Firestorm: Red Thunder

It was a cool a crisp day, this first of September. Losses have been very heavy on both sides. I have recently found myself rising from enlisted to that of an officer for my actions retaking the bridge in the HOF corridor. However now after arriving to my new unit a small company of Abrams tanks in support of a forward deployment of the mechanized infantry I found myself out of the pan and into the fire. Our orders broke through the silence of that September morning around 0300 hours. Apparently the breakthrough into Frankfurt had an exposed Flank and due to a fuel shortage there was a break in the column. We received order to rush the Suburbs of Frankfurt get into the industrial district there and slit off the soviet advances from their desperately needed reinforcements. I knew this mission would be dangerous as we had no defensible position. We needed to fight a mobile battle while getting to the desired ground first and setting our defenses. The initial fighting was fierce. My 2 platoons and I took up a position on the far right flank to engage and slow the enemy advance allowing the Boys of the Mechanized division to gather themselves and drive into town to set up defensive positions. The initial volley was met with great success. Anywhere you would look you could see burning bmps. But from behind the wreckage rolled a wall of iron. More T-72s than we could quickly count and even more BMPS. It would appear the initial estimates of the soviet relief column where under exaggerated. It was at that moment I Lost two new but good friend the number 3 tanks in both platoons evaporated in a hail of anti tank missiles. We were able to buy enough time for the infantry to get into town and a well timed smoke screen got them dug in. From this point on the fighting was fierce and bloody but we were able to hold off the advance. After some cunning maneuvers we finally found ourselves at even numbers against the T-72s and our revenge became sweet. In the end the town was ours the soviets were retreating and I have a mother story to share with my sweetheart Lisa if I ever get to see her again.