1962 Tank Biathlon

[Cataphrak]

"Uh, Junior Sergeant," Zheng replied dubiously. "It's like... I think that's a Corporal in most armies."

He shrugged. "Sorry si- Warrant. I don't make the rules."

[Markus Wilding]

Lieutenant Johnny Blunt, lighting up a cigarette, headed over to the Chinese and Korean tankers, puffing away as he nodded at them. "Afternoon, gents," he said, struggling to keep the flame alive in the rain. "Now, I wasn't over in Africa, but that sure as hell looks like a Tiger to me. Where the hell did they scrounge that up?

[Cataphrak]

"My CO, that's Senior Lieutenant Li, over there-" Zheng waved a hand at the distance where a man with a similar hat was helping one of the mechanics wrestle the radiator cover over the back of Long Dong, "-he thinks that it's just a normal medium tank with a modern engine and guns, and it's just mocked up to look like a Tiger because some brass hat saw one in an old newsreel and thought it looked cool."

As for Zheng himself, he only shrugged. "I guess we'll know when it's their turn to go up."

[Markus Wilding]

OOC: Rolls for the first event of the biathlon.

SRA manages to make the lap in good time.

Romania manages to finish the lap with an average time.

Korea finishes the lap, but with an abysmal time when the track manages to break during the run, and the rain combined with the mud makes it nearly impossible to effectively repair the track.

China finishes the lap, but not much better behind Korea as they get caught on an obstacle and spend several minutes trying to dislodge themselves.

The Soviet T-62 sets the pace.

Vietnam's Tiger breaks its transmission and is disqualified as it cannot be repaired in the field.

Japan's Type 61 slips and slides through the course, nearly turning over several times, but manages to finish the lap behind Korea and China.

Somehow, Mexico's IS-3 copy manages to make its way through the course without problem.

[Niobium2]

The TACAM T-60 proves surprisingly competant in the first lap of the race. Weighing only 9 tonnes, the light tank manages to avoid getting stuck and breaking down, although unfortunately not the lashing downpour that renders the tarpaulin covering nearly useless, thoroughly drenching the Romanian crew. Despite this, the girthy Captain Ungureanu is alive with energy, driving the tank through the jungle and desert with remarkable enthusiasm, passing the four Asian teams with merry cries and guffaws. His engineers are not so hardy, and by the end of the first lap one has become severely ill, and the other is exhausted. They are traded out for the two fresh engineers, and moved off to dry and receive some hot tea. It remains to be seen whether the TACAM's F-22 field gun and diminutive ZB-53 will prove any match against the greater armaments of the other teams.

[Cataphrak]

"Damn," Senior Lieutenant Li Hongzhong grimaced as he took a look at the standings as they were posted. "That third incline really killed us."

"It was that big stream right in front of the rise that did it sir," Junior Sergeant Zheng replied. "When we went through the Road Trip last year, it was barely a trickle. It certainly wasn't half a metre deep and fifteen metres wide. I don't think Tang was expecting it to slow us down as far as it did. We'd have gone for more of a run-up if we'd known."

Li gave his subordinate a sour little smile. "At least we beat the Japanese. Could you imagine how humiliating it would have been if their tanks could handle our own goddamn training course better than we could?"

"I'm trying not to, sir. The Romanians did surprisingly well."

"Yeah, that's because they brought a self-propelled gun."

Zheng looked up. "Sir?"

"Look at it Zheng, it doesn't even have a turret. The armour could probably keep out a rifle round, probably."

The NCO looked at his commanding officer worriedly. "Should- should we tell the judges?"

Li shook his head. "Cut them some slack. Last year, their entire country was literally on fire. Besides, who knows? They might win. That'd make a good film a couple years down the line, if nothing else."

[Markus Wilding]

OOC: Rolls for the second event of the biathlon.

The SRA misses two targets entirely.

Romania hits both targets.

Korea misses one target.

China misses one target.

The Soviet T-62 hits all targets.

Japan's Type 61 hits all targets, after some difficulty.

Mexico's IS-3 copy misses two targets.

[Niobium2]

Another of Romania's mechanical engineers has started to feel very, very cold, although the the other is feeling alright. Not well exactly, but he thinks he can manage one more round. And with Ugureanu furiously breathing down his neck, he becomes sure of it. With such high performance so far, the Captain is determined to finish spectacularly, or expire in the attempt; the alternative commander is subbed in to man the ZB-53, and the TACAM T-60 is ready to go again.

[Markus Wilding]

"Sergeant?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Explain to me how in the hell you missed that 1100 yard target."

Sergeant Barker shrugged, glancing up from the gunsights. "Can't tell you, sir. Range misestimation? Rain's making it hard to gauge distance."

"These are all known distances, Sergeant. That might have worked in New York, but it won't work here. Try again."

"Well, hell, John, I don't know what you want from me. Fuckin' Chinese course is shaking us all around, maybe something got fucked on the gun."

Lieutenant Blunt sighed, shaking his head. It was a possibility to consider, but not one he thought likely. Maybe they were slipping with the peacetime protocols. "We'll see. Herbert, you better have some damn good shooting, hear me? Targets close as 160 yards net lap."

[Cataphrak]

Senior Lieutenant Li worked the kinks out of his legs as he strolled across the parade ground, watching the other crews at work. The rain seemed to be putting everyone on edge, except the Vietnamese, who were probably more concerned with the fact that the training course officials wanted the turret of their entry to mount as a trophy.

The crew in front of him though seemed more edge on usual.

Perhaps that ought to have been expected. The Romanians had put a tarpaulin over the open top of what was obviously a self-propelled gun to keep the rain out. It would have worked too - if they were dealing with a winter drizzle instead of the full force of the Yunnan monsoon. There was little left of it now, and as for the men it was supposed to shelter? He could almost feel them shivering through the soles of his boots.

Li cleared his throat. He'd taken Romanian lessons when his division had been stood up for imminent combat duty. He'd figured they were headed there to back up the Commandos. It was only when they turned left at Guangzhou that he'd learned they were headed north, to a place where the locals spoke Min and Hakka - both languages Li spoke just fine already...

"Afternoon, gentlemen! How're you folks doing?"