With KG Hauser on the East Front

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With KG Hauser on the East Front

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June 1941

After the campaign in France ended, Colonel Hauser was transferred to an instructional unit in Germany in order to help train new units for the rapidly expanding panzer force.

As Operation Barbarossa drew closer, Colonel Hauser requested a combat assignment. His request was granted and he was posted to the staff of XXIV Panzerkorps of Panzergruppe Guderian near the road to Minsk. At that time, the XXIV Panzerkorps consisted of the 3rd Panzer Division, the 4th Panzer Division, the 10th Infantry Division, and the 1st Cavalry Division, plus various attached units.

Almost immediately following the invasion on 22 June 1941, XXIV Panzerkorps advanced rapidly along the Minsk road. And soon, the elements of the panzerkorps found themselves strung out in long flying columns moving at a rate of nearly 50 kilometers per day.

By 27 June 1941, XXIV Panzerkorps had driven nearly to Minsk and the 3rd and 10th Soviet Armies (along with a variety of remnants fleeing from the border battles) were in danger of being pocketed. Col. Hauser received orders to go to the front and assemble a kampfgruppe. He gathered a force of infantry and tanks of roughly battalion size and reported by the afternoon of the 27th that he had formed KG Hauser and was ready for orders. HQ ordered him to advance along the Minsk road to complete the encirclement of the Soviet forces in the area.

28 June 1941 dawned overcast and drizzly. The drizzle became a steady light rain as the day wore on. KG Hauser’s forward elements contacted Soviet resistance early in the afternoon, but it wasn’t until late in the day that the full kampfgruppe was deployed and ready for battle. Col. Hauser decided to advance at once, even though the Soviet positions and strength were largely unknown. . .



Battle #1: 28 June 1941
KG Hauser Advance vs. USSR, near Minsk

Time = 1700 hours (late day)
Weather = Light Rain
Visibility = 14
Game Length = 29 turns
Victory Hexes = Forward VHs are worth 200pts each (end of battle) and rear VHs are worth 100pts each (end of battle)

KG Hauser Initial Core
The initial core is composed of 2,997 points and has 98 units in 31 formations.

1x A0 (named KG Hauser HQ, with Colonel Hauser commanding)
10x Pz-IIIH
4x Pz-IVE
2x Lt. Recon platoons
2x Rifle companies
1x Engineer platoon
4x 88mm Flak36 guns
8x 81mm mortars
1x Forward Observer
2x Ammo Crates

“Country Training” is ON which means that all core units were purchased at a base of exp69 mor70 ldr75.

DAR to commence within the next few days. . .

Note: This campaign is being played using the campaign format described in the "KG Erwin and KG Hauser" thread in the main forum. See that thread for settings and details.
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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

Post by KG Erwin »

So, Kamerad, hows it coming along in Operation Barbarossa? I will wait for your first contact report before continuing.
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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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Battle #1, 28 June 1941, KG Hauser Advance vs. USSR Delay near Minsk, USSR
Situation at the end of German Turn 1.


SUPPORT FORCES
Of the XXIV Panzerkorps forces in the area, units of the 4th Panzer and 1st Cavalry Divisions were closest, so Col. Hauser radioed HQ for permission to attach them to KG Hauser for the upcoming fight. KG Kruger was allowed to purchase 947 points worth of support units for this battle.
The 947 points of support forces allowed were spent as follows (all German from 4th Panzer and 1st Cavalry Divisions):
33x Krupp medium trucks (264pts)
3x off-map 105mm howitzer batteries (189pts)
5x cavalry platoons (360pts)
4x SdKfz-6 prime movers (48pts)
9x recon gruppes (81pts)
1x Stoewer 40 utility vehicle (5pts)
Total support points spent = 947 out of 947 allowed


Surveying a map of the battlefield, Col. Hauser noted that his assigned area of operations included some outlying suburbs of Minsk. The terrain is generally open and rolling hills with a primary road passing through the urban areas. Col. Hauser decided to avoid fighting in the urban areas if at all possible. Instead, Col. Hauser chose to advance along the southern road and perform a deep penetration maneuver. The plan is to perform a wide encircling operation by breaking through the Soviet line and capturing the rear victory clusters first, then swinging towards to forward clusters and attack the Soviets from the rear. Recon teams have been picketed at intervals to the north of KG Hauser to cover the remainder of the battlefield. Col. Hauser realizes that this battle plan is a tricky one for the newly-formed kampfgruppe. He is counting on the Soviet resistance to be disorganized. . .

