Girls Und Panzer: World Tournament
Chapter 5: Knights in Roaring Armour
Left Side of Bovington Training Grounds - Bovington, England
All of Ōarai tanks were lined up on one side of the training grounds by the train yard. The training ground was a very large field with rolling hills and trees, with a beautiful lake nearby as well.
"It's quite beautiful out here!" Saori said. Perhaps in surprise that a training ground could look as good as the one they are on.
"It won't stay like this for long…" Miho thought as she surveyed the land. In one hand, she had a map of the entire training grounds given by Emma after their museum tour yesterday. On the other hand was a rule book for Tankery. She got most of it down, mainly because it really is similar to the Sensha-dou style back in Japan. Just some slight differences here and there.
"It's a pleasure again to fight alongside you." Darjeeling said as she came into the scene. She and her crew were wearing their traditional red uniform. Their tanks were parked up alongside Ōarai's.
"Yes, it's been a while," Miho said to Darjeeling as she took a sip from her tea.
"Hey, Miporin," Saori called, "What tanks are we fighting against anyways?"
"I'm not sure. I don't think they'll go for the traditional St. Gloriana set-up though…"
"They won't. They have a different mentality of this sort of thing than us," Darjeeling explained. "I'm sure it'll be a bit different than your usual opponents Miho."
"Huh… okay!" Miho said. But what possible tanks could the cadets take?
Right side of Bovington Training Grounds - Bovington, England
Montgomery inspected the line-up in front of him. The famed British Cadets 3rd RTR, a legacy taken from one of the oldest tank regiment in British military history, was fighting a rag tag bunch of girls with a name for themselves. The small team he assembled consisted of five A34 Comet Is, three Cromwell Vs, and three Achilles.
"You think this is a little much?" Emma asked him.
"Do you think I'm pulling any punches against Ōarai?" Montgomery asked back.
"Still, only a handful on their side are worth mentioning. The Panzer IV, Tiger Porsche, Jagdpanzer 38(t), StuG III, and maybe the Churchill from St. Gloriana. Five viable tanks, and you are bringing out our competition-level line-up?"
"Emma, if Ōarai ever wants a chance in the World Tournament, they have to prepare for disproportionate firepower." Montgomery explain. "Besides, you know this isn't the first time they've been through something like this."
That was true, Emma reviewed some of the nationals tape when Ōarai fought Kuromorimine. With only 8 of those tanks, they fought against 20 of Kuromormine's best tanks. "I'm just saying…"
"Don't underestimate Ōarai. They'll probably pull victory from us if I even slack the firepower a bit. How will I explain to the instructor that Britain's finest got their arse handed over by a bunch of schoolgirls?"
"Gosh, you're vain about this. In the end, isn't this a practice match? Your name isn't held against you this time y'know?"
"I'm still the commander Emma, and this is how we'll do it."
"Alright, alright. I just don't want you to scare them away again…"
Montgomery looked at his watch. "It's about time. Get the Jeep ready, we're about the exchange greetings, as per tradition."
"Alright sarge."
Left Side of Bovington Training Grounds - Bovington, England
"Hey, isn't that Montgomery coming?" Hana said as she looked at the landscape.
The jeep was coming up to Ōarai's position from the other side. It stopped a few meters away as the occupants, Montgomery and Emma, exited.
"Good morning, Montgomery!" Miho said.
"Ah, good morning to all of you," He said. "I trust you are all prepared for today's match?"
"We're as ready as we'll ever be!" Anzu said with a thumbs up.
Montgomery observed Ōarai's tank line-up. "I guess it'll be a bit unfair if I know your tank composition and you don't. So here's the deal, we've got five Comets, three Cromwells, and three Achilles."
"Whoa," Yukari reacted. "That's a lot of firepower there."
"Think you can handle that, Miho Nishizumi?" Montgomery said.
"I'll take on the challenge!" Miho replied.
"Well, I'll wish you best of luck. And as always…" He said as he extended his hand, "Let's have a good match."
"Right!" Miho said as she shook Montgomery's hand. When their grip relaxed, he turned away back to the jeep.
"I still think it's quite overkill for a practice match," Emma said to Miho. "Think you can handle it?"
Miho smiled back at her confidently, "I won't know 'till I try!"
"Haha, okay then," Emma said. "Good luck." She turned back also, got into the Jeep, and drove away back to their side of the map.
"Hey Miporin, so what are we against?" Saori asked again.
"Five Comets, three Cromwells and three Achilles," Miho said. "We're dealing mostly with tanks that fought from 1944 onwards. They're going to have a great advantage in firepower."
"Eight of those tanks carry the 17-pounder or its derivatives…" Yukari stated.
"The 17-pounder?" Saori asked.
"Y'know… The one on the Firefly we saw from Saunders?"
"What?! And we're dealing with enemies that have a lot of that gun?"
"It's not too bad… Kuromorimine's tanks like the Panther and Tiger have guns worse than the 17-pounder, and the armor the cadets have aren't as tough as the Germans…" Miho rationalized. "I think if we can get our shots off onto the tanks first, we stand a chance at winning."
"Alright Miho, so what's the plan of attack then?" Momo asked.
Miho looked at the field map again. The map of the large green plain with varying slopes of hills and foliage, providing a variety of opportunities for hull-down positions and concealment. The lake they saw was on the northeast portion of the map. They currently were in front of the train yard at the west side of the map. Looking at the terrain, she saw that there were three prominent landmarks that can be used.
"Okay, here's the plan. We're starting on the left here, they'll be starting on the right. These three points here…" Miho said as she pointed at the map. The points lie on bigger hills on the terrain, "the left one here is point Alpha, the center hill with the small houses is point Bravo, the one on the farthest right is point Charlie. The most important thing to do is secure these hills one by one to gain a vantage point for our big guns."
She looked at the team composition. "We'll split to three squads. Dandelion, Sunflower, and Jasmine. Dandelion will consist of Anglerfish, Anteater, Duck, and Rosehip's Crusader. We're going to focus on flanking the enemy on the sides of the hills.
"Alright!" Rosehip could be heard agreeing with Miho's plan.
