Firestorm: Stripes

My uncle and I played a modified “Meeting Engagement” scenario. We played with our artillery off-board and used them like strike aircraft, unless it was integral to the formation, i.e. 1 x Battery of Carnations for the NVA. So any artillery that is designated as “Divisional Support”, was only used on 4+. Another modification we used was reinforcements started to arrive on turn 2, though the game only lasted about 3 rounds, mainly due to a time constraint. Our club usually plays more TOE, rather than points, so the units are comparable. Here is the first engagement of my NVA forces, and well the first in either campaign scenario. Enjoy.

Written from the commander of 9 Mot-Schutzen Battalion, Jakob Schultz.

My battalion was on a recon mission in the Hof Corridor trying to find a weakness in the defensive line. On a bright sunny Saturday afternoon, glorious day came to a screeching halt.

Near a small village, we met resistance. We took fire from our right flank, by what I can only guess was enemy tanks. My scout element was destroyed in the opening volley, no survivors from any of the tracks. Kapitan Muhler spotted them and radioed, “Enemy tanks, 3 o’clock, 500 meters!” I then ordered him to take his remaining BMP’s and head straight for the bridge in the village to secure a crossing. Once they began to move, I ordered Kaptain Haas and his T-72’s to take up a position along the river and provide covering fire. I heard several shots ring out from our tanks, but no explosions in the distance. I can only hope that they forced the enemy tanks to relocate.

Just as Haas opened fire, another BMP from Muhler’s company went up in smoke, luckily all but the driver and gunner made it out. “Enemy ITV, 1 o’clock, 300 meters”, I heard over the radio. The enemy came with some force.
Overhead I hear the Hinds taking up positions to unload their infantry on the other bridge. “Enemy APC directly ahead. Open fire.” I honestly cannot say who that came from, but looking into the distance, there were 4 enemy APC, I believe they were American M113’s. No sooner than the command to fire came, I see 3 of them go up in smoke.

“Pull back, find cover. Pull back!!!” Kaptain Haas and his tanks had not driven the enemy Abrams from the hill and were taking heavy casualties. Hass tried to pull his tanks out, then I heard his radio go silent. No response from him on the radio. I hear his second in command take over and using the smoldering hulks of burning tanks and BMP’s as cover, skirted back to rejoin the infantry.

Now, taking in what was going on, I call in my artillery. They pound the hill in the center, with the ITV’s. I can see smoke from the woods atop it, good hit. Muhler has taken the bridge, but still has not completely secured it. It seems the infantry in the 113’s was still alive and putting up a fight. Using his remaining BMP’s, Muhler flanks around, across the river, and is pouring fire down upon the enemy flank, but to little avail.

I can hear the whine of an engine, then a loud explosion. “Bird down, I say again, bird down!” Enemy AA fire had taken 2 of my Hinds. I ordered Muhler to focus some anti-tank assests to deal with the enemy AA. “Got it. One down.” The enemy AA was taken down a notch. From just behind my command post I hear the “whoosh” of missiles, my Gremlins had found a target, enemy helos.

At this point, Kaptain Strauss and his infantry came onto the field, apparently, they were in a hurry and forgot their ride. I was glad to see more of my countrymen join the fight. They enemy was giving as good as they got. Muhler’s company had lost all but 2 of his BMP’s but were still holding their position. “Tanks, 1 o’clock, 800 meters.” They had brought up at least one other platoon of tanks. Then I hear fire from atop the hill in the center. I guess not all the armor on the hill was neutralized. I see muzzle flashes, then all but one of the T-72’s went up in smoke. The enemy had moved more of their tanks onto that hill.

“They’re coming at us, shoot, shoot!!” The enemy had launched an assault after Muhler. His men were able to push back the infantry with heavy fire, but the enemy tanks had closed in and pushed him back to another position. The bridge was now contested. It seemed that it was going to be that way. Neither force had the capability to take the bridge, but if we could, we can hold it. I ordered Muhler to pull his men to the other side of the river and dig in. It was going to be a long, long night.

As much as I want to have a unified country, the cost can sometimes be too high. Losing an excellent tank commander, Haas, and the countless others makes it seem not worth it. But I know, the sooner this war is over, the sooner I can see all Germans as one.