Firestorm: Red Thunder

Neuenkirchen, small village on route from Hanover to Bremen.
29th of August 1985.

Small detachment of scouts have entered the village under the cover of night. Some of the buildings were still burning - effects of earlier air strike, which ruined local church. Most of them was already abandoned - Germans were pretty organised in their evacuation. Most of the inhabitants even left their cars next to local market. Captain Morozow, leader of scouting party was looking them up through his NSPU night vision scope. Dressed in KLMK suit he was pretty decently camouflaged in some roadside bushes. Village was completely abandoned. Great, he did not want to fight in night. Not against those Western German fascists.

Neukirchen village, 30th of August 1985, 0945 hrs Moscow time.

"Blad'" - captain Morozow sweared, looking through binoculars at column of German tanks, rolling from North-West. Those damnable Leopard 2s. He quickly scanned through his forces composition. 6 Fagot missile systems, 4 Konkurs mounted on those BMP-2s they drove in the night. Not much. An hour earlier he got another company of men airlifted to the village. Men dug in the ruins of the church. And of course, local cafe, in hopes of finding famous German beer. Not much was left over after last night. His troops ransacked shelves of western tobacco and now were reluctantly sharing with newcomers. His radio team was already scouring the net for some air support, with no results through. Coming battle was looking grim ...

"Captain, we have counted no less than 7 enemy MBTs!" - morale of the troopers was not very high. They almost panicked when village was approached from East by fast moving column of allied vehicles. On closer inspection they were revealed to be fast-moving BRDMs, sure sign of some tankists operating nearby. In maelstrom, which became Hanover area, there were counter-punches happening all over the place. Morozow felt like this was his lucky day after all. Commander of motorized scouts made quick contact with his direct commander, some Leponow. He agreed to redirect his tank battalion and help their fellow comrades.

Morozow deployed his BMPs behind a hill overlooking eastern approach to village. Germans were planning to get into the village from North-NorthWest, bearing their full might against entrenched scouts.

First shots were fired. When people in green camo overalls were getting accustomed to loud cannon fire from enemy Panzers, quicker stacatto of shots was heard. Gepards approached village from west, firing their 35mm anti-aircraft guns into buildings. Soviet infantrymen were showered with dust and rubble from impacting bullets. Most of them just held their heads low, trying to survive cannon fire. That saved most of them.

"Classic, those infantrymen cannot go to the toilet without our cover!" - battalion radio was all about coming battle. Most of the Leponow's men were in high spirits, especially after relatively easy victory against Amerikanski few days earlier. They had good night's rest, they even managed to get some warm soup at one of supply depots overtaken by Soviet breakthrough forces. Leponow almost forgot sight of Tibenko burning tank. He already got replacement and even another tank added to his battalion.

He decided to attack on the march, circling village from the East. He had hoped to catch enemy in their back. He could not envision better way of fighting Germans. He had heard about those ferocious soldiers back in training. He had seen burnt-out houses and empty shells of their tanks. In comparison to his T-64, enemy Leopard 2 seemed like a behemoth. "That was what grandpa must have felt like in Great Fatherland War" - he then said to himself. Going to war in great steel machine was in his blood. Even his great-grandfather served in one of the few armoured car platoons in Tzar's army.

Leponow with his company D got Germans as he wanted - with their backs exposed. His tankists drove bravely directly into contact with enemy infantry. Daring not to assault entrenched positions they decided to engage armoured opponents. Five of 125mm cannons roared as one, as his company fired. They have not missed their targets and already three of mighty Leopards were belching fire. As their crews were dismounting, German scout cars were engaged by recon element of Leponow's battalion.

German commander had not anticipated Leponow forces coming so quickly. He had to think on the spot. As Oerlikon-manufactured 35 mm cannons were pounding Morozow infantry into submission, he had withdrawn rest of his tanks from assault on the village, heading towards new, armoured opponents. His tanks moved through parking, destroying civilian property. But brave German did not let his mind be occupied by costs. Not for one moment. Soviet scouts winced at booming echo of Rheinmetall guns. Seconds later three of Leponow's tanks, including his own, were in flames. Soviet commander moved quickly towards nearby bushes. From there he commandeered another tank and got back in action.

After loosing almost whole company D, Leponow was in shock. Still ringing in his ears he saw company A entering the fray. Covering behind wrecks, their salvo was less spectacular than opening ones. Another of German tanks was destroyed and Morozow BMPs were pushing their German opposite from the city. Infantry was also spurred to fight. Morozow own recon unit was getting into position to fire upon those damn Gepards. Struggling in narrow streets, those cats could be easy target. If their cannonade could stop for a second. Waiting for that perfect moment, Soviet infantrymen fired their Fagots. Those were no mere musical instruments. Their concert was one of explosions and death for German crews. With three Gepards took out, village was secured.

Destruction of their anti-air spelled doom for German forces. Soviet forces were seriously lacking air assets during this engagement, but as another T-64s were exploding, battlefield was being approached by infantrymen of Leponow's battalion. They were being carried in excellent BMP-2 IFVs. When Germans recognized this new threat, it was already too late for them.

As would Leponow write in his report later: "He must commend his opponent on his tenacity and fervour in which he tried to defend in face of overwhelming odds. As many brave tank crewmen died during this engagement, one would think that capitalist forces would abandon battle as soon, as they could not see chance of victory, preserving expensive equipment and soldiers."

As IFVs were rolling into position Germans began fighting withdrawal. Leaving infantrymen as delaying force, remaining Leopards were trying to retreat to North-West. One of those was struck by an Konkurs missile and two another were caught by T-64s. Without tanks to protect, remaining forces surrendered to brave Soviet forces.

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Another great game with one of my regular opponents. Brzoza is long-time FoW player, who got me into Team Yankee. He made some grave mistakes during this battle, which I could take advantage of. Also his inability do roll 2+ Firepower rolls is legendary!

We played Counterattack, with me as a Defender. It is just phase two of our local Firestorm Campaign, so he managed to be an attacker. I don't get to Defend much in Team Yankee so it was new experience for me as well. If you wonder about those scouts deployed in Neuenkirchen - this was Afgantsy Battalion, without air support. I would love to lead some elite infantry lists, but my opponents dread those Mi-24s, so we opted for tank lists instead.

Hope you enjoy reading this!

за Родину!