"Squad Sunflower will be Darjeeling's Churchill, Rukuriri's Matilda , Leopon, and Mallard team. You will be focusing on the main assault on each of these points I've assigned."
"An assault team? I'll go along with that plan," Darjeeling said.
"You will have to take the majority of the resistance the cadets have, Darjeeling should try to absorb most of the shots with the Churchill's armor while Leopon takes out the enemy with its 88 mm."
"The Churchill may not be able to last very long against 17-pounder fire. I trust you can eliminate the targets quickly Leopon?" Darjeeling said.
"Don't worry, leave it to us!" Satoko from Leopon said.
"The Comets and Cromwells have a bad transmission for reverse," Yukari said. "If you can catch them popping out to take a shot, they're leaving themselves open for a lot longer than usual so you can get a clean shot!"
"Good advice!"
"Anyways, team Jasmine…" Miho continued, "will consist of Hippo, Turtle, and Rabbit team. You are our long-range support with the tank destroyers."
"What about us?" Azusa from Rabbit said, noting that the M3 Lee doesn't conform to Miho's description.
"As our tallest tank, you have to call out shots for the tank destroyers, and also do long-range scouting for any tanks trying to flank us. Protect the two, they don't have traversable turrets so they won't be able to respond quickly if a tank manages to sneak up on you," Miho explained
"Alright!"
"And be careful if you're sticking your head out for scouting. Remember, the new rules is that the tanks can now shoot their machine guns at exposed crew. They use League-approved ammunition, but it'll still hurt a lot."
"What's the point of that thing anyway? What good will it do to shoot at someone if the bullet hitting doesn't count as a hit?" Sodoko asked. "Sounds just like another cruel trick to add."
"Psychological warfare I think," Miho said. "People are a lot less likely to be exposed if they can get hurt real bad by eager machine guns. And a buttoned up crew is almost a blind crew so there is the cut in visibility."
"Still sounds needlessly excessive."
"I don't know. You're right in that it's a rule with no other purpose than to scare people, but we're going to have to work with it unless they amend it," Miho said. "So that's our general make-up of the team. We're going to capture each of those hills one by one for vantage point and hopefully hunt down their tanks. Judging from the line-up Montgomery told me, he is probably going to use the Comets as a attacker, Cromwells as the flankers, and the Achilles as their long-range support, so keep an eye out!"
"Hai!" The girls responded.
"Any questions?" Miho asked the crowd.
A hand went up, it was Aya.
"Yes Aya?"
"What if we get hurt badly? Y'know, from the shooting and all?" She asked.
"From what I know, it should be the same concept if you get injured from a flying shell," Miho says. "If the injury is too severe, the officials will stop the match and allow for the necessary removal or treatment of the player before continuing."
"I'm still scared..."
"There's a rule saying we can acquire our own protective gears… for the crew," Miho said. "Maybe we can look into that after this match."
"..."
"I know this is scary…" Miho said, "But this isn't too different from the risk of being hit by a flying tank shell. We can do this, we just have to stay focused at our task."
"O-Okay…" Aya said. Miho privately hoped that none of the girls lose their nerves with this new risk.
"Is there any other questions?" Miho asked again. No one responded this time. "Good, we'll wait for the announcement for the match to start. Get in your tanks, and good luck!"
Everyone hurried back to their tanks and made their final checks. The tanks were moved to make up the groups Miho called for.
"Isn't this strategy a bit different than usual?" Saori asked Miho inside the Panzer IV.
"I took it from our match with University. Splitting into three groups to cover the different sections of the field," Miho explained. "Besides, against the cadets, I think we need a more sophisticated plan than our usual."
"They'll have a great advantage in experience I think," Yukari said. "We'll have to keep up with their tactics if we're going to win."
"I left the strategy open to flexibility if the cadets act fast against our own."
"Have faith Miho, you've never let us down before," Hana said. "You're not going to start now are you?"
"Nope!"
"That's what I expected to hear Miporin!"
Miho still wasn't sure herself the plan will hold up. No plan survive the first minute of combat, She thought as she consider the cadet's plan of attack. What if they won't use their tanks to their intended use? She tries to shake these thoughts off as a sound echoed from a distance.
Miho saw the bright white flare go up from the referee area.
It's time. "Panzer Vor!" Miho shouted into her team radio as Mako throttle the Panzer IV. All of Ōarai's and St. Gloriana's tanks follow along and moved in their assigned squads.
Their first goal was Hill Alpha, the leftmost hill on the map that was right in front of them. Sunflower and Jasmine squads were headed straight towards the hill while Dandelion headed to the North of it. If the cadets started on the other side, they should be focused on taking Hill Charlie first… Miho thought.
The four tanks rolled along the flat grass. "Duck, Rosehip, move forward and scout ahead for any incoming enemy from Hill Bravo" Miho radioed through.
"Roger!" Rosehip's voice was heard and her Crusader accelerated.
"Oh no you're not!" The Type 89 revved up and accelerated in an attempt to catch up. The Panzer IV and Type 3 continued their path at cruising speed.
About 10 minutes have past as the tanks moved to Hill Bravo in the distance.
"Darjeeling to Miho," Miho heard on her radio headset. "Sunflower and Jasmine have secured Hill Alpha."
"Affirmative!" Miho responded, "Sunflower, continue forward to Hill Bravo. Jasmine, stay at Alpha and prepare for firing support for us."
"Roger that!" She heard Azusa radio from her M3 Lee.
"Anteater, continue moving forward with me!" Miho radioed to the Chi-Nu.
"This is Duck!" Noriko's voice spoke through the receiver. "We've reached Hill Bravo! We got a good vantage over the field towards Charlie. I got confirmed movement on the north side of the hill! Five tanks!"
Five tanks… Miho thought. "Comets?"
"Looks like it," Noriko said. "They're still quite far at around 800 meters and moving, there is no way they can hit us fro- GAH!"
"Duck! What's wrong?!"
"That's tank shells fired at us from the south! Gah! Cromwells moving at the south! They're even faster than the Comets!"
