CANNON FIRE ARC

Chapter 813: Chapter 42: Tomorrow’s Smile Will Be Spring Flowers Everywhere (8.3K)

Filippov was waiting for news in the regimental bunker. As soon as the telephone rang, he immediately picked up the receiver: “Regiment headquarters.”

The voice of the First Battalion Commander came through the receiver: “Commander, we repelled the enemy’s attack. The Whirlwind assigned to us destroyed several enemy tanks, but these tanks are a bit strange!

“They are equipped with headlights, and there’s something odd on top of the turret. I feel it’s related to how they identified our firing positions in the complete darkness before! Please dispatch a tractor immediately to tow one back to the Front Army Headquarters!”

Filippov: “Where am I supposed to find a tractor for you! The regiment’s artillery towing is all done using BT7s with their main guns removed. Can those BT7s tow the enemy’s tank?”

Battalion Commander: “Hold on a moment, Commander.”

Then the voice ordering his subordinates came from the other end of the line: “Find someone who knows about tanks to assess whether the enemy’s contraption can be towed away with a BT7!”

…

“Impossible!” came the soldier’s response, passing through the phone line, “Just by looking at it, it’s definitely more than forty tons, more than double the weight of a BT7!”

Another more seasoned soldier suggested, “The enemy’s wheels look very intricate. I think we should ask the Corps Command to dispatch a tow truck.”

Corps Command has Dragon-style tow trucks imported from the Federation, and the soldiers were all deeply impressed having seen them transport naval gunboats.

The First Battalion Commander spoke again: “Commander, the BT7 might not be suitable; better to have the Corps Command send a tow truck.”

Filippov: “No, the route between us and the rear has not been demined; we can’t risk the precious imported tow trucks. Push the enemy back, establish a blockade line, and I, along with Battalion Commander Horlov of the Tank Destroyer Battalion, will come over to take a look. We will bring technicians.”

“Yes, we will construct new defensive positions around the tanks and build fortifications overnight.”

“No, the surroundings are not necessarily suitable for defense. Just hold the line until we can tow away the enemy tank. That’s it.”

Source: .com, updated on ƝονǤο.ƈ0

Filippov hung up the phone and turned to the messenger: “Go find Battalion Commander Horlov from the Tank Destroyer Battalion that was reinforced to us. Tell him the enemy may have a high-value new type of tank, and I plan to inspect it myself. I hope he brings technicians as well.”

“Yes!” The messenger turned and sprinted off.

Military Chaplain: “Logically, I should oppose the chief commander of the troops from running into danger, but I feel this matter is very important this time.”

Filippov patted the Priest’s shoulder: “Don’t worry, I already had the First Battalion push forward a defense line.”

————

25 minutes later, Filippov saw for himself the “somewhat strange” enemy tanks that the First Battalion Commander mentioned.

Battalion Commander Horlov immediately demonstrated his professional expertise as the Tank Destroyer Battalion commander: “It was hit in the front, but it didn’t hit the weak spots indicated by the identification handbook issued by the High Command; probably because it was too dark to see clearly.”

Filippov: “It penetrated without hitting the weak spots… is Prosen’s armor steel becoming junk, or…”

“It’s the distance,” Horlov interrupted Filippov, “If it was fired from that position we just passed, the distance was only about 800 meters. At this range, we can penetrate the front of the enemy’s new tanks—and likewise, they can penetrate ours.”

Filippov: “I see.”

Horlov approached the tank, examined the hole in the armor, and said, “It looks like it wasn’t completely punched through. The shell must have been stuck in the armor, then the fuze activated the explosion, with clear signs of gunpowder burn marks around the armor.

“The explosion caused the inside of the tank’s armor to shatter, killing the crew, but it didn’t ignite anything.”

After finishing, Horlov climbed onto the tank, scrutinizing the large headlight installed on the front of the turret.

“Strange,” he said, “this light is a bit different from the searchlights I remember. Aleksei, come have a look at this!”

The technician who came with Horlov jumped onto the tank and began inspecting the searchlight.

Horlov, touching the device on top of the turret, said: “This is also strange. It looks like a single-tube telescope, but the mounting position is not suitable for observation. If the tank commander wants to look at it, they would have to lean over—and of course, it doesn’t have an eyepiece.

“To install this device, the tank had the anti-aircraft machine gun removed, but it is not mounted on the base of the anti-aircraft machine gun. It’s fixed directly on the top of the turret and cannot rotate.”

Filippov, having patiently listened up to this point, couldn’t hold back and asked: “What in the world are these things?”

Horlov shook his head: “I don’t know. We should send this tank back for smart people to study.”

At that moment, the technician examining the “searchlight” spoke up: “This thing should have a filament, but the front layer—I thought it was ordinary glass, but look, the light from our flashlights can’t penetrate it!

“I think even if the inside filament is lit, no light would pass through. It’s too unbelievable.”

Horlov: “It seems uncovering the secrets of this device now exceeds our capabilities; it should be handed over to the Marshals and experts.”

Filippov: “Alright then, check now if it can drive on its own. If not, see what kind of tractor is needed to tow it away.”

“I’ll give it a try,” Horlov said as he climbed into the enemy tank’s driver’s hatch, “Whoa, there are a lot more things on the driver’s side. What is this? It looks quite similar to the device on top of the turret.”

Filippov: “Similar to the one on top of the turret?”

“Yes. Damn, the driver’s seat is all bloody. The driver died in the tank, right? Was any notable item found on the body, like a manual for operating the new system?”

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