9/02/41 SS assault at Krasnograd

[robot]

Krasnograd Ukraine
9/02/1941
0600 Hours

It is just starting to get a slight indication of daylight. A little bit of light can be seen as we start our tank engines. The engineers will begin there moves toward the dreaded mine fields as we move forward against the Russian hordes once again. Each company has gotten 3 platoons of extra Engineers from HQ to help get us thru the mines as quick as possible. Plus a section of flame tanks has been sent to each company to help. HQ does not want us stuck in the fields all day. HQ says we must push thru as quick as we can and deal heavy damage to the enemy today. We are trying to take some pressure off of the kursk move that is to begin later this month. HQ has said that the more damage we do today the easier it will be later this month.

A company has the north flank and the shortest distance to the objective. There flags sits on a hill maybe 100 yards behind the suspected mine field. At the sw foot of this hill they are to take and set up there guns to cover as they turn se towards the center.

Two more hills run SE from this northern hill. One in the center and one further south of this. The center flags sit behind the center hill maybe 500 yards from where the mine field is laid in front of this hill. C ic to take this center hill and then the objective behind this.

A will have to move across the most open ground to achieve there objective today. There target sits at least 600 yards behind the mine field across all open ground in front of this southern hill.

Our 150 support will open up at 0600 and the Engineers will take off five minute later. This barrage will fall on the suspected mine fields and then will be walked back from there to the hills behind there as the Engineers approach the fields. Just now heard the first explosions and saw the eruptions of dirt as they landed on the enemy emplacements.

Vis is not bad today even tho it is kind of hazy 500 yards good shooting distance for our gunners and tank personal.Our armor and sp guns will be able to give some cover to our Engineers as they go about there dangerous work. Would have liked more prep bombardment before we moved our Engineers forward but HQ said no everybody moves at 0600. Hope the flame tanks can help opening a lane thru for our infantry fast today dont want my men sitting behind the Engineers too long under the enemys guns from the hills. I always hate these assaults as the enemy really love to use those dam mines. They should be outlawed in a civil mans war. They cause way too much damage to civilians after the warring partys depart from the area long after any battles are over.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel Commanding

[robot]

Krasnograd Ukraine
9/02/1942
0615 Hours

A companys lead units are within 50 yards of the mine field and have come under fire from the hill behind this area. Tanks were moved up into the Engineers as they moved forward and opened fire on them. Taking out two ziz 35 i believe thay are called On the very north edge of this hill. Also my zig 33 150s fired on some infantry that were near the southern flank of the engineers as they approached the field sending one squad to hell and the other remaining men running. See recon photo of this engagement just a few seconds after the firing was ended. So far so good the artty has begun to lay some rounds on the surrounding hill so as to keep any fire down from this area. Took out a MMG bunker with 150 fire a few minutes ago in front of the center group.

81 mortars laid some rounds into some suspected ememy emplacements on the left flnk of C company in the center. Have asked the mortars to lay in some smoke on the companys flanks to slow harrassing fire on our Engineers from those quarters.

Only 15 minutes into the fight and we have already drawn first blood. Still one heck of a long fight to go yet. But this should bolster the mens morale as it is always low when we have to move thru mine country.

B in the south has been moving kind of slow but are with in 150 yards of there mine field. So far there has been no enemy activety in there sector as yet. Thank god for that have sent a runner down to them to tell them to get there butts in gear dont want A in the north to be too far ahead and get there butts into a sling because of them. Need them to take pressure off of center and the north flank. They are to ciphon the enemy forces off to try and stop there push to the rear flags. I really need some sign of force from there sector if the center and the north flank are to be effective.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel Commanding

[robot]

Krasnograd Ukraine
9/02/1941
0735 Hours

It took us well near an hour to get our first troops thru the line anywhere. A Co in the north has taken there objectives and have moved at least 100 yards past there headed towards the norhtern rear objective. Which is at least 1200 yards to there rear and some what se from them. Once they reached the crest of the hill they ran into a buzz saw at least 3 companys of infantry and 4 ziz30 tanks and at least 2 t-34 types. Have been slowly moving forward ever since they took the top of the hill. Pushing them 50 yards at a time.

There constant bombardment with there 122 mm guns and there 50mm mortars have taken a toll on our men. We have lost 2 sig33 160mm guns plus lost a stugb in the mine fields. he thought the engineers had the lane clear and came thru too fast.

C in the center has taken 3 of the four flags. They too ran into at least a half a dozen of t-34s and the same ammount of zis30 type. Also ran into at least 4 HMG bunkers maybe 100 yards in front of the objectives. Lots of dug in infantry as well. They have to be dug out and do not surrender or retreat. Even single men left from a squad put up a tough fight and have to be killed. Took out at least 2 76.2 atg in there move to the objective.


