Looking at Chen Hanzhang, who was deep in thought after listening to his words, Yang Zhen paused for a moment and continued: "Old Chen, you are the commander of the armored corps, and you know better than me about the equipment. After this year's actual combat of the T-26 tank, we are currently equipped with a T-26 tank that has shown that the fragile structure of this tank, with an engine with too little horsepower, cannot bear the weight increase caused by the additional armor thickness we are currently using. ”

"According to the results reported by the 1st Armored Brigade in this battle, when they were running long distances and long distances, the various accessories of the T26 tank with additional armor wore out too quickly, and the tank engine did not bear the heavy load and broke down frequently, so it could not drive continuously at the maximum speed."

"After a long-distance battle, because of mechanical problems and engine failures, we were unable to catch up with the tanks that participated in the battle, far more than the tanks that were damaged on the battlefield. And those tanks that were brought from the warehouses of the Soviet army in Outer Mongolia without additional armor, although these problems are still worse. But too weak armor, so that the survivability of the tank is low. ”

"When you commanded the Second Armored Brigade to attack the front line of Tongliao, there were tanks with additional armor more than once, but they could only fall behind because of failures, and even affected the development of the entire battle situation. The weak armor and low protection make it difficult for this tank to meet the needs of front-line operations. ”

"It's a headache for us to improve or not to improve. With the installation of additional armor, the entire tank did not bear heavy loads, and the failure rate increased sharply. Moreover, even with the addition of additional armor, it did not completely solve the shortcomings of the tank's protective power. ”

"If we were hit by the enemy at close range, although the Japanese tank guns could not destroy our tanks, the weak inner armor was loosened by the shells, and the armor fragments flying everywhere posed a great threat to the crew. In addition, if more than three shells hit one part in a row, even if the additional armor is not penetrated, the original armor on the inner side is basically damaged that is difficult to repair. ”

"But if you follow the way the Soviet army improved, only the frontal armor was strengthened. Once the Japanese tanks are detoured to the flank and rear, it is also a mortal threat to our tanks. This T26S tank, even if the original armor thickness is comparable to the latest Japanese Type 97 tank. For us, due to the inherent lack of performance, it is still a piece of equipment that does not need to be improved much. ”

"Let's not talk about the European battlefield, the enemy situation is different, and the environment is also different. The Japanese tanks were far from being able to compare with the Germans, and they lacked large-caliber anti-tank weapons. So in both respects, there is no comparison. Honestly, we can't afford it. ”

"However, the example of the Soviet army fighting the Japanese 23rd Division in the Battle of Normenhan is very much in line with our current situation. In addition, in the first stage of our battle, we also gained a certain amount of experience in the use of armored forces. Although the Japanese army lacked large-caliber anti-tank guns, the number of small-caliber rapid-fire weapons that could be used for anti-tank warfare was very large. ”

Moreover, the decisive spirit of the Japanese soldiers is not comparable to the armies of Western countries. Although the T-26 tank is in the face of Japanese tanks, its performance is still completely capable of fighting in a battle. But in the face of crazy Japanese soldiers, as well as a large number of small-caliber rapid-fire artillery, survivability was low. ”

"If I'm not mistaken, after the end of this battle, the Soviet-made T-26 tank only retained the frontal additional armor, and all the additional armor in other parts was removed. In order to ensure the necessary reliability and mobility of this tank in wartime, the report was submitted by your armored forces themselves. Why did you forget all about it so quickly? ”

"And the faults of the T 34 tanks you mentioned, the same problems of the T 26 tanks. The sighting equipment is outdated, and there is a lack of dedicated loaders. You are the commander of the armored corps, and the comparison of the performance of the two tanks, you should know better than me. But why when formulating tactics, in the face of the shortcomings of the two tanks that are roughly the same, but the performance gap is also very different, they consciously ignore the shortcomings of the T26 tank. ”

"This kind of T-26 tank, we will eliminate it sooner or later. It's just that at the moment we have not enough replacement equipment on hand, and we can only temporarily keep these tanks in service. But our tactics have to change. Your tactics need to be re-examined, and this tank cannot continue to be used as the primary means of assault. ”

"I'm a little confused, how come now, the equipment has been improved to a certain extent, and the strength has been strengthened, but you have regressed? With new, more powerful equipment, but they are afraid to use tactics? I have no objection to you taking advantage of the advantages of the T 34 tank artillery and adopting the tactics of long-range shooting, after all, the T 34 tank gun has this advantage. ”

"However, I do not agree with the use of light tanks in close combat and the breakthrough of Japanese positions, and the medium tanks with the best protection are withdrawn when they are reversed. Yes, we do pay attention to not being afraid of sacrifice and daring to sacrifice in battle, but our soldiers cannot sacrifice in vain. ”

"You know very well how much it costs and effort to train a qualified tank crew. Why did we try our best to get these advanced tanks when we couldn't make the corresponding equipment ourselves? Isn't the goal to get the greatest victory at the lowest cost? ”

