Romania WWII Campaign

[Korpraali V]

(I took the Germany WWII Campaing, started it at 6/41 and then swiched the nation to Romania)

20/6/41 Romania

Oberstleutnant Friedrich Karl looks his men. He is not satisfied, not at all. It’s been little over two months now since things started to get this way. It was in Yugoslavia. They had just breaked the enemy lines and taken lots of prisoners. Enemy weren’t ready for war. He was on his way to Hq, when he suddenly noticed some SS troops taking Yugoslavian prisoners off the truck. Their Sturmbannführer obviously wanted to shoot them. Disgusting, he hadn’t expect this, even from the SS. So oberstleutnant had jumped off his car and used his authority to stop the execution and have a little ’talk’ with that so-called-officer. Perhaps it was a mistake. Perhaps he just would had to close his eyes and continue towards the Hq. Perhaps. Well, now we are here. Oberstleutnant and his loyal staff. As part of Dimitrescu’s third army commanding the Romanian armored battalion in operation Barbarossa. Not anymore Wehrmacht elites but these second class sioldiers. Most of them have had no combat training at all. Some of them seems not to even know how to use their rifles. Only few of them are in proper shape. They have no time for combat training, the Barbarossa is about to start and oberstleutnant’s battalion is to advance to Russia. Next training will be performed with real bullets and real enemy. Oberstleutnant Karl really hopes this is not too much for his new battalion. Equipments are ok, lots of flamethrowers, anti-tank guns with high penetrative ammo, molotovs and machine guns. And lots of mortar and howitzer support. But tanks are something that really worries Karl. Their armor is thin and their guns are weak. Something like German light tanks and armored cars. He just have to hope that these Ausländers know how to use their sthrengths. Probably they won’t. Karl sighs, he will have lot to do under combat situation. Have to keep everything under his control. Only his forward observer, sublocotenent Cuza, seems to really know what to do (highest experience: 61). Oberstleutnant knows who to thank for this 'special job'. If that Sturmbannführer comes under his sight once more...



Picture: 'heroes of battalion'

[Korpraali V]

Romania WWII Campaign

6/41

Ge HQ (Romanian 15th Independent Armored Battalion) Oberstleutnant Friedrich Karl

Ro Inf Co
Co Hq (Rifle sec)
1st Platoon (4x Rifle sec)
2nd Platoon (4x Rifle sec)
3rd Platoon (4x Rifle sec)
2x ZB53 HMG

Ro Eng Co
Co Hq (Eng sec)
1st Platoon (4x Eng sec)
2nd Platoon (4x Eng sec)
3rd Platoon (4x Eng sec)
2x ZB53 HMG

Ro Arm Co
Co Hq (R-2)
1st Platoon (3x R-35)
2nd Platoon (3x R-2)
3rd Platoon (3x R-2)
4th Platoon (3x R-2)
5th Platoon (3x R-1 Tankette)

Ro Fire Support Co
Co Hq (FO)
1st Platoon (3x 81mm Brandt)
2nd Platoon (3x 81mm Brandt)
3rd Platoon (3x 100mm Skoda FH)
Ammo dump

Ro AT/AA Co
Co Hq (Rifle sec)
6x M35 47mm ATG
6x M35 47mm ATG
4x 2cm FlaK 38
2x M36 75mm AA

Support Platoon
4x Tatra 93T 3 ton truck
4x Tatra 93T 3 ton truck
4x Tatra 93T 3 ton truck


Picture: 'heroes of battalion'

[Korpraali V]

Romanian – Soviet border
28/6/41 0700

Visibility 850 meters, Length 33 turns

Romania Advance – Soviet Advance

Support Units:

Ro Rifle Co
Co Hq
1st Platoon (4x Rifle sqd)
2nd Platoon (4x Rifle sqd)

Civilian Bus



0700

Map attached.

Oberstleutnant Karl is again very frustrated. Hq has given him a task that is impossible to accomplish. They should advance against enemy advancing battalions. Intel reports at least one tank battalion coming towards them, possibly two. And Romanian troops are not ready. Only two platoons of riflemen were sent to help the battalion. Not enough at all. Karl is not planning to advance at current situation. That will be planned if he could stop the enemy…if. Ivan’s tactic and equipments are unknown. One thing is sure: lots of men will be coming.


