CANNON FIRE ARC

Chapter 808: Chapter 40 “The Emergence and Bankruptcy of the Quick Victory Theory” – 3

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The Russian artillery units on Earth have never been motorized; they often use dozens of packhorses to haul four 76-mm anti-tank guns and their accompanying ammunition carts.

The Russian heavy artillery units have also never been fully equipped with trucks, maintaining a large number of mules and horses—just like the Sturmtigers’ artillery.

Therefore, it’s a bit unfair for military enthusiasts to mock the Sturmtigers as the “Sacred Mules and Horses Empire” all day long. In reality, only the U.S. Military was completely free from reliance on mules and horses during World War II; other countries depended on animals.

The Sturmtigers also have their say; at least their anti-tank artillery units have achieved motorization—to keep up with the Armored Divisions and Armored Grenadier Divisions.

Of course, the situation in Ante’s timeline has vastly improved. On one hand, the early losses were not as exaggerated as the Russians on Earth, leaving behind a bunch of BT7s. After stripping these tanks of their main guns and other parts, they’re essentially tractors; weld on a hook at the back, and they can be used to tow artillery.

…

Furthermore, the Federation’s aid in this timeline is also much more substantial. In the first two years, there was basically enough supply of trucks and Jeeps; although the supply started to tighten in the third year, Wang Zhong’s activities have put the Federation in a “tightened supply but not completely cut off” state.

Although Ante didn’t receive more tanks or airplanes as weapons, they still managed to secure a significant number of transport trucks.

Thus, the motorization level of Kazarlia’s artillery units is quite high.

But the problem is, the enemy has placed a bunch of second-rate units before the real defensive line. These units, once scattered across incomplete positions, prevent the unprotected artillery units from recklessly moving forward until these remnants are completely swept clean.

The Prosens are seizing this moment to organize defense.

Wang Zhong: “I bet in a few days, once our artillery catches up, the Prosens will likely retreat.”

Vasily: “Retreat? Weren’t they supposed to fight to the death? Hasn’t that ‘Runaway General’ Xiplin already gone home to farm?”

Wang Zhong: “I’m just considering the most troublesome way the Prosens might fight. Vasily, you should know that if we continue to advance, we’ll enter the enemy’s territory, right? The supply problems the enemy faced in our territory, we’ll also encounter on their land.

“Like the issue of different railway gauges.”

The railway gauge in Prosen and Melania differs from that of Ante.

Therefore, supplies transported by train in Prosen have to stop at the Ante border, be unloaded, and then loaded onto trains that can operate within Ante’s territory.

In that era, there was no equipment like there would be in the later times at the Ceres border point, which could lift entire trains and replace their undercarriages in one go. They had to load and unload repeatedly.

Thus, the terrible supply situation of the Prosens after entering Ante is not due to their logistical incompetence, but too many objective constraints.

Conversely, Ante’s grand army, when rushing into the territories of Prosen and Melania, will also face problems caused by the different railway gauge standards.

Moreover, when supplies were most difficult, Ante relied on local Church organizations to mobilize a large number of civilian porters. Once in enemy territory, these advantageous conditions vanish.

Wang Zhong explained all this to Vasily.

Vasily: “But if we go through Melania and head straight for the Baltic Sea and Oder River, the Melianians will help us, right?”

“Not necessarily, remember, the majority of the Melianians who follow the Eastern Holy Church secular faction fled to Ante and are now fighting in the Melania People’s Army. The majority of the guerrillas who are still fighting in Melania follow a different faith from us.”

Wang Zhong paused, hesitated whether to say it outright, but finally spoke: “Their Headquarters is in the Capital of the United Kingdom, it’s hard to say whether they’ll strongly support us or not. After all, it’s the United Kingdom, and their infamous continental balance strategy is extremely troublesome.”

“The shit-stirrer of Europa,” Popov said, “Vasily, if you paid more attention to history, you wouldn’t be unfamiliar with this nickname.”

Vasily protested: “I’m not unfamiliar, I just didn’t think about it in that way.”

The communications staff officer entered: “Report, weather forecast.”

Pavlov took the forecast and glanced over it: “Damn it, it says there might be heavy snow. Our meteorological station in Kamchatka has detected signs of a cold front moving south.”

Wang Zhong: “Snow at this time? Shouldn’t it only start in December?”

“The weather forecast says so. If it snows heavily now, logistics might face major issues.” Pavlov looked at the full map of the battlefront, “We’re still okay, but the north is really in trouble. They’ve launched a second landing operation to retake Navajo; if it snows early, the ports freeze over, and the landing troops trapped behind enemy lines would be in a bad situation.”

Wang Zhong fell silent for a few seconds, then said: “General Winter treats everyone equally; the previous times, we just adapted better to him than the Prosens.”

At this moment, Amelia and two Federation Land Air officers entered the Headquarters, saying to Wang Zhong, “Marshal Davarish, these two liaison officers have something to discuss with you.”

Wang Zhong: “Why have you started calling me Davarish too?”

“Should I call you sister?” Amelia retorted.

Wang Zhong: “No, Davarish is fine. So how does an officer from the United Kingdom become the Federation’s introducer?”

“Because these two misunderstood our relationship,” Amelia said irritably, “Take care of that Journalist Mike, please. He’s already gone too far to get attention—I’m not just hinted at in his scandalous news; now I even have your child!”

Wang Zhong feigned surprise: “When? Oh, was it that one time?”

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