DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the war in the east, the German Army has been significantly expanded. Panzergruppe 2 under Generaloberst Guderian has 3 PanzerKorps available at the start of the campaign. With fluid operations expected in the area, gaps between formations will inevitably be created. These will serve as opportunities for the enemy to penetrate into rear areas. Consequently, two kampfgruppen will be formed to operate between the PanzerKorps. KG Schumacher will operate in the area between XXIV and XLVII PanzerKorps. Each of these units have contributed an infantry company to KG Schumacher, with the panzergruppe filling out the formation with core combat support units.

A0- LTC Schumacher
Forward Observer- Lt Schmidt
Utility Vehicle group (2 Kfz 15 command cars)
1st Infantry Company- Cpt Hauser
2nd Infantry Company- Cpt Kammler
StuG Battery 224 (7 Sturmgeschutzen III-E) – Maj Tellner
Pionier Platoon- Lt. Langer
Mortar Company- Lt Krohner
2 scout sections
Opel Truck Transport Company- Cpt Mayerling
Munitions Supply Section (2 munitions trucks nicknamed “Annie” and “Hilde” short for Brunhilde)- Lt Hoedel

Core 1618 points

At the completion of each battle (set to 25), the Operations staff will assess the performance of KG Schumacher. The staff is aware that the KG is lacking in several areas. First, no part of the KG has the advantage of previous combat experience. The assault guns carry a modest loadout of 6 armor piercing and 11 HEAT rounds. So re-supply in the event of significant enemy armor will be an ongoing issue. There are no other tracked vehicles in the KG, so moving the infantry or support teams with a degree of safety will be a challenging proposition. Scout units will mostly be on foot, so reconnaissance will take time. Nevertheless, the staff does not expect KG Schumacher to be forced into overly-difficult situations as the 3 korps of PanzerGruppe 2 will have eliminated the most difficult resistance.

Note- unfortunately my graphics card won’t let me do screen shots so I will have to post saves so you can see the terrain.

June, 1941 near Minsk
Meeting Engagement
Visibility 88
Length 44
Map 80x80

Support
The Luftwaffe has 2 Me110D-2 missions on standby

Situation:
Objective areas in sector are scattered with 7 under our control, 8 uncontrolled, 5 enemy controlled.
Terrain is generally height 10-12 with 2 dirt roads. One in the north is running east-west and is the primary avenue of approach in the sector, with a western and central village. A second northwest-southeast road provides some degree of lateral movement across the middle of the sector. A single rail line bisects the area running north-south, with a village on the southern portion of the rail line. There is no significant water obstacle in the area.
A farmed area 400x500 meters is in the north. There are two wooded areas that dominate our area. The southern woods is not expected to play a significant part in operations. In the center of what is expected to be the battle area, the terrain in checkerboard terms is generally this:
C= clear F= farm W= woods Bold where formation is located

WCF
CWW 1st Company with pioneers in support
WWC StuGs and mortars in the PKZ (primary kill zone)
CWC 2nd Company

Artillery Target Reference Point set at far side of the PKZ. The forward observer is watching the PKZ and is with A0.
Scouts are deployed in the far north and south to detect enemy movement.
Service Support- Opels are in the woods behind the StuG battery and 1st Company.
Annie and Hilde in the woods behind 1st Company
Command- Schumacher is with the StuG battery

Main battle is expected in the PKZ where StuGs are located. 1st Company will absorb initial impact of any strike along the east-west road, and use pioneers as tank hunter-killers in the northern woods.
2nd Company will deal with enemy in their area.
Once the enemy attacks are beaten off, the KG will strike east to take all objective areas.

Details of the battle

Turns 1-4 no combat but the enemy is reported approaching

Turn 5-
North: 2 BT2s at 20+mph moving west on the northern road.
Center: 4 BA-10 scout cars appear in the PKZ. StuG 201 brews up a BA-10 @ 500m.
South: Scouts identify 2 T-26 tanks skirting the woodline of southern woods.
AIT (AI turn)- Smoke missions scattered in the area. StuG 101 lights up a BA-10@ 650m in PKZ

Turn 6-
A0 calls for a StuG platoon to reinforce 1st Company. Major Tellner sends 3rd platoon north through the woods.

