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

Chapter 140 | We are prepared to judge ourselves!
"Colonel, multiple units have reported the same situation, and we have reason to believe it is true."

"okay, I get it."

Shank learned of a new development: the light weapons automatic firepower of Ivan Ross's army besieging Budapest had been enhanced.

When he learned at noon that the enemy had deployed terrifying large-caliber howitzers, he began to suspect that perhaps the enemy had received reinforcements of more than just heavy artillery.
that's the truth.

Tukhachevsky briefed Fort St. Petersburg last week on the difficulties of the city's siege and requested reinforcements, with three main demands:
(1) More soldiers, or cannon fodder, are needed to consume them.

(2) High-powered heavy artillery is needed to facilitate the destruction of sturdy buildings.

(3) Requires explosives and automatic weapons, which is advantageous for urban warfare.

Although Veronica was unhappy, she still agreed to these demands, but repeatedly emphasized that there would be no next time.

As a result, the 10th Army received reinforcements from three Nationalist shooting brigades, as well as two heavy howitzer battalions with a total of 24 203mm howitzers, more than 2,000 PPD submachine guns, and a large number of grenades, demolition charges, and pre-made explosive blocks.

Because of shorter training time, a lower proportion of officers, and inferior weaponry, the National Shooting Corps is much cheaper than regular field infantry units.

For this reason, the National Strike Force is very suitable for urban warfare, continuously depleting the defenders' manpower.

Mr. Shang believed he understood the Russians' style quite well, so this series of changes did not surprise him much.

What he cares about most is actually tactical improvement.

If tactics are not improved and the strategy is simply to brutally pile up lives, sending tens of thousands more cannon fodder will only result in wasted lives.

However, Tukhachevsky was already implementing a new strategy—elite infantry, engineers, and tank troops were mixed into assault groups to be responsible for attacking fortified positions; the remaining ordinary troops were responsible for maintaining the front line and attrition.

"The enemy's new tactics are very effective. Although we are still unfamiliar with them, they pose a great threat. We must take them seriously. Once the enemy becomes proficient, we will be in trouble," Shank instructed the officers beside him.

For example, Davikov's assault group successfully carried out its breakthrough mission, but the main force that followed was slow to act and clearly out of sync with the main force.

This gave Shang a good opportunity, and he immediately requested the field artillery group on the west bank of the Danube to carry out long-range artillery fire, forming three dense lines of fire to prevent the enemy from converging.

Although he didn't know what kind of impression Tukhachevsky had of Veronica, Shang decided to put a few coffin nails in his head first.

TuTu! I'm sorry! You'd be better off being executed!

With a serious expression, Shang Ke began assigning tasks.

"Looking at the map, I'm determined to wipe out this enemy force that has broken into the vicinity of Heroes' Square and win a clean and decisive annihilation battle."

"Major Mirko, your battalion will receive artillery support. After the battle begins, you will advance from the northwest to the southeast."

"Eugene, the tank detachment, in coordination with the Royal Guard, moves due east to encircle the enemy, cut off their retreat, and prevent them from retreating or reinforcing."

"To the south, two infantry companies from our neighboring police battalion will also cooperate with our operations to compress the enemy's operational space."

"It will be dark in an hour, and the enemy planes will be ineffective. However, everyone must be cautious. Night fighting has its advantages and disadvantages. Be careful of friendly fire."

The officers listened intently to the map, then saluted.

Major Mirko's eyes gleamed, and he clenched his fists, saying, "I can't wait any longer, Colonel Shang. This is exactly the opportunity we've been waiting for."

Captain Eugene nodded and said, "Tonight, we'll wipe out the invaders next to Heroes' Square and water the lawn with their blood."

After the pre-battle meeting concluded, everyone dispersed.

Shank arrived at a nearby department store in an off-road vehicle, which he chose as his temporary command post.

The department store was one of the strongholds of the neighborhood, with sandbags and barbed wire everywhere, and a company was stationed around it.

The defending forces had only about thirty tanks in total, so maximizing their value was a true test of command skills. These tanks were carefully divided up: nine Turan I tanks were dispersed and deployed at several key intersections as mobile artillery positions, while the remaining 23 Type 32 medium armored vehicles were concentrated into two armored squadrons, with command directly under the city defense command.

Shank requested armored support from Commander Lieutenant General Caroy, which was approved, and an armored squadron was dispatched.

At 17:40 p.m., hundreds of 81mm mortar shells rained down on the location of Davikov's assault group. Five minutes later, a barrage of 105mm grenades also came hurtling in.

The eager-to-fight Hungarian soldiers gazed into the distance, the flashes of fire from the explosions casting flickering light on their faces.

After a brief barrage of artillery fire, two red signal flares were launched into the air, followed by a piercing whistle.

"The moment has finally arrived! We must prove that we are worthy of the name 'Janos-Hunyatti'! Long live the Janos-Hunyatti!"

"Make them pay in blood!"

"Live the Magyars forever!"

"No retreat is permitted without orders. Everyone should be prepared to judge themselves!"

The 3rd Company of the 1st Battalion of the Military Police Regiment took the lead in launching the assault, and the 2nd Company, which was three or four hundred meters away, followed closely behind, leaping out of the assault launch position.

The late autumn dusk was incredibly dark, and the setting sun cast long shadows of the military police officers and soldiers.

The Imperial Russian soldiers were disoriented by the artillery fire, but they still stubbornly fired wildly with all the weapons at their disposal.

Mosin-Nagant rifles, Degtyarev light machine guns, Tokarev pistols... the few remaining tanks were also desperately firing their cannons.

"Da da da--"

Facing a barrage of rifle and machine gun fire, the Hungarian military police shouted and advanced in alternating cover, one after another.

Two anti-tank gun teams even carried heavy Solothurn anti-tank guns to the assault launch position and fired at close range, only two or three hundred meters away.

Amidst the hail of bullets, people fell one after another, but those around them ignored them and continued to advance...

Seeing this, Shang Ke silently cheered them on, then turned the artillery scope to look into the distance.

On the other side of the battlefield, the Royal Guard had quickly moved to the vicinity of Chomeri Avenue.

They reported that they had reached their positions and were deploying their attack formation. Shang Ke said to the female sergeant next to him, "Relay the message! Tell them to be careful of crossfire!"

It was already very dark, and visibility was extremely poor.

He turned and ordered, "Take over the mortar position, provide double illumination flares for support, and keep firing continuously, quickly!"

At the same time, in the direction of Chomerry Avenue...

A convoy of tanks drove up to the shoulder of the road, and the driver slammed on the brakes.

The road is slightly higher than the surrounding ground, which the tank can use as cover to shield the lower front of the vehicle and reduce its exposed area.

In vehicle number 139, Sergeant Major Louisa, who was in the co-driver's seat, suddenly shouted, "Commander! Gunner! Lieutenant Benzai wants us to take out the enemy tanks! Those T-26s are suppressing our infantry!"

"It's too dark, how am I supposed to aim, damn it!" Gunner Anlong pressed his eyes against the scope, straining to keep them wide open.

"Why don't you just aim when their cannon fire reveals them? Anlong, how could you be so stupid? I... Watch out! Flare! Close your eyes!!!"

Louisa suddenly gave a stern warning.

A second later, two blinding white orbs of light burst into the air, instantly illuminating the battlefield.

(End of this chapter)