KG Krafft, 29 September, 1941 - Afrika Korps
Refit and resupply: the older vehicles were sent to maintenance for overhaul, this included the last of the PzIIc models, the antiquated PzIIIe-3.7cm tanks, and the JPz I's. All light tanks are now PzIIf models and the mediums are a mix of g and h models. The JPz I's were replaced by a trio of SdKfz 10/5 PaK 5 soft skin vehicles but with the L60 variant gun featuring much improved performance against the British heavy tanks. The recon element's motorcycles were replaced by a pair of newly arrived SdKfz 250/1 scout halftracks.
Situation: Luftwaffe airstrikes have destroyed a supply column before it could reach a British armored unit operating in the forward areas. That unit, lacking sufficient fuel to return to the allied lines, has dug in awaiting resupply. Area is largely flat and clear with numerous grassy strips and a few prominent hills in the southeast section. [Assault mission, visiblity 62, length 42, scattered victory hexes, map size 80x80]
Orders: Destroy the British force before it can be resupplied and capture as much of its vehicles and equipment as possible. Although the area is beyond the range of friendly artillery, a division 10.5cm battery will accompany KG Krafft to the area to provide local fire support. Division is also providing a pioneer platoon and a pair of heavy mortars from the engineering battalion to support the attack. Luftwaffe support is available but limited to four Bf109 aircraft.
Battle plan: The recon units of KG Krafft, supported by the light panzer platoon, and accompanied by the battery's observer, will, with the aid of the Luftwaffe, determine the deployment of the enemy's forward edge of battle. The panzergrenadiers will lead the assault in the south, with the panzers providing close support. The kampfgruppe's heavy weapons will be brought forward under smoke and deployed into firing positions. The reserve will consist of one platoon of PzIIIs, the security element, and the pioneer platoon.
Execution: As KG Krafft arrives (deployment on western map edge), Luftwaffe pilots make their first pass. They report armor dug in east of the hills and AAA positions in the north. One Bf109 is damaged as it strafes an AAA position, another pilot reports blowing up a tank east of the hills. In the far north, another pilot spots a troop of Valentine III heavy tanks. KG Krafft's sIG Ib section quickly deploys and begins firing on suspected AAA positions in the northeast.
The advancing recon units stir up a cloud of dust, obscuring the infantry and armor advancing to their west. Another pass by the Luftwaffe results in the destruction of one AAA position but a Bf109 is shot down. British 25pdr batteries and 3in mortars attempt interdiction fire but KG Krafft's troop movements are hidden in a duststorm of false trails laid by recon vehicles and empty trucks. The local 10.5cm battery knocks out one of the British mortars and the sIG Ib section continues to pound the AAA positions.
One hour after the first Luftwaffe airstrikes, the advance in the south begins in earnest as a smokescreen is laid by artillery in front of suspected enemy positions. Smoke rounds are replaced by HE as artillery fire shifts to the east in advance of the infantry and tanks. Enemy artillery finally finds the spot and heavily damages the kampfgruppe's primary FO vehicle, the crew bails out and evacuates the area with the aid of a nearby scout vehicle.
The panzergrenadiers earn their money, taking out a FOO team and suppressing a 2pdr ATG as well as routing three British squads nearby. While maneuvering in an attempt to bring an infantry position under fire, a panzer is fired upon by a pillbox located a couple hundred meters east of the northern hill. This confirmed Oberstlt Krafft's suspicion that the British had not picked this spot entirely accidently, it looked to be the site of an old French fort.
The three pillboxes that the British had converted didn't hold up to heavy fire though and all three soon succumbed to a combination of mortar and direct 5cm fire. In a short but sharp exchange, a dugin A13 Mk I was destroyed by panzer fire and its partner forced to pop smoke, but then a hidden 2pdr ATG opened up and destroyed one of the attacking panzers. Still, the panzergrenadiers with support from panzers and artillery press on and the British positions in the south are overcome one by one. One panzer loses a track to a mine, and the reserves are called forward on the southern flank with the pioneer platoon being committed to mine clearance duties there.
Evidently the British commander had the last of the unit's fuel supplies transferred to the Valentine IIIs in the north as about two hours into the battle, they began to move west towards the feint attack of empty trucks. The trucks withdraw south, careful to stay out of range, hoping to draw the heavy tanks within effective range of three SdKfz 10/5 PaK 5's who await in ambush.
From east of the southern hills, the British mount an infantry counterattack. Unfortunately the artillery batteries are in the process of relocating and resupply. Still, the counterattack amounts to little as it runs straight into the teeth of the awaiting panzers. In the north, a motorcycle scout nearly runs into a ditch as he amazedly watches a troop of Valentine IIIs run full speed into their own minefield. British 25pdr batteries continue to bombard phantom targets admidst the dust trails in the western areas.
Oberstlt Krafft recieves a radio message from korps HQ, a British relief column has been spotted moving to rescue the trapped armored column, ETA 1 hour. If the operation has not been concluded by then, KG Krafft will need to withdraw from the area. Unfortunately Oberstlt Krafft finds the breakthrough elements delayed by minefields in the south and frontline panzergrenadier units are running low on ammo.
Finally the pioneers breach the minefield in a gap between two hills and the breakthrough groups rush for the gap. Artillery comes back online at about the same time and begins bombarding enemy positions east of the hills. British 25pdr batteries opened up on the positions of a panzer platoon that was providing covering fire for the breakthrough force but it was too late.
As lead elements of KG Krafft pour through the gap British forces are thrown into disarray and many units are in full rout. One Valentine III made an effort to turn south and intercept the breakthrough forces but was immobilized by flanking fire from the SdKfz 10/5 PaK 5 platoon. Still, enough British forces remained in the north, including a pair of 2pdr ATGs, that complete destruction of British forces in the area proved impossible before it was time for KG Krafft to withdraw.
Result: Marginal Victory
Game Notes: I spent too much time on recon early, and didn't commit my pioneers soon enough. In the end this meant running out of time a few victory hexes shy of a decisive victory.
Last turn attached, thanks for reading
