Chapter 656: Multiple Breakthroughs, One Main Thrust
Brusilov shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with embarrassment. "I don't see that as an advantage, General. Yes, our army is large, but their combat effectiveness is... difficult to describe."
There was a saying: "Quality over quantity." At the time, the Russian military epitomized "many but not elite"—a cardinal sin in military doctrine.
However, "many but not elite" could still be an advantage—depending on how it was used and how that strength was expanded.
Charles set the file in his hand down on the table. "If this were the German defensive line, then our goal would be clear: break through it and swiftly advance to their rear, striking at their vulnerable supply lines."
Brusilov nodded in agreement. He had studied Charles's breakthrough tactics and knew the core idea was using mobile units to pierce through.
But then he frowned. "That's exactly why I said we need armored units, General. Yet you believe our situation isn't suitable for using them."
"I never said you had to use armored units," Charles replied calmly.
"Then what else is there?"
"Cavalry."
"Cavalry?" Brusilov nearly shouted, staring at Charles in disbelief. "No, that's impossible, General. Cavalry would be slaughtered by enemy machine guns."
He was dumbfounded that Charles would suggest cavalry for a breakthrough.
Wasn't this the same tactic Charles himself had discredited?
The huge casualties at the Somme when cavalry was used...
Charles shook his head gently.
That might apply elsewhere.
With the advent of machine guns, cavalry should've become obsolete.
Tanks had officially taken their place.
But not in Russia—not with its unique climate and terrain.
Even by WWII, the Soviet Union still maintained cavalry divisions that proved effective on the battlefield.
"Cavalry might be more useful than tanks in snow or mud, General," Charles said firmly. "I've heard your forces use horse-drawn sleds—why not mount a Maxim gun on a sled?"
Brusilov was stunned. It took him a moment to process the idea. Then he muttered, "Yes... sleds. Why haven't we ever thought to put Maxims on sleds?"
Charles casually picked up a pen and paper, sketching while he explained:
"A sled can't be too tall, or it loses stability and tips over. So the height of the gun mustn't exceed the horse's height, which means the muzzle can't point forward."
He drew a rear-facing gun and continued:
"But we can mount the gun facing backward. That way, you can shoot while retreating. Of course, it will require training."
"And when there's no snow, just switch to a wagon."
(Pictured: The combination of horse-drawn wagons and Maxim machine guns, commonly referred to as "Tachanka," a weapon widely used by both the Red and White Armies in Soviet Russia.)
Brusilov stared, dumbfounded at the sketch Charles had made. After a while, he nodded and said admiringly,
"This is... better than I imagined, General."
"It might be exactly what we need. It doesn't require much money—just wagons and machine guns. We can mass-produce them quickly."
Charles handed over the sketch and gave one warning:
"They shouldn't charge directly at the enemy, General. The guns face backward—your horses are exposed in front."
"You should ride just outside enemy rifle range, then suddenly turn and fire the machine guns!"
The Maxim outranged most rifles and had high rates of fire.
In both skirmishes and entrenched battles, this could be devastating.
"Of course." Brusilov nodded firmly.
"Mobility is key," Charles added. "Imagine a single wagon encountering an enemy infantry company—maybe more—in open terrain."
Brusilov paused. A single wagon meant three men and one machine gun. What could they possibly do against a full company?
Then it dawned on him.
The wagon could keep moving, staying inside the Maxim's range but out of the rifles'.
Eventually, it could wear down the whole company.
"Incredible," Brusilov muttered, still staring at Charles. "It's almost as if this was designed specifically for us. Not perfect—but the best fit!"
Charles turned his gaze back to the mock "German front line."
"With these mobile units, supported by elite cavalry and infantry, you can break through enemy lines and strike at their rear—just like my own breakthrough tactics."
Brusilov hesitated.
"I've tried that before, General.
But perhaps because the Germans have learned from your breakthroughs, they now station mobile forces behind their second lines."
"Whenever we break through somewhere, they rush in and patch the gap."
That was one of cavalry's weaknesses.
Armored units could break through fast,
and even if enemy mobile troops arrived, they couldn't withstand the tanks' superior firepower.
Cavalry, on the other hand, lacked both the power and the durability—
they'd get bogged down or surrounded.
But Charles had already considered this.
"That's why I said you should leverage your advantage in numbers," he said.
Brusilov blinked, unsure.
"What does that have to do with numbers?"
Charles tapped several points along the "German line" on the map.
"You have the advantage in manpower, General.
Use it to mass your forces and break through at multiple points—here, here, and here…"
Brusilov's face grew serious.
He knew Russia's logistics and combat strength might only support one real breakthrough.
But then his eyes lit up.
"You mean… the others are fake? Only one is real?"
Charles silently praised him—Brusilov was sharp.
Not surprising—this tactic was precisely the one Brusilov himself had pioneered during WWI:
Multiple Breakthroughs, One Main Thrust.
It was perfect for situations where the breakthrough force wasn't strong enough on its own.
Break through multiple points to confuse the enemy—make them unsure where the real threat lies.
Their mobile reserves won't know where to go.
Then—strike hard at the real breach once their reinforcements have been diverted.
At that point, there would be no one left to stop the real advance.
Charles concluded,
"I suggest you launch your offensive in June, because—"
Brusilov cut in, his voice full of excitement and joy:
"Because the snow will have melted, the land will be swampy, and the mosquitoes will be everywhere.
Those conditions are terrible for the Germans—and for their mobile troops."
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