In the north of the Sea of ​​Azov, the southern suburbs of Donetsk.

After inspecting the Romanian Third Army and the Russian Expeditionary Force, Chen Dao and Marshal Heinrich parted ways.

Because in the future blue plan, the C Group Army Group will divide the troops into two groups, starting from the Crimean Peninsula and the other from the north coast of the Azov Sea.

Marshal Heinrich and the Army Group Command remained in the Crimean Peninsula. Chen Daoze led his subordinates and some staff from the Army Group Command to station in Donetsk City, responsible for commanding the troops departing from the northern part of the Sea of ​​Azov.

The day after arriving at Donetsk, Chen Dao welcomed a guest from afar, Marshal Bardorio, the chief of the Italian army's General Staff.

Marshal Bardoglio stayed at Chen Dao's headquarters for a day and discussed some details of the "Blue Plan" with Chen Dao. When he left, he sent an invitation to Chen Dao, asking Chen Dao to visit the Italian Eighth Army Command the next day.

When sending out the invitation, Marshal Bardoglio specifically emphasized that before coming to the Eastern Front, Mussolini repeatedly reminded Chen Dao to admire the glory so that he could feel the enthusiasm of the Italians before the war, and then he could fight side by side with the Italian warriors to defeat the enemy.

Marshal Bardoglio's invitation was very sincere, not to mention Mussolini's advice. If you don't go, it will definitely be a sign of low emotional intelligence.

Although he didn't really want to deal with Italians, Chen Dao still went there as promised.

The headquarters of the Italian Eighth Army is located in Consomosk in southeastern Donetsk. When Chen Dao arrived, it was almost nine o'clock in the morning.

Marshal Bardoglio and General Messe, commander of the Eighth Army, expressed a warm welcome to Chen Dao's arrival.

After a few greetings, Marshal Bardoglio said, "It's just nine o'clock now, and there's still some time before lunch. We have a small ceremony to be held on the south side of the town. Please go to watch the ceremony with us."

Chen Dao asked curiously: "What ceremony? Awarding a medal? Or military parade?"

Marshal Bardoglio smiled, and a cold light flashed in his squinting eyes.

"Not it is, it is the reception ceremony of new equipment. When a big battle is about to fight, the leader of Mussolini was very concerned about the officers and soldiers of the Eighth Army. He specifically instructed the military department to rush to work. Finally, before the battle begins, he completed the production of a large amount of new equipment and delivered it to the front line in time and gave it to the soldiers for use. My main task this time is to deliver the new equipment to the soldiers, and at the same time let the soldiers feel the concern of the leader of Mussolini for them."

Chen Dao noticed Marshal Badorio's strange gaze and thought to himself that Mussolini, the skinhead, had finally been fooled.

Chen Dao had already figured out the routine of dealing with Mussolini. He was bound to act as a guy like Mussolini who was too vanity and arrogant and unwilling to listen to persuasion.

Every time he meets Mussolini, Chen Dao always spares no effort to mock Mussolini, saying that Mussolini uses garbage equipment that even the Russians look down on.

With these garbage equipment, the Italian Army can only do the work of guarding prisoners of war camps at most.

After mocking, it is to slap reality in the face.

At the end of last year, taking advantage of Mussolini's opportunity to visit Germany, Chen Dao specially invited him to the weapons test site.

On the test site, Germany displayed tanks such as No. 4, and also displayed captured war monsters such as kv-2.

Next to a series of war monsters produced by the Soviet and German countries, there are Italian tank wrecks specially transported back from the front line by Chen Dao.

Compared with the war monsters of the Soviet and German countries, the Italian m14-41 tanks and l3-35 tanks weigh only a dozen tons, and some even less than ten tons. The crispy chariots covered with rivets look as ridiculous as toys.

Even the most powerful tank of the Italian Army, the p26-40 heavy tank, was criticized by Chen Dao as a person.

A guy with a total weight of more than 20 tons is at most a medium tank, and he pretends to be a heavy tank.

Look, look, that's the real heavy tank.

First, he was ridiculed by Chen Dao and was heartbroken, and later he was slapped in the face by cruel contrast. After Mussolini returned to China, he learned from his mistakes and immediately called Marshal Bardoglio and the staff of the military industry department to scold him. Then he ordered the relevant departments to produce a batch of high-end weapons for the front-line troops before the summer offensive in 1943, and get back the face of being trampled by the Germans.

In a flash, a few months passed, and before the summer offensive began, the Italian military industry finally delivered a satisfactory answer.

Upon learning that the Eighth Army would fight side by side with Chen Dao, Mussolini ordered Marshal Badorio to rush to the eastern front in person and named Chen Dao to see the masterpieces of the Italian military industry.

Chen Dao was excited about the success of the provocation, but his face was filled with excitement.

