The sight of the T62m rolling forward took Tran's breath away. The shockwave blast as it fired was both awe inspiring and terrifying. He could only hope the others were out of the way and undamaged.

As Johnson fires it is hard not to flinch as the backblast drom the CG flashes behind them. As soon as Johnson fires he is ready, reload in hand and ready to go he starts the process of feeding the beast for the next shot while trying to keep his head down.

OOC shoving a rocket into the pipe!

Castle draws a bead on the officer.

In reply to Roger A Castle (msg # 178):

OCC: Since we are not using the normal rounds with their segments, just assume that you will be aiming for long enough to line up a shot, out to 300 meters it shouldn't be much more than a handful of seconds. Keep it to firing on a single target with a single shot and we'll consider it aiming. Sound fair?

With help of the excellent rifle and scope Roger put a bullet into the Polish officer.

23:24, Today: Roger A Castle rolled 89 using 1d100.  CRM. Hit!

Seeing one of the combat teams running around with a PK machine gun, James cut loose a burst from the DShk, shredding them before they could find cover.

01:25, Today: James Wolfebane rolled 3 using 1d100.  HW 50.
I was thinking that machine guns are under HW. My CRM is 50. Outstanding Success I believe.

OOC: The heavy machine gun would fall under your CRM. Heavy weapons mainly covers things like mortars, rocket launchers, artillery, grenade launchers, rifle launched grenades, recoilless rifles, etc. But a 3 is still a 3. Just a note, aiming uses the full value of a skill for the aimed shot, while normal combat uses a percentage of skill based on range. 60% of skill for short range (basic weapon range), 30% of skill at medium range (double basic range), and 10% of skill for long range (double medium range), some weapons can fire at extreme range like sniper rifles firing aimed shot and machine guns firing from a tripod (considered to be using a traverse and elevation mechanism) and use the 10% of skill. The DShK is inside its medium range to engage the enemy that Wolfbane can see at the moment, CRM 50 (30/15/5/5). Weapons have a rate of fire, that is how many times you are allowed to engage with it. It is considered to be firing a 'shot' of three rounds, either a burst of automatic fire or several rapid rounds of semi-automatic fire. you rolled for each shot you fire. That is why weapons have odd listings for ammo capacity.

Several Poles move forward, headed for a slight rise to use as a quick position for their PK machine gun. However, several yards short of their point of defense and bust of heavy machine gun fire sent tracers arching through then gunner as he ran between his two comrades. The heavy bullets punched through the man as though they had missed, but he fell instantly to the ground as if he was a machine that had simply lost power.

Nearly two hundred yards from the falling machine gunner a Polish officer was moving along with his radio man when a 7.62mm bullet struck him in the arm. He fell in reaction, but quickly scrambled about to find cover behind a magnolia. It seemed that this was not his first encounter with snipers or being wounded in action. The Pole's reaction impressed Roger, it took experience and a certain sense of calm to not simply lose all sense of the situation when getting shot, after all.

The T62m shot forward, the commander closed his hatch as he descended into the turret. Nest the the main gun's barrel a burst of machine gun fire from a PK machine gun sent a bevy of tracers towards the house. Bullets ripped the trees and bushes but fell short of the structure. But, it was soon obvious what was happening; it was searching fire looking for concealed troops.

Pat held his fire, the enemy was too far away for him to confidently hit. He took aim at on of the machine gunners and waited until he looked to be setting up. Then fired a single burst his way.

10:26, Today: Patrick Walsh rolled 25 using 1d100.  AK74 aimed shot at MG CRM60.

As Andrew waited for the Charlie G to be reloaded he could feel the water from the recent rain begin to soak into the side of his fatigues. With the humidity still quite high it would only be a matter of minutes to dry out, even less if they were running for there lives back past the house. When Tran gave him the signal he was reloaded Andrew righted himself again and drew a bead on the tank as he again sent the laser down range.

When he thought he had a clear shot Andrew said in a whisper "Firing." to give Tran the chance to get out of the back blast if he had not already. Once the rocket was away Andrew quickly grab the small amount of gear on the ground before starting off to a secondary position, he waited for Tran and let him lead the way.


Andrew Johnson rolled 55 using 1d100. = HIT.



-
This message was last edited by the player at 01:30, Mon 13 Jan 2020.

Hoping to keep the fire teams pinned down, James did not hit much of anything but the air and the ground with the machine gun rounds.

22:02, Today: James Wolfebane rolled 96,32,25 using d100,d100,d100.  CRM 15 or less.

A Polish soldier scramble around to take up the PK machine gun dropped by his comrade. He received a trio of 5.45mm bullets in the chest for his trouble. The recoil went unnoticed by Patric as he exhaled, relieved that the man never made it to the weapon.

Tran covered his ears and scanned the area, there were more Poles than he first spotted. Many of them were firing on the duo's previous position with gusto. A flash of sparks from the tank's turret drew his eyes. As he and Andrew watched the commander's and loader's hatched atop the turret sprang open from the internal over-pressure caused by the penetration.

