In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 218):

"Roger."

[OOC:  19:45, Today: William Hawke rolled 9 using 2d20, keeping the lowest dice only with rolls of 12,9. Driving Roll. TN 8]

The Humvee turned right, aiming for the gap between a bungalow and hedge. As Hawke stopped, he could feel the ground under his front wheels give away! It was a septic tank, and it gave away with a jolt before he could back up. The front axle was stuck both wheels inside the collapsed waste collection tank.

They were pointed north, between a house and a hedge. Across an overgrown lawn, they could see 56 Ave to the north. Belanger's element was trapped to the west. Not to far away, they could hear a bellow of a mammoth diesel engine and the squeal of steel tracks on pavement. The tank was on the move!

The Cougar rolled to a stop at 58th Ave and 248 St. as the turret slewed left, looking for the tank. Wayne kept his foot on the gas, ready to move forward through the intersection, or turn left or right as Taras dictate. They had a clear sight down 248 St., despite the debris, dust and smoke kicked up by a 100mm HE blast and 2 76mm HESH rounds.

While Taras and Darek could (just) see the store to the south on the SW corner of 56 Ave and 248 St where they believed Belanger was holed up. What they could not see was the tank! It must have changed position. There! He could see a plume of thick black diesel smoke moving west, the roar of the engine and metal racket of the tracks confirmed his thought.

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 221):

Peering into the scope, Darek yelled, "Contact! I see several light vehicles including armed technicals and one Alpha Poppa Charlie south of the main the intersection, 600 metres range."

Looking around for other threats, Wayne called oyut,

"Hey, I think I see Conklin, about a block down on the left!

"He's just lying there, I think he's hurt!"

We have to rescue that man! Darek, we are going to shoot two rounds of smoke at the intersection. I'll go get him and you cover me.


Staff Sargent Taras V. Shevchenko - Knight element
Loading the main gun with a smoke round
C-6 GPMG (100/100)
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags
S&W 5946 (15/15) +2 mags
Handgrenade RG-5 (6)
RPO-A (x1)
MON-100 (x1)
POMZ-2 (x8)


76 ammo:
(3/5) HESH-T (+10 in the reserve)
(9/9) Canister
(7/7) Smoke
(5/5) HE-T
(3/3) Illumination

"Fuck!" said Hawke.  "Tis fookin well fooked." His accent got thicker with the excitement.

He tried to back the Hummer out of the septic tank, but it didn't work, either.

"Everybody out."  he said, as he climbed out.  He pulled his pack with the medical equipment out of the Hummer and seated it on his back.  The rifle was next, and it was secured to him by the strap.

"Where do y'need us?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Wed 13 Nov 2013.

Andrew's was out of the Humvee when it looked like it was going nowhere fast. He uses the door for cover as he slings the launcher and then moves away from the vehicle and takes a knee as he provides cover.

He asks the Sergeant as he slaps the launcher;

"Do you want use to have a look at the tank ?"

Bishop Element
Providing Cover

C1A1D SLR 7" Barrel, L2A1 SUIT sight (30/30) 7.62mmN
M3 Carl Gustav AT Launcher (1/1) FFV-551 HEAT 84mm
Para-Ordnance P14-45 (15/14) .45
This message was last edited by the player at 00:55, Wed 13 Nov 2013.

Corporal Abbot braced himself as the vehicle stopped. He grabbed his C9 and quickly bailed out and took an overwatch position behind the best cover within 10 meters.

<radio>"Covering. Move when ready."<radio>, Abbot said simply.  He faced the last known direction of the enemy forces.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:24, Wed 13 Nov 2013.

While loading the main gun Taras noticed that the smoke round was quite heavy compared to the "Squash" type. More than 6 pounds in fact! The nose fuze also added extra length compared to the HESH ammo. The anti-armor round was a solid filling of Composition A3 (93% RDX, 7% wax) while the freshly feeded round contained three smoke canisters inside with their own pyrotechnics that could burn for a minimum time of a minute. The idea was to create a superb cloud thanks to the dispersion of the "troika".

Some radical change in ballistics could be expected. The smoke round, unknown to the crew, would turn the medium velocity L23 gun into a potato gun as the smoke ammo would came out of the barrel at 290 m/s compared to the 534 m/s of a HESH shot.

This actually, could be a positive thing after all. Using the direct fire hash mark of the FCS would let the smoke rounds fall short of the intersection and therefore create a closer yet more dense cloud framed by the street buildings. Correcting the aim to reach the intersection would elevate the gun and add more depth to the smoke screen if Darek decided to do so.

Loaded!

Taras would execute a rapid reload after the first round is fired and then exit the vehicle in order to rescue Conklin.


