Firestorm: Red Thunder

Two columns of T-64 tanks have been rolling through western Germany countryside. Stalking alert, like predatory cats Germans named their tanks after, they were deep into enemy territory. Probably too deep for their own good. Battalion commander Leponow knew that. He desperately tried to raise comms with Regimental HQ, but so far to no effect. He lost contact with his recon element - two BRDM-2s loaned from their attached Infantry Company just before dawn. It wasn't that hard in foggy terrain, especially with lack of really distinctive terrain. To born and raised in Moscow commander every German village they passed by was identical to the last one. To add to the insult it was getting colder. His crew was already joking that probably Germans have employed services of "Ded Moroz", russian folk figure, kinda similar to capitalist Santa Claus. He had enough of this. His two companies rolled toward some small village, which looked as it was hit earlier. He ordered a short stop and proceeded to try and orientate himself in enemy territory.

Question from one of the youngest tank commanders got Leponow attention. It was again this Semyon Tibenko, Ukrainian, guessing from accent, no more than 25 years old. Battalion commander ordered second company to flank right and his own to advance towards the forest. On his left side he had small town stretching out. Some buildings ruined, probably due to those brave souls in Aviation Corps. Just great and now he had a possible contact with enemy force without any air support nor recon, not even those bloody infantry. "Blad'" - he muttered under his breath as he lowered into commander's cupola.

Tank company commanded by Lt. Tikhobzdin approached carefully stone wall, which marked boundary of abandoned farm. Most of civilians fled in first hours of the conflict. Tikhobzdin thought of them as cowards. Now his tanks were sitting behind low wall and he was surveying landscape through binoculars. Then he spotted those suspicious shapes young Tibenko was reporting about earlier. He calmly identified vehicles as M901s. "Amerikanski missile carriers! 11'o clock! Fire!"
Through calm morning deafening roar of five Soviet tank cannons was heard for many kilometers. When the smoke cleared, one ITV was belching black smoke from its crew compartment. Other one was already turning on the spot, readying to run away. That was it, Soviets managed to surprise enemy but there was no sight of other defenders.

Three M1 Abrams stationed to this point behind one of the treelines started their engines and moved towards spotted Soviet tanks. They took positions behind hill and wreckage. Skillful American crew managed to open fire but missed most of their shots. It was obvious that tense atmosphere of the conflict was not helping them at all. One of horribly expensive shots ricocheted wildly off the armour of T-64, but only slightly dented the surface. Americans decided that they do not need to move their Vulcans with blind faith that their .50 cal will be enough to repel eventual Soviet air strike ...

During opening moments of the engagement Leponow finally managed to get radio contact with his HQ. They responded, providing him some aerial support in shape of 4 Mi-24. Krokodils, as Soviet tankists called them. Choppers swooped in and managed to knock out two of US M1 tanks. Remaining one has been blasted to pieces by Tikhobzdin tanks. Skirmish was also entered by support elements of motorized infantry, in 5 BMP-2s. They were quickly engaged by US company commander, who was trying to flank through the city. Two of the IFVs were destroyed, killing some personnel inside. Rest of infantry quickly deployed, and IFVs proceeded with destruction of US M113s which tried to halt enemy advance on central hill.

Both tank companies advanced towards the hill. As they were nearing it, crushing beneath their threads fertile soil of German farmlands, crews started to recognize burnt shapes of Abrams crews. Probably some of enemy tankists managed to escape from their burnt vehicles. Probably ...
Leponow wasn't thinking about dead. He had his objective almost in his grasp. He provided vital assistance to his airforce comrades by taking care of enemy anti-aircraft guns. They replied in kind, relocating to the town and hunting down last remaining M1 Abrams. Last remaining BMP punched clean holes in all to thin armour of racing M113s.
"Reinforcements are on the way" - screeched one of US radiostations. US GIs tried to engage T-64s, but to no avail. 125mm HE shells made a short work of unprotected infantry. Last of them died driven over by Leponow tanks.

Just as Leponow was readying to consolidate his force battle was joined by another two M1 tanks with air coverage of two AH-1. Helicopters managed to fire at one of the T-64 companies. TOW missile screeched through the air, before exploding just under the turret ring of young Tibenko's tank. Young Ukrainian, as his whole crew, was immolated in an instant, while shell compartment exploded inwardly. Turret was kicked up like a cheap toy and has fallen down a few meters behind burning vehicle.
But that only served to spur Leponow battalion into action. Brave infantrymen, having survived destruction of their transports used their Striela-3 anti-air missiles to make short work of enemy choppers. One of those was destroyed and other one flown away. Soviet aviation again proved their superiority when Krokodils fired their "Shturm" missiles towards enemy tanks. When Leponow moved to engage them, he was only greeted by sight of buring wrecks.

Whole engagement took not more than one hour. German countryside was falling silent again, except sound of burning tanks. Day was still young, and while Soviets rolled on towards Hanover, they didn't knew that ultimately US delaying action was partially successful - forces held up in this skirmish could take part in mounting offensive on Bremen.

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I know how crappy my photos are. Unfortunately my phone seems to only make them worse with every passing hour ;) I'd love to hear what do you think about this way of presenting battle reports.
I hope I will be able to link this one to my opponent batrep. He is pretty new to Team Yankee thats why this battle can seem little one-sided. He had some crappy rolls too. If you find any major language errors feel free to point it out - I'm not a native speaker, so every little bit helps :)