Firestorm: Red Thunder

This was my first time running the Nationale Volksarmee, so I thought I would deviate from my usual "Sokolov writes an AAR for his superiors" format.

Battle was fought at 50 points using the Quick Mission: Bypass (Page 5 Quick Missions PDF)

I was the attacker

Major Ingolf Rühl took a moment to study his bataillon, or more accurate its remains. 9 Panzer had been part of the Soviet spear tip into the north German plains, a relentless drive westward that seemed to move at break neck speeds. Rühl's men had been in engagement after engagement and a great many machines and comrades were strewn on the path back eastward.

"Mount up."

Hauptmann Leitgeb dismounted his men and directed them into the woods. He paused to watch the BRDMs drive off toward the right edge of the town. With a few barked orders his men surged forward and setup their weapons.

"FEUER FREI!" The air was filled with the sounds of gunfire.

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BRDMs dash on the NVA left flank, hoping to pounced on the West German mortars.

Tanks advance into cover in the center and along the side.

BMPs move forward

Infantry use Blitz to move into LOS.

Shooting sees two West German units pinned, but no kills

Hauptmann Leitgeb ducked as the West German forces shook off their initial terror and began to return fire. He stiffened as he heard the first whistling sound of mortars falling among his men.

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West German CO's Marder blitzs and kills both BRDMs

West German CO calls down a Mortar strike on East German infantry....killing 3 stands

West German Milans force 1 tank and 2 BMPs to bail

Hauptmann Leitgeb rallied his men and ordered a more generalized advance. He had been stupid, enemy artillery nearby....he should have ordered his men into the fray right at the start. Bullets streamed into the enemy positions.

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East German infantry advance, firing for no effect....I believe I forgot to assault that turn.

East German tanks continue forward, trying to keep the Milans' LOS limited

BMPs advance and pour fire into the West German Marders, killing one and bailing the other.

Again the mortars came falling, claiming Leitgeb and most of his remaining men. It was turning into a dark day for the People's Army.

Major Rühl cursed and pressed forward, hoping to dash in behind the Bundeswehr troops and hit them from behind. Reports were coming in that some of his armor was know dying to concentrated missile fire.

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West German mortars shift their aiming point and again kill several stands of infantry and two BMPs

West German Milans manage to kill a tank and bail another.

West German panzerfausts kill bail out two more BMPs

Major Rühl pushed his tanks hard, coming into sight of the enemy artillery. A predatory grin formed as he said, "Feuer." And the grin turned into a snarl as he watch his tank round wiz past the mortar. Like wise the shot from Hauptmann Steinhauer's tank missed its mark.

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East German tanks on the right advance to flank the mortars, using their stabilizers.

East German armor in the middle continues forward. BMP machine guns pin the central West German squad and kill their formation commander. The tanks bail a Luchs.

Hauptmann Kass felt his palms get sweaty....what was wrong their ammunition today? He was sure he landed shells in the enemy positions but they never seemed to explode or failed to cause lasting damage. His thoughts were cut short as a stream of fire from the flank tore open his tank.

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West German Gepards hiding on the left advance out of cover and kill two tanks, the third fails morale and retreats.

West German Milans destroy and bail a tank on the right.

West German Marders and Panzerfausts bail 3 BMPs and destroy a fourth.

Mortars strike and kill a PKM team

Major Rühl pounded his controls as a round went clean through the mortar in front of him, the flare of unspent rounds going off to his left small comfort. His central attack had all but collapsed, and his men had just now cleared the foremost building in the town. To make matters worse a Luftwaffe attack run had swept in and managed to do further damage to his remaining tanks.

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East Germans manage to pour fire into and kill the last stand in the building nearest the BMPs. One mortar is killed and another bailed.

West Germans kill a ZSU, a T-72M. and the rest of the BMPs with Milan fire and a Tornado strike.

Major Rühl was screaming obscenities now, his calm demeanor shattered by the sheer frustration as another round sailed clean through a mortar track. He received word that his remaining infantry were moving to occupy a building and spray grenades onto the Germans.

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East Germans in the rear manage to kill a mortar and bail another.

The remaining forces on the right kill off some stands of infantry and hunker down.

"Sir! The rest of the force has abandoned the field! We are pulling out!" Rühl grimaced as he heard the words come in over the radio. "One last push men!"

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West German fire manages to kill all but one infantry stand along with taking out two tanks, the third fails morale.

Major Ingolf Rühl leaned back from his sights and turned to glare at his gunner, he was preparing to unleash his fury when he saw the young man trembling. Men and machines both had breaking points, he had been stupid to not see his men had long since past that point.

"All units fire smoke canisters and pull back toward our lines." The Stasi could shoot him for cowardice for all he cared.

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East German player rolls 1,1,2 for shooting the mortars. Concedes.

Well not exactly a stellar showing for my first outing as the East Germans. My opponent has started to play more heavily on the infantry and they were amazing in this situation and terrain.

In hindsight I should have pushed into the enemy early with my own infantry to limit their mortars effect. A blitz then move would have gotten most of men in position to charge next turn and put them right next to the West Germans.

Having said that...the NVA brought paint rounds to this fight, there were a demoralizing number of times when my T-72Ms hit and failed a firepower check.

West German infantry are becoming something of a problem, I am going to need to plan better to get around them.