The Siege: Iron Wolves

The Siege: Iron Wolves

Chapter One

With artillery falling across the city, Allied soldiers stuck to cover as enemy warplane strafed the streets, killing anyone caught in the open. Like rats, the city inhabitants and soldiers moved thru the tunnels and sewers. Trapped in the besieged city were hundreds of civilians who became trapped when the enemy encircled the city, cutting off all escape routes, including supplies and power. With their will to fight still intact, the remaining Allied soldiers mustered up every possible mean and weapon to combat the enemy to get the hundreds of civilians out. In a subway station, converted to a hanger, engineers and mechanic personal, tended to the M55’s. [ M55 – American made Vertical Tank] Knowing that the M55s would be their ticket to breaking the enemy lines, the Allies keep them in reserve, hidden out of sight of the enemy air strikes. The hangers were also well guard, since it believed that enemy spies were within the city.

In the heart of the city, behind guarded doors, the Allies [ Allies – American, Japanese and Chinese Nationalist] leaders laid out their plan. With an eye patch over one eye, and a scar below the other, a Major watched as a Colonel pointed out the enemy command bunker.

“Sir I request we deploy the M55’s to knock out the enemy bunkers here along this line of trees. If we break thru, the civilians would be under the protecting of tree cover.”

Another, older Colonel cut him off. “Yeah, also easy targets for an ambush. The enemy would only shell it with artillery if we went that way.”

As the leadership argued over which course of action to take, there was a knock on the door. The Major looked at the guard standing next to it and nodded. The Guard saluted and moved to open the door. As the guard opens the door, an officer wearing a nice clean uniform walked in, carrying a walking stick under his arm.

“Gentlemen.” said the general removing his cap.

“General Sir!” exclaimed the Major as he jumped to attention.

“At ease men.” ordered the General as he walked toward the table and looked over the map.

“So, what our plan? Major.”

“Well Sir, I suggest we deploy our armor forward of our infantry and attack these positions here along the river. According to our connection with the outside, the JSDF [ Japanese Self Defense Force form in 1950 during the Korean War.] Central Army is advancing toward the city from the south, if we can hold the enemy back long enough for them to reach safety, reinforcements shouldn’t be far behind.”

“Is this information reliable Major?”

“Honestly, I can’t say.” the Major said disappointingly.

“Well then, I will take your word for it, have the men and civilizes ready by tonight. There a snowstorm coming from the north, if we time it just right, it should give us cover from the sky. Gentlemen you have you orders; I expect you will do your best to fulfil them.” saluted the General before he left.

On the northern edge of the city, a young American soldier sat against the wall of the trench as he struggles to keep warm in the frigid air. With his hands tucked under his arms, and scarf wrapped around his face, the soldier could very see what was in front of him. As he listens to the howling of the blowing wind, a Lieutenant accompanied by a Sergeant, was making his rounds thru the trenches. Both wore heavy winter coats issued by the army, with scarfs wrapped around their neck and mouth. As the Lieutenant round the turn in the trench, he nearly tripped over the young soldier. Catching himself, the Lieutenant nudged the soldier boot. Feeling something hit his foot the soldier looked down at his feet and seen the officer’s boots. He immediately jumped up and saluted. Nearly collapsing due to the numbness in his legs before the Lieutenant caught him by the arm.

“At ease before you collapse soldier…” said the Lieutenant kindly.

“Thank you, Sir.” replied the soldier as the Lieutenant helped him to his feet.

“What’s your name, son?” asked the Lieutenant.

“Corporal Samuel Hawkins, Sir.” saluted the soldier weakly, shivering.

“Well Hawkins, get yourself over to the kitchen and get something hot to eat.”

“Yes Sir. Thank you, Sir.”

The young soldier saluted the Lieutenant and Sergeant, and then made his way toward the kitchen. Watching the Corporal disappear around the turn in the trench, the Lieutenant smiled. Turning around to resume his rounds thru the trenches, the Lieutenant seen something white fallen in front of him. He quickly held out his hand, catching the tiny white object. As he looked at the tiny white speck on his gloved hand, he asked the Sergeant a question.

