However, this tank was the first medium tank of the Anti-United Nations, although it completed the reception work in the shortest possible time. However, receiving is only the first step in forming combat effectiveness, and in order for this tank to really play the role it expects, it needs to be further run in and trained tactically.

The two Soviet-made tanks in the two tank regiments of the 1st Panzer Division also need to be run into a corresponding tactic according to the different performance. The difference between the two performances is too great, and it is difficult for tanks that are almost a whole generation apart to be knitted into one armor and not run in, and it is difficult to exert the corresponding power.

It's just that after Yang Zhen arrived at the Luobei training ground, after observing the tactics currently formulated and used by the First Armored Division during the training, his brows became more and more furrowed. As the first unit in the whole army to be equipped with medium tanks, the 1st Panzer Division actually used this kind of tank equipped with 76-mm guns as a self-propelled artillery to cover the assault of T26 light tanks and suppress enemy artillery and infantry.

As for the main assault force, it is still dominated by the T26th tank battalion to which each regiment belongs. That is to say, when breaking through the defenders' positions, the tanks with the greatest armor thickness of the two tank regiments used tank guns as long-range suppression artillery in the rear, providing fire support and cover. Charging at the front was still the thin-skinned T-26 light tank.

In the tank confrontation exercise, the T-34 tank, which has the largest caliber and the longest effective range, and is also the most powerful, was put on long-distance interception. At a distance of 500 meters, long-range fire interception was carried out only against enemy assault tank clusters. Once the enemy broke through to within 500 meters, these T34 tanks immediately retreated, always maintaining a distance of 500 meters from the enemy's tank clusters, and continued to carry out long-range precision strikes. The main force in the frontal confrontation with the enemy tank was actually the T-26 tank.

Putting down the binoculars in his hand, Yang Zhen turned his head to look at Chen Hanzhang and the cadres at all levels of the First Armored Division, his face was quite poor. If it weren't for Chen Hanzhang in front of him, Yang Zhen would probably be angry on the spot. Well, the new tanks that they took great pains to get were treated as self-propelled guns or self-propelled anti-tank guns, and they were left behind to adopt fire suppression tactics.

Barely suppressing his anger, Yang Zhen pointed to the troops who were conducting the rapid breakthrough drill and said, "You are ready to adopt this tactic in the next stage of the operation?" Lao Tzu took great pains to get these 100 tanks with the most advanced firepower and the best protection in the world. It's for use as the main means of breakthrough, not for you to use as a mobile artillery. ”

"The T26, a tank that no longer has any room for upgrading, a tank with slow action, weak firepower, and low armor protection, is destined to be eliminated. You have to develop new tactics and tactics according to the upgrade of your equipment. The equipment has changed, and we cannot go back to the old ways. ”

"We have to think about how to make the most of this new tank, instead of carrying it in my arms like a treasure and not being willing to use it. Equipment is meant to be used on the battlefield, and if it's only used on the training ground, why should I go to the trouble of getting you so much of the latest equipment? It's better to keep using your old gear. ”

"You've developed a tactic where the old tanks are in front and the new ones are in the back. Don't you think it's some of the performance of the new tank? According to your tactical application, I might as well directly put the new cannon that I exchanged with the Soviets on the chassis of the T-26 tank and directly change it into a self-propelled anti-tank gun and distribute it to you. ”

In response to Yang Zhen's criticism, Chen Hanzhang hesitated for a moment and said: "No. 1, the tactics we are adopting now are formulated according to the situation of our existing equipment. The caliber of the T 34 tank artillery is large, and the power of both armor-piercing shells and high-explosive grenades is far superior to the 45 mm guns of the T 26 tanks. The effective firing range should also be much higher than that of the 45-mm gun. ”

"This tank gun is the most powerful tank gun we have at the moment. Its cross-country ability and travel speed are also far superior to those of the T-26 tank. As for armor thickness and protection, it is second only to the Matilda II among the several tanks we are currently equipped with, including the British tanks that have just arrived. ”

"But during the training, we found that there were several problems with this tank, but it was difficult to overcome. One is the lack of a dedicated loader, which is served by the commander. The commander commands the battle and assumes the role of a loader. This resulted in the actual firing efficiency of the artillery, which was not very ideal. Moreover, the turret was too narrow for us to add a loader. ”

"Another is that it uses a diesel engine, which not to mention the vibration, and the speed of stopping and starting is slower than that of a gasoline engine. This shortcoming is not visible in the usual training. However, once in the fight with the Japanese tank forces, judging from the training process of the Japanese tank units, and our current combat mode of stopping, shooting, and restarting quickly in battle, it is almost a fatal shortcoming in close combat. ”

"The Japanese tanks were thin in armor and weak in firepower, but they were very mobile, and the Japanese tankers were quite well trained. If the first shot misses in close combat, it is a mortal threat to the new tank if it is rounded to the flank and rear. Although the power of the guns on the Japanese tanks may not be able to destroy the armor behind, it is still no problem to destroy the engine at close range. ”

