colonel Yakov to the airport safely. Got it?"

   "Yes, Comrade Commander!" Koshkin replied loudly: "I will definitely send Colonel Yakov to the airport safely."

  After sending Yakov away, Sokov began to ponder. Now the scouts only know the name of the missile, but have not obtained further information, making it impossible for him to introduce the performance of this missile to Konev.

"Comrade Commander, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Sokov was in a daze again, Smirnov guessed that he was thinking about something, but there was a more important matter in front of him, so he shook the other party's arm and shouted a few times Voice: "What are you thinking?"

  Sokov was shaken awake. He looked at Smirnov blankly and asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff, what's the matter?"

   "Comrade Commander, there is one more important thing, have you forgotten?"

   "What's important?"

   "Didn't the Director of Reconnaissance just say that the Germans are going to attack Cherkasy with V1 missiles?"

"Yes, yes, you are right to remind." Sokov quickly interjected: "Such an important matter needs to be reported to the commander of the front army immediately, so that the defenders of Cherkasy can prepare to avoid unnecessary casualties. "

  After connecting the call to the Front Army Command, Sokov heard that the person answering the phone was Konev, and immediately said excitedly: "Hello, Comrade Marshal, I have something important to report to you."

  Konev heard that Sokov had an important report, and immediately thought of the attack on the village, and quickly asked, "Comrade Sokov, is it related to the aircraft that attacked the village?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, your guess is correct." Sokov said: "Our scouts captured a German signal soldier near Uman, and found an order from him, which is for V1 Missile Force's..."

   "Wait a minute, Comrade Sokov." As soon as Sokov read this, he was interrupted by Konev: "What did you just say? What missile, what is it?"

Sokov understood that Konev did not know the name of the V1 missile, and quickly explained to him: "It is the aircraft that attacked the village. Our scouts have figured out its name. The Germans call it 'V1 missile' .”

   Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Konev would have the same reaction as Yakov: "It's a strange name. Do you have more information about this new German weapon?"

   "Not yet, Comrade Marshal." Sokov replied: "However, I have urged the scouts to continue the reconnaissance. As soon as I have the latest information, I will report to you as soon as possible."

"Well, very good." Konev was very satisfied with Sokov's attitude, and finally asked curiously: "Comrade Sokov, you called me so late just to say this something?"

"No, Comrade Marshal." Sokov thought of the purpose of his call, and quickly said: "I called you because the order captured by the scouts was to let the V1 missile unit of the German army launch a bomb at three o'clock in the morning tomorrow." At that point, carry out a long-range strike on Cherkasy."

   "Tomorrow at three o'clock in the morning?" Konev couldn't help raising his hand to look at his watch after hearing the amazing news, and said with a frown, "There are only six hours left before that time."

  But before Konev ordered Zakharov to call the Cherkasy garrison, he had to confirm one thing: "Comrade Sokov, is your information accurate?"

   "It is absolutely accurate." Sokov said solemnly: "I believe my scouts will not lie to me."

"I understand. I will immediately call the Cherkasy garrison and inform them to take precautions." After Konev finished speaking, he also expressed his gratitude to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, On behalf of the soldiers and civilians of Cherkasy, I thank you for saving their lives."

  (end of this chapter)