Smiles creased both muddy faces, but there wasn't a secondary blast. The tank stopped rolling, but the crew was probably in mild shock. Compression induced psychosis caused by the over-pressure could turn the toughest tanker into a drooling idiot for several minutes. Smoke began drift from the interior in a thin rising tendril. It was a small fire, probably a burning piece of equipment such a electronics or personal items.

Andrew sighed, he had missed the turrets ready ammo storage. But, he was confident in the fact that the tank crew was out of action for bit, if not actually wounded as well. There was a tug on his shoulder as Mark, still watching and hoping for the tank to suddenly brew up, began reloading the recoilless out habit.

The hammering report of the DShK HMG was terrible under trees. James would most definitely be popping some pain relievers soon. And drinking about twenty gallons of water to slake his thirst. Why did these big guns have to get so hot? Men dove for cover as heavy bullets shattered centuries old magnolias like someone had place small explosives inside them.

The return fire was impressive.

Quite literally thousands of rounds ripped the morning, and the trees, the bushes, the house, the old cars left in the parking area, and even the hasty berms and sand bag walls. Tracers arced into the surroundings, but the only thing that came close was a red tracer laden burst of rifle fire that literally severed the belt of heavy bullets feeding into the side of the DShK. James couldn't decide if he was more impressed by such a coincidental hit or that a crate full of rounds had missed him personally.

Roger, concealed towards the back of their line, even experienced some close impacts as bullets meant for he didn't know whom landed about his in the shadows and scrub brush. He had lost sight of the Polish officer after the man took to cover. But he did notice one thing; a vague outline far back in the backdrop of stormy forest that resembled a recon vehicle.

Roger cursed silently as bullets rained all over the place. He had lost sight of the officer so he zeroed in on the radio man and tried to angle his shot so that it would pierce the man and his radio rig.

04:23, Today: Roger A Castle rolled 26 using 1d100.  CRM. Hit.

Once that shot had scored he decided it was time to move to a new location and he rolled out of his spot and crawled toward it.

Patrick moved to his backup position crawling and hoping not to get a round in the butt as he went.  The numbers that were coming had him worried about being overrun they were after all only five men and the defenses they had placed didn't seem to be stopping the oncoming Poles.

Andrew continued to move to his secondary position keeping as low as possible and orientated the launcher as quickly as possible once they arrived. It was obvious that they were up shit creek, the return fire zipping around them was testament to that. They needed an air strike or possibly another naval barrage, but by the time that was worked up they would probably be overrun.

He zapped the tank with the laser for the third time and then aimed at the hulking iron beast waiting to be sure he had a hit.

Andrew Johnson
prone behind cover
Carl Gustaf 84mmN [1/1 FFV-551 HEAT]
Searching for a target.

Andrew Johnson rolled 89 using 1d100. = JC come on!

OOC: I don't think I can fit all this in one round, but it looks as if everyone else is moving as well so hopefully this is OK.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:05, Thu 23 Jan 2020.

Opening up with the remaining rounds on the belt before having to reload, more trees got turned into splinters as James tried shooting the nearest threats.

06:35, Today: James Wolfebane rolled 88,76 using d100,d100.  Closest fire team <37. 

Tran moved along from their original firing position to their secondary spot. As they moved along he initially was as close to one with the mushy ground as possible but one they reached the designated spot he rose up slightly to start scanning for target positions and any infantry coming their way.

OOC
Prone in cover
M16 10/10
M203 1/1 HEDP
17:15, Today: Mark Tran rolled 17 using 1d100 ((17)). Vs 50
Looking for targets and infantry

An off-route mine fired, it was immediately accompanied by the blast of an armored vehicle cooking off. The noise was off, to low in tone for the volatility of a tank's ammunition, but it was satisfying none the less. The poles seemed to staggered as a whole for a moment; that moment of realization that they'd possibly just walked into an ambush.

A series of Claymore mines suddenly erupted to life as an unsuspecting Polish infantryman knelt to close to a tripwire and set of a daisy chain of mines. Men yelled curses and screamed in agony. Unseen to the defenders. Yet, it was a satisfying cacophony.

Orders rang out along the Polish line as seasoned NCOs took charger and ordered teams to halt and go to ground. Only the tank continued forward. The T62m's powerful white light spotlight came to life sending a bright cone of light into the gloom and rain of the morning. It's turret tracked the light around looking for targets, or signs of them, to engage.

Another shot, another miss. Andrew is ready to chuck the launcher over the cover and make a run for it in the opposite direction. As it is it was time to move again and find another spot, or to continue on. They had made little impact to the scores of infantry in front of them and before long they would be overwhelmed.


-

With the enemy going to ground, James used the time to slap on a fresh belt of ammo, wondering what defenses were left for them to find.

Popping up from cover to asses the situation Pat was concerned about the T-62 that seemed to still be coming their way despite the best efforts of the Charlie Gutsache crew.  the defenses seemed to slow the infantry down but for how long.

