Firestorm: Stripes

Division has assigned Welsh Guards the task of keeping the A430 open by protecting the northern flank of the push from Ruhr to Amsterdam.

Recce has maintained a constant vigil, especially to the north where the last WARPAC units withdrew. This suddenly paid off and the com net has erupted.

"Delilah One Four to Delilah. Enemy, believed to be East German, moving through the Opera House Plaza in your direction. Three axes of attack. Already deploying artillery positions in the Recklinghausen district. Estimate attacking force at battalion strength, minimum. Over."

The Major turned to his XO; "Well, Llewellyn. Let's welcome our guests."

The British deployed one infantry platoon on the left objective, backed by one Chieftain troop and the Spartans on the far left in a reverse slope position and the other infantry platoon on the right objective with the Rapier battery and their FV 432's on their far right flank. The Milan platoon deployed as far forward as possible with the intention to occupy the Petrikirche tower as soon as possible. The Scimitars and the remaining Chieftain troop deployed in the center, in the gap between the Milan platoon and the second infantry platoon.

Though defenders, the East Germans deployed forward. On their far right was a company of T-72's in the center were two full companies of dismounted infantry backed by their BMP's and supported by two batteries of Carnations and one of BM-21 Hails. The Hinds loitered off board, awaiting the destruction of the Rapier battery.

First platoon on the left, attempts to dig in and fails. The commander moves over and orders them to try again and they fail again.

MILAN platoon occupies the Petrikirche tower in roughly the center of the board giving them a largely unobstructed field of fire, which given the range of the MILAN, meant they covered the whole board.

The Charlie G's of 1 Platoon fire on the BRDM recon troop and bail two of the four.

The Recce withdrew into the warrens of the old town streets and the Chieftain platoons and integral infantry Milans all fired, causing multiple BMP's to cook off.

(DISCLAIMER: I HAVE SEEN BAD DICE ROLLING. I HAVE ON OCCASION EVEN ENGAGED IN BAD DICE ROLLING. BUT I HAVE RARELY SEEN DICE ROLLING AS BAD AS MY OPPONENT. I'M SURE HE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SYMPATHY)

The East Germans took some lumps but that was to be expected. Now they would repay the favor; at least in theory.....to do so though would require rolling something other than ones, twos and an occasional three. No damage to the Welsh and even a failure to remount the BRDM which sat under the guns of the British infantry. The left most German infantry slid left to better cover their left objective and the right most German infantry moved toward the Welsh who had failed to dig in; at dash speed--which meant no firing for Hans.

The T-72's moved forward and the Hinds continued to loiter off board.

The German now played his Ace. The god of war, the artillery. All three batteries fired. All ranged in. All got hits. The template for the largest battery even managed to encompass both the Milan platoon and the Chieftain platoon. Result? The Milan platoon was pinned and one base in the first platoon was killed.

The 1st Platoon finally digs in. They fire at the massive German platoon to their front and kill some, but far from enough. Their Charlie G's fire on the stationary BRDM's and kill the two good vehicles.The Chieftain troop supporting them moves to its left to support the Spartans which will soon face the T-72's cresting the hill.

The MIlan platoon unpins and fires at the BMPs on the British left/German right. Four hits; four kills added to the previous tally. Only one remains in working order.

The Scimitars do what they do best and move from cover to fire on the BMP's on the British right/German left. Only five BMP's survive the torrent of fire.

The second Chieftain troop moves unopposed into the center of the table looking for the artillery batteries. Two Carnations explode in flames in the nearest battery.

The FV 432's from 2nd Platoon moved up and machine gunned the German infantry moving to their front. 15 shots, 9 hits and wait for it......the Germans failed all but two infantry saves.

The losses are beginning to tell, but the German decides on a massive assault with all available troops to turn the tide. After all, the dice can't be consistently bad; can they?

T-72's crest the hill to their front and fire on the Chieftain troop. One bail, one kill. Perhaps the dice have returned.

The remaining gun in the small battery passes its morale test to remain on the board, turns and fires at its tormentors. Another bail!

The large Carnation battery fires a smoke barrage to cover the infantry assault to come this turn.

The BM-21's fire at the Petrikirche again but fail to register a hit this time.

Nonetheless, the assault goes in. It is stopped cold by the defensive fire from the dug in British.

All in all a much better result than last turn though. The German decides he'll take it.

The bailed Chieftains remount in both platoons.

The Scimitars move to the retaining wall and begin to fire into the remaining BMP's to their front killing the last 5.

The Milans in the tower fire on the T-72's and bail two. The Chieftains and the Spartans now kill the remaining four tanks in the platoon which fails its morale test and leaves the field.

With the smoke gone the British infantry and their support FV 432's pour fire onto the German infantry killing the platoon.

The FV 432's on the right flank pour fire onto the German platoon to their front but it is dug in and shrugs off all attempts to push them off the objective. The Chieftains on the right fire on the remaining vehicle in the small battery and kill it.

Despite heavy losses the German is a man possessed. While he concedes he probably won't be able to win by this point, he is determined to kill as many Welsh as possible.

With only the Carnations, the BM 21's, the Hinds and the dug in infantry remaining, the position is critical.

Only one option remains. Greife den Feind an! The Carnations move onto the objective and fire at the Chieftains to their front. A kill!

The BM-21's fire on the Welsh infantry on the German right and pin them in place while simultaneously killing an FV 432 and bailing a second.

Scenting blood, the Welsh moved out across the board, with the exception of the Milans in the church tower. From their vantage point they fired on the Carnations killing two. The two remaining Chieftains also fired on the Carnations, killing three and bailing the sole survivor.

The Germans had nothing remaining to contest the objective, unless that bailed Carnation could remount. The zaftig lass hadn't sung yet but she was warming up.

While I still draw breath, I can still kill Imperialist oppressors!

Nothing for it but to bring on the Hinds in an attempt to kill the Chieftains and try to bag a platoon.

Clever placement puts the Hinds under fire from only one Rapier from the battery of four. I have a chance if only the dice will cooperate.....

The Rapier hit on all three dice and the German failed on two of three aircraft saves.

Cue the somber German dirge....