[烛光生存狂]-苏芬战争中的苏联第20重型坦克旅简介

By the October 9th of 1939, 20th Heavy Tank Brigade (20th TB) was moved form Sluck to the area of Chernaya Rechka (Black River) on Karelian Isthmus(卡累利阿地峽). Here ,Brigade was completed with personnel (up to 50% of Tankmen were reservists) and for the next month and a half it went through rigorous training. Special attention was paid to night driving and crossing anti-tank obstacles. Consequently, by the time military operations started, 20th Brigade was fully equipped and well trained for fighting in Finland.

Technical state of the Brigade’s equipment was good, however it suffered from lack of maintenance depot and had only 4 tractors for evacuation purposes.

On the November 29th of 1939, Brigade was attached to the 19th Rifle Corps with the an objective of to conduct strike in general direction of Ahi-Yarvi -Kivenapa , destroying the enemy forces encountered and cut their Northwestern retreat routes.

On the November 30th, Brigade, along with units of 19RC, crossed the sate border. On the next day, commander of 19th RC ordered 2nd tank company of the 95th tank battalion to provide support to the 68th Rifle Regiment in the area of Korvala . Company commander, Lieutenant Hohlov, knowing that roads are mined, went with his tanks across the forest, arriving to Korvala in the evening. There, on one of the heights, he found Soviet infantry that was pinned down by Finnish fire. Hoholov attacked the enemy, which retreated in disorder, and thus got “thank you” from the Soviet Battalion, which apparently ran into, ambush and was encircled.

Hohlov company went ,on pursuing the enemy , which because of his surprise attack did not had time to mine road and bridge, which was capture intact. However Soviet tank man met with stiff resistance on the Viborg(维堡)highway. Bridge across the Lintuli-Yokki was blown away right before the Soviet crews; at the same time company came under heavy mortar and artillery fire. Hoholov took his tank back, and organized recognizance, which determined that 2nd company ran into enemy strong points built around monastery of Lintula(林多拉修女院).

Brigade Commissar Kulik, who at that time was among the 2nd company crews, got in touch via wireless with Brigade Commander, Borzilov, who sent the remaining companies of 95th as well as 90th tank battalion to reinforce Soviet troops. In the morning of December 2nd fight continued. Finns put stubborn resistance. Soviet tanks crossed the river across the ford, they found, destroyed several enemy bunkers, and took the enemy in the rear. That sealed the battle outcome, and Finns retreated to the Kirka-Kirvenappa fortifications. 95th tank battalion started pursuit with Hoholov’s Company being in the lead (his tanks also carried supporting infantry) . His machines were racing during the night course, without any lights, instantly forcing antitank ditches they met.

At the approaches to Tirtula they came under Finnish artillery fire. Hoholov’s tank unloaded escorting the infantry, and returned the fier. Village started to burn, which put both sides in approximately same situation (meaning difficulty in detecting enemy targets) with slight advantage on the Finnish side (knowing the fighting ground better). At this moment, tanks of 90th tank battalion arrived hitting enemy in the right flank. Facing the possibility of double envelopment by Soviet forces defending forces promptly retreated. Thus, Finnish strong points around Kirka -Kirvenappa, were taken by combined forces of 90th and 95th tank battalions. During the fight 4 T-28s of 90th battalion as well as 2 T-28 of 95th battalions were disabled by enemy fire.

During first days of war Soviet tank tactics consisted of keeping enemy fortification under fire thus providing cover for the supporting engineer’s and infantry units, which were making passes in the antitank obstacles. Sometimes, concrete obstacles, were destroyed by tank fire. On several occasions, however, tank crews made traverses through them using wrecking bars.

On December 9th, tank platoon (from 91st tank battalion) under Lieutenant Gruzev (3 T-28) , were given orders to support units of Karelian Fortified region under colonel Lazarenko. The platoon was supposed to fight its way along Gulf of Finland in the general direction of railway station Ino. During the 3-day period Soviet tanks participated in 11 attacks, supporting accompanying infantry with fire. On the December 15th , it was ordered to conduct recognizance. After 15km march Platoon found itself facing main Finnish fortification belt. Commander’ s tank was hit with artillery fire, however tank crew managed to return it (despite the tank being disabled) for the next 40 minutes. When infantry attack stalled, tank men decided to support it with smoke screen, and leaving the tank via bottom hatch, opened fire with two machine-guns. However, smoke screen proved to be inadequate, and Finnish snipers returned fire, killing Gruzdev (platoon commander), Volk (machine gun operator), Lobastev (machine gun operator) and wounding Larchenko (tank driver).

Remaining crewmembers crawled back to the infantry taking wounded with them. Second tank from this platoon was also hit by enemy artillery, tank stated to burn, but it did not lose its mobility.

Being deprived of ability to remain inside the tank crew of this T-28 found rather original solution -they turned tank back to the Soviet troops, putting it the 1st gear, and walked by it using it as an armored shield. 3rd tank tried to help their comrades, but it hit the land mine, and was finished off by hostile artillery. All crewmembers were severely wounded but were evacuated by the crews of the first and second tanks.

At about the same time, main forces of 20th heavy tank brigade, after series of marches concentrated in front of Finnish main fortification belt, in the area of Boboshino. On December 13th all Brigade’s tank were painted white, approximately at that time, the 20th, was reinforced by the company of experimental heavy tanks (KV, SMK and T-100).

On the December 17th, Tank Brigade received orders, to support an attack of Hottinens and Height 65,5 fortifications, by 50th Rifle Corps (123rd and 138th Rifle divisions (SDKs)). Chief of staff of 138th Rifle division reported to the Corps headquarters that enemy is retreating. On the basis of this report, Corps commander decided to cancel preparatory artillery barrage and ordered 120th SDK with support of 91st tank battalion (TB) to attack right away. However, report proved to be false, attacking forces run into strong enemy opposition, and even though, 91st TB managed to penetrate enemy defenses, supporting infantry was cut off by machine gun fire, and partly fell back partly laid down where it was. 91st TB was forced to retreat with heavy casualties. Brigade commander reported to Corps headquarters, that 91st TB lost its value as fighting formation due to casualties; killed: 7 tank men, wounded 22, including battalion commander Drozdov, 16 missing in action, including battalion commissar Dubovickiy. Out of 21 T-28s 5 can be used again, 4 destroyed on the battlefield, 1 turned over in the antitank ditch, 1 is missing. In the process of attack tanks destroyed 5 antitank guns and 3 enemy pillboxes.

On the 18th of December attack resumed √ 90th TB supported infantry of 138th SD. Yet, once again, defenders managed to cut tanks form infantry. Attack was repulsed with heavy loses in men and material.Soviet tanks managed to penetrate main belt of defense in depth up 1.5 kilometers.

On the 19th attack was repeated -this time it was presided by artillery barrage. However, it failed to yell any significant results, and attack was repulsed with heavy loses yet again. During the 19th of December Brigade lost 29 T-28s.

On December 20th Brigade was taken out of the front line in order to be reequippe

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