Romania - Akymovka

[Korpraali V]

Akymovka

28/9/41 1500

Visibility 800 meters, Weather: Raining, Length 37 turns

Romanian Delay – Soviet Advance


Câpitan Lazarian has a new German Pz-IIIh tank with its Romanian type marking T-3. Also one 20mm light anti-aircraft gun have been changed to German 88mm gun. They’ve got same range finder and fire control systems than British 75mm AA guns but the 88 FlaK’s got better penetration value.



The Situation is critical! Romanian 3rd Army and German 30th Corps are being pushed back by the hordes of Soviet troops. Endless waves of men and tanks are storming over the positions. There are over ten divisions attacking and the Romanians and Germans are about to break. Oberstleutnant Karl is forming one of the several pockets of resistance with other Romanian and German forces. They are moving slowly towards the west delaying and inflicting as much casualties to Bolsheviks as possible. Now Karl has found a place that is good enough to stop the invading enemy or - if things won’t go well - mittelmäßig place to die. Not good one, but it’s hard to find good ones when the pressure is high. This one will do. Oberstleunant orders his tired men to form the lines, dug in and place mines in front of them. Sublocotenent Cuza will count target areas to artillery and mortars and AT and AA guns will place themselves to areas with good sights and cover. Then leutnant Brandt, his adjutant, will bring him a cup of coffee, black, two pieces of sugar.

After half an hour the observers return to tell that the enemy is approaching with full speed. Lots of tanks and infantry. Little too soon, the infantry hasn’t yet dugged in. But no can do.


Support Units:

GE Rifle Company (part)
Co Hq
1st Platoon (4x Rifle sec, MG34)
2nd Platoon (4x Rifle sec, MG34)
2x 81mm Mortar

RO Mountain Infantry Platoon
Plt Hq
3x Munte sqd
60mm Mortar

GE Tank Platoon
4x PzKpf-Ivd

Misc Support:
GE 50mm PaK38
RO 7,92mm ZB53 HMG
2x RO Recon


The troops are deployed as can be seen from the map attached.

First line AT guns are to weaken the enemy and then to withdraw to other positions. So are the Pz-IV tanks and Romanian-German infantry in the first lines. Engineers will place mines as fast as they can. Purpose is that when the Soviets reach the rear area they are so weak that determined defence connected with armored counterattack from left will break them. Again the artillery and AT guns will play vital part in this battle. Bolsheviks are coming!

[Korpraali V]

1525

Approximately two companies of infantry coming from center to north. Some T-27s with them. Three AT guns are in the head of Romaian defence and they quickly destroy first advancing tanks. Radio line to headquaters is open and barrages are ordered. Mortars and artillery hit well in the middle of the bolshevik infantry concentrations. After first scout tanks come several light and medium tanks and tank destroyers. When AT gun crews report that Soviet infantry is getting too close oberstleutnant Karl orders them to leave the small hill. Undetected, leaving five burning hulks behind them, three AT guns are attached to trucks that will take them to main defencelines. Sixth tank is destroyed on the way to safe. However, Friedrich is not pleased. This was too early. Concentrated barrages have pinned at least one company of Soviet infantry down and they are unable to do anything for some minutes. That’s good because other mass of infantry and tanks advances from the center. T-34s among them. Artillery barrages ordered to their spearhead while some mortars continue to barrage pinned Bolshevik company.

[Korpraali V]

1540

Soviet spear suffers high casualties. Pz-IVs and 47mm AT guns from south, 47mm AT and 20mm AA guns from center plus artillery make holes to their lines. Put the spear is still moving. It’s hard to stop those T-34s. Karl orders his guns to concentrate their fire to light tanks that can be destroyed easier. Another Soviet spear coming from north. They’ll soon reach the central area and unite with the other.

