Firestorm: Red Thunder

Sure, the big units get to fight over the E4 down in Fulda, or the E7 from Gottingen or Kassel. But if the Soviet 2nd Echelon is going anywhere, it's going to need all the side roads it can find. That's where the Panzeraufklarer come in, fighting blocking actions at key junctions on the many side roads running through the forested hills of Hesse.

The Panzeraufklarer of Kompanie 4., PzAufklbtn 5 were prowling such a road juncture when the enemy appeared--a small motor rifle detachment supported by a few T72s for punch. While the Russians scrambled for the wooded heights, the Panzeraufklarer hunkered down on the edge of local villages, and behind a railway bed to absorb the blow. The Reds fired first, but those rounds must have been left sitting around in storage for a while. Miraculously, all the Leo Is survived! Equally impressive, it was a German Redeye team that drew the first blood, downing a Soviet HinD as it attempted to harass the Leo I platoon bravely defending the village. The other HinD wisely dropped back out of range.

Faced with Panzerjager and Leo Is on the edge of town, the Russians opted to dismount on their left, and seize the woods on foot. This they did, but as they did the Leo Is defending the village pounced forth to light up their tracks! On the German left, Luchs platoons sprung forward hoping to catch the rearward objective unprepared. It looked dicey for the Reds, but only for a while.

Ignoring the threat to his rear, the brave Russian commander (my teenage son!) put all fire on the exposed Leo I platoon that was likewise threatening to liberate a captured bierwagen on his now exposed left. In seconds, ATGM fire had the Leos burning or bailed, and what the ATGMs didn't burn, the T72s did. Then, before the Luchs could close all the way (or perhaps they weren't aggressive enough?) the Soviets dismounted, hid, and then opened up with a hail of RPG fire when the Luchs closed to contact. Again, there was little left that was not bailed or burning and, though the Soviet commander perished, his men held.

Now it was a duel between the remaining Leo I platoon guarding the objective on the road north behind the railway cut, and the slowly advancing T72s. There was little hope the Leo Is could stop them, but they never had a chance--the Soviets rolled 3 sixes to hit, and then immediately after 3 sixes for FP tests. Flames of War, indeed! The few remaining Panzerjagers were literally seeing Red Stars as the T72s rolled on toward Kassel. They did so without much infantry or helo support, but surely there's more where that came from. Hopefully, 1. Kompanie of the Battalion will fare better!