“Sergeant, what day is it?”

“Excuse me Sir?” asked the Sergeant confused.

“What is the date today?” repeated the Lieutenant.

"I believe it’s the seventh of December Sir. Why do you ask?”

“Nothing, just thinking of home.” answered the Lieutenant calmly as he looked up at the sky, as snowflakes fell around him. “Well Sergeant, shell we continue on?”

“Lead the way Sir.”

As the Lieutenant and Sergeant went thru the trenches checking on the men, Corporal Hawkins tumbled thru the kitchen doors shortly collapsing on the floor afterward.

“Samuel!” shouted another soldier rushing to help him up. “Are you ok?”

“Yeah, god I hate the cold, I would rather be back home setting next to a fireplace then a freezing hell like this place.” complained Hawkins.

“Can’t help you there buddy, we’re all in the same state of mind.” added the soldier. “Come on let’s get you something hot to eat.”

As the soldier helped Hawkins up, the sound of planes grabbed their attention. On the perimeter of the city, in a watchtower, a Japanese soldier took up a pair of binoculars and searched the sky for the source of the sound. As he looked to the north, a large formation of Soviet Tu-4’s[ Soviet copy of the American B-29 Bomber.] bombers appeared thru the clouds. Speaking not a single word of English the Japanese soldier shouts out in his own language to pair of soldiers in a trench below, pointing at the sky.

“What is he shouting about?” asked one soldier as he relived himself.

“Why don’t you ask? I don’t speak Japanese.” replied the other.

“Just do it!” barked another.

“Ok…” Looking over the edge of a pile of snow, the soldier sees the Japanese soldier pointing at the sky. As he looked up at the sky, he spotted the bombers as they broke thru the clouds.

“Sound the alarm!” shouted the soldier as he grabbed his helmet and rifle and began running to the bunker.

“What! What going on!?” shouted the other as he zipped up his pants and chased after the other.

As the American soldier’s rush for the bunker, the first bombers drop their payload. As the hundred pounds bombs fall toward the ground, they make a whistling sound, heard just before they impact the ground. In the kitchen, Hawkins had just received his bowl of hot soup, when the air raid sirens began going off and the ground started to shake.

“It’s just isn’t our day, buddy.” muttered Hawkins friend. As he jumped up and put his helmet on.

In the center of the city, the civilians fled for shelter wherever they could find it. From a school, the children with the teachers leading the way, rushed to bunkers the military had built for them. One child at the end of the line, lagged behind, curious as to what was about to happen. As the rest of the children followed the teacher into the bunkers, the child rushed out into the street.

As the child watched the bombers fly overhead, a Japanese Sergeant spotted the child from a passing army truck. Banging his hand on the roof of the cabin, the Sergeant shouted out. “Tomaru! Stop!”

As the truck came to a stop the Sergeant jumps off and rushes to the child. The truck driver, not welling to stay went on, leaving the Sergeant behind. The Sergeant picked up the small boy in his arms and turn to discover the truck had left.

“Imaimashii! Damn!” shouted the Sergeant.

As he looked around for a safe place to hunker down until the bomber went over, the small boy pointed at the school courtyard. Look at what the boy was pointing at the Sergeant spots the bunkers.

“The bunkers…” muttered the Sergeant to himself. For a moment the Sergeant stood there, thankful for the boy curiousness before rushing to the bunker.

The Sergeant, with the boy in his arms, races toward the nearest bunker and down the stairs, placing the boy on the ground as he knocks on the door.

“Military open up! Gun no aita ue-e!” he shouted as he bangs his fist on the door.

After a few seconds of banging the heavy metal door open and a teacher waves the Sergeant in, with the boy in his arms. By the time they enter the bunker, the sound of bombs exploding is heard just a few buildings over, as the blast waves shake the ground. The Sergeant hands the boy over to the teacher and as he turns to close the door, he witnesses a bomb hit the school building.

