At this time, Katukov received an order, one from Rokossovsky, the commander of the 16th Army.

"The 2nd Guards Tank Brigade was ambushed by the enemy, immediately reinforce them!" Rokossovsky said.

"But, Comrade Rokossovsky!" Katukov replied: "We are still an hour away from Tver!" ”

"Speed up!" Rokossovsky said: "They are surrounded by enemies!" ”

"We're already the fastest we're in!" Katukov replied: "Unless...... We let the M3 medium tanks break out of formation and rush to reinforcements! ”

The M3 medium tank barely reached a speed of 20 kilometers per hour off-road, so that it could reach Tver in half an hour.

The problem is that if the M3 medium tank alone arrives in Tver, it will not play a big role.

On the one hand, the M3 medium tank is not strong enough in combat and defense, and its huge body will be an obvious target for the enemy.

On the other hand, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade is afraid that if it loses the cooperation of the M3 medium tanks, it will only have problems.

AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THE M3 MEDIUM TANK WAS THE SPEAR OF THE 1ST GUARDS TANK BRIGADE, AND ITS 75MM GUN, ALTHOUGH NARROW, COULD PENETRATE GERMAN TANK ARMOR AT LONG DISTANCES...... This would force the Germans to seek close combat, and could even use it to provide cover for the Matilda.

Otherwise, without the M3 medium tank, the clumsy Matilda could easily be surrounded by the enemy and then go around the flank and attack its weak armor.

At that time, I am afraid that even if there are rocket launchers, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade will not be able to save it, and the entire army will be in danger of being passively beaten.

Rokossovsky also understood this, so after thinking about it, he replied: "Forget about it, you continue to march and prepare for battle...... The enemy is likely to turn against you! ”

"Yes, Comrade Rokossovsky!"

Katukov was very satisfied with this, in fact, even if Rokossovsky ordered the M3 medium tank to accelerate the reinforcement, he would not agree.

This is not to say that Katukov is selfish, but at all times, he should go to the rescue of friendly troops if he can ensure his own safety...... Otherwise, it will either be a trap for the enemy or it will be worth the loss.

This is the situation at this time, because of the speed problems of "Matilda", the 1st Guards Tank Brigade can only say that it is helpless.

"Ready for battle!"

"Ready for battle!"

……

The order was delivered one after another.

Katukov also sent a message to Shulka through Fedosyev...... This is the advantage of British and American tanks, they are equipped with a complete set of communication systems, and they are compatible with each other.

As a result, Katukov could easily send messages and even give orders to a battalion or company through tanks...... This has become a chain of command in a sense.

Of course, this does not work very well in wartime.

"Comrade Captain!" Fedosyev waved the signal flag from the turret towards Shulka in front of him to get Shulka's attention.

Shulka stopped and waited for a while, and after the tank followed, Fedosyev jumped down and said: "Comrade Katukov let me tell you, you guessed it, the Germans were really prepared. But alas, we didn't have enough time to prepare, and the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade was surrounded by the enemy! ”

In fact, there is no need to say this, Shulka can be seen from the fighters of the enemy and us fighting in the air.

The Luftwaffe again gained air superiority at this stage, but they did not attack the 1st Guards Tank Brigade...... Perhaps this slow-moving tank was not taken into their sights.

And that's exactly what happened.

The pilots had long seen the 1st Guards Tank Brigade in the air.

Of course, they didn't know that it was the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, which had repeatedly performed on the battlefield, and they habitually thought that it would not be the 1st Guards Tank Brigade...... The 1st Guards Tank Brigade is a "T34 unit" in their eyes, and a tank unit without T34 certainly cannot be a "T34 unit".

"We've found an armored unit!" Colonel Charles, who was flying fighter jets to fight for air supremacy with the Soviets, reported to his superiors: "They are heading in the direction of Tver at a speed of about 10 kilometers per hour!" ”

"What? 10 kilometers per hour? Kubil couldn't believe it when he heard this, and he asked, "You read that right!" ”

"No, I read that right!" Colonel Charles replied: "It is indeed 10 kilometers per hour...... Wait, I see it clearly, those are British tanks, I recognize them! ”

Colonel Charles was part of the German 10th Air Force, which had fought in Africa, that is, covering Rommel's armored forces against the British...... Of course, only a small percentage of them carried out this mission, and most of the warplanes were bombing the island of Malta.

Colonel Charles had the privilege of fighting in Africa, so he was well aware of the tanks used by the British.

"Are you sure?" Lieutenant General Kubil asked.

He did not dare to be gullible, because it was directly related to the course of the next battle.

"I'm sure!" Colonel Charles replied: "It's the British 'Matilda' tank, and the American 'General Grant', etc., and finally the 'Valentine' tank." ”

Charles reported these tank models to Kubil, including the nickname "General Grant" for the M3 medium tank, which was unknown to even the Soviet army...... This nickname was given to the American tank by the British, and it was certainly not given a nickname on such an official occasion to aid the Soviet army.

"Damn the British and Americans!" Kubil couldn't help but curse when he heard this.

The reason why he scolded so much was because he knew that it was the British and Americans who provided these tanks for the Russian army.

But his eyes soon lit up, and he immediately pulled out a document from the pile of papers...... It was a document on the data of British and American tanks.

Rommel's army had fought these tanks in the African theater, so of course the data on the performance and advantages of these enemy equipment would be shared among the army.

As a commander, Kubil knew this, of course, and he needed this document just to confirm it.

Then he understood why this armored unit was marching so slowly.

"It's Matilda who is slowing them down!" Lieutenant General Kubil said to the adjutant.

"Do you want the Air Force to stop them?" The adjutant asked.

"No!" Lieutenant General Kubil shook his head and said: "Let the Air Force concentrate its firepower against the T34, it is our opponent!" As for the 'Matilda' and the 'General Grant'...... Let's let our tanks deal with them! ”

With that, Lieutenant General Kubil gave it to von . Funk made a call: "Our luck comes, Major General, there is an armored unit waiting for you in the back, an armored unit composed of British and American tanks!" ”