DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

USSR vs. Germany


Mission: Defend, Tikuin, USSR, 11/1941 - grouped objectives.

Enemy: Panzer Regiment Strength – 2 Tank Bn, 1 Infantry Bn, 3-5 Artillery Bn, plus ATG and AAA. Strike aircraft likely. Average force experience, ~75.

Terrain: Map = 100x100. The map is reasonably open with some hill dominating a lot of that ground. Numerous peaks of level 30 and 40 can be found around the battlefield. Most significantly, a level 40, triple peaked hill can be found mostly in the friendly deployment zone. All three objective groups are on the slopes of this hill. The northern most group is behind the center peak and they echelon forward with the southern most group being south of the southern peak. All of the objectives are in open ground. There are clusters and lines of trees, with clusters being more dominant. The northern peak and the north half of the central peak of this large hill are covered with trees. Visibility is likely to be spotty from those areas. Outside of my deployment zone, there is a cluster of trees making visibility along the north edge difficult if not impossible. West of the southern peak, there are lines of trees out about 750m until a level 30 hill is encountered. To the southwest of this peak there are more tree lines and a small cluster of trees. Due west of the central peak is mainly open ground.

There are two roads on the map. One is generally east-west crossing the map and the central peak of the large hill. A north-south road also exists. The majority of this road is in enemy territory. It heads straight north until the two roads cross. Then it turns to the northeast and exits 800m outside of enemy territory. There are a few buildings on the map and can be found close to the roads. Cultivated fields are also common.

One other note: General Winter has arrived. The map is snow covered. Visibility = 56.

Troops: Tank Brigade Strength – 2 Armor Bn. (36xT-34/76A+, 26xT-34/76B+), 3 Infantry Co., 1 Support Co (4xHMG sec., 4x45mm ATGs, 2x82mm Mort. sec., 2x120mm Mort. sec., 2xKV-I, 4xScouts w/trans., 1xEng. Plt, 3xAAMG sec. and 4xSupply Trucks).

From Support Points: 4x37mm AA Btty, 6xBunkers, 100xBuild Points. Average force experience, ~80.

Time: 53 Turns

Analysis

Looking at it from a defensive point of view, the area isn't bad, but not great either. The large, triple peaked hill would be a nice point for a defense, IF it was all on my side of the deployment line. Enough of the hill is forward of the deployment line to create blind stops forward. Since I can't deploy forward of the line, my force would have limited ability to watch the north edge. It is open enough before they get behind the trees, but all I can do is see them coming. The next time I see them will be at knife fighting range or after they have rounded my flank. Visibility to the south edge isn't great, but better. The best visibility is due west. I will have decent LOS in that direction.

Snow will play a factor. It will slow the battle down, keeping the enemy in my kill zones longer. The exception is the east-west road. I expect them to push down this road to some extent. Sheer numbers mean some will come down it, even if by accident. Infantry will be riding the tanks unless I can separate them. Tanks without infantry and infantry without tanks are more vulnerable.

Test runs on the enemy force selection showed lots of planes and lots of artillery. There were 11 batteries of 150mm or larger. I didn't even bother counting mortars. As for aircraft, it picked ten. The AI tends to pound areas around the objectives and with that much fire power, I need to figure out a way to minimize casualties before our ground forces make contact. Aside from that kind of support, I expect in the range of 150 armored vehicles of one sort or another. My test run came up with seven German companies to my six, but a German tank company can be 22 tanks. I've got one with 12 and the other five have 10 tanks. One area where we could be relatively even is infantry. The AI could throw me a curve, however. That remains to be seen.

Plan

I haven't finalized my plans, but am considering two options. One is a conventional defense. Line up to cover the objectives in the best way possible. What I don't like about that is with the artillery the AI will have, it could pound me into dust and capture everything with a platoon. I know the AI won't be that patient, but it could be done. Anyhow, this is Defense Plan 1.

My other option is to take the fight to the enemy. Even though this is a defend, there isn't any rule that says I have to stay there and take it. In this option, I set up a defensive line centered and pushed almost up to my deployment line. Everything goes there except armor. I put obstacles in front of them, leaving the flanks open. On each flank, I position a tank battalion. They will perform an double envelopment of the advancing enemy. Given their position, they will certainly stop any moves to flank my infantry line. With this plan, my hope is the enemy artillery will mostly go over my infantry line. The enemy will be aware of my armor, but I hope to have them be a moving target making them difficult to hit with artillery. Also, if I mix closely enough with the enemy, maybe I can use their aircraft against them. A few blue on blue attacks wouldn't hurt my feelings at all. This is Defense Plan 2 and I'm strongly leaning in favor of this one.