“Get back! Modoru!” shouts the Sergeant as he closes the door and seal it shut. As he closed bunker doors a bomb exploded nearby, and debris hits the outside of the bunker, inside the schoolchildren scream.

The Sergeant with his back against the door shouted for the children to stay down. Outside in the surrounding streets, Allies soldiers hurried civilians to the safety of the bunkers. A block to the east of the school, in a subway station housing four of the M55’s, the soldiers tried to fit as many civilians in as they could. Overseeing the placement of the civilians an American Lt. Colonel directed the civilians to the safest place in the station.

“Hit the deck!” shouted a soldier at the entrance as a bomb hit the street and bounced once before rolling toward the subway entrance. The bomb exploded, rocking the station, collapsing a section of the building above. As the smoke of the blast slowly cleared, a few uninjured soldiers rushed up the stairs to the entrance knowing there would be casualties. Not long afterward, a Private called out for a medic.

“Medic! I need a medic over!”

As the Lt. Colonel picked himself up off the floor, from a room behind him, a combat medic rushes up the stairs. The Lt. Colonel follows, reaching the top of the stairs, he spots a private kneeling down next to a ten-year old child.

“We got to stop the bleeding!” shouts the Medic as he opens his bags and digs inside.

After a moment of searching the Medic looks up. “I’m out of bandages…take you belt off!” said the medic as he began to unfasten his belt. The Private quickly takes his belt off and hands it to the medic who immediately makes a tourniquet.

“Sukhoi [ Sukhoi – refers to the Soviet Primer Ground Attack aircraft]!” shouted out a soldier standing in the street.”

The Lt. Colonel rans out into the street and looks up at the sky. Behind him, the Medic looks up at the sky and soon enough a single Sukhoi fighter bomber appears, speeding toward them. On the underbelly of the aircraft, a UB-16-57U [ UB-16-57U – a rocket pod fitted either underneath an aircraft or under the wings.] rocket pod hanged ready to fire.

The Lt.Colonel knowing what was about to happen shouted for everyone to get off the street. “Everyone off the street! NOW!” he shouted as he ran back to the subway.

“We’ve got to get downstairs!” shouted the medic.

As the two soldiers carried the child downstairs the Sukhoi open fire with the rocket pod, firing fifty-seven spin stabilized unguided rockets up the street. No sooner than the soldiers get the child downstairs the rockets turn the street into a firestorm. As the Sukhoi climbed into the sky, an anti-air gun position on a building top open fire, firing flack rounds. As the shells exploded black puffs of smoke marked the sky as the Sukhoi flew into the clouds.

As the Soviet jet flew into the sky tracers shot across his left wing forcing him to take evasive action. From above, two Allied F-86F Sabers[ F-86F Sabers – a US fighter Jet used in the Korea War In the 1950s.] dive on the soviet firing their six 50.cal. As the heavy hitting rounds impacted the Sukhoi fuselage the aircraft burst into flames and disappeared below the clouds leaving a trail of black smoke behind.

As they flew down below the clouds to look at their handy work, black smoke bellowed up from the bomb struck city. In the distance, Tu-4s tumbled out of the sky as other Sabers attacked from above. As the two Sabers flew over the city, the Japanese Sergeant pulled open the heavy metal door to the bunker, letting the schoolchildren and teachers out. Emerge into a moon like landscape the Sergeant took off his helmet and looks at the buildings still standing with floors missing and sections collapsed from the bombardment.

From the subways, hundreds of civilians emerge to see the latest destruction of their city. Soon the cries of sorrow and sadness came, washing over the city as families learned who was live and who was unfortunate.

Meanwhile at the military headquarters, the general and his staff were missing. Pulling himself out of the ruble, the Major is helped up by a Lieutenant.

“Where the General?” asked the Major as he looks around at the ruble.

“We don’t know Sir.” replied the soldier.

