Post by KyferLegs (Diria) on Oct 5, 2023 21:32:47 GMT -5
Dirian tank development had been in limbo since the late 1920s. Initiatives failed with the expenses of historical designs and experiments skyrocketing and no local designs meeting the Army's requirements. The few comparable vehicles to early Veraki designs were still too late to change the minds of Diria's military leaders and economists, such as the two-built models of the L8/24. Thus, tanks lost the Dirian government's willingness to pay for development, and the corporate backing of the industry slowly converted their factories until all were eventually comparable to dedicated motorized manufacturers. Ultimately, the most available tanks were not tanks but armored cars or wheeled vehicles. Cause of this, the pre-existing tracked fleet began dwindling, with many cannibalized for other newer tanks or their guns and armor stripped for use on armored cars. Diria's remaining tank fleet soon became dominated by the small and cheap L5/23-V, with the rare land ships inoperable or propaganda pieces, with anything else too expensive or unpractical to justify. The decently armored tankette was straightforward, so the Army cast aside older or incomplete designs to focus on other initiatives and projects, believing this to be enough. However, at the start of the war, Verak hand dealt a menace the Dirians weren't anticipating. The Veraki tankettes could be dealt with typically, even the light tanks. However, the dilemma of the situation quickly arose with the introduction of more heavily armored Veraki tanks. The Dirians, meanwhile, with the highest caliber tank gun, a 37mm fielded on an armored car, and all vehicles having no armor above 50mm, Dirian armored vehicles in direct engagements proved uncomparable against heavy tanks like the Veraki Eroe. Yet, this time, and convenient for the concept of tanks, there wasn't a financial cap to stop development. It was better to go into debt than perish. Quickly, corporations and enterprises received the nudge through patriotic obligation or loans and stimulation, and tank design once again commenced. However, this hopeful solution soon became daunting due to the need for operating tank-producing facilities and the time needed to develop modern designs comparable to SU tanks. It was too early to tell the exact specifications of the SU's and Verak's tanks. Still, the solutions needed were evident, and the records and reports of the Veraki vehicles seen or destroyed showcased Dirian gun calibers and armor were incomparable to the ones the SU fielded.
However, for the infantry, it was worse. Dedicated AT weapons were ineffective against medium tanks and above. Allied Vehicles were too expensive to risk and had to retreat or reposition when fronts became too dangerous. Only the handful of older artillery cannons converted to AT use could engage most Veraki tanks effectively. However, most had shown their age, and a few newer models still needed to be produced in large numbers. Alas, Diria realized its situation regarding small arms and support weaponry. Thus, a few stop-gaps were required, and in this, many improvised weapons or tactics created and idealized by troops were given the official stamp of permission by the Dirian Army, such as the Cardona Cocktail, Sopagranata Bundle, and Mine Throwing, despite the usage and employment of tactics and resources like this weren't fully proven by statistics, besides some in the previous pre-war Dirian training exercises, the word alone reassured that the cheap improved weapons had plausible effectiveness. Some, like the Cardona Cocktail, were used in previous conflicts, mainly under the pretext of a fire bomb, which had shown itself as an ingenious means of offense and defense. Thus, the Dirian Army overlooked previous regulations and guidance to allow Squads of soldiers to improvise with these new methods. These tactics' subsequent successes and failures were also to be documented to higher echelons from the accounts of rank-and-file soldiers or non-commissioned officers for additional consideration.
However, despite the war being in its early stages and tank encounters being studied, the Dirian Army investigated a prominent flaw in the previously mentioned stop-gap methods. The weapons and improvisations counted on infantry being able to approach Veraki tanks, which had proven themselves hard to get to without coordination or strategy. Like any other, the tanks Verak fielded seemed vulnerable alone, but with infantry cover, the Verakis confirmed they could be formidable. In this case, the Dirian Army sought to develop a strategy and training procedure to counter and neutralize the guarding or screening infantry and then open approaches to attack a vehicle or tank. However, further observation is needed, and the flat grassy plains require scrutinization due to how the geography on the front exposes friends and foes. Thus, at the moment, the most basic ideas pushed were ambush-related, hide if feasible, or preoccupy the aggressor. At the same time, a small Squad, divided in half, the first being the Security Team, could employ weapons of offense or defense. The Squad's second half, the Demolition Team, equipped with improvised or dedicated anti-tank weapons, would engage a tank or vehicle at its weakest flank when the main Dirian force or Security Team had neutralized screening infantry or preoccupied the aggressor into another engagement. This strategy's main goal was not to destroy a tank or vehicle but to neutralize its ability to engage and achieve its objective against friendlies. However, current drafts remain dependent on Squad training and the soldiers themselves being able to adjust to the occasion and circumstances requirements.
However, for the infantry, it was worse. Dedicated AT weapons were ineffective against medium tanks and above. Allied Vehicles were too expensive to risk and had to retreat or reposition when fronts became too dangerous. Only the handful of older artillery cannons converted to AT use could engage most Veraki tanks effectively. However, most had shown their age, and a few newer models still needed to be produced in large numbers. Alas, Diria realized its situation regarding small arms and support weaponry. Thus, a few stop-gaps were required, and in this, many improvised weapons or tactics created and idealized by troops were given the official stamp of permission by the Dirian Army, such as the Cardona Cocktail, Sopagranata Bundle, and Mine Throwing, despite the usage and employment of tactics and resources like this weren't fully proven by statistics, besides some in the previous pre-war Dirian training exercises, the word alone reassured that the cheap improved weapons had plausible effectiveness. Some, like the Cardona Cocktail, were used in previous conflicts, mainly under the pretext of a fire bomb, which had shown itself as an ingenious means of offense and defense. Thus, the Dirian Army overlooked previous regulations and guidance to allow Squads of soldiers to improvise with these new methods. These tactics' subsequent successes and failures were also to be documented to higher echelons from the accounts of rank-and-file soldiers or non-commissioned officers for additional consideration.
However, despite the war being in its early stages and tank encounters being studied, the Dirian Army investigated a prominent flaw in the previously mentioned stop-gap methods. The weapons and improvisations counted on infantry being able to approach Veraki tanks, which had proven themselves hard to get to without coordination or strategy. Like any other, the tanks Verak fielded seemed vulnerable alone, but with infantry cover, the Verakis confirmed they could be formidable. In this case, the Dirian Army sought to develop a strategy and training procedure to counter and neutralize the guarding or screening infantry and then open approaches to attack a vehicle or tank. However, further observation is needed, and the flat grassy plains require scrutinization due to how the geography on the front exposes friends and foes. Thus, at the moment, the most basic ideas pushed were ambush-related, hide if feasible, or preoccupy the aggressor. At the same time, a small Squad, divided in half, the first being the Security Team, could employ weapons of offense or defense. The Squad's second half, the Demolition Team, equipped with improvised or dedicated anti-tank weapons, would engage a tank or vehicle at its weakest flank when the main Dirian force or Security Team had neutralized screening infantry or preoccupied the aggressor into another engagement. This strategy's main goal was not to destroy a tank or vehicle but to neutralize its ability to engage and achieve its objective against friendlies. However, current drafts remain dependent on Squad training and the soldiers themselves being able to adjust to the occasion and circumstances requirements.
