Firestorm: Red Thunder

100 pts. per side. East vs West Germans using the Niederbayern Bridgehead Scenario.

Waffen had heard 9th Panzer was being pulled out of the line soon and that time couldn't get here fast enough. At the last divisional orders meeting he found out how appalling casualties had been for the division. They had started the war full strength and were even forced by a BTR Regiment. And now, the combat teeth had two under 50% strength regiments, one tank and one motor rifle. The tank regiment was now mixed with T72's and T55's and Waffen was in charge of the one of the two motor rifle battalions left in the division and it was also a mix of BMP 1's and 2's and BTR's. The other battalion was all BTR's and the infantry had been stripped from all the other battalions to make these. All he had to do was stop a West German counter attack in the Niederbayern area first.

It was still night but dawn was fast approaching and with that hopefully more reserves. Waffen only had half of his battlegroup and worse, just one company of armor. He deployed his BMP2 and BTR infantry in the city around two critical road junctions giving his AT-4 teams good fields of fire. He had his BMP-2's hidden in the city to counter any armored thrust. 5 T-72's were deployed in some woods to the right in open country with Spandrels on the outskirts of the city to support them.

Waffen heard the growl of tank engines in the darkness and could tell they were the dreaded Leopard 2's. He also heard the sound of helicopter engines. His plan was told hold tight until reinforcements and daylight both arrived. Suddenly a T-72 erupted in flames from a volley of fire from the Leopard 2's. The others fled and took new positions behind the woods. A new threat to the left; 4 Gepards and a Fuchs platoon were trying the sneaky approach towards the rear lines where the artillery and ZSU's were located.

While things were looking very bleak for Waffens' forces dawn broke and with it a company of T72's came rushing on to the battlefield! They came in just where needed to with all 4 being able to get flank shots on 2 Leopard 2's in some woods. The other 3 remaining T72's and Spandrels all had shots at the other Leopard 2, the tanks rushing towards the Leopards to cut the range. When all was said and done 2 Leopard 2's were ablaze and their comrade fled the field of battle!
A see saw battle was developing in the town at the church. The non support weapons of the BTR company had moved in right before daybreak when suddenly a rocket bombardment hit the church stunning all the defenders inside. Then a small group of fearless West German infantry assaulted the church and drove out the defenders.
The next turn despite enough firepower to level a small town only the Milan team was made a casualty. It was now the East German turn to assault and they did so victoriously with casualties suffered on both sides. The West Germans were reduced to a single squad who fearlessly refused to flee.
Meanwhile the Gepard's made a very destructive appearance and in one turn destroying 3 howitzers and 2 ZSU's. The BMP-2's were forced to deal with the Gepard's instead of hunting actual tanks. Being a stubborn foe the Gepard's had to all be killed but they took more of Waffen's forces with them before finally meeting their demise.

Waffen was very pleased he troops had destroyed the Leopard 2's and the Gepards, although the last had depleted his AA and taken out his artillery. The Bundi's has briefly driven his men from the strategic church but were soon repulsed and destroyed. The Bundi anti tank helo's were apparently immune to all the missile fire his troops could muster as well, although he did see one go down. The others kept plinking away at his vehicles though.
Bundi reserves were slow in coming and their commander was forced to piecemeal them into the battle allowing Waffen to take them at one at a time. A Leopard 1 platoon made a rush at a company of T55's who had just arrived, but after a swirling point blank duel the T55's came out on top. The last wheeled infantry platoon dashed towards the church but BMP autocannon fire kept them at bay. Finally only the enemy helicopters and some of their Luchs recon vehicles were left and they all slowly backed off the battlefield. Soon, the battlefield was free of gunfire, but then the sounds of the wounded could be heard.
Waffen really didn't know which was worse. At least now, he thought, he could some rest. He hoped.

This game was tight from the go. I pretty much did nothing while it was night and with daytime luck smiled letting me get rid of the Leopard 2 platoon and the Gepards. Unfortunately the Gepards had already done their damage, killing 3 SAU 152's and 2 ZSU's. I did have a tough fight at the church with 4 stands of tough as nails West German's kicking me out and then almost beating off my assault. By the time the 2nd platoon of them came on I didn't let them get too close. My opponets reserves came on in a trickle also helping me out. Very close, tough game, which is of course the best kind!