Turn 8-
StuG 001 (Maj Tellner) torches 2 BT-7s at 650m in the PKZ.
StuG 302 kills a BT-7 @ 200m in the PKZ
StuG 101 sends the turret flying off a BT-7 at 650m in the PKZ.

Turn 9-
StuG 301 in the northern woods dispatches a BT-2 @ 300m
AIT- A BT-7 is killed by a StuG in the PKZ.
StuG 201 fires up a BT-7 @ 850m in the PKZ.

Turn 10-
Enemy units eliminated in the PKZ: 6 BA-10s, 6 BT-tanks destroyed, 1 BT tank abandoned. Corporal Hollmichel’s squad from 3rd Plt 1st Company on the woodline of the PKZ is credited with 4 vehicle/crew kills to this point.

Turn 11-
SPOTREP from northern scouts: 6 T-26 and 4 infantry squads approaching 1st Company at moderate speed.
StuG 301 eliminates a T-26@500m

Turn 12-
StuG 302 rips apart a BT7 on the north road @ 150m
StuG 001 dispatches a BT-7 @ 300m to the south.

Turn 14-
StuG 301 eliminates a T-26 @ 500m in the north.
The Luftwaffe is called in but one aircraft flies straight into the teeth of Soviet air defense and downed by 37mm fire. North scouts now identify 11 rifle squads and 4 T-26 tanks headed for 1st Company.

Turn 15-
StuG 301 flames a T-26 @ 500m in the northern zone. Another attempt to attack a T-26 fails as return fire smashes the StuG, knocking out all weapons.
In the southern area, a squad from 3rd Platoon, 2nd Infantry knocks out a T-26 with hand grenades.
AIT- A T-26 succumbs to StuG 302 @ 100m in the north. Again, 3rd Platoon of 2nd Company knocks out a T-26.

Turn 16-
StuG 001 kills a T-26 @500m just outside the PKZ.

Turn 17-
StuG repeats the performance of the previous turn, bagging another T-26

Turn 18-
21 Russian infantry squads and 5 tanks are pressing down hard on 1st Company which has been split apart. A 200 meter gap has most of 1st and 2nd platoons with the pioneer platoon north of the road while the 3rd platoon and the Co HQ with a couple squads cling to the south. The StuG battery with 4 vehicles along with 2 squads from 3rd platoon 1st Company work to drive off 4 Russian squads that are on the southernmost portion of their assault line.
AIT- The forward observer is killed in the northern woods by enemy rifle fire.

Turn 20-
A pionier kills a T-26 in the northern woods.
AIT- 2 squads from 1st Company perish in the northern woods.

A0 issues FRAGO 1 (Fragmentary Order #1)

KG will counterattack enemy in northern woods.
1st Company- establish blocking position west, but south of main road.
2nd Company- advance to CKZ and prepare for transport to woodline western edge of northern woods. Upon arrival, dismount and attack west on command.
StuG Company. Clear enemy from area vicinity of western woodline in preparation of 2nd Company’s arrival.. Then support attack of 2nd Company.
Mortar Company- Place indirect fire in center of northern woods on command.
Transport Company- move east immediately and load 2nd Company at CKZ. Deliver to western edge of northern woods if clear of enemy observation and fire.
Command- I will be with 1st Company.

Turn 22
Halfway through the mission our individual losses are
Artillery FO KIA
KG command vehicle destroyed
StuG 301- 1 crewman
HQ 1st Company 8
1st Plt- 27 (3rd squad KIA)
2nd Plt -14
3rd Plt - 25 (2nd Squad KIA)
2nd Company
3rd Plt- 3

The StuG battery with 3rd Plt 1st Company are engaging 6 rifle and 1 cav squads on the western edge of northern woods. Corporal Hollmichel’s squad now has 7 kills to their credit. Another 4 enemy rifle squads and a cav squad are fleeing for the road to take them back east. 2nd Company is now loading on board the Opels for transport to the fighting. 1st Company with pioniers now has most of the squads south of the road.


Turn 24- StuG battery minus 3rd section drives off 3 infantry squads and has paved the way for the Opels to arrive with 2nd Company without interference from enemy fire.

Turn 27- 2nd Company has offloaded and the attack begins. Penetrating into the woods from the east, we have surrounded the Russians now trapped in the woods with 1st Company holding in the west. 3 more rifle platoons are cut down.

