Battle of the Third Reich Chapter 148: Rainy Night (Part 1)

Marching in the rain at night is a chore, and most armies in the world try to avoid getting their troops into this trouble. Love to surf the internet

The already poor visibility became worse under the dense rain. In order to maintain concealment, the German army also installed night control lampshades for the car lights. This kind of metal hood only leaves a slender gap on the front of the car lights. Under normal circumstances, the light is just enough to illuminate the front 20 meters of the car. The roads within it also effectively reduce the probability of being discovered by enemies in the distance and in the air. But at this time, this equipment severely restricted the speed of the German forces. The weakened lights were difficult to penetrate the dense rain. The visible distance had been reduced to about ten meters, and the speed of the convoy could only be slowed down accordingly. Considering speed, the most important thing is to ensure the safety of driving.

The German army actually has more advanced night control lamps, but because it has just been put into mass production, the production schedule cannot keep up for a while, and a professional repair shop is required for circuit and panel modification, so only a small part of the vehicle has been installed. That kind of night light. Zeissler’s armored grenadier company did not have time to change to the high-end equipment, and even the half-track vehicles distributed to them were new products just off the production line. When they got it, the engine did not even pass the running-in period. .

The 251 half-tracked vehicle has a design that German soldiers love and hate. It has no top cover. The fully open top cover design was a popular style in the world at that time, and it was also a product of military thinking at that time. According to the technology at the time, it was not incapable of designing these vehicles into a fully enclosed style, but the senior officers at this time still insisted on their own understanding. The lessons of the First World War affected the development of equipment for more than ten years after the war. The enclosed personnel carrier was regarded as a waste of materials and space, and was an iron coffin used to murder soldiers.

The generals believe that once such a vehicle is attacked by anti-tank weapons, the soldiers hiding in the closed compartment will suffer serious injury, and it will be difficult to escape from the vehicle. The open battle room is different, and it is not only convenient to get on and off the vehicle. , At the same time, it has the widest perspective, which is convenient for soldiers to observe the surrounding environment. At the same time, it is also convenient for soldiers to shoot at the target in the vehicle.

The blitzkrieg tactics at the time were still being studied and explored. The idea of ​​building armored divisions appeared in the German army. The generals proposed the idea of ​​forming an infantry unit that accompanies the mobility of the armored divisions, so they proposed to develop a A vehicle that has protection and combat capabilities and can transport soldiers in complex environments with tank vehicles.

Now that the subordinates have such a demand. Of course, the senior management will be satisfied. The sdkfz251 half-track personnel carrier came into being. The problem was that the German national strength was not restored at the time, and the reconstruction of the Wehrmacht was everywhere. So it was necessary to plan carefully in equipment procurement. Economy and mass production were a rigid standard for all German equipment at that time. During the development process.

251 is not exempt. As a general-purpose armored personnel carrier with a large number of equipment prepared by the German army, the 251 was required to be developed on the basis of the German half-track tractor at the time, and it could be replaced with existing equipment in parts and basic structures as much as possible, which is convenient It can be put into production quickly without changing the original production line too much. The most important thing is to save a lot of costs and keep the total price within the lowest range of the German procurement standards. Therefore, some people say in the future that the performance of German half-track vehicles is very ordinary, even a little mediocre. The problem is actually at the source of the research and development.

Of course Zeissler would not agree with this view. In his view, these vehicles represent the highest level of German military technology, even if there are some flaws, but it does not affect its outstanding performance on the battlefield, at least so far it has not disappointed Zeissler.

"We are about one kilometer to arrive at the next intersection. According to the latest report from the battalion, there is a paratrooper reconnaissance team on our side. It should be not far from us. If we can see each other during the day, Zeissler sat. At the position of the captain, use the flares next to the radio to check the waterproof map in hand.

"We are a little late, sir. The road is too difficult." The captain wore a motorcycle rider's rubber raincoat. Standing against the wind and rain on the machine gun shooter's platform behind the cockpit, he held the **** of the mg34 machine gun in his hand and stared nervously at the taillights of the vehicle in front.

It is true, the British road opened the eyes of the Germans. They found that each other seemed to be alive in the Middle Ages. The roads in the countryside are all one-way roads along the water, and they go very strangely. They go through the forest and pass the village. At first they go east and then turn to the north. The British seem to have no concept of walking in a straight line. The twists and turns are everywhere. .

What's even more hateful is that the British roads rarely have eye-catching signs. The Germans had to stop for a while at every intersection and watch the surrounding landmarks and road conditions carefully against the wind and rain, for fear of taking the wrong way. Zeissler guessed that this group of **** must have been full of whiskey when they were building roads, otherwise how could they have created such a crazy maze of road traffic network.

"We still have time. After this intersection, the road behind will be much more spacious. We will be able to reach Kingston at about 3:30. The rain is too heavy, and the headquarters will understand our difficulties." Zeiss Le turned to look at the captain, and continued to look down at the map.

"I received a radio signal. There must be a British radio station nearby. They are talking by voice." The communicator shrank under the canvas canopy at the back of the carriage. This temporary rain shelter is not the original equipment of the vehicle. , Zeissler got some rain sheds equipped with Renault tracked vehicles in the seized goods warehouse. The size and shape are still suitable. Although it is more troublesome to erect, the effect of waterproof and rain shelter is still good.

