Romania - Crimea 11/41

[Korpraali V]

Crimea

1/11/41 1600

Visibility 600 meters, weather thunderstorm, length: 37 turns

Romania Advance – Soviet Delay

We’re back in Crimea. Yesterday the Black Sea was reached and the Soviet retreat route was cut. Now Romanian and German forces are occupying the peninsula. 15th Romanian Armoured Battalion is to advance throught Soviet lines towards west and Sevastapol. That’s the main goal in this peninsula. Intel has no idea of the strength and form of Soviet forces. They should have only few tanks and lots of infantry, but the rest is guessing.


Support units:

-Cavalry Squadron
Cavalry HQ
1st Platoon (4x Cavalry)
2nd Platoon (4x Cavalry)
3rd Platoon (4x Cavalry)
4th Platoon (4x Cavalry)

-Recon Group
Recon HQ
3x Scout team
3x Scout team
3x Scout team
R-1 Platoon (3x R-1)
R-1 Platoon (3x R-1)

-Armor
3x FT
2x T-26

-Artillery
M36 Artillery Battery
M36 Artillery Battery
M36 Artillery Battery
4x 100mm Skoda FH
3x 81mm Mortar
3x 81mm Mortar

Civilian Bus


Oberstleutnant Friedrich Karl is planning to break the enemy lines both at left and right. Trying to advance through the centre would be hard because of several small hills and good firing areas the Soviet ATGs would have. After breaking the frontline the tanks and cavalry will continue to Bolshevik rear and cut their retreat routes. Infantry will secure both flanks. After the encirclement the Soviets should be easily forced to surrender. Main difficulties will be the thin advancing routes, good visibility - despite the weather - and the question of the amount and placing of Ivan’s AT guns. Because of the bad weather the infantry moves very slow and Karl hopes that the artillery is able to keep it in cover by smoking hard.

Left flank: (leader: câpitan Madgearian) cavalry half squadron, five platoon of tanks (R-2s, T3s, FTs, R-1s), engineer company, recon

Right flank: (leader: câpitan Lazarian), cavalry half squadron, four platoon of tanks (R-2s, T3, T-26s, R-1s), rifle company, recon

Artillery gets the firing orders and the advance starts.

[PimpYourAFV]

I'm looking forward to reading this fight. Its good to see you bought yourself some cavalry for support. No great battle was ever lost... oops... I mean won without plenty of cavalry. I usually buy a lot more than that though, about 3 times more.

Bring it on dude! [:)]

[Korpraali V]

(TokyoBoyTensai: Thanks! I'll try to use them properly. Unfortunately they tend to die when running against the MGs or light AA guns [:(] I just wonder why...)



1615

The smoke and artillery bombardments prevent the Soviets to see Romanian advance and the forces stay hidden. First action takes place on left, where overenthusiastic and inexperienced R-1s find enemy infantry and tank destroyer. All are routed after barrages so the light tanks start to drive them off from their positions without waiting others. Rest attackers try to keep high speed on to reach the R-1s that are now couple hundred meters in front of them. After the first T3 arrive, the ZIS is destroyed and other Bolsheviks are driven off from their first lines. Expecting Soviet barrages soon to land.

Since the barrages are not coming yet, the armours start to kick the routed Bolshevik infantry that is unable to resist. They are in a shock after the barrages and most are surrendering as fast as they understand to. More ZIS-30s found and R-1 lost its tracks due to 57mm gun hit. More barrages ordered.

Right flank finds southern flank undefended. At least right in front of them. But this may be a trap. The small hills in front of them may well cover anything possible behind them. First infantry squads are driven off their positions and the R-1s will scout if the easy breakthrough could be possible. Several hills around them make them vulnerable to enemy fire. Those hills are good places for AT and AA guns.



Attachment: Overenthusiastic R-1s (none lost yet)

[PimpYourAFV]

Aha! You are sneaking around the very top of the map like a snively rodent. I prefer a glorious charge through the middle of an open plain into the middle of the enemy's defenses for maximum speed and violence.