Miho looked at her map. So Comets at the north, Cromwells at the south… She marked on the map with her pencil. If they did capture Hill Charlie, they've probably stationed their Achilles over there…
"Duck! Rosehip! Pull back and get to cover! They are about to do a pincer attack on Bravo!"
"Roger!" She heard Rosehip and Noriko say as she saw at the distance the two tanks speeding away from the buildings on the brow of the hill.
"Anteater, take up a hull-down position on the next mound!" Miho radioed. If the enemies are about to come to the hill on both sides, they can get a view point from their position where they can target them. Either way, they were vulnerable without Sunflower's heavy tanks. The two scout tanks, vulnerable with their weak armament, zoomed behind a small mound for cover and concealment, ready to strike.
The Panzer IV and Type 3 perched behind the mound with the guns depressed. Miho looked up and ranged targets. The building on top of the hill is about 600 meters… so that mound between there and here is around 450 meters… She thought to herself, writing it down. "Anteater team, range to that brown-roofed building with two windows facing us is 600 meters."
"Roger!"
Miho looked through her binoculars at the hill. About 7 minutes past before she saw any movements.
At the distance here, she could see the square shape of the Cromwells climbing the right side of the hill. Three total in a line formation. "Hana, aim at the one in front." Miho said as she grabbed her mic, "Anteater, prepare to fire at the Cromwell at the back after we fire."
"Firing!" Hana shouted as she pulled the trigger. The 75 mm produced a fantastic recoil and shock wave that could be felt inside the tank as the loud BOOM sounded and the pressure could be felt from inside. Miho observed the round fly right into Cromwell's side armor. It shook from the impact, sputtered, then a white flag popped up. The moment the shell hit, The Type 3 fired its 75 mm round, landing right into the last Cromwell.
"Two tanks down!" Miho said as she observed. The Cromwell in the middle, stuck between the two knocked out ones, did a neutral turn to the right.
"Clear!" Yukari yelled as the gun breech went up.
"Hana! Fire again!"
"Firing!" Hana yelled once more as the Panzer IV shook again and Miho saw the round tracer zip towards the Cromwell, but it boosted away and the shell skimmed its rear armor.
"Miss! It got away," Miho said as she lowered her binoculars and got onto the radio. "Sunflower, Jasmine, engaged enemy tanks. We took down two Cromwells."
The mic picked up in response, but Miho noted the background noise was not of a tank rumbling, but a clatter of empty shell cases and firing.
"This is Duck!" Noriko's voice came again from the sound of an active Type 89. "We're engaging Comets! They popped over the mound we were hiding behind and surprised us! We took off as fast as possible!"
"Huh?" Miho responded. Comets are now in the south? "They must've went from behind Bravo and attacked from the south! Sunflower, move in and support Duck and Rosehip! Jasmine, focus fire on the south side of that hill!"
"Affirmative," Darjeeling responded to the radio. "All squad members, shift direction to the south and prepare for combat!"
The Churchill, Matilda, Char B1, and the Tiger (P) changed directions from straight towards the hill to the commotion on the south of it. Darjeeling laid down her tea and popped out of the commander's cupola with a binocular in hand to observe. At the horizon around 800 meters away, she could see the two scrambling scouts running from a full platoon of Comet I that made their way towards the rest of Dandelion.
"Stop behind that small mound there and engage that enemy force!" Darjeeling relayed the order as shells started coming down on them. The tanks stopped behind a decent hull-down position and aimed their guns at the incoming Comets. They were fast and agile, zipping around and doing graceful turns as they zig-zag their way towards them.
"Rukuriri, Sodoko, fire towards the enemy, don't give them time to breathe! Tiger, fire at them only if you are certain you can hit!"
"Roger!" Darjeeling heard an enthusiastic voice from the Tiger. "Who're you calling Sodoko?!" The Char B1 commander snapped. The Matilda opened fire rapidly with its 2-pounder gun. Though its doubtful the 2-pounder stands a chance on penetrating the Comets, it's enough to scare them. The Char B1 fired its twin armaments in rapid succession.
"On the way!" Assam said as she triggered the gun. The 75 mm shell traveled and bounced off the front hull of the Comet as all the other shots have.
That was when the Tiger (P) fired, its 88 mm gun dwarf everyone else's and the massive sound blast only preceded the destruction it laid out on the Cromwells, with the Cromwell to the right of the lead knocked out in one go and thrown sideways from the kinetic energy transfer.
"That's a good hit," Darjeeling said to the crew of the Tiger. Shells started raining from the Comet's position towards theirs before they came to a stop on a hull-down position behind a small hill.
Still, Ōarai had the upper hand in this encounter. With Dandelion to the Comet's right and Sunflower right in front, the Comets have to worry about two directions of fire. There was the Cromwell still stuck at Hill Bravo, but it isn't taking an active stance in this firefight.
"Pin down those Comets from there!" Miho radioed in. "We'll move in from the side and take them out!"
"Affirmative!" Darjeeling replied as Assam sent out another round.
"This is really unusual of Montgomery isn't it?" Orange Pekoe said as she loaded another round into the gun. "I don't think the cadets are this reckless."
"They have proper movement, we just caught them first," Darjeeling said. "Though I am surprised on how they are reacting."
"Like they're buying time?"
"Perhaps…" Darjeeling pondered. She got onto the radio, "Darjeeling to Miho, and words on the location of the Achilles tank destroyers?"
"No words," Miho replied.
It is possible that they keep the Achilles in the back in case we break through, Darjeeling thought. But why waste powerful guns sitting in the back? Darjeeling took up the radio, "Miho, send some scouts to look for those Achilles at the south."
"At the south?" Miho asked.
"I don't believe Montgomery is going to play by the norm," Darjeeling said, "He's been known to be tricky with his enemies."
As the gun fire clatter outside the tank, Darjeeling looked at Montgomery's tactics. A pincer movement on Bravo that has Comets on left and Cromwells on the right. Cromwells continued up, but the Comets then went behind the hill and appeared on the hill's right? Just what is Montgomery planning?
Hill Alpha, Bovington Training Grounds
Azusa was perched on top of the M3 Lee's commander turret with her binoculars overwatching Dandelion and Sunflower. In front of her to the right were Hippo and Turtle team, firing towards the chaos at Bravo.
