Steel Soviet Union

"Hey, Malashenko, why are you still looking sad when you have so many new tanks? Isn't this the time to smile happily?"

Happy? Still smiling? I laugh at your size! I laugh!

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

In the final analysis, the dog-like British tanks in front of me cannot be entirely blamed on Churchill. After all, this guy was much better in terms of strength and attitude in supporting the Soviet Union than Roosevelt, who remained on the sidelines.

Moreover, the Matilda II and Valentine IV were still active tanks of the British Army. No matter how bad the British were, they sent over their own active equipment instead of obsolete rags. Compared with the American Seven Brothers Coffin, which was supported by the same period and "stands high, can see far, and is convenient for meeting Comrade Lenin", the comparison between the British infantry tanks is actually not bad.

The primary problem at present is how to solve the shitty tank gun problem of British tanks.

Malashenko, who was standing there and pacing in circles, suddenly thought that he was at the Stalingrad Tractor Factory at this moment. This factory that madly produced a huge torrent of steel for Soviet tanks during the war still maintains a high level. With high productivity, hand-made T34 medium tanks come off the production line every day and are ready to go into battle.

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

An idea flashed in his mind. Malashenko then calmed down and thought about it carefully, and began to gradually recall some crucial details.

In the original history, the Soviet tank soldiers, who focused on large-scale army group operations to siege cities and seize territory, criticized the 40 small guns equipped on these tanks aided by the British.

Not only because the armor-piercing firepower of this kind of tank gun is extremely poor, but also because even if these 40 small guns are equipped with high-explosive shells produced later, the power is only a little bit. German soldiers in buildings and bunkers are not afraid of this thing as long as they bend down, and its lethality against soft targets is unacceptably weak.

Unable to bear it any longer, the Soviet tank crews made a request, and eventually these British tanks were partially replaced with 2mm F-34 tank guns.

Although the turret with a narrow space is stuffed with a larger 76-gun breech structure, it will become more crowded, but the Soviet tank soldiers who have suffered enough in the T34 tank will not tolerate it. What.

Fortunately, the tail length of the Soviet 76 gun was just long enough to fit into the British tank turret. If it were longer, it would be completely useless. When replacing the tank gun, due to the change in ballistics, the gun scope was also replaced with the original Soviet Union product. For Soviet tank soldiers, there was no big problem in getting started faster.

This rapidly modified British tank with upgraded firepower has good combat effectiveness and has won unanimous praise from the Soviet tank soldiers on the front line. In particular, the Valentine tank, which is as strong and durable as the T34, can handle it no matter how hard it is, and rarely breaks down. The British version of the "silly, big, black and thick" tank made Soviet tank soldiers feel very friendly and highly recognized it.

Since replacing British tanks with cannons was feasible in history, Malashenko naturally feels that this method should also work for him now, but it is not yet certain whether the Stalingrad Tractor Factory has the ability to do so in a short time. All the British tanks had their guns replaced.

Malashenko, who was determined to do what he said, immediately found the nearest phone number and called the front army headquarters.

Vasilevsky on the other end of the phone was a little surprised by Malashenko's request to replace British tanks with guns. However, the pragmatic Vasilevsky, although a little unclear, knew that Malashenko was the expert when it came to tanks. , there is no need to act like a commander and pretend to understand something like this.

Vasilevsky, who was still of great use to the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment, approved Malashenko's request without much thought and allowed him to directly interview the chief engineer left behind at the Stalingrad Tractor Factory for detailed tank modifications. plan, and approved Malashenko’s request for all replacements as long as the Stalingrad Tractor Factory is able to complete it.

"Go ahead and do what you want, Malashenko. The Army Headquarters 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 for no 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 never changes. Malashenko, who has traveled from later generations, 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 assure you that these modified tanks will be put to their best use." !”

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

After going through a few brief procedures and waiting for a short while, Malashenko soon got his wish and met the person in charge and chief engineer of the Stalingrad Tractor Factory who stayed behind after the evacuation: Ivan Yakelevich.

The white-haired chief engineer with a pair of thick glasses had already received a call from Vasilevsky himself. Naturally, he attached great importance to Malashenko, who had arrived as promised. The famous tank hero of the Red Army was here. In the eyes of old engineers, they also deserve special respect.

"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.