Firestorm: Stripes

United States Marine Corps Order of Battle in true combine arms approach!!!

Rifle Company
Rifle Company HQ 1 Rifle Team
Rifle Platoon 6 M249 teams
2 SMAW
2 TOW
1 60mm mortar
Rifle Platoon 6 M249 teams
2 SMAW
2 TOW
1 60mm mortar
4 AAV7
HMMWV SAM Platoon 4 HMMWV SAM
HMMWV TOW AT Platoon 2 HMMWV TOW
HMMWV TOW AT Platoon 2 HMMWV TOW
AA Platoon 4 M247 SGT York
Tank Platoon 4 M60A1
LAV Platoon 4 LAV25
Artillery Battery 6 M109
Forward Observer 1 HMMWV
Attack Flight 4 AV-8 Harriers
Attack Helicopter Platoon 4 AH-1 Cobra

Order of Battle for the Volks Armee
Volks Armee

Panzer Battalion
Battalion HQ 1 T55AM2
Panzer Kompanie 5 T55AM2
Panzer Kompanie 5 T55AM2
Panzer Kompanie 5 T72M
MOT-Schutzen Company
10 Mpi KM/RPG-18
9 RPG 7 AT
1 PKM LMG
11 BTR-60
2 AT-4 Spigot & BTR60
1 SA-14 Gremlni AA & BTR-60
Flak Zug 4 SA-13 Gopher
Panzerabwehr Zug 3 Spandrel
Forward Observer 1 BMP-1
Artillerie Batterie 6 2S1 Carnation
Artillerie Batterie 6 2S1 Carnation
Helicopter Squadron 4 Mi-24 Hind
Assault Landing Company 4 Mpi KM/RPG-18
4 RPG7 AT
Auflarungs Zug 3 BMP-1
Auflarungs Zug 3 BMP-1

The Marine Corps battalion commander sized up the opposing force and concentrated on the mechanized forces on his right flank. The dug in infantry on the left might have delayed his advance past the 9 hours scheduled. He kept his tanks back and infantry hugging the ground as he approached the battlefield. He knew the NVA would get the first shot. The plan of attack was to suppress the air defense and then bomb the crap out of the NVA while the infantry and armor advanced.

Turn 1 Round Up
The NVA stay quiet to keep the gone to ground and concealment until the Marines close in with the exception of one battery of artillery. They open up on the Army SGT Yorks hoping to kill the AA. They did little to the AA, but did kill 2 US Marine teams. Bad luck!!

The Marines smoked the front and moved up the infantry and tanks. The Cobras popped up and targeted the NVA anit area with a SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) mission. The NVA commander thought he would be better off waiting to his own turn to return fire hitting on a 4 instead of immediate AA fire to hit on a 6. Bad choice! 3 Gophers down. The Harriers came in for a bombing run and killed two BTR-60s. A dragon team opened up from the little village and smoked another BTR-60.

Turn 2 Round up...

The NVA strategy is to remain in place until turn 9 and has to lose one unit per turn starting in turn 2. Brian elects the scout platoon on my left flank to disengage! He then drops a smoke screen in the same area as me, so I cannot open up and wanting me to fall into his trap for my infantry. He does bombard the town and kills one LAV25 in cover. His last SAM gets two missiles off and misses the Cobras.

My biggest mistake this turn was not to dig in my infantry. I could have just say back with Dragon and SMAW teams and nail vehicles! Two of the Cobras concentrate on the last SAM and kill it! My next objective are the Carnations with their direct fire AT21. I knock out three with Cobras and SMAWs. No Harriers this turn %&(#)#$)*!!!!

Turn 3 Roundup
Well no more smoke... game on! and it hurts.
NVA opens up with everything on the Marines approaching in the field. Three M60s and 4 infantry teams gone. Surprisingly no SGT Yorks killed.

Anticipating all hell being unleashed, the Marine commander brought every vehicle into line on turn 2. A combination of a suicide run by the LAV 25s, SGT Yorks, Cobras, AAV7s, harriers, and infantry AT weapons destroyed 6 BTRs, 2 T55s, and 6 Carnations.

Then darkness falls! Time for NATO to be the hunter!

Turn 4 Roundup.

NVA removes the Spandrel Platoon. Looks like we forgot a team on the third turn!

The Marine suicidal push with the LAV 25s, sees two LAVs hightailing it out of there!
The NVA releases their forgotten Hinds from ambush. They want blood... they want the Cobras. SGT Yorks kill two. The Hinds miss the Cobras in the darkness.

The NVA start a push up through the center I believe to get behind me. They also push forward their infantry to play with my artillery and stingers.

No harriers this turn. They haven't done a lot yet. Nor have my HMMWV TOWs. They only manage to kill one Spandrel the whole game despite some amazing opportunities!

The Cobras move closer to the NVA to reduce the night dice roll limitations. All the carnations are dead this turn! Whew! Those things hurt.

Turn 5 Roundup:

NVA removes the remaining BTRs. The BTRs cannot scratch the SGT Yorks. At this point the NVA player has to consider critical units to the defense.

NVA were able to destroy one HUMMWV SAM and one HUMMWV with a TOW. They also saw the vulnerability on their left flank and had the Hinds land the remaining infantry to guard the objective.

The Marines were able to kill and bail a couple T55s. Harriers did nothing! The FP 5 on the cluster bomb makes it difficult to kill armored and dug in infantry.

Turn 6 Roundup:
NVA starts to reinforce their left flank with more tanks and digs the infantry in.

USMC push forward and throws down more firepower killing a T55 platoon and one T72 tank.

Turn 7 Round up:

NVA pulls the hinds. They didnt do much with the darkness. Aircraft are horrible at night with the exception of the Cobra!

USMC lines up for the final push. Mk19 grenade launchers, M16s, 40mm guns, TOW rockets, and no Harriers make the final assault and kill!

After action thoughts.

1. Darkness is the realm of NATO
2. I am not sure about Harriers
3. Take the Copperheads with the 109s or buy a second flight of Cobras
4. Keep infantry dug while in front of 14 BTRs.
5. A LAV suicide push can be risky, but can be fortuitous
6. No walkmans for the HUMMWV TOWs
7. NVA shouldnt forget their Hinds in ambush
8. I am not sure it healthy to leave field artillery hanging out there alone in front of 23 stands of infantry with AT weapons!
9. The Army did alright with the SGT Yorks.
10. A couple questions for next game... Change Pattons for infantry? change artillery for another flight of Cobras? what do with the Harriers for 6 points?