Turn 33- For the previous turns, the enemy infantry has been systematically cleared from the northern woods. The last Russian unit, a T-26 is killed there. The KG is advancing east to capture all objectives. 3rd Platoon 2nd Infantry Co kills the Russian HQ in forested area in the center of sector. StuGs are advancing southeast down the road.

The remainder of the mission is anti-climactic. 3rd Platoon, 2nd Company capture VH to the south. StuGs avoid AA units successfully and capture the remainder. A few weakened local attempts along the road by the enemy to repel the KG are unsuccessful.

Turn 44- Capture last of VH.

Final Score
4131-380 Decisive Victory

Battle Losses
Men 133:607
Artillery 0:1
Soft Vehicles 3:0
AFV 0:38
Aircraft 1:0

142 rebuild points are taken to replace all losses.
No upgrades are made available.

Operations staff assessment of and recommendations related to KG Schumacher Mission 1

Assessment- Combat formations fought well. StuG III-E successfully engaged BT-2 and BT-7 type vehicles at 650m in general and to a maximum of 850m. Infantry fought and rallied well in the course of destroying men and armored vehicles. Corporal Hollmichel, 3rd Platoon 1st Company is recommended for Iron Cross 1st Class for destruction of 12 enemy formations. Artillery had mixed results. The FO was exposed to enemy fire and killed. Air missions were not entirely successful. At one point artillery ammunition was exhausted and re-supply late in coming. During the latter advance phase, the mortars were outranged by the advance. Scouts performed adequately, reporting enemy forces approaching in the northern area. Transport and supply is inherently weak because of the dependence on Opel trucks. The unit succeeded in delivering 2nd Company to its assigned jump off point after FRAGO #1 was issued. Command and control was good initially, broke down somewhat towards end of mission as units raced for objectives

Recommendation- Keep track of mortar ammunition stocks. Avoid compromising position of artillery FOs. Confirm with Luftwaffe air controller the appropriate direction of flight so as to avoid high-density AAA locations.

Next mission: Meeting engaement at Korosten.

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

Mission 2
July, 1941 at Korosten
Meeting Engagement
Visibility 51
Length 43
Map 80x80

Support
The Luftwaffe has 4 Me110E-2 and 2 Fieseler Storch missions on standby
A platoon of three 37mm AT guns have been released

Situation:
Objective areas total 21 and are scattered with 3 under our control, 11 uncontrolled, 7 enemy.
Terrain is generally height 10-12. There are no roads or villages in the battle area. A single rail line bisects the area running slightly southwest-northeast. A water obstacle in the area consists of a deep-water lake to the north running about 700 meters lengthwise and from 50-300 meters across. A stream runs from the lake in a northwest to southeast direction from one end of the sector to the other. The terrain around the stream is depressed for a distance of about 300-400 meters. There are a few fords and a single railroad bridge in the center just a little east of the center of sector.

The initial deployment area in the northeast is largely wooded, with the lake to the east presenting a natural barrier. The 37mm AT platoon is deployed to cover the 150 meters north of the lake where there is a ford at the stream allowing units to cross to the east. The KG deploys in the northwest around a clearing to establish a kill zone 300-500 meters wide and up to 1100 meters deep. Russian units coming up from the depression where the stream is located can then be taken under fire. This strategy has some risk as since there will be no initial advance, time could become a factor if the KG remains in position for too long with so many VH not under friendly control.

The deployment pattern in checkerboard fashion C= clear L= Lake W= woods Bold indicates location of formation.

WWL 2nd Company with StuGs on the southern edge of the woodline
WCC
CWC 1st Company with pioneers in support and StuGs on the northern edge of the woodline

Artillery Target Reference Point set at far side of the PKZ. The forward observer is watching the PKZ and is with A0. Mortars are deployed forward along the woodline.
Scouts are deployed in the far north and south to detect enemy movement. Northern scouts will cross the stream to the east to observe enemy movement.
Service Support- Opels are in the woods behind the StuG battery and 2nd Company.
Annie and Hilde in the woods behind 2nd Company
Command- Schumacher is set back behind the StuGs deployed on the northern side of the PKZ.