“Over here!” shouted another from the hall. As the two rush into the hall, they witness two soldiers and a medic carrying the General on a stricter.

“Who in command?” asked the Major.

“We don’t know Sir. There mass confusing, we don’t know who alive, dead or missing, we just don’t know.” replied the medic as he walked passed tending to the General.

For the rest of the day the soldiers dug thru the ruble rescuing those trapped as the Air Force patrolled the skies. As night settles over the city the civilians retreated to the safety of the bunkers and subways, fearful that the enemy.

The enemy did return shortly before sunrise bombing the city once more. As soon as the bombardment was over the enemy ground forces rushed the city’s defensive line from the north. With the aid of tanks, they quickly overran the defenses and began to roll into the city.

In the back of an Army truck, Hawkins watched as civilians fled the northern section of the city. As the truck neared the front the driver slammed on the brakes as tracers shot across the hood and the soldiers in the back flew forward.

“Get out, get out, get out!” shouted the co-driver as he climbed out with his carbine in hand. No sooner had he said get out a stream of tracers flew thru the canvas cover striking two of the soldier next to Hawkins.

“Everyone out! Out now!” shouts a Sergeant before he too is hit.

Kicking the tailgate open, Hawkins and his friend, Corporal Albright jumped out, immediately coming under small arm fire from their left. Ducking right, the two used the truck for cover as the rest of the soldiers jumped out over the sides. As the soldiers took cover, a couple of Japanese M5’s[ M5 Stuart – US Light Tank armed with a 37mm M6 gun as the main gun and a Browning M1919A4 machine gun as a secondary armament.] rolled up the street. As they began to take fire the lead M5 stopped, rotated its turret, being the 37mm gun to bear on a storefront. The light tank open fire, firing a volley of 37mm rounds thru the windows. When the M5 commander was sure there was no more fire coming from it, the commander threw open his hatch and climbed up exposing himself. As he looks right he sees the Americans.

Without saying a word, he motions for the Americans to follow before ducking back inside the turret. Using the radio, the commander he commands the pair of tanks to roll up the street.

“Here our chance.” said Hawkins as he looked at Albright. Albright nodded and the two darted from cover and took up position right behind the tanks.

As they watched the windows overhead the pair were joined by other as they advanced behind the M5s. Nearing the front the commander of the lead M5 pops open his hatch and takes control of the fifty.

“You ready?” asked Hawkins.

“Are you?” asked Albright.

“Not really, but no turning back now.” smiled Hawkins.

The three M5s move up the street with the soldiers close behind. As they turn the corner all hell broke loose as tracer fire engulfs the street. Followed by cannon fire. Two T-35-85s open fire on the column.

Seeing the tanks, Hawkins shouts out. “Get out from behind the tanks!”

As the soldiers rush away from the M5s the T-35s open fire with their main gun. As the shell impacts the lead M5, Hawkins and Albright are caught in the blast and throw back as the M5 turret slams into the nearby building.

For twelve days straight, the city continued to be bombarded, as Allied aircraft tried in vain to defend it. In the crowded streets, amidst the burning debris and rubble, brave Allied soldiers tended to the wounded and dying as best they could with medical supplies banishing faster than they could receive them. Among the many wounded were young schoolchildren from a school on the east side of the city hit during the bombing. It was heartbreaking to the soldiers to see the faces of dying children and as they tried their best to save as many as they could, a few could handle the sight and broke into tears.

In the city hospital, a young lieutenant waited on the operating table. As the doctor was about to operate, a mother carrying an injured child rushed into the hospital, bagging for help. The lieutenant hearing the mother frantic cries for help stopped the doctor.

“Help her” he told the doctor. “Save the child.”

The doctor took the lieutenant wish and told a nurse to bring the child to the operating table. As he was being moved onto a waiting stricter, he saw the nurse carrying the child lifeless body to the table.

