The Chieftain Tank's L11A5 120mm rifled tank gun, when firing Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) rounds, was powerful enough to penetrate 500mm of homogeneous steel plate. Using it against an armored vehicle only a dozen millimeters thick was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
According to aerodynamics, the thinner the projectile, the less resistance it faces. However, since the gun's caliber is fixed, a new method was developed: using a lightweight sabot to hold the armor-piercing core in the center. The sabot matches the gun's caliber, while the armor-piercing round is made into a long, thin rod. After leaving the barrel, the sabot automatically falls away due to air resistance, and the projectile continues to fly along the barrel's trajectory; this is the origin of the term 'discarding sabot.' To ensure the stability and accuracy of the long, thin projectile during flight, four fins are installed at the rear in a cross-shaped arrangement, hence the name 'fin-stabilized.' This type of armor-piercing round possesses incredibly powerful penetration capabilities.
The two Type 63 armored reconnaissance vehicles looked as if they had merely been bitten by a mosquito. Yet, that sharp 'beak' tore through the armored vehicles' skin in a lethal embrace. Then, the vehicles' bellies suddenly exploded as the heat generated by the penetrating rounds caused the internal ammunition to cook off, turning the entire armored vehicle into a ball of fire.
The squad leader's forehead was drenched in sweat. If he had hesitated for even a moment longer, his armored vehicle would likely have suffered the same fate. At the very instant he threw it into reverse, the enemy had fired. In that brief window, the armored vehicle had retreated by a car's length, narrowly escaping disaster.
What the squad leader didn't know was that there was another reason for his survival. The Chieftain Tank uses a rifled gun, meaning there are rifling grooves inside the barrel. Tank guns are typical of high chamber pressure and high erosion, causing the rifling to wear down significantly. The tank guns aiming at him had already fired over eighty rounds, and their accuracy had declined. At such a distance, combined with the cumulative errors of the aiming equipment, the squad leader was finally given a chance.
The armored vehicle's retreat wasn't fast. Even though the squad leader had practically floored the accelerator, he couldn't see the situation behind him, and simply continued reversing out of the battlefield.
Under normal circumstances, the enemy's Chieftain Tanks would have rumbled after them long ago. No matter how fast he reversed, he couldn't outrun their forward speed. Once the enemy caught up and fired a few more rounds, his armored vehicle would have surely become a fireball as well.
However, the enemy didn't move; they didn't pursue.
The squad leader was now fully convinced of his judgment and immediately reported to his superiors via radio.
"Reporting to Brigade HQ, my armored reconnaissance squad has discovered the enemy's tracks. Ten kilometers east of our position, the enemy is in the marshland and unable to move. I repeat, the enemy is in the marshland and unable to move!"
Muhammad received the message immediately. Although he wasn't clear on what 'unable to move' meant, he knew that the moment of testing for the Thirty-Fifth Brigade had arrived.
"Tank Battalion, advance east immediately and prepare for combat. Mechanized Infantry Battalion, follow up two kilometers behind," Muhammad ordered.
They had been heading north just moments ago, but now, all the tanks immediately turned right, forming a linear battle formation and driving east.
Everyone was filled with a surge of energy, eager to charge up and thrash those cunning Persians. Trying to ambush them? No way!
From the sky, the usually silent marshland was now a scene of clamor as a vast line of tanks vied to be the first to charge eastward.
If a few attack helicopters had flown over at this moment, the exposed tank assault group, lacking accompanying anti-aircraft fire, would have suffered heavy losses.
However, the Iranians' Cobras were still on their way back to refuel. Iraq's Hind attack helicopters were still stationed in the Military Region and had not yet been deployed.
And the Iraqi Air Force had not yet reacted. This battle was destined to be a head-on collision between the two sides' armored groups.
Shirad felt that things were going poorly. The mud had set like concrete. He immediately ordered his First Armored Battalion to continue forward! If they stayed here, they would soon draw an enemy attack. Rather than staying put and being hit, it was better to take the initiative and attack.
