Steel Soviet Union

Similar to the 88mm anti-aircraft gun equipped in the hands of the German army, the Soviet-made M1939 85mm anti-aircraft gun, which had been fully finalized and put into production before the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, and was widely equipped with almost all air defense units on the front line, is undoubtedly an excellent and An anti-aircraft gun with multiple functions and uses.

This type of antiaircraft gun has shown excellent ballistic performance and good reliability in actual combat. The relatively lightweight and easy-to-operate gun body makes it more comfortable in dealing with all aerial targets in the medium and low altitude range.

As long as the quantity is sufficient or there is a high-low barrage firepower composed of small-caliber rapid-fire anti-aircraft guns, the projectile mass is light and the M1939 85mm field anti-aircraft gun uses an integrated bomb, when used properly, even the German army It can be knocked down by any fighter jet. It is almost a medium-caliber anti-aircraft gun comparable to the German 88mm anti-aircraft gun.

Kotin and Shashmulin, who had the same vision as heroes, couldn't help but smile at each other after shouting out the name in unison at the same time. This anti-aircraft gun, which had been tested in actual combat and proved to be excellent and reliable, could be used. , the fact that the Red Army soldiers on the front lowered the muzzle and then used this type of anti-aircraft gun to shoot German tanks flatly and achieved good results has already spread like wildfire among the tank design team and has been widely circulated.

"Indeed! If you use this field anti-aircraft gun as the main gun of a new heavy tank, it will undoubtedly be a very good choice!"

"Production, quality, and actual combat performance, everything has been fully tested in actual combat and proven to be reliable and efficient. As long as it is slightly improved, it can be put into the turret of the new heavy tank and immediately put into mass production, and the 85mm custom-made The shells will not have much impact on the loader, and there is nothing more joyful than this!"

Ke Jin, who became more and more excited as he talked, was as happy as a child who learned that he would receive an ideal birthday gift. Moving the 85 mm anti-aircraft gun to the tank turret was a reasonable and wise decision no matter how you looked at it. The problem of the new heavy tank main gun that had troubled Kejin for a long time was naturally solved.

Just a few days later, we were still in the familiar venue with Stalin personally in charge.

Kotin and Morozov, who came to attend the second design discussion meeting with their respective original design teams, both arrived on time. The middle and heavy battle between T-34 and KV was like fire and flood again. Released.

During the few days when Kotin led the entire design team to work day and night to produce the design drawings, Malashenko and Colonel Donskoy, who were fighting on the front line in the suburbs outside Leningrad, cooperated tacitly. Relying on the numerical disadvantage of the defensive forces, they withstood artillery bombings, aircraft bombardments, and tank charges time and time again, delaying the German army's crazy offensive in the suburbs and unable to advance even half a step.

At the heavy cost of almost all casualties, it bought enough time for Zhukov to summon follow-up troops to reinforce the theater. In one fell swoop, he reversed the absolute disadvantage in the direction of Uritsk that was already on the verge of collapse. After receiving reinforcements from follow-up troops, Malashenko The last ten or so tanks under his command were still firmly anchored in the direction of Uritsk, becoming the leading force against the German armored offensive.

Kotin knew almost nothing about the fierce fighting that took place on the Leningrad front. He was so busy that he had not even read a newspaper or listened to the radio for a week. The thick stack of design sketches in his hand was then handed over to the loving father Comrade Stalin who was sitting on the first seat.

"Comrade Leader, this is a design plan for a new heavy tank that our Second Special Design Bureau has rushed to produce. Although it is currently only a sketch due to the lack of time and needs to be revised, the general design ideas and concept have been finalized. Yes, I can assure you that this is definitely a powerful heavy tank that can completely crush the Nazis."

The loving father Stalin, who was non-committal about the words of assurance sworn by Kogin, whose facial expressions were obscured by his thick beard, could not even tell whether he was happy or dissatisfied. Even Kogin, who was good at "guessing the holy will" At the moment, I don’t even dare to pat my chest and guarantee that my rush-production design plan is absolutely foolproof.

It was so quiet that you could hear a needle drop. Apart from the sound of people breathing through their nostrils, the only sound left was the rustle of Comrade Stalin looking through the design sketches. Ke Jin, who didn't even dare to take a breath, was sitting in his seat. With his eyes focused, he quietly waited for the moment that would determine his future and destiny.

"Equipped with an 85mm tank main gun? Improved from the M1939 field anti-aircraft gun?"

Comrade Stalin, who was silently reciting the notes on the sketch, frowned. This strange look that showed an ominous sign hit Kogin's heart like a huge boulder, making his heart sink immediately.

"Is Comrade Stalin dissatisfied with my design plan? How is this possible?"

Kogin, who was already panicking, was just thinking wildly and did not notice the strange look on Comrade Stalin's face that was extremely strange but had nothing to do with anger.

Temporarily putting down the Kotin design plan in his hand, he picked up the already passed Morozov design plan on the right hand side. After putting the two sketches involving the tank's main gun together to form a left-right comparison, Comrade Stalin thought for a moment and thought. The strange and questionable words came out of his mouth immediately and without thinking.

"Morozov, Kotin, have you two merged teams together to discuss tank design plans these days? Why do the design drawings submitted by the two of you include a proposal to modify the 85mm anti-aircraft gun?"

The brief words from the mouth of Supreme Leader Stalin were like pouring a large ladle of cold water into the boiling oil pan. After being stunned for a moment, Kotin and Morozov cast disbelief at each other almost at the same time. Eyes.

"This cunning guy! Is there an informant of his in my design team? How is this possible!?"

"Kogin can actually think of improving the 85mm field anti-aircraft gun. Shouldn't this guy who only wants to please Comrade Stalin put the 122mm field cannon on the truck?"

Seeing the fierce tit-for-tat exchanges between Kotin and Morozov almost igniting the air, Comrade Stalin, who realized that he had to say something as a leader, immediately put down the two sketches in his hands and spoke slowly.

"It seems that the common ground between the two of you is just a coincidence. Let's put this matter aside for now. At the end of the last meeting, didn't you two want to hear the opinions of the most elite tank heroes of our Red Army? ? Now the two reports have been sent to me, I hope this can be of some help to your design ideas. ”