Chapter Seventeen: Tank Target Practice

  After lunch at headquarters, Zhang Feng came to the shooting range under Muhammad's guidance.

  The target range is a deserted area of land that is relatively high in elevation; otherwise it would be a swamp.

  Several mighty tanks have been waiting in the field, and soldiers are standing at their posts, waiting for the arrival of their superiors.

  This time, it is said that a big shot is coming to inspect, so they made careful preparations for this exercise, including burying explosives in the target in advance, making it very spectacular after one shot.

  "Atten-shun!" As the off-road vehicle of the Travel Department drove into the shooting range, the soldiers simultaneously raised their right hands.

  Muhammad skillfully returned the salute, and the car stopped in front of the nearest tank.

  Zhang Feng got off the tank, this kind of tank he had only seen on TV before. No way, Zhang Feng had learned the most advanced things since military school, and the tanks used in military school were all 96-style, which looked similar to China's own tanks, but he really wasn't very familiar with them.

  This time, I can finally get close and observe it.

  Five pairs of road wheels, wider and larger tracks, greatly improved the ability to pass through marshy areas. A 580-horsepower engine was used to drive a forty-ton body, which seemed slightly underpowered. The low-profile cast turret is a style that Soviet tanks have always had, with simple craftsmanship and a small area exposed to bullets. However, it also makes the personnel inside relatively cramped.

  Moreover, Soviet tank designers never considered the comfort of the crew. There was no air conditioning, only fans. In the Middle Eastern weather, it was noisy, hot and bumpy. As a tanker, it was very hard work.

  Zhang Feng gazed at the tank soldiers in front of him, his heart filled with admiration for them. These were Iraq's warriors! The fate of future generations must not be left to their mercy!

  A tank has four crew members, namely the driver in front, the commander and gunner at the back, and a loader inside. More advanced tanks adopted an autoloader, which eliminated the need for a loader.

  Zhang Feng really wanted to shout: Comrades, good! Then listen to whether the other party would respond: Leader, good. He himself would add another sentence: Comrades have worked hard, and that would be very impressive.

  "Report, 4 tanks from the 3rd Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Armored Brigade have arrived for a live-fire demonstration, awaiting instructions. Company Commander, Ali Tikrik." said the robust man standing beside him, with a thick beard and clear enunciation.

  Muhammad looked at Zhang Feng.

  Zhang Feng nodded in satisfaction.

  Muhammad said: "Ali is right, let's start!"

  Ali stood outside and gave the starting command to the tankmen. At the same time, he handed each of the two senior officials a pair of binoculars so that they could see more clearly how well-trained their subordinates were.

  "Rumble, rumble!" The tank's engine roared to life, a cloud of black smoke billowing out from the rear side of the tank, where the massive engine was mounted.

  The tank crew closed the hatches and returned to the sweltering interior of the vehicle.

  The driver maneuvers the tank to a pre-designated location.

  The tank rumbled past, its cannon barrel spinning non-stop. Suddenly, the tank came to a brief halt, shuddered, and a shell shot out of the muzzle.

  "Boom!" The distant target was instantly torn to shreds, and the smoke from the explosion was a magnificent sight.

  Four tanks hit their distant targets.

  There's a saying that outsiders watch the excitement, while insiders watch the doorway. Zhang Feng isn't someone who can be easily fooled. He used binoculars to look at the target in the distance and had some doubts. The power was so great that even if the tank was using a howitzer shell, it shouldn't have achieved such an effect, right?

  Tank shells are divided into armor-piercing shells (non-explosive), armor-breaking shells (exploding before contact), fragmentation shells (delayed explosion after contact) and high-explosive shells (triggering and airburst). Different ammunition is suitable for attacking different targets. The T62 tank has a basic ammunition capacity of 40 rounds, with a normal mix of 17 high-explosive shells, 13 sub-caliber armor-piercing shells, and 10 armor-breaking shells (fragmentation shells are basically eliminated).

  For tanks that shoot at each other, the most important thing is to use armor-piercing shells, and armor-piercing shells cannot explode. Zhang Feng was very curious about the type of ammunition used by the opponent.

  Furthermore, Zhang Feng was also very dissatisfied with the way tanks had to stop before firing, which would greatly increase the probability of being destroyed by the opponent. However, in this era, tanks that could fire on the move were probably not yet practical.

  However, shooting at fixed targets does not reveal true skills. What if on the battlefield, the enemy tanks will stop and wait for you to shoot?

  "God is above, they all hit the mark," Muhammad said: "Kusay, are you satisfied with this reporting exercise?" He thought that this high-ranking person from Baghdad was probably shocked.

  "Who would have thought that Zhang Feng didn't look pleased: 'Captain, I'm not satisfied with this shooting session. Do we have moving targets here?'"

  Muhammad turned to Ali and said: "Ali, let our brave soldiers shoot at moving targets. This fixed target is not much fun."

