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Night on August 22, 1917 near the village Pashendal was damp and cold. The two armies, German and Allied, standing opposite each other. Military action on those cursed by God swamps lasted a month: the allies broke under British command to the bases of German submarines off the coast of the North Sea. Once upon a time there were endless neat green fields, drained years of work of the Belgian farmers. However, drainage channels have long been abandoned to the rain this summer was almost incessantly, so that the dry rolling hills turned into an impassable swamp, which disappeared without a trace the bodies of men and horses. Thousands of people have been killed here in July, when the Germans first used mustard. Continued under the cut.




Tens of thousands more will die until November, when the Allies will retreat, and not being able to take the hills. The place seemed a poisoned ...



Offensive
At the headquarters of the British conferred the whole night. In the morning, an hour before dawn, was assigned a large tank attack allied forces. Tanks Mark IV, the latest heavy fighting vehicles, recently placed at the disposal of the army, an impressive one of its kind. Several days ago, they were brought to the front line. It seemed these monsters are easily break through the German defenses and quickly reach the sea. Meanwhile, those who had to make a historic breakthrough, crews battle tanks, slept, wrapped in blankets. War anaesthetizes nerves, and even on the eve of such an important event of soldiers easily falls into oblivion healing, using the rare moments of calm. I slept and merry Captain Donald Richardson and his crew. For them, this was supposed to be leaving first. Tank former grocer Donald wore the proud name "Fray Bentos" - that was the title of the best stew in the pre-war stock Richardson. "Fray Bentos" was "male". The British classification meant that in addition to the two machine guns Lewis in his side towers were installed additional 6-pound (57-mm) gun-howitzer. In general, according to the captain, it was the "most secure tin in the world." And he was absolutely right.



In the predawn tanks and infantry began to advance. Battle tanks goal was the destruction of the former farmhouses of the ridge of the hills, the Germans turned into fortified bunkers. Almost immediately it became clear that the reality is completely different from the optimistic plans of command. Tanks and people were moving very slowly sinking into the mud. Rain fell all night, and brought pashendalskie marsh in all its splendor impassable. Germans woke up and began to actively defend. "Fray Bentos" was first kept the fire from all the guns and seemed invincible. And now the first target - Farm Somme - was destroyed! Tank farm turned toward Gallipoli. In the heat of battle the crew did not notice that the other car skidded behind. At some point, pieces of shrapnel flew into the viewing slot. Richardson stepped back, touched the elbow of the arm, "Fray Bentos" lurched forward and fell on his right side.
Donald quickly reassured the crew. "Guys, standard situation! We need to get out through the top hatch, disconnect buksovochnuyu beam, insert it under the tracks - and we return to the starting position! Who will go? "" I am! "- Instantly replied Private Brady. It was the hottest of the newcomers. Without further ado Brady opened the hatch, climbed out, and began to unfasten the beam and ... was instantly killed by a German sniper. The worst thing was the fact that Brady dropped the beam and she lay across the side of the hatch, blocking the exit.
Tank MARK IV
Years May 1917 - December 1918
Weight 28 tons
Size 8, 05h4, 12 m
The number of units issued in 1220
The thickness of 12mm armor
Engine output 125 hp
Speed ​​on Highway 6, 4 km / h
British heavy tank. Equipped with machine guns Lewis. "Males" were additionally armed with two 6-pound cannons Hotchkiss. On the Mark IV was used for the first time fascine - several beams on the three-meter circuits that are thrown through the ditches to facilitate the flow of cars. Also, Mark IV was equipped with a beam for self. Used almost exclusively during the First World War. After the failure of a Pashendalem fighting vehicles have been somewhat rehabilitated in the Battle of Cambrai, which was attended by 460 tanks.



Trapped
Death Brady quickly sobered everyone. Richardson assessed the situation. "Fray Bentos" was alone until he did not come down any British infantry or other tanks. It stuck, getting out of a huge crater, and lay in a kind of trench, where he could shoot at the enemy from the side of the gun, now find themselves at the top. Next to that gun was the only non-blocked access to the outdoors. However, to use it - then get on a tank, standing in the middle of the battlefield, and from all sides surrounded by the Germans, leading the fire. Nevertheless, 12-mm armor reliably protect "Fry" from any shells. Thus began the longest in the history of warfare siege tank. It is known that the "Fray Bentos" continued to fire all morning until the British infantry and tanks tried unsuccessfully to storm the German positions. Moreover, he was able to destroy all the nearby German gun emplacements! By two o'clock in the afternoon when a few shots around subsided, the heroic crew of the tank struck a new attack: weather Pashendale their ability to act not on their side: the day of battle was unusually clear and hot. 18-ton tin, already heated by two "Lewis" air-cooled glowed in the sun. Reserves of drinking water declined rapidly. At this point, Hill and one of the gunners were wounded by fragments of shrapnel flew into the viewing slot. Their wounds intensified thirst. Captain Richardson decided to try again to move the tank and out of the mud.