Keep going dude. Hopefully the bolsheviks will be able to give you a fair fight. [:)]

[Einar Fridgeirs]

TokyoBoy: Have you ever heard of the concept "strategy"? Just curious[:D]

[PimpYourAFV]

ORIGINAL: Einar Fridgeirs

TokyoBoy: Have you ever heard of the concept "strategy"? Just curious[:D]

Haig was right all along. He could have won WW1 if only he had had a few million more men and cavalry. [:)]

[Korpraali V]

(TBT: Until I get my first million Romanians to the field I'll try to use somekind of tactic [;)][:D])



1635

Left: More Soviet infantry sent backing. More ZIS-30s found and destroyed. Those are tough ones in defence. Sergent Troester and his veteran crew are killed when their R-35 blows up. Other tanks destroy those ZISs and continue forward. More smoke ordered around them. Then the cavalry will move to the head of the spear and attempt to achieve the breakthrough.

Right: R-1s are safely in the middle of the hills. No resistance? Only few infantry squads shoot from small hill line on left, but nothing else. R-2s drive Bolsheviks out from their positions and start to follow scout tanks. Cavalry tries to catch them and the armours are ordered to wait and regroup in the hollow area between the hills. Behind the hills somewhere are few AA guns. Soviet barrage hits the area between cavalry/armour and infantry. No casualties, only remaining scouts are in panic.

Ok, so much for the intel reports… Soviet armour counterattack heading towards frontlines along the road. At least three T-28s and two T-34s. That’s bad. They are probably heading to right. Accurate shot by câpitan Lazarian takes one T-28 out from appr. kilometer distance. Trying to move some AT guns to right. They’ll probably not get there in time, but have to try. Tanks line up to welcome the Soviets with suitable etiquette.


Attachment: R-1s leading the way on right.

[Korpraali V]

1645

Right: At least one platoon of T-34s and two of T-28s coming. Lucky ATG knocks the second T-28 out with a shot from a kilometer distance. They are getting close. Romanian artillery has managed to confuse them so that they are popping on the hill one by one, not as a mass. However, the AT guns won’t get there on time, so they’ll have to try supporting from the long distance. That’s bad because the R-2s are not able to penetrate T-34 armour with their 37mm ‘guns.’ They are just able to suppress them so that the only T3 in south can finish them – in theory. The situation is bad. Cavalry is ordered to continue forward against the Soviet AA guns.

Left: AA guns on the rear hill! Cavalry goes first and covers the armour advance with smoke. Soviet infantry is not able to stop the breakthrough anymore. They’ve been wiped out. Couple tanks will climb to small hill to get some good rear shots to those Russian steel beasts. Infantry has almost reached the positions. Renault FTs are slowly coming after them. Too slowly.

Soviet artillery is shooting the empty areas. They seem to have no idea what to do with their artillery.




Attachment: 'High quality' support T-26.

[PimpYourAFV]

Interesting story. Keep it coming. [:)]

I hope the Soviets win. [:D]

[JEB Davis]

I'm on your side, Korpraali, go get those Russkies!

[Einar Fridgeirs]

Me too, death to communism!!!

[Afrika Korps]

Crush the Soviet dogs!

[Korpraali V]

(Thanks JEB, Einar and Afrika!
TokyoBoy: You hope, I fight [:'(][;)][:D][:D])


1655

Right: R-2s exchange shots with T-34s. They have to take few steps back inside smoke cover. Captured T-26 was destroyed. Despite the mortar barrages three T-34s push forward. Then the miracle happens: R-2s’ 37mm guns destroy two T-34s! First one with bottom hit, second with side hull hit! Oberstleutnant Karl couldn’t believe his ears when he hears that those light guns have managed to penetrate the thick armour of bolshevik T-34. Two out, one left, surrounded by R-2s, T3 and T-26 and with its tracks broken. Soon the infantry will be there too. T-28 tanks that were directing to right have ceased to exist when the northern T3 and R-2s knocked them out with some well aimed rear shots from the small hill on left. After that politically leftist AA guns were able to damage one R-2. Cavalry pushes towards Soviet rear.

