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Firestorm: Red Thunder

The Team Yankee Global Campaign

Kassel to Frankfurt AM Main (Armchair #7 Frankfurt Gauntlet)

100 POINTS
United States
K. Meyer
VS Warsaw Pact
Mikle friesky

Phase-2: Defense of Frankfurt / Mission: Gauntlet

Defending the Perimeter into Frankfurt City
American (K. Meyer) / East-Geman (Mikle Friesky)

Special Mission Rules:
The "Gauntlet" mission is supposed to be played on a 4'x4' game table. After we figured out that on game Turn-2 the East-Germans would have won even before we deployed, we played the "Gauntlet Mission" on a standard 4'x6' table and he had to hold both objectives at the end of his turn 3 and NATO still had to follow "Meeting Engagement Rules" for the first turn. It changed the strategy of the game and utilized different tactics on both sides.

Looking at the battlefield from the East.
Looking at the battlefield from the West.

TF-Quicksilver was relieved and ordered to move off the line, after a hard fought win in the Hof Corridor. Their new orders from battalion HQ (Big-K) was to move NW towards Frankfurt and flank the Warsaw Pac advance entering into that zone after they broke thru the Fulda Gap. Big-K also said, "since you're doing so well with what little you have, I'm assigning a mortar platoon to you." "There company got rendered combat ineffective in the opening day." Captain Meyer replied, "that's a good addition to the team!" "When can we expect replacements for our losses sir?" Big-K said, "just hang in there, it will come soon."
As Captain Meyer and TF-Quicksilver departed away from the battalion TOC location, he said to himself "sometimes soon is not soon enough..." While in transit and only a few hours from Frankfurt's city limits, the radio broke the silence and 2nd Platoon's lead M113 spotted a formation moving hastily towards Frankfurt from the East on the road. We were ahead of the enemy formation and decided to flank the formation from the South. "Net call, this is Lancer6, break! All Quicksilver elements we are going to flank the enemy and try to stop the advance from entering the city, break!" "Hunter teams, get into terrain and prepare to engage them from the flank, break!" "White6 and Blue6, take your platoons and support the Hunter teams, break!" "Cold Steel will lead and push forward with Red Platoon and get into cover as a blocking force, over!" As all callsigns acknowledged the order, I came back on and said: "execute and good luck, Out." TF-Quicksilver broke into 2 formations and executed the movement order. As Cold Steel started to move North, the lead elements of the enemy formation broke cover and started to advance on us.

The US deployment zone with ITV's (Hunter-20/30) inline and in cover. Flanked to its left by White & Blue Platoons (M113's & Infantry mounted). VAD's in concealing terrain as well. M1 Abrams on the road leading Red Platoon (M113's & Infantry) to secure objective. Lancer6, Black-Hat (FIST-V) and Thumper (Mortar Platoon) next to villa deployed.

I deployed my forces with Hunter-10 (ITV Pltn.) on the Western side of the river facing the bridge to stop any flanking maneuver on my right side. In the center facing North, was Hunter-20 & 30 (ITV Pltn's.) in the woods flanked by White & Blue platoons (M113's & Infantry) to hold the center and slow them down by getting flank shots. Cold Steel (M1 Pltn.) starts on the road leading Rd Platoon (M113's & Infantry) to secure the first objective.
Lancer6 (HQ), Black-Hat (FIST-V) and Thumper (Mortar Pltn.) are deployed next to the villa and over looking the approach of the enemy force. The FIST has a pre-plot ranged in already and is over watching it, which is the cross roads.

The East-German players initial deployment zone. He starts on the cross roads and the majority of his force is across the river! Tank gun line facing off Hunter-10 (ITV Pltn.) that starts from the Eastern edge of the board on the road and across the bridge! Yikes!! Oh the pucker factor was high...

The East-German commander decided to deploy his forces in concealing cover starting from the cross roads and extending to the North, with his T-72M's and T-55M's in a mixed formation, they were also T-72M's and T-55M's to the East defending his artillery assets on the road and bridge. The artillery assets were deployed behind a hedgerow and next to a farmstead in the North-East corner of the table. The AAA assets were intermixed in the middle of the Tanks and BTR-60 battalion formation (it would later become his demise!). He then did his "Spearhead" move and the tank horde tried to out flank me with the BTR's moving along the Northern edge of the table.

Turn-1: Opening Move

M1 Abram's lead the way! With support from the infantry and M113 transports.

