Black Arrows & Red Guards LCG

[Schlonz]

@ Arctic Blast
I'm glad you're enjoying the AAR. Comments are always welcome.

Turn 17:
Spotted and destroyed a mixed arty detachment ( 4x 122mm, 8x 76mm) NE of Hill 324, a heavy mortar platoon was successfully assaulted as well. Now I’m hoping to find the Katyushas.
The tanks started some probing attacks against the town and met only light resistance. Unfortunately, my PzGrens are still crawling through the forest and can’t support the tanks.
All in all a satisfying turn, although I’m worried about the countless Russian foot units strolling around everywhere on the battlefield. Seems like the woods are spitting them out.

[Schlonz]

Turn 18:
Two Panther platoons of 3./SS-PR 8 have stormed the main objective in Darahanava. Other tank pltns have moved in assault positions along the SW and SE edge of the town. The first PzGren and engineer units have left the woods and crossed river Pcic.
West of Hill 421.2, the PzGren have dismounted again. It would be to dangerous to move them East in halftracks through this ATR infested area. On foot, they wouldn’t reach their destination in time. They will be more useful in eliminating the last pockets of resistance around the farm.
2328 VP’s at present – a draw. Expecting a minor victory.

[Schlonz]

Turn 19:
No losses from indirect fire this time. Maybe the Russian artillery commander got nervous, now that some batteries aren’t answering his radio calls anymore.
The town is cleared hex by hex, the railway station was captured with the loss of on PzIV.
Iwan still occuopies Hill 324 and the farm, but is under constant arty fire. A supporting 37mm AA gun battery in the nearby woods was eliminated.
A surviving T-34 pltn was spotted in the forest just S of the railroad and two PzIV pltns of 5./SS-PR 8 have been deployed to deal with it.
2509 VP’s and counting…..a minor victory with 491 VP missing for a major.

[Schlonz]

Turn 20:
Surprisingly, arty fire shifted to Hill 412.2, caught my PzGren in the open, eliminated 2 SP of them and knocked out two Sd.Kfz. 250/9. On the other hand, two 132mm Katyusha batteries were destroyed by Panthers of 2./SS-PR 8.
The defenders of Darahanava have been pushed back to the northern edge of town and are expected to be removed or captured next turn.
The Russian units on Hill 324 have left their positions to support Darahanava, and the remaining ATG pltn was easy prey for the Panthers.
Elsewhere, rag-tag combat groups of recon and SP flak are trying to fight off the marauding Russian foot units. The last surviving T-34 was put out of action soon after it left the cover of the trees.
Only 150 VP to go for a major victory.

[Schlonz]

Turn 21:
Two more batteries N of Darahanava, which is now secured, destroyed.
No organized Russian resistance anymore, only remnants of rifle battallions roaming around on the battlefield, obviously without any orders from a higher command level.
All objectives captured and 3072 VP’s at all, that’s a major victory.

Turn 22 + 23:
Not much to report, mopping up.The battle is coming to an end.

[Schlonz]

Turn 24:
Again no notable events, the battle is over. The bridgehead at Darahanava has been eliminated.
94th Guards Tank Regiment lost all of it’s tanks and 71st and 113th Guards Rifle Division have ceased to exist as effective fighting units.
Compared to the scale of the battle, own losses have been moderate. Due to the concentration of Russian artillery, the PzGren suffered more losses than other units,
and the lack of infantry could be a problem in upcoming missions.

Final result:
3256 VP – Major Victory
Objectives: 1300 VP (all)
Axis losses SP/VP: 117 / 500
Allied losses SP/VP: 895 / 2456

Missed to take a screenshot of the last turn and to note the detailed losses.