Deployment:

Left flank: Two rifle platoons to forest far left. On the small hill AT guns and HMGs. Just behind the hill platoon of R-2 tanks and two rifle platoons. Behind them platoon of riflemen and R-2 platoon as a reserve.

Centre: Two platoons of engineers, platoon of riflemen and platoon of R-35 tanks will storm to the forest and try to keep it. With flamethrowers we should have some chances to keep the Ivan out from here. Platoon of engineers to reserve. Then some AA and AT guns to the bigger hill with long sights to shoot.

Right flank: Lots of open here. Also the enemy main forces won’t probably come this way. Platoon of R-2 and platoon of R-1 tanks here as a fast moving force. AA guns, AT guns and HMGs will cover the open area from the tree line.

[KG Erwin]

Interesting concept. I'll be looking forward to more status reports.

[Korpraali V]

Map attached



0720

Left: Lots of enemy tanks. About 30. Mostly light tanks but some heavier too. Not yet infantry seen! Awful tactic but it seems to work. Our AT guns are hitting very rarely and our barrages only manage to slow Ivan slightly. One medium tank explodes due to a top hit of mortar shell. Our tank guns won’t penetrate Soviet’s medium tank’s armor. Many ricoches reported from the front.

Centre: Engineers and riflemen are in the forest. Enemy starts to approach the forest. First casualties taken. Seems that the flamethrowers are only slowing those steel cans a little. Couple tanks destroyed but most assaults fail and Romanians are forced to withdraw. About 20 tanks reported.

Right: About 10 tanks reported here. Couple destroyed. Seems that Ivan come little forward and then turned towards the central hill. Our AA and AT guns get good flank shots. In theory. Most shots miss their targets.

[Puukkoo]

This sounds so strangely familiar.[;)] Keep it up, man. It's going to be a long day for the men of Moldovia, Valachia and Transylvania...

Best campaign idea so far!

[KG Erwin]

Just make sure that all of your men have written their last wills. [X(]

[Korpraali V]

(Thanks guys! Gunny: That was one of the first commands of Oberstleutnant Karl [;)] I got the idea of this kind of campaign and wanted to share the desperation [:D])

0740

Left: Enemy hit here by force. Tanks rolled over our frontal positions. Tank platoon withdrew to left where infantry platoons have suffered only few casualties. Seems that the enemy is not very interested about them. They managed to destroy couple tanks with molotovs. Our infantry platoons behind the frontal hill were not as lucky. Almost all are dead by now. We managed to take many guns back and have lost only one ATG here so far. Reserve platoon have taken its place in the forest left side of the bigger hill. Reserve R-2 platoon participated the fight and lost one tank. Most of our barrages have been addressed here. No enemy barrages seen so far, which is starange. Infantry platoons and R-2 platoon start carefully move through the forest far left to attack the enemy positions on eastern side of the hill. There should be mostly infantry left when tanks have passed by. If they manage to strike the enemy hard enough that may turn their spearheads back and ease the situation near the big hill. First quick glance results one light tank and infantry targets to artillery.

Centre: Engineers are encircled with one remaining R-35. Heavy casualties. Contact to troops in the forest was lost about ten minutes ago but was established again. Câpitan Madgearian informed through the radio that most of his men have died in the battle. His squad just destroyed enemy tank with molotov’s coctail and now the câpitan is trying to get rest of his men back together and continue fighting. Approximately platoon of engineers and one R-35 left. Oberstleutnant orders sublocotenent Cuza to count targets for heavy barrages on enemy locations according to Madgearian’s information. Hopefully that will help them, we can do nothing more right now. Soon its time to move artillery and mortars to safer place. Reserve engineers in front of the big hill prepare to fight. R-2 platoon and AA guns try desperately to slow Bolshevik spearhead.

Right: Seven enemy tanks are burning in front of AA and AT guns. About twenty of them destroyed as a whole. Only half a company of enemy infantry seen so far. One own tank, couple guns and over a company of infantry lost. Most tanks that came south side of the central forest turned to central hill and are now reaching the top of that hill. Couple of our guns have been destroyed and there’s not much we can do to stop the enemy. Engineer platoon in the centre is about to get encircled. Platoon of R-2s and platoon of R-1s prepare to flank the enemy and advance far right. They can’t destroy the Ivan’s tank force but if they are able to find and kill some infantry that may – combined with the flanking move on left – turn Ivan’s attention. Hope this works.

