KTA - MG Live Fire Incident

T-34-76 No.27 "Taiga" watches the KSLS Panther burn.

The Tankery Live League incident is an event in the MGCS history that will never be forgotten. This is an important event as it was very recent, affecting those who still attend the school even years after it happened. This incident created the national concern for hardball tankery, and what illegal rings still continue, hidden from the law establishments. It is regarded as a symbol to overthrow corruption, and considered a day of remembrance aboard the carrier.

On April 24th, every year, a new tradition is held, where tankery students will ride 3 tanks through the streets of the school in remembrance of the 9 students that died that day. T-34-76 "Taiga" leads the parade, followed by another T-34-76, and a T-34-85.

Result of incident:

* Expulsion, trial, and jailing of Moscow Guards Artillery School Tankery Commander, [expunged]
* Full shutdown of KSLS’ Tankery team
* Laws regarding Soviet Tankery changed
* Presidential pardon to crew of T-34-76 “Taiga”

## Incident Log

### Background

Up until 1999, Hardball Tankery, as they call it in Japan, was legal in Russia as a form of duel. It only stayed legal due to the fact that the competition was high price, high stakes, so people such as politicians, oligarchs, billionaires, and others would bet on such events. These sorts of competitions were often swept under the legal rug, with participants unaware of their fates while signing on to compete.

Participants would often bet their lives in order to participate in such battles, to win huge prizes, such as money, houses, cars, etc. Due to a legal loophole in the Russian Law at the time that didn’t accurately specify what sorts of shells were restricted, Hardball Tankery was able to keep running in the underground. Word of mouth was often the reason people would find the Tankery Live league.

Russian Solos used to have a rival league known as the “Tankery Live.” TL was considered a dangerous league to enter, as most would only compete once, before facing death.

In 1995, MGCS had some ambitious students who had decided to join in on this dangerous league in order to gain money to keep up assets for the school’s tankery team. They advertised this special form of tankery, without telling the members what the stakes were. 15 students initially signed up, but only 13 showed themselves at the meetings. The head of the MGCS tankery team at the time decided to field 2 T-34-76s, and 1 T-34-85 to a hardball match, without the consent of the students.

T-34-76 “Taiga” and T-34-76 “Wheat Field” were considered to be part of the lower ranking teams. Lots of money was bet on teams against them.

### First Deaths

T-34-85 “Brown Bear” was lost in the first match, the crew suffering a horrible death as shrapnel exploded within the tank, the heat from the explosion slowly cooking off the team. It was at this point that the crews of the T-34-76s started to catch onto the scheme. Up next was T-34-76 “Taiga” against the winning tank, a German Panzer V Panther, Ausführung D, owned by opposing school “Kazan Student Land School,” known for their harsh training and fast reflexes.

T-34-76 “Wheat Field” was ultimately destroyed, it’s crew suffering the same fate as the T-34-85.

The match went on as the crew of T-34-76 “Taiga” started to feel anxious about their moves. They didn’t want to die, none of them signed up for it. One of the members brought up the faulty contract with the League Owner, but not in time for them to pull out.

### T-34-76 "Taiga"

T-34-76 “Taiga” found its way onto the field, and set up accordingly. When the time came, the driver did a feint and attempted to flank the Panther as it reloaded. Successfully doing so, they jammed a shell in the side of the tank, causing it to detonate inside of the Panther and kill the gun crew. The radio operator and driver surrendered with minor to moderate injuries sustained.

As with winning against the leader, they had a choice to keep competing or to be granted a wish. The team wished for the league to shut down.

Accompanied by the MGCS softball tankery team, they called for the shutdown of the Tankery Live. In 4 weeks, the league had received so much backlash, they shut it down.

### Result under Law

The President of Russia only gained knowledge of this incident in 1999. Under Decree N.259, fitting in the “Sports and Recreation” category, live shells, in teams, duels, solos, and/or any competition are now outlawed in all oblasts and republics under the Russian Federation.

All crew members of the T-34-76 were pardoned, as their act in the battle was considered in self defence. The students from the Panther that surrendered were jailed for multiple counts of 2nd degree murder. Everyone else that competed and lost their lives had their families and friends compensation via the Tankery Live League.

The leader of the Moscow Guards Artillery School's Tankery Team was demoted, trialed, and expelled for using contracts signed by minors as evidence to allow competition. He was then further jailed for life for corruption, mismanagement of state resources, failure to report illegal activity, and 9 counts of 1st degree murder. Any politicians and/or corporate sponsors of the event that were found were also tried and jailed for life. Shortly after being sentenced, a few of them had seemed to have gone missing. A separate investigation is happening till now.

Kazan Student Land School had it’s tankery instructor fired, tried, and jailed as well. KSLS was barred from ever joining a tankery competition again.

“Taiga” has since been modified to shoot dummy shells, used for softball tankery matches.

A song that is often played in procession when remembering the fallen students: https://youtu.be/mX36Q8Yzao8

### Imagery

In the gallery are a few images of the skirmish between “Taiga” and the KSLS Panther tank. This is imagery from an aerial drone that was recording the match.

Initial Firing of the Panther, first sign of aggression“Taiga” attempting to close the distance as the KSLS Panther moves forward.Second Firing of the Panther, after closing the distance between itself and “Taiga”First Shot by “Taiga” in retaliation, resulting in a ricochet off the turret cheek.Third Firing of the KSLS Panther, resulting in a ricochet off the side of the T-34.T-34-76 “Taiga” taking out the Panther crew in the turret.
## Crew

The crew members are the following. Some members have chosen to omit their last names.

* Commander Leonid Kravtsov
* Gunner Gavril [EXPUNGED]
* Loader Vadim [EXPUNGED]
* Radio Operator Vasily Chernov