Opinions?

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Defense Plan 2 looks good although I'm not sure I'd be bold enough to try double envelopment. The double envelopment spoiling attack should draw the enemy's supporting fire away from your front lines and hopefully break up the attack into smaller, more manageable chunks. The danger is getting cutoff, bogged down, and defeated in detail.

A possible alternative might be to make one of the flanking forces much larger than the other. The smaller would conduct a mobile defense, falling back trading ground for time and hopefully getting enemy arty to fall on their own advance. The larger would try to breakthrough and then either roll up the line or go deep and circle around to do a hammer and anvil against the static defenses. The snow might make this impractical in the south, though the road in the north looks interesting.

Anyhow, I agree with your leanings toward at least a partially mobile defense, especially up against that kind of artillery fire!

Brian

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

I'm pondering your comments. One concern is the snow. With differing sized flanking column, I stand a chance of a major strength mismatch on one flank without the ability to shift tanks quickly. There is merit in the idea of having the AI drop artillery on their own units. I could skinny one side up, but leave it large enough to make a stand if necessary. One flank could go with 22 tanks and the other one with 42 tanks on the other. If I go with this option, I would have the larger group up north. The trees there are capable of screening a larger force than those down south.

My envelopments will be more flank attacks than true envelopments where the intent is more to cut off the spearhead. I probably wouldn't push out as far as displayed in the plan. How far they move out would be dependent on the AI movements. I want to move out far enough before turning toward the center to catch a large number of enemy tanks by the flank without exposing my flank to similar attacks along the edges.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Plan

I've gone with Defense Plan 2, slightly modified using Brian's suggestion. Instead of one tank battalion on each flank, my north(right) flank has 42 tanks and my south(left) has 22 tanks. The northern area beyond the trees is more open and better suited for tanks. Additionally, the enemy will likely advance down the road quicker than any place else. My northern force will take the battle to the enemy. The southern tank force will also strike at the enemy, but if things get to be too much, the can retreat back to their revetments and hold there.

My infantry line has a row of mines and a row of dragon's teeth. Tanks will get there quickly and might push through a row of mines without damage. The dragon's teeth need to be cleared before they get through. Sometimes, the AI tanks will skirt along the dragon's teeth, so eventually the mines will score. Unfortunately, my infantry doesn't have any long range AT capability, so they get to sit back and watch the activity to their front. My ATGs are deployed to cover the flanks of my infantry line, just incase the enemy manage to get a few units around. The guns aren't good against front armor, anyhow. For support, I have 12 AA guns. Those are deployed destroy planes and not necessarily to support the main line.

For the first turn or two, I'll hold fast to determine where the enemy's main trusts are coming from. There will be over 100 tanks coming at me, so I will need to know how those numbers are deployed to best use my tanks.

Rather than putting another screen print that will be similar to what I've already put in this thread, I'm attaching my save after deployment, but before the first turn starts.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 0 (Prep Fire)

Enemy prep fire was lighter than expected. Only eight batteries of artillery and no aircraft. That doesn't mean they don't have more artillery or aircraft, but I expected more. Only one 170mm battery was even close to anyone, causing 6 points of suppression on one unit.

I plotted some mortars out there, hoping to catch some tanks on the move later.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Zero.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 1

Enemy fire continued into turn one as expected. Three more batteries turned loose firing smoke. That gives them 11 batteries so far. A little more suppression this turn, but no casualties.

Enemy tanks are on the move. Roughly one company sighted north of the east-west road. They also have armored cars on the road. Those will make it to my line much faster than their tanks.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Zero.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 2

Artillery fire has stopped.

I've got 36 enemy tanks approaching from the road north. Most of the tanks are north of the road, but there are a few on it. Eight armored cars are advancing down the road as well.

All my tanks are on the move. I'm going to set range to 750m. No sense wasting ammo. I've got 22 T-34/Bs in the north group, but I need to make the most of my shots. South group is also moving, but I don't expect them to see anything for a bit. The enemy has more trees to move through there.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Zero.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 3

More enemy artillery firing smoke.

