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Firestorm: Red Thunder

The Team Yankee Global Campaign

Returning to where it began - Part 2

50 POINTS
Warsaw Pact
Baron
VS West German
Tomas
Deployment line up - Mission #4 - The Gauntlet - NATO has the first turn

*** PREGAME TALK ***

Here we have another game fighting for Leipzig. Tomas wanted to try a different mission and also wanted to try and be the aggressor.

He is now after this game painting some infantry and helicopters for our future games next week :)
He learned alot from gaming with me and we had fun, his Leopard 2's survived for a long time this game around aswell.

But next time I will be facing, artillery, helicopters and some infantry with Marders. Maybe some Gepards if I'm lucky :P He likes to play with painted models and I sort of understand, I try and do the same.

For this report I wanted to try something that I had seen from Nabeshin, a NATO Commander playing West Germans. He made a really cool battle report and I liked what he did.

Anyway, enough of me babbeling!

Volksarmee ready to stop the West Germans exploiting the momentum into Leipzig
The Wessies force

Setting the mood

The Kommendant sealed his cupola as his vehicle darted forward along with several other identical T-72M's. The scouts had reported of a enemy force in the region and it was his job to exterminate them from his homeland. Being this close to the supply lines meant that he could quickly recieve reinforcements, such as an arsenal of tanks waiting for war.

He pondered the coming battle. He hadn't recieved alot of good news from High Command regarding Leipzig as a whole. Battles took place all over the region as Warsaw Pact forces, mostly Volksarmee, assembled and began fighting back at NATO. But the fact that they had their own supply line so close to the the border was dangerous. Leipzig would have to be taken quickly and soon.

He heard the alarms ring out over the headset as the forward scout unit informed the company where the enemy was located. It was time to set up an ambush and rid Leipzig of NATO.

Wilhelm had already begun striking further south and reported success all the way down to NIederbayern. He did however, report strong American forces in the sector, just like the intel had predicted. He was still waiting for the last formational supports to arrive. The Hinds where on "loan" for transporting more infantry to Leipzig along with the most of the BMP units.

He passed a few destroyed Leopard tanks and some burned out marder vehicles. There had been a fight here before. Strategy suggested the enemy would be in the vicinity since they most likely had orders to rendevous in this area.

It was hunting time.

Game starts now!

They had just begun to make preperations for an ambush when the enemy tanks came into view and opened fire. Three tanks where obliterated in the opening salvo. He ordered the right flank to move up and engage from the side, while they would push down the middle firing all they got.
Missiles where streaking downfield towards some tanks in the forest hoping to slay one. The other units conecentrated their fire on the Leopards close to the Villa. He punched his fist in the air as one of the tanks in the forest went up in flames and detonated. He saw how the tank on the right of it began reverseing and speed off in the distance. Not a bad start he thought.
The leopards responded by obliterating the flanking panzer unit. A few crew members survived and hid behind the vehicles hoping their ammo storage wouldn't detonate.
The Spandrels had to be repositioned so that could maximise their effect. They where usually forgotten when the bigger and badder T-72M roamed the forest. He was angry to see that regardless of how many tanks he had at his disposal firing at the enemy. They didn't blow up. Gritting his teeth he thought of the battle he had endured earlier. Was he gonna lose as many tanks again?
He witnessed how the Wessies executed the remaining tanks on the right flank and sealing the faith of the crew trapped inside or taking cover behind the vehicle. His blood boiled and his rage close to the brink. A shell wosh passed and detonated a tank moving forward next to him, only to stop dead and let out smoke and fire.
Kommendant Baron ordered his remaining tank in the platoon to follow him as he closed the distance while hoping that the terrain would provide cover for returning fire. Missiles struck left and right but no one had any real impact. His platoon tank fired and he saw a Leopard explode in response. They could win this he thought while grinning.
Only one enemy turret was moving now, it brought its ugly barrel towards him. He shouted a warning and they all left the tank hurridly and as soon as they had all landed on the ground it exploded. He ran towards another T-72M at the other end of the tree line. His crew brought up small arms and hunkered down.
He knocked on the hatch and the tank commander swung the hatch open. As he was about to enter the tank, he saw in the distance how a missile wooshed past and found a weakspot, the warhead detonated in a fury of fire and twisting metal. Secondary explosions occured as the internal ammo storage ignited. He saw the tank on the left side reverse and vanish behind the building. The forward scouts reported its withdrawal..