[Korpraali V]

0800

Center: Sergent Losca is one of the Romanian heroes. His AT gun (exp. 35) killed two T-28s on the central big hill. Those tanks were the spearhead of the Soviet assault and were about to encircle the engineer platoon in front of the hill. From 150 meter distance Losca had two good side and rear hits to enemy tanks blowing them up and giving the engineers some time to breath. Not much though, third T-28 and one BT-7 are still there and more are coming from north. Engineers have been encircled and they are retreating. Lost again couple of AA guns. Not enough trucks to carry them safe. Two trucks have been lost in those heroic attempts to save guns that are in Ivan’s way. Many have been succesfully redeployed in good positions.

Lots of enemy tanks pushing through northern side of the hill towards west. At least 20 of them seen. Hq and artillery seem to remain undiscovered in the middle of the forest about 300-400 meters north from them. Oberstleutnant Karl don’t want to keep his artillery so close to the enemy and so vulnerable to an attack. But the radio is full of help calls and this is the only way he is able to help his men anymore. All reserves are in use. Karl can’t afford to move his artillery, not untill they discover us. Barrages are constantly killing enemy soldiers, some tanks and routing many more. They have to keep on shooting at all costs. 100mm Field gun led by sergent Apostolescu (exp. 22) lost its tube during the first barrages and is the only one that have received orders to withdraw. Enemy spear seems to direct straighly to west. Trying the breakthrough? Two R-2s, 20mm AA gun and 47mm AT gun are in the northern edge of main road that those tanks have to cross. They get good flank shots and destroy some tanks. But too many are coming…

In the forest some engineers are killed in exchange of two enemy tanks. Sergeant Losca manages to help them by knocking out one threathening tin can. Karl will present a medal to that man.

Left: Four R-2 tanks and platoon of infantry approaches the forest end. Approximately company of enemy infantry and 3-4 tanks reported in the open. 100mm barrages do good there. Also Ivan’s heavy artilley have awakened. Barrages to forest inflict no casualties but lots of suppression. And these Romanians can’t handle the suppression. Flanking move have almost stalled.

Right: Three R-2s and three R-1s stormed the enemy flank and found four Maxim HMGs alone. Nothing else to say about them… Some infantry and light tank are coming. Nothing serious yet.

[FNG]

An excellent campaign idea. I wish Sergeant Losca and his comrades the very best of luck!

[Korpraali V]

(Thanks FNG, it is really needed.)

0810

Center: Both R-2s on the rear N-S road were seriously damaged and the crews have abandoned the vechiles. Infantry covers them with smoke. Third gun in position on the northern edge of this road line. Smoke covers enemy tanks for them, for awhile, but it’s more important to save those tank crews.

Forest: Câpitan Madgearian have destroyed two enemy tanks, both with sachel charge. He succesfully radioes new coordinates to Hq. Oberstleutnant Karl works close together with sublocotenent Cuza, battalions forward observer, so that Cuza will immediately get all the information available. He is continuously counting targets and is in danger to run out of paper.

Left: Enemy infantry was thrown away from the open. Couple tanks were destroyed too. Flanking tactic seems to work: Many enemy tanks in the center have turned back and are heading towards our left flank. Now it’s time to withdraw back to forest. We don’t want to face enemy main force with few 37mm guns what those R-2s have. Right flank have lured at least company of enemy infantry and couple light tanks there. Good! That’s away from some other place, probably from central forest.

[KG Erwin]

Hang in there, man. Gotta root for the underdogs against those big bad Russkis. Makes me wanna saddle up a German kampfgruppe and move alongside to provide assistance.

[Korpraali V]

(Thanks Gunny! Welcome, there's couple big bad tanks for you too. Remember to join the German 11th army in Romania when you get to Barbarossa [:)])



0820

Reports from frontlines inform that masses of Soviet troops are retreating. At least company of infantry and another of tanks. Very good. Seems that most Romanian troops will survive this day. Optimistic thought. Now have to be careful and keep the pressure on without risking too much own troops. The casualties have been high today.