Enemy tank count up to 50 on or north of the road. I also see nine armored cars and one half track. Some shots were exchanged, but no damage to either side. Friendly mortars plinked a few enemy tanks as well.

A few enemy tanks are coming out of the woods down south. Again, shots exchanged, but no damage to either side. Mortars off target down here.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Zero.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 4

Well, I took a bite out of them up north, but there are a lot of enemy units. I'm not going to bother counting live ones. We did cap six armored cars and nine tanks. They have three more immobilized. Some enemy returned fire, but not many and it was all ineffective. Friendly mortar fire was on target, but only caused them to button up. Some of my tanks were on the receiving end of mortar fire as well.

Down south, enemy tanks continued to pop out of the woods and brew up. Five tanks are destroyed, so far. Two are still alive, but not for long.

As expected, the enemy is carrying infantry. I can't afford to mix with them.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 9xPzKw 38b(t), 4xPzKw IIIh, 1xPzKw IVc tanks and 4xSdKfz 222, 1xSdKfz 231(6) and 1xSdKfz 221 armored cars destroyed.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 5

Enemy hit hard up north. Scratch an additional three armored cars and 28 tanks. Throw in two half-tracks for good measure. There is infantry scurrying about the tank battle. Most seem in good order, but I'm sure they have taken casualties. I can't even make an estimate on infantry casualties at this point. My mortars did hit some more and I did see one infantry unit was completely destroyed, but that is the only confirmation I have. The enemy did drop more smoke and directed some light artillery and mortars at my tanks but no damage.

Pressure down south is minimal. Only tank riders trying to push forward, but 22 tanks with nothing better than to shot at infantry makes progress impossible. My mortars are off target here.

Two Stukas made bombing runs, but they won't be back. They won't make it to the airbase, either :D No known damage from the attacks.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 10xPzKw 38b(t), 13xPzKw IIIh, 2xPzKw IVc, 1xPzKw IIc, 2xPzKw IIf tanks, 1xSdKfz 222, 1xSdKfz 231(8) and 1xSdKfz 221 armored cars, 2xhalf-tracks and 2xJU-87B dive bombers destroyed.

I'm done for the night, but am attaching screen prints of action on both flanks. In the south flank picture, the burning hext at the end of my line of T-34s is where one of the Stukas went down.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 6

I hit the enemy hard again, but the damage wasn't as bad this turn. Between artillery slinging smoke and burning wrecks to my front, it is hard to get line of sight to many targets. My force did dispatch 13 more tanks. Enemy armored cars are snuggled up to my line of mines, trying to skirt around the flank. Two friendly tanks pushed close and took out three of them, but one was able to destroy a bunker. Enemy infantry is trying to push forward to my tanks, but aren't making it very close. Most of my tanks didn't fire, so moving infantry is a choice target. One area of concern is a large number of tanks just south of the road. I can't put fire there. My forces are pushing forward toward the road to sweep the infantry front of units, but this must be done with care.

No new enemy tanks down south. There was one left, but it was taken care of quickly. I'm shifting my line around since I expect to be targeted by air or artillery eventually.

Two ME-109s came in. All the enemy aircraft have been targeting one of my AA guns and they finally got it. One of the 109s will have to RTB to patch bullet holes.

The AI is slinging to much smoke right now and not enough steel. Most of the smoke is being deployed in the woods behind my tanks anyhow. I mean way behind my tanks; something like 500m or more.

Casualties

Friendly: 1xBunker and 1x37mm AA gun destroyed.

Enemy: 4xPzKw 38b(t), 7xPzKw IIIh, 1xPzKw IVc, 2xPzKw IIf tanks, 1xSdKfz 231(8), 1xSdKfz 231(6) and 1xSdKfz 221 armored cars destroyed.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 7

Scratch 24 more tanks up north. My tanks are shifting around looking for shots and trying to put some artillery smoke behind them. A few of the enemy batteries did get smoke around my units, but not a significant amount. More smoke was fired this turn and I'll have to shift around this as well. The enemy did hole one of my tanks, disabling his main gun, so I pulled him off the line. There are a few enemy armored cars next to the mines, but getting to them isn't safe. That 20mm gun with SABOT rounds can kill at 100m. I'm willing to let them come to me if they want to try to get around the flank. I've got two tanks covering that area and two scouts with satchel charges if they actually get around the end. If the get past the scouts, there are two 50mm ATGs to deal with.