GENERAL COMMENTS
1. Col. Hauser noted that KG Hauser was given 29 turns to accomplish their mission. Generated campaigns allow fewer turns per battle than Long Campaigns. KG Hauser will have to move fast in order to accomplish their encircling maneuver.
2. As noted in previous threads, the WW2 attack frontage for a reinforced battalion (which is the size of KG Hauser) was historically around 10 hexes in SPWAW terms. Col. Hauser is determined to retain an attack frontage in accordance with historical operational doctrine.
3. As with previous DARs, battle reports will be presented every 5 turns during heavy fighting, and every 10 turns if the battle intensity lessens.
4. As with previous DARs, the computer will be referred to as the Programmed Opponent (PO) throughout this campaign.
5. Since I am only able to play about 1 turn per day (for a variety of real-life reasons), I will only be presenting about 1 battle report each week (2 during rare weeks).

The battle has begun.


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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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Battle #1, 28 June 1941, KG Hauser Advance vs. USSR Delay near Minsk, USSR
Situation at the end of German Turn 6.


Assisted by a barrage of smoke from the supporting 105mm howitzers, KG Hauser advanced swiftly into the rain. Soviet resistance around the southern victory cluster was light, and the Kampfgruppe broke through the initial Soviet battle line and headed into the rear as planned. The line of scouts to the north spotted a number of enemy tanks heading south, presumably to re-capture the southern victory cluster. Accordingly, Col. Hauser ordered the 88s to be deployed to guard that victory cluster. Supported by the ATR, MMG, and lt. mortar units from the Kampfgruppe’s rifle companies, he hopes that will be sufficient. The rest of the Kampfgruppe moves on with their plan to encircle the Soviet position from behind.

GENERAL COMMENTS
1. So far in the battle, the Kampfgruppe’s rate of advance has been roughly 6 hexes per turn. That rate of advance allows the supporting cavalry to keep pace and screen the rest of the Kampfgruppe. It also means that the Kampfgruppe will be able to cover around 170 total hexes in the time allowed for this mission. 170 hexes should be enough to perform all necessary maneuvers.
2. So far, the Kampfgruppe has only spotted obsolete Su-45 and T-28 tanks. These obsolete enemy tanks are easy to destroy and Col. Hauser hopes that this stroke of good fortune continues.
3. On turn 4, the Soviets bombarded the units near the southern victory cluster with 3 batteries of 122mm howitzers, causing casualties and disruption all around. This was an unwelcome surprise as no reports of Soviet organized resistance were mentioned prior to the battle. Col. Hauser concludes that this means that the Soviets are better prepared for the Kampfgruppe’s advance than previously believed.
4. Unless the situation changes, the next battle report will be presented at the end of the German Turn 11.

The battle continues.




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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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Battle #1, 28 June 1941, KG Hauser Advance vs. USSR Delay near Minsk, USSR
Situation at the end of German Turn 11.



As more and more Soviet AFVs were spotted heading south by the scout pickets, Col. Hauser decided to send a platoon of infantry and all 4 of the Kampfgruppe’s SdKfz-232s back to the southern victory cluster to stiffen the position. The problem is that the area is becoming quite congested with units and the threat of Soviet artillery remains. The good news is that the Soviet armor continues to appear through the smoke (starting on turn 9) piecemeal, which means that so far the 88s have been able to deal with the threat easily. Col. Hauser knows, however, that the next Soviet artillery barrage in the area will probably change all that immediately. The first enemy T-34s appeared on turn 10, right in front of the 88s which promptly knocked them out. The main advance has met little resistance so far. A few AA guns and AAMGs were overrun and the main group moved on. On turn 11, however, the main group ran into a platoon of T-34s. The main group has massed an overwhelming superiority and expects to overrun them next turn. . .

GENERAL COMMENTS
1. The main group's rate of advance remains roughly 6 hexes per turn. And the supporting cavalry has been invaluable in screening and sweeping the flanks of the main group.
2. Col. Hauser has ordered all mortars to redirect their fire in support of the troops at the southern victory cluster. Hopefully, this will help buy some time for the units there to regroup and recover after the expected Soviet artillery pounds the area.
3. Col. Hauser has started to receive reports that heavy fire onto Soviet units is sometimes totally ineffective. Several Soviet units, instead of becoming heavily suppressed have instead reacted as though they hadn’t been fired on at all. This is disturbing.
4. Unless the situation changes, the next battle report will be presented at the end of the German Turn 16.

