Firestorm: Stripes

After the heavy losses sustained to maintain the Soviet offensive into the west, elements of the East German 7 Panzerdivision were found regrouping and reorganizing by elements of the Bundeswehr. The expected counterattack by the West had begun!

Intelligence reports in this section indicated that Bundeswehr regular armor was advancing on this rally/repair site. A scout section of BMP’s advanced into woods that were considerably thicker than expected, hanging up two of the vehicles. The other two fired on the Marder armor personnel carriers and dismounting infantry the found in another thicket. The scouts not only found the BMP’s, but also a pair of Leopard 2’s lying in wait for bigger game. They called in support from Frontal Aviation and two flights of Mil-24 helicopters engaged the Leopard 2’s. The Hinds took substantial fire from the Marders, Leopard 2’s and a distant AAA detachment of Gepards, costing them one flight for a bail on the Leopards. A small unit of T-55’s advanced on the Gepard’s, but failing to score any hits, withdrew out of sight. After following up on the scout advance, a company of T-72M’s advanced around the woods that had confounded the scouts. Their lead elements, sighting the Leopard 2’s, fired on them to no effect.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Doug Donnerston, GNN, at Leipzig, just outside the NATO command bunker. We have heard that the West German Army has made contact with Warsaw Pact forces in the Leipzig area of operations. Apparently, a feint by the Warsaw Pact to distract them from a repair site failed and the West Germans opened fire on the disorganized troops.

The two Leopard 2 platoons advanced and converged on a soft underbelly of Pact forces destroying a platoon of older T-55 tanks while their artillery hammered on their AAA forces, bailing one of the ZSU gun vehicles. That barrage was followed by a courageous charge by the company commander’s Leopard 2, who destroyed another ZSU.

Meanwhile, a flock of PAH helicopters engaged a company of T-72’s advancing on a vulnerable platoon of Panzergrenadiers, losing one helicopter to anti-air fire, but destroying one of the T-72’s and bailing another.

Wait, wait, we have word that the Pact forces are attempting a counterattack! Ladies and gentlemen, stay tuned as we will update you as more information is released. This is Doug Donnerston, GNN, at Leipzig.

After the initial engagement, our comrades in Frontal Aviation were able to successfully penetrate NATO air defenses and bring two flights of Su-25 close air support aircraft for assistance. We designated NATO air defenses as highest priority and they entered engagement range, braving a flock of shoulder-fired SAM’s and the Gepards themselves. Sadly, 3 of the 4 craft could not break through and were shot down and the last was so disordered by the defensive fire, he could not successfully destroy a single vehicle.

On the other hand, the remaining Hinds, taking advantage of the interest the Su-25’s generated, wrecked a Leopard 2 and drove off his partner.

All in all, a poor day for Frontal Aviation.

The T-72M’s engaging the Marders and Panzergrenadiers on the left flank completed their flanking maneuver and lined up to engage more closely, but scored no hits.

Finally, a camouflaged company of T-72M’s broke cover to engage the other Leopard 2 platoon, destroying one of them.

Yes, Karl, we heard and saw the smoke and flames too. Yes, it is pretty clear that the Pact forces attempted an air strike but apparently the German defenses were too strong.

What do you mean cover your ears? (Sonic booms). Karl, you are going to have to speak louder, I can’t hear anything after the sonic booms and the huge explosions from that flight of Luftwaffe aircraft. What? Are you saying those flyboys are claiming to have shattered a Pact T-72 Company with clusterbombs? SPEAK UP, I CAN’T HEAR ANYTHING WELL AFTER THAT.

(Minutes pass while Doug tries to listen intently to his earpiece)

Okay, okay, the artillery blinded a new company of T-72’s and then the company comander destroyed more of the ZSU’s, breaking a hole in the Pact air defenses.

Then the Marders returned fire on the T-72M’s, killing one and bailing another, and then the Luftwaffe blew through the remaining T-72M’s like a twister through midwestern trailer park and sent them packing.

A good day for the Luftwaffe, this is Don Donnerston, GNN, Leipzig.

With victory seeming completely lost at this point, recovery from heavy losses is the only choice. The remaining T-72 company advanced through the smoke concealing the West German artillery and opens fire, destroying one gun. The battalion commander’s tank fails to move out of the wooded area he has been concealed in, leaving him vulnerable to the advancing enemy Leopard 2.

The Hinds move to his defense, destroying the enemy tank, but losing one of their number to the proverbial golden BB.

On the shattered left side, the scouts reorganize to try to destroy at least one of the Marders, but fail to do so.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this element of the West German army, while taking losses, has inflicted heavier losses on the Pact forces at this site.

After that harsh beating, but still losing their company command vehicle, West German helicopters moved in for the kill on the Pact battalion commander’s tank and sent it to that big scrap yard in the sky. This loss sufficiently disorganized the Pact forces that they signaled a retreat and withdrew, leaving the field to NATO.

Another victory on the belt of NATO’s counterattack. This is Don Donnerston, GNN, Leipzig.