Still no enemy tanks down south, so that group is moving north. Aside from one squad, I don't see any enemy units further south than 200m from the road. There is smoke about 400m out in front of the left of my infantry line, so it would block line of sight of anything behind it for now.

Two more ME-109s came in, but these won't be coming back ever. One succeeded dropping a bomb on my infantry line, causing some casualties. The other was targeting my AA guns again.

Artillery still isn't having any impact on this battle. I have accounted for some nebelwerfers firing smoke, so the enemy does have at least three battalions of one sort or another. Yet, with all that fire power, it hasn't had any influence on the battle aside from making my tanks move around smoke some. Burning tanks are accomplishing that already.

So far, I can account for 91 destroyed enemy AFVs. To show for this, one of my tanks has a disabled main gun. The main force behind their armor has to be destroyed. I should have a numerical edge by now. With no effort to even breach my line yet, I believe this battle is won. I'm not saying there won't still be hard fighting and that I won't lose tanks, but I won't lose enough to cost me the battle.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 10 casualties.

Enemy: 13xPzKw 38b(t), 9xPzKw IIIh and 2xPzKw IIf tanks and 2xME-109 fighters destroyed.

I've attached a screen print of the entire front as it stands now. Unfortunately, it is kind of small in the thumbnail view, but might be larger if downloaded. Toward the bottom, my south flank column can be seen heading north. More to the north a mass of enemy tanks can be seen on the eastern hill just south of the road. North of the road can be seen the carnage my tanks have inflicted on the enemy thus far. I've pried them off the north edge and have their flank in the air.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 8

The enemy lost 17 more tanks up north. There are still a lot of tanks up there, but not really enough. With all the smoke, I'm being more cautious. Infantry, even without AT capability can kill a reckless tank. Most of my line is holding, but I'm pushing a few tanks forward to get better shots. Two tanks are holding close to the infantry line and it has kept two enemy armored cars in check. They don't move and I don't move. In this case a stalemate helps me since my objective is to keep them from rounding my flank. I did push one machine gun team on my infantry line forward to take the place of the destroyed bunker. It spotted an armored car sitting in the mines on the road. Other infantry popped smoke to protect him. The AC can't get through the dragon's teeth. Tanks without tanks to shoot at pounded on enemy infantry, doing some good damage.

South flank group still moving north. Heavy tanks covering their flank, just in case enemy tanks pop out of the trees. It will take 3-4 turns before the lead tank is even in position to fire and many more turns for trailing tanks. The only enemy unit down south is one squad. My column moved and would fire at it, but not diverting anyone to deal with him.

Some enemy mortars are hitting my infantry line, but nothing of concern coming out of it. Mortars are also dropping on center of my north tank group. All those heavy guns and the AI fires at real targets with 81mm mortars. Instead, the enemy is using the heavy guns to fire smoke and blast the far side of the hill my infantry is deployed on. Even with this, the enemy still has heavies that aren't firing.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 10xPzKw 38b(t), 6xPzKw IIIh and 1xPzKw IIc tanks destroyed. Estimated 30 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 9

Line of sight on targets up north getting scarce. Only destroyed five tanks and one armored car. Some infantry tried to push out of the smoke, but caught fire as soon as they did. Mortars fired a little smoke in addition to HE rounds this turn. No damage, but some suppression. I've got mortars firing at the hill just south of the road to return the favor and make life difficult for any infantry that gets dismounted.

The enemy tried to hit the south flank group with 150mm artillery, but was short by about 250m. Lead tank on south slope of hill between them and the enemy north of the hill. It won't be long before they contribute to the battle near the road.

Enemy mortars still hitting the infantry line, but no damage.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 2xPzKw 38b(t), 1xPzKw IIIh and 2xPzKw IIc tanks, 1xSdKfz 231(8) armored car destroyed. Estimated 10 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 10

I finally lost my first tank, but not to enemy tanks or infantry. One ME-109 came in and destroyed it. I'm going to see that plane until the battle ends or he makes a mistake. My tanks have no AAMGs and I don't have anything mobile to send forward. The enemy tried pushing tanks through the smoke but my line is solid on the other side. Scratch 15 more enemy tanks. They tried to support with rockets and artillery, but were roughly 500m long. I had been there, but not any longer. Two tanks have pushed forward along the north edge to cover my flank there and the rest of that company are swinging around the back side of the smoke. They were able to cap a couple of running tanks and are chewing on infantry as well.

