Firestorm: Red Thunder

To: 3rd Combined Arms Army HQ
From: Colonel Sokolov, 63rd Guards Tank Regiment

My forces have pushed into Netherlands and are advancing toward Amsterdam. We are continuing to suffer spoiling attacks from the remaining Bundeswehr elements. My advanced guard under Major Golubov made contact with stubborn resistance at a highway intersection outside of Hoogersmilde.

Major Golubov personally lead the advance with his first tank company. The Motor Rifles and Artillery Battery were trailing close to him, with the remaining forces following.

Initial reports indicate a German Major lead the attack, directing forces from a concealed Leopard 2. His primary blocking force appears to have been infantry, with armored forces following on.

Bundeswehr M113 mounted forces deployed in hastily prepared positions to cover two strategic locations on the intersection. A third Marder mounted squad deployed in a building covering the intersection. The enemy also deployed track mounted mortars and dispersed their transports to help cover the objectives. An enemy OP was sitting just inside the tree line to direct the mortar fire.

Major Golubov deployed for a heavy attack on the left, using the BMP-2s to screen the tanks flanks. His dismounted infantry setup on the main road to protect the line of communication with the regiment. Artillery deployed behind the wood line on the right flank. Our observation post went hull down behind the central hill to direct fire.

Major Golubov's 2nd tank company rapidly joined the battle and together with the first company made an advance on the enemy position on the left. Artillery suppressed the enemy infantry but killed none. Likewise fire from the lead tank company and BMPs did nothing to but force the enemy's head down.

The Germans fired artillery on our infantry, killing on stand and forcing the rest to the ground. On the left they attempted to move the M113s to launch a limited attack, but the soft ground left all three stuck in the woods. The German right flank saw a hail of Milans at our advancing forces, taking out one tank and bailing a BMP-2.

Golubov continued his attack on the left. The artillery killed one group of German infantry and the tank crews took out a Milan team and another group of infantry. The BMP-2s advanced into position and engaged the Marders, killing one and force the other two to bail out.

The Germans advanced their transports forwards on the left to try and draw out the dug in Motor Rifles, but failed to do anything to them. On the right the German artillery ranged in and dropped smoke to conceal their troops.

The left flank continued its attacks, but failed to kill any enemy infantry. A BMP-1 recon platoon from Division arrived and advanced up the middle to attack the enemy M113s, but again failed to kill anything. Artillery fire shifted to the right flank and pinned the Germans on the hill.

The Germans poured Milan fire into the BMP-2s and T-64s, but only managed to kill one BMP-2 along with bailing a T-64 and BMP-2. The Mortars moved out of cover to try and stall our advance. Their last Marder had fled the battle earlier after repeated fire.

The T-64s pushed hard on the left, knocking out some infantry and enemy transports. Forcing the enemy to move more mortars up to slow our advance. In the middle the BMP-2 moved up and assisted in laying down fire. The BMP-1s destroyed an M113. The last of the Major's forces arrived, a Shilka platoon and his own BRDM recon unit. Both dashed, the Shilkas to the middle to help clear out infantry and the BRDMs along the edge, staying hidden.

German reinforcements began to arrive, apparently the remainder of a panzerkompanie. One arrived on the German left, ignoring the BRDMs to attack the BMPs. The second arrived from the middle and advanced to attack the T-64s, destroying several.

The arrival of the enemy Leopards saw a shift in the battle, but Golubov ordered the attack be pressed. Most of his tanks were safe from the enemy tanks on the far right. His T-64s managed to take out a Leopard and one was forced to shoot at an enemy mortar. The Shilka platoon advanced and fired a barrage into the enemy Milans in the building, they did not survive the hail of bullets. The BRDMs on the right continued to advance, staying out of sight.

The German recon and AA arrived to add their fire. The Leopards on the left advanced and put fire on the BMPs, combined with the Gepards this would see most of the BMP-2s and half the -1s gone. The Luchs Spah moved to try and aide their comrades.

With the enemy armor and AA moving to the left flank, the BRDMs made a play for a overwhelming the enemy infantry and taking the OBJ. Their fire killed some infantry and pinned the survivors. In the middle our Shilkas sprayed bullets into the surviving German troops, but they survived. On the left the tanks managed to spook the remaining Leopard crew and wiped out the enemy recon.

The final German forces moved in to check the BRDMs flanking attempt. They managed to panic two crews but the vehicles remained in operation. The enemy AA dealt with their counterparts and the lone surviving Shilka crew abandoned the field. The enemy Leopard on the right judged the fire too intense and remained outside of their vehicle. The remaining two Leopards advanced down the road and managed to destroy one T-64.

The remaining T-64s tried to finish of the bailed out tank and put fire on the Leopards moving up, to no effect. On the right the flanking maneuver seemed to regain momentum as the enemy remained pinned and the Luchs Spah were wiped out.

The German forces managed to destroy another tank. Their infantry began a sprint toward the OBJ on the hill. On the left flank the German M113s managed to kill 2 BRDMs. The bailed out Leopard remained bailed out.

The Soviet OP and Major Golubov dashed to secure our OBJ. The remaining T-64s were unable to destroy the remaining enemy tanks. The BRDMs return fire destroyed an M113

The German forces managed to destroy the BMP OP and the remaining BRDMs, along with the remaining T-64s on the hill. Their infantry assaulted Golubov's tank and were summarily machinegunned and run over for their trouble.

At this point I ordered Major Golubov to retreat back to the main force. Divisional recon and a detached battalion from my regiment had secured a new corridor to the north. Costing us valuable time but allowing a bypass of massing German forces. The German forces likewise began a withdrawal, likely to a new defensive line further west.

That was the longest game of TY I have had. And it was a nail biter for both sides. Up until T4 it was looking to be a Soviet victory. Even up till T5 the Soviets were still the dominate force. But the tail of T5 and T6 suddenly changed the dynamics. I still had a mostly untouched Infantry force and his armor would have to move to take the OBJ, but by that point it was late into the night. Given my opponent's dominate position I offered the win, but ultimately he decided to call it a draw feeling that grinding through a mass of infantry would ultimately have taken too long. Especially if they managed to pounce on the Gepards who would have been the ones putting pressure on the OBJ.

Overall we both had fun, forgot to take pictures after T7 (or they were terribly blurry and not worth posting), and had a few good laughs.

My opponent learned the lesson I have always know this battle: bog checks are the real enemy.

The last thing I leave you with is the surprise both myself and my opponent had when we realized what BRDMs carried in that little turret.

Those poor Luchs had no idea what was about to hit them....