"We can't afford to empty our tools without finding ways to get the most out of them. There is something desirable about your tactics. But more often than not, it's a reversal of the cart. After the more powerful medium tanks, the armor is weak and the firepower is poor, but you should think carefully about how to use the flexible light tank. ”

"In terms of tactical use, we can't do what we do. I have no objection to learning from the successful experiences of others, but I am also resolutely opposed to copying them in their entirety. When we learn from advanced experience, the primary foothold is our own situation and foundation. ”

"The formulation of measures according to local conditions is in line with our own conditions, but the use of tactics to keep up with the development trend of the times is what you or us senior commanders should do the most. You are the first batch of commanders of our army's armored forces, the leaders of the whole army's armored forces, and the founders of our army's entire armored forces' technology, tactics, and equipment application development in the future. ”

"In the future, whether or not our armored corps, the main means of combat of the army of a future great power, can really develop depends on whether you, the leaders and founders, can play the role that the whole army expects you to play. All the qiē have to move forward in groping, and the burden on the body can be described as quite heavy. You old Chen, you have a long way to go, and we all have a long way to go. ”

After Yang Zhen finished speaking, Chen Hanzhang was silent for a long time before he raised his head and looked at Yang Zhen and said, "No. 1, I understand what you said." We immediately readjusted and improved the training plan and reformulated the tactics according to the differences in the performance of the two tanks, the development and change of equipment. ”

Regarding Chen Hanzhang's answer, Yang Zhen only answered four words "concept, concept", and then changed the topic. He made four demands for the armored corps. First, it is necessary to get a good grasp of completing the reception of British tanks and do their best to form combat effectiveness. This time can only be advanced, and it must not be delayed.

Second, in the formulation of tactics, it is necessary to formulate different tactics according to the different performance of equipment, but they must conform to the actual situation. And before the next stage of the campaign is launched, we will do our best to complete the multi-class rapid breakthrough tactics, as well as the long-distance armored synthesis cluster long-distance running exercise.

Third, it is necessary to do everything possible to complete the establishment of the remaining armored divisions and brigades that are being formed, but we must not be rigid in their establishment, and we must not lose flexibility and mobility while ensuring that the assault force is sufficient. Fourth, it is necessary to urge the Second Division to make full use of the dozens of German-made tanks handed over by the British to complete the training of German-made tank crews.

Not just a few crews or a part of the crews, but all the crews of the Second Division had to complete the training in the use of German-made tanks, so as to prepare for the next step of receiving German-made tanks transferred by the Soviet Union and the allies. These four requirements are the four basic requirements that Yang Zhen put forward to the armored troops before the launch of the next stage of the campaign.

After talking about these four requirements, Yang Zhen looked at the T 34 under the mountain, which he had already heard of for a long time. It was really a little itchy, so he waved his hand and said to the commander of the armored corps beside him: "Let's go down and have a look, and we can all have a good look at what this tank with the best comprehensive performance in the world looks like." ”

After that, without waiting for the people around him to answer, he walked down the high ground in a few steps. Come to the Armored Tank Cluster that has completed a training session and is resting. Looking at Yang Zhen, who was extremely interested, Chen Hanzhang shook his head and didn't say anything, just followed with a group of people around him.

In front of the T 34 tank, Yang Zhen patted the thick armor of this tank, and after seeing him on the side, the commander of the anti-** resistance, under the introduction of the excited commander, after carefully looking at this latest Soviet medium tank, he shook his head. Although this tank has long admired the name, he was a little disappointed when he saw it.

The T 34 tank in front of you, because the Soviets lost too many tanks of this type produced earlier on the front line. At the same time, the Soviet Union has not yet fully recovered from the chaotic wartime management at the beginning of the war. The 100 vehicles that the Soviet Union gave to the Anti-Japanese Union were very fortunate to be equipped with F34 guns of 42 times the caliber, instead of the old models that were originally equipped with F11 guns.

Moreover, this tank still uses a one-piece turret canopy, which cannot be equipped with an anti-aircraft machine gun outside the turret. If it is to be installed, then improvements to the entire turret canopy are also needed. However, considering the need to form combat effectiveness first, only the installation of the radio station was completed first, and other improvements have not yet had time.

After taking a closer look, Yang Zhen's first feeling was that this tank, like all Soviet-made tanks, had poor ergonomics as always. Except for some necessary parts, most of the workmanship of the whole tank is quite rough. The connection between the turret and the hull is as thin as ever. On the armor plate, there are even bubble eyes left by the original smelting process due to poor smelting technology.

However, the tank was clearly made before the war, compared to its more shoddy counterparts produced in the USSR during the war, which were nothing more than consumables. Although the craftsmanship is as rough as other Soviet weapons, the quality is okay, and the workmanship is still meticulous. From the appearance of this tank, it can be seen that the Soviets have always had a consistent style in weapons manufacturing.

The stocky armor makes the crew feel very safe on the battlefield. It's just that after the installation of the tank ultra-short-wave radio station manufactured by the Anti-Union on the turret, the already small space is even more cramped. And because of the shortage of shells, it was only possible to temporarily conduct firing training with a course machine gun.