Volksarmee Victory - 5:2

The game was quick and over in about 30 minutes. Regardless, Tomas had fun and learnt alot on how to play the game and the mechanics. He is a well seasoned player in Flames of War and had begun venturing into Team Yankee. Both of these games where his first in Team Yankee.

Afterwards we discussed new options and units to mix into his formations. Which is why he is now painting helicopters and infantry to use in our next upcoming game. Most likely sometime next week.

Give me feedback if you liked this approach in the battle report more with graphics. I began with some arrows but they looked odd when trying to keep realistic in the images so had the removed later. Please tell me which you enjoy watching more!

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Recommend Commander For Commendation

10 People Recommended Baron for commendation

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Warsaw Pact
Baron
Wins

17 Comments

  • AlohaRover says:

    I do love reading these

  • Nabeshin says:

    Argh, Barons gone and done it again! You’re always improving your reports, I really appreciate that.

  • Maj. Sharpe says:

    Great report and sweet pic effects!

  • Baron says:

    To all that are curious about what program I am using, it’s Photoshop 2014.
    The pictures like smoke, rockets, fires etc I found on google, took some time to find the ones I wanted.
    After 10 min of quick youtube tutorial I set to work xD
    It’s fairly easy, but does take time to tweak and make it look believable.

  • Michael Mosgaard says:

    Very excellent report, and yeah, the NATO opponent needs to move around, he kept his force in full view of the entire NVA army, including taking flanking missile shots. The Leopard lives and dies by its ability to pick and choose the fights it engages it, its a hunter, not a behemoth 😉

    And I second what Fingolfen said, what graphics program are you using for the special effects ? 🙂

  • K. Meyer says:

    Good report and pics.

  • Red Alert says:

    +++

    Clever use of the flags in the report.

    I might borrow the idea (and improve upon it 😉 )

    “Stand up all victims of oppression
    For the tyrants fear your might
    Don’t cling so hard to your possessions
    For you have nothing if you have no rights
    Let racist ignorance be ended
    For respect makes the empires fall
    Freedom is merely privilege extended
    Unless enjoyed by one and all”

    +++

  • Kubikhan says:

    Solid write up, but your graphics are amazing! So much for the rest of us who just snap pictures. Gauntlet thrown down.

  • CrazyIvan17 says:

    Another outstanding AAR Comrade and another win for the glorious troops of the Pact! Still love the effects you do on the photos.

  • Storm Caller says:

    great report even if the wrong side won

  • davehodo says:

    Awesome report comrade!!! great table.

  • AlohaRover says:

    Good point Jagdpanzer. He should have moved some more.

  • AlohaRover says:

    Yeah I love your photos. You should do a post in the forum on how you did them. 🙂

  • Jagdpanzer says:

    I really like the flame and missile effects!! Great report! Yes Leo 2 are great but against so many targets its tough. I notice your opponent doesn’t move alot, seems to sit and just blast. In Team Yankee with leopard 2 with a blitz they can move up to 18″ and still get full ROF with no penalites. Please suggest this to him. He should move around alot more, so its just not you surrounding him. This would limit your return fire back, and isolate your units. You cannot match him without reducing your chances to hit.

  • fingolfen says:

    Awesome game. I love the animations in the photos. Where did you find those… Have to try this for my next battle report…

  • Baron says:

    haha it did occur to me, but it was also a game for a new gamer for Team Yankee 🙂 So wanted to give him plents of targets and I could always send up units to contest to keep the game going ^^ Now let’s take back Leipzig AlohaRover! 😀

  • AlohaRover says:

    Great write up. Surprised the NVA didnt rush the left flank and establish a parking lot around the OBJ 🙂