Firestorm: Red Thunder

***
As promised, Commander Baron of the Northern Volksarmée Division had sent a large force of tanks from the reserves up north to help engage and neutralize the West German tanks poised to strike against Czechoslovakia in the coming days. However, a west german spy had managed to infiltrate the High Command and gained the intel of this operation.

He had been arrested at his appartment having photographs of the report and a long distance communication radio placed next to him, which he quickly smashed as the Stasi(Special Police) broke through the door to apprehend him. Needless to say, he was executed on site after severe interrogation.

High Command still believed in the plan despite it being compromised. They suspected that the West Germans where already pressed on other fronts to muster enough forces to block their assault.

The Battle of Nuremberg would either be a glorius victory, or a devestating defeat.
***

[ - - - Warsaw Pact list (Volksarmee - East Germans) (197 pts total) - - - ]

Formation #1 (108 pts)

1 x T-72M HQ - 3
10 x T-72M - 35
10 x T-72M - 35
10 x T-72M - 35

Formation #2 (89 pts)

1 x T-72M HQ - 3
10 x T-72M - 35
10 x T-72M - 35
10 x T55AM2 - 16

[ - - - NATO list (Leopard - West Germans) (197 pts total) - - - ]

Formation #1 (54 pts)

1 x Leo 1 HQ - 3
3 x Leo 1 - 9
3 x Leo 1 - 9
3 x Leo 2 - 33

Formation #2 (143 pts)

1 x Leo 2 HQ - 11
3 x Leo 2 - 33
3 x Leo 2 - 33
3 x Leo 2 - 33
3 x Leo 2 - 33

***

Commander Baron peered out of his cupola on his BMP-1 command vehicle. He had accompanied the battalion towards Nuremburg and wanted to witness the success of the Volksarmée as they push deep into the Wessies. A group of Su-25 frogfoots had spotted just 1 hour ahead massive movement ahead of his coloumn. That was almost 45 minutes ago. They had included alot of enemy tanks. To many he thought to make the calculations for a stunning success like the way he had planned. He had made a gamble by getting his plan approved by High Command in order to further his success.

He had ordered his units to spread out and given combat command to one of his Hauptmans. He had shown great promise, but not like Wilhelm. He needed a good experienced tank commander up in the north while he was down here overseeing. Wilhelm had of coursed protested, but once given command up north he accepted his new assignment as a way to further his career.

Commander Baron was brought back to his senses when he heard into his earpiece of several tank units sighting enemy tanks. Mostly Leopard 2 chassis. He watched and listend to the flow of orders from the Hauptmann. He heard the words: "Alle Soldaten, feur nach dem Panzer!"

***

***

The Hauptmann was more tense in his voice now. More carefull in sending orders as he was trying to use the tanks around him as a shield for incoming fire. Yes, they had taken out alot of vehicles in the first volley fire with the enemy tanks. Atleast the Hauptmann had realized early on that flanking around them would be a game changer and he had ordered tanks to close the distance and try and get on their flanks and fire on their weak side armour.

A few soldaten had managed to complete such a manouvre and brought down a few of the Wessies heavier tanks on the left flank. He was impressed with their resiliance on the right flank yet upset that they didn't blow up as frequently as he wanted them too.

He was alarmed as the left flank got more close support from enemy Leopard 2's. He grabbed the radio and was about to issue a warning when he saw several T-72M tanks blow up from concentrated fire. He dropped the radio mic and witnessed how the left frank crumbled. On the other side he noticed how his vehicles had passed the enemy tanks and begun shooting their side armour and scored a few kills. The right flank was looking better.

It was a trade off, he had lost the left flank and gained the right. The battle would be decided down the middle from now. The Hauptmanns second in command had taken control of the battle.

Hopefully he had more of a spine for bravery and a tactical mind not yet witnessed. He was losing tanks and took some down in return. But not fast enough.

***

***

This was not going as planned. Only a handfull of T-72M tanks still remained active and kept on fighting the Wessies. It would all be decided in the coming minute as both sides drove against eachother in a final skirmish in order to end the battle. A few Volksarmée soldiers died as they closed the gap, as their tanks blew up from being hit by an armoured piercing shell.

It was now down to a meager few tanks on both sides, the Leopard tank where outnumbered three to one. It could still be won. He tensed as he saw the Second in Command charge past the protection of his comrades and onwards towards the Leopards. He was either brave or insanely dumpfkopf. The enemy seemed as surprised as he was as they began turning their turrets to face the threat. Their shells miraculously missed as he closed the gaps. His driver suddenly stepped on the brake and his tank pivoted ninty degrees and he slew his turret around and fired a single shell.

To Commander Barons surprise he let out a loud laugh and couldn't stop smiling as he saw one of the two Leopard 2 tanks explode. The last enemy tank reversed and turned the turret towards the Second in Command. Two shells fired and his tank exploded in a cascade of fire.

After that act of defiance, the west german tank retreated and raced away from the combat.

Commander Baron knew he just had a slain Hero, a martyr, to present to the High Command. A bravery for other to strive for. Something to use as inspiration for the coming war. All wars needs heroes, he had just helped create one. Despite him losing 90% of his fighting force he had taken the field and a plan on how to spin it for High Command was forming as he went down into his command tank began transmitting back to the forward operations base, his version of how things happend.

***

Wow! That was an amazing game! 200 pts per side! We used our own standard deployment, 30 cm in and dice off to who goes first

We rolled who would have the first turn and he rolled a five and said highest goes first, I rolled a six. I win!

So I charged out shooting everywhere. This is what the Volksarmee manual refers to as a target rich enviroment!

The game ended with the last tank, being his main commander, rolling a company morale check and losing. Thus giving me the win.
However, when playing with 200 pts aside and having 10 pts left in the end didn't make it feel like a decisive win.

So we both mutually agreed to call it a draw after a good and fun fight!