It's better to conquer them than to command the steel torrent

Chapter 93｜88mm anti-aircraft gun?!

At 17:23, the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade was ambushed. In less than a minute, several of the mighty T-34s were destroyed.

Flak36型88毫米高射炮拥有在1000米距离上击穿140毫米垂直装甲的侵彻力，这是目前瓦尔兰德军队序列中唯一可以正面对付T-34的重型武器了。

In later generations, influenced by confusing information media, many people thought that the commander's idea of ​​using 88mm anti-aircraft guns to attack tanks was really brilliant, but in fact, the Flak18 anti-aircraft gun was designed with this purpose in mind, so corresponding armor-piercing shells were developed to match it - it is impossible for an anti-aircraft gun to use anti-aircraft fragmentation grenades to attack armored vehicles.

"Lieutenant! Lieutenant! Observed target tank on fire!"

"It's finished!"

"Long live!"

"It exploded! Kill it!"

Looking at the enemy tanks that caught fire and exploded one after another in the distance, the Imperial German soldiers couldn't help but cheer loudly.

Such powerful firepower is terrifying!
In an instant, the momentum of the Imperial Russian tank forces stagnated.

"This is an open area, we have no terrain cover!"

"Son of a bitch! How could they destroy us from so far away?!"

The radio channel was filled with surprise and anger.

In these few short minutes, the battle situation became increasingly chaotic, as the mortars and howitzers of the Rommel battle group also began to fire at the Imperial Russian tank forces - not expecting to destroy the tanks, but mainly to create confusion and deterrence.

Dense artillery shells fell and explosions occurred one after another.

When the vanguard troops were attacked, the commander could only get a rough idea of ​​the situation through radio communication in a short period of time.

The more intuitive and detailed nature of mental communication came into play at this critical moment, and Colonel Tikhonov quickly understood the situation.

Then he gave a decisive order: "Retreat is not allowed. Return the artillery fire of the Varlanders and keep fighting!"

Under orders, the two tank companies of the vanguard had to give up and temporarily avoid the front line.

They gritted their teeth and engaged in a firefight with the anti-aircraft artillery positions that were waiting for them. This was destined to be a brutal showdown.

Generally speaking, tanks should not engage anti-tank guns.

Anti-tank guns are often carefully camouflaged and have built bunkers, so it is not easy for tanks to destroy them.

Especially at such a long distance, slight deviations in aiming will be significantly magnified on a macro scale. Even if you aim just a little bit up or down, the shell will fly over the target or land dozens of meters in front of the target.

The Imperial Russian tank crews adopted a lamentable method to deal with the terrible anti-aircraft artillery positions.

For a projectile flying at high speed in the air, both the water surface and the ground are considered hard media, so a ricochet will occur when the projectile hits the ground at a smaller angle of incidence.

Therefore, gunners fitted high-explosive shells with short-delay fuses instead of the commonly used instantaneous fuses, ensuring that the shells landed in the right position in front of the target anti-aircraft artillery position when aiming and firing.

In this way, the shell activates the short-delay fuse when it hits the ground, then ricochets and finally explodes in mid-air above the target.

【Picture】

This is not something that ordinary people can do, but it is not difficult for the fourth type of warriors.

But...is it really worth it?
The remaining fifteen or sixteen T-34s continued to fight, engaging in a life-and-death duel with eight 88mm anti-aircraft gun positions in the vast wilderness.

Captain Yelena's No. 224 tank had already destroyed four or five Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks after these days of overcoming difficulties. Now, after two failed attempts, gunner Daria struggled to lift a 76.2mm high-explosive shell and load it into the chamber.

At that moment, just a few dozen meters away, a friendly tank was also destroyed. "Stay calm, you can do it this time," Yelena encouraged.

After careful aiming, Daria pulled the trigger.

The shell flew to a place more than a thousand meters away where muzzle flames were flashing. After landing, it bounced up and exploded in mid-air.

Thick smoke and dust obscured the area, and it looked like the Imperial German artillerymen at the target position were either dead or wounded?

"awesome!"

"They will all die..."

The driver and the communicator also saw the general situation and couldn't help cheering. However, before they could finish their words of praise, a shell hit them in an instant.

The Pzgr9.5 armor-piercing shell weighing about 39 kilograms hit the front of the hull of vehicle No. 224. The shell easily penetrated the 45 mm inclined armor that the Ivan Rus people were proud of. After penetrating into the tank, the 156 grams of blunted Taian explosive inside the shell exploded violently!
At 17:34 PM, Captain Yelena and her three companions were killed instantly. Women and men are no different in flesh and blood; explosives treat all living things equally. However, the fate of tank No. 224 was not over. The tank had not exploded and was still worth repairing.

The setting sun melts gold, and the sunset glows like blood.

The vanguard of the Orlova Guards Tank Brigade fought to the death with amazing willpower and extraordinary skills, and fought back and destroyed two heavy anti-aircraft artillery companies, but they also suffered almost complete losses.

This was the heaviest single-day combat loss suffered by the new Ivan Ross cruiser tanks since the war began.

That night, the 5th Tank Army and part of the 22nd Infantry Army continued the attack, and fierce fighting lasted all night.

Despite its best efforts, the Rommel battle group failed to complete the task of preventing the enemy from expanding the breakthrough.

The defense line of the Warta River was crumbling. In order to avoid the disastrous consequence of the army being divided and surrounded again, the General Staff of the Varland Empire issued a retreat order.

The Second Alexander Offensive was essentially over.

Now, although there is a strategic defense line between the Warta and Oder rivers, the only real natural obstacle is the Oder River.

It is a river only seventy or eighty kilometers away from Bolin.

That evening, there was a night of partying in St. Petersburg.

The enthusiastic crowd formed a long line and cheered all the way along the Neva River.

A grand dinner was held at the Catherine Palace in the suburbs. Everywhere one looked, there were glamorous military and political officials, and endless words of praise.

"Praise Her Majesty Veronika Alexandrovna. Our motherland is now only one door away from victory."

"Old William might be scared to death? Hahahaha——"

"The Varlanders must give up any territory east of Danze!"

"You are too conservative and cautious. Why don't you consider dismembering Vallander?"

The seeds of arrogance have been planted and are gradually sprouting without anyone noticing.

Veronica herself only appeared briefly at the dinner and did not stay long.

After returning to the palace, Uliana helped her take off her gorgeous dress and reminded her, "Your Majesty, the State Duma and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have just urged you. They believe that the war situation is now clear and they can issue an ultimatum to Hunsted."

"I understand." After saying that, Veronica muttered to herself, "It's too risky. Does the army really have the confidence..."

(End of this chapter)