"What new weapon is it? Can it compare with the Russian T-34?"

"We have many new weapons, General Rosen, you can tell if you look at it." Marshal Bardoglio said with a sneer.

The group arrived at the southern suburbs of Consomosk. As soon as Chen Dao got off the car, he saw a row of chariots parked on the grass.

"General Rosen, let's take a look at our new tank, the p30-43 medium tank. This tank is an upgraded version of the p26-40 tank. The combat weight is 33 tons. Compared with the p26-40 tank, the front armor of the vehicle body has been upgraded from 50 mm to 80 mm, and the side rear armor has been upgraded from 40 mm to 50 mm. The front armor of the turret has also been upgraded from 50 mm to 100 mm, and the vehicle leader observation tower has been installed."

Chen Dao looked up and down the p30-43 medium tank, nodded and said, "It turned out to be an upgraded version of the p26-40 tank. No wonder it looks very similar. The tank's tank gun seems to have not changed its caliber, and the barrel has become longer? I'm right."

Marshal Bardoglio said: "General Rosen is very eye-catching. The p30-43 medium tank uses a 75mml46 tank gun, which can penetrate the front armor of the T-34 tank at a distance of one thousand meters. Moreover, we are planning to upgrade it to a 90mml53 gun."

Chen Dao nodded and said, "From the data point of view, this tank has the ability to fight against the T-34, but how many of this tank is currently there? How many monthly output is there?"

"At present, two battalions have been equipped. Most of the parts of this tank and p26-40 tank can be used for universality, and the monthly output has exceeded 50 vehicles."

The monthly yield is over 50 and two battalions have been equipped, Chen Dao subconsciously rolled his eyes.

To be patient, you must be patient. After all, Italians are working hard and cannot dispel their enthusiasm.

"Very good, very good. I think the Russians will soon suffer in front of it. What weapon is this, assault gun?" Chen Dao's eyes turned to another weapon.

This weapon looks very much like the German No. 3 assault gun, and there is also a chariot parked next to it that is seven points similar to the German No. 3 assault howitzer.

Marshal Bardoglio said: "This is a m43da75l46 assault gun produced by our Ansaldo company. It was transformed by us using the chassis of the m15-42 tank. It weighs only 15 tons, but it has a 100-mm thick front armor. Its artillery can easily penetrate the T-34 tank."

"This weapon is just right for supporting infantry, and your infantry division is so fragile. But, it's still the same question, what are the number of such weapons?"

"Quantity... Let's look at this weapon first," Marshal Bardoglio did not answer directly, but pointed to the chariot next to it that looked like the No. 3 assault howitzer, and continued: "This weapon is called the m43da105l25 assault gun. It also improved it with the chassis of the m15-42 tank. It is equipped with a multi-diameter cannon, which is specially used to destroy various fire points."

Aren’t these two tanks a copycat version of the No. 3 assault gun and No. 3 assault howitzer?

Why not directly introduce German production lines? In this way, weapons and ammunition can be used in general.

Marshal Bardoglio's voice then came.

"These two types of assault guns are equipped with just one company, 14."

Chen Dao had lost interest in speaking at this time. What is 14 vehicles enough for the battlefield where tanks are calculated in units of hundreds and thousands?

"There are two companies in transit and can arrive at the battlefield in time before the battle begins."

No matter what, it is always a good start. We must encourage it and encourage it.

Chen Dao smiled and said, "I am sincerely proud of your country's military industry. What weapons are those two tanks? They look like self-propelled artillery."

"Yes," Marshal Bardoglio said, pointing to a tank with a retractable rear turret and a slender gun barrel: "This is a modified version of the chassis of the m14-41 tank, called the S90/53 self-propelled anti-tank gun. According to the frontline soldiers, our 90mml53 anti-aircraft gun was very effective for anti-tanks, so we installed this anti-aircraft gun on the tank chassis to enhance its maneuverability. In the future, the battlefield is that I think no matter whether it is a heavy tank of the Russians, it will turn into a pile of scrap iron when it encounters it."

Isn’t this a copy of the German “Scorpio” self-propelled cannon? Italians are really a copycat country.

Chen Dao felt that the copyright of German weapons should be protected, and anyone who copied the cottage had to pay the copyright fee, even if it was an allies, it would not be discounted.

Marshal Bardoglio saw Chen Dao's eyes turning to the last chariot.

"This is a chassis of the p26-40 tank that we transformed, and the m43 da149-40 self-propelled howitzer produced by Ansaldo. The 149mm caliber howitzer equipped with can operate with the armored division and provide timely fire support."

Seeing Chen Dao's eyes flashing, Marshal Bardoglio took the initiative to say: "The number of these two weapons is very small, mainly because of the difficulty of transportation. After all, it is too far from Italy."