On the edge of the city, allied soldiers in trenches fought back against the advancing enemy armor, firing shoulder fired rockets at the armor. After firing, the soldiers dropped back into the safety of the trench and reloaded: repeating his process till they were killed, or the enemy fell back. From an armored pile box, a heavy machine gun tore into the enemy advance.

Moving in the miles of trenches, allied soldiers armed with bayoneted rifles moved from firing position to firing position, taking shots at the advancing enemy. From the ruins of a bombed outbuilding second floor, an Allied sniper armed with a scoped rifle took up position in a window. As he zoomed in on his target, a shot ringed out and his helmet flew into the air, in a pink mist.

From the city, Allied armor moved up to face the enemy own armor. As the M55’s moved forward, firing round after round, the enemy called up its air support. From bases behind their lines, enemy aircraft emerged, deploying hundred-pound bombs upon the Allied armor. Falling thru the air, a bomb impacts next to a M55 and the blast rocks the crews inside. Thankfully, the M55 protective armor saved the crew from harm, and they continued to fight on.

With the M55’s still advancing, the enemy fighters circled back around for a gun run. Driving steeply, the fighters drove toward the ground, lining the M55’s in their sights. Strafing the VT’s[ VT – Vertical Tank.] with cannon fire, the fighter pulls up and circled for another pass.

Still advancing the lead M55 top hatch open and the commander emerged, taking control of the 50.cal machine gun[ 50.cal refers to the Browning M2 Heavy Machine Gun that fires 50. caliber rounds.]. Swinging it around to face the fighters; the Commander pulls the charging handle and fired.

With tracers flying pass his cockpit, the led enemy pilot open fire with the cannon. With the cannon rounds hitting around the M55, the commander fearlessly continued to fire. Even when a couple of rounds hit the side of the M55, he continued to fire following the fighter as it flew right over head and climbed away. The gun suddenly goes quiet. Looking down at the ammo box, it’s empty.

“Parker Need Ammo!” he shouts down into the hull.

Inside, the loader reaches into a compartment and pulls two boxes of 50.cal ammunition. He taps the commander boots and hands the boxes to him. Discarding the empty box over the side, the commander tosses a new one in the ammunition holder and reloads the fresh belt. As he loads, an enemy fighter makes its run, driving on the M55.

As he frantically reloads the fighter open fires and a round hits too close, causing the commander to duck back in the hull.

“Shit!” cursed the commander as he held a small wound in his arm. The fighter flew pass then another made it run.

With two hundred-pound bombs mounted under the wings, the pilot was aiming to take out the lead M55. Seeing the lead expose, the second M55 commander manned the fifty and fired upon the attacker. Cursing as he squeezed the trigger.

Engulfed by tracers the pilot continued on target, releasing the bombs. Knowing the blast radius, the commander of the second M55 abandons the fifty and dropped back inside the hull, closing the hatch. Shortly afterward, the two hundred-pound bombs exploded, covering the field of view in flames and smoke, blinding the drivers.

“I can’t see anything!” shouted the lead driver.

“Shut up and keep moving!” said the loader slapping the driver in the back of the head.

“You two knock it off, we have a job to do.” ordered the commander as he tied a bandage around his arm. “To all company tanks, continue forward, don’t stop for anything!”

As the M55’s continued their march across the open muddy, crater riddle field the enemy fighters break off their attack as friendly fighters appeared to the west. From his seat, the lead jet pilot spotted the fighters fleeing to the west.

“Enemy fighter at Ten o’clock low!” he shouted over the radio. Rolling left, the lead jet heads to intersect. The other jets followed suit.

Flying at top speed the jets closed the distance between them and the fleeing fighters. Climbing to get above them, the lead jet spotted a target and rolled over entering a dive. Lining up the firing radical on the lead fighter, the pilot squeezes the trigger and the six fifty caliber machine guns came to life. For three seconds, the pilot squeezed the trigger unleashing an hundred rounds into the lead enemy aircraft. Smoking, the fighter split off from the group and drove toward the ground.

