"Comrade Malenkov, the British have agreed to exchange 100 T-34/76 tanks for Merlin and Griffin engine technology, and then you will continue to supervise the implementation of the development and production of aircraft and engines, and if there is no problem, you can go back to work. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ”

After Malenkov left, Stalin called Manturov, who was waiting outside the door, into his office.

"Comrade Manturov, how is the production of trucks and half-tracks going?" As soon as Manturov walked in, Stalin could not wait to raise the issues that were of most concern to him.

"Comrade Stalin, at the moment the comrades of the ZIS (Stalin Automobile Plant) plant and the Yaroslavl Automobile Plant are actively increasing the production of trucks and half-tracks.

They have already stopped production of cars and buses, which were in low demand during wartime, and have concentrated all production resources on the production of trucks and half-tracks, believing that the production of trucks and half-tracks can be greatly increased in the short term.

In addition, after the cessation of production of light tanks, the comrades of the Gorky Automobile Plant have already spent the resources originally used for the production of light tanks on the production of half-tracks and trucks, and most of the production lines of light tanks have been converted into production lines for GAZ-MM trucks.

And the comrades of the Yaroslavl Automobile Plant are also trying to increase the production of Jager-7 trucks, which are currently producing 25 trucks per day.

The expansion of the three automobile plants has also begun, and it is expected that after the expansion is completed, it will be able to significantly increase the production of trucks in the country, which is expected to reach the level of 150,000 vehicles per year. ”

"Very well," said Stalin, holding his pipe, "the rest is up to you, and it is important to do your best to increase the production of trucks and half-track transporters." Anything else to report? ”

"Comrade Stalin," Manturov reported, "the director of the ZIS plant, Comrade Likhachev, reported to me about the insufficient supply of ZIS-2 anti-tank guns and M-30 howitzers, which led to the insufficient production of ZIS-41 half-track self-propelled guns and the failure to meet the expected production targets.

So far, the ZIS plant (Moscow Stalin Automobile Plant) has produced only 204 ZIS-41 half-track armored vehicles, of which 180 are armed with 122 mm caliber M-30 howitzers, and the remaining 24 are equipped with ZIS-2 (57mm caliber) anti-tank guns, which did not meet the requirements for the production of 300 units before February 1942. ”

"Comrade Manturov, I think you should know that we stopped the production of the ZIS-2 anti-tank gun in December last year (1941).

The production of M-30 howitzers is still relatively sufficient, but in order to strengthen the firepower of the front, most of the produced M-30 howitzers are preferentially used to equip artillery units on the front line, so the number of artillery that the ZIS Automobile Plant has temporarily obtained is not much.

This situation was also reported to me by Comrade Beria (Beria was a member of the National Defense Committee in charge of weapons production), and I fully understood the situation facing the Stalin Automobile Plant in Moscow. ”

Hearing this, Manturov felt that there was one less thing he was doing as a traverser - that is, to prevent Govorov and Volonov from discontinuing the production of the ZIS-2.

However, since there is already a more powerful D-10 anti-tank gun, there is no need to put the ZIS-2 into production for the time being.

"Comrade Stalin, I have a new proposal."

"What proposal?" Stalin always attached great importance to the opinions of a young man, Manturov, who, after all, had made many political achievements and vigorously promoted the scientific, technological, economic, and social development of the Soviet Union, and all the opinions he put forward were beneficial to the country. Of course, it is worth paying attention to.

"I think we can try to install anti-aircraft guns on half-tracks. In this way, we have mobile anti-aircraft fire points, and the cross-country performance of the half-track vehicle is better, and it can reach some areas with poor road conditions, so that we can deploy anti-aircraft fire points in more different places, and can carry out air defense protection for some outposts and strongholds in wilderness areas.

Moreover, the production cost of the existing half-track vehicles in our country is relatively cheap, the production process is relatively simple, and compared with anti-aircraft tanks, it is more suitable for mass production. ”

Stalin thought about it carefully, and also felt that the proposal to install the anti-aircraft gun on the half-track was very desirable, "Your proposal is very good, and you will be solely responsible for the rest."

In order to facilitate your work, I propose that you be responsible for supervising the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the State Defense Committee on the production of artillery and anti-aircraft guns, as well as preparing the relevant questions (i.e., leaving Manturov in charge of the production of artillery).

Can you handle these tasks? ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Stalin, I will definitely be able to cope with these tasks and complete the tasks you have assigned." Manturov promised.

"Very well, if there are no other problems, let's go back and get ready." Just as Manturov was about to leave, Stalin suddenly thought of another question: "By the way, how is the development of a new self-propelled gun going?" ”

"Comrade Stalin, at present, the Kirov plant has developed a self-propelled gun of 152 mm caliber based on the chassis of the KV tank, designated SU-152, the first prototype has already been produced, which is being tested.

And the Kharkov Plant 183 (now the Malyshev Plant) has also developed a 100 mm self-propelled gun based on the T-34/85 tank chassis, and a 122 mm self-propelled assault gun based on the T-34/85 tank chassis.

Prototypes of the three self-propelled guns will be shipped to Kubinka for testing along with prototypes of the IS tank of the Leningrad Kirov plant and the T-183 tank of the Kharkov plant 44, and are expected to be ready for production soon. ”

"Very well, when will the test of Kubinka take place?"

"If I'm not mistaken, it will probably take place on the morning of February 2, and representatives of the various tank factories and the People's Commissar of Tanks Comrade Maryshev, as well as myself, will also be present."

"February 2nd morning?" Stalin flipped through his schedule and found that he really couldn't spare time to leave Moscow that day to watch the test in Kubinka, 60 kilometers away. "I didn't have time that day, and as soon as you complete the tests, go back to Moscow and report to me on the results of the tests of new tanks and self-propelled guns."

"Okay, I'll be sure to report back to you as soon as the test is complete."