"Nothing's new," Azusa notes as she put down her binoculars.
"Heh, maybe we've got their tail between their legs!" Aya said enthusiastically. "They can't handle us!"
"I'm… not so sure about that," Azusa states as she raised her binocular again.
Inside the Lee, Saki was idling around the empty space in the turret. Aya was playing around with the 37 mm adjustment levers. Karina was relaxing on the driver seat. Ayumi was also observing the battle through her 75 mm gun optic. Yuuki was listening into the radio for orders from Miho.
But radio activity dropped since the firefight at Bravo began. Miho and the others were fighting the cadets for control of the hill, but it seemed… to quiet.
"Jasmine team, this is Dandelion!"The radio suddenly came to life as Yuuki listened in. "Keep aware of any enemy infiltrators!"
"Azusa! It's Miho!" Yuuki screamed through the tank's interior. "Miho is telling us to watch for enemies trying to get to us!"
"What?" Azusa responded, "Like who-" She said as a deafening whistle zoomed in front of her. Out the corner of her eye, the distinctive bright tracer light of a tank shell.
The whole crew shook. "WHAT WAS THAT?!" Aya screamed.
"We're taking fire!" Azusa said as she lowered herself into the cupola. "From the right!"
"Dandelion, Sunflower, we're being shot at somewhere at the south!" Yuuki screamed into the radio as Azusa rotated her cupola towards the right and scanned for possible targets. Karina jolts the M3 Lee awake as it backs up to the left, facing south now.
The StuG III and Hetzer also roared to life, changing focus from Sunflower and Dandelion's location to the origin of the shot heading towards them.
Azusa brings up her binoculars. "That was a high-velocity shot! There should be a cloud of dust at the firing location!"
Erwin looked through the StuG III's binocular periscope looking out at the distance. The south was had rolling mounds, almost like the hills they've been fighting with the cadets at, but they rolled along with no great height interruptions. Lots of foliage were also present in the south. Near the foliage, a small hazy cloud formed.
"I see it!" Erwin shouted, "Enemy tanks! Range… about 1200 meters!" She shouted to the crew before picking up the radio, "Spotted enemy tank! 1200 meters my 12 o' clock!"
"Saemonza! Target those tanks!" Caesar ordered as Saemonza aligned the 75 mm StuK 40 cannon. "On target!"
"Fire!"
"On the way!" Saemonza said as she pulled the trigger. The 75 mm recoil breech rocked back the length of the interior as the shell fly a high trajectory. At the distance, only Erwin could see the shot placement as the dust brewed up from the shot.
"Miss!" Erwin said. "Correction! 100 meters up!"
Saemonza shifted the gun elevation gears as the Hetzer also fired its gun towards the direction.
"All team this is Rabbit," the radio came alive with Yuuki. "Jasmine is under fire from three enemy tanks to the south of Alpha. Range 1200 meters."
"Roger!" Miho voice came through after a pause. "Drive them off! If you can't, regroup with us!"
"Oh, we'll be fine," Erwin said to herself with that transmission.
"Firing!" Saemonza said again as the StuG shook again with the blast. Erwin observed the shells and saw… two tracers?
"Scheisse! Oryou! Move the vehicle!" Erwin shouted, but it was too late. While the StuG's shell was traveling at a velocity of 790 m/s, the incoming round came at 840 m/s.
The force of the impact sent the StuG III flying a few feet back. The crew violently lurched along with the StuG. The StuG dug into the ground, ripping the tracks beyond operational use.
Hippo team could only groan when a white flag rose from the StuG III's roof.
South of Hill Alpha, Bovington Training Grounds
Emma observed through her binoculars as she saw her Achilles' 17-pounder shot land right on the StuG III, and expressed some satisfaction when the white flag came up. "Good shooting Edwards."
"Thanks vice-commander!" Edwards cried out.
Emma looked back at her binoculars and scanned the remaining two vehicles at the hill. She saw the girls looking out of their tanks to observe their shots and scanning the enemy. She thought back at one of Montgomery's orders.
Scare the hell out of them.
"Huh," She sighs, "it's almost mean though…"
"What did you say VC?" Edwards said.
"Nothing," Emma said as she climbed out of the vast turret space onto the back of the turret on top of the engine deck. "Hold your fire for now, keep them in your sights."
"Roger!"
Emma took up the M2 Browning on the back and racked the bolt handle, charging a League-approved ammo. Gosh I hope I don't hit one of them in the face… She thought as she aimed the Browning sights towards the hill. At this distance, the trajectory is straight on.
She pressed down on the butterfly trigger and let the recoil do the rest of the work.
Hill Alpha, Bovington Training Grounds
Azusa didn't notice the first few whistling through the air until she saw the tracers coming all the way from the Achilles. Then the bullets started to impact the M3 armor with a very shattering Clack or a Crack every time.
"EEEEE!" Azusa screamed as she ducked under the commander's cupola. "They're shooting at us!"
"What's going on out there?!" Anzu from the Hetzer was shouting as well.
The .50 rounds, traveling at a rate of 928 m/s, violently shatter against the metal armor of the tanks. The sound was spine-chilling. Echoing inside the tank like a bell, surrounding the girls in the Lee.
"WHAT IN THE HECK IS GOING ON?!" Aya shouted among the ringing metal.
"I DON'T KNOW!" Azusa shouted back harder.
Karina, hands on her ears, couldn't stand it. She took hold of the steering levers, shifted gears, and had the M3 Lee reverse.
The tank steadily fell back and the bullets continued clanging on the metal.
"Wa-wait Karina!" Azusa tried to say. "Stop the tank!"
"What do you mean 'stop'?!" Aya shouted. "They're going to slaughter us here!"
"Come on girls! We're better than this! We just have to-" A 17-pounder shell whizzes right above Azusa's cupola. "ACK! Fall back, fall back! Yuuki! Tell Turtle we're getting out of here! It's too hot now!"
"Turtle! Turtle! This is Rabbit! We're pulling back to Miho and the other!"
