1st Panzer Long Campaign AAR

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16th July 1941.

We have been able to replace the destroyed Pz III but obviously we have lost the experienced crew (I'm playing with Maximum replacements). In addition to our core force, for this assault we have four 105mm and four 150mm guns, four Sd Kfz 251s, two Opel Blitz, four MG34 teams and a 50mm mortar team.

We have to take control of the area around a factory complex. The terrain has many dips and furrows that could hide all kinds of unpleasant surprises; I decide to go for a heavy left hook across the ford and behind the factory.

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The kampfgruppe prepares to roll:

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As our right flank is completely open, one MG team and the mortar team are left in buildings to keep watch, and a smoke barrage is called down to cover the advance.

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Kampfgruppe orders:

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Our Sd Kfz 222 recon platoon dash across the ford. Contact!

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The smoke barrage begins to develop nicely on our right, though T-26s have been glimpsed on a ridge in the distance through holes in the smoke.

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The Pz IV platoon crosses the ford and leapfrogs the recon platoon, coming into contact with a number of T-26s on the objective.

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And here they are:

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One of the risks with my current plan is that there is little spacing betweens platoons and units - I really hope there are no Sturmoviks in the neighbourhood!

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As the smoke clears, elements of the Pz III and Pz IV platoon come under fire from the ridge to the right of our jump-off point.

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Our panzers score a number of hits and continue to advance on the factory.

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The surviving T-26 makes a run for it.

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Having crossed the ford and turned right, our left flank is now threatened by Soviet infantry reinforcements.

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Things look a bit different after the 105mm and 150mm artillery has been visiting...

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Despite the artillery, there is a heavily armed barn hiding behind some cows!

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One of our MG teams is caught in cross-fire between the farm and the factory, so naturally they bailout of their armoured vehicle [&:]

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The nature of the advance has meant that the kampfgruppe has become squeezed between the farm and the factory; I'm paying the price for that now as my infantry are being hit from two sides.

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The Pz III platoon pushes forward past the factory, eliminating a 50mm mortar and suppressing some others. Then the woods become alive with Soviet infantry...

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It appears that the farm we passed has not been cleared or it has been re-occupied by reinforcements.

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We take the first objective as the HQ panzer platoon deals with the Soviet reinforcements to the farm.