The Abrams Tank is reputed to be the world's premier tank, but it isn't without its vulnerabilities; its turret sides and rear, as well as the engine compartment/engine air intake at the back, are prone to damage, and its top is also quite fragile.
The armed insurgents in Mosul have obviously studied the weaknesses of this American tank, targeting its critical areas.
Moreover, this particular Abrams Tank had its depleted armor removed, making it absolutely inferior to the fully equipped version used by the US Army.
Even before the rocket had hit the tank, the heavy machine gunner in the Humvee behind it had already swiveled his gun around, ready to sweep the rooftop insurgent with fire and send him to his maker.
Unexpectedly, just as the gun was turned and before he could fire, the hidden sniper took another shot.
A 7.62 caliber sniper bullet passed through the gap in the machine gun's shield and struck the machine gunner right in the throat.
He didn't even have a chance to scream before he went limp and slid into the Humvee.
At the same time, the rocket finally arrived, hitting the Abrams Tank on the roof and the engine's air intake on the right side, respectively.
Boom—
Boom—
Sparks flew as two balls of fire erupted in the black smoke.
Thick smoke began rising from the top of the Abrams Tank...
The crew inside panicked, first attempting to reverse.
But as they did, they heavily collided with the Humvee behind them.
The people inside the Humvee hadn't even had time to react before they were jolted dizzy and disoriented.
The RPG rocket that came from the rooftop had pierced the top armor, igniting a fire inside.
The thick smoke quickly filled the entire cab.
The driver, who had initially intended to drive away, was now even more terrified by the collision with the Humvee, leading the whole crew to make an absurd decision in their panic—to abandon the tank and run!
After a violent collision that caused the Humvee to stall, the driver tried to restart it twice without success...
They began to abandon their vehicle as well.
From a distance, Song Heping sighed and said as he watched the flustered Illigo Army soldiers ditch their vehicles, "This is a complete disaster."
He instinctively looked toward the building where Seal Team was stationed.
No shots rang out from there.
This meant that even they couldn't spot the sniper.
Ping—
The Grim Reaper's gunshot echoed again.
Ping—
Another two Illigo Army soldiers fell.
The rest stumbled and ran into the corner of a nearby building, shaking and too terrified to even move.
The cook pointed to where Seal Team was located and complained, "Why the hell haven't those blockheads fired yet? Why haven't they taken out the RPG guys?"
Song Heping wanted to explain that Seal Team simply couldn't see the sniper from their current position.
Their building was five hundred meters away from the small square.
And the sniper from Sword Camp was at least one thousand meters from the square.
Add the two distances together, and it was over one thousand five hundred meters.
Besides, there were many buildings in between.
Unless the members of Seal Team advance immediately and take over the warehouse recently used by the armed militants to attack the convoy at the city entrance.
That three-story warehouse had tall ceilings on each level, so the rooftop was at least 9 meters above the ground.
From up there, observers with high-powered scopes might be able to spot the enemy's positions.
But from here?
Finding them would be an oddity!
As expected, Seal Team on the rooftop seemed to realize they were in the wrong position; they'd already started to pick up their weapons, preparing to move.
But unsurprisingly, there was an unexpected turn.
The tanks and Humvees from Sword Camp, positioned on the road outside the city, began to wildly strafe the two buildings from which RPG gunners appeared earlier. Just then, several more armed militants emerged from the previously quiet warehouse, launching various attacks on the Abrams Tank and Humvees headed to the square for relief.
Several RPG rockets were fired; one struck a moving Sword Camp Humvee, turning it into a fiery ball.
The soldiers inside screamed as they pushed the door open and jumped out, rolling on the ground trying to snuff out the flames on their bodies; the scene instantly turned chaotic.
"Calling Peregrine! Calling Peregrine! Warrior Camp is under attack at the entrance of Mosul's fifth sector, requesting aerial surveillance and support!"
Lieutenant Colonel Mandres did not react.
He could not risk his troops.
And this was not the US Army's combat style.
Since there was resistance entering the city, call for air support!