"What do you mean?!" Momo's voice echoed in the radio. "Just keep firing!"
"Momo! Calm down!" Yuzu said as the Hetzer started backwards as well.
"Don't tell me to calm down Yuzu! The enemy are right in front of us!"
"And we'll lose if we stay here!"
"Let's go!" Azusa said and directed the Hetzer back.
The two remaining vehicles reversed down the slope of Alpha and using the cover of the terrain, moved towards Bravo under fire from the Achilles.
Hill Bravo, Bovington Training Grounds
Another Comet got knocked out as it came out to take a shot, only to meet Miho's Panzer IV waiting for it. Popping a shot, the 75 mm shell slammed into the weak side armor and put it out of commission.
Three Comets, One Cromwell, Three Achilles, Miho thought to herself on the kill tally. So far they've knocked out four cadet tanks. It wasn't too bad.
"This is Leopon to Miho!" The radio crack alive again. "We've been hit! We're out!"
"Huh?!" Miho exclaimed and looked at Sunflower's location. The Tiger (P) was smoldering and has its flag up. "Where did that come from?"
"It came from the south at around our 4 o'clock," Darjeeling said. "It's the Achilles, they've shifted focus on us."
"Miho!" A voice came from behind her. Rabbit Team and Turtle team had caught up. "I'm sorry! They caught us off guard and took out Hippo!"
Miho looked at the situation in front of her. Comets in front of them, Achilles behind, and they lost their long-range support.
"They're going to close in on us!" Miho radioed. "We're sitting ducks down here!"
"What do we do Miporin?" Saori asked her.
Miho thought about it. "We have to secure one of the hills! Take Hill Bravo!"
"But the Comets are over there!"
"They're on the right!" Miho explained, "Move in from the north on the left!"
"Miho," Darjeeling's voice was heard. "Our tanks won't be able to maneuver fast enough to do that."
"Nuts!" Miho said. The Churchill and Matilda can't move from its location to the north of hill.
"So we're going to charge straight through the Comets."
"What?! Are you sure?" Miho ask.
"It's better than staying here in the middle of the field… and we just may take a few with us and act as distraction for your movement." Darjeeling explained.
Miho thought about the plan. Either way, this may end with a total decimation of Sunflower. Is she ordering a squad to throw their tanks away for time?
She took a deep breath. "Alright Darjeeling! Do what you have to do. Group up on Bravo!"
"Roger. Darjeeling out."
Saori changed radio frequency to Jasmine.
"Rabbit, Turtle, Duck, Anteater, and Rosehip! Follow me to Bravo!" Miho said. The small formation rolled across the hill.
Top of Hill Bravo, Bovington Training Grounds
"Oi Mac!" Ben said repulsed by the smell in his tank. "Are you drinking that yank shit again?!"
"For the last bloody time Ben, I can drink whatever the damn hell I want."
"But coffee?!"
"Knock it off you two," Cadet Corporal Harvey said as he looked around from the Cromwell's cupola. The Cromwell, the lone survivor of its platoon, was ordered simply to take the vantage point and direct any shots. However, since the Achilles went off their little venture and the Comets got the school girls stuck in between the hills, activity for the Cromwell has gotten stale.
The top of the hill had a small mock village. About five buildings and even a mock storage tank.
Continued firing started at the southwest of the hill as the Comets continued firing. Distant shots echoed in from the Achilles. But suddenly, a roaring to the north?
Harvey looked over just in time to see a Panzer IV climbing over a mound and falling down to the earth, gun at ready pointing at the unfortunate corporal.
"Shit! Full ahead driver!" Harvey yelled.
The Cromwell picked up speed fast. The Panzer IV fired and the shell skimmed the rear of the Cromwell. Cromwell sped behind a building as Harvey reached for the radio.
"King!, this is Bishop 1! Over!"
"This King1, send, over"
"We are engaged with an enemy force north of Point B!"
"Roger that Bishop 1. Stall them. I'll send reinforcements."
"Roger that King! Bishop 1 out!" Harvey yelled and then putting the radio down. "Alright crew! We gotta keep these girls busy!"
"Gah, I think I spilled my coffee!"
"You're cleaning that up later Mac. Ben, get that gun ready. Driver, forward right!"
The Cromwell lurched forward again and turned the corner of the building. "Gunner traverse right" Harvey said in the intercom. "Driver, make circles around the whole village."
"Roger," the replies came in. The Cromwell rolled forwards as it exposed itself. Harvey could see four tanks had rolled towards the top and positioned itself in the center of the village.
"Got 'em!" Ben said looking through the Cromwell's 75 mm cannon. With the tank still moving, he fired a shot. Firing short and the shell ricochet off the dirt into the air.
The Cromwell continued its circular path even with the girl's attention towards them. The M3 Lee fired a shot towards its direction but missed. Ben fired another shot, this time grazing the Type 3.
"Ergh… they're ticking me off!" Momo said as she watched the tank circle around the team. The Hetzer's fixed 75 mm gun can't keep up with its speed.
"They'll be behind us soon…" Anzu said looking out the rear periscope. "Just have to leave it to the tanks."
Anzu observed the Cromwell make its rounds as the Hetzer tried to rotate with it. Soon, there it was right behind the Hetzer with its gun towards them. It slowed to a stop…
Then the Cromwell promptly got nailed by the Panzer IV.
"Nice shot Hana!"
"Thanks!" Hana said as Yukari loaded another round.
"What now Miporin?" Saori said.
A tree on the south side of the hill snapped and crumbled down. From behind, Miho was glad to see Darjeeling's Churchill make it up, but… was that it?
"Darjeeling, you're safe!" Miho radioed in.
"We lost the Matilda and the Char B1 on the way here."
"Oh…" Miho said, though relieved that at least one survived through.
"We also managed to take out one Comet on the way up."
So one less tank to worry about. Miho tallied up the tanks left in the match. They've got seven tanks left, the cadets have six, but they have an advantage in long-range firepower with their 17-pounders.
"Okay, here's the plan," Miho said over the radio.
Montgomery looked at his map after ordering his Comets forward past their dug in position. Not among one of the more orthodox decisions he made in the course of his Tankery history, but it worked.
