46: Land Combat Tanks, the king of the People’s Army, fiercely compete with the US Army!

The tank duel took place in the wilderness outside Darwin City, an open field spanning 3 kilometers.

It was quite a coincidence.

Originally, this wilderness was covered in weeds and rabbit holes, but after several rounds of indiscriminate bombing by the U.S. Military, the ground vegetation was blown away, and many places had large craters from explosions. The entire plain was unobstructed yet full of undulations.

It was perfectly suited for off-road tank duels, testing driving skills and increasing the unpredictability of combat.

Six M1A2 main battle tanks of the same model, three from each side, rumbled as they advanced towards each other.

This was destined to be an intense and rapid engagement.

Because it was an open field with no obstacles, and a width of 3 kilometers, it was barely within the range of tank cannons. The American military could aim and fire at any time, leaving no room to stop and rest.

Both sides engaged in tentative attacks from a distance, aiming and firing at each other.

When the powerful tracks, like those of a beast, roared across the ground, they kicked up clouds of dust. And when a tank fired its cannon, the shell, close to the ground, combined with the air currents generated by the tank's own vibrations, would create trails of dust along the shell's trajectory.

After the probing attacks, the distance between the two sides further closed, three-on-three, coordinating operations through internal wireless communication.

On the Anti-War Army side.

"This is 01... calling 02 and 03, respond if you hear me!"

"02, copy."

"03, copy."

"This is 01, proceed according to the pre-battle plan."

The so-called pre-battle plan was actually just simple guiding principles.

Maneuver warfare, mobile warfare, flexible and adaptable.

Because it was a clear open field, and the entire battlefield wasn't wide, when you stopped to aim and fire at the American military, they would also have the opportunity to aim at you.

Clearly, the American military had the same idea.

When the six tanks became entangled, each tank was almost constantly in motion.

Even when making sharp turns or adjusting the cannon's direction, the tank's stationary time was very short, not enough for the American military to get a precise aiming opportunity.

Due to this shared combat strategy, both sides fought back and forth for a while, locked in a stalemate.

The models were identical, performance was consistent, and the combatants were all highly skilled.

The dust kicked up by their continuous maneuvering obscured more than half of the ground.

Outside the battlefield, those watching the live broadcast were gripping their hands, more nervous than those directly on the battlefield.

Both sides had fired many times, but none had achieved an effective hit.

Then, the Anti-War Army's tanks found an opportunity.

"03 reporting to 01 and 02, my tank has found a slope pit large enough to hide most of the vehicle. I will submerge myself in it. At that time, you two tanks come out of the dust zone immediately, and my tank will act as a fixed gun platform to bombard the American military's vehicles!"

"Good idea, 01 approves."

"02 approves."

Because the current entangled battlefield was filled with dust, it was actually very difficult for the tanks on both sides to effectively track the movements of the American military's tanks at the first moment. The rapid separation and withdrawal of the three tanks was very secretive.

"This is 01, note that I will be coming out from your tank's left side."

"This is 02, I will be appearing from your tank's right side."

At this moment, tank 03 had already ambushed itself in a not-too-deep slope pit, but one sufficient to conceal most of its body, exposing only the turret, and had already adjusted its cannon angle to point towards the dust zone.

Tank 03 responded: "Copy that."

After that, the commander of tank 03 held his breath and observed our tanks emerging from the dust through the periscope.

Immediately, the first tank on the left rushed out.

The commander of tank 03 had just let it pass when he immediately identified from the signal that this was not our tank 01, which was supposed to be the first to emerge from the left fog zone as agreed, but an American military tank!

The commander of tank 03 immediately ordered the gunner to pivot the cannon to lock on, and then fire.

But because he lost the initiative, this shot went wide.

And the slightly anxious voice of tank 01's commander rang out in the channel: "03, be careful, my tank has been outflanked by the American military! Be ready to strike!"

Not just on the left, tank 02 also quickly stated: "Judging from the sound, an American military tank has rushed out of the dust zone before my tank, be ready to strike!"

Damn it!

