Firestorm: Red Thunder

Mission: Leipzig Dust Up
Points: 60

Introduction
This was an introductory game for my colleague. So for this, I have stepped out of my comfort zone and took less 'optimized' list with no Infantry and with Leopard II's. We have chosen the unique take on Dust Up for Leipzig.

This was it. Finally after all of those defensive missions, they were on the offensive.
He knew the strategic importance of their previous missions, but still something inside of him was tired of it. Now, as his tanks were charging forward as the cavalry of old, he was feeling more alive than ever. He forced himself to calm down a bit and focused on the task ahead, to focus on the enemy they were approaching.

Deployment
So I used the Luchs patrols to overload and even with reserves, I was able to put everything important on the table. I deployed centrally, as I wanted to use the fact, that my enemy wont have any reserves at least for 3 turns, and just charge forwards and try to overwhelm him.

My opponent decided to deploy all of his T-64's and one infantry unit, with another infantry and both BMP-2 platoons in reserves. The infantry deployed between the objectives, one T-64 unit was sitting on the closer objective while the other one with HQ was lying in ambush.

First Turn
So I have just charged forward with everything and started shooting. Even with concealment and GtG, I was able to hit all three of the T-64's with my Leopard II's and just one shot bounced. So I ended up killing two tanks with the third one running away. Rest of my army opened up on the infantry killing 3 stands but failing to kill any of the spigot teams.

So of course my opponent sprung the ambush and flanked my Leopard II's. I knew this was coming, but unless I wanted to play defensively, there was no way to stop it. What I wasn't expecting were the two spigots killing 3 of my Leopard I's. Suddenly it started to look dire, but then my opponent rolled the dice for T-64 shots, missing 3 of them on 4+ and then rolling 1 for firepower on the only hit.

Second Turn
So luck totally saved my ass. I returned the favor to the T-64's and flanked them. And moved the Gepards forward towards the infantry and into cover. Leopards II's killed 3 T-64's, HQ Leopard II killed the HQ T-64 and Gepards killed another 2 infantry stands and one of the spiggots. Also one of the Leopard II's moved so that it was 4 inches from one of the objectives.

There was not much left for my opponent to do with just 3 infantry stands remaining. Also he had to move to at least contest the objective. Still he was able to kill 2 Gepards with just 2 shots, but the spigot bounced off of the Leopard II.

Third Turn
It is just a mop up now. I move everything to shoot at the remaining infantry and to possibly assault if they were to survive. But they do not. With all of the Soviets dead and holding the objective, the game is over.

Conclusion
It was just pure Luck that won me this game. The T-64's should have killed most if not all of my Leopard II's with the ambush, and with the Spigots being able to kill most of my Leopard I's it would be pretty much over right there. But that's what just happens sometimes with those heavy tank lists.