The 1st Guards Tank Brigade rested in the factory for three full days.

From this point of view, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade did not need to rush to the Caucasus in such a hurry, and Mehris should have flown over first to start the "work" he was going to do.

However, these three days were not wasted by the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, where they conducted training on half-tracks in the open space of the plant.

This kind of training is not complicated, it can almost be said that it is enough to arrange a machine gunner and let the soldiers know to use the armor above to cover themselves to shoot at the enemy...... On the battlefield, it's often things that are easy to use and effective that are most popular, and half-tracks are clearly one of them.

So half-tracks were very popular, especially in Soviet units.

As the veteran said: "We hardly see any equipment designed to cover the infantry!" ”

"Tanks aren't they?" The actor replied.

"No, Okunev!" The veteran replied: "Tanks are for the sake of destroying enemy tanks and fortifications, covering infantry is just incidental!" ”

The veteran had a point, because the Soviets rarely coordinated their infantry in their routine training, which is one of the reasons why they thought that tanks didn't need to have too many radios...... Tanks fight tanks, infantry fight infantry, as long as they are brave enough and rush forward with all their might, what else can not be drowned by this sea of tanks and people?

"But now!" The veteran patted the half-track armored car under him and said with emotion: "I finally have the feeling of being protected!" ”

The actor laughed: "Does it make a difference? A shell came and there was nothing! ”

"Of course there is a difference!" The veteran replied, "Because you know your life has become important, understand?" ”

"Yes, I feel that way too!" Uncle Alek turned back from the cab and said, "Even if it's just a few layers of iron, even if we know it can't stop the shells...... But they're willing to make something for our lives! ”

At this time, the Cossacks interjected: "They? Forget it, don't you know that this thing was designed by Comrade Battalion Commander? I heard that Comrade Battalion Commander also spent a lot of effort to convince them! ”

Shulka didn't know what his subordinates were discussing, he only knew that the morale of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade had risen to a higher level in the past few days, and his subordinates and even other comrades had looked at him a little differently.

Shulka, of course, did not know that this was the credit of the half-track.

In fact, Shulka was already a little used to the soldiers looking at him like that, so it was not surprising.

"We can't divide these half-tracks equally!" Shulka said to the deputy battalion commander Maksimovich: "Its role is not only to transport troops, but also to reconnaissance and rapid mobility, so we should allocate a part to reconnaissance troops!" ”

"But how much is allocated to the reconnaissance troops?" Maksimovich asked: "Our battalion was allocated only twenty vehicles!" ”

Although more than a hundred half-tracks were received from Stalingrad, twenty were distributed from the top down to the hands of the 1st battalion.

Of these, Mehelis's guard company alone was allocated twenty vehicles...... When Mehlis was rescued, he knew the role of the half-track armored car, in fact, it can almost be said to be an artifact of snow warfare, compared to the jeep, it has combat effectiveness, strong defense, and more importantly, off-road ability.

Originally, it was enough for a guard company to allocate ten vehicles, one for each platoon, plus one command vehicle.

Although each half-track vehicle can only carry one squad, even combat units are not fully equipped with half-tracks.

But the unprofitable Mehris certainly would not be willing to be like the "ordinary army".

His staff officer said eloquently: "We still have many officers, documents, radio and communication troops, and it is very necessary to ensure their safety, especially Comrade Mehris may be on the front line to command!" ”

No one could do anything with him, although everyone knew that Mehris would not have been on the dangerous front line at all...... In case of danger, he will run faster than anyone else, so those half-tracks he is equipped with are a complete waste.

"Five!" Shulka said: "Allocate five to the reconnaissance unit!" ”

"Yes, Comrade Captain!"

The first battalion is not bad, ten vehicles have been allocated for testing before, so it is barely enough.

At this time, several half-tracks stopped majestically at the door of the Shulka headquarters, and a person jumped out of the car, it was Major Alexe, Mehris's staff officer.

"Comrade Shulka!" Major Alexei couldn't wait to shout at Shulka outside the door: "Comrade Mehris told you to go to his headquarters, you can come with us!" ”

Shulka was a little incredulous to see the five half-track armored vehicles parked outside the door...... It was enough for a communications soldier to drive one vehicle, but they used five half-track armored vehicles, in the Caucasus, where there was no enemy ground threat at the moment.

Apparently, these staff officers and guards played with the half-track armored car as a toy.

Mehris's headquarters is in the city, a three-story villa, which is said to have been vacated for Mehris by a certain merchant...... There is never a shortage of flatterers like Mehris.

"Comrade Shulka!" When Mehris saw Shulka coming in, he greeted him warmly with open arms, and said, "Come, my friend, how about seeing my new headquarters?" ”

As he spoke, he walked to the wine cabinet, opened a bottle of brandy, poured a glass and handed it to Shulka, saying, "Everything you need here, enjoy, Comrade Shulka!" ”

"Thank you, Comrade Mehris!" Shulka took a sip from his glass and looked around.

It's like a headquarters, it's a place to enjoy life.

"Comrade Mehris!" Shulka asked a little anxiously: "How is the situation at the front?" ”

"Take it easy, Shulka!" Mekhlis motioned for Shulka to sit down on the sofa, then poured himself a glass of wine on the coffee table: "It's not Rzhev, it's not Cremu, I think you deserve to enjoy it...... I will not treat those who are loyal to me, especially if you saved me! ”

"That's what I'm supposed to do, Comrade Mehris!" Shulka replied: "As a warrior, it is our duty to protect the safety of our commanders!" ”

Shulka certainly didn't dare to take credit, he knew that people like Mehris didn't like to owe someone else.

Satisfied with Shulka's answer, Mehris nodded, clinked his glass with Shulka, and said, "Very well, Comrade Shulka!" So, let's deal with the Germans who invaded the Crimea! ”