A large number of tank units in the rear were also following up. After Rajavi learned that they had already exchanged fire with the Iraqis, he knew things were bad. Now, there was no other way but to destroy the enemy's armored group within the marshland, leave the swamp as quickly as possible, and attack southward!
After only five minutes of travel, a torrent of steel appeared ahead. The enemy had come so quickly!
At this moment, Shirad felt the situation was very disadvantageous for them. Both sides' tank units were deployed in lines, but the enemy was fully spread out in front of him, while his own tanks were in a single column, forming a 'T' shape. In this way, his firepower couldn't be deployed at all, which was like trying to fight off a pack of wolves with his hands and feet tied.
"First and Third Battalions, flank from both sides. Second Battalion, attack from the front." Seeing the enemy tanks appear in his sights, Muhammad issued the combat order.
Instantly, the linear charge formation began to curl from both sides as the First and Third Battalions flanked the enemy.
The distance between the two sides was gradually closing.
"First Company, deal with the enemy at 6 o'clock. Second Company, deal with the enemy at 9 o'clock. Third Company, deal with the enemy at 3 o'clock. All companies, take note: eliminate the enemy at long range. Do not let them get close," Shirad shouted into the radio.
His situation had been extremely awkward and unsuitable for utilizing firepower, but he hadn't expected the enemy's brain-dead commander to actually attack his flanks. This allowed the tanks' firepower to be fully utilized.
Although the enemy outnumbered them several times over, Shirad wasn't afraid at all. Their fire control system was enough for the Chieftains to intimidate the enemy at a distance of 1,800 meters; at 1,500 meters, they could practically hit every shot. Meanwhile, the enemy's simple T-62 fire control systems would only pose a threat once they closed to within six or seven hundred meters.
Several past combat experiences told Shirad that the Iraqis' tanks were typically 'short-armed'—they could swing their fists but couldn't reach. As long as he eliminated the enemy at long range, he would remain unscathed. When the time came, it might even be considered a great achievement.
The only deficiency was that his tanks couldn't move; otherwise, he would have long ago ordered his tanks to charge down and fight it out with the enemy.
Muhammad watched his tanks form a standard attack formation and gradually approach the enemy. Meanwhile, the powerful Chieftains were like sleeping sheep, without the slightest movement. This made him feel even more confident. Hitting a moving target was difficult, but hitting a stationary target was much easier. Especially for his tank units, which had just mastered the essentials of long-range shooting, the Chieftains opposite them were simply perfect targets for live-fire practice.
"Attention, all units, do not get too close. Set fire control systems to 1,500 meters. Prepare for the first volley, APFSDS rounds," Muhammad commanded over the radio.
Ali, the commander of the Third Company of the Second Battalion, felt full of bitterness upon hearing this order. At such a long distance, who could shoot accurately? When did the Brigade Commander become so cautious? We should just charge up and let the Persians fire; once we reach five or six hundred meters, we'll blow those Chieftains to pieces one by one.
Company Commander Ali, who had only finished the third grade of primary school, had invested great enthusiasm into this fire control system, but unfortunately, he still hadn't mastered it. The gunners under him weren't necessarily any more skilled than he was.
As a company commander who had risen from the lower ranks, Ali had experienced many battles. His courage was commendable, but his ability was lacking, especially when it came to operating tanks that required a certain level of knowledge. This was why he repeatedly made mistakes and had cheated during the reporting drills. However, he remained a courageous Iraqi soldier.
Allad, however, was full of confidence. He had been studying the T-62's fire control system and was already well-versed in its use. He turned on the infrared light and aimed the T-62's 2A20 115mm smoothbore gun at a Chieftain directly ahead. He could feel that the Chieftain was likely aiming at him too; it was an agonizing feeling.
Screech! The tank came to a halt. Firing while moving was still an insurmountable barrier, so if they wanted to hit the enemy accurately, they had to stop—but only temporarily.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" At that very instant, the enemy Chieftains began firing their shells.
The t－62s were not to be outdone and fired their shells almost simultaneously. The first exchange of fire between the two sides officially began.