"And the commander is also a loader, so he won't be in a hurry to fire from a long distance in the middle of the battle. But in melee situations, it's easy to get distracted. We have experimented with using BT tanks to sneak up on the flanks at close range, and as a result, the T-34 tanks did not detect the attacking opponent at all. ”

"In this case, if the T-34 tank is put into close combat, it will not be able to play all its advantages except for protection. The advantages of its large caliber artillery, firing range and long power are basically impossible to play. You can't expect the commander to keep an eye on the enemy, command the battle, and reload the shells at the same time. ”

"The power of the Type 97 and Type 95 tanks, our T26 tanks and BT tanks, which are currently used as the main force of the Japanese army, are already enough to use in close combat. Within 500 meters, the two main tanks of the Japanese army were simply unable to withstand the might of the 45-mm tank guns. ”

"If in the battle to cover the infantry to break through the Japanese position, in the face of the crazy Japanese infantry, the shortcomings of this tank's poor observation ability are even more exposed. The Japanese infantry was not the kind of army that was defeated in World War I in the face of tank onslaught. With the frenzied energy of the Japanese soldiers, the threat to such tanks was considerable if they were to carry out a meat attack from the flank and rear using cluster grenades and Molotov cocktails. ”

"Plus the T three or four tanks, we just took over, and we haven't fully figured out the performance of this tank. Therefore, we specially formulated this tactic based on the fact that the T 34 tank surpassed the T 26 tank with the power of its artillery long-range fire, but the necessary close-range maneuverability was somewhat worse. ”

That is, the T 34 tank was used as the backbone of firepower, and its advantages in range and power were used to intercept the Japanese tank cluster at a long distance. Covering the T-26 light tank, it took advantage of its relative maneuverability and agility to engage the Japanese at close range. ”

Regarding Chen Hanzhang's answer, Yang Zhen shook his head slightly and said: "You formulate corresponding tactics according to the actual situation of the existing equipment, and I can't say that you are wrong as a commander." But are you so short-sighted? It is normal that such tanks have shortcomings, and there is not a single weapon in this world that is perfect. ”

"But when you do this, you are choking on food. We need to think about how to play a greater role in this tank on the battlefield. The tactics of avoiding war should not be adopted because of some inherent shortcomings of this weapon, which cannot be changed for the time being. Lao Chen, don't blame me for speaking heavily. This tactic of yours, I can only call it war avoidance. ”

"This tank is highly mobile and adaptable to complex grounds. Good armor and protection, as well as strong firepower, should be used precisely as the main means of assault. Whether it is to cover infantry breakthrough operations or to fight enemy tanks, such tanks should be used as the main force. ”

"And the tactics you adopted for the T three or four tanks to aim and fire from a distance are actually not very suitable for this kind of tank. The observation and sighting equipment of Soviet-made tanks is backward, and there is still a certain gap in the training of our tankers. Although you are now training with guns instead of guns, it is clear that your long-range shooting accuracy is not very high. ”

"Once the Japanese tanks rush through your inaccurate fire interception line at high speed and engage your light tanks in close combat, where do you medium tanks have to retreat? And according to the distance that this kind of tank has not come out so far, in the case of the enemy and our tanks fighting in a mess, can you guarantee that you will not accidentally injure your own people? Especially in the case that the observation and sighting equipment of the T 34 tank itself is also unsatisfactory, how can we ensure that the long-range shot does not hit our own people? ”

"Of course, the shortcomings of your appearance today are not very high, and you are not fully familiar with this tank, but this also shows from the side that the tactics you have adopted have not been successful. And from another aspect, the advantages and disadvantages of Soviet-made equipment have not yet been fully grasped. ”

"Lao Chen, you are the commander of the armored corps. I know that most of the senior commanders of your armored corps have been converted from the original infantry. Many people didn't even know what a tank looked like before they were transferred to work in the armored corps. Everything, almost all of them have to be touched from scratch. ”

"In the past, we had more than 100 Polish-made tanks transferred from Jiangbei, and a batch of French-made tanks that were transferred later. Although it is also a new class, after all, the number and scale are there. At that time, the tank troops actually played more of a role as a school. ”

"It's easy to organize, and it's easy to get started with command. But now the number and scale of equipment have expanded, and the establishment of troops has become more complicated. Now there are not only two armored divisions, but also two separate brigades, and already several independent tank battalions. The armament has also changed from a single light tank to a certain number of medium tanks. ”

"In the face of the changes in shape, we had to make a thorough adjustment in our tactics and command, and even refamiliarize ourselves with our equipment. We must consider the advantages and disadvantages of our existing equipment system in an all-round way, but we must not go from one extreme to the other because of choking. ”

"All the new tactics and equipment in this world are created from scratch. Developing tactics that meet our existing conditions is the same as doing an article. It's all about writing hard, but I actually think it's even more difficult to solve the problem. Be bold and think more about it, so that you can make a good article on a blank piece of paper. ”