  Moving target? Ali felt sweat on his forehead: "Report, this shooting range is newly built, our moving targets have not been transported yet."

  Muhammad looked at Zhang Feng apologetically: "Kusay, there are no moving targets here."

  No moving target? Zhang Feng thought for a moment: "Then retreat five hundred meters, I remember, the effective range of our tank gun is at least one thousand five hundred meters?"

  One thousand five hundred meters? Ali was shocked in his heart, this young-looking person actually understood everything! Just now at one thousand meters shooting, it was already the limit, he thought it would satisfy the leaders, but unexpectedly, they wanted to do one thousand five hundred meters.

  Even if it was just a thousand meters earlier, that's cheating, and 1,500 meters is unthinkable. Ali felt as if he was about to be seen through by the opponent, did he know that his own troops didn't use those damn fire control systems at all?

  Zhang Feng looked at Ali Lianchang, who was hesitating, and knew that he had finally grasped the weak point. No matter how advanced the weapon was, it still needed someone to operate it. Moreover, this kind of weapon wasn't even advanced.

  I remember the instructor saying that the quality of Iraqi soldiers is very poor, tankers always aim by feeling and never use fire control systems. In a tank battle, they were killed by Iranian Chieftain tanks from a distance of 1,500 meters, with no power to fight back.

  Now that I'm here, this kind of thing won't happen again!

  As a soldier, you must know how to use the weapon in your hand! Give full play to the power of the weapon!

  "What? Is it difficult?" Zhang Feng asked.

  "No, I guarantee the completion of the task!" Ali suddenly had an idea in his heart. It seems that he could only use the old method again, burying explosives next to the target. When the shell flew out, no matter where it hit, he would detonate the explosives on the target, perhaps he could bluff his way through.

  "Remember, use armor-piercing bullets this time." Zhang Feng added.

  Ali's hand trembled as he held the wireless. Armor-piercing shell? How could an armor-piercing shell explode like that? This play, I'm afraid it can't be performed again.

  "Attention all units, fall back five hundred meters, reposition targets, use armor-piercing rounds to fire." Ali spoke into the microphone, sending his orders into the tanks.

  The tank stopped, turned around and backed away.

  At this moment, the tank soldiers are probably already scolding their mothers.

  They were already the best soldiers selected from the troops, but they were also limited to aiming at a distance of 500-600 meters. At this distance, they were the most accurate. Their usual training was basically at this distance as well.

  Beyond this distance, they were at a loss, although there were those fire control systems, but most of the soldiers were illiterate and nobody liked to ponder such complex things.

  Just now, they were able to accurately hit the target at a distance of one kilometer. That's because the position of the target and the position of the tank had already been calculated in advance. They drove to that location and only needed to shoot according to the parameters set earlier. Or, you could say, they didn't aim at all, it was all just an act.

  Now, if you want to hit a target at 1,500 meters without using fire control systems, that's absolutely impossible.

  They started powering up the infrared lamps, preparing to control this seemingly complex thing.

  After the tanks stopped, except for No. 039, which fired shells after a minute's stay, the others at least delayed for five minutes.

  If it were really in a war, I'm afraid at least ten or more cannonballs would have been suffered.

  "Bang, bang, bang." At last, they all started shooting.

  Zhang Feng picked up the binoculars. This time, three targets were still there, only the 039 car from earlier had accurately hit the target.

  It turns out that they are not all idiots after all, at least there is one who knows how to use the fire control system, Zhang Feng thought to himself.

  "Please ask soldier No. 039 to come over," said Zhang Feng and the brigade commander.

  Muhammad's face turned black and he had Ali call over those four tank soldiers.

  "Which one of you is the gunner?" Zhang Feng asked.

  "Report! I am the gunner. My name is Elrad." a voice shouted.

  Zhang Feng looked over and saw a young man who was probably less than twenty years old, with very bright eyes.

  "Was that last shot aimed by you?" Zhang Feng asked.

  "The report is what I'm aiming for," replied Elrad.

  "How did you aim? Are you familiar with the fire control system?" Zhang Feng asked further.

  "Yes, it was I who aimed with this TSh 2B-41U telescopic sight, and the car commander also corrected my aim," said Ehlert.

  "Alright, now you are the instructor of the 35th Brigade Armored Regiment. You must ensure that all tank crew members in the entire brigade can use this fire control system to aim within half a month. They must have an 80% first-round hit rate at a distance of 1,500 meters." Zhang Feng looked at Muhanmode and said: "Commander, I'm giving this order, am I overstepping my authority?"

  "No, I was just about to order the whole brigade to master shooting skills." Muhammad's mind was already full of surprises. This Saddam President's son was indeed extraordinary, and all the tricks his subordinates had played were seen through by him.

  "Yes, sir! I guarantee the mission will be accomplished!" Elrad replied loudly.

  It is necessary to conduct such a large-scale exercise throughout the journey, otherwise, the Iranian tribal-style tanks can blast T-62 at a distance of 1,500 meters.

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