KG Krafft, 23 January, 1942 - Afrika Korps
Repair and resupply: New tanks arrived and the supply pipeline was restored, at least for now. KG Krafft receives a replacement PzKw IIf and one of the first 5cm long gun panzers to reach Afrika, a PzKw IIIj/1. The armoured truck is replaced by a SdKfz 251/1 and all other units are repaired and brought back up to full strength.
Situation: On the third day of Rommel's counterattack, kampfgruppe Krafft encounters British forces roughly halfway between El Agheila and Benghazi. The area is rolling desert with numerous sand dunes and rocky outcroppings, some windswept areas of packed dirt provide routes through the dunes. [Meeting engagement, visibility 18, length 34, standard victory hexes, map size 100x100]
Orders: Engage and destroy the enemy, possession of the battlefield at the end of the engagement is preferable. A company of motorized panzergrenadiers is attached for this operation. Division artillery is able to provide one 10.5cm battery for fire support and Luftwaffe is providing a Storch observation plane.
Battle plan: Panzer platoons E, F, and G will advance in line towards the center as permitted by terrain followed by the panzergrenadiers. Platoons D, H, I, and O will form the reserve. Upon encountering the enemy, the panzergrenadiers will dismount and advance to lead positions.
Execution: The panzers were no sooner in motion than it was found necessary to deviate from the plan, panzer platoon G and its following infantry had to swing a few hundred meters further to the south than envisoned due to a large sand dune. Similarly, a few minutes later, platoon E found it needed to deviate to the north where a narrowing of a sand dune might permit passage. To compensate, Oberstleutnant Krafft ordered a reduction in average speed to one half. This would not only allow the units to keep more closely to the desired formation but would increase accuracy of fire when the enemy is encountered.
As platoon E maneuvered slowly through the sand dunes, a pair of scout cars were spotted and brought under fire, both cars popped smoke. At near the same time, aerial recon spots a troop of cruiser tanks northeast of center. Given the proximity of the scout cars, the panzergrenadier platoon following platoon E disembark early and the trucks head for cover. Oberstlt Krafft orders the remainder of the force to shift northward to linkup with platoon E.
Aerial recon spots an armoured car troop to the far north, platoon D is released from the reserve and ordered to intercept. Two carriers and two tank are destroyed by platoon E as they advance into view. Recon reports another troop of cruiser tanks just to the south of the wrecks. Oberstlt Krafft orders the panzergrenadiers to disembark and send the trucks to cover.
The armoured car column to the north turns out to be much larger than originally thought and a troop of cruiser tanks is following behind. Platoon H is released from reserve and ordered to support platoon D. In the center, a Crusader II is destroyed as it tops the crest of a small rise a few hundred meters ahead of platoon F.
An airstrike by two Hurricanes destroys three trucks but the second Hurricane is shot down. Four 25pdr howitzers bombard a phantom target, recon spots the smoke from the batteries and a counterbattery mission is ordered to both the sIG Ib's and the 10.5cm battery. Still expecting the enemy main force to appear in the east, Oberstlt Krafft orders the advance to continue.
One PzKw IIf is lost to 2pdr fire from an armored car as the northern enemy force turns south. That southern move however exposes them to fire from platoons D, E, F, and H. Twisted wreckage of armored cars and at least one tank soon make targeting difficult as the British force is shredded by the combined fire. A scout car is spotted to the far south, further recon in that area is ordered but no units are dispatched as yet. The panzers are ordered to halt while the panzergrenadiers continue to advance eastward except for platoon Q which is ordered north.
As the situation develops, the security element is released from the reserve and ordered to support platoon H. Panzergrenadier platoons Q and R are ordered to halt and engage any enemy infantry units approaching from the north. While panzergrenadier platoon S continues its central advance, it together with panzer platoon G form a tenative reserve force pending further developments.
Another airstrike by a single Hurricane results in damage to a truck but the Hurricane leaves trailing smoke after being hit by a few rounds from an SdKfz 10/4 FlaK. Two of the enemy howitzers are still firing so the order is given for the counterbattery mission to continue. Aerial recon still fails to turn up the anticipated enemy main force. At this point all of the vehicles in the northern enemy force seem to have been rendered combat ineffective, the decision comes down to wait another few minutes before sending platoon Q into the smoke.
The decision to wait turned out to be fortuitous as another half dozen cruiser tanks appeared from the north and east. The cruisers are quickly dispatched and platoon Q is ordered to advance north. A disturbing report is recieved from platoon S, they have sighted a new type of allied tank approaching from the east, its profile is reminscent of a French Char 1B terr. Acting on a hunch, Oberstlt Krafft orders platoons D, H, and the security element to disengage and maneuver to a supporting position for panzer platoon G.
Aerial recon finally uncovers the enemy disposition. Masked by the northern force was an approach of at least two troops of cruiser tanks, a troop of Valentine IIIs, and infantry in company strength. From the east, at the same time, a troop of the new Grant I tanks was approaching. Initial reports from platoon G is that the armor of the new tanks was comparable to that of the Valentine IIIs, at least from the forward aspect. Disturbingly, the speed of the new tanks seemed to approach that of our panzer model IIIh.
Cheers went up in a violation of radio discipline as Obrgfrtr Kauffmann's panzer destroyed the lead Grant tank. Oberstlt Krafft was pleased and overlooked the breech of discipline as he ordered the panzergrenadiers accompanying platoon G to pop smoke, allowing the engagement range to shorten in the panzer's favor. He then ordered the sIG Ib's to cancel their current mission and join the command elements in readiness to engage infantry in direct fire. He also passed down the order to his VB, Hptmann Tellner, ordering the battery from division to engage the approaching enemy infantry.
Using the smoke screen as cover, panzer platoon G singled out and attacked another Grant tank. This time, though the enemy behemoth was destroyed, one of the panzers recieved moderate damage. The smoke cleared as the last of the Grants approached giving the veteran gunners of platoon G a clear view as they picked it apart with machinelike precision.
The British infantry was brought to a halt by a combination of machinegun, 5cm, 10.5cm, and 15cm direct and indirect fire. KG Krafft's recon element found the southern objective area empty and devoid of any threat so promptly took possession and declared that area secured. An hour and a half into the battle, the only piece missing for victory to be assured is the trio of Valentine IIIs.
The Valentines promptly made their appearance, one was immobilized almost immediately, another was greated by a barrage of fire, including direct fire from the sIG Ib's, at which point the crew decided to find a more cautious approach. Within minutes the two mobile Valentine IIIs were destroyed though not before getting some revenge on one of the sIG Ib's, leaving it heavily damaged. An unexpected fourth Valentine III appeared but was quickly dispatched by the PzKfw IIIj/1 which had also landed the killing shot on one of the earlier Valentines. The L60 gun proved itself a welcome improvement to the panzer III in the opinion of KG Krafft's personnel.
Less than two hours into the battle found KG Krafft in possession of all the important areas of the battlefield, all known British vehicles rendered combat inoperative, and the British infantry turned into a disorganized mob.
Decisive victory, KG Krafft.
Last turn file attached, thanks for reading