Staff Sargent Taras V. Shevchenko - Knight element
Loading the main gun with a smoke round
C-6 GPMG (100/100)
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags
S&W 5946 (15/15) +2 mags
Handgrenade RG-5 (6)
RPO-A (x1)
MON-200 (x1)
POMZ-2 (x8)


76 ammo:
(3/5) HESH-T (+10 in the reserve)
(9/9) Canister
(7/7) Smoke
(5/5) HE-T
(3/3) Illumination

This message was last edited by the player at 19:17, Thu 09 Jan 2014.

Darek sighted in just short of the intersection of 56b Ave and 248 St.

"Firing Now!" He fired one smoke round on target, then a second. "Firing now.

"They're on target!"

The street between the hedges on one side and the suburban/rural house on the other side began filling with white smoke.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:03, Wed 13 Nov 2013.

The radio crackled.

"Bishop... glad to hear you! Sorry, been a little busy to answer the radio until now.

It was Private Kelli Droz, one of the two Militia that Belanger had borrowed for whatever task he had decided to abort in order to help them out.

"Was that you that drove off that bad boy? I was just about to run up the white flag! We got two WIA's here, both bad! Hotel 2 (Conklin) took off, I think he was sniping at the tank but I don't know his status. Tell you the truth, I thought we were out of time, here."
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:05, Wed 13 Nov 2013.

As soon as the second round was delivered, the Staff Sargent jumped out of the Cougar and start running towards the wounded comrade.

Oh, irony! he thought, I hope Poland will cover my arse!


Staff Sargent Taras V. Shevchenko - Knight element
Running towards Conklin.
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags
S&W 5946 (15/15) +2 mags
Handgrenade RG-5 (x6)

It looked like a bush of some kind, but Wayne's sharp eyes had spotted the Drgunov SVD sniper rifle and realised it was really Gunny Conklin. He was collapsed on the side of the road, as if he crawled there. Taras reached Conklin safely and the other man looked up, weakly, from where he lay. Blood streaked his face, marring the camo paint pattern.

"Hey... Taras... long time... brother..."
This message was last updated by the player at 04:38, Thu 14 Nov 2013.

Kelsey bailed with the rest of her team and moved to the corner of the building to take a look around, keeping low.

"This is Bishop one, I have Hawke with me for the wounded.  Good to hear you Kelli.  Thank Darek and Taras for tank chasing though."

She motions for them to spread out, and tries to figure out where that tank is, and any other threats.

"If we can find it and get a clear shot, see if you can't take out the track.  If you can blow the track and a road wheel or two, it's just a crappy little pillbox."




Bishop-1.
Bailing out and deploying as infantry,
*C-8 Carbine - 4 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, safe off.
*3 C-13 Frag Grenades  (Attached to webgear)
*2 Smoke grenades (Green/white) (pockets)
*Kevlar body armor.
*Kevlar helmet
*AN/PRC-152 Radio
*Sidearm:  Browning Hi-Power, 2 spare mags

Up ahead, Taras and Conklin were in the left ditch, under some low-hanging trees.

Seeing some movement in the hedges further down and to the right, towards where the smoke rounds were still going off, Darek knew he had to act. Clicking the switch to select the 7.62mm coaxial MG, he called out, "contact front right! Danger close, firing now!"

Taras heard the whine of the turret behind him as it began rotating.

Hoping it wasn't the tank, and was maybe some foot mobiles who'd gotten up the nerve to check out 56 Ave, he began spraying the right (west) side of the road and the ditch/hedges with long bursts of 7.62mm fire.

Bullets began zipping by Taras as Darek began firing on some unseen target further down the road, on the west side. Branches and foliage cut from the overgrown hedge began showering down onto the pavement.

Stay low, my friend, we are going to get you out of here in no time.




Staff Sargent Taras V. Shevchenko - Knight element
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags
S&W 5946 (15/15) +2 mags
Handgrenade RG-5 (x6)

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 233):

The woman on the other end of the radio conversation laughed, "I don't care who did it! The tank's just west of the intersection of 56 and 248... shit, it's coming back!"

From where they were, 56 Ave went east west. Kelli and Hotel's position was at the intersection to the west, and that's where loud tank noises were coming from, and getting louder.

As the house was set back from the road, she had to peek out from behind the overgrown hedge to have a boo down 56 ave.

Sure enough, there was the tank, all of about 100m distant. It was crawling towards the intersection where Hotel was holed up in the corner store, belching black diesel smoke.

From where he was, Taras could hear the tank noise getting louder but the smoke screen he'd laid prevented him from getting a visual. But the tank was close, and getting closer.

"Damn you... and your... socialist... medical system..."

It was difficult to tell under the layers of Ghillie suit cloth how badly Conklin was injured. As it was, they were somewhat safe in the overgrown ditch, a feature common to rural areas, although this one was less than a metre deep, a somewhat shallow specimen.