Lead tank of south group crested the center hill and got a few shots on the enemy armored car camped in the mines in front of my infantry line. I also dropped some light mortar fire on it as well. He should be history soon. More tanks will be cresting the hill this turn.

The enemy is throwing a little heavier stuff at my infantry line, but it was short. My mortars are still continuing to rattle the enemy on the hill south of the road. One JPz I took some damage.

Casualties

Friendly: 1xT-34/76B tank destroyed.

Enemy: 7xPzKw 38b(t), 5xPzKw IIIh and 3xPzKw IIc tanks destroyed. Estimated 10 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 11

I had a second tank destroyed. The enemy is getting into knife fighting range with the company near the infantry line and I'm starting to run out of AP ammo there. The crew survived, but I have to try to get them out, which might be difficut. Otherwise, I was able to destroy six more tanks, one tank destroyer and one half-track. My mortars got the tank destroyer. Because of the ammo problem, I'm starting to shift my line in that direction to get more tanks with AP in the area. On the other side of the line, two flame tanks were capped.

South group is pushing more tanks over the hill now. They are engaging from 1000m without much success. The enemy armored car was damaged, but that is about it. It won't take long before the enemy can't deal with the pincer attacks from both flanks.

Enemy artillery still hitting different areas, most of them empty. More smoke came in up north as well.

Casualties

Friendly: 1xT-34/76A tank destroyed.

Enemy: 2xPzKw 38b(t), 2xPzKw Ib and 2xFlammpanzer I tanks, 1xJPz I tank destroyer destroyed. Estimated 10 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 12

Between fire from the north and south flank groups, the enemy lost another 10 tanks. Most of the destruction came from the north, but the south is starting to score. Chalk one up for the mine field as well, but I don't know what got destroyed. It is very difficult to tell what they have left. There is a lot of smoke from buring vehicles and the enemy tossed more smoke out there with artillery.

Enemy artillery is hitting the infantry line with some big stuff near my HQ and FO. I might have them duck into a nearby bunker. Countery battery fire is also targeting on of my mortars as well. It is about time they got to it.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 6xPzKw 38b(t), 2xPzKw IIIh, 2xPzKw Ib and 1xPzKw IIf tanks destroyed.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 13

The enemy has lost seven more tanks. Slowly, the south group is closing the gap with the north. The enemy tossed more smoke in the gap between north and south, so I can't tell what is in there. I'm not going to push into the smoke. It isn't worth the risk. I might pull my north group back from the smoke ling. The enemy is stopped in that area. No sense risking infantry pushing through and getting an easy kill. I've got most of one tank company lined up covering the flank inside enemy territory. I'm not willing to push forward any further for risk of running into enemy antitank guns. I've still got mortar rounds falling in smoke areas I can't see into. The thought is if there is infantry or tanks in there, it will suppress them before they push out. It will give me an edge in any encounters that occur if they do. I've also got light mortar fire dropping on the armored car in the mines. When the enemy vehicle destroyed itself in the mines it blocked my line of sight from the south.

More incoming mail in the north center section of my infantry line. No real problems here, because I control the ground out in front of the line here with my south tank group. Counter battery still falling near one of my mortars, but it didn't stop it from firing. I pulled back my ammo truck, just in case. Also had an ME-109 come in, targeting one of the two tanks containing the two armored cars. No damage.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 4xPzKw 38b(t), 2xPzKw IIIh and 1xPzKw Ib tanks destroyed.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 14

Only three kills this turn. Targets are really getting scarce. I'm sure the enemy doesn't have much left but it could be hiding in the smoke as well. I pulled the north line back slightly. Here, all they need to do is seal off the flank, which is done. The south group is pushing north. One company is maintaining one flank close to the infantry line. The trailining company is starting to swing around their left to see what is behind the smoke. Light mortar fire still dropping on the armored car in the mines. I am going to see if I can get some infantry up there to light him up.

Indirect fire on both sides is starting to cut back. I'm letting fire missions stop once they complete. The enemy had a couple of batteries fire, but they hit nothing.

On a side note, my tank with the disabled main gun ran back up and rescued the crew from one of the destroyed tanks.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 2xPzKw 38b(t) and 1xPzKw IIIh tanks destroyed.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 15

Capped one enemy tank this turn. Only two others are visible at the moment. One is disabled and the other is a Mk Ib. My south force did take fire from a tank destroyer. I fired smoke to cover the lone tank being shot at. The 47mm on that thing can be dangerous. Mortars have been plotted on the location if it decide to hang there for a while. Enemy infantry starting to push out of the woods near my south tanks. I'm going to pull them back and form a line in front of my infantry. The tanks can deal with the enemy infantry while my infantry spots them.

