Firestorm: Red Thunder

Soviet Forces (241th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment, 57 Guards Motor Rifle Division)
Bmp Motor Rifle Battalion (2nd Battalion 241th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment
BMP Motor Rifle Battalion HQ (p.92) 1x BMP-2, 1x AK-74 2
BMP-2 Motor Rifle Company (p.94) 7x AK-74 with RPG-18, 6x RPG-7, 2x PKM LMG, 9x BMP-2 18
BMP-2 Motor Rifle Company (p.94) 7x AK-74 with RPG-18, 6x RPG-7, 2x PKM LMG, 9x BMP-2 18
BMP-2 Motor Rifle Company (p.94) 7x AK-74 with RPG-18, 6x RPG-7, 2x PKM LMG, 9x BMP-2 18
T-72 Tank Company (p.90) 7x T-72 32
ZSU-23-4 Shilka AA Platoon (p.91) 2x ZSU-23-4 Shilka 2
2S1 Carnation SP Howitzer Battery (p.95) 6x 2S1 Carnation 10

US Forces (1st Battalion 69th Armor, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mech)
M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team (D-1/69AR)
M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team HQ (p.79) 1x M1 Abrams 8
M1 Abrams tank Platoon (p.80) 3x M1 Abrams 24
M1 Abrams tank Platoon (p.80) 3x M1 Abrams 24
M1 Abrams tank Platoon (p.80) 3x M1 Abrams 24
M113 Mech Platoon (3-B-1/15 Infantry) (p.82) 4x M249 SAW Team, 3x M47 Dragon Missile Team, 4x M113 6
Support
M109 Field Artillery Battery (p.84) 6x M109 14
– Bomblets 6x Bomblets 6
– Minelets 6x Minelets 6
– Laser Guided Projectiles 3x Laser Guided Projectiles 3
Fire Support Team (p.84) 1x M113 Fist 1
Mission: No Retreat (Hof Corridor Special)
In the pre-dawn hours, Soviet scouts were able to probe forward and identify the US minefields and pick a route skirting them down the Soviet left flank. Meanwhile a company from the Regimental Tank Battalion proceeded down the main road. Initial movement was un-eventful, apart from elements of Number 5 Company getting bogged down crossing hedges.

Soon the presence of US forces was detected and the Tank Company opened fire. That fire was in-effective and resulted in the US spotting them and tasking them under fire. A hasty command was issued and the Tank company moved into covered positions behind a hedgerow. This lead to the loss of a tank due to the field being mined and another tank bogged crossing the hedges. Fire from the US infantry to the front resulted in another KIA. Back on the left 5 Company was able to close on the US Infantry position with the loss of one BMP to Dragon fire. 4 Company arrived and moved down the road behind the tank Company.

Soon the Tank company came under Artillery fire (DPICM) that encouraged them to vacate the field they were in. Following another ineffective salvo of fire at the US tanks, the US mad a quick move to their flank and proceeded to destroy the rest of the company.

As Dawn broke 4 and 6 Company moved into position to attack the US, only to have the valley blocked by smoke. These companies realized their best option was to close through the smoke and engage at close range on the flanks of the US tanks, which was in-effective. More US tanks arrived and the US tanks fell back to join them. 5 Company tried to assault the US Infantry, only to be forced to ground by massive small arms fire (11 hits)

At this point 5 company was trying to re-group and did manage to eliminate 3 of the US M113s and their deadly .50 caliber Machine Guns. 4 and 6 companies were forced to dismount due to losses of BMPs. The rest in a desperate move surged forward attempting to gain flanking shots on the US tanks and support 5 company’s assault. This did destroy an M1, but resulted in the loss of even more BMP.

Regiment called off the attack and fell back to the town as more US tanks arrived.