Ali had performed this maneuver countless times. A tank turning with the smallest possible radius to change its direction of combat also played an important role in actual combat.
But now, this maneuver had become an outright suicide.
The reason a tank could move in a swamp was that the pressure its tracks exerted on the ground was not too great, and the ground could bear it.
But now, one track was moving forward while the other was turning in place. The result could only be one thing: this side's track would sink into the mud!
Ali felt something was wrong halfway through the turn. From his experience, he knew the left side had already sunk, and the vehicle body had tilted.
He released the control stick, hoping to get the left track moving again, possibly escaping this danger.
Unfortunately, it was useless. The 580-horsepower engine was spewing black smoke, the tracks were rotating powerlessly, but the vehicle body remained motionless.
Reverse!
Once stuck, if moving forward didn't work, then try reversing.
Ali shifted into reverse, stomped on the accelerator, and quickly released the clutch. The tank moved only once, then stopped again.
This place was simply impassable for tanks. That important person from above, who knows what they were thinking, came up with such an idea. Now, this was the best example!
Ali thought with annoyance, this place was simply insurmountable!
Now, he still needed to figure out how to get the tank out. In a little while, the tank might even sink to the bottom.
"Drive over, use our armored vehicle to pull it and see if it works," Qusay said.
The purpose of bringing this tank was to pull their own vehicle if it got stuck. Now, it was the other way around: a fourteen-ton tank was stuck. Could a mere ten-ton armored vehicle pull it?
No one dared to guarantee it, but they had to try now, otherwise, if it got dark, they would have to abandon the tank. And this wasn't a battle; damaging weapons and equipment due to an accident was a very serious responsibility.
And in front of His Excellency Qusay, personally witnessing weapon damage due to operational error was even more unacceptable. In the future, perhaps today's incident would be incorporated into training outlines and written into operating procedures, making the 35th Armored Brigade a laughingstock.
Qusay, however, didn't have such thoughts. The most urgent task was to get this tank back. They were already over a hundred kilometers deep into the swamp. They couldn't just let those unlucky tank crewmen walk back, could they?
The armored vehicle drove forward. Qusay jumped out, unhooked the towing cable from the rear of the armored vehicle, and attached it to the tank. All his technical movements were very skilled.
Qusay's actions earned him everyone's goodwill. This His Excellency Qusay didn't have the haughty noble air of those high-ranking dignitaries; he didn't just give orders but personally took part in everything. Having such a person around made them feel very close.
Unbeknownst to them, Qusay had narrowed the distance between himself and them. They felt that this unpretentious His Excellency Qusay was very easy to get along with.
Even the dusty and disheveled Ali said, "Your Excellency Qusay, it's all my fault for not driving the tank well."
"Don't blame yourself. If it weren't for protecting me, you wouldn't have driven the tank into the mud for a bath," Qusay joked.
At that, Ali's face turned even redder, and the day's depression was swept away. He felt very fortunate to have such a superior.
"Boom, boom boom." The armored vehicle gasped, and the engines of both combat vehicles revved to full power. Finally, the tank escaped its predicament and emerged from the mud pit.
At this point, Qusay, who was standing nearby, was already covered in mud flung up by the tracks.
The engines of the two combat vehicles fell silent again. Amidst the low rumble of the engines, Qusay suddenly heard the sound of propellers cutting through the air.
"Quick, take cover, shut off the engines!" Qusay shouted.
The earlier struggle had actually helped a lot. Now, both vehicles were covered in mud, blending in with the swamp from a distance. Coupled with the darkening sky, it would probably be difficult for a helicopter in the sky to spot them.
If it were the 21st century, with widespread infrared detectors, then the two combat vehicles would have nowhere to hide, as their engine temperatures would betray their location. However, at present, it was unlikely that Iranian aircraft were fully equipped with such devices.
Qusay hid under a low, withered vine, looking up at the sky.
An Iranian AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter, painted gray, appeared in the western sky.
With its flat nose and two rocket pods hanging from its side wings, this weapon was enough to cripple both combat vehicles.
Everyone was horrified. From its appearance, they recognized it as an Iranian attack helicopter. What was it doing here?
Moreover, the aircraft had been circling at a low altitude. If it got closer and discovered everything here, they would probably have no choice but to take measures to shoot it down.
The Type 62 Tanks all had anti-aircraft machine guns, which might be used against helicopters.
However, Qusay didn't want to do that. Helicopters were the natural enemy of tanks. If the enemy really discovered them, the only thing they could do was run as far as possible, away from the combat vehicles.
The helicopter was being flown by two pilots from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
After the war began, Iraqi forces advanced rapidly, occupying large areas of Iranian territory.
After the initial failures, the Iranian army finally reacted. They withstood the Iraqi offensive, and now they were secretly plotting a counterattack.
On the southern front, the Iraqis had captured the important town of Khorramshahr and besieged Abadan. A counterattack on Abadan was being planned, and the command had devised a daring plan: to use armored forces to launch a surprise attack from the Susangerd swamp in the north, to encirclement the Iraqi forces that had invaded Iran, and to eliminate the invaders on their own land!
An elite armored division had quietly arrived at Ramin, on the other side of the swamp. Now, they were waiting for fuel resupply and for the swamp to dry out.
To cross this swamp and deliver a sudden blow to the enemy, meticulous planning was essential. Currently, the swamp was too muddy, which was unfavorable for the maneuverability of Chieftain Main Battle Tanks. However, by waiting for just over ten days of less rain, they could boldly infiltrate.
And not all parts of the swamp were muddy; some higher grounds were relatively dry. Fuel needed to be stored in these places in advance.
The sight of an armored unit attacking was spectacular, but the fuel consumption was astronomical. If they drove directly through the swamp, their fuel would be depleted by the time they exited it. What would they then use to capture positions?
Therefore, they had to find a suitable place in the center of the swamp in advance to refuel the tanks. Only then would they have the strength to attack and occupy the Susangerd region, and then move south to counterattack Ahvaz and Khorramshahr.
Hence, several helicopters on reconnaissance missions had been searching for suitable locations in the swamp these past few days. To prevent detection by the Iraqis, their reconnaissance near the western edge was conducted before sunset.
Unexpectedly, their reconnaissance unfortunately brushed past Qusay's convoy.