Checkpoint Apocalyptic?

[Advernt]

What if , on the 27th or 28th of October 1961 , one of the gunners in American or Soviet Tanks Facing off each other at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin during the Checkpoint Charlie Incident http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkpoint_Charlie#Tank_stand-off accidentally fired his Tank Barrel during the standoff? What will be the worst possible fallout in such an acident? What would have been the most likely outcome?

The Tanks involved were loaded and instructed to return fire if fired upon . A tank battle would have likely ensured , but what happens next?

 

[Advernt]

So what do you think will happen?

 

[lordofalbion]

Ouch, very ouch

If one of the tanks fired then you would get a full on tank battle after that it depends on who comes out on top. If the Americans won then they may just take the victory and try toget the soviets to stand down, after all, how much supoort can they airlift into Berlin? However if the soviets win then they might go for the rest of Berlin and bring up more units in which case you would have full war in germany and then either britain or france may be forced to used nuclear weapons to defend themselves and then it could get really nasty.

 

[Riain]

The small forcs involved might burn themsleves out before it can escalate. The 'battle might be over in an hour and by the time the news goes up the chains of command to the national leaders the situation might have fizzled out. The decision of K & K would be to use extra forces to continue the fighting because the forces in Berlin would be used up. Would they make such a decision?