Firestorm: Red Thunder

It was too late to go to bed. "Or, rather, too early to go to bed", thought US captain to himself with smirk. Whole night passed on preparing defence line, digging trenches and foxholes, mining the terrain, masking the tanks, calculating fire fields and artillery support markes... Now it was ... almost 5-00 and his men were on last legs. Fortunately, now they can rest, whole defense preparation is just a precaution... Reds' offensive had halted far away to the east and here, on the outskirst of Amsterdam US troops were safe. If US tropper can feel safe anywhere outside States right now, though commander to himself.
'Rhm.' - agreed forest before him.
'What the ...' - whispered captain. Was it possible..
'Wrhm. Wrrrm. - forest answered, even louder than before.
With speed that only years of training can provide, commander jumped into his tank's turret and scanned the defense perimeter using tank's electronic equimpment. Heavy mass of forest trees were opaque even to the best thermal optics, but his eye noticed smudges of heat hovering over the forest and the nearby town buildings. Reds! Here!

- the forest screamed and spat out horde of tanks. Enemy vehicles were everywhere, each possible inch of ground was covered in tracks or wheels. Small silhouettes of infantry crouched between heavy vehicle bodies. Some piece of commander's mind smiled upon his luck - that were Volksarmee's T-55, easy prey for his guns. Another piece wondered if he has enough ammo to kill all...

Ossies pressed straight forward. One tank company rushed along forest's edge. Another squeezed onto road and rode directly over mines - unfortunately, only 1 vehicle was destroyed and one bailed out. Third company faced some technical difficulties, as out of ten tanks only three came out of from between the trees. Spandrels took positions just behind BMP scout unit. BTR-60 company and Gaskins on the left flank stopped just before the minefield. Same thing happened in the middle with infantry company - troopers that came with contact with mines signaled others and whole company stopped. Then, american guns spat out death... M109 dropped the sky upon the unfortunate infantry, and combined efforts of Milans and Abrams destroyed few tanks. That wasnot enough to stop VA's advance. Lucky shot from BMP-1 bailed out one Abrams, while T-55 companies rushed even more forward, to cut distance from Milans and Abramses. VA commander ordered all of his troops to go THROUGH minefields... BTR and Gaskins commanders seemed to not understand the order, but infantry commander clearly read this command, especially that it was accented with force commander tank's slowly advancing behind infantry position, with all MG pointed ih their backs. Careful navigation between intermingled mines of german and american origin resulted in death of some troopers, but ... who cares? Then lucky shot from infantry's AT-4 bailed out one Abrams, while T-55 companies rushed even more forward, to cut distance from Milans and river. Another salvo from Abramses blown away another score of T-55, but - still not enough! VA infantry has survived hell on earth, as M109 covered their MINED position with another spam of fire. Then T-55 assaulted infantry defending the bridge and after short corps-a-corps routed them, in meanwhile some T-55 began fording the river and threaten Abramses' flanks. Salvo from Spandrels kileld one Abrams, while BTR-60 and Gaskin companies took another minute to get their courage and rush trough the minefield. First light of day infused VA commander with assurance of victory, as suddenly all to-hit and cross-check penalties counted no more. Infantry begin to ford the river, Spandrels got another Abrams and combined effort of T-55, infantry AT and BMP finished third. BTR suddenly rushed forward through the minefield, noting only 4 kills on the way. Left company of tanks began outflanking maneuver, trying to go on the enemy's back under cover of the hill. Someone finished the infantry and accompanying M113. Retreating Abramses failed to hit close T-55, signing their own death warrant - T-55 reached their sides and killed two of them and scared out the third. Rest of VA forces began to decimate M109, ITV and anti-air elements. American positions were overrun within minutes, leaving nothing but couple of smoking wrecks behind...

Team Yankee artillery rules are ... pathethic. VA infantry stood motionless on the minefield, in the open while bombarded by M109 for over 2 turns and the worst that happened was pin marker. Of course, 2 or 3 bases got killed, but ... template covered almost whole company...

VA are excellent in 'fording' mines :) You'll need commander to get your guts to enter the minefield, but after that loses are minimal. Excellent skill, then good save, yum yum.

Spandrels FTW, best spent 2 points ever.

'Blue' team of T-55 has been sent to re-education. 7 tanks bogged down in first turn, each next turn ONE tank rode out of the forest to join main battle :)

Whole battle is a case study of 'why not play VA spam in tournament' - over 3h in 80pts battle, and we were trying to move fast :)