Firestorm: Red Thunder

Set Up: Dan and Mike wanted a game but an all out game so they got their US stuff together 169 pts total. I let them set as 2 smaller US companies, one a tank team and the other a mech infantry team. Suppotrd by 3 M109s with all the bells and whistles including laser guided projectiles. Vads, and a M1 for the BN CO. We played a variation of the NO Retreat game. Using the long table (8ft) The US sets up a defense in depth-at least as much depth as 4 feet x4feet will give you-I gave him 3 prelaid minefields and we agreed on 4 preregistered artillery TRPs.

The Soviet side consisted of 2 T-72 companies and a BMP company with BMP scouts and some ZSU support. The Russian also deployed a Czech BTR company and a Czech T-55M company as well as some BRDM2 scouts-

2 BMP-2 Scout sections (2 strong each) was a regimental Reserve.

Col. Durchenko sits in Siegen awaiting assignment. After his regiments last fight, they are awaiting tanks and APCs. Finally!! A bit of rest and a chance to catch up on events outside of his Regiment. The rest is however short-lived as General Stashenkov assigns him to the mixed Czech Regiment attached to the 2nd Tank Division. Durchenko is ordered to attack Unteresbach. He is warned to keep the Czechs on a short leash as there have been "difficulties" recently with some Czech Units. He gathers his battalion commanders and after his briefing, some questions from the intel chief, the General of Aviation and the General of Artillery briefs his commanders on his plan.

Durchenko's plan is to advance a T-72 tank company and a BMP2 company on his left, led by a pair of BMP2 scouts. On the right, the T-55s and BTRs will be led by a BRDM2 scout platoon. In the center will be a T-72 company that will swing left or most likely right in order to help eliminate any pesky infantry formation that might delay the BTRs-the T55Ms wont last long.

Turn 1:
Soviets move to contact. On the right, both BMP2 scouts bogg down in the trees. On the right the BRDM2's go right through the trees.

The US has no direct fire shots, but does fire DPICM on a preregistered point-it hits 3 BRDMs-but it does nothing.

Turn 2:
BMP2 scouts move up and fire at an ITV team-miss. On the right the Czechs move up. The Russians fire smoke and screen the Center T-72 tank company.

Cobras!!! crap-he took 4 didn't he-yep he did. They KIA 2 T-55Ms. The M! platoon KIAs another 2 T-55Ms and bail one. A dragon team bails a BMP2 and The ITVs KIA the bailed BMP2.

Turn 3

On the Left, the BMP2 scout flees-great. The T-72s get really great rolls and take out both ITVs. A cobra is shot down and 1 infantry team and an M113 are also taken out. For once the Soviet artillery does it's job.

The cobras KIA yet another 2 T-55Ms and M1s get another 2 T-55Ms. 2 T-72s get crushed by some M1s and copperheads just destroy 3 more T-72s.

Turn 4:
The center T-72 company refuses to force the minefield-COWARDS!!!! On the left, the T-72s KIA an M1. The remaining 3 T-55s Kia another M1 and eliminate the platoon. ATGMs from the BMP2s knock out another cobra.

The remaining M1 flees. The M1 platoon in the center KOs a T-72 and bails 2 more. The remaining cobra (passed its morale) Kos another T-55M. 1 dragon team withdraws as fast as it's LPCs (leather personnel carriers) can move them. Another dragon team is cut off and decides to fire-it hits and KIAs a T-72!!!! The XO KOs another T-72 and copperhead round kill another T-72 and bail another. I am quickly running out of tanks.

Turn 5:
A T-72 KIAs an infantry team. Russian arty KIA a cobra and an M! is knocked out by a T-72 a ZSU moves up and fires on the concealed dragon team...and misses.

The cobra moves to loiter off-board. ITVs KIA the last 2 T-55Ms. XO fires, misses and fails his shoot and scoot. US infantry in M113s fall back. The forgotten dragon gunner fires...misses. M1 platoon also fires hit 1 T-72 and fail a shoot and scoot.

Turn 6:

We both agree to clear up some clutter-we cant see what's knocked out and what is still running.
With both starting scout platoon KIAd-we send 2 BMP2 scout platoons to help out the Czech BTRs-all the T-55s are gone. BRDMs move forward. The Czech BTRs wont chance the minefield. The BRDMs fire at the ITvs=all miss Durchenko moves his T_72 to fire at the XO-he hits and the XO is toast. The last 5 T-72s KO an M1.

The ITVs KO a BRDM2 and bail another, CO fires and bails a T-72, the last tank from an M1 platoon bails another T-72 and the copperheads KIA another T-72 and bail yet another.

Oh and I forgot to take a picture of turn 6 so enjoy this waterfall.

Ok this is getting too long-essentially 7,8, are more shooting-the Russians are down to 3 T-72s and have the BTRs slowed way down. Getting a 3rd objective to post a win really all comes down to the 6 remaining BMP2s and their infantry that are hauling to get to the left end of the "city"

Turn 9:
As usual, it's been a slug fest. But it all boils down to 6 BMP2s trying to take the 3rd objective-the road exit out of town. The US infantry is about 8inches away with a supporting M113 and FIST team. As well as the battalion commanders M1. On the far right, the Vads and the BTRs are fighting it out. The Russian BMPs KIA the last M113 and the Czech infantry RPG the last Vads.

The battalion CO fires his M1 at the BMPs and misses (2) A dragon team KIAs a BMP2, laws only bail 2 more BMPs. The FIST fires 3 copperheads-if they hit the BMP2s will have to test morale and a possible draw will result....all 3 miss......the worst round of die rolls during this game.

Way too long a game-too much clutter as well. But well fought up to turn 9.