He's overestimated and underestimated Miho Nishizumi throughout the course of the match. When he ordered his crew to take Bravo, he'd thought Miho already set up shop on top and was to surround her. She didn't and instead decimated most of his Cromwell squad. Then slugging it out with her on the hills, the anti-tank squad manage flank the ones isolated at Alpha. Now she's gone and sent her team straight towards the Comet's fire.
The Comets had to move or suffer from close range shell impacts. While the Comet armor is stronger than the Cromwells, it is only marginally and even a 75 mm at close range can do some work.
A throwback to medieval times, he ordered the Comets to joust them. Charging straight through each other, he lost one Comet but took out their Matilda and Char B1. Not significant in terms of firepower removal, but a decrease in numbers was good in armored warfare.
Either way, things weren't going as expected. She's pretty good,Montgomery thought. Staying a distance away from Bravo behind a hill as he organized another attack plan. With only six vehicles left, he's got to make a good one.
"King to Queen," Montgomery got onto the radio. "New attack plan. Move your the TD's to attack range at Bravo. I'll use my Comets and isolate them on the hill. We'll take them out on our terms. Over."
"Roger that King," The replies came in.
"King to Stars," Montgomery radioed to his remaining Comet tanks. "Let's get a move on. Surround Point Bravo!"
South of Hill Alpha, Bovington Training Grounds
The diesel engines of the Achilles rolled across the plain. Emma could see Point Bravo from here with Montgomery's Comets spreading out and surrounding the hill.
She looked over the large turret, checking the terrain and accounting for every bumps and slopes the tank destroyer was traveling on. With the removal of the Tiger (P) with a lucky shot from one of her comrades, the long-range capability of Ōarai was down to the two 75 mm on the Panzer IV and Hetzer. Narrowing down the vehicles from there, the others will be easy targets for the Achilles if the they try to get a shot off.
Was that really it for Ōarai? Emma couldn't shake the feeling that despite all statistics, something was off with the tactics and pattern. It's just like in their matches in the nationals, Ōarai was an unpredictable bunch of amateurs. A professional was predictable, amateurs weren't.
As the Achilles bumped along, Emma looked through her binoculars at Point Bravo for any of Ōarai trying to take a pot shot.
"VC! Enemy tanks on our 2 o'clock!"
"What?!" Emma shouted as she rotated herself.
A small distance away, two vehicles were zooming right towards them.
"Let's go!" Noriko shouted to her crew. The Type 89 picked up speed along with Rosehip's Crusader. "Full power guts!"
The Achilles were scrambling. The range was less than 300 meters away. They've caught them off guard. Noriko could see the Achilles crew members frantically turn the manual traverse turret.
"Spike!" She yelled as the Type 89 fired its 57 mm gun. The shot grazed one of the turret. An Achilles had fired in desperation, but it shot was off and soared above the two scout tanks.
Rosehip's 6-pounder gun in her Crusader shot at the glacis of another Achilles. Alas, the sloped front armor caused the round to deflect off beyond the three tank destroyers.
The tanks were closing in on each other. In terms of specifics, the Type 89 and Crusader won't stand a chance again these Achilles. But with surprise and range in their favor, they are exploiting the Achilles' weaknesses and will take out as many as possible.
"Clear!" Noriko said after sliding in a shell. "FIRE AGAIN!"
Akebi took another look through the optics and fired a round. The shell hit head-on into the lead Achilles' front. But it was simply too weak at this distance. The Achilles remained untouched.
"God damn!" Emma yelled after the the shell cracked against the front armor. She looked closer at their opponents. A Type 89 and a Crusader tank. A Type 89? She realized and climbed out of the turret.
"VC! What are you doing?" Edwards said as he saw Emma vaulted the rear and stood behind the turret. She gripped onto the M2 Browining on the pintle-mount.
Bracing the recoil with a leg on the duck-bill shape counterweights on the Achilles, she fired off the heavy machine gun with continuous shots at the Japanese tank.
The rounds sparked off the armor. Oh please work, Emma thought as she continued firing. The bullets continued sparking off, until the Type 89 suddenly halted, sputtered, then a white flag popped up. Phew, glad that worked out, Emma thought as she sighs in relief.
"What did you do?" Edwards asked Emma.
"Type 89 is a pre-World War II tank," Emma explained as she climbed back inside the Achilles tank. "It's vulnerable even to anti-tank rifles, so I thought the fifty-cal machine gun would do the job."
"Wow, smart!"
"Get back to your duty!" Emma shot. "That Crusader is still out there!"
"Huh?! How thin is that armor that the machine gun can destroy it?!" Rosehip asked incredulously to the vulnerability of Duck Team's Type 89. The Crusader was still speeding along the plain, moving faster than the Achilles' turret traverse rate. It was only about 150 meters away now. Near point-blank range, and the 6-pounder excel at this range against the thin tank destroyer armor. With her tea swaying along with the Crusader's movement, Rosehip gave her order, "Fire!"
The Crusader recoiled back, barely affecting its speed and direction, but the 6-pounder 57 mm shell zipped into the side armor of the Achilles in the right of the formation. Smoke spewed at the impact center and a white flag popped up from one of the counterweights.
"Next target!" The Crusader was now right behind the two Achilles. Their turret was still pointed to their 2 o'clock. The Crusader was in a prime flanking position at their blind spot.
"Fire again!"
Emma saw the Crusader shot fire another shot and skim her other Achilles. They're never going to catch up with this game of cat-and-mouse. "Driver! Turn left!"
"What about the turret?!" Edwards asked.
"Forget the turret! Line up the shot when she gets into the turret's direction!"
Edwards looked through the sights as the Achilles shifted gear to the left. Rumbling along with its a large radius due to the transmission design.
"Steady!" Emma commanded as she observed the Crusader's movement. It didn't seem to pick up on Emma's movements as it sped to the left of the Achilles group. Emma's Achilles was about to line up with the Crusader. "Get ready!"
Edwards held his breath…
"Now Gunner!"
