Firestorm: Stripes

SUBJECT: ENCOUNTER WITH WARPAC FORCES ALONG AUTOBAHN A45
1147 HOURS, 6TH AUGUST 1985

The below commentary comes primarily from Hauptmann Mutterlieber, 1IC of the BLUEFOR Kampfgruppe in this engagement.

BLUEFOR ORBAT:

Deployed:
HQ Leopard 1
(2x) Full FV432 Mechanised Platoon with Milans
3 Leopard 2
2 Luchs
4 Milans(ambush)

Reserve:
3 Leopard 1
2 Luchs
2 LARS
4 FV432 Mortar Carriers
6 Gepards with 2 Redeye teams attached

**********

REDFOR ORBAT:

Deployed:
HQ T-64
4 T-64 with Songster
Full BMP-2 rifle company
2 BRDM scouts
6 Acacias with Krasnopol

Reserve:
3 T-64 with Songster
3 Storm
2 Shilka
2 Gecko
4 Gaskin

"I sent a British infantry zug forward to prevent 'Hotdog Hill' from falling into WARPAC hands. Supporting fire from our Leopards was able to knock out several hostile IFVs, but there were still a company's worth of them and their infantry on the other side of the hill."

"As expected the Soviets advanced onto the hill and put heavy fire on the Britishchers, but luck seemed to be on their side as they took only minor losses in this first volley."

"The Britishchers dug themselves in. Fire from their attached APCs quickly took out most of the Soviets charging up the hill. Our Luchs patrol knocked out the enemy scout cars.

The APCs then quit the field after the supporting IFVs knocked out most of them. Meanwhile a reserve mortar unit had arrived."

"Soviet artillery began firing on the other British infantry zug defending Kampfgruppe CP. Several of their panzers had emerged and began to trade fire with ours. The British infantry tank-hunter zug we had in prearranged camouflaged positions coordinated fire with our panzers to knock out some of the T-64s before they could fire back effectively."

"Our Flakpanzers arrived to support the lads defending 'Hotdog Hill'. The Soviet infantry on the other side of the hill seemed to have chain of command issues as they were unable to rally after the first return volley. They remained where they were without advancing for the remainder of the engagement."

"REDFOR reserve T-64 and raketenjagdpanzers arrived but were still unable to knock out any of our Leopard 2s. The British tank-hunter unit on the other hand took heavy losses but held their ground.

After taking further losses at a distance one unit charged into our zone of control in what looked like an attempted pincer move. That didn't work as our Leopards closed to CQC distance and knocked them out at close range.

My personal command tank knocked out a Shilka but was in turn taken out by accurate enemy fire. I and most of my crew managed to bail out in time but my driver didn't."

"Our Leopard 1 zug arrived and knocked out most of the enemy jagdpanzers. On their own initiative they encircled and knocked out the enemy command tank at close quarters, bringing the engagement to an end.

At this point the REDFOR offensive had stalled completely. They had taken much heavier losses than the BLUEFOR, their 1IC was presumed dead, they had no further reinforcements available and were on the verge of a complete rout. Retreat was their only sensible option."