The Shadow of War by Jack Murray (latest ebook reader txt) 📗

recruits the badly needed,first-hand experience they would need.

A few minutes later CorporalColdrick was detailed to provide a brief tour of the garrison. Unlike many ofthe NCOs they had encountered, Coldrick seemed to have more sympathy with thenew lot, and a sense of humour.

‘You’re very lucky, you know. We’vejust had a fresh bunch of tanks delivered. This is good news and bad news foryou. The good news is you’ll get a chance to ride in them and learn how theywork.’

‘What’s the bad news?’

‘You won’t be allowed to driveany. You’ll be like kids standing outside the sweetie shop,’ guffawed Coldrick.‘And don’t even think about trying to sneak into one and taking it for a spin.Trust me, it won’t be jankers for you. It’ll be an all-expenses paid trip toAldershot for a month or two.’

Danny furrowed his brow andlooked at Arthur for an explanation.

‘The glasshouse. It’s were theysent Harn,’ answered Arthur.

Then it dawned on Danny. He’dheard about the glasshouse before but not shown much interest. Not a place tovisit, he decided. They’d never seen Harn again. Nobody talked about him.Nobody missed him.

They marched down to an openarea away from the tents. Finally, the tanks emerged from behind the tents.There were half a dozen sitting stationary in a line. As they were walking towardsthem, Coldrick explained the differences.

‘These are what you callcruiser tanks. And, no, I ain’t talking about your holidays in Skegness.’

This lightened the moodalthough Danny could feel butterflies in his stomach as he neared the twobeasts. He tried to imagine himself inside. He also tried to imagine what itwould be like to face the larger and more powerful Panzer tanks the Germanswere reputed to possess.

‘The A9 is on the left. Theseboys are pretty nippy. While the Germans are crunching their tanks into reversegear, we can take a pot shot or two at them and be back in time for a cuppa bythe time they start moving.’

‘Assuming we can get nearenough,’ whispered Arthur. Danny frowned and looked at Arthur, a question inhis eyes. Arthur pointed to the gun. ‘Not very big is it?’

Danny smirked and glanced downat Arthur’s crotch. Arthur began to laugh and said, ‘I’ve had no complaints.’

‘Oi, what are you two gabbingon about?’ shouted Coldrick, noticing the exchange between the two men.

‘Looking at your gun, CorporalColdrick. Not the biggest.’

Coldrick grew more serious. He pointedto the two guns and said, ‘Actually, you’re not far wrong. Both the A9 and theA13 have a two pounder which is thirty-seven millimetres. But the new Honeys match up better to thePanzers. They also have their eighty-eights’. These anti-tank guns can take youout from a mile away nearly. You’ll have to ask the powers that be as to why weare using smaller, more mobile tanks and not big ones like Jerry uses. Thesecruisers are meant to be used for quick engagements. In, out and then on yourbike. Bit like you with your missus. There’s another type of tank called a‘Mathilda’. That’s an infantry tank. It’s heavier because the armour isthicker. No Jerry shell will get through it.’

‘You mean Jerry shells canpierce this, Corporal Coldrick?’ This was Danny, asking the question that wasnow very much on everyone’s mind.

Coldrick nodded and thensmiled, ‘It will if you stand still and let them shoot at you long enough. Theidea with this, boy, is you shoot while you’re on the move. You’ll notice they alsocome with machine guns. That’s for dealing with infantry.’

‘Do these tanks stop bullets?’asked Danny.

‘You really don’t fancy beingshot at do you, son?’

‘Not if I can help it,’ laughedDanny. Coldricklaughed also.

‘Sensible lad,’ repliedColdrick. The group was now gathered around the lighter A9. Coldrick pointed tothe armour and said, ‘In answer to your question, the A9 has fourteenmillimetre thick armour. The A13 has thirty. Won’t stop a shell but both willstop rifle shots, so you’re better off than those boys in the infantry. Anyonewant to go inside?’

There was a chorus of yeses.Arthur stepped forward and climbed up the side and went in though the turret. Avoice from inside, ‘Lumme, I’ve been inside bigger things than this.’

This brought a predictablyribald response from the other men. One or two others were also climbing inthrough the turret.

‘See if you can move the twomachine guns at the front,’ ordered Coldrick. There were cheers when the menmanaged this. Overthe next twenty minutes the men climbed into the tank and inspected what waslikely to be their future workplace.

Danny, meanwhile, walked aroundthe outside ofboth tanks. Coldrick looked at Danny inspect the tank in fascination. Normallythe new lot were keen to climb inside and play. They were like children with anew toy. Danny was clearly appraising the tank. He walked over to Danny.

‘What are you looking at?’

‘I used to be a blacksmith,’said Danny, tapping the armour of the tank and listening to the sound it made.He ran his fingers over the rivets.

‘What do you see?’

‘It feels, I know this willsound strange, but it feels thin.’ Danny ducked down and looked at the wheelsand the tracks.

‘If one of those rivets gets adirect hit, it shatters and turns all of you into mincemeat.’

‘So, we keep moving,’

‘Now you’re getting it, son,’responded the corporal.

‘How fast does this go?’ askedDanny.

‘About twenty-four miles perhour on a flat road.’

‘How fast are the Panzers?’probed Danny.

‘Similar but these would workbetter on hilly terrain. We’re a lot lighter than the Panzers. Our suspension is also better off road.’

Danny stood up and looked atColdrick. His face was grim.

‘So you’re telling me that theycan not only outgun us but on the flat, they’re just as quick.’

‘That’s about the size of it.’

Danny shook his head butremained silent. Coldrick looked at him and asked, ‘What’s your name, son?’

‘Shaw, Corporal Coldrick.’

‘You’re Shaw,’ said Coldrick.Danny wasn’t sure what to make of the fact his name seemed to be known. ‘Whatage are you?’

‘Nineteen, Corporal.’

Coldrick looked at Danny for amoment and then wandered off to see how the other men were getting on. Danny,meantime, crawled underneath the tank. It was very narrow, and he came outagain after checking the underside armour. It seemed unlikely anyone would befoolhardy enough to attack in this manner although mines would