Karl gets continuous reports of more Russian tanks coming from both north and center. Over 80 tracked vechiles seen on the field. Oberstleutnant starts to wonder if this really would be his day to die. Several enemy tanks are burning here and there but it seems that when one is destroyed two others takes its place. Sublocotenent Radulescu with his 47mm ATG crew scores three kills with three shots. This day needs more this kind of excellent actions if the Axis are going to win the fight.

Soviet tanks gather themselves to central area. It seems that they are confused of not being crashed Romanian-German defenceline yet. Some are circling around, few turn to south, some continue forward. Well – Karl grins slightly – this delay gives the advantage to his artillery and AT guns that already have fired continuously since the Communists arrived. T3 platoon is peeking from the western side of the northern hill and sending some shots to first enemy tanks easily knocking them out.

[Korpraali V]

1555

The Soviet spear seemed to have received new orders. After ten minutes hesitation the whole front turns to south. Southern AT guns and Pz-IVs start to report the masses of tanks heading their direction. The distance is still over 500 meters so Karl don’t give orders to withdraw. Not yet. The enemy has to be weakened in the open. Their turn to south came at the very good moment: central AT and AA guns on the small hill were running out of AP ammos. The trucks receive orders to change the guns and take these back to load new ammos from the supply point. By the time of change the Soviet barrage hits the positions causing some damage and lots of suppression. It is really good that the Russikies are not heading towards them. Change continues. T3s sneak behind the small hill to shoot the Soviet flank heading to south. Rightaway they manage to take out some tanks, including one T-34.

Five T-26s coming from north. They are alone and are quickly knocked out by AT guns and R-2s.

First time now the reports of considerable amount of Soviet forces retreating cames to Oberstleutnant. Approximately company of infantry and another of tanks are heading east. That will surely ease the pressure.

When the Soviets get too close to southern defences, the defenders ask and receive orders to withdraw. Knocking out some closest tanks AT guns and Pz-IVs start to fall back. Pz-IVs throw smoke so that all are able to get out in safe. Tanks had already used all their AP ammos and took out last light tanks with their HE ones. Also engineers fall back after they have laid several mines on Bolsheviks’ way so "da soll der Stolze stürzen und fallen.”

[Korpraali V]

1615

First line units in the southern sector have been evacuated. The enemy has suffered massive losses comparing to Axis ones: MMG34, scout patrol, truck plus few men. This tactic basing of elastic defence works unbelievably well. Soviet artillery is confused and have barraged empty areas several times. Its only succes has been pinning down couple ATGs and killing machine gun crew. Not much. Another MG34 was jammed and the crew withdrew to rear area.

Soviet forces have suffered so great losses that this seems for Karl a good chance to counterattack. Tanks from north and center (three platoons) will start to move. Soon the T3 platoon will join them. Those 50mm tank guns with the hands of now experienced crews are real killing machines! They’ve taken down many light tanks and even some medium ones from long distance. Pz-IV platoon are ordered to north to participate the counterattack. Even without AP ammo they are able to take out light tanks and infantry. Now the concentrated counterattack is what the battalion needs. With artillery support they should be able to finally break the backbone of Bolshevik masses. Artillery have again showed its importance. They have destroyed many tanks, killed lots of enemies and suppressed companies of them.

[Korpraali V]

1635

Counterattack to left flank hit the spot. Lots of routed infantry deactivated and sent to packing. Also few tanks destroyed. One R-2 was lost due to lucky shot of BT-7. Sergent Stelea alone survived. Pz-IV delivered some smoke in front of him to cover Stelea in the middle of this chaos. It’s hard to see a thing in the middl eof this chaos… Destroyed and abandoned tanks, crewmen and infantry here and there, smoke... and suddenly one or two tanks pop up shooting at you. Got to keep the pressure on with tanks and arty. Must not let Ivan concentrate his troops, they are probably still more numerous than the Romanians and their German allies. Support Pz-IVs are doing a great job with their 75mm guns. Their HE ammos are enough to kill Soviet light tanks and infantry. Two of them are running short of HE ammo too. Plenty of targets available.

