Firestorm: Red Thunder

Ah trash talking with your son. Does life get any better? Garrett and I played a gauntlet mission yesterday afternoon and were going to play another when he had to leave. So the table was set up, but no one to play against. My son, this morning starts talking about what he would do as the U S player and so on and so on-so I chime in and we jokingly start insulting each others faction. After a few I give him an option-play or clean that room. Well since cleaning the room (he's 17) would require a bulldozer, some toxic waste containers and a visit by the EPA, he decided to play a game instead.

Situation: The Germans and their US allies are pouring reinforcements into this area. We are starting to see more local counterattacks and have been getting hit by more and more NATO aircraft. We need to push through here seize the bridges and continue toward Frankfurt.

Mission: The mission of the 9th Tnk BN. 3rd Combined Tank Division is to push through the built up area of the city-get to the bridges and secure them for the Division to cross.

Durchenko gathers his company commanders and briefs them quickly. He will move with the scouts and 1 tank company to his objectives, while he sends another company directly toward the American tank platoon to his left as a diversion. Speed and quick kills will be the keys to this mission.

Turn 1:
the US had set up using spearhead and now the scouts dash to the closest objective-a platoon (3) of M1s and the CO move tactically behind them. To the left of them the M1s stay put. In firing the tanks knock out a BMP-1 and they bail 2 T-72s.

The soviets move as quickly as possible-they also used spearhead, but terrain limits their movements. The BMPs are almost over a hill with a tank company and the CO right behind. Behind them the tank company that is the distraction heads directly for the US M1 platoon and their XO. One T-72 bogs down in the oil saturated mud near the oil tanks. Lots of shooting-3 hits-0 kills.

Turn 2:
The M1s on the US right flank move forward to get better shots. And they take out 2 T-72s. The ITV gets a kill on a BMP-1. The CO and tank platoon near the closest objective take out 3 T-72s. The Russians are in trouble-the Russians are in trouble.

The Russian BMP-1 flees...goodbye scouts (rolled a 1) The tanks continue to move up and fail to even hit the ITV with 3 shots...How could you miss??? The company that was sent to distract the M1 platoon KIA 2 M1s and bail the XO.

Turn 3:
M1 platoon on the US right fails it morale and the crew flees. Ha cowards!!! The XO remounts and the remaining tank platoon moves to engage our thank company near the oil tanks. and they knock out 2 more T-72s leaving only 3. The ITV gets another kill!!! how many is that 2? 3?

The Soviets are running out of tanks. We knock out an M1 from the tank platoon that has moved from the objective and bail the XO again. We take 2 more shots at the ITV from close range and.....miss....again..... are the rangefinders defective??

Turn 4:
The XO remounts, the ITV kills again!!! how can it keep doing that? it had a T-72 at just over minimum range and just crushed it. The US CO moves his tank and fires...and just like that, the tank company near the objective is no more.

The Russian commander sees his chance, the US has only 1 formation left, the M1 platoon-the scouts are an attachment-if he can eliminate a the single M1 near the XO, the platoon will be down to just one tank-and have to check morale.....We have a chance!!! Durchenko pushes his tank and fires, as do the remaining 2 Russian T-72s. The KIA the XO-hurraaahh.......but only bail the remaining M1.

Turn 5:
It all comes down to this, the American has a scout section, his CO in an M1, and 2 M1s remaining but 1 of these is bailed-if he fails his morale check, the US has no teams remaining (the scouts are an attachment) and will have to withdraw. The Russian has his CO and 2 T-72s remaining. Durchenko gets the Yoohoo on ice ready for the celeb........a 6!!!!! he rolls a 6!!!!!!! and passes his test. Worse- The CO, and the 2 M1s fire at the last 3 Russian tanks-all are hit-Durchenko's tanks blows up-he is wounded ( for the 4th time) but transfers to a tank that manages to survive a frontal hit. The other T-72 also goes up leaving the Russian with no teams left. His dreams of victory, like his Yoohoo all gone.

A great deal of fun.. What a finish. And the boy and I will be heading to Vegas when he turns 18 if he can keep rolling like that. Just incredible. Now he's calling his friends telling them how he kicked my butt. He does however want to play a quick annihilation game later today, so maybe I can redeem myself.

I have seen this blue truck before comrades. I think somewhere in Colorado.....hmmmmmmm whats up with that??

Now it will never be mine!!