Enemy artillery dropping near trucks I have along the back edge. I'm just going to retreat them off. My plan doesn't involve moving anything with trucks.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 1xPzKw IIIh tank destroyed. Estimated 10 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 16

One more enemy tank destroyed. My infantry immobilized the enemy armored car in the road and got the crew to bail. Artillery falling on the center of my infantry line with smoke dropping in my south tank position. Enemy infantry tried pushing out of the woods, but got hammered by my tanks. One other squad moved forward near the north flank, but also got hammered.

More enemy counter battery fire. All I can do is try to hold out. The ME-109 came back, hitting the same area of my tank line. No damamge.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 1xPzKw 39b(t) tank destroyed. Estimated 10 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 17

Destroyed enemy light tank and threw back a platoon of infantry. More infantry seems to be moving forward, so I'm going to move my south tank group out of the way. They are bathed in smoke right now and the enemy could walk right up to them and attack.

Enemy mortars hitting my north tank line. Heavy fire hitting my infantry line and counter battery got an ammo truck.

Casualties

Friendly: 1xAmmo Truck destroyed.

Enemy: 1xPzKw Ib tank destroyed. Estimated 15 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 18

I'm pulling all my tanks back. They are just at risk of being hit by artillery and infantry sitting out there. All the enemy seems to have left is infantry and my line should be able to deal with them. My tanks will still be available to provide support if needed also. Took a few shots at some infantry on while pulling back. Enemy armored cars started pushing the flank of the infantry line and opened up on one of my scouts. I have no clue how they knew they were there.

Mortar fire on my north tank line. Heavy artillery and smoke on the center of my infantry line. Counter battery fire against one of my 82mm mortars.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Estimated 5 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 19

Opened up on the enemy armored cars with my scouts to button them up and sent a couple of tanks to finish them off. The rest of my tanks, north and south are pulling back. The north group is going a little slower to make sure the advanced tank company doesn't get left behind and cut off, but I don't really know what the enemy would cut them off with.

More heavy artillery fire into my infantry line. Not much I can but take it. Coming out of their holes now would be suicide.

Counter battery suppressed one of my mortars. The rest are fine.

Casualties

Friendly: 1 casualty.

Enemy: 1xSdKfz 231(6) and 1xSdKfz 231(8) armored cars destroyed.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 20

North tanks mostly pulled back into the woods. One company stumbed across another enemy armored car trying to push around the line of obstacles. It was quickly dispatched. I'm going to move one company behind the infantry line so it can support the line with its guns if needed. The other three companies will seal the flank from their starting positions.

South group is going to swing down to the south edge and try to push into the enemy rear area. I could have done this with the north group, but the ground is too open and liable to have more infantry around.

Incoming mail still hitting the center of my infantry line. The 109 came back, hitting one of my AAMGs. At least I got to shoot at him this time.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 1xSdKfz 221 armored car destroyed.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 21

Tanks up north are all in the woods. In a few more turns, they will have returned to their starting position. One tank from the company moving to the center had a tank immobilized by artillery.

South group has three enemy Mk IIf tanks heading toward them. This would be unlucky for the enemy.

Infantry line still taking artillery fire, but more is falling forward of the mines than actually on the line. This will make life difficult for any approaching enemy infantry. One did get shot at by one of my squads through a gap in the smoke. No casualties on either side.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Zero.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 22

Enemy targeting scout with heavy artillery. No damage, but I'm sure they aren't happy.

Four enemy tanks destroyed by south group and one more damaged. It won't survive the turn. As soon as I saw them, I sent one company straight at them. My heavy tanks will support them for now, while the remaining company tries to push through. They spotted an enemy squad to their southwest, but I think it was the one I shot at about 10 turns ago.

Some enemy pioneers have made it to my line of mines. I don't see them, but picked up the report some mines have been cleared.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 4xPzKw IIf tanks destroyed.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 23

Artillery still hitting scout unit. They are still holding fast.

One more enemy tank destroyed by south group. One company came on line, just in case more tanks come through. Other company continuing to move to the southwest and jumped all over the enemy squad there.