"Yes, our supply line is so long. Mr. Marshal, would you like to hear my opinion on these weapons?"

"Of course, for experts like you, we certainly need your advice," said Marshal Bardoglio.

"We are about to launch an attack soon. I suggest that after you return to China, you will immediately form three anti-aircraft artillery divisions, three regiments per division, three battalions per regiment, and one company of light, medium and heavy anti-aircraft guns. Among them, the number of 90mm anti-aircraft guns in the heavy anti-aircraft gun company is at least 8. If more can be achieved, it would be better.

After the three divisions are organized, one will be assigned to the infantry army, the mountain infantry army and the motorized army under the Eighth Army. Second, don’t you have three assault artillery companies? After the three companies arrive, they will be organized into a battalion to strengthen the motorized army. If more assault artillery troops arrive, they will be strengthened to the mountain infantry army and the infantry army in turn. You have three weeks to complete the above work. You tell the leader of Mussolini that the Eighth Army will carry out the 8th Army. No, it is a Caesar-style expedition, full of hardships and crises. With these advanced weapons, the young men of the Eighth Army will have a higher chance of returning alive.

Also, you tell the leader of Mussolini that if the Eighth Army cannot face the Russians alone due to weapons, I will lead my troops to save them. Please rest assured to the leader of Mussolini."

After Chen Dao finished speaking, he ignored Marshal Bardoglio, who looked ugly, pointed to the four tanks parked in the distance and said, "There are four Russian tanks parked there. Are you going to shoot a target? Now it can start."

"Yes, we have to show the power of these weapons in person," said Marshal Bardoglio.

"Very good, I can't wait." Chen Dao said that, he was going to come to a telescope and look into the distance.

The first p30-43 medium tank to perform a target demonstration has just started and has not yet reached the shooting position. Chen Dao suddenly shouted to Marshal Bardoglio beside him: "Stop, Marshal, let your people stop."

Seeing Chen Dao's emotions very excited, Marshal Bardoglio hurriedly asked someone to stop the tank.

Chen Dao pointed to the four tanks in the distance and asked, "General Messe, where did you get those four tanks?"

"Of course it was seized from the Russians," said Admiral Messe.

"I mean, were you dragged these four tanks here or drove here?"

Seeing that Admiral Messe did not react, Chen Dao continued: "What I want to ask is whether these four tanks are intact and can be used for combat."

Admiral Messe said: "This is specially selected from the captive Russian tanks, so that the new recruits can see with their own eyes what the Russian tank looks like, so that they will not panic on the battlefield. All four tanks can be activated, but the ammunition has been unloaded by us."

"So that's the case. It's great. Give me these four tanks. I'm in a hurry to lack Russian tanks. How many Russian tanks do you have? Give me all the ones you can use. I'm using them urgently."

Half an hour later, Lieutenant General Vrasov received a telegram from Chen Dao and immediately sent people to the Italian Eighth Army Command. There were 7 T-34, 3 KV-1 and 1 KV-2 tank that they needed to receive.

······

63 kilometers northwest of Moscow, there is a small town called Kubinka.

When Chen Dao and Marshal Bardoglio were watching the new weapon, Kubinka town was heavily guarded, and full-armed NKVD soldiers were patrolling everywhere in blue military uniforms.

Accompanied by a group of senior officials who shine with stars, Stalin descended on the Kubinka Tank Experimental Factory and personally tested the power of the new Soviet tank.

After the group arrived at the rostrum on the test site, Lieutenant General Yakov Fedorenko, Minister of the Automobile and Armored Tanks, personally explained to Stalin.

Pointing at the picture of a tank with three perspectives, including front, side and downward view, Lieutenant General Fedorenko said: "This is the most powerful e-40 tank on the battlefield in the war last year. We originally called it the X-type tank.

Neither the 76.2mm tank guns on a type tank or our 85mm anti-aircraft guns can penetrate its armor from the front. Even the side armor requires an 85mm anti-aircraft gun to break through from a suitable angle.

To deal with it, we can only use 122mm or 152mm howitzers. Last year, the enemy organized this tank separately in heavy tank battalions. As the war continued, the number of such tanks in the enemy's troops would increase and become the main force in the enemy's armored division and replace the enemy's No. 4 tank. Therefore, the new tank we designed must have the ability to threaten this tank."

Stalin nodded: "I already know these. Fortunately, we captured some e-40 tanks and mastered the detailed indicators of this tank, so that we can design new tanks with clear goals."

Lieutenant General Fedolianko said: "Yes, Comrade General Secretary, fortunately, the comrades on the front line captured some of these tanks, which gave us a clear goal. Just look here."

Stalin looked at a picture of a tank pointed at by Fedorenko, but the tank was drawn, which was different from the previous photos.
To be continued...