Firestorm: Red Thunder

We did another Quick Battle, this time bypass. Where I, as the attacker (unlucky me) had to get to one of three objectives with three of my Platoons to remove the Platoons then from the board to win until turn 6. We played 50 Points. I played NVA, my opponent played US Forces. Also, I played with my own forces for the first time.

Turn 1: In the first turn, all my NVA Schützenkompanien, moved up in their BTRs or on foot, in the center and on the riverless flank to break through near a farm that was being held by an American mechanized infantry platoon with some support from their M113 and a few Hammerheads a little further in the back. In a stroke of luck, my Gvozdika destroyed the FIST Observer and bailed a Hammerhead.

Turn 1b: The first American round saw a very lucky bombardment from the Paladins in the back of the woods, destroying six BTRs and bailing two. I got lucky i guess? Because I only lost one RPG7 Team Passenger. A Hammerhead killed my Observer. The Infantry behind the River bailed a T55.

Turn 2: I failed to unpin all my Infantry. So, it was up to my BMPs, BTRs and T55 to save the day. Well. They did nothing remarkable. My Artillery kept being ranged in and pounded away on the Hammerhead which was bailed again, did his morale save and stayed on board.

Turn 2b: The USA got a few of his VADs moving into the center to fire at my BTRs and BMPs to bail a few. The Infantry behind the river bailed the same T55 again. The Cobras attacked the T55s and killed a few.

Turn 3: I failed to unpin my infantry. Again. The Artillery again got hits but the Hammerheads proved to be immune to the shells. The T55 decided to move from one flank to another.

Turn 3b: The Americans pumped a lot of fire into the remaining BTRs and killed a few. Again.

Turn 4: The NVA Infantry unpinned! Also, my Gvozdika ranged in on a new point with help of the Major of the small Schützenkompanie and promptly destroyed two M113 and a Dragon at the farm.

Turn 4b: The Cobras rested to get their Gone to Ground back. More BTRs die. Also the BMP1s got destroyed. The M113 dashed over the river.

Turn 5: The Volksarmees Schützenkompanie crept closer and closer to the Americans. Now in Range of their AK74 they poured fire on the Americans, which did nothing due to Bulletproof cover.
To far away with most of the Infantry except a few stands they decided not to attack.

Turn 5b: Next flight of the Cobras, this time destroying what’s left of my T55. The last of the BTRs died or ran away.

Turn 6: With the NVAs Infantry to far away from any objective and down to the Gvozdika, Strela and the Infantry, the game was not winnable anymore and I gave up. If I would have attacked in the last turn and got to the American lines through all that M113 and SAW fire and won the ensuing melee I might had won that game a few turns later when all of my remaining troops got to the objective. But that was highly unlikely. Inconceivable, to be honest.

The Hero of the Game:
US-The Paladins, killing many a BTR and pinning my Infantry for two turn.
NVA-The Carnations, killing M113 and being the most useful unit in my army with the greatest potential.

Hindsight:
Sadly, this game was marked by decidedly bad dice rolls for me. It didn´t helped that my opponent had no problem with his dice. I daresay the dice gods smiled upon him.
After the game I was informed of the ability of the Gvozdika to fire smoke. That might have been helpful with limiting the field of fire and all that. But would have not prevented the fateful first Bombardment which was glorious. Destroying six out of eight BTRs and pinning all the Infantry for two full turn won the US the game.
But I should have used the Gvozdika on the infantry in the farm. Pounding away on anti-tank assets while playing an almost Infantry only force was a mistake.
Something we realized yesterday was that my AA could have fired on his Cobras from turn 1, them being on board and in range. Which could have done nothing? Or maybe whittled away one or two.
For initial placement and the general attack plan I think I did nothing wrong, keeping a part of his army behind cover and not running into kill boxes again as far as possible.