Main battle is expected in the PKZ where StuGs are located. 1st Company and 2nd Company will deal with enemy in their respective areas. With the lake obstacle, it is expected that between the two infantry companies, 1st Company will see the most action initially.

As with the previous mission, once the enemy attacks are beaten off, the KG will strike east to take all objective areas.

Turns 1-6 no combat but the enemy is reported approaching. Time is already working against the KG.

Turn 6 AIT- A BT-2 is taken under fire and killed by one of the StuGs.

Turn 7 The FO calls for an air strike in the north, as scouts have spotted armor headed west. The Luftwaffe has orders to approach from the northwest and after making their run to bank right to the southeast for an egress from the area.

StuG 301 nails a BT-2 @ 900m in the PKZ.
AIT- 2 BA10s run into pioniers in the southern edge of the KGs position. One is set ablaze while the other is immobilized.

Turn 8- A BT-5 explodes from a shell fired from HQ StuG 001 at 900m.

Turn 9- A BT-2 is killed by StuG 301 at 1050m. Another BT-2 is hit at 750m from StuG 001.

Turn 10- The Me-110s hit home within the Airstrike Zone (AZ) east of the lake, knocking out 2 T-28 medium tanks. Scouts count 6 BT’s and 12 rifle squads approaching in this northern area.

Turn 11- 2nd StuG platoon positions itself to observe action in the AZ. Hits by StuG 201 and 202 turn a BT2 and BT7 into hulks at a range of 800m. Scouts update their SPOTREP with 14 rifle squads now present in the general area of the AZ.
One of the 37mm AT guns scores a killing blow on a BT2 at 750m.
AIT – A scout section in the south is lost as an enemy BT stumbles onto it.
2 more BTs are flamed by 2nd StuG platoon in the AZ.

Turn 12- A BT5 is wrecked by StuG 202 at 600m.
AIT- 2 more BT tanks are wrecks courtesy of an unidentified StuG and a 37mm AT gun.

Turn 13- An Me-110 strikes a rifle squad and quickly departs the area. Southern scouts report an unexpected development. No less than 9 BTs, a cavalry and scout unit now approach from the south. 1st StuG platoon is ordered to immediately aid 1st Company.

Turn 14- StuG 302 smashes a BT2 at 600m.
AIT- Engineers successfully blast a scout car and BT tank on the southern treeline.
StuG 302 fires up a BT-7 at 1150m. SPOTREP update from southern scout, now 15 vehicles in the southern area. With the bulk of the enemy infantry still on the march and a third of the time gone, this latest news is not welcome.

Turn 16- StuG 302 scores another blow against a BT5 at 650 meters in the AZ
AIT 2 BTs are set alight by 1st platoon StuGs in the southern woods.
1st Infantry completes a successful assault on 2 BT7s encroaaching in the southern woods.

Turn 18- The southern woods continue to see close-in fighting. Infantry from 1st Company light up two BT7s

Turn 20- Pioniers kill a BA-10 scout car and a T-26 meets its demise at the hands of StuG 102 at a range of 50m.

Turn 21- 1st StuG platoon continues to work away at the Russians. Each vehicle claims a T-26 at distances of 50 and 100m.

Turn 22- 1st Infantry Company chalks up another BT7 in the southern woods.

Turn 23- With 20 turns remaining, enemy infantry is only now appearing in strength. The chance of reaching all VHs by the end of the game seems increasingly remote.
6 rifle squads spotted east of the lake. 5 squads are at the southwestern outskirts of the PKZ. 3 squads and 2 tanks are southeast of southern woods.

Turn 24- StuG 101 lights up a T-26 at 500m

Turn 26- Stug 302 scores a direct hit on a BT-2 at 500m.

Turn 27- 2nd and 3rd StuG platoon need to restock ammunition. 1st Platoon advances east on its own. 2 squads from 2nd Company begin to cross the stream just south of the lake. The current VH count is 15-6 in favor of the enemy. Surveying the scene at the southern woods, 20 Soviet vehicles are burning hulks.

Turn 29- 2nd Infantry Company takes out a BT-2 east of the PKZ. As if there had not been enough Soviet armor, a new group of 5 T-26 tanks appear east of the stream. Fortunately at least they are the M1931 MG variety. In any case, that is a total of 9 armored vehicles still to be hunted down.
AIT- StuG 001 takes out a BT-2 at 550m.

