Firestorm: Red Thunder

Because he was asked not to.

Sorry to break the suspense and answer the question in first paragraph :) This battle was an unusual one... My opponent asked me to use army with ... 'limited area coverage' (I believe exact words were "Tylko bez żadnego spamu!" > "But not a hint of spam!"). As I was toying with idea of 'high-tech' Soviet army for a while, we agreed upon a batle with some 'proxy' elements on my side. BTR would be playing roles of BMP-2, T-72 would be T-64, and Spandrels magically transmute into Storms.

And suddenly, I have had only 26 armored vehicles in whole army, not 31 tanks in one battalion :)

[battalion commander] We have been ordered to take posession of village Ruinhafen, with its important road crossing. Two major poins of interest were (ruins of) major's building, with visibility on nearby roads, and edge of small forest just outside of town, with clear view at flat terrain ahead into possible enemy counterattack. While carrying out orders, our force ecountered unexpected pocket of resistance manned by West German troops. Battalion elements were immediately First wave consisted of two platoons of infantry with attached BMP-2 vehicles, Storm detachment and platoon of T-64 tanks.

[prosecutor] Were they those tanks whose crew are subject to this proceedings?

[battalion commander] Yes, sir, they were.

[prosecutor] Carry on.

[battalion commander] First wave fanned out, trying to reach enemy forces. Infantry moved forward to capture a building overseeing enemy positions, while Storm detachment and two vehicles from BMP-2 platoon supported them with long-range fire. T-64 made long circumventing move, outflanking enemy from the right. While maneuvering, our forces used terrain to interpose a obstacle between them and Leopard-2 tanks placed on far left flank.

[prosecutor] That is rather unusual tactics, shouldn't tanks carry on blunt of the assault?

[battalion commander] Without smoke coverage and with three Leo-2 on left flank I tried to interpose as many obstacles as I could between mine and enemy tanks. T-64 armor is still suspectible to German anti-tank rounds. Beside this, T-64 was fastest vehicle in my repository as long we count menauverability during fire. As such, it was best choice to outflank enemy posotions.

[prosecutor] Hmpf. Continue, commander.

[battalion commander] Initial engagement was rather succesfull, as first salvos from BMP and Storm killed 2 enemy tanks. The attack was proceeding according to plan, when first minor glitch manifested. Tanks optics suddenly malfuctioned and platoon failed to spot platon of Gepards hidden in woods just behind it's back.

[prosecutor] Could it have been tank crew's fault?

[battalion commander] I doubt so. I serve with those men for many years, they have good record. Wouldn't be crewing T-64 otherwise, after all. It is possibile during combat heat that one would miss such large target, but all three?

[prosecutor] But you have no proof that it wasn't crew fault.

[battalion commander] I have their word, and it is enough for me.

[prosecutor] That's hearsay. Scratch last answer from record.

[battalion commander] Listen, you ... Just look at technical analisys of wrecks, it clearly shows...

[judge senior] (hits the table) Enough! Back to the battle report.

[battalion commander] ... Yes, sir. So, as I was saying, Gepards came out of nowhere behind tanks backs, and all hell came loose...

Fuchs came from nowhere and rounded behind forest. Remaining Leo-1 tanks together with Leo-2 fired upon advancing infantry, ssouring few hits. Then #$%^&*! Gepards fired... Three BMP-2 went down, also one Storm and one T-64 (!), plus, as a bonus, one T-64 baield out. Panzerfaust bailed another BMP-2. Storm and remaining BMP, seeing wreck of their comeredes and smoking corpse of T-64 behind them believed that they are being overrun by some overwhelming force and broke off. Bastards!

My reserves didn't come up. All that was left is to attack, attack and attack! BMP-2 roudned over behind Gepard's position, to smash them with their autocanon - thank you for stabilisers, comerade Engineer! T-64 moved a little to engage Leos, but during this turn only two #$%^&*! Gepards become bailed out. #$%^&*! Gepards tried to leave forest and one bogged down. Heavy concentration of fire upon my infantry scored some casualties. Leo-1 tried to assault, but single tank assaulting bunch of infantry is bad idea - poor bastard had bailed out by defensive fire. Unfortunately, infatry refused to counterattack, and lucky sonnova survived this assault attempt. Meanwhile, Leo-2 repositioned to have right flank under fire - and leaving flank open to my reinforcement. And voila, there they are, another plaoon of T-64 appears, right on the Leo-2 backs...

Unfortunately, only one Leo killed. Infatry mans up and assaults bogged Leo, killing it in the process. BMP-2 bails out (again) one Gepard. Germans got more Luchses (Luchsen?) and press hard with everything they got, including two operating %^&*! Gepards (as one is bogged and one bailed) on my infantry and their supporting BMP-2. Leo-2 bails two T-64 and kills third. Luckily, guys didn't run. Aaaand - ther come the cavalry! One BMP squad blitzes, one moves and both creates havoc and carnage! Well, maybe one does, because other has no-one within range of their guns. While T-64 crew is taking a break, smoking cigars and so on (otherwise known as 'failing to remount'), BMP-2 fire their rockets and bails one Leo-2 out. As last remainig Leo-2 saw that he's alone, and that soviet soldiers are standing just along his tank tracks with zippers down...

... his nerves break and he runs away. Whew, that was close.

#$%^&*! Gepards flank T-64s and kills one plus bails one. Rest of Germans mops up my infantry and turns left, to break my hold on objective. Alhough Germans hold one in the middle, desperate rush in order to liberate the other one fails - anything that comes closed is blasted into oblivion by BMP-2s's and freshly remounted T-64's guns. Daring #$%^&*! Gepards' raid is stopped dead in its tracks as planneed 'road dash' route is blocked by single commander's BMP in the center of table.

Whole court marital thing is a must - 'right side' T-64 failed to score a single hit thorough the game, and were killed by bunch of anti-air rounds :) I never saw so many '1' on armor save in my life, and I play T-55 spam :)

There was funny thing with my force commander. As he was killed during German attack, he 'jumped' onto nearby infantry unit. Unfortunately, immediately after he become a single survivor, and at the begining of next round decided that life is too hard for him and left the table :)

Playing 'hi-tech, low-model' army is fun, and I am definitely getting one. <3 BMP-2 - they are awesome! Pity that VA is unable to field BMP-2 only army.

Thank for my opponent for letting me play 'worldwide' with proxy elements. See you next time ;) We already begun to discuss clash between low-model-count Soviet army versus 'spam' of West Germans.

[battalion commadner] Only the bold actions of force commander and his personal transportation vehicle saved this operation from disaster. Bravery and devotion of heroic crews should be even more appreciated as, despite all odds, they stood their ground while suffering heavy loses, unable to return fire upon their harrasers. Faulty vehicles' performance threatened not only chances of success of this operation, but could undermine our actions on whole front and cost us precious initiative and momentum.
[judge] Thank you, commander, that will be all.

#$%^&*! Gepards! All four survived to end of battle...