Tanks clash at Marevka*
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Series: 2nd Battle of Kharkov
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_Soviet Union*
_____vs.*
__Germany*

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Date: 21st of May, 1942*
1030 Hours*
Location: South-East 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: After beating back the Russian counter offensive, 16. Panzer Division is back in the center of the offensive. Today the Germans advance on a three division front: 16. and 14. Panzer, as well as the 60. (mot.) Infanterie-Division. You are in command of the 16. Panzer tank spearhead again. Your offensive is aiming for the Russian blocking force at Marevka. You are to destroy as many Soviet forces as possible and seize the village. Expect a lot of Soviet armor, but little infantry. To provide you with additional infantry support, 2 companies from the 60. have been attached to your force. They are also supported by some new tank destroyers of the "Marder" pattern. These are equipped with a captured Soviet gun and can knock out most enemy tanks. In addition to that, you can still rely on your 10cm guns with the special ammunition. The Luftwaffe however is grounded due to intermittent rainstorms. Luckily those are not heavy enough to cause considerable mud.
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The area is defended by the 23rd Tank Corps, which was rushed here from the fighting near Borki, giving them no time to prepare a defense in depth. They are depleted and lack infantry support, but still field many tanks, including T34s in considerable numbers.
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Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Germans.
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POSSIBLE SPOILERS
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The fight for Marevka proved hard and taxing, with 21 Panzers being left destroyed on the field. The 23rd Tank Corps however was mauled and the position taken. At the same time, the 14. Panzer Division rushed north and captured Protopopovka. Due to this success, the neck of the Barvenkovo salient was narrowed to only 18km, making a single evelopment of the whole Soviet attacking force a distinct possibility.