Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 840 Weapons for Equipment: German Blitzkrieg Annihilates Soviet Western Front

As Fang Wen finished speaking, a glimmer of hope suddenly lit up in Ivan's eyes.

In the past two years, the name of Taishan Military Industry has become well-known in the Eurasian military circles.

This Eastern military industrial enterprise, which was founded during the war, is known for producing high-quality products.

Gunships with air-to-ground superiority capabilities and the Taishan high-speed fighter jet with performance comparable to first-line fighter jets.

The individual rocket launcher, a killer of Japanese light and medium tanks, and the Taishan Storm rockets launched in clusters.

They also produce their own military vehicles, tanks, and so on.

Taishan's equipment is known for its highly targeted tactics and has been tested in numerous battles against Japan, making it a familiar sight to militaries around the world.

However, its shortcomings are also very obvious: Taishan Military Industry belongs to a private military industry system with limited production capacity, and can only supply in small batches, which is simply not enough to support the massive consumption of a full-scale war between major powers.

Even so, every piece of Taishan equipment that could be deployed in actual combat was a powerful weapon capable of changing the course of a local battle.

Ivan immediately leaned forward, his tone urgent: "Old friend, what kind of equipment are you talking about? Something that can specifically counter the German air combat system?"

Fang Wen smiled and explained slowly, "You are now trapped in a vicious cycle. The German air combat system is mature, the pilots are experienced, and the aircraft are perfectly coordinated. If you simply rely on tactics, your pilots cannot keep up with the pace of the enemy; if you simply improve the airborne weapons and upgrade the performance of the aircraft, you will not see results in the short term."

He paused for a moment, then continued:

"Now, whether it's the German or Soviet army, the core of air combat relies on visual target acquisition and visual engagement. In response to this, I had Taishan Military Industry develop a dedicated air combat disruption weapon: the airburst bomb."

He explained the practical principle of airburst bombs: "This type of ammunition abandons the traditional direct-fire mode of machine guns and the dive-bombing mode. It can predict the enemy aircraft's flight path in advance and release it in a designated airspace with a delayed detonation. The explosion will produce a wide range of bright light and dispersed special dust. The smoke composed of bright light and dust can instantly blind the enemy pilot, disrupting their visual judgment and causing them to lose their aim and pursuit posture instantly. Once the fine dust is sucked into the air intake of the fighter jet, it will adhere to the inside of the engine, block the pipes, and continuously damage the engine performance. At best, it will cause power loss and oil temperature to soar; at worst, it will cause the engine to catch fire and crash directly."

"In the air battles against Japan, this airburst bomb has repeatedly achieved remarkable results, specifically countering tactics such as swarm pursuit and visual dogfights. As long as your pilots are skilled in timing the release and airspace prediction techniques, they can fight against a stronger enemy, disrupt the German formation encirclement and annihilation tactics, and break their high-altitude swarm attack tactics."

Ivan became more and more excited as he listened, and the worry on his face vanished.

What the Soviet Air Force lacked most at the moment was this kind of asymmetric warfare method. It did not require relying on pilot experience or aircraft performance; it could reverse the disadvantage simply by relying on new tactical weapons. This was nothing short of a life-saving medicine for the retreating air war on the Eastern Front.

"Excellent! This is exactly what we need right now!" Ivan suddenly stood up, his voice urgent. "Fang, this matter is of utmost importance, I must report it immediately!"

Unable to sit still any longer, he immediately said goodbye to Fang Wen, turned around, and rushed out of the small building to report the situation to the Moscow Air Defense Command.

In downtown Moscow, the air defense command office was brightly lit.

Major General Mikhail Stepanovich Gromakin, commander of the Moscow Air Defense District, stood before a huge battle map, his brow furrowed with solemnity and anxiety.

The battle map on the wall was densely marked with the German advance route, airfield locations, and air raid trajectories. The red invasion arrows were already approaching the outer defenses of Moscow step by step.

He controlled the core air defense forces of Moscow, which were divided into two main forces: the 6th Air Defense Fighter Corps, which was responsible for air interception operations, and the 1st Air Defense Corps, which controlled all ground-based air defense equipment, including anti-aircraft guns, searchlights, and arresting balloons.

But at this moment, this seemingly massive air defense system is riddled with vulnerabilities.

The outbreak of the Soviet-German War was sudden, the border air defense system collapsed completely, and the front lines suffered successive defeats. The combat radius of German warplanes gradually covered the outskirts of Moscow.

Once the German army continues its advance on the front lines and establishes airfields in the theater, a continuous stream of bombers and fighters will bomb Moscow day and night.

Even more critically, the 6th Air Defense Fighter Corps was only established this month and belongs to the local air defense force.

The hastily assembled pilots were mostly new recruits with no combat experience. Their flying experience, air combat skills, and tactical coordination were far inferior to those of the veteran German pilots who had swept across Europe.

Only Ivan and his group of mid- to high-ranking officers who had returned from the battlefield aiding China possessed real air combat experience and were the backbone force that Major General Gromakin relied on most.

