Hippo Team

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Hippo Team
Team's Emblem and Mascot
Name	Hippo
Katakana name	カバさんチーム
Romaji name	Kaba-san Chīmu
Nickname	History Buff Team
Letter	C
Tank Commander	Erwin
Tank	StuG III

"That's right!"

―Hippo Team

The Hippo Team (カバさんチーム Kaba-san Chīmu) is one of the teams of Ooarai Girls Academy's Sensha-dō team.

The team consists of four members, and is commanded by Riko Matsumoto, a.k.a. Erwin. They operate a German Sturmgeschütz III assault gun, or StuG III.

Background

Hippo team consists of four second-year reki-jo - female history buffs. They were one of the original five teams on Ooarai's sensha-do team, and operate a StuG III which was found at the bottom of a lake on the school carrier.

In combat, Hippo team is usually deployed offensively, due to its powerful 7.5 cm KwK 40 gun. The team usually goes after key objectives such as enemy flag tanks and heavy tanks as it has the firepower to take them down effectively. Due to the StuG's low profile and easy concealability, Hippo Team is also skilled at ambush tactics, as seen against Pravda, the All-Stars University Team, and Jatkosota High School.

After battling Anzio High School, Hippo Team improved their ambush tactics by adopting Anzio's "Operation Macaroni", using cardboard cutouts to disguise their tank using forced perspective.

As reki-jo, Hippo Team is knowledgeable in history, which includes major conflicts and military tactics from the periods they are passionate about. Tank commander Erwin in particular has much knowledge about tanks and armored combat as her chosen period is World War II Germany.

Battle Records

Practice Match - Ooarai vs. St Gloriana

This was Hippo Team's maiden match, against St. Gloriana Girls' College. Prior to the match, Hippo Team decorated their tank by painting it bright red and yellow, adding Roman emblems on the front, and Japanese war banners.

During the match, Hippo Team scored a kill, ambushing a Matilda II on a narrow road. However, as they were maneuvering into another position, they were taken out as their banners gave away their tank's position from behind the wall they were using for cover.

63rd National Tournament - Round of 16 (Ooarai vs. Saunders)

Prior to the match, Hippo Team repainted their Stug III in German Dunkelgrau, the standard WWII camouflage color for German vehicles and aircraft. They took on Saunders University High School in the first round of the 63rd National High School Sensha-do Tournament.

Against Saunders, Hippo Team scored the first kill for Ooarai, after luring them to an open field with little cover. The StuG III knocked out an M4 Sherman from a concealed position in some foliage, after they were lured there by Ooarai's Duck Team. Ooarai would go on to win the match.

63rd National Tournament - Quarter-Finals (Ooarai vs. Anzio)

Ooarai faced Anzio Girls' High School in the quarter-final. While on its way to reinforce the sector with Anzio's flag tank, Hippo Team was ambushed by a detachment of Semovente da 75/18 self-propelled guns, commanded by Carpaccio, the childhood friend of Hippo Team loader Caesar. The StuG III and Semovente would engage in single combat with a Semovente, with both tanks knocking each other out. Hippo Team was the only casualty in Ooarai's battle against Anzio.

63rd National Tournament - Semi-Finals (Ooarai vs. Pravda)

Ooarai faced Pravda Girls' High School in the semi-final, with the battle taking place in heavy snow. Hippo team added winterketten to their vehicle, increasing the treads' width to improve traction on the thick snow.

While forced into a defensive position against Pravda's overwhelming firepower, Hippo Team was a critical role in Ooarai's breakout and eventual counterattack. While the bulk of Pravda's forces pursued Ooarai's flag tank, Pravda's flag tank was baited into an ambush. The StuG III was buried underneath a pile of snow, allowing the team to take out Pravda's flag tank when it was facing them head-on and came close enough.

63rd National Tournament - Finals (Ooarai vs. Kuromorimine)

During the final round match against Kuromorimine Girls Academy, the Ooarai tanks managed to survive the initial attack by Kuromorimine, and they gathered on top of a hill and exchanged shots with Kuromorimine, later successfully executing a breakthrough. After that, they were lured by a lone Panzer III Ausf.J of Kuromorimine into a trap set by a super heavy Maus tank into the city. The Maus managed to take out Mallard Team and Hippo Team with its fearsome firepower. In the end, however, Ooarai managed to take out Kuromorimine's flag tank commanded by Maho Nishizumi and thus to win both the match and the championship.

