Hearing Meretskov's ultimatum, General Gagan did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly ran to the telephone, called his army headquarters, and asked the remaining deputy army commander Rogensky to urge all troops to speed up the march and strive to rush to the designated place within the specified time, so as to ensure that his post would not be removed by his superiors due to the slow movement of the troops.

General Starikov, on the other hand, remained where he was, standing motionless at his desk, looking down at the map of the Sinavino Heights on the table, his brow furrowed.

Meretskov sensed his abnormality and looked up and asked, "General Starikov, do you have anything else to say?" ”

Starikov first pointed to the starting point of our army's offensive on the map, and then moved his finger to the position of the German army's defensive position on the high ground, and said: "Comrade commander, please see, the position from which our army started its attack is almost two kilometers away from the first line of defense of the Germans. The fascists on the positions will also incessantly pour artillery shells and mortar shells on the heads of our attacking troops, causing heavy casualties to our troops. In front of the German position, there was an active and wide minefield, and the sappers of our army group, in the previous attacks, in order to open a channel for the infantry to attack, almost all of them were sacrificed under the enemy's guns during the demining. ”

After listening to Starikov's explanation, Meretskov pondered for a while and asked: "When the troops attack the high ground, can't they get any artillery support?" ”

Starikov thought for a moment and replied: "Although the Leningrad Front and the Baltic Fleet can provide us with artillery support. But there are limits to this support. Due to the fact that the enemy has air supremacy. As long as our army fires artillery. Enemy planes would fly to artillery positions or ship docks and launch frenzied air strikes. At such times, artillery support had to be canceled. Our infantry, which attacked the fortified fortifications of the Germans, had to pay great sacrifices for every step forward because of the lack of artillery fire, and the attacking troops soon lost the ability to continue the offensive due to heavy casualties. ”

Meretskov stood up and walked around the room with his hands behind his back without a sound.

I was standing next to me, my mind was racing. Think about how to provide the necessary fire cover for the attacking forces of our army? It is unrealistic to send artillery from other places to take part in the storming of the fortified positions, because first, the road is too far, and with the existing road conditions, the artillery will not be able to catch up with the designated position without four or five hours. In addition, even if the artillery arrives at the front line, there are no shells, and the cannon is just a decoration, and it will not be the task of providing fire support for the infantry.

Meretskov, who was pacing the house, stopped. Turning to Starikov, he asked: "What is the situation of our artillery position occupied by the Germans?" ”

Starikov hurriedly replied: "Report to Comrade Commander." I sent a regiment of troops, carried out a counteroffensive on the artillery positions, and after fierce battles, recaptured the artillery positions of our troops. Seeing that Meretskov wanted to ask something, he immediately added: "Although we recaptured the position, the Germans removed all the mortars before retreating, and the heavy artillery that could not be moved was blown up by them." ”

Hearing Starikov's answer, Meretskov asked rhetorically with some disbelief. "All blown up? Not a single cannon left? ”

Starikov replied in the affirmative: "Yes, Comrade Commander. After our troops recaptured the artillery positions, I personally went to check them, the mortars were all transferred, and the remaining heavy artillery was blown into a pile of scrap metal. ”

Hearing Starikov say this, Meretskov's face showed an expression of disappointment. At this time, I suddenly remembered that from the beginning of our entry into the headquarters, Starikov had only mentioned that the troops had no artillery cover, no air supremacy, and no mention of tanks at all. So I asked tentatively: "General Starikov, there is something I would like to ask you about." ”

"Major Oshanina, what's the matter? Just ask. ”

"How many tanks are left of the 8th Army?"

"Tanks?" Hearing my question, Starikov frowned and thought for a while before he said in an uncertain tone: "There are still 37 tanks left in the whole army, and they are all currently parked behind the starting positions of the infantry. ”

When Meretskov heard me mention the tanks, his eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said to Starikov: "Since you still have dozens of tanks, you can let them provide artillery support when the infantry attacks." ”

Starikov shook his head with a wry smile and said: "Comrade commander, you don't know anything, all that remains is KV heavy tanks. These tanks usually carried very few shells, and on the first day of fighting, they were all used up. ”

Heavy tanks, heavy artillery shells, I thought about these two things repeatedly in my head, thinking about it, and suddenly I had a flash of inspiration and thought of a whimsical good idea, of course, this method was not my first creation, but thought of a post that I saw on military forums in later generations. So he said to the two of them in shock: "Comrade commanders, please don't worry, I have thought of a way to provide artillery support for the infantry." ”

