Oberstleutnant Krafft returns!
As usual of late, he gets stuck with a situation noone wants in a place noone has ever heard of.
KG Krafft, 12 September, 1942 - Eastern Front
Resupply and repair: all units resupplied and repaired.
Situation: The remainder of the Slovak infantry division finally arrived as the Russians withdrew. According to Army Group intel, many Soviet units facing the Slovak positions are being withdrawn and redeployed to support operations near Stalingrad. While second line allied units are not normally used in offensive actions, the situation in this sector is developing into a favorable one for an exception to be made. If sucessful, Axis lines will be straightened enough to free up considerable units for offensive action elsewhere.
However, Army Group intel missed a rear guard movement by some of the Soviet forces in the area and as KG Krafft together with a motorized company of Slovak infantry moved to secure staging areas for the forthcoming attack, they run into each other. [Meeting engagement, map 80x80, custom V-hexes, visibility 24, length 36]
Orders: KG Krafft is ordered to assist a motorized Slovak infantry company in securing a staging area for a local offensive. The changing situation implies that they must first defeat the rear guard of the retreating enemy forces. The only support available at this time is a flight of two Fw 190A-3/U-2s.
Slovak TOE: The motorized infantry company has the following attached elements from higher echelon units: 2x Motorcycle sections, 1x motorized FO, 1x Towed ATG section with 47mm guns, 1x field gun battery of three 76mm field guns, 1x mortar section, 1x Light Truck platoon for transport of the field guns and mortars.
Special Rules: Slovak artillery fire may only be called by the Slovak forward observer, the Slovak mortar unit may be called from either Slovak forward observer or company commander. No Slovak unit may call german artillery or airstrikes. Language barriers at lower levels prevent intermixing of KG Krafft with the Slovak reinforced motorized infantry company, therefore each must operate independantly.
Battle Plan: Control of the roads is vital for victory, there are two roads which cross in the western portion of the map, one runs east/west, the other south-west/north-east. The roads are dominated by hills 133, 134, 135, 204, 205, 206, and 322. It is also considered vital to control the wooded areas southwest of hill 204 and south of hill 205. Enemy strength is expected to be an understrength infantry battalion with armor and artillery support.
The Slovak forces (group B) are ordered to secure hills 132 and 133 and then advance into the woods with the goal of securing the western approaches to hill 204 and denying the enemy use of the diagonal southwest/northeast road.
KG Krafft (group A) will secure hills 134 and 135, and secure the woods south of hill 205 while advancing to hill 206. After securing hill 206, KG Krafft will procede north and circle hill 205 from the northeast, relieving any remaining pressure on the Slovak contingent.
Should either element encounter overwhelming forces, KG Krafft can break off the advance towards hill 206 and procede to positions southwest of hill 205 were the two forces can better support each other.
Execution: (to be continued)
Turn 1 file is attached as zip.