Cannon Fire Arc-Chapter 707 - 45 Start

Chapter 707: Chapter 45 Start

July 8th, 0300 hours, headquarters of the Second Armored Army of Prosen Asgard.

The corps commander, Weidel, was listening to the final report before the assault began.

“Our current tank count has recovered to 100, among which 27 are the new Type VI Tiger King tanks. These tanks were supposed to be committed to the counterattack on the 3rd, but the poor road conditions prevented them from mobilizing to the starting positions in time,” the Chief of Staff read the report and then looked up at Weidel.

Weidel let out a long sigh, “One hundred tanks. A year ago, when we were down to a hundred tanks, the Anteans had already lost thousands!”

The Chief of Staff said, “The enemy’s Rokossovsky Type tanks, as well as the Whirlwind tank destroyers, are very effective. Although our new weapons have also arrived at the front, most of them broke down on the way. It’s not our fault, General.”

Weidel was silent for a few seconds, then asked, “The enemy we’re facing, how many troops are they estimated to have?”

“According to aerial surveillance and the reports from the motorized reconnaissance battalion, our immediate opposition consists of the Guard First Heavy Breakthrough Tank Group, as well as the 11th, 17th, 24th, and 26th Tank Brigades of the Guards. It is said that the Guard First Heavy Breakthrough Tank Group is personally led by Rocossov.”

Weidel turned sharply, “That many?”

The Chief of Staff hurriedly explained, “Actually, an Antean armored brigade isn’t as large as one of our armored battalions. The number of tanks in one of their brigades is roughly equivalent to half of one of our battalions.”

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Weidel said, “But the number of tanks we have is only equivalent to one battalion.”

A Prosen armored battalion could have 90 to 110 tanks; now, the entire Second Armored Army was combat-ready with only 100 tanks, which indeed was the composition of one battalion.

The Chief of Staff said, “The enemy has also lost many tanks. Today, we estimate that the number of tanks the enemy could use to launch an assault on us is about a hundred as well.”

Weidel asked, “Then why does everyone seem so crestfallen?”

“Because intelligence indicates that the frontal enemy has also received the support of a brigade of new assault guns, the kind with a hundred-millimeter main cannons. Moreover, they have likely used the past two days to build defensive positions.”

Weidel said, “I see. You mean to say that it’s certain we can’t repel the enemy’s offensive today, right?”

The Chief of Staff hesitated for a moment and answered, “Yes. Besides armored troops, the Anteans also have a large number of infantry. A significant part of the infantry forces under Rocossov are veteran Guards with cloaks, and they have all undergone hate indoctrination, having high morale.”

As the Chief of Staff finished speaking, an officer who had come for the meeting interjected, “I think they don’t need hate indoctrination to hate us.”

Everyone turned to look at the Lieutenant Colonel who had spoken.

The Lieutenant Colonel spread his hands, “Don’t you know what we’ve done in their homeland? If there’s hate education for the Anteans, we are its teachers.”

Weidel cautioned, “Watch your words, Lieutenant Colonel Fayn. We won’t report our comrades to the Constitutional Guards and the Imperial Ministry, but that doesn’t mean they can’t hear.”

“Thank you for the reminder,” responded Lieutenant Colonel Fayn.

Weidel continued, “That’s the situation. We will launch the attack at eight tomorrow morning, and after annihilating the enemy’s tank forces, we’ll continue advancing towards their infantry, completely severing their offensive thrust.

“You might have heard, the Third Armored Army has collapsed; even their headquarters was taken out by the Anteans. We’ve taken in many deserters from the Third Armored Army.

“But we still have to attack because we are the Asgard Knights, soldiers of Prosen. In the long history of Prosen, Prosen soldiers have never refused to fight just because defeat was certain.

“Dismissed!”

All the field officers on site stood up, ready to return to their own troops to join this final counterattack.

Suddenly, someone started:

Whether it be a gale or a blizzard, or the sun high in the sky!

It was the Prosen military song “Song of the Armored Troops,” which every Prosen tanker could sing.

So the others, about to leave, stopped and joined in the chorus:

Whether it be the scorching daylight or the icy night,

Even if sandstorms hit us in the face, our spirits remain high, still high!

Together they sang and stamped their feet rhythmically; the uniform sound of their boots was like a drumbeat of war.

Our tanks speed forth, towards the storm.

With the roaring of the engines, we surge like lightning—protected by our armor, we meet the enemy head-on.

Weidel watched his subordinates with chests puffed out and heads held high, his expression gradually softening until finally, he joined his subordinates in singing:

Once the enemy troops appear before our eyes, we’ll just floor the accelerator, charging straight towards their camp!

Where does our value lie?

Where does it lie?

To die for our homeland on the battlefield is our highest honor.

The song’s stirring melody burst forth from the tiny room, reaching for the sky.

The horizon to the east showed a glimmer of dawn, and the entire sky began to glow with the colors of the morning light.

The song marched into the final section.

