Firestorm: Red Thunder

The measured rumbling of the command tank engine almost lulled Hauptmann Wolf. "No wonder," he reflected, "two days of fighting without a break with the devil's red hordes." He recalled his father, who participated in the defense of Berlin in 1945, and his stories of Soviet tanks, with uncontrollable pressure swept away any fortifications and fortresses and thought that, perhaps, little has changed since that time. Here again, the invaders set foot on the land of Germany and again the German soldier took up arms. Wolf did not know the exact front line, did not know how many armored vehicles and aircraft he faced. The only thing that the Hauptmann knew exactly was that he and his people would do everything that was possible, so as not to miss the Soviets to Ruhr.

In this mission, the battlefield is a stretch of highway passing by a small village. Reds must break from the northeast field to the southwest on the highway, to continue their advance on the Ruhr (Object). The goal of the Bundeswehr is not to allow them to do this without giving a foothold to positions near the highway, and, preferably, destroying everything on which there is no German tricolor.

Under the terms of the mission, half of the units of the Bundeswehr should go to the reserve, in my case I sent to the reserve a link of the Tornado and two detachments of scouts on armored cars. In addition, the group Leopard -1 was ambushed, because in direct combat with the Soviet T-72, they did not represent combat worth, but they could perfectly hit Soviet tanks in side armor with their 105 millimeters.
The opponent sends his infantry detachments to the BMP-2 reserve.

Group "Tiger - 2" take a position in the southern grove, near the village. Rolands will provide you with cover. "Accepted, we carry out," the Hauptmann heard in the tank's intercom system. "Spear - 1, Spear - 2 to continue watching the enemy" - the following order was given, and like last time the confirmation came quickly. Group "Tiger - 1" - follow me, we will cook red hot reception ...

Bundeswer deployment. In the course of the arrangement, I put the Leopard group - 2, to the southeast, hiding them in a grove, not far from the village. They covered themselves with the Rolands from the nearest hill, since the arrival of the Mi-24 was quite possible.

Soviet deployment. The opponent spread out a wide front, two groups of T-72 tanks, with the expectation to get to the objects as quickly as possible, and there to unite with their reserves.

"The enemy was divided into two groups" - heard the Hauptmann in the intercom - "Prepare to meet the guests." "Accepted, Spear - 1, keep watching." answered the Wolf. "Group" Tiger - 2 ", the enemy is sent to you, the fire is ready." "Accepted, we are ready," heard the Hauptmann. "Tornado - 1, I request an air strike on the following coordinates" ...

First move. The T-72 split. The first group went to Leopards - 2, in order to distract them from the main group. The main group rushed to the objects at maximum speed. Leopards - 2 were able to successfully crawl out of the grove and fire at the T-72, as if specially lined up in a column one by one. During the brief shootout, 2 T-72s were blown up, another one was damaged and the crew was shell-shocked. On the western flank, an extremely successfully summoned air force (5+, 4+) struck a bomb strike on the main group of tanks and destroyed 3 out of 5 ti. The point in the existence of this group was put by a group of Leopards - 1 shooting from an ambush in the side armor of the T-72.

The second move. The survivors of the T-72 on the eastern flank are successfully recovering from contusions and dangerously approaching the Leopards - 2. Fortunately for the Bundeswehr Soviet gunners could not hit the German tanks. A group of reconnaissance armored vehicles leaves the German reserve and rushes along the highway to the site of the Soviet reserves. Leopards - 1, also approach the optimal distance to the possible reserves of the union. Whole and unharmed Leopards - 2 are rushing past Soviet tanks, shooting on the go. As a result, the remaining T-72s are burning. Rolands follow the tank group behind, providing the maximum cover from Soviet helicopters.

Third move. On the Soviet side, the main reserve left is a detachment of infantrymen with infantry fighting vehicles -2. BMP - 2 are hidden in the wheat field, while a detachment of infantry occupies the garden and with a successful shot burns one armored vehicle with the help of an RPG - 7. BMP - 2 freezes in place, hoping to live to the next turn and get the opportunity to use their missile systems. In the course of the Bundeswehr, the remaining armored vehicle from the first group successfully passes the leadership test, while from the southeast comes the second group of armored cars and even manages to fire at the BMP and even shock the crew of one of them. All other forces of the Germans are moving closer to the zone of the withdrawal of Soviet reserves. Leopards - 1 successfully fired at infantry fighting vehicles and burn them all. Leopards - 2 are cannon fire on infantry in the garden and demolish one base. The Rolands occupy a position and expect Soviet helicopters.

Fourth move. On the Soviet side, two MIs arrive, destroying everything on their way - first of all, unfortunate Rolandians got into the distribution, they shot very badly. The Soviet infantry, at the same time, makes a march - throw to the Leopards - 1 and burns 2 of them from RPGs and contuses the crew of the command tank. The German answer does not make you wait - the command tank is successfully repaired and moves away from the infantry, firing machine guns at the helicopters, armored vehicles of the second group help it, but to no avail. Leopards - 2 are machine-gunning, then fearlessly trying to squeeze the Soviet infantry into the mud, and they even manage to destroy two bases, after which the infantry fails the leadership test and retreats.

Fifth move. The Soviet infantry, suppressed after the Leopard attack, fails the test for getting up and remains depressed. Soviet helicopters fly from the rear view of the Leopard-2 tanks and successfully destroy one of them. The Bundeswehr concentrates all its attacks on the infantry and, in an unequal battle, sweeps out the remnants of infantry from the battlefield. Helicopters, realizing the uselessness of further confrontation, leave the battlefield on the orders of their commander. The result is the victory of the Bundeswehr.

"Mauser - report to the command" - Wolf threw his adjutant. "The confirmed losses of the enemy are nine T-72s, four BMPs and a platoon of infantry." "Our losses," sighed Wolff, rubbing the hacked head when the RPG hit his tank. "Two first and one second, so we're left without air defense." Mauser nodded to the Hauptmann and went to Leopard. Wolf inspected the burning battlefield and thought wearily "Well, tovarischi, for you it's all over", nervously grinned and went to organize the delivery of the wounded to the nearest hospital.

Postscript, should immediately apologize for two things - knowledge of the English language is unimportant and lack of color on the miniatures. Unfortunately, I learned too late both about the existence of Team Yankee, and about the imminent end of this campaign. The Tornado link, for example, I bought 10 minutes before the battle. But, I really wanted to show that there are enthusiastic players in Russia, so I decided to do this battlreport together with my good friend. I hope that, despite these shortcomings, you liked reading this report, as well as me playing. To all present and future players I wish good luck and all the best. I attach photos of helicopters for rest of eyes.