"Lancer6 this is Cold Steel, go for Lancer6. Enemy tanks at near sight, engaging! Cold Steel out! Captain Meyer could see the enemy formation bearing down on him. "Black-Hat, this is Lancer6, break! Where is Longbow? over! Lancer6 this is Black-Hat, I don't have comms with them at this time, over! Black-Hat, Lancer6, find the break, and get on their net! Out!"
My movement order went with an M113 bogging but got close enough to where I wanted it to be. The ITV's (Hunter-10) across the river fired and scored hits, but I only bailed 2 tanks. The M1 platoon fired and missed the T-72Ms and all other fire missed...not good bro, not good at all!

The East-Germans got back in all the bailed vehicles and as they move forward they dropped an artillery barrage on the M1 platoon and scored hits, and bailed an M1. The tanks on and near the bridge fired at the ITV platoon (Hunter-10) and missed. The tanks in the center fired at the M1 platoon scored hits but no effect again. We were both looking at each other as if to say "it's a love & hate relationship with our dice!" To save...is love, to hit...is hate!" or "Hey, did we play a turn...cause it looks exactly the same!!"

Turn-2: Boom, Boom...Out go the lights!

M1's and M113's become a blocking force and engage!

"Lancer6 this is Black-Hat, over! Black-Hat go for Lancer!" "Comms up with Longbow, over, break! Awaiting fire mission, over!" "Roger Black-Hat, break! Immediate suppression fire on TRP (Target-Reference-Point) Two Quebec, over! Roger that Lancer6, Black-Hat out!" "Cold Steel this is Lancer6, over! Go for Cold Steel!" "Cold Steel, you need to move into the woods to the North of you and block the advance, break! Red Platoon will support your move, break!" "I will lay smoke to cover your move, over!" "Lancer6 understood and Cold Steel out!" I immediately called "Thumper" (Mortar Platoon) to lay a smoke screen for cover.
When the M109 barrage landed just West of the cross roads it got hits on tanks but he saved and only destroyed a BMP vehicle. The smoke screen is the red dice and the black token is the impact point. I'm successful in moving the three remaining M1 Abrams in the platoon into firing position in the woods. I couldn't remount the bailed tank. Red Platoon (M113's) moves at a dash to the West of the tree line to get to the crop fields. The ITV's across the river manages to bail a tank. The ITV's in the center score hits on the T-72M's and destroy two. The M1's fire into the tank horde and destroys two more T-72M's.

Cold Steel RIP's into the T-72M's.

My opponent has not moved the tank formation in the East on the bridge to still protect the artillery assets. This formation fires upon the ITV platoon again and misses. Now some tanks are heading down the Southern road to try and flank my position. He fires into Blue Platoon (M113's) and destroys two, the infantry bails out safely. The Shulka's are now firing into the same platoon and thankfully the infantry all save. The BTR-60 formation is trying to move past the M1's from the Northern edge still. The lead tank formation fires at the M1's and miss. The infantry is now in range and starts to fire upon the M113's and manage to bail one.

East-German formation trying to out flank me in the North and South.

"Lancer6 this is Red6, over! Go for Lancer6, over!" "Lancer6, large BTR formation at my North-East heading West, break!" "In the open in a column, over! Red6, this is Lancer6 good copy, out!" Captain Meyer needed to halt this column fast. When I completed switching nets I called "Banshee29, this is Quicksilver06, over! Quicksilver06 this is Banshee29, over!" Banshee29, I have enemy vehicle formation in the open, break, moving East to West in a column, over!" Quicksilver06, this is Banshee29 good copy, break! I have two inbounds to your location, Roger, out!"
Once I switched back to company net, I called "Duster, this is Lancer6, over! Lancer6, this is Duster, over." "Duster, go to weapons hold, I say again, go to weapons hold for Alpha-Alpha-Foxtrot (Anti-aircraft Fire), break! Two Banshees inbound from the North-West, over!" "Lancer6, this is Duster, I confirm weapons hold, break! I got two Banshees singing on my lock approaching from the North-West, Roger, out!" I told my TC, CAS inbound (Close-Air-Support), my TC just smiled and said "Cool-As-S**t!" Or, also known as the other way of describing CAS.

Turn-3: Murphy's Law....Again!!

A-10's start their approach for a Maverick run.

