Firestorm: Red Thunder

Ura, Tovarischi!

Happy to report here and be a part of successful strike to the West!

First game we’ve played was run by standard campaign rules, so we rolled for a mission considering USSR being an attacker. Our mission was Dust Up with US side decided to use counterattack strategy with 60 points each side.

My force is air-strike force considering limit of miniatures and amount of points available. So main striking force is 6 Hinds + 2 Su-25 as weapon of last hope. The rest of force is rather shield to hold the enemy and create some troubles with artillery. 3 T-72 are kind of light cavalry choice to be overrun weak flank if one happens to be there.

Soviet forces deployed all infantry units on objectives, keeping BMPs joined with Observer on flanks, ready to run forward and surround the enemy. 3rd unit of choice was Hinds to start hitting hard from the sky.
Americans left all the infantry as well and full unit of VADS in the very available middle.

I’ve moved my BMPs forward on both flanks to get even closer to board edges to threaten light armoured vehicles. US moved forward to counter soviet maneuver. Shooting phases gave nothing to both sides - I was not able to harm anything, though got some bailes on my BMPs.

Main actors of second turn was Hinds unit. They striked the VADS on they turn, having 1 heli down, killing 2 Vulcans. Response was bad. It was extremely bad. It was a game changer. 2 Vulcans left on table shot down on own turn 4 more Hinds, leaving only 1 flying! It was total dis-luck on my saves and huge success on 5+ FP rolls for Roman.

During following turns american forces moved from defencive stance in more attacking moving infantry on forward lines, leaving objective behind and shooting at BMPs with all Dragons and LAWs. BMPs were shooting back, but shaking hands of gunners were missing again and again.
At same time my lonely Hind were flying around the field trying to kill anyone but without success.

Eventually I’ve lost whole Mechanized unit with BMP-1, my BMP-2 and BMP-1 observer. Soviets managed to shorten one of mech platoons to just 2 teams (LAW and Dragon), kill some M113 and destroy 3rd Vulcan though unit stayed on the table.

On 5th turn I’ve managed to bring one reserve - it was T-72. On Dash speed they went forward to get as close to the objectives left without protection.
US forces mirrored this action though instead of 3 T-72 they had 4 M1 Abrams! And they were advancing on tactical speed, trying to kill as many infantry stands as possible.

With such moves mission outcome was about tanks to survive and capture the enemy objective.
On soviet flank only miracle could save the game - 4 Abrams tanks were advancing on one small platoon of motorized infantry without any support of heavy AT.
Battle seems to be over, but Soviet forces never give up! Never surrender!

And miracle happened. Name of it was Su-25. I managed to bring them from reserve, call them on board with 4+ roll, target the abramses and hit them twice, passing FP tests!!! 2 tanks were down on first flight - it was success I didn’t believe into. But cherry on the top was lonely Hind - it managed to survive, attack 2 Abramses, survive under AA fire, hit the M1 and bail it! 4+ morale failed and threat was eliminated.

On T-72 flank story was different. Tanks occupied enemy objective on their second turn, shooting at approaching infantry, M113 and last Vulcano. All vehicles surrounded T-72, making first mistake - this surrounding helped T-72 to escape rocket strike that was coming from Cobras, flying around. On next turn T-72 together with last Hind managed to push infantry unit to bad spirits and bail the last Vulcan. All of the failed the morale check leaving objective under total control of T-72.
On next turn T-72 were shot be Cobras but with no hits. On soviet flank approaching leftovers of american formation lead by ITVs hiding behind the tree lines, were approaching their objectives, but were not close enough.

T-72 controlled the objectives. Su-25s with single effective strike changed the flow of the game second time in Soviet favor. Next echelon flood the roads aggressively pushing forward, capturing Munchen.

Mission accomplished.
Looking forward for next game!