Turn 30- Our infantry continues a general advance and is across the stream in force. The StuGs have almost reached the lone railroad bridge. HQ, 2nd Infantry polishes off a T-26 MG tank. Another 2nd Infantry squad immobilizes a BT-2 on the eastern stream bank.

Turn 31- StuGs from 1st Platoon and company HQ cross over the bridge to join our infantry.

Turn 33- Mortars have moved into a direct LOS of enemy infantry.
AIT A mortar platoon is lost to rifle fire.

Turn 34 AIT- The first StuG, 201, is lost in this battle as a clean hit from a BT7 kills the crew instantly.

Turn 35- HQ, 2nd Infantry Co eliminates another BT-7 through a hand grenade attack. Hollmichel’s squad is back in action, taking out another BT-7 with a grenade.

Turn 36- StuG 101 successfully hunts down the Soviet HQ.
Turn 37- StuG 202 picks off one of the T-26 MG tanks. Our own infantry having advanced east od the stream reach open terrain and are now being engaged at long range by Maxim MGs.

Turn 38- A scout section heroically attempts to draw fire away from the infantry squads and onto itself. It is hopeless as it is close to 2 maxims and 3 AAMG units.
AIT- The scout unit is eradicated

Turn 39AIT- In open terrain, a single shot from an unspotted 45mm gun brews up StuG 302. There are no survivors seen. VH count is now 12-9 in our favor.

Turn 40 AIT- The Maxims take out two of our squads again at long range. Clearly the one VH in the vicinity of the MGs has not been worth the price. In frustration, The StuG battery HQ and vehicle 101 flail away with MGs at depleted enemy rifle squads in the vicinity. All HE ammo has been expended and no time left to rearm.

Turn 43- VH count is 14-7 in our favor. Actually 3 the enemy still retains were within reach but not taken. It does not change the results significantly.

Final Score
3475-1488. Marginal Victory.

Mission totals
Men 121:594
Artillery 1:4
Soft Vehicles 2:0
AFV 2:59
Aircraft 2:0

It is noted that while both sides lost about a dozen men less than the last mission, the Soviets lost 21 more AFVs here.

Operations staff assessment of and recommendations related to KG Schumacher Mission 2.

Assessment- The basic plan to hold positions until the enemy had been significantly reduced was perhaps costly in terms of time. The destruction of enemy vehicles generally occurred in these locations:

Southern woods: 21
Airstrike Zone: 13
Eastern Stream Bank: 13
Primary Kill Zone: 7
Miscellaneous: 5

The location chosen for the PKZ was probably incorrect. Based on the location of the rail bridge, the main enemy avenue of approach was to the south. The original placement did put the KG within close proximity to 5 VHs. But the destruction of the enemy armor might have been accelerated moving the PKZ south. Against that argument it might also be considered that some vehicles killed in the AZ were taken under fire from StuGs positioned very close to initial firing positions within the PKZ.

Trained StuG crews are showing themselves capable of regularly destroying lightly armored vehicles out to engagement ranges of 600m, and up to 900 or even 1050 meters.
The infantry displayed its ability to engage enemy armor numerous times at close quarters.

Artillery continues to be a weak point for the KG. Two rifle squads were killed in the open late in the mission and mortars laying smoke or HE may have saved the infantry.

The lack of armored transport remains an issue. Had some been available, the enemy might have been sufficiently suppressed to save the two infantry squads or the one StuG which stumbled into the 45mm ATG position. The transport company cannot replace trucks with halftracks because there is no such organization. However, a tracked engineer platoon is supported within the army organization. Based on that, operations team recommends equipping the KG with a halftrack platoon.

Next Mission: Meeting engagement at Kiev

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

This is interesting stuff and well written.

Which campaign is this? I'd like to try it. A campaign featuring Panzergruppe Guderian interests me.

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

As near as I can tell this was a randomly generated Long Campaign of about 25 missions. Considering it was done about 5 years ago or so, I doubt you'll get any of the answers you're looking for unless Pat58 is still around. If you have specific questions though I might be able to help you out.

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

Thanks! No, I have no questions about the randomly generated campaigns right now. I have been doing all of my playing with the scenarios vs. the AI. It is tough to win Decisive against the AI. The game provides a challenge to single-players.

