Firestorm: Stripes

Prototype in the Leipzig!
Prologue:
A resident from the village of Gutmunchen was out birdwatching when he spotted something unusual parked on a small hill. The past weeks have taught him about Soviet tanks, and what they looked like. It looked like a T-72 tank, but somehow it was different. It was almost as if it had been modified somewhat. He managed to take some photos undetected by the Soviet troops, developed them when he got home and gave all of the photos to an American officer who promptly showed them to his battalion commander, Colonel Attwood.

Briefing:
“You have been given a grand opportunity to pay back the Russkies after that last outing, Captain.” Colonel Attwood offered him a cup of coffee. “I’m not following you, Colonel.” as the Captain sits while sipping his coffee. Attwood replied, “Just like you, I do not like surprises like the last attack you led out there. Your boys got banged up pretty badly the last time out there.” The Captain nodded silently, “What do you want us to do?” Attwood sipped his coffee, “Time is of the essence. It seems that that the Russkies have an unusual tank that is immobile on a small hill outside the village of Gutmunchen. They are trying to recover it. The last aerial recon photos indicate that there is an armored presence there which is odd considering that all other Russkie units are retreating in the area.” Attwood paused for a moment to let this news sink in. “Captain, your job is to capture that tank, preferably in an intact state. We cannot let the Russkies have it back. “ The Captain sighed, “Colonel , with all due respect , Sir, my boys were mauled pretty badly in the last fight and we had little to show for it.” Attwood nodded, “I understand Captain, but this order comes from the division Co, General Bryant himself.” The Captain let out a low whistle, “OK then, I guess I have my work cut out for me.” Attwood responded, “You will have forces on hand for this mission due to its importance and speed is the name of the game.” Attwood saluted him, “You’re dismissed Captain. Come back with your shield, or on it.” The Captain, puzzled by that last remark, “I don’t follow you , Colonel.” “Don’t worry about it, you’ll do fine. Now get out!”

Objective:
US: Immobilize prototype tank (See scenario special rules) OR destroy the prototype tank.
USSR: Repair the prototype tank so it can move off the nearest edge of the table OR break the M-1 formation.

Scenario special rules:
1. All Russian units are Gone to Ground and/or concealed if they are in the woods.

2. Repairing Prototype: Starting with Russian Turn 1 the Russian player rolls a D6.

1-3 the prototype remains where it is.

4-6 the prototype is repaired and can move 10” tactical, 12” terrain dash and 14” cross

country dash. The Russian player must exit off the nearest board edge in order to win.

3. Immobilizing the prototype: The US player may elect to immobilize the prototype instead

of destroying it. To immobilize the prototype, the US player must declare that his shot is to

immobilize. There is a +1 on the to hit die roll to reflect that it takes more time to aim.

4. Immobilizing the prototype will add 2 points to the US victory total

5. Destroying the prototype: The US player may elect to destroy the prototype instead of
immobilizing it. The stats for the prototype is the exact same as the T-72 except the US
firepower roll is reduced by two (ie. from 2+ to 4+). However, if the prototype is destroyed,
the US receives only 1 victory point as the scientists and engineers would rather have an
intact tank to study.

Turn 1
American
M1 tank platoon moved forward toward the concealed and gone to ground T-72 company. Shots were fired and 3 T-72s met their end, before they even had a chance to fight.
Cobra helicopters fired their TOWs and boldly missed.
M901 ITVs which were next to the Captain and his second in command in the woods fired and missed. The Captain and his 2-i-c each hit and brewed up a T-72 although the Captain’s shot was over a longer distance.
The remaining M1 platoon advanced and fired bailing out a T-72.
Russian
The lone T-72 of the company that was nearly destroyed by the M1 returned fire taking out an M1 in the process.
Another company of T-72s after losing one of their own returned fire, taking out one of the M901 ITV in a spectacular fireball of an explosion.
The third company of T-72s after losing one of theirs tot eh Captain’s amazing shooting, fired on an M1 platoon, taking out one of the tanks.
The prototype tank attempted to repair itself and failed.

Turn Two
American
The Cobras fired their TOWs at a BMP-2, bailing it out.
One M1 platoon fired on the T-72 company taking out one tank while the other stayed to fight on!
The M901 ITV fired its TOW at the nearest T-72 in the woods, blowing it up.
The Captain and his 2-i-c blew up a T-72 right next to the one just blown up by the M901.
The remaining T-72 failed its morale and crawled its way back to the Rodina.
The other M1 platoon fired again destroying the last T-72 of its company.
Scratch on T-72 company due to fire.
Russian
The prototype tank is fixed and now is moving! It could not make a beeline for the edge of the board due to the presence of American tanks. It went down the road, exposed itself from the woods adjacent to the road, fired a round and thus the remaining M901 ITV went down.
Motor company tries to move through the woods to close in on the M1 platoon.
Russian formation commander fired at the M1 platoon on the other side of the hill and boldly missed.

Turn 3
US
Half of the M1 platoon fired which immobilized the prototype tank
The other half of the platoon fired on the last T-72 in the company in the woods converting it to scrap.
The prototype was immobilized due to M1 fire.
The Cobras released their rockets on the motor infantry resulting in nothing.
The Russian formation commander fired his AAMG at the Cobras resulting in spectacular misses.

Russian
The prototype tank became mobile again pulling back into the woods for extra cover from fire.
The formation commander moved back along the road firing on the M1 tank. There was a hit but no
penetration.
The lone BMP-2 faced off against the HQ unit giving the Captain a surprise… an M1 scrapped into junk! It
was his own tank on top of it! The Captain quickly went into the 2-i-c’s tank and kept going.

Turn 4
US
M1 platoon shifted positions trying to intercept the prototype and failing to immobilize it..
The other M1 platoon also shifted position to shoot at the Russian formation commander’s tank,
knocking it out.
The Cobras engaged BMP-2s in opposite directions , but one BMP-2 went out in a hail of fire as the TOW
found its target.
Captain did a round about the field with his tank in an attempt to join up with the other M1 platoon.

Russian
The prototype tank moved out of the woods in a desperate bid to get off the board. It was one inch
short! It fired on an M1 but its marksmanship was not there today for it.

Turn 5
US
One M1 platoon attempted to immobilize the tank. There were six shots and all of the missed! The
Captain had to make an important call, try to immobilize it with the other M1 platoon or knock it out?
There was too much at stake and thus the Captain made the fateful decision of ordering the destruction
of the prototype. Three M1s fired delivering the fatal blow to the prototype. Thus the end has come,
the Russians failed.
US losses 1 platoon
USSR losses 3 platoons +1 VP for knocking out the prototype.

Russian List
T-72 Tank Battalion
HQ 1X T-72 5 pts
3 companies X 4 T-72 per company 51 pts
1X motor infantry company 8 pts
Total 64 pts

US List
M-1 Tank Company
HQ 2X M1 Abrams 16 pts
2 platoon each platoon with 4 X M1 Abrams 64 pts
2 X m901 ITVs 3 pts
2 X Cobra Helicopters 7 pts
Total 90 pts