Firestorm: Red Thunder

Mission: Gauntlet (Quick Mission 4x4). Points: 75
Friday Night Jay was kind enough to host a few games for the campaign. We decided to play low point games and try out the new Quick Campaigns.

NATO
Mech HQ
Mech 4 - Dragons x 3
2 Mech – Dragons x2
3 M109 w Copperheads
VADs-2
M-1 - 4
FIST
ITV x 2
2 Cobras

USSR
T72 HQ
2 T-72
BMP Scout Platoon 5
ZSU’s -4
6 Arty
Observer
2 Hines

This is the US View and I do not take notes during each round. This is from memory and try the best I can to remember for the AAR Reports.

Frankfort is the Hot Spot. RED is pushing hard to split NATO. We decided we need to play this location. Wanting a short game, we went with 75 points and wanted to try the new Quick Missions. Since Gauntlet was the Location Mission, we decided to keep in line with the campaign. Of course I cringed, as Intel coming back on this mission has not been positive for NATO. The Spearhead has been a killer on this mission. I have my orders, and away we go.

Jay has an amazing collection of Terrain. He put together a city battle. From the pictures, you have to admit this is amazing table. Almost too nice to see burning wrecks and smoke to ruin it. The table layout was even on all four sides so this would be fun.

The Gauntlet Quick Mission does not have a Night Option. This made me worried at first. But once I noticed that the entire table was typically roads, I had some hope and was actually glad there was not a night option. I all I can think about was Road Dash.

At deployment, Jays Spearhead had 5 T-72 storming down the road toward the objective. Turn 2, he will be on the objective.

The Rumble in the City: Luckily, the streets provided me road dash, and I was able to the Road Dash down the side of the table just short of the objective. No Speeds traps luckily. I left the Charlie Company the smallest Mech Platoons on the right side of the table to hold the flanks and asked the M119s to push forward on a suicide mission to get to his arty. One of their Dragons did destroy a T-72. My M-1s, Vads, and CO Road Dashed as far as they could trying to keep some cover. My ITV was able to Blitz and move slightly in line of sight of the Observers. 2 Shots one bail. Since I road dashed most of the troops, I was not able to shoot, and Jay was pretty well hidden behind the buildings. I knew I left myself open for next turn, but intel told me you need to push as quickly as possible towards the objective on this mission.

Jays turn and there were plenty of targets for him. 5 T-72s Got into position to be on the objective, and have clear shots to my M-1s. Then came in the Helos at the Objective looking a Block Party of M119s full of troops. The BMPs and CO headed in the center of town to challenge my VADS and ITVs. The other 5 T62s, tucking in the building lines to cover the center of the table. Easy pickings. Unfortunately, Jay rolled 1,s and two most the turn. He was able to destroy and lose to morale the M119s on the Left Flank, and lost a Helo to 50’s, and bail a M119. His dice were packed away for the evening and do think they were packed away in the garbage can.

On Turn Two, my Fist was able to blitz far enough to see right down the middle of the road, Both Mech Units past their Blitz and were in the building holding the objective. I was able to Cross Check my Vads into the center of town’s wood line. My Copperheads destroyed three T-62s, My M1- Were able to destroy the remainder of the T-62 Company on the objective, my Vads and ITVs, went to work on the BMPs and the Left Flank T-62s. I had a very good Turn.

On Turn Three, Jay had to go for broke, and direct all his Platoons to the Objective, leaving many of them in the open. On the back Alley, his Arty raced down the street face to face with seven M119s. Jay was able to destroy one of my Vads, a platoon of ITVs, and 2 M119s on the back alley, and Bail an M-1. His remaining Helo kept passing morale.

The Cobras showed up and hid behind the tree line. , I was able to get my M-1 Back into tank. Then the madness began. Copperheads, M-1s, ITVs, VADS Dragons, sprayed the entire area and lite up the sky. The CO was bailed out, the BMPS, had one remaining tank, the T-72’s had one remaining bailed out tank. It came to Morale. And they all passed to live another day.

Turn Four became a blur. Jay was able to Pass morale and sole survivors, but with limited resources, was not able to push me of the Objective. Copperheads, Dragons, M-1, Vads, and My Cobras, destroyed the CO and the Remaining T-72s breaking Company Morale.

NATO Win at FrankFurt

The Quick Mission and low points was fun. The Gauntlet Mission has not been favorable to NATO. If this was not a city table allowing me to Road Dash to the objective, this would have been a completely different battle.

I thank Jay for hosting the game and setting up an amazing table and as always for getting in a game with me.