TUNNELS
Roy explained as they walked. "Oh, they knew something was wrong...there was just nothing they could do about it while stuck inside the tank. It's all about hitting the weak points...no way you're busting a tank's armor with small-arms fire...maybe...MAYBE...you could do it with a .50cal and special rounds, but these guys didn't have much in the way of high-tech ammo. But when the tank's buttoned up, the driver was stuck using either a camera or some kind of viewfinder to see where the tank was going...so you shoot that. The tank either has to stop, or drive blind...or the driver has to pop his hatch so he can see, which is usually what would happen. I mean, if the tank stops, it's out of action anyway, so it's effectively disabled."
He paused as they stepped up to the QM cage and he requested the three rifles, and twenty rounds of ammo for each. "More than we need to test them out, certainly, but if you decide you like one, you should have enough rounds to get a feel for it."
Once the ammo and rifles arrived, he resumed the explanation as they walked. "So, tank's either out of action with a full crew, or they just lost their driver...usually, the commander will check to see what happened to the driver, so you cap him when he pokes up...that leaves the loader alone inside, he's generally not trained to drive the tank and is often the most junior member of the crew...if he tries to take a look to see what happened, he joins the other two. Odds are good he grabs the radio and reports as out of action." Roy shrugged, and added, "More resourceful commanders could try calling out directions to the driver while using the gun sights...which are about as armored as the drivers' optics, and also limited to whichever direction the turret is pointed. Another shot and they've got no way to see anything...can't drive, can't shoot. All they can do is either stay buttoned up and wait for help, or surrender. In the engagements I heard about, those who hunkered down ended up being captured. And the only damage to the tank was the optics. Now, you had to have a REALLY good sniper to do it, and he had to be in the right position relative to the tank, so it didn't happen often. But it was possible."
They'd arrived at the forward end of the tunnels by that point, and Roy settled the .50 and .308 Lapua to the ground, raising the Beretta to look down the length of the ship. "Ah, good work, boys," he muttered, spotting three different silhouette targets, at varying yardages...one at 500, one at 800, and one at 1000 yards.
He lowered the rifle. "Well...pick your poison," he said with a grin, indicating the rifles.