As he watches the fighter dive toward the ground, a shout come overs the radio headset. “MiGs[ MiG – refers to the primer Soviet Fighter Jets the MiG-15.] on our six!” Looking over his shoulder the Jet pilot spots six MiG’s at six o’clock. From under the MiGs red nose, the 30mm cannon came to life, spitting out softball size tracers. For the friendly pilot, he had nothing to worry. If he could see the top of the MiG, he was ok, for the rounds shot under his plane. If he seen the underside of the MiG, he was being fired upon. Rolling over on his back and reversing his direction, the pilot entered a split-S pulling out under the MiGs as they shot overhead. He pulls up and comings up behind the MiGs on their six.

Down on the ground, Allied infantry advance behind the M55’s, using the Tanks steel legs as cover from the intense machine gun fire. Armed with a brand-new AR-15 rifle[ AR-15 – designed by Eugene Stoner, early version of the Army’s M16 rifle.]e, a young Corporal stayed close to the Second M55 as tracers shot pass and bounced off the armor. As a few soldiers jumps from cover to take a shot they were gunned down. Knowing that the only way across the muddy field was to stay with the M55’s the Corporal and others formed a line behind the legs of the lead M55.

“Stay behind the legs!’ shouted a soldier as he pulls up a soldier that had fall, by his pack.

Bang! A heat wave washed over the soldier and the sound of crashing metal shakes the ground. Holding his helmet on, the young Corporal looks to his right and there, on fire a VT crashes to the ground. As he watches, one of the crew climbs out the top hatch on fire, screaming. Looking away, the Corporal turns his gaze back to the steel leg in front of him.

“Johnson, when we reach the trenches follow me!” shouts out a soldier with a sliver bar on his helmet. The Corporal looks to his left and nods in understanding. He then hears a hatch opening. Looking up, he sees the M55 commander looking at the men. “Lieutenant one minute!” he shouts.

“One minute!’ shouts the soldier with the sliver bar.

Checking his weapon, the soldier sees his buddy next to him pull out his bayonet and fix it to the barrel.

“What? You might as well do the same in-case buddy.” replayed the soldier as he notices the Corporal looking.

As the Corporal reached for his bayonet, the ground behind exploded as artillery began to rain down. Fixing his bayonet, the Corporal hears a couple of soldiers shout as an artillery shell lands too close for comfort. Behind the third M55 in the formation, a Sergeant at the front of the line of soldiers bangs on the bottom hatch. When the M55 commander opens the hatch, the Sergeant shouts at him

“Gets this thing moving, we’re setting ducks out here!” shouts the Sergeant.

Before he is finishes the M55 explodes in a ball of fire killing the Sergeant and the soldiers following behind in the blast.

Climbing back up top to check the area, the commander of the second M55 braves the enemy fire once again. As he looks at the burning hull of the M55 that was on his left, he see soldiers on fire lying on the ground, where they fell. Turning toward the enemy lines, he spots a T-54.[ T-54 – Soviet Main Battle Tank.]

“Scott, MBT[ MBT – Main Battle Tank.] directly ahead!” shouted the Lieutenant as he shouted down into the hull.

Peering thru the targeting sights of the 76mm main gun, Private Scott lined up the shot and figured the range to the target. When he had the range, he turned around his seat reached into the magazine and pulled a 76mm shell out, placing it in the gun breach sealing it.

“Gun is HOT!” shouted the Private.

“Fire!” shouted the Lieutenant.

As the main gun fires there was a tremendous boom that shuck the ground and rock the M55. The shell flew thru the air, impacting the T-54 turret, blasting it off into the sky setting the ammo rack ablaze. As the T-54’s ammunition began cooking off, another tank bulldozed thru the brush firing it main gun at the M55. The round glances the M55 left leg armored plate and impacts the ground.

“MBT! Two meters to the right of last target!” shouted the Lieutenant.

As Scott reloaded the main gun, the tank fired again, this time hitting the M55’s hull. The impact jolted the tank causing the Lieutenant to duck back into the hull.

