Firestorm: Red Thunder

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QUICK MISSION: FREE-FOR-ALL
56 POINTS*

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*56 is an odd number but it is optimal. It allows the US to take 7 tanks and the Soviets 13x T-72. One point less and the US has to take 6 tanks and lose 7 points in a MBT only battle.

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Trying to break through at Frankfurt the Soviets attempt to bypass the US forces.

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This was our second Quick Mission. Straight forward Free-For-All

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WARSAW PACT

HQ - T-72
4x T-72's
4x T-72's
4x T-72's

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US FORCES

HQ - 1x M1 Abrams
3x M1 Abrams
3x M1 Abrams

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THE BATTLE
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US won first turn and managed to get most of their tanks into firing positions but at long range, concealment and the Soviet armor survived the worst.

Only one T-72 was lost.

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Soviets advanced against the US 2nd Platoon. Fire was mostly ineffective but took out one M1 Abrams. 3rd Rota was unable to get a firing solution.*

*Rota is Russian for Company.

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The US tanks held their positions and their fire was devastating, wiping out 2nd Rota and taking out 2 tanks of 1st Rota.

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That was a heavy blow in one turn. But the Soviet tanks pushed on, helped by the 3rd Rota. They managed to take out another M1 Abrams.

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The remaining M1 would not flee. While 1st Platoon and the Company Commander redeployed the last M1 Abrams from 2nd Platoon managed to take out the last tank of 1st Rota and the Battalion Commander.

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Down to their last Rota the Soviets move cautiously forward and managed to bail the brave M1 Abrams and this time the crew decided it would be better to run and live to fight another day.

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4 Abrams against 4 T-72's and it was the US turn. 1st Platoon was in a firing position and fired at the hapless Soviets but only managed to take out two tanks. The remaining two were still in good spirits.

(If that is possible being surrounded by 11 burning wrecks.)

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Not all was lost. It isn't over until the fat lady sings (or whatever the say in Russian).

It was a "Hail Mary Pass*" (again not sure the Russians use that term), but if they could take out two tanks then the US would have to take platoon morale and possibly a Formation Morale test.

But it wasn't to be. Despite the best efforts they only managed to destroy one Abrams. Three remained.

Three M1 Abrams against two T-72's and it was the US turn.

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The US commander sensed a much needed victory. The WARPAC had reached the Netherlands. This is as far as they would go. His tank and the two remaining from 2nd plt fired at the last T-72. A few shots missed and a few bounced of the front armour of the Soviet tanks but one found its mark and blew up one tank.

That was enough. Next turn the Soviets had no unit in good spirits and had lost their commander.

US win.

5-2.

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OBSERVATIONS ON MBT'S
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We have been playing a series of quick missions. It started with Frym3n who only has the basic West German set and now Gandri.

This has seen duels between my T-72's and the Leo II and Abrams.

After 5 battles I find that the going is tough for my brave workers tanks.

Here is a quick comparison.

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SKILL LEVEL

With a skill level of 5+ the T-72's cannot rely on movement orders and often it is not worth the chance. The US is 50/50 unless the commander is present, but the West Germans can afford the risk when needed.

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MOVEMENT

Here the T-72's are also at a disadvantage. They usually have 25cm against 35cm of their enemies. Meaning that the NATO forces are more likely to get flank shots first and are quicker at redeployment.

Since movement doesn't affect shooting it can be a marked advantage. The West Germans might even add an extra 10cm with Blitz.

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ROF

2 is twice the number of 1. In fact in this game in a straight up shoot out the 13 T-72's have 13 shots, while the 7x Abrams would get 14 shots in. But it is more marked than this. Often it is hard to get all your tanks into a firing position so a higher ROF means each tank that can fire has double the chances. In addition the NATO tanks have a longer range and thermal imaging equipment.

This makes them much better in a mobile battle.

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BEST GUN

The M1 Abrams main gun and armour is evenly matched with the T-72 main gun and armour. The main gun of the Leo II is far superior and the T-72 is outclassed giving the Leo II an advantage at range as well.

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TO HIT

This makes it even harder on the T-72. All things being equal the T-72 has a 1/6 better chance of being hit.

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NUMBERS

This is an advantage for the WARPAC. Each tank lost hurts NATO more than each tank lost for WARPAC. But that isn't the entire story. The larger numbers of the T-72 can be a disadvantage. Often it is only possible to get part of your units into a good position. Also it means that NATO tanks have a better chance at finding a target.

The point is that it is rare that the Soviet forces can use their full advantage of numbers.

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MOTIVATION

Here is where the Soviets do have an advantage. But when Firepower is 2+ you don't always get a chance to use it.

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Over all I have enjoyed these quick missions. But I think playing MBT's only is a handicap for the WARPAC.

Generally I think the missions favor the defender in MBT conflicts. It is easier if NATO has to come to you and cancels some of their advantages.

I think WARPAC would be stronger in these missions with a more flexible force and I look forward to revisiting these missions in the future.

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