Firestorm: Stripes

A small town, about an hour or so from Leipzig proper, Triptis was just a quaint farming community largely untouched by battle. Until today. “Enemy tanks due East, 1000 meters”. This was the first thing I heard over the radio. Knowing the town was the primary objective on the unusually flat terrain, I ordered Muhler and von Steuben to push into the town while Meyer took up a firing position just to the south of the town in a small tree line.

As I was moving into the town with Muhler, I hear four tank shots, then a few seconds later, nothing. No kill. “There are enemy soldiers across the street!” One of Muhler’s platoon leaders spotted American infantry in the town. Looks like we are going to be in for a tough one.

Trying to seize the initiative, Muhler orders his men to attack the enemy. Unknowingly he stepped into a hail of heavy machinegun fire, from infantry and vehicles alike, falling back with minimal casualties. Meanwhile, von Steuben was flanking around to the north of Triptis, he was just outside the town making his approach, “Incoming!!!!”. The enemy artillery had played another dirty trick. They were able to put a small minefield in the path of von Steuben’s men, some of which were caught in the open, but managed to avoid most of the destruction. Seeing that he was about to lose the initiative, von Steuben ordered his men through the minefield at all costs, fortunately at no loss to men or material.

I hear three loud explosions in the distance; I look to see that Meyer had lost 3 of his tanks. To help out I call up Leutnant Albert Klaus and his Spandrel missiles. At the same time, my air cover arrives, two Hinds under the command of Hauptmann Bruno Wrenn. His aircraft come screaming overhead on his way to try and take out the enemy tanks. I see him get into position and see two anti-tank missiles launch. Sparks fly as the missiles bounce off and explode nowhere near the tanks. I know Abrams are tough, but this is ridiculous. Luckily, Meyer’s men had spotted an enemy missile team, and proceeded to neutralize it. Two rounds fired, one loud explosion. Good kill.

Just as Klaus had appeared, he disappeared just as quickly. The American’s brought allies, fellow Germans. A West German Panzergrenadier company had shown up from the south, took aim and fired at the Hinds. One goes screaming to earth and explodes, all souls lost, the other sees the danger and retreats from the field, so much for ruling the skies. “Hammer2 reports all vehicles in position,” says Klaus and I acknowledge him. Then out of nowhere, boom, boom, boom. All three of his BRDM Spandrels were gone, all I got on the radio was silent.

Muhler and von Steuben were having some success, but with high casualties. The enemy brought his anti-air into the town to use against my men. Some of Muhler’s men had seen the threat and ripple fired RPG’s at them. They were able to kill one and a couple of enemy APC’s. Seeing that they were running out of fire support assets in the town, I ordered Muhler and von Steuben to finish off the rest of the enemy in the town. After all three of my batteries were done with their fire, Muhler and von Steuben rushed the enemy. Heavy gunfire and yelling ensued, and after about five minutes it had ended. “Town secured, ACE report to follow. 15 men KIA, 5 WIA, Yellow on ammo, Green on spirits.” Muhler reported. The report was similar from von Steuben. The cost to take the town was high, too high.

“Kapitan Petrovich reporting for action.” He had brought four of the trusted T-64 tanks with him. Now, I thought, we could do some damage. “Guns up and ready to fire.” Tanks fire, sparks fly, no damage, none at all. It seemed nothing could take out these tanks.

“Pull back, pull back into the town!” Meyer had ordered his and the other remaining T-72 into the town to provide cover from enemy Abrams. I was able to talk to him in person, and he told me that their rounds were bouncing off, no effect at all. What was with these American tanks, it seems as if God himself was protecting them. So sooner than he told me this, his tank exploded, throwing Meyer from the tank. He landed about 30 feet from me, and I could see that he was dead, no life in his eyes.

I hear rotors, but they are not mine. I have no idea where they are coming from or where they are about to land, but I do know that they are American Huey’s. No sooner than the dust settles, enemy machinegun fire erupts from the woods to the west, behind us. The enemy had surrounded us. I look over and see four burning T-64’s through my binos. Then the Abrams appear. They had suckered us in. Then I saw the markings on one of the Abrams, I was Comanche Troop. Captain Mathews had done it once again. I commend him on his deceptive plan and the execution.

Though Hauptmann Mathews, we will meet again.