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Firestorm: Stripes

The Team Yankee Global Campaign

That Didn't Hurt a Bit!

90 POINTS
Warsaw Pact
Brusilov
VS United States
Fitzi

Vladimir Brusilov didn't expect to expect to enjoy combat but the current mission had managed to put him in an unusual state of nervous anticipation. The orders were part of it. He, a colonel, was tasked supporting a captain of engineers in his mission and the captain, who was effectively in command of the current mess, was taking direction from a lieutenant, albeit one who seemed to know what he was doing. The engineers were engaged in poking around, apparently gathering aircraft fragments on the surface and digging up the heavier parts from the impact craters. One of the aircraft was Soviet and the other one... wasn't. Part of his command was deployed to guard the engineers, tanks and infantry scattered across terrain that lacked much tactical appeal. He'd been encouraged to leave his East German allies back in the original defensive position, well out of sight range. And the engineers had been most insistent that everyone be ready at all times to suit up in full chemical protective gear, with armored crews to button up and activate their NBC systems. When he'd pointed out that none of the infantry replacements had been issued the requisite suits and masks and many of the remaining troops had used up their filters, fresh gear had been issued promptly, full kit, and without any red tape. What exactly were the engineers expecting? (Brusilov never heard the reason and wouldn't have believed it if he had. The engineers, knowing they were poking around for new electronics in the wreck of an American F-16, were concerned the hydrazine tank in the wreck might rupture and were trying to ensure Brusilov's men had a chance at survival. Kindness, if you will, but not the sort of kindness that reassures.)

When the security element sounded the alarm, the American attack was already sweeping into close range. Confusion reigned as the tank crews cranked their vehicles and the infantry closed in on the engineer's work sites to provide close protection.

FORCES

Force size was 90 points each. The Soviet side had a T-64 battalion, a motor-rifle battalion and an attached East German T-55 battalion. The American deployed an M60 company, an infantry company and four A-10 Warthogs.

NOTE: This plane is not a friend to the Marxist–Leninist state.

SETUP

Using the Team Yankee More Missions rules, Breakthrough was selected, the Americans (Fitzi) were the attackers. Time of day was determined to be daylight.

In this scenario, the defender deploys half of their forces on table in either of two table quarters, diagonally opposite each other. Objectives are placed by the attacker in one of the remaining quarters and their force deploys in the remaining (diagonally opposite) quarter, with at least one unit in reserve.

The American player put both objectives along the table centerline and held a single M60 platoon in reserve. The Soviet player deployed two infantry companies and two T-64 companies with a Carnation battery for support. They also deployed three small AA units, a recon unit (used to spearhead an infantry company forward) and a Storm AT unit in ambush. The tanks deployed to one quarter, hiding behind buildings, and the infantry split to cover the objectives.

Initial setup, the American forces are in the lower left foreground and the Soviet forces above and to the right, in or behind cover wherever possible. Most of the fighting will occur around the objective at the picture center.

Turn 1 - Attacker

The American player called in air support (4 A-10s) and advanced tanks and mech infantry into both Soviet deployment areas. After the ground forces attempted to suppress the Soviet antiaircraft units with fire, the aircraft concentrated on the Soviet tanks and manged to kill one T-64 and bailed a second but lost one aircraft to a Strela-1 missile from the relatively weak Soviet AA umbrella. The T-64 company in question failed morale and fled. Meanwhile concealment was not enough to protect a Soviet BMP-2 transport unit from tank fire. If it could kill a tank, the Americans shot at it.

Killed - 3 x T-64, 3 x BMP-2, 2 x Shilka
Lost - 1 x A-10

Turn 1 - Defender

The Soviet player received a reinforcement unit and decided to bring in a BMP-2 scout unit to bolster the number of units on board for the T-64 battalion which was getting close to a formation morale check. Infantry advanced to cover the objective near the board center. With the Americans advancing in the open, the Soviet player revealed his Storm ambush and opened up on the American vehicles and infantry. Considering the number of shots fired, results were meager and no morale checks were required.

Killed - 2 x M60, 1 x Infantry.

Turn 2 - Attacker

No aircraft appeared this turn but the ground forces continued to advance while putting out effective fire. One of the BMP-2 transport units was completely wiped after the second round of fire.

Killed - 1 x T-64, 2 x BMP-2, 1 x BRDM-2

Turn 2 - Defender

East German reinforcements started to arrive, with a T-55AM2 company + battalion commander blitzing onto the battlefield behind the T-64 battalion. Infantry now covering the center objective rolled to dig in and failed to do so. Soviet shooting continued to be be inaccurate but target selection improved as a kill and a bail on an M60 company resulted in failed morale and the remnants departed the battlefield.

Killed - 3 x M60, 1 x Infantry

Turn 3 - Attacker

No ground reinforcements appear but the three surviving A-10s pay a return visit, while their friends on the ground killed one Gaskin and bailed the other vehicle in the unit to reduce the AA threat. The A-10s used their Maverick missiles to snipe from beyond the remaining AA units' range, killing two T-64s, although the survivor of the company managed to pass their morale check as did the remaining Gaskin launcher. Shooting results were good but the Storm unit absorbed a surprising number of shots before expiring.

Killed - 2 x T64, 3 x Storm, 1 x BMP-2 OP, 3 x BRDM-2, 1 x Gaskin

Turn 3 - Defender

Two more reinforcements where available and, after dithering between AA and armor, the Soviet player chose to bring on two more T-55AM2 tank companies. With a successful blitz move and the T-55 company already on board, the new arrivals focused on eliminating the infantry threat, supported by the remaining BMP-2 transport unit which has been hiding from unfriendly eyes as much as is possible. The BMP-2s managed to kill a VADS and the survivor fled while two M113 transport units suffered enough kills and bails to test morale. Both failed and the survivors fled. The Soviet infantry on the center object once again failed to dig in.

Killed - 2 x VADS, 8 x M113

Turn 4 - Attacker

The American player received a ground reinforcement but the A-10s stayed safely off board. The newly arrived M-60 platoon arrived in an excellent position behind the center objective, being able to shoot at an AA team from the Soviet infantry company which was located behind rather than in the woods the rest of the unit occupied and who were therefore totally without cover. Exploiting this opportunity, the American infantry attempted an assault on the objective after the tanks fired. Unfortunately for the American, his divided fire didn't pin the defending infantry unit and the assault failed.

Killed - 2 x BMP-2, 2 x Infantry

Turn 4 - Defender

At this point, having determined that the Soviet infantry unit on the objective on the objective would dig in this turn, we called the game a draw. There wasn't enough time available to reach Turn 6 when victory determination would begin.

Final positions in the center zone where most of the action occurred. American tanks lurk behind the Soviets in the left foreground.
East German reinforcements give the Soviet player hope for survival. An additional T-55 company is just outside camera range.

DISCUSSION

In this battle, the American player held an initial force superiority, worked to exploit that advantage tactically and made effective use of their aircraft. The Soviet plan was little more than hang on and wait for reinforcements while exacting a blood tax on the American forces. Overall the Soviet plan worked up to Turn 4, when the game was called due to time and rated a draw. But in the Breakthrough scenario, you need to reach Turn 6 to determine a victor and as of Turn 4 neither player held a clear advantage.

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