Firestorm: Red Thunder

Situation: Our forces continue to advance westward toward Cologne. The Germans and Americans are trying to establish a defense around the city. Elements of a US Armored Cavalry Regiment are establishing screens near Frankenforst. This screen could also be advance elements of an armored thrust into our area of operations.

Mission: Your mission is to engage the cavalry screen, and determine if there are any heavy tank formations. If possible capture the hills just west of the town, along highway 4.

Set up:

Mike rolls a 1 Annihilation
I roll a 2 Dawn...great
Russians roll a 6 and become the attackers

In an earlier game we had a US CO get 6 kills in a game-he's back (Mike named him Captain Coyle)
Durchenko has got 5 kills to his credit. We used the Tiger ace die from FOW to give Coyle and Durchenko some skills to match their accomplishments. Coyle rolls and gets a ROF of 3-so once a game, he can roll 3 dice instead of 2. Durchenko rolls a spade-so he rerolls and gets +1 to hit once per game and a +1 to motivation.

Turn 1:
The Russians move forward at tactical speed. No contact

The US CO moves to a wooded area-passes his bogging test, 1st platoon moves forward-still no contact.

Turn 2:
The T-72s have 2 shots at the M1s and 1 is KIA
T-72s have 2 shots at the ITVs and they miss

The M1 passes morale and fires-1 T-72 is KIA
Coyle uses his ROF of 3 and gets a KIA (#7) and 1 bail.
ITVs fire and KIA another T-72 and pass their shoot and scoot order.
Copperheads are ordered and do nothing

Turn 3: DAYLIGHT!!!!
The lone remaining T-72 passes its morale-Durchenko uses his skill to attach himself to the tank unit so it passes.

The XO moves up and misses twice, M1 platoon fires 2 more times also misses and fails shoot and scoot, Coyle tries to move through the woods and boggs down, copperheads KIA another T-72

Turn 4:
Durchenko moves and fires-misses-uses his one time reroll, gets a 4!! hit!! and gets his 6th KIA.

ITVs fire and KIA 1 T-72
Coyle fires and gets a KIA (8th)!!!!
M1 platoon gets another KIA
wanted smoke but arty could not range in!!!!

Turn 5:
The T-72 tank company (3) fire at the last M1 platoon and KIA its last tank. The other T-72 (1) tank company fires at Coyle-bailing the tank, Coyle passes his morale, but the last US formation was eliminated so The Russians score a victory.