Exhibition Match - Ooarai and Chi-Ha-Tan vs. St. Gloriana and Pravda

Hippo Team participated in the defense of the OY-line during the match. In pursuit of Anglerfish Team, the column of Pravda tanks was lured around a blind corner and across an open plaza. Hippo Team, along with the rest of the Ooarai and Chi-Ha-Tan tanks, turned the plaza into a shooting gallery.

Once the OY-line was broken, Hippo Team found themselves in a chase along the beach, disadvantaged due to their vehicle's lack of a rotating turret. To compensate, the team attempt to execute a 180 degree drift to bring the gun to bear. However, the pursuing T-34 still evades their gun arc, outmaneuvers the now-reversing Stug III and takes them out from the side.

The Battle for Ooarai - Ooarai vs. All-Stars University

In the match against the All-Stars University Team, Hippo Team was initially a part of Team Sunflower. They took the high ground at the start of the match, but were unable to even fire a single shot before being forced off the hill by the powerful assault.

Some time afterwards, Hippo Team is seen joining the detachment at the eastern utility gate alongside other Ooarai tanks. They are amongst the tanks that are surrounded in the amphitheater, although they manage to escape alongside everyone else.

Hippo Team then led the efforts of "Operation Macaroni-Zwei", an Anzio-inspired deception that used cut-outs and disguises to conceal their tank against a suitable backdrop and ambush All-Stars University Team tanks at close range. Hippo Team knocks out two Pershing tanks whilst disguised as a vending machine and a brick wall, but on their third attempt, a dubious placement of a burger stand in front of a shop with Chinese markings gives away their position to Azumi, who fires first and takes them out.

Members

"We aren't the history buff's for the sake of fortune and glory"

The Hippo Team consists of four history buffs from Ooarai Girls Academy.

Erwin (Riko Matsumoto)

Main article: Erwin

Tank Commander and radio operator of the team.

Her name comes from Field Marshal Erwin Rommel a.k.a. "The Desert Fox" who was a German tank commander in Africa during World War II. She is usually seen wearing a peaked cap and a full field jacket.

She wanted to paint Hippo Team's StuG III the colors of the Afrika Korps.

Caesar (Takako Suzuki)

Main article: Caesar

The loader of the team, and leader of the "History Girls". Her nickname comes from the Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar.

Saemonza (Kiyomi Sugiyama)

Main article: Saemonza

The gunner of the team. Her nickname is based on Sanada Yukimura.

Oryou (Takeko Nogami)

Main article: Oryou

The driver of the team. Her nickname comes from Narasaki Ryou

Trivia

• Their team was the most powerfully armed tank until the introduction of long 75mm KwK 40 on the PzKpW. IV Ausf. F used by Anglerfish Team right before the match against Pravda.
• The Hippo team was the only tank immobilized during the match with the Anzio High School, defeated by a Semovente da 75/18 tank.
• The Hippo Team use a collective catchphrase: "That's right!"
• The symbol for hippo team is used by Caesar as her online profile image.
• In the hidden talent contest, Hippo Team are the only team unable to display a talent outside of their forte.

Gallery

Main article: /Gallery

The girls from the Hippo Team.

The girls from the Hippo Team.

The girls from the Hippo Team during the Anime Opening Song.

Hippo Team's StuG. III Ausf.F with its flamboyant paint scheme.

Hippo Team's StuG. III Ausf.F with its second paint scheme.

Hippo Team's StuG. III Ausf.F with its winter paint scheme and with winterketten track links.

Hippo team after seeing a ghost (Nekota)

Hippo Team Data

Ooarai Girls' Academy teams ☰
Schools in The Anime Series	Anglerfish Team ♦ Duck Team ♦ Hippo Team ♦ Rabbit Team ♦ Turtle Team ♦ Mallard Team ♦ Anteater Team ♦ Leopon Team ♦ Shark Team
Tanks	Panzer IV ♦ Type 89B ♦ StuG III ♦ M3 Lee ♦ Panzer 38(t)/Hetzer ♦ Char B1 bis ♦ Type 3 Chi-Nu ♦ Tiger (P) ♦ Mark IV