The Crusader popped up into the optics. In a split-second reaction, Edwards pulled the trigger and the 17-pounder rung a sweet tone as it forced the Crusader into a barrel roll with its impact. Landing belly-up, the white flag of the Crusader popped up.
The crew gasped in relief. "Good shooting Edwards."
"Thanks VC." Edwards said as he gasped for breath.
Top of Hill Bravo, Bovington Training Grounds
"We could only get one of them! Sorry Miho!" Duck Team transmitted to Miho.
"That's fine! We'll carry it out from here!" Miho responded. One more down, so now we're on a five vs. five match, Miho thought. She never thought the machine guns on tanks would actually be calibrated to be counted in the Sensha-Dou system. The Type 89 would have to be deployed more carefully in the future… or upgraded.
Either way, she must now focus on the current situation. "Darjeeling, let's do this!"
"Roger!"
Naomi's Comet has taken position on the southeastern portion of Point Bravo. It was climbing the hill in an attempt of a three-pronged attack to isolate Ōarai and drive them out, where they'll be exposed to fire.
A strange tactic indeed, but with what they have left, it's all they've got. A tactic that worked in the end isn't stupid.
But Ōarai had been an weird bunch of girls to fight. She's heard of them from their exploits at the Japanese nationals. A noble bunch, fighting for the survival of the school to the very end. But now that they were in front of her, she can't help but feel… underwhelmed.
Perhaps legends were better in stories.
"King, this is Rook 2. We've reached the brow of Bravo."
"Roger, proceed to weed them out." Montgomery's orders came in.
"Roger! Rook 2 out!" Naomi said and stowed away the radio. She looked towards her crew, "Stay put. I'll be back." She says and exited the vehicle.
Naomi was familar with the landscape, they performed their training manuevers here. Walking on the grasses as they brush her legs up to her knee. She hugged the wall of a building and peered over the corner. Out of her eye she could see a Churchill with the St. Gloriana's emblem. Though its front armor was faced towards them, the turret was facing a different direction.
An opening. Naomi sprinted back to her Comet, sat herself down the commander's hatch and connected to the intercom. "There is a Churchill to the right of that building. Gunner, traverse right. Driver, move over there and stop!"
"Roger!" The two crew members said and the Comet I lurched forward as the gun traversed. The Comet came out lighting fast and stopped still, allowing the gunner to line his sight.
But Naomi saw something different than before. Instead of a turret side to fire at, it was now facing her, and there was a Hetzer besides it.
"Oh bollocks."
"Darjeeling to Miho, we destroyed the Comet coming from the south." Darjeeling said casually.
"Good job!" Miho replied.
"You just HAD to miss Momo?!" Yuzu's voice came through.
"Sh-Shut up! I was a lot better in training!" A rather tearful Momo said.
Miho looked up at the tree, "And thank you for the recon Momoga! Nekoya!"
"No biggie!" Momoga said from about half-way up a tree.
"Ah, I… I'm being praised by Miho…" Nekoya mumbled through.
The two have left the safety of the tank and using their strength to climb the structures. Using their vantage point, they helped Miho and the others scout for the incoming Comets.
"Keep it up you two!"
Montgomery was surprised to hear Naomi's tank was taken out quickly. From the her erratic screams as her tank was shooken up, it seeemed like Ōarai knew they were coming and where.
"Hmmm…" Montgomery pondered his action. Was he being watched? He looked around from his position behind a building.
"Something wrong commander?" the loader asked him.
"Oh it's nothing Frank… These girls are actually getting on my nerves."
"You're the commander sir. We'll follow your every order."
Montgomery looked at him, "Even if we're just throwing ourself into a grinding machine?"
"Well… I just want you know where our hearts are at the moment."
Montgomery sighed. "Well then," He said folding up his map. "If they are predicting where we'll be. The only case is to be as unpredictable as they are."
"Are we charging again sir?" The driver call through.
"You're damn right. Let's show them 'Shock and Awe'. We know these buildings better than them."
The driver chuckled as he revved up the engine.
Miho heard the loud Meteor engine running from two directions. North and Southwest. "All team members! Get ready! Looks like they're looking to be aggresive now! Momoga! Nekoya! Do you see anything?"
"I see one to the west of your direction. Golly! It's fast! That's a sharp turn!" Momoga radioed in.
"Nekoya, how about y-" Miho said before the turning of dirt to her right caught her attention. A Comet emerged from the middle of the village and is doing a drift on the dirt speeding towards them.
"Hana!" Miho yelled as the turret started traversing. The Comet zoomed towards them and diverted to the left as the turret was about to meet. The Comet I lined up its sight and fired at the Hetzer as it was passing by, a violent crash and a small mechanical flip of a white flag follow.
"DAMN!" Momo's voice was heard.
"Sorry Miho! We're out!" Anzu said as the Comet I sped past them and behind the cover of the buildings before anyone could acquire it.
"Mi-Miho, they're fast…" Nekoya said.
"Stay up there! It'll be too dangerous going back to your tank now!"
"Too late!" Piyotan said before another shot rang out somewhere in the village and smoke rose to the northwest. Anteater team's tank was gone.
"No!" Miho cried.
"We'll stay up there looking for them!" Momoga said. "It's coming from the east!"
Darjeeling and Miho's turret swung east as they saw the Comet present itself. Drifting towards them, Hana and Assam fired the guns, but the shells bounced off the turret or didn't affect it at all. It started speeding towards them and took another shot at them. A loud metal CLANG could be heard following the shot and the Comet whizzed past before drifting behind cover.
"Darjeeling to Miho. We've lost a track."
Miho couldn't react to the speed of the Comets fast enough. They were coming and going, taking their shot before quickly moving to cover before they could acquire a shot. Was this the quality of Tankery-class practitioners? They were down by two tanks so quickly and now it is three to five, with Darjeeling's Churchill following soon without its mobility.
"Miho, use our tank as a shield from the next charge."
"B-but."
"Miho, will you do what is necessary to win?"
"Huh?"
"In times of war, will you do anything it takes to win?"
"U-Uh…"
"Miho! Comet's coming from the North!" Nekoya's voice was frantic.