The battle intensifies.

(Screenshot of the main group’s position)



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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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(Situation near the southern victory cluster at the end of German Turn 11)



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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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Battle #1, 28 June 1941, KG Hauser Advance vs. USSR Delay near Minsk, USSR
Situation at the end of German Turn 16.


Col. Hauser is quite pleased with the way this battle is turning out. The force protecting the southern victory cluster has been completely successful in destroying all counterattacking Soviet units sent against them so far. The Soviet artillery has been largely off target and ineffective. The main group has completed its basic encircling operation. The next phase is to engage the Soviet main battle line. Col. Hauser believes that the bulk of the Soviet armor on the battlefield has already either been destroyed by the main group or by the 88s in the south. Accordingly, Col. Hauser intends to send the main force to the north to secure the northern flank, then wheel south and roll up the Soviet line from north to south, capturing the final victory hexes along the way.

GENERAL COMMENTS
1. The only tank lost to the Kampfgruppe so far was a Pz-IIIH that fired on a routing T-34, which then became unrouted and destroyed the Pz-IIIH.
2. The 88s have been frightfully effective. So far, the Kampfgruppe’s four 88s have knocked out/eliminated over 40 enemy units. Soviet units continue to wander through the smoke and emerge at point-blank range right in front of the 88s.
3. The Kampfgruppe has developed an effective tactic for advancing with loaded trucks. The trucks move forward and unload their passengers. Then the truck crews bail out. This prevents the trucks from being destroyed by enemy fire, which in turn keeps nearby units from receiving the dreaded # indicator. Thus, the advance can continue at a more rapid pace.
4. Unless the situation changes, the next battle report will be presented at the end of the German Turn 21.

The battle rages on.

(Screenshot of the main group’s position)


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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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(Situation near the southern victory cluster at the end of German Turn 16.)



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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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Battle #1, 28 June 1941, KG Hauser Advance vs. USSR Delay near Minsk, USSR
Situation at the end of German Turn 21.


The main group achieved its second goal of clearing the northern flank and wheeled back south toward the central victory clusters. The force protecting the southern victory cluster continues to defeat in detail every Soviet unit that trickles south. The Soviet artillery has been remarkably ineffective. Of the five big enemy barrages, only two of them have even landed in the vicinity of German troops. Col. Hauser estimates that the Soviet artillery will run out of ammo soon. So far, this battle has been extremely easy.

GENERAL COMMENTS
1. The main group is now deployed for the final battle around the central victory clusters. That battle will begin next turn (Turn 22).
2. Unless the situation changes, the next battle report will be presented at the end of the German Turn 26.

The battle nears the final stage.

(Screenshot of the main group’s position)


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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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(Situation near the southern victory cluster at the end of German Turn 21.)


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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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Battle #1, 28 June 1941, KG Hauser Advance vs. USSR Delay near Minsk, USSR
Situation at the end of German Turn 26.


Contrary to Col. Hauser’s earlier estimate, there were indeed a number of Soviet tanks unaccounted for that attacked after the main group captured two central victory clusters. A handful of SU-45s drove right into gunsights of the 88s in the south and a platoon of T-34s attacked the main group. A combination of close assaults and point-blank APCR rounds eliminated the T-34s. The remaining Soviet infantry also charged right into the waiting weapons of the perimeter set up around the central and southern victory clusters and were slaughtered by a combination of mortars and point-blank firepower. The Soviet artillery ran out of ammo and stopped firing after Turn 22, and the Soviet force morale broke on Turn 23. The battle ended immediately after the Kampfgruppe captured the last victory hex on Turn 28.


(Screenshot of the main group’s position)


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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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(Situation near the southern victory cluster at the end of German Turn 26.)



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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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End of Battle screenshot



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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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End of Battle Core
Page 1



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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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End of Battle Core
Page 2



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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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End of Battle Core
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RE: With KG Hauser on the East Front

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Battle #1, 28 June 1941, KG Hauser Advance vs. USSR Delay near Minsk, USSR
End of Battle Report.


