Firestorm: Stripes

+++ After returning from the peace talks at the UN, I found the war situation critical and decided to shore of the defence of Brandenburg where the US are making their push.

I found elements of the 20th Guards Army to organise the defence but no Tank units were available. However new units of Hail Missile Launchers and Storm Anti-Tank had arrived at the front.

I would be the attacker at Brandenburg Brawl.

20-я гвардейская армия
20th Guards Army
35th Motor Rifle Division – Order of the Red Banner
BMP Motor Rifle Battalion - 50

HQ
AK-74 – 1x BMP-2 2

FORMATION UNITS 30
BMP-2 Motor rifle – med: 7xAk-74, 6xRPG-7, 2x LMG, 9x BMP-2 18
BMP-2 Motor Rifle – small: 4xAk-74, 3xRPG-7, 4x BMP-2 8
ZSU-23-4 Shilka SAM Plt – 4x Shilka 4

SUPPORT UNITS 18
MI-24 Hind – 4x Hind 10
BM-21 Hail Rocket Launcher Battery 3x BM-21 4
BMP-1 Observation Post (Independent unit) 1
Storm AT Platoon 3x Storm 3

Gandri's US defenders:

US Expeditionary Corps
Mech Company
50 Points

HQ
Captain + M113 1

FORMATION UNITS 45
M113 Mech plt, small, 3x M249, 2x Dragon, 4x M113 4
M113 Mech plt, small, 3x M249, 2x Dragon, 4x M113 4
M1 Abrams tank Plt – 3x IPM1 Abrams 27
M901 ITV Anti-tank Plt 3
M901 ITV Anti-tank Plt 3
M113 Scout section 2
M113 Scout section 2

SUPPORT UNITS 4
HMMWV SAM Plt 4xHMMWV Stinger 4

Gandri started with his IPM1 Abrams, one infantry unit, one ITV unit and one scout unit and used Spearhead to move his forces close to the objectives he was to capture. This forced my hand and I had to deploy defensively.

+++ US TURN 1

Gandri moved his Abrams tanks forward to engage the Sorm unit and fired with everything he had (meeting engagement - all units count as having moved). All he he did was to bail one Storm vehicle.

+++ SOVIET TURN 1

The Storm unit remained bailed. The BMP-2's advanced in line to tackle the lesser units while the Storms fired at the Abrams. Hails ranged in but failed to do damage, the BMP-2's bailed a ITV and destroyed a Dragon team. The Storms hit one Abrams but with the IPM armor it had no effect.

+++ US TURN 2

The Abrams moved in and engaged the Storms and destroyed the unit. Other fire was ineffective.

+++ SOVIET TURN 2

The BMP-2s continued their advance and managed to take out 2x M113 and one scout forcing the other to flee. Hails even managed to kill a n infantry team.

+++ US TURN 3
HMMWV SAM platoon arrives from reserves but at a terrible location, close to the BMP-2s so they dash to the rear.

Abrams turn to engage the BMP-2s and take out three of their number while the infantry take out another.

+++ SOVIET TURN 3
Reserves, situation critical so the Hinds fly in. A few BMP-2s manage to get into range of the HMMWV's. Hails fire at them but to no effect. The BMP-2s bail two. Next the Hinds engage the Abrams. The two remaining HMMWV's shoot down a Hind, leaving three to engage the Abrams. They manage to bail two and that is enough to force a unit moral test, which they fail.

This was a deciding moment in the battle. With their main offensive unit destroyed and most units close to breaking points Gandri chose to surrender the field.

It was understandable. There wasn't much he could do from then. Continuing he might have been able to destroy another unit but the battle seem to be a foregone conclusion.