When the two of them heard me say this, they froze, and their faces showed disbelief. After a while, Meretskov said half-convinced: "Leda, have you really thought of a way?" Seeing that I nodded affirmatively with a smile on my face, he hurriedly urged me: "What is the solution?" Let's hear about it. ”

After beckoning the two of them to sit down with General Gagan, who had just returned from the call, I said unhurriedly: "Comrade generals, although our artillery positions have been destroyed by the Germans, there are still a lot of shells left. As far as I know, these shells are for 152 mm caliber howitzers, and the guns of KV tanks are also 152 mm caliber. We can get the tanks to use these shells to provide the necessary artillery support. ”

"What?" When Starikov heard me say this, he almost jumped up, and he pointed at me, with an expression of hatred on his face, and said: "Major Oshanina, do you know what you are talking about? Do you have military common sense, can the shells used for heavy howitzers be used by tanks? ”

Hearing his criticism, I diligently recalled the post that I read later, and I remember that it was mentioned that due to the shortage of shells for heavy tanks, it was Zhukov himself who ordered the KV tanks to use howitzer shells. Thinking of this, I looked at the generals in front of me, nodded vigorously, and replied seriously: "Comrades generals, I think that our KV tanks can completely use heavy howitzer shells. ”

Starikov stood up angrily, and wanted to continue to criticize me, but was stopped by Meretskov, and the commander said slowly: "General Starikov, don't remember to draw conclusions first. When it comes to tanks, we're all laymen, so you might as well call a professional and ask about it. ”

"Professionals?" Starikov was stunned for a moment, then came back to his senses, so he nodded and said: "Comrade commander, you are right, I will call the tank brigade and ask." ”

When Starikov was on the phone with the tank brigade, my heart was in my throat, and I was eavesdropping on his conversation with the commander of the tank brigade with my ears pricked up. “…… I would like to ask, shells for 152-mm howitzers, can they be used on our KV tanks? What the? You don't know what to do. What are you eating, you are still the chief of staff of the brigade, you don't even understand this, change someone who understands to talk to me. ”

After Starikov said this, he fell silent. I nervously looked at Meretskov, who was sitting at the table, and wanted to get some support from him. I didn't expect him to look at me, but turned sideways to look at Starikov, who was on the phone.

After a while, Starikov continued to speak: "Hey! Who are you? Oh, it's the Brigadier. I want to ask you, can your KV tanks use shells from 152-mm howitzers? What, theoretically?! I don't want any theory from you, I want to hear your exact answer, can it be used? Uh-huh, got it. In that case, you immediately send trucks to the artillery positions and bring back all those shells. ……”

Hearing his next few words, the stone in my heart fell to the ground, it turned out that tanks can really use howitzer shells.

Starikov put down the phone and came over and reported to Meretskov: "Comrade commander, I just asked the commander of the tank brigade, and he said that the KV tank can fully use howitzer shells, and I have already ordered him to send someone to pull the shells. ”

Meretskov raised his right hand and pressed it down, motioned for him to sit down, and then asked, "Since the tanks are replenished with shells, how are you going to let them cooperate with the infantry attack?" ”

Sitting in his seat, Starikov pointed to the area where the infantry was massed and reported: "Comrade commander, I intend to deploy tanks here, let them bombard the enemy's positions with artillery fire, and wait until the enemy's surface positions are destroyed, and then order the infantry to charge." ”

Meretskov did not comment on his proposal, but looked up at me and asked, "Leda, tell me what you think." ”

I looked at Meretskov with my eyes and said without squinting: "Comrade commander, let the tanks take the lead, pounce on the German positions, and when they get closer, destroy the most threatening points of fire with artillery fire, and cover the infantry to occupy the high ground." ”

Starikov again lashed out at me with dissatisfaction: "Major Oshanina, I remind you again. The Germans had artillery and mortar batteries on the heights, as well as seven or eight anti-tank guns per square kilometer. If the tanks rush forward without our infantry occupying their positions, they will be destroyed one by one by the enemy's artillery as targets. (To be continued......)

PS: Bow and thank the book friends Bright Knight 2011, Li Yunxi, and gao6 for their valuable votes.