Stugs at Efremovka*
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Series: 2nd Battle of Kharkov
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_Soviet Union*
_____vs.*
__Germany*

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Date: 14th of May, 1942*
1630 Hours*
Location: South of Kharkov*
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Designed By: Ts4EVER*
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Background 2nd Battle of Kharkov: Following the successful winter offensives in 1941, Stalin was keen to keep the pressure on the enemy, hoping to preempt another assault on Moscow with his own offensive. He was especially in favor of going on the offensive in the Kharkov sector, the city having fallen to the enemy in the summer of 1941. The attack was to be undertaken by the South-West-Front in a pincer movement, from the Barvenkovo salient and the Stariy Saltov bridgehead. Once massed artillery had broken through the German line, mobile group would be fed into the breaches to encircle AOK6 and reconquer Kharkov. However, due to supply issues, especially with artillery ammunition, as well as the undetected presence of German mobile reserves, the plan soon proved ill-advised...
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Briefing: Despite the Russian night assault, the 113. Infanterie-Division used the rest of the night to dig in, sow mines and put up wire in front of Efremovka. The remaining Stugs of 244. Stug-Abteilung were dug in, refueled and resupplied as well. It is clear that the Russians will soon launch a new assault. Your task is to hold your positions at all cost. Use the assault guns as a mobile fire brigade once you identified the enemy focus.
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You are once again facing the 266th Rifle Division, supported by tanks from the 38th tank brigade.
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Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Germans.
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POSSIBLE SPOILERS
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Historical outcome: The Germans managed to hold their positions, knocking out 12 Matilda tanks for the cost of 9 Stugs. 113. Infanterie-Division was forced to withdraw the next day, but a slow Russian pursuit allowed them to establish a new defensive lines 10 km to the rear.