KG Krafft, 15 September, 1941 - Afrika Korps
Refit and resupply: all destroyed PzIIIe's replaced with PzIIIh's.
Situation: ANZAC forces are attempting to cutoff the 21st Panzer's lines of supply during a reconnaissance in force near Bir el Habata. Area is coastal plains, with a small number of scattered hillocks and a few grassy areas. [Delay mission, visibility 8, length 34, scattered victory hexes, map size 100x100]
Orders: KG Krafft is the only unit able to reach the area in time to block the ANZAC attack. Prevent ANZAC forces from controlling the western portion of the area. The only available artillery with the range to cover the area are two Italian 149L40 batteries, an Italian artillery observer (motorized) will join KG Krafft shortly before the battle. [only the Italian observer will be used to call in fire missions for the two Italian batteries]
Battle plan: spoiling attack on a broad front with infantry in the center, panzer platoon D interspersed among the infantry, panzer platoon E on the north flank, and panzer platoon F on the south flank. Reserve consists of panzer platoon G and the KG's security element. Once contact is made, force will fall back, shifting as necessary to maintain cohesive force.
Execution: contact made across the front, infantry interspersed with armored cars of various types. Artillery called in on central infantry advances. The armored cars were quickly dealt with, but the infantry, seemingly a regiment's worth, just keeps coming. Attempting to execute a fighting withdrawal, KG Krafft's far flung elements slowly retreat towards the western center.
At the half hour point, with all units engaged, Oberstlt Krafft ordered the reserves to be brought forward, ready to commit at a moments notice. Not ten minutes later, a half dozen 2pdr portees came up through the ANZAC lines, destroying one panzer before they could be eliminated. Panzer platoon G was ordered into the gap between platoon Q and the ill treated S platoon, in a desperate attempt to save platoon S and the guns supporting it.
To the north, platoon R was withdrawn from the line and replaced by the security element. Panzer platoon D was ordered to regroup in the center, while panzer platoons E and F were ordered to regain contact with their neighboring infantry platoons as they were in danger of being cutoff. The only good news was the artillery duel, the two Italian batteries along with the KG's organic artillery did much to ease the pressure on the center. Elsewhere, three 25pdr batteries fired short and caught their own frontline troops.
One of the last two PzKw IIIe panzers was destroyed by a 2pdr round from a portee in the north. The elite crew is rescued by three BeiwagenKrads and carried to safety. At the two hour mark, a JPz I destroys a scout car that had snuck by in the north, the two remaining kraftradmelders are scouting the rear area for any more flankers. The center has become a salient and to avoid being cutoff, a withdrawal is ordered. Platoon D and the security element is being withdrawn to form a new reserve, and the sIG Ib section is being relocated and resupplied.
One and a half hours into the battle, just a bit past halfway, all PzIII's are running critically low on mg ammo. As soon as platoon D resupplies, panzers will be rotated out of each platoon to resupply. Although the panzergrenadiers have taken quite a beating, now that the artillery is arriving on target they should be able to hold during resupply.
Two 25pdr batteries fire on the northern flank throwing it into disarray, at the same time, scouting reports indicate an unknown number of infantry have outflanked the KG on the far north and far south. The situation calls for a change in resupply strategy, platoon E is pulled out of line (was on the north flank) and heads for resupply. Another barrage from 25pdrs and platoon G's central position is threatened, this forces a change of plan.
The decision is to have platoon G counterattack the flanking infantry to the south, this leaves platoon F and the command panzers to cover the slow withdrawal in the center. As soon as platoon D is resupplied, it will lead the counterattack against the flanking infantry to the north.
At the two hour point, ANZAC forces hold 2/3rds of the objectives, panzergrenadier platoon R has been decimated, and ammo shortages restrict available options. Both counterattacks are running into stiff opposition, the advances are slow at best. The center has deteriorated into an artillery duel, the only saving grace is that the 25pdr batteries are firing short half the time. Command panzers are forced to engage targets on the north flank to avoid collapse of the front.
The enemy northern and southern flanking forces turned out to be much larger than hoped for, together with eight 25pdr batteries pounding the ever shrinking pocket in the center, and the near total loss of the panzergrenadier company, at two and a half hours in, Oberstlt Krafft ordered all units to break contact and flee to the east.
Result: Draw, grrrr!
Last turn attached, thanks for reading
