After a period of intense measurements and data collection, the scientists even tried to launch the Tiger, but eventually gave up for fear of spontaneous combustion due to engine injuries.

"If we want to deal with this tank, we have to use a thicker gun, and the 76.2mm tank gun we are using now obviously can't do that!"

"It's not enough to use thicker artillery, we also need thicker armor!"

"But our engines can't handle that kind of weight!"

……

There was a heated discussion in the conference room.

The tank is such a thing, it has to strike a balance between firepower, protection and maneuverability, otherwise there will be some obvious drawback that will allow it to be exploited by the enemy.

The T34 should be said to be successful in this regard, because it uses inclined armor that allows it to increase its protection in stages without increasing the weight of the tank, so it does all three quite well.

But now, the appearance of the "Tiger style" has broken the advantage of the T34.

"Comrades!" Sisoy stopped the scientists from arguing: "Have you ever considered that the fact that Germany built such a bulky tank, but used a gasoline engine, would undoubtedly cause problems with its mobility?" ”

With that, Sisoy turned his gaze to Shulka.

"Yes!" Shulka replied: "We found railroad tracks on the battlefield, which connected tank bunkers, and several flatbed trucks, so we have reason to believe that the Germans were dragging these tanks in flatbed trucks for maneuvering, to be exact, time permitting!" ”

Scientists couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when they heard this.

"So we don't need to worry too much about this thing!" "I mean, if they need to maneuver with rails, it can't even be called a tank!" ”

"Yes!"

"It should probably be called an armored train!"

……

Scientists may be right, but if they rely too much on rails, they really can't be called tanks, especially for German units that are known for their speed in "blitzkrieg".

But Shulka doesn't think so.

"I'm not optimistic!" "First of all, I think that's why they put this new tank on the battlefield in a hurry," Shulka said. They'll spend the time behind them and make it a real tank! ”

Kalashnikov agreed: "I found some traces of welding, new, which means that they were even fused on the way in!" ”

"Even if they solve some problems, they won't solve the problem of mobility!" "It's up to its engine!" Sisoy said. ”

It should be said that Sisoy was right, the speed of the "Tiger" on the road is only 38 kilometers per hour, and the off-road speed is only a pitiful 15-21 kilometers per hour, especially the terrain of the Soviet Union is either muddy in spring and summer or snowy in autumn and winter, and it is even more nightmare for the "Tiger" maneuver.

But this did not affect the combat effectiveness of the "Tiger" and the lethality of the Soviet troops, Shulka was well aware of this.

"Gentlemen!" "You have to know that the emphasis on speed should be at the beginning of the war, when the Germans' strategy was to break through quickly, or to attack strategic points as quickly as possible, just as they attacked the Crimea not so long ago, and in less than ten days they hit the Kiev line to the Crimea and occupied it before we were ready!" ”

Shulka paused, and then continued: "However, as the war deepens, I think that the enemy and us will gradually fall into a stalemate, and at this time, the probability of a long-distance attack and a 'blitzkrieg' will be reduced by a number of progressions, so the requirements for the maneuverability of the tank will also be reduced!" ”

The scientists couldn't help but nod their heads, this is their unfamiliar territory, and it is not surprising that they can't think of it.

"What's more!" Shulka said: "We have to admit that the Germans will be much more skilled in the use of tanks than our tank crews, plus they are generally equipped with radios and coordinate well with each other, if a few or even a dozen of these tanks form a force to cover each other, I am afraid that we will not be able to defeat them even if we have a numerical superiority!" ”

Scientists can't help but talk about it.

It is indeed possible that Shulka said that although the "Tiger" is slow, it is almost invincible, so it only needs to advance steadily, and the Soviet army will only be beaten.

"I think it's urgent to develop a new tank that can restrain it!" Kalashnikov said: "Take advantage of the time when the Germans did not yet equip such tanks in large quantities!" ”

"First of all, we had to find a tank gun that could penetrate from a distance!"

"102MM, I THINK OUR 85MM ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS WILL PROBABLY DO!"

"It's too big for our tank!"

"But what else can we do?"

……

The scientists quarreled fiercely again.

"Comrades!" Shulka impatiently interrupted their quarrel: "Why don't we produce a gun with a tank chassis, like the Germans?" ”

The scientists couldn't help but be stunned when they heard this.

After thinking about it, Kalashnikov said: "Very good idea, Shulka. The Germans, when they could not deal with our T34, simply mounted an anti-tank gun on a tank chassis, which, although not as flexible as a tank, was able to be mass-produced in short time and could penetrate targets without question! ”

The assault gun differs from a tank in that it does not need as many devices to allow the turret to rotate, not even the sighting system.

This saves weight and space and allows it to be loaded with guns of any caliber.

Although it still has a lot of shortcomings when facing tanks on the battlefield, at least it will not be a target and cannot be used against it.

If there are too many of them, the opponent's tanks will become targets.

"I agree!" "This is indeed a solution, at least our contingency plan for the transition period," Sisoi said. ”

So this Soviet-style assault gun immediately entered the development process.

Although this research and development is not difficult at all, it is to find a suitable gun that can penetrate the frontal armor of the "Tiger" and mount it on the tank chassis.

But it's not that easy to do.

Because of this, there are constant tests, such as which artillery has moderate performance and can pose a threat to the "Tiger" at about 1,000 meters.

After that, it is necessary to choose which tank is more suitable for the chassis to be equipped with.

In addition, it also requires a certain amount of protection, as well as bomb load and mobility.

However, this assault gun was soon introduced...... It took only 120 days from research and development to being sent to the battlefield, which can be called a miracle in the history of the Soviet army.