Firestorm: Stripes

Despite the severe battering we received in our last engagement against JakNitro's Easter German Horde, our forces rallied and prepared to once again defend the roads to the Amsterdam. We received additional reinforcements from our West German allies and sent our Recce formation forward. Due to the critical nature of this defense and the losses sustained to our Chieftain company last game, Headquarters decided to keep the remaining Chieftains a mobile reserve, only to be used in the most desperate of circumstances.

Over the days leading up to the inevitable assault, we heard rumors from civilians fleeing west that a new commander had recently been appointed in the East German Battalion facing us. Would this new commander bring new strategies and tactics to the field? We would not need to wait long to find out. Late one morning dust clouds began to rise in the East... on the horizon the BTRs, T55s and Infantry swept out of the fields and towards our positions. The initial fire caught us by surprise and 2 groups of infantry paid the cost. Already short on numbers, could the Germans on the north flank continue to hold their position?

As the West German soldats hunkered down to avoid the hundreds on rounds hitting the ground around them a new sounds was heard... The British Scorpions, only recently finishing their morning tea, had managed to get into position to return fire on the advancing BTRs. Within seconds most of the BTRs were burning. Hearing less incoming rounds, a brave Soldat stood up and fired his Panzerfaust 44 and knocked out a BDRM. Could this flank continue to hold? There were still many East German infantry men advancing towards the thinly defended objective.

While the single Panzergrenadier Zug and Scorpions held on in the North, the West Germans in the south turned their attention towards a unit of BTRs advancing towards their flank. If not contained, these BRTs could cut the Panzergrenadier Formation in two and keep them from reinforcing their zug in the north. Like clockwork, the Gepards appeared to tear apart the weakly armored transport vehicles and infantry. East German infantry ran from their burning vehicles to take cover behind the stone wall in a near by field.

Spending all of their attention on destroying the advanced BTR unit attempting to cut their lines in two, the Panzergrenadiers failed to see the incoming T-55 Battalion!

Two marder transports exploded! The shocked commander looked for the cause and to his horror saw a battalion of T-55 tanks swarming toward his position. Before they could react to the situation, 3 of the Gepards were also burning wrecks, the final vehicle retreating in the face of such awesome firepower.

Not wanting to go down without a fight, the Milan missiles of the 2 Zugs on the southern flank opened fire on the approaching T-55s. They were shortly joined by 3 Jaguar Is which had been hidden in ambush in the fields near the farm. Through the combined firepower of these missiles, T-55s began burning at what was probably an alarming rate for the East German commander.

On the northern flank, the situation continued in its desperate state. While the BTRs and BDRMs were contained, the brave soldats of the Easter German army would not falter and continued towards our lines. A burst of machine gun fire from the Marders, Scorpions and MGs reduced the number of incoming troops, but they kept advancing... The brave commander of the Marders decided they could no longer wait for the incoming troops and ordered his Marders forward. While he gave his life in the effort, the East German infantry company was now down to its last few men... could the formation continue to fight?

Casualties were high on both sides, but the West German and British Formations were still in good spirits - if they retreated, only the sea or a prison camp awaited them!

However, the East German infantry formation suddenly found themselves without additional reserves available and dwindling numbers of infantry still operational. The commander must have lost his nerve or knew there would be no victory on this day. When he made the decision to stay or flee...

Despite the loss of the infantry company, the T-55s continued to push forward. However, with the infantry well entrenched in the old farm, it was only a matter of time before the Milan missiles had a chance to take effect. Soon the field and hills around the farm were full of burning wrecks of tanks.

In the north, the remaining divisional air landing company even attempted to dig in to prevent the British and West Germans from pushing forward and sent their Hinds forward to salvo the lightly armored vehicles and infantry... but as fate would have it, the shots landed far off of their target. In retaliation, the West German Panzerfaust 44s found their mark, bringing one of the Hinds down. The final Hind decided there was no victory to be won this day and retreated towards the east.

Having finally driven the remaining East German units from the field of battle, the Panzergrenadiers and British Recce formation mounted-up and headed East. Perhaps they could yet destroy the pocket of resistance and push east towards final victory!