1st Panzer Long Campaign - Battle 10

[FNG]

3rd November 1941 - The kampfgruppe has been battle-hardened since Barbarossa but is now depleted. All battles are 'Normal' difficulty and replacements have been set to one notch above 'Historical'. No replacements have been 'awarded'.

2 x Pz-IIIg (HQ)
3 x Pz-IIIg (2 KIA)
4 x Pz-IVe
1 x Sdkfz 251 (2 KIA)
3 x Pz Grenadier (2 KIA but replaced with HQ Helper)

We have been tasked to assault a Soviet defensive position. To assist us in this task, it appears that headquarters has given us two Sdkfz 251 and no artillery!

The objective area is in the NE corner of the map, and thus far, we have spotted two BT-7 light tanks guarding the road. The Pz-IV section is deployed covering the road:

[FNG]

The Pz-IIIg platoon has setup in woods to cover the right flank of the Pz-IVs.

[FNG]

The HQ Pz-IIIg section has deployed centrally in cover and will react to any developments. The Panzergrenadiers have deployed on foot on the right flank and will advance cautiously to contact.

[FNG]

Now for the first orders phase, and we have our first problem:

[FNG]

The Pz-IVe platoon will engage the KV-1 while the Pz-IIIg platoon bounds through the woods to cover the road:

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: FNG
Now for the first orders phase, and we have our first problem:

Aha! The game is afoot...

[FNG]

The Pz-IVs do the job with 75mm HEAT:

[Erik Rutins]

Wow, Elite Panzer IVs for the win. Well done, that's definitely one of the easiest KV-1 takedowns I've seen.

[FNG]

And move on to the BT-7s, a slightly better proposition (I bet I have just jinxed all my armour to an ignominious death by BT-7 [:)]):

[FNG]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Wow, Elite Panzer IVs for the win. Well done, that's definitely one of the easiest KV-1 takedowns I've seen.

I have been lucky thus far with the Panzer IVs - no losses and most are Panzer Ace with Iron Cross/Knight's Cross. I did breathe a huge sigh of relief when the KV cooked [;)], though I bet his buddies are around somewhere...

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: FNG
I have been lucky thus far with the Panzer IVs - no losses and most are Panzer Ace with Iron Cross/Knight's Cross. I did breath a huge sigh of relief when the KV cooked [;)], though I bet his buddies are around somewhere...

Elite Panzer Aces with the Knight's Cross - wow! You've probably got the best Panzer IV platoon on the East Front right now. They basically know how to put a HEAT round through a vision slit or the weakest part of the armor.

[FNG]

Turn 1 reaction phase sees the demise of the second BT-7 on the road under a hail of 75mm APHE. My Pz-IVs come under 82mm mortar and 76mm field gun attack, but survive. Hopefully knocking out the visible armour will disrupt spotting, but I figure it is time to get the panzers rolling. On to turn 2...

[FNG]

Hmmm, just checked out my Panzer IVs in detail and they are rather tidy [:)]

[FNG]

Turn 2 orders. Panzers advance as shown, Panzer Grenadiers bound through the woods on my right flank. The two halftracks that HQ has deemed fit to lend me rush to new cover, close behind the grenadiers in case they need MG support against non-armoured targets.





The turn passes with no great news - Soviet artillery is ongoing but has not hit anything (yet!).

[FNG]

Reaction phase, turn 2. The Soviet artillery continues to harass my Pz-IVs but fortunately to no effect. A luckless Soviet mortar unit is spotted near the road on our axis of advance, but there are no other contacts:

[FNG]

Turn 3 orders and reaction pass without any further contact. Pz-IVs Advance along the road, now free of Soviet artillery, Pz-IIIg platoon Engage (Moves) through the woods to the right of the Pz-IVs and the HQ section has managed to find a LOS deadzone [:)]

Infantry are still bounding through the woods with the halftracks in support. Our 'own' Sdkfz 251 Rushes from cover to cover to support this effort.

[FNG]

Turn 4 Orders. The Pz-IVs switch to Bounding as they are no longer being targeted by artillery. HQ moves up from its blindspot and the Pz-IIIg platoon takes a defensive stance, overwatching the Pz-IVs axis of advance. HQ spots a distant Soviet Rifle squad and opens fire, while the Pz-IVs spot and destroy another 50mm mortar.

[FNG]

I am now getting very suspicious. Either the Soviets have several busloads of infantry around the objectives, a concealed armour reserve or a Pakfront waiting for me in the woods. My natural inclination is to order the panzers to take cover and push the grenadiers forward to spot/draw enemy fire. I have a feeling that if my panzers advance much further they will come under short-range AT fire...

[FNG]

Turn 4 reaction. HQ continues to fire at the Soviet Rifle squad, and is in turn engaged by Soviet armour:

[FNG]

The Mark IVs continue to bound down the road while HQ tries to engage the T-26. The Pz-IIIg platoon bounds along the river bank in support. Infantry and halftracks continue to move through the woods on my right flank.