Looking at the constantly updated battle damage reports on the map, Major General Gromakin rubbed his temples, feeling utterly helpless.

Given the current strength of the Soviet air force, it would have almost no chance of winning a direct confrontation with the German air force at its peak.

Just as he was at his wit's end, his adjutant knocked softly on the door and entered: "General, Regiment Commander Ivan is back with an urgent military report."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Gromovin's eyes: "Let him in."

Ivan strode into the office and immediately reported the entire content of his conversation with Fang Wen, from the German army's shortcomings in air combat and targeted countermeasures to the performance and combat record of Taishan Military Industry's airburst explosives.

"General, Fang Wen is a world-class air combat ace with a track record of decisively defeating the Japanese air force and has also fought against the German air force. His tactics are perfectly suited to actual combat and are not just theoretical. Taishan Military Industry's airburst bombs are a new type of tactical weapon that has been proven in air combat against Japan. They are specifically designed to counter visual air combat systems and can greatly compensate for our pilots' lack of experience."

Ivan spoke with great seriousness and high praise.

Major General Gromakin listened and was slightly moved, but did not rush to a conclusion.

As the chief air defense commander, he was well aware of the need for caution in wartime decision-making and would not believe the power of an unfamiliar weapon based on just one side of the story.

"I understand," Gromakin said to his adjutant in a deep voice. "Immediately contact the General Directorate of Military Intelligence, retrieve all intelligence data on Fang Wen himself, Taishan Military Industry, and this airburst bomb, and verify the authenticity of all information."

The order was issued immediately, and the intelligence hotline was quickly established.

The GRU (German Military Intelligence Directorate) Far East Intelligence Department responded extremely quickly.

As early as when Fang Wen was active on the Far East battlefield and established Taishan Military Industry, the Soviet intelligence system had already listed him as a target of attention. Later, when he had a transaction relationship with the Soviet Union, he received even more attention, and the relevant information was archived completely and updated in real time.

Soon, a thick stack of intelligence files was delivered to the air defense command office.

The accompanying intelligence officer explained on the spot: "General, Fang Wen's air combat record and the reputation of Taishan Military Industry's equipment are all true. The archives contain detailed records of air combat against Japan, with many instances of enemy aircraft losing control on a large scale, stalling in mid-air, and disorganizing formations. The Japanese post-war reports repeatedly mentioned an unknown air jamming munition, which was identified as a weapon exclusively used by Taishan Military Industry."

"The Japanese military is currently spending a lot of resources to study the technology to crack this airburst bomb, but has made no progress to date, which is enough to prove the weapon's tactical suppression capability. Moreover, all combat cases can be cross-verified, and there is no exaggeration or falsehood."

Major General Gromakin bent down to flip through the files. As he looked at the detailed combat records and enemy intelligence evidence, his doubts gradually dissipated and were replaced by joy.

He slammed the file shut and immediately stood up: "Ivan, take me to see Comrade Fang Wen right now. We must get this weapon!"

As night deepened, guests arrived at the manor's small building. Major General Gromakin arrived hurriedly with Ivan. After Ivan briefly explained his general status, the major general went straight to the point: "Comrade Fang Wen, the airburst bomb you proposed is, according to our research, crucial to the current air defense operations in Moscow. On behalf of the Moscow Air Defense Command, I hope you can provide the equipment as soon as possible for deployment in air defense operations."

Fang Wen had already prepared a response: "Major General, I can be frank with you. Taishan Military Industry's production capacity is limited and simply cannot support the massive consumption of Moscow's air defense. Relying on exporting finished products will not solve your problem."

Gromak's expression darkened slightly: "So what you mean is?"

“I can transfer the complete technology for producing airburst bombs.” Fang Wen looked directly at him. “I will give you the complete process flow, formula parameters, production equipment standards, and practical usage tutorials. I can also assist Soviet military factories in quickly putting the bombs into production and achieving independent mass production.”

These words surprised and delighted Gromakin. He had originally thought that Fang Wen would only sell finished ammunition, but he never expected that the other party would be willing to transfer core technology directly.

But his years of military and political experience made him instantly realize that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Such valuable wartime core technology must come with equal terms from the other side.

The major general, with sharp eyes, asked, "What are your conditions?"

Fang Wen maintained his smile: "Technology transfer, full-process technical guidance, and assistance in achieving rapid production can all be implemented. However, all my custom component procurement needs must be met simultaneously. When the airburst bombs are officially mass-produced and put into use by the troops, that will be the time when all the precision components I need will be delivered to me. It's a two-way reciprocity, with no delays between us."

The major general understood.

The Easterner before them had come prepared.

The Soviet Union urgently needed new weapons to reverse its air defense disadvantage, while Fang Wen urgently needed the Soviet Union's heavy industrial capacity to produce high-precision military components. Each side got what they needed, resulting in a mutually beneficial outcome.

He immediately raised his hand and patted his chest, promising, "Leave this to me! I will report this to my superiors and meet your request as soon as possible."

A night passes in the blink of an eye.

