Firestorm: Red Thunder

Elements of the 10th Guards Tank Division advanced in the post dawn light against the suburbs south of Hanover, an American screening force blocking their way.

With recon reporting only a light NATO presence ahead, Major Vorishnov ordered his T-64 battalion forward, intending to flank the urban environment with most of his forces and exploit the German autobahn. A small force was sent into the village nonetheless to sweep and clear it, better safe than sorry.

The sweeping force encountered American SP artillery moving into position and engaged at close range, destroying 2 guns, but the third remained, steadfast. It was as Vorishnov's force pushed toward the autobahn, the American commander spring his trap, with a unit a M1s appearing seemingly out of nowhere and wiping out a full company of 3 T-64s before they could react. Thankfully, American attack helicopters that were rumored to be in the area had yet to appear.

Sensing that the Americans had committed the bulk of their armored forces, Major Vorishnov ordered his subordinates to close and engage the American tanks. With this support, his tanks along the autobahn were able to destroy 2 M1s and force the third off the field. The force in the village attempted to engage the other M1 platoon, but their shots went wild as the smoke of the burning artillery tracks fouled their sites.

As the American choppers continued to loiter somewhere else, the American commander counterattacked toward the village, wiping out another company of 3 T-64s and the 4 BMPs of their supporting Motor Rifle company. The surviving infantry that escaped the burning wreck of their transports moved into the village to dig in and prevent an American flanking effort against Major Vorishnov's main push.

While American mehc infantry had starting arriving behind this main force, Major Vorishnov stayed focused on pushing up the autobahn and achieving the breakthrough command needed. Engaging in a mobile battle with the remaining American tanks, Vorishnov lost another couple T-64s but was able to kill 3 more M1s as he pushed toward his objective. Even the appearance of a flight of American AH-1s was not enough to halt Vorishnov's advance, with them killing a single T-64 while the glorious men of Vorishnov's attached AA units dealt them a serious blow and forced them from the field.

Sensing that his forces could not stem the tide of Soviet armor, the American commander opted to save what forces he could for the next battle. As the Americans began withdrawing towards Hanover, Vorishnov reported to his superiors that he had secured the autobahn south of the city and the route was open for the rest of the division.