I Seek Knowledge about Tanks - Part Two

Posted on Fri Mar 6th, 2020 @ 9:25pm by Colonel Marc Krueger

Mission: Mission 67: In The Service of Life and the Living
Location: B Kayor - Planet Surface
Timeline: 1000Hrs Local Time - March 12th, 2392

Colonel Marc Krueger was enjoying the ride as he allowed his mind to wander and go blank when their ride suddenly came to a halt, he blinked as he turned his head. "We're here?" he inquired of Zoka.

Zoka put the vehicle in park and turned it off. "Yeah, we're here."

Kreuger meanwhile closed the window as he waited until it was safe to exit the vehicle. "Okay.." he commented as he took in the scene around him. "So.. what now?"

Zoka looked around, she had brought the truck to the artillery firing range, where several tanks were parked in the firing positions, including one 300 ton super heavy tank armed with a 20 cm gun. Also present where multiple towed artillery pieces, the biggest one having the same gun as the super heavy tank. Currently none of the tanks were firing, as the crews were not manning their vehicles, instead they were in the middle of having lunch break. "Well, what do you want to review first, or are you itching to go do some target practice."

Krueger took a moment to admire the tanks and armored vehicles present. "My equipment and gear that I requested should be ready by now." he responded. "Lets shoot something.. and I can show you why I hate most Federation equipment."

Zoka gave him a puzzled look but asked," OK, so what weapon would you want to shoot these things with."

"I'll start with your smallest and work my way up to the largest." he commented as he tapped his combadge. "Krueger to Stalingrad." he opened his tricorder as he spoke.

"Go ahead.. Your items are enroute"

"Understood... Marking the destination for you now." Krueger added.

"We have it... Placing your items. Give us a call if you need more or anything else.."

"Willdo. Thanks." Krueger smiled.

Zoka went over to one of the armory trucks and selected an automatic grenade launcher. She didn't grab any ammo for it yet. Then walking back over to him she replied, "well the smallest weapon usable in the anti vehicle's role is a grenade launcher."

"Alright. Lets start there." he responded evenly. "Federation tech has issues in that its overly engineered which means I need a degree just to operate it." he regarded her and then the weapon in her hands. "You got ammo for that?" he inquired.

Zoka shook her head," Nope, ammo is stored in another vehicle, I'll need a few minutes to talk to the Range safety officer first before we can fire off a few rounds."

"Thats fine... I need to move one of those onto the range..." he indicated the Federation argos. "and start it up. Otherwise it won't do anything."

Zoka went over to the RSO and requested that he opened up the range, then once she was done with her request she turned to Krueger. "Well I've got the authorization to fire any of the weapons available on the range with he exception of the 28.5 cm gun, but while you are on the range you do have to wear one of our vests, and turn on the personal shield generator. Also the RSO say's you need to move the vehicles out to about 500 meters, given that we are firing explosive projectiles at them, and potentially large ones at that."

Krueger nodded. "As it should be. I do not compromise on safety." he responded as he produced a tricorder. "I can remotely drive the argo."
he added. "I want to have a word with the range safety officer before I do anything else. Make sure he is aware of my plans."

Zoka pointed over to the nearby control tower. "He is up there."

"Thanks." and with that he went over to the tower before he found himself looking at another smaller Akurian. "You the range safety officer?" he inquired. "Okay. I'm going to drive a Federation argo class jeep onto the range .... I want to shoot some of your weapons at it.. Its reactor will be running hot so I can showcase just how stupid my gear is for the General downstairs.." he indicated Zoka who was nearby. "Do you have any special rules I should know about other then the shielding system I need to wear and... how far do I drive this thing so nobody gets hurt?"

The Leokuri RSO Gave the marine a look but answered his question," Put it out at about 500 meters downrange, make sure it remains in between the range markers. Also since you are probably not familiar with our procedures, you will have to wear a vest with an energy shield generator, there are some extra's in the supply truck. You wont fire until I say so, and if i or anyone else calls' a ceasefire, you stop firing and put the weapon on safe. Any animals or people wander into the range, stop firing immediately and call a ceasefire, then put the weapon on safe and set it down. Don't fire outside the range markers or in the air, and keep the weapon pointed downrange at all times when loaded. Obey all commands from the tower and you won't have any problems. Break any of these rules and I will throw you off the range."

"Acceptable." Krueger responded as he tapped the tricorder display, the argo started moving slowly onto the range before he placed it where he wanted it. "Five hundred meters." he commented before he stopped the Argo. "Alright.. " he responded. "I'm going to go and get myself the gear needed before I head onto the range."

The RSO nodded but didn't comment on the matter. Shortly after the armorer on sight noticed Krueger approaching. "May I help you."

"I'm just looking for a vest and a personal shield so I can use the range." Kreuger responded. "Got anything in my size?" he added.

The armorer looked at the vest's he had available then picked one up normally meant for Leokuri. "Yeah this should be close enough for your fit, your about the same size as many Leokuri."

Krueger smiled. "Thanks." as he received the item, he then slipped it on over the top of his gear. He regarded the shield generator. "How does the generator work?" he inquired.

