The Black Effect (Cold War) Read Online Free PDF Page B

sight, ready to fire on a target that presented itself. Looking down and right, the visual indicator showed that there was a sabot round loaded and ready.
    “ Two-Zero, Two-One. Through the minefield. Over. ”
    “Two-One, understood.”
    On the internal comms, he called to Kokorev, “Stop, stop, stop.”
    The heavyweight tank came to a halt, rocking on its suspension.
    “Two-Two, Two-Three, stop, stop. Two-One, leave unit as marker; then move two, zero, zero west. Over.”
    “ Two-One received, smoke thinning. Out. ”
    The turret swung right as Barsukov lined the tank’s gun barrel up with the likely direction of the town of Braunschweig.
    “Two-Three, Two-Zero. One minute, then move through. Two, zero, zero south-west.”
    “ Two-zero-zero, south-west. ”
    “Two-Two, Two-Zero, wait two, then two, zero, zero north-west.”
    “ Two-Zero, Two-Two. Yes. One unit dropping out, mechanical .”
    Shit , thought Trusov. But he couldn’t complain. They had been exceptionally lucky in keeping most of their tanks on the road. He scanned what little he could see ahead; but the smoke was definitely thinning out. He felt a slight southern breeze on his left cheek, indicating the smokescreen would move across the town, but expose his left flank to the forest.
    Boo,boo,boo,boo,boom. Boo,boo,boo,boo,boom.
    A ripple of explosions came from their front left and right flank as Frogfoot ground-attack aircraft laid into the defenders yet again. Any survivors from the previous artillery, missile and air attacks kept their heads well and truly down.
    Good, Trusov thought, that would keep the British gunners’ heads down. He could see more and more clearly in front of him. Although cover was a good thing to have, they also needed to see where they were going and pick out targets that may threaten their advance. He tapped his fingers sequentially on the edge of the turret hatchway, listening intently for any sound of movement. Off to his front right, he could not only hear tanks moving but could also see the shadowy shapes about 100 metres away, heading at speed for the gap through the minefields.
    “Standby, standby,” he called to Kokorev.
    Barsukov heard the call and turned the turret so it was now at a forty-five degree angle to the left, the likely area where he would find a target and where the smokescreen would disappear first. He was nervous, as was his comrade up front in the driver’s seat. Stationary, they would be a sitting target; he would be pleased once they were on the move again.
    Off to the left, Trusov heard the whine of gas-turbine engines as Two-Three started their journey towards the gap they must pass through. He caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of his left eye as one of Savva’s tanks sped across their front, not more than twenty metres ahead. He resisted the temptation to order Kokorev forward, knowing there would be a high risk of a collision.
    “ Two-Zero, Two-Two. Through. ”
    Trusov did not acknowledge; too much radio chatter was unnecessary. The tank company raced west, through the gap; then dispersed to their planned positions, spreading out to make less of a target.
    “ Two-Zero, Two-Three. Through, deploying. ”
    Savva would be taking his company south-west, covering the battalion’s left flank.
    The turret of Trusov’s command tank moved slightly, Barsukov’s impatience telling.
    “Keep it still,” snapped Trusov. “Kokorev, pull forward slowly.”
    The engine built up power, Kokorev manipulating the accelerator, engine idle and the gear shift on his right, and the tank built up speed. Peering through the vision blocks, he too could see dark shadows ahead as they caught up with Savva’s company and made their way through the minefield. One of Mahayev’s tanks and one of the mine-plough tanks marked the entrance, the commanders in the turrets waving them forward.
    “Go for it,” ordered Trusov.
    Kokorev didn’t need to have the order repeated. He put his foot down, taking