Firestorm: Stripes

+++ "To me death is better than the defensive." - Alexander Suvorov

+++ This was a rematch of the last game. I didn't even change the table as the set up was different. Another Quick Mission - this time Recon in Force.

After set up we

We rolled of to see who was defender and who was attacker and Frym3n was the attaacker.

+++ ATTACKER WEST GERMANY

WEST GERMAN I CORPS
German 1st Panzerdivision

Marder Panzergrenadier Kompanie 60 points

HQ 11
HQ – Leopard 2 11

FORMATION UNITS 46

Leopard 2 Panzer Zug 2x Leo 2 22
Leopard 2 Panzer Zug 2x Leo 2 22
Luchs Spah Trupp 2x Luchs 1
Luchs Spah Trupp 2x Luchs 1

DEFENDER - SOVIET UNION

2nd Guards Tank Army

T-64 Tank Battalion 60 points

HQ
HQ – T-64 6

FORMATION UNITS 54
Tank Coy – 4x T-64 19
Tank Coy – 4x T-64 19
Tank Coy – 3x T-64 13
BMP-2 Recce 2x BMP-2 3

+++ WEST GERMAN TURN 1

Again the West Germans got the first turn and manoeuvered their tanks into firing positions. Their fire was moderately successful, destroying 2x T-64 tanks and bailing the third.

The worst was yet to come, I joined my formation commander to the unit with one active T-64 and one bailed and for the second time failed morale on a "1". So much for fearless.

"One minute decides the outcome of a battle, one hour the success of a campaign, one day the fate of empires." - Alexander Suvorov

+++ Not everything stands the test of time, but sometimes you just have to relax and let go.

+++ SOVIET TURN 1

Well there was nothing to do but to do the best and advance. I tried to set up so as to limit a little the return fire. Then I went to shooting and the few shots that found their mark bounced off on the thick skin of the Leopards.

+++ WEST GERMAN TURN 2

The Germans sensing victory at hand moved their Luchs to capture two objectives, giving them three at the end of the turn.

Fire was pretty destructive this turn and thankfully I still had my Recon intact or else I wouldn't have any unit in good spirits and the Formation Leader was of course no where to be seen (and it will remain so, once found he will be nowhere to be seen permanently).

+++ SOVIET TURN 2

After that first turn I didn't fail a single morale test or attempt to remount so I was still in the game, well for now.

The Germans were now in possession of 3 objectives so I decided to do something about the Luchs. And did. I managed to take out one from each platoon and the others failed their morale.

Well that was 2 platoons destroyed.

+++ WEST GERMAN TURN 3

Well not that it made a great difference.

The Germans would just have to destroy the Soviets tank by tank. And did. When the smoke cleared only a single bailed T-64 remained. So the Soviets automatically failed their formation morale.

+++

Well so go the fickle fortunes of war.

That was the second game I lost my formation commander on a "1" in the first turn along with 18 points of tanks. It was a bummer.

But I have also been lucky enough to see things go the other way around and Frym3n as well.

When fortunes were different

The thing to remember is not to let your frustrations get the better of you. It was still a entertaining game game against a good opponent.

+++ Alas comrades, I think we will lose Hamburg if our fortunes do not turn.