The officers of the Asgard Second Armored Army sang together in unison,

“If the goddess of fate abandons us,

if we can no longer return to our homeland,

if the bullets are fired towards us, ending our fate,

ending our fate!

At the very least, our faithful tanks, will give us a steel grave!”

—

At the assembly point of the Antean Guard First Heavy Breakthrough Tank Brigade, July 8th at 0600.

Podoliskov returned to his vehicle crew’s tent with a look of despair, spreading his hands to everyone, “No show, that old Don just won’t sign it off. Insists on changing the gearbox and engine before anything.”

The driver, Ivan, shrugged, “Then let’s just grab a T34 and go. They can kill Prosens too.”

The loader spoke with concern, “But a T34 surely can’t beat the enemy’s new tanks, can it? That fishing rod cannon barely sufficed against the Rokossovsky Type armor; our Revenge almost got pierced. The Rokossovsky Type really should have reinforced armor.”

The gunner slapped the loader on the back, “So what? We’re not afraid of sacrifice, it’s just death.”

Podoliskov, “No, no, living is the only way to take revenge! General Rocossov taught us, preserve ourselves, eliminate the enemy. What’s that sound?”

He stopped talking and turned his head towards the direction of the sound.

The other members of the vehicle crew joined him, lining up to look in the same direction.

“A violin?” the driver, Ivan, said hesitantly.

Podoliskov nodded, “Sounds like it, but I don’t know. I’ve only heard a violin once at a concert organized by the Church. It was some long piece in D major, (actually Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, but Podoliskov couldn’t remember the lengthy name).”

The driver said, “I used to hear it quite often. A girl always played at the corner of the block where I lived. Every day, as I went to work early in the morning, I saw her standing next to the flower bed in the middle of the street, fiddling away.”

Podoliskov asked, “Really? Did you pursue her?”

“How could I? I’m a worker, don’t even own a suit.”

Podoliskov countered, “You say that, but you should ask the Priest! He’d definitely tell you there’s no barrier between you two, that if you like her, you should bravely pursue her!”

The driver didn’t answer, just took out his flask and took a big swig.

Then someone riding a captured BMW motorcycle came by, shouting as they went, “New tanks are here! There are new tanks here!”

Everyone in Podoliskov’s vehicle crew, who had been listening to the violin, had their attention drawn away.

Podoliskov called out, “Petro! What about new tanks?”

The BMW rider turned back, “This morning, aerial reconnaissance spotted enemy tank gatherings, so the Front Army reserves mobilized toward us, all brand new tanks! The latest model! Apparently, they haven’t even been named yet!”

Podoliskov and his subordinates exchanged a spirited look and with a wave of his hand said, “Let’s go take a look!”

After saying that, he was the first to jump into a Jeep, followed close by his crew. Seconds later, the Willys Jeep sped off in a trail of dust.

Around the new tanks, a large crowd had already gathered, turning the empty steppe noisy.

Someone recognized Podoliskov from afar and shouted, “You’ve come to see the new tanks too?”

“Just checking what’s going on!” Podoliskov replied, his eyes fixated on the new tanks on the steppe.

The new tanks were very low overall, the egg-shaped turret bore some resemblance to the Rokossovsky Type, but it was rounder, looking like an upside-down pot lid on top of the tank body.

The driver, Ivan, clicked his tongue upon seeing the “pot lid,” “Looks like it’s got good defensive capabilities.”

The gunner was more focused on the barrel, “Isn’t its barrel a bit longer than ours? It must have greater penetration; enough to deal with the enemy’s new tanks!”

Finally, the Jeep reached the new tank, Podoliskov pulled the handbrake and jumped off, shouting up to the people on the tank, “How much does this tank weigh? It looks lighter than ours!”

The egg-shaped turret’s tank operator responded, “They say thirty tons, made to replace the T34Ws! Oh boy, this gun, definitely won’t have a problem piercing the front of an upgraded Panzer IV.”

The new tank’s commander laughed, “Panzer IV? Kidding, right? We’ve extended the barrel just a bit from the original, something about being prepared for the enemy’s future new tanks!”

Podoliskov leaped onto the new tank energetically and patted the mantlet on the front of the turret, “How’s the frontal defense on this?”

The new tank’s commander, “About the same as the Rokossovsky Type, but this one’s side and rear defenses aren’t as good as the Rokossovsky Type. After all, the Rokossovsky Type is a heavy breakthrough tank, like the old heavy cavalry, intended for frontal assault against the enemy.

“Our model is all about speed and reliability. Look, we started with 45 tanks and after traveling so far, we still have 27!”

Podoliskov nodded repeatedly, “That’s great! That’s excellent! Our first breakthrough brigade is now down to a few operational tanks, and only after repairs. Really, this new tank is great.”

As he spoke, someone blew a whistle and rode a motorcycle over from a distance, the person in the sidecar shouting through a megaphone, “Everyone get back to your units! The enemy is approaching! Damn it, stop surrounding the new tank. As long as you’re alive, you’ll get to drive one, hurry back to your units!”