Firestorm: Stripes

They had to take a rest after several days of marching and fighting. Force Recon had reported of some ruined village, which would be ideal for setting up a defensive position to allow the rest of the company to rest for some time. The infantry took up positions in the village, their guns and their watchful eyes pointing east.

The infantry was dug in in the ruins of the village, ready to face an attack and to hold their ground until reinforcements would arrive. The 1st Platoon stayed in ambush in the woods nearby. The two TOW HMMWV where securing the other flank which was considered relatively save due to some minefields.

The enemy was attacking on the full front in a solid line of steel and tanks. But where are those choppers?!

The enemy forces attacked the dug in infantry as well as 1st Platoon as soon as they lifted the ambush. The gunners in their M60 tanks did not had a good day, so most of the shots did not hit their target. The enemy pushed forward, during their approach they destroyed the platoon in a massive volley of gunfire.!
The infantry did better, holding their positions and giving the east germans a good fight! But it was not enough to hold back the red tide.

As soon as the 1st Platoon was gone, the enemy began surrounding the wood they had protected. One of the AAVPs of the infantry platoon was caught off guard and destroyed by one of the T72. On the other flank the commander of the 2nd bataillon of the east germans managed to destroy one of the TOW HMMWV facing them. Just as the situation seemed hopeless, it got even worse. The sound of incoming HIND was the best proof for an incoming air landing company on march. The east german infantryman landed behind the USMC defenses and threatened one of the OBJ. Luckily 2nd Platoon arrived on time to send them home with a buttkick!
But they only bought some time for the inevitable end of the game...

2nd Platoon now rushed on to flank the enemy tanks which still fought in the village. On their way forward they lost tank after tank to enemy fire, so soon their path was marked with burning wrecks.
Just one of the HIND was shot down by the arriving M247 AA tanks. On the other flank, things looked grim.

The last two tanks of the company arrived on the threatened flank just to be awaited by heavy enemy fire which endet in the destruction of both while trying to release the infantry in the village from enemy fire.

The end was inevitable, the infantry who had prooven their ground were surrounded by enemy tanks, every other vehicle of the company was nothing more than a burning wreck near this town. Even the M247 had tried to release them from enemy pressure but were destroyed while trying. A grim day in history for the USMC!

Uff! Hard battle, but I am more or less responsible for the outcome of the game. I have set up badly! While beeing an infantry-soldier myself I was too attracted by the ruins and houses and forgot about the foxholes my troops carried with them. It would have made more sense to stay back with the infantry to gain one or two shots more from the DRAGON teams. Sad! After this fault by myself even my dice seemed to tell me "Well... No!", and so the whole shooting of my ambush ended in just one destroyed T72 and one bailed out. Wow! The infantry destroyed another tank with the dragon and... well that was it! Pfuh! But hey, some days you win and some days you are just beaten like hell ;-)

Despite all this it was great fun - as always! And it's always a pleasure to have a game with some good tea together with a good friend! See you next time, Harald Knauer! ;-)