Roughly two enemy platoons pushing on the north central part of my infantry line. Heavy artillery also hitting that section of the line, but they still fired on the approaching enemy. My company of tanks in nearby, but can't move up with all the artillery right now. I plotted mortars on the enemy, which should hit next turn. The ME-109 came back and also hit infantry in this section of my line.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 5 casualties.

Enemy: 1xPzKw IIf tank destroyed. Estimated 10 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 24

They are still pounding my scout. It really is a waste of steel on a 3-man unit. The armored cars got one of the men the turn they died.

Both tank companies of the south group are moving forward again. One is moving west and the other southwest. I jumped all over the infantry squad to the southwest and found another to the south. I'm pulling my heavy tanks back to help cover that area while my tanks push forward. They are too slow for this type of advance anyhow.

There is a full enemy company heading to the north central part of my infantry line. They are getting hit pretty hard. Between small arms from the line and mortar fire, a lot went down. My tanks positioned to the rear of the line, but out of the impact zone of the enemy artillery. They are still dropping rounds on the light, but it has slacked up a bit. One thing I didn't quite intend was my HQ and FO are in the middle of this fighting and right on the line.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Estimated 25 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 25

Destroyed on tank trying to sneak around the right flank of my infantry line.

South tanks starting to sight enemy mortars. Put a few rounds into the revetment of one, but no damage.

Holding enemy infantry at bay so far. Incoming mail shifted down the line some, which helps me. The point of the line in contact with their infantry isn't getting hit anymore. Enemy infantry hit with small arms, mortars and tanks. I moved my tanks up to where they could fire. Another company coming up from the north flank as well, leaving two companies to watch the flank.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 1xPzKw IIIh tank destroyed. Estimated 15 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 26

South group still pushing forward. They destroyed one 81mm mortar along the way.

Enemy artillery shifted north on the line a touch, hitting some of the defenders and blinding my tanks. The southern part of the enemy attack force is breaking up. The northern part has bunched up. My line is holding well.

Casualties

Friendly: 1 casualty from my FO.

Enemy: 1x81mm Mortar destroyed. Estimated 15 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 27

One company of south group taking direct fire from an 100mm mortar. No damage and I'll be him soon.

Enemy artillery lifted and now mortars rounds falling. At least the rounds are smaller. A few of my tanks were able to fire but the rest are blinded by dust kicked up last turn. Enemy infantry is still pinned down. They are about 50m away from the mines. 120mm mortar rounds continue to rain in on them. They can't last much longer.

Enemy counter battery has one of my 82mm mortars crews running. I probably will let them go.

Casualties

Friendly: 1 casualty.

Enemy: Estimated 15 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 28

Both companies of the south group scored. The northern most company destroyed two 81mm mortars and the other got a 100mm mortar. This is helping the infantry line since they start dropping mortar rounds instead of artillery.

Without any indirect fire coming in on the infantry line, the enemy took more of a beating than usual. Two of their squads were completely destroyed. Many of the others have been pushed back. My tanks can see and are firing again, helping push the enemy back.

Counter battery fire has stopped. Instead, heavy artillery is hitting the extreme flank of the infantry line near the scouts again. One of my tanks was immobilized. I better pull the rest out of the impact zone.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 1x100mm Mortar and 2x81mm Mortars destroyed. Estimated 25 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 29

South group is stirring up hornets. They are coming across AA guns, infantry and even a tank or two. Nothing really to worry about, but I do need to be careful. The southern most company took direct fire from a mortar and some AA guns. The northernmost group is at the road intersection and engaged some infantry and a tank heading east. There is one mortar to the west and a couple of howitzers to the northwest.

The infantry line had smoke dropped along the northern half of the contact point with the enemy, leaving them blind. The infantry and tanks engaged infantry to their front and mortar rounds continued to hit them. Artillery started to hit my tanks behind the line, so I will have to move them.

I pulled five tanks back from the right flank, leaving the immobilized tank on his own. Not much else I can do.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Estimated 15 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Turn 30

Tanks at the intersection ran into a mess of trouble. They took fire from a couple of tank destroyers and at least two tanks. I lost one tank and had another damaged, but punched a hole on one of the tank destroyers. My forces were moving on some howitzers and AA guns. Their attention is going to have to be refocused for a while. I'm going to send out a company of the north flank group to take the enemy from the rear, because I'm sure I can hold at the intersection. The southern company is having better luck, taking out two AA guns and another mortar.