Two American military tanks burst out of the dust zone, one from each side, and both were maneuvering around tank 03's position, preparing to lock on and fire.

The commander of tank 01 immediately shouted anxiously: "03, get out of the pit quickly, don't become a target!"

Climbing out of the pit would be a slow and passive process, and it would be difficult to aim or evade during this time.

Tank 03 also knew this and quickly ordered the driver to full throttle out of the slope pit.

But it was too late.

Tank 03 was hit by an armor-piercing round fired by one of the American military tanks from either side, exploding with a loud bang, and stopping in place while still on the uphill slope.

"03, 03, respond if you hear me—"

Under the anxious calls of tanks 01 and 02, tank 03 remained unresponsive.

And at this moment, the wind on the outskirts had largely dispersed the dust created by the close-quarters entanglement of the tanks, revealing the barren battlefield.

From an aerial view, it could be determined that one tank painted with Darwin City's colors had been destroyed, with two remaining.

All three of the U.S. Military's tanks were still operational.

Seeing this scene, the U.S. Military collectively cheered.

In Darwin City, everyone's hearts sank instantly.

The destruction of tank 03 caused a clear shift in the balance of the battle.

Since both sides had the same tank models and similar operator skill levels, the U.S. Military gained a numerical advantage at 3:2.

In the ensuing fierce battle, the Anti-War Army finally destroyed one of the American military's tanks.

But at the same time, the destroyer was also destroyed by the American military.

At this point, only one Anti-War Army tank remained operational, while the American military still had two.

The commander of the sole remaining tank 01 felt a sense of tragic heroism.

He knew that from now on, he would have no opportunity to skillfully engage the American military.

The American military had twice his numbers in every aspect. It was time for a do-or-die effort!

"Gunner, loader, driver, listen to my command!"

"Yes, Commander—"

"Deploy smoke grenades straight ahead, 100 meters out! Engage the American military tank on the left in a one-on-one duel!"

"Yes—"

Soon, the smoke launcher deployed a volley of smoke grenades, creating a screen between tank 01 and a more distant American military tank. As the smoke rose, neither side could see the other.

Tank 01, meanwhile, circled and exchanged fire with the only remaining American military tank in its line of sight.

Finally, tank 01 proved superior in skill, or perhaps had better luck, and hit the American military tank first, which was destroyed in place.

However, the driver shouted in alarm: "The remaining American military tank has burst out of the fog, and is locking onto us!"

At this moment, there was no chance to drive the tank far enough to evade. The commander shouted: "Turn the cannon, lock on to them, quickly—"

Under the emergency operations of the commander and gunner, the turret quickly turned and positioned itself. And at this moment, the distant tank's cannon had already fired, a flash of light appearing and vanishing instantly.

The commander of tank 01 shouted with an almost screaming voice: "Fire—"

Almost simultaneously, an armor-piercing round from tank 01's 120mm smoothbore cannon also shot out, heading straight for the American military tank.

Boom, boom—

Both the American military and our two tanks were hit almost simultaneously, exploding in place.

At this point, there were no operational tanks left on the battlefield.

All three tanks from both sides were disabled in place.

Nor did a single person emerge from the tank's top hatch or bottom.

On the vast wasteland, there was only the smoke from the burning war machines.

Silence.

Everyone in Darwin City, as well as everyone on the U.S. Military side, fell silent.

Then, Fang Le suddenly ordered all the soldiers in Darwin City: "Salute—"

Immediately, thousands of people all looked towards the battlefield and saluted.

The U.S. Military side did the same.

At this moment, there was only reverence for the soldiers.

And in the global live broadcast room, there was a sensation.

The match commentator almost choked up:

"I cannot describe the tragic heroism in the hearts of the people inside a tank when it, outnumbered two to one, charges actively towards the American military with a disregard for life and death!"

"No matter what the outcome of this match, or how the war concludes."

"These six tanks, and the 24 combatants who rode them, deserve our highest respect!"

Soon after, the live broadcast room, after a unanimous discussion by the judges, ruled the duel a draw, with a result of 3:3.

Soon after, Fang Le met the rescued heroes in Darwin City.