Whatever Darek was shooting at, they declined to show themselves. Although the bullets were passing within a half-dozen metres, the coaxial MG was pretty accurate and used the gunsights so it was unlikely they'd take fire.

Haha!! What happened to you? Do you think you can move? I'm guessing your friend the tank is coming back!


Staff Sargent Taras V. Shevchenko - Knight element
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags
S&W 5946 (15/15) +2 mags
Handgrenade RG-5 (x6)

"Here comes big mama boys.  Get me a rocket up here and see if we can't bring something to the party"

Kelsey motions for those behind to cover her, as she makes a dash for a more forward position, likely in a ditch, then sets up to cover anyone's advance, her C-8 up and ready.  It hadn't come up, but the Sergeant was a team sharpshooter, and as she peered over her iron sights, she sought a target to lend misery to.


Bishop-1.
Taking a forward position, ready to lay fire down to cover a rocket shot.
*C-8 Carbine - 4 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, safe off.
*3 C-13 Frag Grenades  (Attached to webgear)
*2 Smoke grenades (Green/white) (pockets)
*Kevlar body armor.
*Kevlar helmet
*AN/PRC-152 Radio
*Sidearm:  Browning Hi-Power, 2 spare mags

Thomas slings his rifle and shoulders the launcher having checked the correct round was loaded. He then signalled Tremblay to stay close and moved out with the others.

It had been a long time since he had faced armour and the first time with the Carl Gustav. He knew they were great for taking out early main battle tanks and had heard good things from the battle field, but he could not help but feel nervous at the notion of sticking his head in the direction of the tank.

Bishop Element
Looking for target

M3 Carl Gustav AT Launcher (1/1) FFV-551 HEAT 84mm

C1A1D SLR 7" Barrel, L2A1 SUIT sight (30/30) 7.62mmN[Slung]
Para-Ordnance P14-45 (15/14) .45 [Holstered]

While Sgt Champlain recons the street.   Abbot anchors the southern flank. He sets up prone with the best view of the area to the south.

------------------------

C9A1 w/Elcan scope, 200rd soft feed bag, sling, bipod
Sig Sauer P226 9mm (pistol belt)
Kevlar helmet (CADPAT cover, scrim)
Kevlar vest, w/Lvl 3 plates
Web Gear (200rds 5.56mm, 2 P226 mags, 2 frags, 2 smoke)
This message was last edited by the player at 03:42, Sat 16 Nov 2013.

Clearly a little disoriented, Conklin looked up at Taras.

"Shell hit close... can't hear anything. Deaf. Am reading... your lips... Got some shrapnel, busted left leg... right ankle... I think... maybe an arm?"

In reply to Thomas Matthew Andrews (msg # 240):

Before unassing, Tremblay had swapped the loaded HE round with an HEDP anti-tank round. Lugging the 2 ammo cases, Tremblay followed behind Andrews as they looked for a target.

"Sergent... Kelsey... I know there's a tank on the street. Somewhere. Shouldn't we also send someone directly through the yards to where Hotel is holed up?"

Sgt. Keith Tremblay
Bishop-2

C7A1 (30/30) + 4 mags
1x 84mm HEDP
3x 84mm HE

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:28, Sat 16 Nov 2013.

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 239):

On the south side of 56 Ave (east-west), Kel looked left, westwards down the street. She could see the intersection at 248st (north-south) where the corner store was located at the SE corner. That was where Hotel was, about 100m distant. A smoke screen had gone up around where she figured Knight had gone, somewhere to the north of the intersection of 248 and 56. Someone was firing an MG down 248 from north to south.

Just past the intersection, she could see the tank. It was hulking and a dark mottled green, Soviet camo pattern. The turret glacis to the left of the gun barrel was blackened with the scorch mark from the HESH round. Otherwise, it seemed undamaged.

The tank seemed stopped just past the intersection. Call it 130m. Suddenly, black smoke belched from the diesel exhaust and it lurched forward! She could also see the commander was now sticking his head out and manned the Dushka. Aside from him, there were a handful of men riding on the back of the tank behind the turret, and another half-dozen running behind it, using the tank for cover. It looked like they were making a push on Hotel's position!

Behind her, Andrews and Tremblay came up to the edge of the overgrown yard, concealed from the west by the hedge and overhanging trees. Andrews had the Carl Gustav deployed and ready for action.

Back by the Humvee, Abbot covered the southern flank with his C9A1 (M249) SAW. HAwke was out of the immobilised vehicle as well. To the south of them across the backyard he could see a line of trees and more trees behind them. The topographical map indicated there was a stream bed there going from east to west and continuing under 248 St, surrounded by heavy vegetation. The stream bed was likely to be in a 2m or so depression.