B in the south has done real well and continue to push forward. As soon as they took there objective they swung NE towards the rear and the center. They have begun to run into some t-34s on the right flank of B. Have taken them out with at least 4 zis30 type as well.

Once the Engineers opened up a wide enough lane thru the mines. I had them move foreward on the flanks of each company they had cleared for. We have lost well over 100 men to the 122 fire and at least 3 sig33 150mm to there fire as well. A couple of the 37mm SP ATG have bit the dust as well. One due to being an idiot he over ran his infantry support and was assaulted by some infantry. Although we do have the visability to lay back and pick them off this has been more of an in your face 50 yd fight. Lots of heavy smoke laying all over the battle field. At least we found several of the 50mm mortars and blowed them to hell no more pestering shells from them. Some times it becomes a constant endeavor to just get the men to move forward again. I had to actually put my boot up a couple of MMG gunners ass a short time ago before they would come out of there holes and move forward.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel

[robot]

Krasnograd Ukraine
9/02/1941
0805 Hours

Well two hours into the battle and we are pushing hard for the rear objectives. The south flank has pushed to within 250 yards of the rear southern objective. All three companys have run into a lot of MMG bunkers and rifle pits. Plus a lot of 76.2 atg guns and at least one steel pill box has been run into. AA guns plus 50mm and 81 mm mortars have been found and all have been delt with swiftly and efficiantly. At least 15 bunkers have beeen blown to smitherins.

Still have at least 1000 yards before we reach the northern rear flags but not much has slowed us down since we came over the front hills. Moving at least 100 yards forward every 5 minutes or so. Still a lot of resistence from the enemy although it is not coordinated at all. Sort of piece meal so far. They have more or less givin up just fighting now to save there lives. And believe me they have a lot to fear from our men they are really pissed and taking it out on the poor hapless ones they find in there push to the rear.

I pity the poor infantry man or tanker that is found in our move to capture the objectives. No mercy is the order that has gone out to all our troops.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel Commanding

[robot]

Krasnograd Ukraine
9/02/1941
0815 Hours

2 hours 15 minutes this battle raged with no quarter given from either side. They fought us all the way up to when we captured the last objectives. Once we began our push to the rear markers after taking and securing the front ones they continued to resist. We ran into a hell of a lot of bunkers MMG and rifle pits plus at least three of the steel reinforced type. In our push to the rear we took out at least 20 bunkers plus a heck of a lot of the 76.2 type at guns. Due to the high amount of at guns is where we lost most of our tanks 18 to be exact. Some of the tanks got kind of excited and continued to move out in front of the slow moving infantry. This is when they got into trouble from the AT guns. During the fight they showed great courage and took out 33 of the enemy armor in face to face encounters all day long.

Our troops showed excellent courage as well taking down 1655 of the enemy while losing only 312 of our men. The constant bombardment from there 122 guns did a lot of killing today. Almost always getting some unlucky guy with each burst from there guns. A lot of soiling of the under ware went on today as well even if the bursts only hit with in 50 yards of you.

Even tho we routed them and did the damage we did the high command has seen fit to only award us a marginal victory today, They said we took too long to get thru the mines and let too many of the Russian horde escape today. I really dont know what else we could have done as this was a very hard fought battle from our side and theres im sure.

Too tell you the truth there where times today I had my doubts about the outcome of this fight. With not being able to really see too much and having to be right on top of them before firing I rthought our losses would be a lot higher then they were. I also thought we put a lot of hurt on them as well.

How lucky can you be we just got orders we are to move to the area of Rzhev and prepare for another assault against the Russian lines. High command has seen the good fortune to allow us to get 2 extra platoons of Engineers for each company plus at least 2 mine clearing tanks for each company as well. Hopefully we will get thru the mine fields and destroy the Russian horde before they escape our wrath this time.

Another thing to worry about now is the weather it has begun to snow and the temperature has dropped drasticly. This means we will be fighting the weather as well as the Russians this time next month. Hope we get some white camo for the Engineers might save a lot of lives im thinking.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel Commanding

[PimpYourAFV]

Another exciting battle report from robot. Looking at your pictures, its interesting that you advanced your infantry infront of your tanks which is the exact opposite of what the British do. [:)]

Looking forward to the report on the Rzhev battle. It would be nice to compile these campaign stories onto one thread so we make sure to read them in order and can refer back to see your progression. [:)]

[robot]

Good idea tensai Sort of a long campaign continuation. Might do that title it long campaign against the Russians and maybe same with the Brits. I could always go back and pick them up as i fight the new battles.