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

Hard to believe I started this thread almost nine years ago...

This is a continuation, sort of. The original game files are long gone, and since then I purchased the CD to the game.

The starting OOB is slightly different now, but I can always add to it later. It mainly consists of StuG Battery 224 and an infantry company, supported by recon, mortar and engineer elements.

https://i.imgur.com/hoWEQvY.jpg

Mission 3 of 25:

50km east of Smolensk
Meeting Engagement
11:00 11 August 1941 Duration 27 turns
Visibility 3,200m

Situation briefing for the KG:

Panzer Group 2 is east of Smolensk and is part of the encirclement around this strategic city. Numerous Russian groups are trying to break out from different directions, and one such group has been spotted by a Stork reconnaissance aircraft in our sector. It appears to be a group of light tanks and infantry.

KG Schumacher is ordered to engage and destroy this oncoming force.
In support of the KG for this mission is two infantry companies, two 10,5 cm howitzers and a sharpshooter.

The StuG III E armed with the 7,5cm StK37 L/24 cannon has this basic loadout: 24 Sprgr.34 High Explosive, 6 K.Gr.rot.Pz armor piercing, 20 Gr.38 HI/A High Explosive Anti-Tank, 3-5 Nbgr.Kw.K Smoke. The early HEAT round is somewhat undependable in terms of penetrating vehicles so often more than one hit is required to kill a target.

Maximum range of the 7,5 cm Kanone L/24 is 3000 meters. All StuGs are set to fire at a maximum range of 750 meters (shortcut Y,Q). This prevents firing at targets of opportunity with a low chance to hit and penetrate the target vehicle.

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

11:09AM

A pair of Russian scout cars are observed approaching in the south.

https://i.imgur.com/OFsS7qT.jpg

Our scouts see nothing from their positions on the north road. 3rd and 1st infantry companies advance on hills 118.1 and 118.2 with Tellner's battery in the saddle between them.

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

11:12AM

Several BT light tanks and a pair of cavalry squads have joined the scout cars in the area of hill 118.6. Tellner's battery now on the front slope of hill 118.2 take them under fire, setting several vehicles ablaze.

https://i.imgur.com/LoEodxl.jpg

1st company is scrambling down the eastern slope of hill 118.2. The pionier platoon is on the backside of the hill for the moment. The other infantry companies advance as well.

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

11:15AM

In a matter of minutes, the area around hill 118.6 is littered with the wreckage of many more vehicles. The StuG battery has had little difficulty breaking up this wave, and the Russian infantry is expected to be not far behind.

https://i.imgur.com/qLlpPVj.jpg

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

11:18AM

1st Company, now on hill 118.4 has full view of advancing Russian infantry. The StuGs now switch to their HE rounds while our mortars and howitzers can be brought into action.

https://i.imgur.com/VTYjaWK.jpg

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

11:21AM

This has turned into a rather lopsided affair as the enemy infantry is outnumbered and outgunned. They begin running back from where they came as our own troops head after them.

https://i.imgur.com/eR4p6Uz.jpg

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

Here our artillery will find its mark.

https://i.imgur.com/63mejYt.jpg

11:24AM

It is now a mopping up operation as the bulk of the Russian infantry has been eliminated.

https://i.imgur.com/BTUFSEF.jpg

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

11:27AM

The battle is all but over. Even the Russian headquarters is on the run.

https://i.imgur.com/9NUAtE1.jpg

The final results show the KG victorious, but with a realization that this was not best Ivan had to offer.

https://i.imgur.com/uuHNW0k.jpg

The enemy OOB

https://i.imgur.com/znucUQR.jpg

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

That was confusing at first. I saw a fresh AAR, then the opening post is dated 2010.

I like your maps, your staff work is so much neater than mine.

The HEAT round for the 7.5cm/ L24 is actually pretty good. I remember having a couple of 251/9 which were all of my reserve after the Russian armour punched through my armour screen in a Delay battle. Their HEAT round made all the difference against roaming T34s looking for my artillery park.

Once the units gain experience, they'll be pretty accurate up to 800m.