The following day at noon, Ivan arrived at the small building, bringing definite good news.

"Fang, the Ministry of Industry has approved all cooperation plans, and the special coordination team has been established. They will come to meet with you today to negotiate and fully promote the implementation of the two-way cooperation!"

At 1 p.m., three Soviet Ministry of Industry experts in overalls arrived at the manor and began special negotiations directly in the reception room of the small building.

After the three sat down, without any further pleasantries, they took out a detailed technical production plan and parts manufacturing schedule and spread it on the table.

The leading expert from the Ministry of Industry spoke solemnly, “Comrade Fang Wen, this is our final parts production plan. Based on the parameters and precision you specified, we have matched the corresponding shipbuilding, aviation, machine tool, and radio manufacturing plants, and allocated the best production lines and technical teams to strictly adhere to your standards and ensure that the precision meets the requirements. This is our greatest sincerity. Now, it’s time to see your sincerity.”

Fang Wen bent down and scanned the plan, confirming that all parameters and production standards were correct and there were no omissions.

He raised his hand and pointed to his temple: "The core design concept of the airburst bomb, the complete production process, the special explosive formula, the dust material ratio, the delayed detonation structure technology, and the delivery device are all here."

Give me a day.

"I will handwrite and compile a complete set of technical documents and provide guidance to ensure that your factory can master the technology as soon as possible and start production smoothly."

The three experts from the Ministry of Industry exchanged glances, all of them beaming with joy.

Early May 1941.

While Fang Wen was still providing production technology guidance in Moscow, the war on the front lines was progressing rapidly.

In the offensive from late June to early July, the German army still used the same blitzkrieg tactics that had conquered Poland and France.

With the rapid infiltration of mechanized units, the German Army Group 3 successfully severed the Soviet front lines from the rear and captured all the border troops.

Army Group North Leib attacked the Baltic Sea and Leningrad.

Central Bok Army Group: Main attack on Moscow

Southern Rundstedt Army Group: Attack Kyiv, Donbas, and the Caucasus.

The strongest of these was the Central Army Group, which included Guderian's 2nd Panzer Group and Hoth's 3rd Panzer Group.

Guderian’s 2nd Panzer Group set out from southern Belarus and attacked southeastward to cut off and encircle the Soviet Western Front, with the target being Smolensk.

Hoth's 3rd Panzer Group launched an attack from the northern flank via Alitus, Vilnius, and Slonim, completing the encirclement of the Soviet Western Front with Guderian's 2nd Panzer Group.

Two steel torrents advanced swiftly from the south and north, completely tearing apart the hastily constructed defenses of the Soviet Western Front and trapping hundreds of thousands of Soviet troops in a narrow encirclement between Belarus and Smolensk.

At this time, the Western Front had just suffered heavy losses from the June border raids. Its defenses were in disarray, command was chaotic, and a large number of troops had not yet completed their rest and reorganization before facing the German army's most elite armored assault force.

The German armored forces abandoned positional warfare tactics and, relying on their superior mobility, continuously penetrated deep into enemy territory, precisely cutting off all Soviet road and rail supply lines and communication lines. The isolated Soviet divisions and regiments were completely isolated and helpless, unable to support each other or coordinate their operations.

Through highly mobile cutting-off operations, the massive Soviet Western Front became the disadvantaged force.

Subsequently, the German infantry units on the perimeter steadily tightened the encirclement, constructing layers of blockade positions and firmly blocking all escape routes.

Although the trapped Soviet soldiers were in dire straits, they did not surrender en masse.

Deprived of heavy weapon support, the infantry units relied on woodlands, villages, and dilapidated fortifications to put up a tenacious resistance. Countless companies, even after running out of ammunition and food, still launched counter-attacks with rifles in hand, using their flesh and blood to stop the advance of German tanks.

Some remaining armored units gathered their damaged vehicles and made several attempts to break through the encirclement from the north and south. However, each attempt was met with precise air and ground attacks from the German army. German Stuka dive bombers bombed in turn, and armored ambush forces blocked them. Most of the Soviet breakout forces suffered heavy losses, and only a small number of scattered troops managed to escape.

In just a few days, the main force of the Western Front suffered a complete and utter defeat.

Large numbers of combat troops were successively divided and annihilated, and tens of thousands of officers and soldiers shed their blood on the Belarusian plains. The remaining troops, having lost positions and damaged equipment, were unable to fight any longer, and a large number of officers and soldiers were forced to lay down their weapons and be captured.

By the end of early July, the main force of the Soviet Western Front had been basically annihilated, and a large number of artillery pieces, tanks, and military vehicles were captured or destroyed by the German army, and the core defensive force of the Soviet army on the western border completely collapsed.

This fierce encirclement battle completely opened up the strategic passage to Smolensk, allowing the German Central Army Group to show its strength and advance directly towards the last strategic barrier west of Moscow.

In distant Moscow, the tense atmosphere of war intensified, and industrial production and wartime mobilization in the rear were now fully under wartime emergency. (End of Chapter)