Along the infantry line, there still is about a company of enemy still trying to move up. I pulled my tanks back for now. My infantry and mortars still are hitting the enemy and holding them at bay.

Casualties

Friendly: 1xT-34/76A tank destroyed.

Enemy: 2x20mm AA Guns and 1x100mm Mortar destroyed. Estimated 10 casualties.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Decisive Victory!!!!

Turn 31

My tank company at the intersection destroyed one of the tank destroyers, a tank, a howitzer and an AA gun. Another AA gun was shot up pretty well and would likely have been destroyed had there been time. The other tank company moving north along the west edge destroyed an AA gun and was firing at a nebelwerfer. Enemy tanks were seen entering from the west edge, but they were light and not of any concern. One tank company from the north flank group moved out, but didn't get far before the battle ended.

Enemy artillery was hitting my infantry line harder this turn from the road south about 750m. The foxholes have kept it from hurting my troops. I hit the enemy with small arms, tanks and mortars. They still weren't able to get any closer.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: 1xPzKw IIIh tank, 1xSdKfz 10/4 Flak, 2x20mm AA guns, 1x75mm Infantry gun destroyed. Estimated 15 casualties.

Total Casualties

USSR

Men: 62
Artillery: 1
Soft Vehicles: 1
APCs: 0
AFVs: 4
Air Transports/Helos: 0
Aircraft: 0

Germany

Men: 1024
Artillery: 13
Soft Vehicles: 0
APCs: 4
AFVs: 180
Air Transports/Helos: 0
Aircraft: 4

Score

USSR: 14128
Germany: 303

Final Comments

This battle turned out nicely. Luck played a role. My larger flanking group happened to be where the enemy's major effort took place. If they weren't completely disorganized, they had enough troops left to make a major push. Counting the tanks entering the map in the last couple of turns, they still had somewhere in the range of 30-40 active AFVs remaining. There also looks like something along the line of 3-4 infantry companies milling about. Had I continued pushing my north flank company forward, it might have really run into a buzz saw.

A vast number of the enemy tanks were weak varieties. There were no Mk IIIj types at all. No real matter in this case. Two of the four companies up north were equipped with T-34/76B tanks. While the T-34/76A and Mk IIIh and Mk IIIj tanks are relatively equal in fights, the T-34/76B with the new gun has a significant edge. Once the Germans have slightly better tanks, it will be more difficult for me to pull off this type of defense.

It is difficult to be unhappy with the results of this defensive battle. I only lost three tanks while destroying 180 AFVs. One of the AFVs I lost must be the bunker, because only lost six units in the whole battle, with one each being a bunker, ammo truck and AA gun. That leaves the other three being tanks and I confirmed this by reviewing my force list after the battle. It helped a great deal that the enemy didn't put as much steel on target with their artillery. Much of their artillery fired over my main infantry line and they didn't target my tanks as much as expected. That isn't to say they didn't at least try. I had a lot of barrages falling behind my south group as it moved along. The AI also fired too much smoke with large caliber guns instead of with mortars.

Attached is the file just before my last turn ended.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Oh man did that German commander have a bad day or what? 40:1 kill ratio+ yeeouch!! Your spoiling attack in the north definately did its job well. It looks like your southern sweep was running rampant through his rear area at will.

Great read, congrats on the victory :)

Brian

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

It worked out well, but the Germans didn't have any more than 50 PzKw IIIh tanks. That means the remaining 130 AFVs I took out had paper thin armor or guns that couldn't kill tanks. I'll have more of a challenge on my hands when I start running into tanks armed with 50mm L60 or 75mm L43 or L48. Once that happens, I'll have to be a touch more cautious.

My next battle is an assault, so I won't need to do anything exotic. If they don't field 88s, I'll be good.

Re: DAR: USSR vs. Germany - Tikuin, USSR
 

Thanks RERomine! Reading your account inspired me to play a battle and try a similar defence, simply because yours captured my imagination.

I played USSR defending against a GER assault in Aug 1941. Went with the minefield in depth, infantry behind dragons teeth, and a solid amount of artillery.

My 30 x T34s managed to kill 140 various panzers, at a cost of only 3 friendly tanks knocked out. All the GER infantry were suppressed, pinned or routed.

Final score was around 11,300 points to Germany's 400. A decisive Victory, and one of the most enjoyable SPWW2 games I've ever played.

Thanks mate!