"Thumper, this is Lancer6, over! Lancer6 this is Thumper, over!" "Thumper Infantry, and tanks in TRP-Quebec-One, over! Lancer6, this is Thumper, Roger out!" As the mortars ranged in at its target point, I said "Thumper, on target, Fire for Effect, Lancer6 out! While the mortar rounds had no effect on the tanks it got hits on the infantry, killing a team and pinning it. I dismounted my infantry from White & Blue Platoons and moved them into cover supported by the M113's. ITV Platoon across the river is still dueling with his tank line formation. I only manage to bail a T-55M. The ITV Platoons holding the center, fire on the T-72M's formation coming down the South road and destroy two more.
My M1's in the woods fire on the lead tank formation and only bail two T-72's. I move Red Platoon in as a blocking force. My infantry that has moved up in the middle center attacks his infantry with M249-SAW & LAW's and kills another team. The A-10's missed their targets after receiving fire from the enemies AAA fire that did no effect and stayed on station for another attack. My M109 artillery at the cross road managed to bail two T-72's. My dice rolling on this turn was horrible..." the best-laid plans go out the window when the dice gods are not there!"

M1's attack more T-72M's to only bail them! Uh Oh........

My opponent is able to remount ALL his tanks and starts to move towards the center. He first moves the tank formation from the East across the bridge towards the middle. More infantry starts to move into the woods and next to the M1 Abrams and successfully dig-in. His Shulka's now are holding position at the cross roads and the BTR-60 formation is moving with cover pass the M1's and block Red Platoon in its M113's. I could see what was going to happen next from the bad rolls I had before on my turn. He moved the lead T-72M tank formation to get side shots on the M1 Platoon, then "Murphy's Law" kicked in!....
He started by firing every available tank in LOS of the M1's and managed to destroy one and bail two, forcing me to make a morale check and Failed! Again! AARGH!! Remaining M1's retreat. Some of his BTR-60's fire at Red Platoons M113's but surprisingly missing. His Shulka's fire at White & Blues M113's and destroy four. Oouuch! HIs infantry starts to engage my infantry and hits but with no effect. The Carnation battery spots the ITV Platoon on their side and bombards, destroying one and I fail my morale and retreat with the other.

The enemy returns fire on TF-Quicksilver with effect!

Turn 4 to 6: Stand and Deliver

In this phase of turns, we just kept hammering each other. I dismounted my Red Platoon and moved them into the fields to the West of their location and the woods to the East. I moved my VAD's up to the road to support my infantry in the middle. I would always bog one until after Turn-6. My Dragon's from Red Platoon started to hit their mark on the T-72M's and destroyed two more. The LAW's and .50cal fire from my M113's from this platoon as well started to destroy the BTR-60 transports along with gun runs from the A-10's after receiving fire from his AAA and he destroyed one A-10. I kept widdling away at his infantry in the middle with Mortar and now M109 bombardment as well. The M113 transports and infantry fire as well into his infantry with effect during these turns. The Dragon teams from White & Blue Platoons started destroying his Shulka's but missed his T-72M's. The ITV's in the middle tried to target his T-72M's and T-55M's and missed.
My opponent tried to move the BTR-60 formation towards Red Platoon but was devasted by the fire it received and was stopped cold! He hit an ITV platoon (Hunter-20) in the center wood line with artillery fire and destroyed one, forcing a morale roll and they retreat! The remaining T-72M's fire on the remaining ITV's and miss. His dug-in Infantry in the middle returns fire and starts to widdle away at my Infantry during these turns.

Stand & Deliver! Halting the horde advance.

Turn 7 & 8: Push Forward!!

During these final phases of turns, we started our push to capture the other objective. Red Platoons M113's move to the left flank of the BTR-60 formation. The Infantry from this platoon moves toward the objective. The VAD's finally can now support the move and the White and Blue Platoons stay in place to hold the center. They return fire at the enemy Carnation artillery vehicles as they try to break thru. The remaining ITV Platoon (Hunter-30) takes out three more T-72M's before he destroys one again and forces another morale roll, which of course I failed! Red Platoon continues to destroy BTR-60's with Dragon and LAW's to force the enemy transports to fail their morale and retreat. At the end of Turn-8, he moves two T-72M's next to the last objective that forces me to use my artillery on the last tanks. The last tanks fired on the Infantry to widdle me down more but don't pin me.

In the end of Turn-9, I destroy the T-72M's remaining at the objective with Dragon and Artillery fire, that forces him to make a morale roll and fails....East-German formation retreats off the board.

The US Wins 4-3

The final outcome as we push past the enemy to force them to route!

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United States
K. Meyer
Wins

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