"Your English is good, go and listen to what is said in it?" Zeissler said to the captain.

"Understood." The captain turned around, bent down and got under the canopy. He took off his helmet and put on a radio headset.

"This, this is not English, it seems to be Slavic. Please wait a moment..." The captain pressed the earphone to recognize it carefully.

At this time, the tracked vehicle suddenly slowed down, and then slowly stopped by the curb.

"It's not my problem. The car in front stopped and the pilot car turned back." The driver shouted from the side.

"This **** weather, I don't know what they found." Zeissler buttoned the raincoat and put on his helmet, and got out of the captain's seat.

"Sir, we heard gunshots in front. There were flashes and fires two kilometers away from the front right. It may be that our people are fighting the enemy." The company's Sergeant Chief Franken, who served as the lead reconnaissance mission, stood in the third round. Loudly shouted at Zeissler from the motorcycle's compartment.

"Did you see the exact location?" Zeissler yelled at the chief officer, holding the edge of the car.

"Just turn right in the woods ahead. There is a road leading to the battlefield, which looks like a village. The rain is too heavy, you may not hear it here. We can see clearly from the front, It’s a lively game over there. I have sent the Frederic brothers over to check them out. They are very clever. They should bring us the exact news soon.” The chief sergeant raised his head, holding the helmet in one hand and the other. The hand is holding the shoulder of the motorcyclist.

"Did they bring a radio?"

"I brought it, but the rain is too heavy, I don't know how the signal is." Franken wiped the rain off his face.

"Order the troops to prepare for battle and wait for you to get on the second car. Let the first car of the heavy weapon platoon follow the company. I need them to contact the friendly forces."

The heavy weapon platoon has a 251/3 medium-sized radio communication vehicle, because sometimes it is necessary to uniformly deploy heavy firepower in combat, the regiment and even the division will directly take over the command of the heavy firepower unit, so each armored bomb The heavy firepower platoon of the military company is equipped with this medium-sized communication vehicle.

This half-track radio communication vehicle is equipped with four different types of radio stations, covering several bands of long-range and short-range inter-car walk, and can directly communicate with armored forces and air force units, or with similar equipment. Army friendly unit contact.

Following the command of the company commander, the armored grenadier company restarted, and the vehicles in the middle of the team turned off their headlights. Only rely on the red taillights to keep the distance between each other.

"The company commander, it's Frederic." The communicator shouted in front of the walkie-talkie.

"Which one?"

"My brother."

Zeissler took the walkie-talkie in the hands of the communicator. The signal was affected by rain, and there was some interference during the call, but he could finally tell what was said.

"Company commander, we are now on the edge of the battlefield. We met with friendly forces. They are the reconnaissance team of the first battalion of paratroopers. There are two companies. They were ambushed in the village. There is almost one platoon. The paratroopers are surrounded by the enemy in the village. They are trying to rescue them. Now they ask for our help. Wait a minute, the commander of the paratroopers wants to talk to you." Little Frederic finished speaking and handed the walkie-talkie. Commander of the paratrooper.

"I am Lieutenant von Clausen, commander of the second company of the first battalion of paratroopers." A calm voice rang, giving Zeissler a good first impression.

"I am Lieutenant Zeissler, the company commander of the Second Battalion 1st Company of the 37th Regiment." He took the walkie-talkie back to the captain's seat and picked up the map.

"I am glad to see you here. We urgently need your help now."

"No problem, Lieutenant, my people will be there soon, please wait a while." Zeissler opened the armor cover of the observation window and glanced toward the front of the road.

"Understand, I look forward to meeting you." The other party returned the walkie-talkie to Frederic.

"Company commander. Turn left when you arrive at the intersection, go on a small road, and you will see us."

"Understand, you just wait where you are, don't act rashly."

"Yes, sir."

Zeissler put the walkie-talkie on the console next to the captain's seat, inserted the map back into the map bag next to it, and then raised his hands and rubbed his face vigorously.

"I hate fighting in the rain." The grenadier lieutenant took a deep breath of the damp and cold air. He put on his helmet again and tightened the leather chin strap~IndoMTL.com~ He turned his hand and picked up the walkie-talkie. The captain's seat.

"Have you not found out which country you are from? Maybe it is a commercial radio station of a foreign company." He put the walkie-talkie on the storage rack next to the communication station, tilted his head and looked at the car that was still monitoring the radio communication. long.

"Very familiar, I must have heard it before, and some words can be heard. One of them seems to be an officer, who is reporting to whom, they are not using our walkie-talkie, there must be a command post nearby... .. Warsaw? I heard Warsaw... By the way, they are Poles, yes, the guys raised by this group of **** are **** Poles.” The car commander shouted loudly while still on the iron next to the radio. A hard pat on the small table.

"Pole?" The grenadier lieutenant looked at the captain in surprise.

"There is absolutely nothing wrong. I heard their call on the front line in Warsaw back then." The captain nodded to his officer with certainty.

"These are the people fighting the paratroopers, the bereaved dogs in exile in England." Zeissler's mouth was cocked, showing a dangerous smile. (To be continued.) () "The Battle of Resurrection in the Third Reich" only represents the author Feng Rui's point of view. If it is found that its content violates national laws and conflicts, please delete it. The position is only dedicated to providing health Green reading platform. 【】,thank you all!