Steel Soviet Union

In addition to the IS1 prototype tank that Kogin promised to deliver, something even more surprising to Malashenko was yet to come.

"Hello, Comrade Malashenko! I have heard of your name for a long time, and it is a great honor for me to meet you in person."

You can tell whether you are an intellectual or not simply by looking at your speaking skills.

Compared to the stupid, black, thick Slavic man who looked like a bear hug when he met him, the young boy in front of him who looked almost gentle and elegant seemed to be a highly educated intellectual. He had been fighting and dying on the battlefields of the Great Patriotic War for so long. Malashenko is very convinced of this.

In the subsequent self-introduction, Malashenko learned that the second lieutenant named Ivanov was a technical specialist sent by Kotin, and after arriving, he had no intention of returning to Chelyabinsk in the rear but followed Marashchenko. Shenke went to the battlefield together.

The reason for doing this is partly because Ivanov, who also serves as a technical specialist, is tired of the quiet factories in the rear. He has volunteered many times to join the front line to face the Nazi invaders and defend the motherland.

On the other hand, Kogin, who had a very good first impression of Malashenko, wanted to establish a long-term effective communication and liaison mechanism with Malashenko, so sending someone he trusted was something Kogin thought about again and again. The final result is given later.

In addition, although the new IS1 heavy tank is derived from the KV1 heavy tank, not only some parts can be used in common with the KV1, but the technology is also relatively reliable and mature. However, there are some minor problems and technical flaws in the prototype that have not been solved due to the rush of time, but someone who knows these situations must be able to guide Malashenko on how to make good use of them and deal with them.

After comprehensive consideration, the result was finally reached that Lieutenant Ivanov should serve under Malashenko.

From Lieutenant Ivanov's explanation, he roughly understood Kotin's intention. Malashenko, who also had a pretty good first impression of Kotin, was naturally very willing to have one more intellectual under his command.

"Welcome to join you, Second Lieutenant Ivanov, but I hope you can be prepared to face the Fascist invaders! They are not as low-powered and in such a mess as the rumors say."

Second Lieutenant Ivanov, who had been staying in the security rear area since the war started, surprisingly did not express surprise at Malashenko's words.

What Malashenko, who was just slightly surprised, didn't know was that Lieutenant Ivanov's three brothers had all been fighting on the front lines of the Great Patriotic War since the war began, and one of them had died in a German winter typhoon. During the offensive, there was a great military family whose four brothers all joined the Soviet Red Army.

After receiving the news that his second brother had been killed in battle, Second Lieutenant Ivanov could not restrain his inner anger for revenge. Ke Jing, who had always wanted to keep this talent by his side for long-term training and reserve, saw this situation and finally became helpless. Second Lieutenant Ivanov was instructed to escort the prototype IS1 heavy tank to the front line.

Before leaving, he repeatedly told Lieutenant Ivanov to serve in a position that was as safe as possible, saying that this was to ensure that the communication with Malashenko could be kept open at all times, but in the final analysis, this was just a matter of cherishing talents. Just an excuse.

After a brief exchange of greetings with Malashenko, Second Lieutenant Ivanov, who was on the mission, began to shift the topic to business. His words that he spoke slowly were full of praise for the tank that he had participated in the design and assembly of. That deep sense of pride.

"The 85mm mass-produced D-5T tank gun, 100mm thick sloped frontal armor, and 600-horsepower enhanced 12-cylinder diesel engine are powerful and powerful! Although it broke down once during the test run, these are just minor problems. "

His ungloved right hand from deep down gently patted the extremely cold front armor of the car body. Second Lieutenant Ivanov, whose words were filled with deep pride, gave Malashenko the final word.

"Whether it is the information collected so far or assumptions, Comrade Malashenko, we have every reason to believe that this is the most powerful heavy tank in the world! It is also the pride and masterpiece of our Soviet heavy industry!"

He pricked up his ears and listened to all the proud words from Second Lieutenant Ivanov's mouth. He was already very familiar with the IS1 heavy tank, the legendary pioneer of the Stalin series of heavy tanks. Malashenko was naturally There are quite good reasons to believe that the words spoken by Second Lieutenant Ivanov are not false in the slightest.

Malashenko, who was well aware of the power of the IS1 heavy tank, did not ask too much about the performance of the tank.

After thinking for a moment, Malashenko quickly asked the first question to the young second lieutenant who was about the same age as himself.

"Are you interested in going to the Field Maintenance Battalion? Second Lieutenant Ivanov. The commander of the Field Maintenance Battalion, Captain Karamov, currently lacks a competent deputy. I think you two should be able to get along very well. He was also in a tank like you before. He has been specially trained in the factory for a period of time and is the best tank repair and maintenance talent under my command.”

Using the word "talent" to describe it as a sideways analogy is to hope that Second Lieutenant Ivanov can make the right choice. Malashenko saw from those very shrewd and clear eyes that the young Second Lieutenant Ivanov was an emotionally intelligent person. Not a lowly person.

Just as Malashenko expected, Second Lieutenant Ivanov, who can follow Kogin and be appreciated, reused and cultivated, is naturally not a person with insufficient emotional intelligence.

Second Lieutenant Ivanov, who is well versed in the ways of the world, naturally understood the hints from Malashenko very thoroughly.

"I understand what you mean, Comrade Malashenko. I understand what I am best at in my major."

Second Lieutenant Ivanov, who sounded calm with his words but actually stirred up huge waves in his heart, even regretted it at this moment.

Second Lieutenant Ivanov, the youngest of the four brothers, has been protected by his three older brothers since he was a child. Those naughty kids who bullied him during play almost escaped being beaten by the three old men with extremely shady hands. Brother swarmed up and beat the shit out of me.

Growing up under the care of his three older brothers and his parents, Second Lieutenant Ivanov surprisingly became the one with the highest IQ and the best academic performance among the four brothers. Compared to the three brothers who looked as powerful and tall as a Siberian black bear, Lieutenant Ivanov, the fourth eldest, could be said to bear the hopes of the whole family.

Even after he joined the Red Army, he was still traveling to and from various colleges and factories for further studies. Second Lieutenant Ivanov was too busy to fall in love until he received the news that his second brother had died. The news was like waking up from a dream.