Left: Withdrawing to forest and destroying few tanks more during the move. Couple tanks have damaged slightly. This should confuse Ivan. Sergent Noie’s tank have truly seen the battle. He has recorded two kills and suffered 6 damage. His tank is still moving slowly but all its weapons are broken. What a battle he’ve got!

Right: Accurate shot takes BT-7 out and the Boshevik infantry is not able to come closer in the open. Ivan’s headquaters reported to be seen there. Our tanks shoot the Bolsheviks on open and most of them are in panic. Their headquaters was forced to withdraw. Locotenent Radulescu makes heroic move and rides his tank in the middle of the enemy infantry straight towards the Ivan’s headquaters. Polkovnik Fjodorov and most of his staff was captured alive (surrendered when losses were two men)! If Radulescu is able to bring them to safe he’ll be awarded, that’s for sure! Now Karl is able to order some artillery support there. It comes in time, ’cause few heavy machine guns have just joined the fight. Their larger caliber bullets can penetrate our tank’s thin armour. After barrages the enemy company is fleeing. Lots of Soviet tanks heading their direction, mainly from centre. Some of them are coming through the central forest. Few men and R-35 still breathing there. Sergent Balcescu’s engineer squad destroyed T-34 but was forced to flee due to overwhelming enemy tank mass. His squad runs in front of advancing tanks and infantry. They are all reported to KIA.

Rear: Soviet artillery hits the road around abandoned Romanian tanks.

[Korpraali V]

0840

Câpitan Madgearian is still alive and is defending against the enemies that are approaching from every direction. R-35 under command of sergent Buturuga is with Madgerian’s engineer squad. Câpitan informs continuously about where he wants the artillery to hit. Cuza calculates and gives orders and the artillery pinns Ivan down. Again Madgerian destroys light tank with molotov. Two molotovs left. Buturuga knocks out light tank and now they are able to run deeper to forest where might be more enemies but also where they’ll be in better cover than here. Tanks seem to go through this area on their road to our right flank. R-35 is not able to carry all the men and so soldat Nastulesco will have to survive on his own.

Left: When the enemy turned to right tanks and riflemen again popped out from the forest and killed some infantry men and took the open area control. Soviet raction was immediate: Many tanks running towards the Romanians who have to withdraw quickly losing couple men. ”Group Ghica’s” leader, câpitan Ghica dies in machine gun fire. Câpitan Lazarian takes the lead.

Right flank is time to withdraw. Ivan’s tanks are approaching. But they’ll are ordered not to withdraw west but to SE forest. They’ll hook to Ivan’s rear and see if they can confuse the Bosheviks even more. Several bolshevik tanks are after them, but it seems that they’ve lost ”Group Radulescu,” so locotenent’s tanks are able to close Ivan’s rear with peace.

(Attached picture about sergent Losca's shooting place at 0800)

[Korpraali V]

0900

Seems that Karl’s change of tactic have been effective. Fast moving and then disappearing groups. Always striking to Ivan’s weak area and then fleeing from main battle have caused Soviet forces to scatter all around the area. Now there are tanks and infantry here and there but not anymore masses of them anywhere. This is good to know. Obersleutnant keeps this info in his mind for later use…

Group Radulescu’s flanking move to Ivan’s rear pays its price again: couple light mortars found and destroyed. At least two Soviet tanks followed the group and are now in battle against them in the middle of the forest. Both were destroyed. Also previously retreated Soviets are now heading there from NE. But most are still either retreating, or willing to do it after a little ’encouragement.’

Câpitan Madgearian’s engineer squad and sergent Buturuga’s R-35 have been all quiet in the middle of the burning forest. Now BT-7 suddenly popped up from the middle of trees. This seemed to surprise Ivan so much that Madgerian’s squad was able to broke its engine with molotov so it’s now immobilized. Then they quickly jumped on R-35 and ride away radioing the coordinates to artillery. Still alive.

[Korpraali V]

0920

Left: Hard fighting against couple Soviet light tanks. Romanian artillery covers with accurate fire. Without it this battle would have been over long time ago. R-2 damaged slightly, one was destroyed by Soviet artillery, couple infantrymen died. Infantry assaults T-26 with molotovs, two others destroyed by tanks. Crews killed. Lots of smoke. Two Romanian tanks in the battle here, both damaged. Platoon of infantry covering and taking losses. Some enemy tanks and infantry still coming.

