Firestorm: Stripes

Finaly the infantry had arrived! The leathernecks showed up during night time, nearly shocking some poor Privates to death as their AAVP's broke through some bushes near the position of the tank company. It was the first time some of the soldiers saw SSG Stryker smile. It was a bitter smiling, as he knew that this guys would sell their lifes at the highest possible costs. Poor guys who would face this couragous warriors of freedom – some would say mad-men.

It was a nice day – sun was shining, weather was sweet (Some idiot left this goddamn song by Simply Red on repeat all day long!). Soon after lunch the Force Recon heard the sound of WARPAC tanks coming nearer – and so again the marines took on their defensive positions near a nameless village, ready to keep the enemy at bay.

The infantry dug in in some ruined houses at the outskirts of the village, their Dragon launchers already targeting towards the enemy as he arrived on the battlefield. It would become a massacre!

One of the M60 platoons hid near some trees, their guns facing the enemy, too. The TOW HMMWVs had a good field of fire as well as the M247s of the air defense.
2nd Platoon and the company commander stayed in reserves.

Multiple enemy tank units much under strenght showed up on the horizon, and as soon as they arrived they where taken under fire by the 1st platoon which destroyed one of the T72 companys as well as the east german commander. The Dragon teams of the infantry killed two enemy tanks on the other flank as well.

The east german advance was slowed, but not crushed. Two other companys of three tanks each surrounded a wheat field to engage the unprotected flank of the US forces and destroy the M247 tanks. After more loss of life and material on the east german side, the AA tanks where burning in the edge of the battlefield and it was time to call in the HIND helicopter by the NVA.

The HIND fired on the column of the american M60 tanks which rushed to the other side of the battlefield to counter the advance of the remaining T72 tanks, and destroyed one of them – but at the cost of one shot down HIND which was hit by the AA MG of the AAVP7.

To end this slaughter and achive a quick victory the US commander decided to rush the TOW HMMWV's towards the objective. A risky move, and it prooved to be deadly for the lightly armored vehicles as the surviving HIND took his revenge on them and destroyed both.

In the end 2nd platoon and the CiC with his 2iC following up arrived on the battlefield and secured the second OBJ near the burning wreck of the east german commander. This ended the battle as a victory for the USMC.

Another tough one for my opponent. I could stay in cover with my M60's for most of the time, which hindered his firepower a lot! The T72M of the east germans are an ideal prey for the M60's, which prooved to be hard hitters in this class of tanks. I respect my opponent for keep playing although he knew he would loose so early – and seeing his frustration was hard to bear.
The east germans are a nice army, BUT I would realy love to see those T72's of them getting some buff. They could use a better skill rating (and as a Soldier of the Bundeswehr myself, I know that those NVA tankers in their T72's where skillful in the things they did! Today we serve under the same flag, and many of them where my instructors during all my career.) or they could use maybe a 4+ on the "to hit" rating. That would represent a lot of their skills, I think.

Sadly I can not link this report to Harald Knauers - but it relates to his DESPAIR Report. Give him a visit and maybe leave some comments there! Thank you.