The North side would give the incoming Comet a view on the Churchill's side armor. One pass and it was over for St. Gloriana. Miho looked at the situation and understood.
As the Comet zoomed towards the Churchill, it fired and cracked at the side armor, knocking out the last St. Gloriana tank in the match. However, passing the large Churchill suspensions, the Panzer IV hiding on the other shot took a shot at its side armor point blank range. The Comet was flung from its inertia and the kinetic energy, tumbling in barrels as it crashed into a building, flag up.
"Three more…" Miho thought at the bleak situation.
"Miho!" Momoga voice cracked through. "The enemy tanks! They're here! Southeast side!"
Emma's Achilles was climbing up the hill. From the radio transmissions, Montgomery was the only one left up there, Naomi's and Geroge's Comets were destroyed by Ōarai. "Not bad," was what she thought about this event.
The Achilles were terrible choice in close-quarter combat, but at this stage, there was nothing else to lose. With only two tanks left to eliminate, Ōarai's defeat drew near.
One hell of a practice match.
They made it to the top, and saw Miho's Panzer IV amidst the destruction of a Jagdpanzer 38(t), Churchill, and a Comet I.
"Fire at that Panzer IV!" Emma ordered.
"On the way!" Edwards said as he pulled the trigger. Her Achilles and the one to her right fired, but the Panzer IV immediately pulled backa and the shells crashed into a building, creating a huge hole in the wall.
"Trap that Panzer IV!" Montgomery called in. "Watch both sides of the village for them. I'll draw them out!"
"Roger that!" Emma replied. "Gunner! Traverse left!"
"VC! We've got a situation he- Gah!" The commander of the nearby Achilles said before two large clangs were heard on her right. She looked and saw that the Achilles was turning to face its front to the right. Making out from the dust, Emma saw rabbit-logo M3 Lee idling there... menacingly.
"That's payback!" Aya shouted as Saki flicked in a 37 mm round.
"Here's another one for you!" Ayumi cried as she picked up another 75 mm shell for her gun.
Soon, a volley of heavy machine gun fire came back and clattered the entire tank. Azusa once again ducked inside the commander's cupola.
"Oh no, not this time!" Azusa said as she clenched her teeth and gripped her seat hard. Getting shot at the first time was near traumatic, but now they know better. "No runing away this time!"
"Loaded!" Aya shouted.
"Loaded!" Ayumi shouted.
"Fire!" Azusa commanded and two consequtive crashes of the guns fired. The 37 mm and 75 mm both struck at a single point on the Achilles in front of them. Explosion of the impact sparked and soon a white flag came up.
"We did it!" Karina shouted out the top of her lung.
"Yes!" The crew shouted, well except Saki, who pumped her hand above her head. Then the whole tank shook violent backwards. The M3 Lee weighed about 30 short tons, but the energy of the 17-pounder shell still propelled the M3 Lee backwards a few feat with an impact straight on the frontal hull.
A white-flag was up and it was over for Rabbit Team.
"We're the only ones left Miporin," Saori gloomily notifies.
"But there is only two left…" Miho notes. "Too late to go back now! Let's go girls!"
Mako shifted gears and the Panzer IV was speeding along the combination of dirt and stone roads. Outnumbered, the only chance is to kill the two tanks one by one.
"Maneuver through the village, use the buildings for cover!"
"Roger…" Mako said with her usual enthusiastic voice and continued a steady course of a winding pattern between the buildings.
"Miho! The last Achilles is still at the Southeast side of the village! Aiming its guns towards the north!" Momoga notified.
"Roger! Any words on that Comet?"
"No words Miho… Momoga and I don't see it…" Nekoya said.
"Hmm…" Miho thought on her options. Was the Comet waiting for an ambush? Or was there something Miho wasn't counting on? "Move in on that lone Achilles through the west side."
"Okay…" Mako changed directions and headed around the far side of the village. Hana was kept her eyes on the optics and her hands steady, waiting for any sudden commands or tanks to appear. It was a risky gamble now.
About a minute past as the Panzer IV throttled along the dirt until they come to the southeast clearing of the village. Sure enough, the last Achilles was still there. Seeing them, the Achilles began backing up.
"Hana, fire!" Miho ordered.
"Firing!" Hana yelled and pulled the trigger. The shell flew past the Achilles as it backed away past the trajectory. As Yukari loads another round, the Achilles was backing away from the Panzer IV's line of sight behind a building.
"Mako, catch it!" Miho ordered. Mako sped the Panzer IV up towards the Achilles direction, turning a right before the building the Achilles was at, turning left, and catching the bare side of the Achilles' sloped armor.
"Hana, Fir-"
"NOT YET!" A loud yell and an accompanied engine roar, a roar louder than anything Miho's has heard since the time Leopon used their Tiger to destroy the bridge in the nationals. Miho turned to look at the source of the sound behind the Panzer IV, only to see Montgomery out of his Comet cupola ramming right into the Panzer IV's rear.
Such a violent buckling in the tank that Miho was almost thrown off the turret. Mako quickly applied the right track brakes and the Panzer IV used the momentum to swerve right. Continually applying the throttle, Mako tries to swerve the Panzer IV all the way around to get the Comet I in its sight. The Comet I was traversing right at the Panzer IV. In a split second, the Panzer IV and the Comet I had their guns pointed point-blank at their turret front.
The commanders stared down each other in a still heartbeat. As though two knights on horseback have their swords at each other's throat, looking for that chink of armor to stab through. Time slowed as Miho and Montgomery made their conscious decisions, not as students, but as true tankers.
"FIRE!"
Good gosh!
It is not easy to write a tank fight scene.
But I did it. The British Cadets vs. Ōarai. I actually thoroughly enjoyed writing some of the scenes. I plan for more epic things when I get the other countries involved, especially since it will involve massive tank vs. tank combat that hasn't been seen since Kursk.
But I hope everything was easy to follow. I take multiple perspectives and signify them with the line breaks, with the additions of locations to show that we're going to a completely new location.
Anyways, thanks for all the support everyone who's been with me till now! If you look forward to whats next, feel free to Follow and Favorite the story!
And a Happy Halloween!