Left: Advancing cavalry founds at least ZIS-30s on the positions defending the left route to Ivan’s rear. Mortars will interrupt them in hopes that the cavalry may get close. After the barrages the cavalry charges. They lose many men but after that the T3 led by sergent Bucurescu is able to flank and kill both of the tank killers with two accurate shots. Pinned cavalry is trying to regroup so that they could lead the attack to rear area.



Attachment: Long distance rear shots.

[PimpYourAFV]

Those are mere flesh wounds you are inflicting, Korpraali. Be careful not to madden the bull. [:-]

Okay Soviets, eat your spinach and give him the good news! [:D]

[azraelck]

ORIGINAL: TokyoBoyTensai


Those are mere flesh wounds you are inflicting, Korpraali. Be careful not to madden the bull. [:-]

Okay Soviets, eat your spinach and give him the good news! [:D]

Better hope there aren't any ex-sailors in that Soviet Outfit... [:D]

[Korpraali V]

[:D]


1710

Rear town is defended by the AA guns, which open fire towards the invading cavalry on left and right. Cavalry spearheads are to unite in the town. Enemy headquarters located between the buildings. Barrages ordered to town. After them the cavalry will storm the AA guns.

Left: Damaged R-2’s crew is covered by another R-2 and T3. Engineers are now forming the line towards the center. After the cavalry spears unite in near future the Soviet main infantry will be encircled and all forces will concentrate on them. They should be forced to surrender quite easily.

Right: Last T-34’s crew abandoned their armour and surrendered to Romanian infantry. But surprisingly one T-28 pops out from the smoke and destroys sergent Noie’s R-2. Only the sergent himself is saved from the burning hulk. T-28 is quickly destroyed by other R-2s. Right wing is secured and the infantry company is taking their positions facing towards the center.



Attachment: Target area: rear town with AA defence. Attempt to encircle Ivan.

[Korpraali V]

1715

Rear left: Well placed ZIS-30 on a hill kills many riders, but the rest of them throw some smoke in front of the beast and manage to pass it, taking out some AA guns. Barrages ordered to suppress the tank hunter. Also other cavalry spear is now in the village and cavalrymen are hunting the AA-guns that are unable to resist after heavy barrages. Spearheads unite and the Soviet infantry is now cut off from their supply. They have no escape. Two desperate ZIS tank destroyers try to counterattack but they are quickly destroyed by tanks that came after the cavalry. Only thing left there in the village is cleaning the remnants of bolshevik gun crews.

Engineers and riflemen start to tighten the central pocket with armoured support. They encounter heavy resistance and the losses grow. Sublocotenent Petrescu, leader of third platoon of the rifle company, is killed by Maxim HMG. Several HMGs located in the area shooting desperately. Heavy barrages ordered to the center.

After the barrages the Soviet resistance collapses. Tanks and infantry attack and masses of communists surrender to victorious Romanians. Last resistance is cleaned by engineers. Flamethrowers seem to eat the fighting moral very effectively… wonder why…

[Korpraali V]

The battle is over. Over 150 prisoners were taken, including one infantry company leader and six platoon leaders. Couple tanks, light mortars and lots of Maxim HMGs were captured. Attackers were from two armoured infantry battalions (eight infantry companies + six platoon of armoured vechiles) plus AA detachment.

Towards the Sevastapol!


Heroes of the field:
- Tank commanders: sublocotenent Melinte (T3, 15 kills), sergent Bucurescu (T3, 19 kills), fifth armored platoon
- Sergent Florescu (100mm howitzer, 7 kills), third battery

Romanian losses: 111 men, 3 AFVs (6577 points DV)

Soviet losses: 1153 men, 27 artillery, 21 AFVs (369 points CD)

[JEB Davis]

ORIGINAL: Korpraali V

...Over 150 prisoners were taken...

[:)] Three cheers for Korpraali - hip, hip, hurrah, hip, hip, hurrah, hip, hip, hurrah !!!

[robot]

Way to go Korpraali nice crushing blow to the red horde. Keep pushing them back. Putting your troops up for unit citations all around.