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

01:30 12 August 1941

Oberstlt. Schumacher had barely a chance to catch even a few hours sleep before a radio message was received from higher headquarters. It seems that Ivan had caught wind of the fact that we had little armor in our engagement of the day before and now he was going to attempt yet another breakout some 10-15 kilometers to the south of our current position. The kampfgruppe would need to conduct a night march in order to arrive in a position where a new defense could be established.

https://i.imgur.com/iJHHx1J.jpg

Support for our forces was being hastily scratched together as the previously attached infantry companies had already departed our area only hours ago. Two platoons of 5cm AT guns were being rushed to the area where Ivan was to be expected, along with a special weapons company consisting of machine guns and light mortars. There was no definitive word on what kind of armor the enemy would be bringing this time, but we couldn't count on our foes coming at us with more of the light types.

By 07:00 our new positions had been established. It wasn't long before the first enemy mortar and artillery fire were starting to come our way. The number of incoming rounds made it clear we were about to be seriously tested. Visibility was approximately eight hundred meters, so we would have to react quickly should the unexpected come about.

07:45

These are the defensive positions established by the kampfgruppe as enemy fire commenced.

https://i.imgur.com/0a912YL.jpg

Enemy indirect fire was of the 76mm, 82mm and 122mm variety. Although most of the initial rounds expended found nothing but ground to tear up, it was clearly in sufficient quantity to be a real threat if and when our positions were uncovered.

https://i.imgur.com/6XJ9su3.jpg

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

07:48

Along with HE rounds, we start to see smoke dropping to our front. Clearly we aren't meant to see what is building in the distance.

https://i.imgur.com/TGxxC33.jpg

08:00

For fifteen minutes we have experienced continuous incoming fire from enemy artillery and mortars. This is a new experience and provides stark evidence that Ivan is far from defeated.

First contact in the north comes in the form of a pair of scout cars and a single T-28 tank with mounted infantry. One of the scout cars is dispatched and the mounted infantry quickly bails from their ride at the sign of our first incoming round.

https://i.imgur.com/tYjgQKC.jpg

The northern platoon of 5cm guns while waiting for enemy contact has seen quite a bit of artillery land to their front.

https://i.imgur.com/VARN5Z7.jpg

One can sometimes tell just from the number of incoming rounds what is coming our way. The Soviet 122mm batteries fire twenty four rounds at a time compared to sixteen from their 82mm mortar sections. The fire seems rather haphazard, but with all the tubes available to him, he can afford to be. Sooner or later one or more rounds are bound to find their mark. In fact, one such round caught one of our southern AT gun trucks square, and scattered the attending gun crew.

https://i.imgur.com/n2EPRGd.jpg

Also in the south, the first Russian armor appears. Four luckless T-60 light tanks fall victim to StuG section #2.

https://i.imgur.com/aRvEblA.jpg

So far, nothing we haven't been able to handle.

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

08:03

More Russian light tanks in the south. Our StuG section there continues to add to the cluster of burning vehicles to their front.

https://i.imgur.com/Rj1uOYu.jpg

In the north, a pair of T60 light tanks appear in one of the tilled fields while a second T-28 has appeared. The first T-28 has already been dispatched along with a second scout car.

https://i.imgur.com/4MLfxgV.jpg

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

08:12

A large number of enemy light tanks approached from the center and were dealt with to a considerable degree. However, AP and HEAT ammunition among the StuGs is running low and the battle is not over. Tellner's battery have two vehicles with reported casualties.

https://i.imgur.com/Jt6tqoi.jpg

What is more, a larger Russian tank has appeared to our front. We have not seen one of these before but is believed to be a KV-1 heavy tank. This is not a vehicle we can easily deal with and surely at least a couple more must be approaching. Time to lager up the northern AT guns in case they are needed elsewhere.

https://i.imgur.com/hppAKAK.jpg

In the south, there is a lull in the fighting after the last enemy vehicles are knocked out. The infantry is moving some squads forward to deal with the dismounted crew members.

https://i.imgur.com/X6evTm8.jpg

And Russian artillery is still falling all around us.

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

08:21

Our command post is subjected to one of the enemy's fire missions and a building just 150 meters away is flattened.

https://i.imgur.com/OQz0UB7.jpg

The southern area is now quiet and an infantry squad is carefully moving forward to see if it can take out any of the enemy mortars that have been plaguing us.