The armorer gave him a brief set of instructions on how to operate the shield system.

Kreuger nodded before he went back over to Zoka. "Alright.. We good to go?" he inquired before he activated the shield system. "What are we shooting?"

Zoka brought up two cans of ammo and led him up to one of the firing positions. "Well as long as its within the Range markers, you can pretty much shoot at anything. Out there right now though the targets are not particularity sophisticated, mostly just cardboard cutouts right now, aside from that car you have out there."

Krueger smiled. "Sounds good to me." he responded. "Alright.. anyone present nearby?" he inquired as he looked left then right before he turned to the tower. "Ahh" he lifted the radio. "Krueger to tower... is everything okay up there?" he inquired.

The RSO picked up the radio and replied. "Firing range is clear, you have permission to fire."

"Thank you kindly. Krueger out." and with that, he received his weapon. "Lets see.." as he checked the PADD in his pocket. "Yep.. everything is well." as he took aim and let fly with two grenades.

Both impacted, one of them shattered against the frame and the other punched through the armor, detonating inside causing the reactor to ignite in a truly massive explosion.

Just about everyone on the whole Range heard the explosion and Zoka herself took a step back in surprise, while the RSO said over the radio. "Um, did someone fire a tank gun at that thing."

Kreuger sighed softly as he lifted the radio. "Negative. I fired two grenades." he explained. "I am going to assume that was the reactor that ignited."

Zoka had an incredulous look. "And you guys actually drive around in those things"

"Oh yes." Krueger responded lightly. "Why do you ask?"

Zoka shook her head in disbelief. "I didn't even think fusion reactors could go up like that, one of our fusion reactors of that size isn't anywhere near as explosive, there must be an incredible amount of power running through them for no reason at all. Yeah you guys driving those things, no offense but your troops are either insane, stupid or incredibly brave."

Krueger regarded the smaller being before him. "At times... I am hard pressed to choose." he responded. "I do like the grenade launcher though.. rugged and compact but this thing is comfortable and easy to use." he then shrugged. "It takes four years of training just to drive that thing... Its overly complex and needlessly engineered."

Zoka looked at the crater where the Argo was. "Yeah, we try to engineer our equipment to be easy to use, and definitely not explosive. I wonder if those things would have even withstood regular small arms fire."

"Now you understand why I have come before you." Krueger explained. "I have been trying.. and failing for years to make my superiors understand." he lifted his radio. "Tower.. I'm going to drive in a second Argo... want it in a different location?" he inquired.

The RSO picked up his radio and responded. "As long as its between the range markers and a thousand meters or more out, I don't really care where it is put."

Krueger smiled. "Okay." and with that he drove the argo out towards its assigned destination. It got there a few minutes later. "Okay.." he regarded Zoka. "Whats the next weapon up from the grenade launcher?"

"There is a lot," Zoka explained. " But basically it comes down to two different types of weapon systems, disruptor weapons and Railgun weapons. Generally railgun calibers that are considered more powerful than a grenade launcher are 2 cm and up. All the calibers we have is 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, 20 and 28.5 cm. For Disruptor weapons Basically the same deal, 2 cm and up are more powerful than grenade launchers and they come in sizes of 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, 20, and 30 cm. Pretty much all of these weapons are vehicle or power armor mounted and not easily man portable. though, save for the 2 and 3 cm weapons which are to a point.

"Alright.. I'll start with railgun weapons." Krueger responded. "I'll start with the smallest and work my way up." he then shrugged. "until the Argo is a smoking crater or I run out of ammo."

Zoka looked at the selection of weapon but then she mentioned," Well either way, I think you have made your point, you just want to skip to inspecting the tanks."

"Yes..." Krueger smiled. "I'd like that. Thank you." he responded. "I was sent to find out as much as I could about tanks as possible. The Federation doesn't use then and they are looking at starting their own tank force. Thats why I'm here."

Zoka looked at the three types of tanks present," Well the Akurian military uses three types of tanks, we have a light battle tank at 32 metric tons, a main battle tank at 48 metric tons, and a Super heavy tank at 290 metric tons."

"Impressive.." Kreuger responded while he was splitting his attention between making notes and admiring the tanks. "Why the huge weight disparity between the main tank and the super heavy?"

"Its required because of the size of the main guns," Zoka explained. "Light tanks have the same gun as an MBT, but they have fewer secondary weapons and lighter armor, as they are deigned to be transported by smaller shuttles. Super heavy tanks conversely carry vary large weapons, a 20 cm main gun vs a 10 cm main gun for the MBT or LBT. And the Super heavy artillery tank carries a 28.5 cm gun, which requires a large vehicle to mount."

"Ahh" Krueger responded. "I need to talk to my guys, see whats going on with the airlift problems.. " he responded. "I need that data before I decide on anything otherwise all I'm going is evaluating your tanks."

Zoka didn't have any further comment on that matter.

Krueger turned back to her. "I can handle that problem later. first things first..." he commented. "I came here to learn about tanks and not waste people's time..."