Firestorm: Stripes

+++ ATTACKER T-64 BATTALION

HQ
T-64 6

FORMATION UNITS 49

Tank Coy – 3x T-64 13
Tank Coy – 3x T-64 13
Tank Coy – 3x T-64 13
BMP-2 Motor Rifle – small: 4xAk-74, 3xRPG-7, 4x BMP-2 8
ZSU-23-4 Shilka SAM Plt – 2x 2

SUPPORT UNITS 10
MI-24 Hind – 4x Hind 10

+++ DEFENDER US MECH COY

HQ

HQ – Captain + M113 1

FORMATION UNITS 54

M113 Mech plt, full, 4x M249, 3x Dragon, 4x M113 6
M113 Mech plt, full, 4x M249, 3x Dragon, 4x M113 6
M1 Abrams tank Plt – 4x IPM1 Abrams 36
M901 ITV Anti-tank Plt 3
M901 ITV Anti-tank Plt 3

SUPPORT UNITS 10
M163 VADS AA Plt – 4xM163 6
HMMWV SAM Plt 4xHMMWV Stinger 4

+++

Renewal of hostilities and we played out first battle at Hof. It was good to face Gandri again. We played the standard mission with a small twist. Lately our battles have become more and more infantry oriented and we agreed that at least half our points had to be MBT (Main Battle Tanks) to make the battle quicker and more fun!

The Soviet plan was straight forward, two attacks. The main attack with 2x T-64 Coy and Shilkas would be against one objective while the other would be with 1x T-64 Coy and the infantry.

Gandri set up to defend, deploying VADS and one ITV platoon with the Abrams in ambush.

We were playing the T-64 and IPM1 Abrams for the first time and we found that the front armor was nearly impenetrable at longer ranges so the first shooting was ineffective. The Hinds joined the fray and with tank support took out the VADS.

Then we moved to close combat and Gandri gained the upper hand when he destroyed two T-64 tanks and the remaining one fled taking the Battalion commander (2+ morale) with him. Guess what I rolled!

With the primary attack stalling I the secondary attack moved in. After having taken out the ITV reinforcements with no loss only the company commander was left to contest the objective.

The US commander bravely fended off the first assault while the arrival of the HMMWV stingers took out 2 of the Hinds.

The battle had reached its climax, the Soviet attack was under pressure but not broken. Who would gain the upper hand?

The Abrams tanks were preforming extremely well but could not deal with both attacks and unfortunately the US reserves were all turning up on their left flank. In a desperate move the US sped on Mech plt to the other flank. But at this time the Soviet T-64's and BMP-2 had taken up a strong defensive position and stopped them cold. Before taking out the US Commander in an assault.

The US player had two possibilities of contesting the objective.

Unpin his infantry - failed

Blitz his M1 Abrams - failed

So he used his last turn to destroy a second T-64 coy and the Shilka AA plt.

The Soviet player won at the beginning of his next turn holding on objective.

A good battle against a worthy opponent.

Hard fought battles are the best!