As night approached, Col. Hauser radioed HQ with the news that the Soviet position had been defeated and the main road cut, thus achieving the Kampfgruppe’s objectives. The bulk of 14 enemy divisions were now surrounded. HQ ordered the Kampfgruppe to hold their positions until infantry from 4th Army arrived to relieve them. The next morning, Col. Hauser requested that the Kampfgruppe be allowed to remain together as a fighting force for the remainder of the campaign. Since the prevailing opinion among the General Staff was that the war would be over within 6 weeks, Col. Hauser’s request was granted. Kampfgruppe Hauser was now official and considered to be an Army-level formation attached directly to Panzergruppe Guderian. Immediately thereafter, Col. Hauser drove to Guderian’s Headquarters to discuss his new kampfgruppe’s role for the rest of the summer. Col. Hauser envisioned a hard-hitting, combined-arms, mobile force capable of advancing even into stiff enemy resistance. He pressed his case with General Guderian and, mainly due to the Kampfgruppe’s recent victory, was allowed to reorganize the Kampfgruppe by drawing on various assets attached to the Panzergruppe. Col. Hauser’s concept was to have a reinforced sturm company of combined armor and pioneers, a standard rifle company, a tank company, a heavy-weapons company, and various antiaircraft and miscellaneous units. With such a kampfgruppe, Col. Hauser believed that it could operate independently as a forward attack force capable of sustained operations. General Guderian responded favorably, but commented that Kampfgruppe Hauser would be given priority treatment only as long as it remained successful. Col. Hauser set about reorganizing the Kampfgruppe immediately.

POST-BATTLE COMMENTS
1. The main reasons for the Kampfgruppe’s easy victory were: 1) the Soviet artillery was off-target and only rarely hit a hex that contained German units, 2) the Soviet armor was scattered and obsolete with only a few modern T-34s that could be dealt with piecemeal, 3) the amazingly large number of expensive Soviet snipers (there must have been a sniper school in Minsk or something) which were ridiculously easy to destroy, and 4) the tremendous effectiveness of the 88s which were presented with literally dozens of point-blank shots (even the 88’s HE rounds were capable of penetrating all Soviet AFVs in this battle except the T-34s).
2. The supporting cavalry proved invaluable as a screening and recon force. Col. Hauser is convinced that small units in the Cataclysm format are too fragile and have no place in this kind of intense battle environment. Larger units like cavalry and motorcycles have enough staying power to remain effective even after taking several casualties (and they WILL take casualties). Accordingly, Col. Hauser intends to upgrade/change all small units into larger/tougher units at the first available opportunity.
3. The Kampfgruppe’s light mortars proved totally ineffective and worthless.
4. The Kampfgruppe’s ATR units never fired a shot. Col. Hauser intends to replace these at the first available opportunity.

POST-BATTLE REORGANIZATION
Col. Hauser changed the formation assignments of a number of units. The ammo crates were directly attached to Col. Hauser’s A0 formation thus freeing up two formation slots, and the two Sdkfz 252 Forward Observer armored cars were assigned individual formation slots formerly used by the ammo crates. The sturmpioneer platoon was split and two squads each were attached directly to the two Pz-IVE sections, and the formation slot thus made available was taken by two armored cars detached from one of the light recon platoons. Another formation slot was made available by merging the two sections of 88s into a single formation and assigning the two armored cars from the other light recon platoon to that formation slot. Thus, each light recon platoon was broken into smaller pieces (Sdkfz 222 plus 3 motorcycles in one formation, Sdkfz 252 forward observer in another formation, two Sdkfz 232 armored cars in another formation), thus achieving greater tactical flexibility.

Following the battle, the Kampfgruppe had 689 build points to spend.
After repairing/replacing destroyed units, Col. Hauser upgraded all six 50mm light mortars into six 81mm medium mortars (light mortars are possibly the most worthless units in all of SPWAW). He also changed all four MMG units into four FlmPz IIs (the start of building the sturm company). The remaining 65 build points were accumulated. Note that in keeping with the Cataclysm guidelines, all units in the formation must be changed/upgraded to the same unit-type or no units can be.
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SPECIAL NOTICE: CALLED TO THE DESERT

Post by vahauser »

KG HAUSER HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE DESERT

KG Hauser has been ordered to the desert sands of North Africa as replacements following the destruction of KG Erwin.

KG Hauser DARs will now be written in the "With KG Erwin in the Desert" thread until further notice.
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