Chapter 174 Repairs in Progress

Unlike a rifle burst, which can be basically fine as long as you are not too unlucky, the 76mm ZIS-5 tank gun equipped on Malashenko's command vehicle can be a matter of life and death if it bursts in the breech. In the worst case, it is possible that the tank will be directly exploded by the ammunition in the breech.

Although Malashenko, a time traveler from the future, claims that he has prepared himself for the Soviet army's equipment, the quality problem of the breech still makes Malashenko, who almost lost his life, break out in a cold sweat.

Realizing that if the battle lasts another half an hour today, he will have to go to see Comrade Lenin, Malashenko immediately asked Captain Karamov, who was still carefully checking the turret with a flashlight.

"But shouldn't the breech block and the main gun be the most rigorous links in the manufacturing process? Why do such serious quality problems still occur?"

With a flashlight in his left hand to illuminate his vision, he held the wrench in his right hand tightly and tapped the trunnion of the main gun to make a crisp sound. Captain Karamov, who roughly determined that there were no cracks or loosening in the trunnion structure of the main gun through the echo in his ear, spoke.

"The situation is different from before, comrade battalion commander."

"Since those Germans came, almost all tank factories in the rear have been working overtime 24 hours a day. Although the workers can take a break during the shift change, the intensity and workload have increased a lot. Although the will can persist and bear it, the physical exhaustion is unavoidable."

After handing the wrench in his right hand back to his left hand and holding it tightly with the flashlight, Captain Karamov, who was supporting the turret bulkhead with his right hand, suddenly exerted force and jumped out of the turret. After sitting on the edge of the turret, he put down the tools in his hand and clapped his hands and said.

"At the beginning of the war, before I went to the front, I spent that time in the Kirov Tank Factory in the rear. My task was to go to the factory to learn more about the structure of tanks from the engineers, and to learn advanced courses on tank maintenance and repair."

"During that period, I saw with my own eyes many party workers who worked eighteen or even twenty hours a day and collapsed on lathes and production lines. Some of the old workers never opened their eyes again."

"They ate bread and drank cold water sitting next to the machine tools, and their beds were often rolled homogeneous steel plates waiting to be cut for tank armor. Even the senior workers who could enjoy car pick-ups and private apartments on weekdays were Engineers, during the time when they were most needed, ate and lived in the workshop and on the production line without any complaints. "

"In this situation of striving for output, many workers who were originally skilled will also make mistakes due to unavoidable fatigue. You understand, comrade battalion commander, this has nothing to do with people's subjective consciousness, it is just the result of simple physical exhaustion, so I think even if there is a problem, it cannot be blamed on the workers in the rear tank factory, what do you think?"

Hearing these situations from Captain Karamov's mouth that he had never heard before, Malashenko, who was just angry because his life was almost buried in this main gun, instantly cooled down a lot.

The situation Captain Karamov said was not an overly far-fetched alarmist, but one of the inevitable results of people who gathered under the special and great banner of communism in this special era and had a common belief, and made joint efforts for the same lofty goal under the influence of the strong atmosphere around them.

After all, in that ancient oriental country that is far away but extremely familiar and intimate to Malashenko, a group of people with the same ideals, great ambitions and firm beliefs are doing the same heroic feats of not fearing sacrifice, even at the cost of their own lives.

No one can understand the powerful appeal of this special spirit better than Lin Jie, who was born in a military family. Even Malashenko, who traveled back to the era of the Great Patriotic War, can still understand how indestructible steel-like will can be erupted by people with common beliefs gathered under the great banner of communism, regardless of country.

When he thought of his father in his previous life in the depths of his memory, his eyes were still firm and full of faith when he mentioned the righteousness of the party and the country, and Malashenko, who was full of emotion and admiration for this flag that symbolizes an extremely noble spirit, could not help but nod in agreement.

"You're right, Karamov."

"The workers and engineers in the rear tank factories and various production lines are just like us. They fight on the battlefield without gunpowder smoke and work day and night. We use the weapons produced by their hard work to defend the motherland. We are actually the defenders of the motherland."

Seeing that Malashenko, who is also a party member and has a high level of education, can understand what he means, Captain Karamov, who has achieved his goal, immediately stood up and smiled faintly.

"There are already many cracks in the gun steel of the entire breech block. This is the result of the structural strength quality not meeting the standards. It has exceeded the maintenance permission range. The breech block must be completely replaced with a new one to solve the problem."

"I will bring a crane over later. The entire turret of the vehicle will be removed and buckled, and a new breech block will be replaced through the turret seat ring. It is estimated that it will take at least three hours to restore your tank to its best condition. While I'm away, please ask Comrade Battalion Commander to help clean up the first ammunition rack of the turret. This is a dangerous, flammable and explosive place that cannot withstand collisions. "

Malashenko, who is like a pair of friends to Karamov, who is similar to him, rather than a superior and subordinate, will not keep a rigid face. Malashenko, who also responded with a cheerful smile, immediately gave him a big hand. He slapped Captain Karamov hard on the shoulder.

"Then speed up. If you don't adjust her to the best condition, I won't even think about sleeping. Do you understand?"

"Of course, this is my duty, comrade battalion commander."

About twenty minutes later, when most of the Soviet tank crews who had prepared their vehicles returned to the half-collapsed building, they were ready to make do for the night to prepare for tomorrow's battle.

Commanding a crane truck under the field maintenance company, the turret weighing more than 7 tons was completely lifted off the car body through steel cables fixed at the four diagonals of the square turret. Captain Karamov and the horse Rashenko's field maintenance missions continue.