Time to check in with HQ and see if they could get another artillery barrage or at least find out how long until reinforcements arrived. "Keep, can you get on the blower and see if we can get another round of artillery and how much longer we are going to need to hold. I don't want to have to go after the Tank with a bayonet."

OOC: Recon Roll to look for targets
00:46, Today: Patrick Walsh rolled 18 using 1d100.  Recon 50.

The Poles were wising up to the fact that their hasty advance was about to become far too costly. These NATO troops were just too good at their job to be pushed around by blunt force. Orders were shouted along the line of teams. Handheld spotlights came on, the tank's power searchlight scanned about, and flares went up.

It was the flares that caught everyone's attention; their weren't parachute type flares for illumination. They were signal flares. The poles were marking their location to their own observers. The reality brought on a sickening feeling. The combined team's members all had enough experience to know that the Poles would soon be dropping artillery barrages of their own.

As teams called from one to another among the magnolias and scrub brush the rumble of diesel engines announced the creeping introduction of a pair of older BRDM 1 armored cars armed with KPV 14.5mm heavy machine guns and powerful searchlights. Smoke grenades were tossed about as if they were being used to celebrate contact with the enemy. Men could soon be heard shuffling through brush, some could be occasionally glimpsed.

To the south more vehicles could be heard moving again. The main body of the convoy had evidently cleared the last of the mines and was moving again. A grinding of gears and the rumble of a diesel drew attention to a ZSU-23-4 Shilka as it drove along the distant expanse of Princess Place Road headed for the site of the original gunfight.

A whistle blew and the T62M began to rumble forward at a waling pace. It all came together at once; the Poles were setting a trap for the main body of the NATO invasion trying to use this single team as bait to lure in any unit willing to move into its reach.

THe Poles settled in at 120 meters distance from the house is a roughly parallel line of small teams. It would only be a matter of moments before they began their assault onto the immediate area of the house.

Well it was now or never and after the lazer beam gave him a reading Andrew watched as the tank lumbered back into life, it treads initially throwing up some dirt and mud from the rain. After aiming Andrew did not check to see if Tran was out of the way, instead giving a verbal warning of "Firing.". It was at this point that Andrew pulled the trigger and felt the punch back in to his shoulder to confirm a successful firing and the rocket was away, hopefully to it's target.

As Tran was reloading the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle with one of the HE rounds Andrew got on the team coms net "All call signs, we need another bout of rolling thunder if its available, out."

With that he again shouldered the launcher and looked for another target.

Andrew Johnson
Talking a knee and aiming at tank.
Carl Gustaf 84mmN [1/1 FFV-551 HEAT]
Firing on tank.


Andrew Johnson rolled 48 using 1d100. = Hit.



-

Roger called in another fire mission from the ship. 120 meters was very very close, especially considering how far off target they had been a couple of times so far, but he knew exactly where the enemy was for the first time.

After the usual exchange of call signs and code phrases he added,

"I need ya to give 'em the whole dick this time fellas, balls deep!"

To the ad hoc team he continued,

"Watch your heads fellas. When this happens it's gonna be fuckin' loud!"

Turning his attention to the nearest enemy fire team, James took careful aim at the grunt that appeared to be leading them, hoping that the others decided it was time to leave.

21:07, Today: James Wolfebane rolled 28 using 1d100.  Aim CRM 50.

"Wolfebane move north of the house and get into cover, I'll follow when your in position.  Let's be ready to move people I don't want another casualty." came across the radio.  The Poles were being to clever for Pat's liking so time to change tactics.

He waited for Wolfesbane to get north of the house before moving himself trusting to the enemies smoke the darkness of night and luck to get them out of the main line of the expected artillery and assault.

"Fire Mission confirmed, expected time of initiation of mission three minutes." A static laden voice came over the radio. It became increasingly garbled as the man continued to speak. "...ratio of three to one....star cluster at predetermined coordinates....within one hundred meters.....How copy? Over."

Roger's agitation was only complicated when the canvas ripping sound of artillery passed overhead headed behind them to the east. He sighed.

Andrew's head tracked the sound as it past, too long, but not by that much. At least two batteries of heavies, 152mm at least, by the sounds of it.

Mark sat back on his heels, relieved, at least the first volley was off target. He had been in mortars long enough to know that firing long and walking the follow on barrages back towards friendly lines was nothing unique to either side. But, it was damned devastating if done correctly.

Patric's heart skipped a beat, he had just fore-warned everyone about the risks. These damned Poles seemed to know a thing or two after all.

It was the resounding crash of eight nearly simultaneous explosions some two hundred meters or so behind him to the east that got Wolfbane's attention. He had been fixated on the last target s he had spotted and the hammer muzzle report of the DShk gun was something unto itself. When the crash of heavy artillery shells took him by surprise he sent the final few rounds of his fire into the storm darkened predawn sky.