“Fire when you ready.” the Lieutenant said as he looked thru his periscope.

“Lining up the tank in his sights, Scott fired, again blasting the turret off.

“All target eliminated!” shouted the left Gunner looking this is sights.

In the lead M55, with the name “Iron Wolf” painted on the side, the unit’s Captain watched as the enemy bunkers came into view.

“Red FOB[ FOB – Forward Operation Base.] sited. Gunner! HE!” shouted the Captain.

“HE[ HE – High Explosives.] coming up!” shouted Parker as he reached in the magazine and pulled out a HE round.

“Driver left fifteen degrees! Gunner Ready?”

“HE loaded!” replied Parker.

“Fire!” ordered the Captain.

Parker hit the firing leaver and the HE shell shot form the cannon thru the air impacting the bunker which disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.

Peering thru his periscope, the Captain tried to tell if the bunker had been destroyed. As he peered thru the scope, there was a flash and the smoke cloud shifted a bit then came the sound of thunder, rocking the M55.

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?” shouted out the driver as he fought the controls to keep the tank standing up.

“Don’t worry about it, just keep going!

As the M55s advanced, hidden enemy gun emplacement began to fire upon the tanks. Looking thru commander cupola, Lieutenant Matthew watched for the muzzle blast of the enemy gun as they fired. Scanning the tree line, he spots a gun firing directly ahead of his tank.

“Gunner! HEF-SAPI![ High-explosive fragmentation (Semi-armor-piercing incendiary)]” he shouted.

As Scott loaded the shell into the gun breach, the sound of bullets pinging off the hull echoed in the tank. “Gun ready LT.” reported Scott.

“Left Gunner, prep the auto-cannon, once we break thru the tree line I want you to blast anything that moves.”

“Yes sir.”

As the left gunner prepped the auto-cannon, an enemy shell punched a hole four inches wide in the tank side. “Well now, it seems you have a window now.” laughed Scott.

“Just shut the hell up.” replied the gunner.

“Scott knock it off.” order the lieutenant kicking Scott with his boot.

In the lead M55, the Captain open the commander hatch and scanned the tree line. As he looks over the back of the tank at the infantry that following machine gun fire cause him to duck back in the hatch.

“God damn!” cursed the captain.

“Cutting it close aren’t you sir?” asked Parker.

“Too close”, smiled the captain, before climbing back up and manning the 50.cal

As he blasted the tree line with the machine gun, the main gun fired, and the cloud of smoke drifted over the captain as he fired away.

On foot, Sergeant Rudy advanced closely behind the lead M55, looking over his shoulder every few steps to make sure his men stayed in cover.

“We’ll make it boys…we’ll make it… just stay close and I will get you back alive.” said the young Sergeant in between explosions. Just as he turned around a burst of tracers flew thru a line falling several soldiers.

With half of his group taken out Sergeant Rudy shouted for the remaining ones to get closer to the M55’s legs. As another burst impacted the M55’s legs a round grazes the Sergeant arm. “God Damn it!” he cursed.

As the Captain reloaded the 50.cal, an enemy machine gun open fire, firing tracers at the top of the M55. With tracers impacting and bouncing off the hull, the captain reloaded the gun.

“Sir, I am seeing movement beyond that tree line.” reported Cody, the driver.

“Keeping advancing CC[ CC – Company Commander.], Gordon ready the auto!” ordered the Captain.

As Gordon loaded the autocannon with flack rounds, the M55s and their infantry support entered the tree line. As tree branches starched the hull and broke as they bend, the Infantry made ready for combat.

With his finger on the trigger the captain waited until they exited the tree line. Below his crew watch their viewports. The Infantry fixed their bayonets if they hadn’t done so already. Sergeant Rudy stayed close to the M55’s legs and made sure his men were ready for anything.

“On guard!” shouted Lt Matthew driver as they broke thru the tree line.

“What the hell is this?” asked the Lieutenant to himself.