Chapter 941: Decisive Battle (8)

Because the Soviet army voluntarily gave up the second line of defense, the European coalition forces easily approached the outskirts of Moscow.

However, they did not rush to launch an attack on the city of Moscow, but began to deploy artillery units around Moscow.

Germany alone brought nearly 80,000 artillery pieces of various calibers, of which more than 30,000 were over 100mm (in the original Moscow Battle, the German army assembled 40,000 artillery pieces of various types). The total number of artillery pieces of other European armies was nearly 100,000.

Most of the artillery pieces used by the British Expeditionary Force were captured by the German army in Dunkirk. Although the British artillery in World War II performed well in terms of energy density, due to the problem of design ideas, the overall performance was not as good as that of the German artillery. The German army naturally looked down on it and returned all the remaining artillery pieces (part of which was supported to Italy at the time) to the British Expeditionary Force.

In the original time and space, the most famous artillery of the British Army in World War II, in addition to 6-pound guns, 17-pound guns and other anti-tank guns, was the 25-pound gun and 5-inch gun. However, the 17-pounder and 5-inch guns have not been developed in time, and there is no chance for them to be released. Because joining the European Union requires the unification of standard weapons, from pistols and daggers to aircraft and tanks. As a defeated country, it is impossible for Britain to "deviate from the tradition" and develop its own weapons in a short time.

At this time, the British Expeditionary Force can only show 25-pound guns. The 25-pounder gun has been in service since 1936, but it was not until the 1940 model that the British high-ranking officials were generally satisfied with its performance. Although this artillery served as the main equipment of the British Army throughout World War II, it lags behind similar products in the corresponding establishments of Germany, the United States and the Soviet Union in terms of performance, caliber, and design.

In addition, as the former "first power in Europe", France, in terms of artillery, at least before the outbreak of World War II, their various artillery performances were leading the way.

For example, the French Schneider M1929 155 plus howitzer has a range of 17,500 meters.

At the same time, Germany's SFH18 150mm howitzer had a range of 13,250 meters (SFH18 was the world's first artillery to use rocket-assisted range bombs, with an effective range of 19,000 meters), Italy's 1437 heavy howitzer had a range of 14,250 meters, Sweden's M1931 150 howitzer had a range of 141 155 howitzer had a range of 141910/34 152mm howitzer had a range of 17,265 meters; none of them could surpass France in range.

There was also the Schneider M1932 155mm cannon, with a maximum range of 27,500 meters.

During the same period, the German 150mm K18 cannon had a range of 24,700 meters; the 150mm K39 cannon had a range of 24,700 meters; the Italian 149 cannon had a range of 237,000 meters; the Soviet 152 cannon BR2 had a range of 27,000 meters; the Swedish M1937 152 cannon had a range of 23,000 meters; the Czech M1928 152 cannon had a range of 238,000 meters. Poland did have a WZ40 155mm cannon with a range of 27,600 meters. Not to mention that its barrel was commissioned by Bofors, it was not a genuine Polish product, but a product. Moreover, the Polish weapons factory only produced two experimental products, and planned to start mass production between 1940 and 1941. As a result, the country was destroyed before 1940.

In addition, the French Schneider M1927 85 field gun also has excellent performance, which is better than the German products of the same caliber. Its performance parameters are not much different from the German 105mm caliber howitzer, but it is one and a half times lighter. The Soviet D-44 cannon 20 years later only has a range of 500 meters longer than the M1927 howitzer, which shows the excellence of this gun.

The technology of this gun has made a qualitative leap compared with the previous generation of artillery. The main features are the self-tightening gun body manufacturing technology, which reduces the weight of the gun body, the open-leg gun mount and the hoe. Since the open-leg gun mount allows the gun body recoil stroke to be extended, it is possible to use a more powerful charge and a practical muzzle recoil device with a large elevation design of a pneumatic recoil mechanism to shorten the travel required for the gun body recoil system.

Unfortunately, France was defeated too quickly on the European battlefield and did not give these artillery a chance to prove themselves. Now they are all pulled to Moscow, ready for their final swan song. After all, the EU will produce the same weapons and equipment in the future. Once the war is over, these artillery pieces will have no use.

It took nearly half a month to deploy these artillery positions, and they were not deployed until March 31.

"Oh, today is April Fool's Day." Yannick muttered to himself when he got up in the morning and looked at the calendar.

April 1st of each year is a traditional folk festival in the West - April Fool's Day, also known as April Fool's Day. As for its origin, the more common saying is that it originated in France.

In 1582, France first adopted the new calendar system, the Gregorian calendar (i.e. the universal solar calendar), which started the year on January 1, changing the previous calendar that started the new year on April 1. During the implementation of the new calendar, some conservative people opposed this reform and continued to follow the old calendar and refused to update. They still gave each other gifts on April 1 and organized activities to celebrate the New Year. Those who advocated reform ridiculed the practices of these conservatives. Clever and funny people gave fake gifts to the diehards on April 1, invited them to fake celebrations, and called these fooled people "April fools" or "fish on the hook." Later, they fooled each other on this day, and it became a popular custom in France over time. The festival spread to Britain in the 18th century, and was later brought to the United States by early British immigrants, and gradually became popular.

Before he traveled through time, April Fool's Day had not been introduced to China for too long. In the eyes of some people, this noisy festival was purely non-mainstream, and he didn't pay much attention to it.

Although he is now in the West, no one dares to joke with him because of his current status.

"Do you want me to make a big joke?" After washing up and coming to the restaurant, Yannick thought seriously while eating breakfast. Will it scare a large group of people if he broadcasts that they have failed in the Soviet-German battlefield and he is ready to surrender?

But think about it, this approach is too unrighteous and completely inconsistent with his status. And if some people with poor psychological tolerance get killed, it will not be good.

"Alas, it's really lonely at the top. There is not even a person who can joke." Yannick sighed twice and asked the attendant to bring the phone. "Your Excellency Marshal Rundstedt, is the front ready?" Moscow time is 2 hours ahead of Berlin. At this time, the soldiers on the front line should have finished breakfast.

Marshal Rundstedt said respectfully. "As long as you give an order, our army will fire all the cannons, enough to wipe Moscow off the earth."

Nearly 200,000 artillery pieces roared at the same time, and the scene should be quite shocking. Yannick nodded and ordered. "Then let's fire our cannons, as a grand April Fool's Day gift to Stalin." But think about it, the Soviets probably don't celebrate April Fool's Day.