Firestorm: Stripes

The USSR T-72 Company backed up by a platoon of BMP-2 Motorstrelki infantry had positioned them along the edge of the forest before the attack. On the other side of the field the much lesser German forces have taken defensive positions in the forest. The plan was simple – overwhelm the defending Germans by pressing the whole tank company across the field and into the forest on the other side, having the infantry push along the road on the right side to cover the right flank and a Hind in backup to cover left flank. A battery of 2S3 was placed on standby to saturate enemy targets.

Upon given signal the units started their advance against German positions. One T-72 got bogged down before entering the field but the remaining force charged across. The platoon BMP-2 dashed down the road on the right flank and infantry advancing behind.

The Germans countered the T-72 charge with a BO-105P on the left flank. The chopper managed to kill the left most T-72 with a HOT-missile through the side armor. The remaining T-72 made it into concealment of the forest where German forces had their positions. The Hind – still in cover at the rear of the forest – must have presented itself as the worst threat to the Germans. A double Roland-battery with a Leo 2 moved into position on the right flank where the platoon of BMP-2 was heading. A very tight brawl turned out, with the BMP auto canons blasting off against the tank and AA-batteries, both sides taking casualties. The Hind following up on the right flank to suppress the final AA-battery. A close miss for the chopper and the Roland countered with a well-placed missile turning the Hind into burning scrap. By now infantry have closed into range mopping up the last AA-battery.

In the forest among the German defensive positions close duels take place between Leo 2 and T-72. The outnumbered Leo 2:s have both their high rate of fire and more difficult-to-hit to their advantage. Tanks advancing in forests are under risk to get bogged down and multiple T-72 lags behind the front because of that. However the leading T-72 uses their number to their advantage by moving and flanking to get side shots into the Leos. Eventually the last Leos are turned into scrap and USSR forces have secured the objective points.

The battle was a fairly straight on and brutal assault where USSR numbers proved to be a key to success. If the Germans would have infantry at hand the odds would have been much different.