Most of Soviet tanks in south turned to north again so the AT guns and T3 platoon got good flank shots and destroyed many tanks with only few shots were shot back. They’ll join the counterattack in center. Ivan’s tanks approach now one by one so they are easily knocked out, one by one. No one is actually heading to west. All are going towards north now, so they can be safely shot at with anti-tank guns in west. Guns remain undetected. Oberstleutnant wonders can this really happen? Could their leader really be that dumb? Just rolling again and again in the open in front of AT guns… Unsinn!

Lonely T-34 approaching the rear in far right. Three 47mm AT guns shoot it constantly with no effect. Whole munte platoon tried to assault it with no luck. No losses to them yet. Luckily the T-34 got enough and rolled away! Now the Pz-IV, munte platoon and German rifle half company start to move to right. Karl hopes that Ivan’s defences in south are now so weak that the attackers can flank them.


Attachment: Support Pz-IV platoon leader Oberleutnant Ostendorff.

[Korpraali V]

1700

Left flank (four platoons of tanks): Second R-2 was put out of action and the third one was damaged. Some tanks still come out from the middle of the smoke and burning hulks. Romanian-German tank force has the upperhand ’cause they work together when the Bolsheviks come mostly one by one. Also communist infantry suffers heavy casualties. No infantry AT weapons seen yet. Sergent Troester’s R-35 found Soviet headquaters and destroyed it. This success should finish the fight soon! When Oberstleutnant Karl hears the news, he smiles. Now could be the time. Yes, now it’s the right time. He turns towards his adjutant, Leutnant Brandt: ”Heinrich! A cup of Kaffee! ” ”Jawhol, herr Oberst!” And after few minutes Karl tastes the fine Romanian coffee. This is just the right moment, indeed.

Right flank: Southern small hill is again in Axis hands. Only couple infantry squads and crewmen found and eliminated.

Center: T3 platoon have joined the left flank and together they’re pushing Ivan back towards east. Seems that Ivan’s got only few tanks left. Most of the job is now cleaning the pocket that was formed to middle. Lots of infantry there. Many surrender but most are just running. Only few shots are fired back, with rifles and LMGs. No effect to tanks. They’ve got no hope when their armor support is gone. Romanian and German forces have captured three company leaders – one from tank company and two from infantry companies – and a battalion leader. Great job!

Remainings of the pocket surrender to Axis. They’ve got over 300 prisoners today, most of them from the pocket. Also several Soviet tanks were captured and were taken to better use. They are light ones, BT-7s and T-26s mostly. But may be a good idea to spare them for later use. Afterall they are far better than some Romanian tanks. It appeared that the attackers were whole armored regiment (seven infantry companies plus six reinforced tank companies plus artillery) that lays now in ruins on the battlefield. This really was a great victory! And with minimal losses! Romanian engineer and rifle companies hadn’t even fired a single shot! Now back to move again, before more of them will come.

After few days the pressure eases when the Leibstandarte attacks from the north together with Romanian cavalry Corps. Karl’s troops are exhausted and they are very glad to see the own troops arrive. Even SS units are now welcomed by Karl. It’s time for little rest before the advance continues.


Heroes of the field:
- Pz-IV Platoon, leader Oberstleutnant Ostendorff: Four tanks got 79 kills.
- Sublocotenent Radulescu and his 47mm ATG: 10 kills.
- Tank commanders: Câpitan Lazarian (10 kills, T3) sublocotenents Buturuga (13 kills, R-35) and Nistor (13 kills, T3), sergents Sergiescu (11 kills, R-2), Bucurescu (21 kills, T3) and Ruicu (11 kills, R-35).
- Artillery and their forward observer sublocotenent Cuza: Together with German mortars they received 41 kills.

Romanian losses: 28 men, 1 truck 2 AFVs (11396 points DV)

Soviet losses: 1402 men, 134 AFVs (263 points CD)




”Heinrich! What is this Ameise doing in my Coffee!?!”