In obedience to the commander, "Fray Bentos" wound up, growled, lunged - and unexpectedly sharply tilted further to the right, drove the gun breech lower chest gunner Budd and broke his ribs. From left seven crew - one corpse outside and one inside a hot tin ...





Night
It was almost evening. Suddenly, a shell hit the tank, running from their clearly, the British position! "What kind of tricks?" - Puzzled crew looked at the commander. "I knew that this would happen, guys, - said Richardson. - They see that we have stopped the fire and think that no one was left alive. Now they will try to destroy the tank, so it does not hit the Germans. Mark IV - is the latest weapon of our army. " Twilight brought relief even from the heat. Budd's body was carried into a corner and covered with a cloth. The wounded were bandaged. Seven tankers shared rations - crackers and canned meats are the same, the role of which is now, ironically, and he himself had to perform. "It will soon be dark, - said the sergeant mission. - I think you can try to get out and get to her, to let them know our situation, and at least a cease-fire from the other side. " Captain Richardson endorsed the plan. By nightfall Missen opened the top hatch and slipped into obscurity. He came to his own and became the first member of the crew who survived. By the morning of his fire at the tank has stopped.



Meanwhile, the remaining six were shot all night by the Germans. Shooting helped warm up: the night turned out to be a hell of an iron tank with cold place. Toward morning all was quiet again. Exhausted gunners nod, suddenly swung open the top hatch in the predawn delineated silhouette of a German grenade! Richardson instantly threw up and shot him with a revolver, so that the enemy does not even have time to throw a grenade and rolled it right down. Near the tank there was a dull explosion. Sleep with tank vanished. "Good morning!" - Greeted them with Richardson.



Siege
The day promised to be again clear and hot. Water reserves come to an end. Tankers opened the cooler and began to drink fluids.
However, the ammunition was still enough to fire the gun, and both "Lewis". It turned out that the "Fray Bentos" occupies a key position, one tank could hold back a flank of the enemy! British tank attack drowned in swamps, though infantry and artillery continued to maintain inflexible "Fray Bentos" on the front. Richardson knew that their resistance at this point depends on the success of the campaign. No, they are not going to give up!
It was a fight to the limit of human capabilities. By midday, the air was glowing again. The smell of the six live tank and one of the dead did not contribute to the total concentration, and Richardson decided to take turns to hold the upper hatch in the half-open state - it also gave an overview of the back of the tank. It will be appreciated that the "hold" had reinforced plate x 1 0 6 m! Trew soldier during the execution of the mission of the atlas was a charge of shrapnel in the face.
By evening, five were wounded. But the Germans could not get devilish tin! The day tank repulsed two attacks. At night, managed to contain another.



Exemption
The third morning found tank in the same position. Oblique ray of sunshine through the observation slit last biscuits, a sip of industrial water, shake hands and circle knocks on the teeth. They should have died long ago. Sometimes it seemed that had already died. Still, the main problem was that they had run out of ammo. And it turned out ... the Germans surrendered! Surrendered to the first! On that day, there was no direct attack on the tank, only distant shots! Advanced shifted to another location. "Well, guys, it's time to leave," - said the captain Richardson afternoon.
However, it was only possible to go in the dark, because the battle was still going on nearby. Wait until the night almost complete inaction, in turn, losing sense of healing and dehydration, choking, trying to doze off and wake up in pain ... It was the finish line, and all six were able to pass it to the end. Moreover, having got out of the tank, staggering and crouched to the ground, the crew of a tank and dragged dragged to his two "Lewis", as required by regulations. And just passing them on receipt, Captain Richardson with a sense of accomplishment fainted.
Catch up on sleep and heal combat team "Fray Bentos" received the highest awards of the British Army and became the most titled tank crew in the history of the First World War. And what about the battle of Pashendale? Unfortunately, it ended in failure and the retreat of the allied forces. It was then that the British have lost faith in the power of destructional tanks are simply stuck in the Belgian mud. So the feat of our heroes had value only as an example of senseless courage that makes this world such a curious place.



Source: www.maximonline.ru