Firestorm: Red Thunder

My dearest Алёна the past few days have been such a blur. First the mobilization of my unit and then the moving to the border to content with the capitalist aggressions. I am still in shock at the Americans for starting a shooting war. Three days ago my unit counter attacked the Americans near Fulda. I hope I never see such horrors again. I have lost so many vehicles and men. I am below 60% strength and am awaiting orders now to pull back for rest and refit. Ah here comes Private Алексей now with the good news. I shall see you soon, please tell the boys I miss them.
All my love
Ростислав

“Sir, headquarters has also sent reinforcements”
Excellent, the T64s and Infantry I requested?
“No Sir, Spandrels, BRDMS, some Carnations and a couple Shilkas”
What about air support
“None Sir”
I crossed the frontier with 51 BMPs, 10 T-64s and a full complement of Division Support.
To take on this next engagement I have
15 BMPs (HQ, CO of 4, and two of 5 w/AGS-17)
2 BRDM-2 Recce
6 Carnations
1 OP
2 ZSU 23-4
2 ZSU 23-4
2 Spandrels
2 Storms

OK, let’s look at the maps and get the Intel Officer in here.
What are we up against?
“Sir, we expect a small Infantry Team and some At assets near the OBJ”
No Armor, or Air?
“No Sir, the zone is only lightly defended, majority of the US Forces are further north near the Airport”
Ok, get the men ready, we depart immediately.

We were able to cross the river without issue. But within moments the network comes to life. The Recce troop reports West German units to the north.
They also have eyes on the supply dump.
I quickly deploy two of the BMPs on either side of the woods. I order first team to place their dismounts into the woods and move to the left, while team two deploys to the right, followed by team three.

The West Germans moved up on our right flank. Dismounts and their Marders are attempting to out flank us and cut off our support, while their Luchs and Gepards make a rush through the village.

I am still trying to get a handle on what we are up against and deploy my units when shots ring out from our right side.
The Luchs opened up bailed one of my Storms.
Jaguars in the far woodline engage my 2nd BMP unit and knock out the two lead vehicles, blocking the route between the woods and the village
The Gepards engage my AA and destroy two Shilkas
Finally a Milan takes out another Storm.
The battle hasn't even started and I am down two Platoons

I order all of my units to execute Blitz moves. I must be having commo issues, they all ignored me. I have 1st team deploy their infantry into the woods and then rush forward the dismounts and BMPs into range of the supply dump. They set their demo charges, if we can hold of the Germans we should be able to destroy everything.
2nd team moves their BMPs into the wheat fields to engage the Gepards, while the dismounts advance on the OBJ.
The third team follows the first around the woods.

I order all forces to engage the Gapards.
My Spandrels engage and destroy one.
The 2nd teams BMPs bail one
The 2nd teams RPGs bail a second
The 2nd teams AGL engages the infantry in the town and manages to pin them in place.
The Carnations apparently didnt receive my order.

The remaining Gepard keeps their resolve and stays in the fight.
One of the Gepard crews climbs back on and rejoins the fight. I am expecting a large volume of fire into my flank.
The Germans continue to flank to my right.
The marders advance on the Carnation Battery.
Suddenly a flight of Tornados appears on the horizon. "No sir, no planes". I 'eliminate' my intel officer.

Jaguars engage the Team 2 BMPs in the wheat field and miss, and one of the BRDM Recce vehicles and bail it out.
The Luchs engage the Team 2 BMPs and eliminate one of them.
Gapards kill the ramaining Team 2 BMPs
The Marders eliminate 1 Carnation and bail 3.
His Milans in the woods near the supply dump destroy two BMPs in my lead eliment
On to the Air

As the Tornados approach I hear the Shilkas to my rear burb and 3 of the planes catch fire and crash into the ground.

The bombs land and bail out a BMP from Team 1, destroy 2 BMPs and bail a 3rd from Team 3, and pinned both of the Infantry Teams in the woods.

I begin the turn with 2 Infantry units still on the Objective.
I am able to Rally the Scouts and remount most of the bailed Carnations.
My Infantry teams rally

The battle ends 5/2 Warsaw Pact

I may yet live to see my family