Rear: Crews of abandoned tanks have climbed on their vechiles. One has lost its tracks but another is able to move to help Câpitan Madgearian out from the forest. Only one tank seen in the rear anymore. AT guns knocked it out.

Câpitan Madgearian and sergent Buturuga are escorted to safe! Oberstleutnant Karl announces that he want’s too meet those heroes immediately after the battle. As well as locotenent Radulescu and the captured Russian polkovnik.

[Puukkoo]

Even if the battle is lost the campaign may continue. The surviving heroes form a good "franchise" for the next battle. Replacement points however may be too scarce to rebuild the army again.

[Korpraali V]

(Puukkoo: This starts to look better now. But I'm little worried about those replacement points...)


0950

Left: Lone T-28 makes counterattack and causes lots of troubles. Infantry is still mostly panicking after Soviet barrages and only one R-2 have its gun functioning and it has no AP ammo left. Luckily our mortars makes the Russian tank leader to feel his presence rather uncomfortable and he decides to flee from the battle. Good for Romanians.

Center: R-2 advances to south of forest and finds some pinned infantry. With help of ZB53 HMG’s covering fire it’s able to throw them back. This field will be ours!

Right: Group Radulescu's R-1 and R-2 tanks are now destroying retreating Bolshevik infantry. All seems to go well until two heavy machine guns open fire, damage badly one R-1 and slaughter its crew. Those HMGs have to be dealt with quickly. One actually dies soon in Soviet rifle fire.

Rear: three tank crews were able to return to their guns. No enemy movement.

[IBTyrone]

Good stuff, Korpraali! Playing a minor country in the long campaign is tough. I've done it as the Italians several times...but the Romanians? You are a WARRIOR! [8D]

I especially like the updated "action" shots each turn.

Keep up the good work!

[Korpraali V]

(Thanks Tyrone! Italian and Romanian values won't differ much, just checked. I don't think you got it through any easier than I will.

It appeared that when my units have so low status, it won't cost much to repair them. So I'll go forward. I'll try to get one attachment per every post. At least for now. One thing noticed: Replacements get German names, so they have to be edited manually. I play with "Medium Battle," "True Troop ON/Rarity OFF" and "AI Advantage OFF."

Thanks for the feedback all!)




1000

The battle is over. Soviet forces flee from the field leaving behind some tanks with just their tracks lost. Some tank crews – appr. ten men from destroyed/abandoned/immobilized tanks – surrender to Romanian victors. From them Romanian forces will get valuable information about Soviet tanks and tactics. Especially from Soviet leader pukovnik Fjodorov. Also have to mention another valuable POW, kapitan Semenov, commander of ligh tank company. His BT-5 was immobilized to the middle of the burning forest. Poor kapitan is in shock and is very thankful to Romanian soldiers who saved him from the raging fire. This was hard baptism of fire for Karl’s Romanians. Almost half of them are reported either WIA, MIA or KIA. But the survivors have learned a lot. Attackers consisted about two armored battalions: three infantry companies and three tank companies + one artillery battery.


Today’s heroes:
- Survivors of the forest: Leader of Engineer company, Câpitan Madgearian (9 kills) and Sergent Buturuga (1 kill), leader of R-35 tank. Buturuca is promoted to Sublocotenent and assigned to lead the I armored platoon after the death of its CO.
- Leader of III armored platoon, leader of right flank and the capturer of Polkovnik Fjodorov: Locotenent Radulescu (8 kills).
- Leader of II armored platoon, part of the left flank: Locotenent Gheorghiu (9 kills).
- Delayer of Soviet spear, leader of 47mm AT gun: Sergent Losca (5 kills).
- Squad leader of second engineer platoon: Sergent Sincia (7 kills).

Romanian losses: 296 men, 3 artillery, 3 AFVs (6757 points DV)

Soviet losses: 542 men, 2 artillery, 1 soft vechile, 62 AFVs (971 points CD)



Attachment: The burning forest after the battle. Well over 100 bodies and at least twenty tank hulks.