Firestorm: Stripes

Thanks to the redeployment of Warsaw Pact forces to the south-western flank, it would seem there is a golden opportunity available to push towards Berlin from the North. This fight was for a critical crossroads key to keeping supply lines open towards the Berlin offensive.

This would be a tough fight - anyone could win at any time. There was no time to sit and shoot the Reds as they came. The Panzergrenadiers mounted up and prepared to move and secure the objective at the church. The rest of the forces waited near the industrial complex to deploy as needed. Thanks to the Luchs, the Marders and infantry were able to spearhead closer to the church - the Soviets would not give us much time to deploy!

As is standard, the Soviets started forward without missing a step, rushing head-long at our positions. This was the opportunity to thin their numbers before the inevitable assault! Every Soldat's MG and the crews of the Marders opened up on the advancing Soviets. Even the Luchs, Blitzing forward were able contribute to the storm of fire. The streets ran red with blood as the Soviets ran for cover.

To keep pressure off of the Soviets pressing towards the church, the other BMP formation swung wide and threatened the industrial area... With all of the West German forces concentrated on defending the church from the main Soviet thrust, would the single Zug in the factories be able to hold on?

Breaking out an awesome set of new BAOR dice a friend got me for my birthday - I rolled the first dice. It appears fate is with the BAOR this day. A unit of Scorpions appeared just in time to blunt the BMP2 flanking mission. The poor BMP2s caught in the open burst info flame as the infantry bailed out, sheltering behind their wrecked transports.

Unfortunately, the remaining BMP2s were able to get some solid hits on the Geaprds and when the Hinds appeared, only 1 Gepard was operational... the Soviet Hinds, either being made of mysterious metal or incredible lucky survived unscathed from the incoming fire of the last Gepard and left a swath of burning AA vehicles - could this be the turning point in the battle?

With Soviet Air Power now in control of the skies and the Red Infantry steadily advancing on the church, NATO defeat seemed inevitable! But, once again, could the plucky British arrive in the nick of time to pressure the open objective near the pinned Soviet infantry? Could a small unit of Scorpions weather the fire of RPGs and inevitable assault to hold the objective?

Despite the staunchest defense the Panzergrenadier Zug could muster, the Soviets continued to advance on the church. Unaware of the arrival of the British reinforcements on the flank, the Zug continued to stand its ground, the Company Commander bravely keeping up the resolve of his men. Ivan, having learned from his previous mistake, had taken cover and continued his advance in the building surrounding the church - this certainly decreased the effectiveness of the Zugs MGs'. Even the BMPS would not fall to the fire from the Marders.

The with the Soviets now breaking down the doors to the church, there was no time to run, the Company Commander stood his ground and sacrificed his life to keep the Soviets off of the objective for one final turn.

The Soviets had overrun the the church, but on the other flank, the British scorpions stood bravely contesting the far objective - standing between the Soviets and final victory. The Reds fired every RPG at their disposal and even relocated their final Hind... but Scorpions are small targets to hit. After the smoke cleared, the Scorpions, battered - but alive - stood defiantly between the Soviets and the objective.

Ivan came close, but the resolve of the British could not be overcome. We'll see you in Berlin Ivan!