In the north and center, the situation may be approaching a crisis. The enemy KV-1 has been joined by four others and there are still almost a dozen light tanks nearby. StuG Battery 224 has a total of 34 AP and 28 HEAT rounds remaining. One of the StuGs is immobilized and will almost certainly risk being destroyed if it gets into a firefight with many of these heavy tanks. That one vehicles also accounts for almost half the remaining HEAT rounds. Smoke will be needed to keep that vehicle obscured from observation. Another one of our StuGs is down to two crewmen.

The 5cm AT guns have limited options here as the amount of ground cover is sparse. Our engineers with explosive charges are not going to be able to get close to the KVs for the same reason and enemy infantry still has the field.

Oberstlt. Schumacher instructs maximum suppressive fire be placed on the heavy tanks while at the same time the enemy infantry must be scattered. The StuGs will continue to work over the remaining light tanks. If the KVs can be forced to remain buttoned up without infantry support, they may be reluctant to advance further. We have to win a battle of fire with their infantry and light tanks and a battle of nerves with their heavies.

https://i.imgur.com/e4kBTMR.jpg

Our infantry are ordered to prepare for assaulting the KVs should it become absolutely necessary. But since only three infantry squads are equipped with the magnetic shaped charges that have to be attached directly to the vehicles, this will only be a last and final option.

08:30

Enemy infantry are grouped together just south of our pioniers, so they are forced to remain in place where they have cover.

https://i.imgur.com/7mDLFBU.jpg

The count of KV-1 tanks has now reached seven, but our plan has had the hoped-for results. Some of their heavies are moving forward while others retreat. It appears that their command and control has totally broken down within this tank company. We have to be thankful that they rely so heavily on the use of flags and hand signals for maneuver. While they remain buttoned up and without radio communications, coordinated actions are all but impossible.

https://i.imgur.com/0BYAG88.jpg

Captain Tellner reports to the CP that his battery is down to forty nine rounds of AP and HEAT ammunition. About a third of those rounds are on board the StuG that is disabled. Ivan has seven KVs and five light tanks still functional from what can be observed.

At least the enemy indirect fire has finally lightened up...

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

08:39

Ivan is still trying to push his infantry forward. We are countering his move by trying to catch him in a crossfire between our engineers and the MG-34s of the support company.

https://i.imgur.com/YjUwFnb.jpg

Our FO, Lt. Schmidt is calling fire down our mortar fire on the KVs. They still remain unable or unwilling to collectively move in any one direction.

https://i.imgur.com/WlavBmU.jpg

08:48

Our infantry company has managed to catch four light tanks that stumbled into the woods. Two were destroyed and the other two disabled.

https://i.imgur.com/5NvQe13.jpg


The lone squad from Hauser's company sent to try and spot their mortars has met with success.

https://i.imgur.com/HvNGM5l.jpg

Meanwhile, Ivan continues to press forward with one KV and some infantry. Our MG-34s continue to spit down fire on these.

https://i.imgur.com/b5oSEDp.jpg

Re: DAR: Germany 25 Missions
 

08:57

The enemy infantry in the north is making what appears to be a final attempt to push forward against the machine guns of the support company.

https://i.imgur.com/WPCZYBQ.jpg


Meanwhile, the enemy armor seems to be trying to get reorganized, but with limited success. A good thing to as the AP and HEAT ammunition of the StuGs is all but gone.

https://i.imgur.com/HHicFz4.jpg

09:06

The Russian attack in the north has finally been broken. Our pioniers can now bring their weapons into action in order to keep them on the run.

https://i.imgur.com/4rAxnkt.jpg


Our StuGs advance, but this is mainly for show. They have little that can be accomplished in a fight with the KVs, but in any event Ivan no longer has the stomach for a fight.

https://i.imgur.com/FXSgyGr.jpg

A few minutes later the battle was over, and victory won.

https://i.imgur.com/qYUdJ4x.jpg


The attackers casualties.

https://i.imgur.com/z65A83s.jpg


With the enemy forces thrown back, the Luftwaffe was able to deal with those KVs at a later time. Smolensk was eventually taken, and our kampfgruppe awaited orders to move east as soon as conditions allowed. To our surprise, the next set of orders called for movement not to the east, but southwest. The push on Moscow would have to be delayed as we were given a new task in a very different location.