DAR: GE Long campaign - small core

[Brian61]

KG Krafft, 31 August, 1942 - Eastern Front

Resupply and repair: all units resupplied and repaired.

Situation: No rest for the weary, a nearby section of the front is held by an ally, a Slovak infantry division. Unfortunately transportation delays have delayed their full deployment and now the Russians are bearing down on a badly understrength battalion trying to hold down a regiment's worth of front. To make matters worse, the same transportation foulup has kept their supporting artillery from being resupplied. The section of the front is a hilly area with large stands of woods and equally large clearings. The northern hill has quite a few areas of mud along its approaches, including on both sides of the east-west road just north of the hill. While the Slovak battalion has no engineers, thus no mines, barbed wire, or improved fortifications, they do have shovels and their commander put them to good use. There is an anti-tank trench cutting the east-west road and a small clearing just to the south, also they have prepared a firetrench atop the northern hill as a fallback position.

Game note: I shifted the position of some of the Slovak units a bit, with the idea firing once at max range and then falling back to prepared positions, as well as keeping the companies together as much as possible.

Orders: KG Krafft is ordered to reinforce the Slovak defenses and support any necessary local counterattacks to prevent a Soviet breakthrough in this area of the front. The only artillery unit in range is a K 18 counterbattery unit that will provide support as necessary in this emergency.

Battle Plan: The Slovak battalion has prepared its defenses prior to the arrival of KG Krafft. One company (company K) is deployed in forward positions on the eastern slope of the northern hill. The second company (company Q) is deployed in the woods southwest of company K providing flank coverage. The Slovak battalion has two adhoc antitank groups, each with two 4.7cm ATGs, two 2cm AAAs, two ATR units, and two tank hunter teams. The group attached to company K is deployed covering the northern flank, including the road and antitank ditches. The second group is deployed in the gap between the northern hill and its southwestern neighbor providing coverage on the southern flank. Both companies have deployed their machineguns to support the antitank groups. The Slovak battalion also has a mortar platoon and, surprisingly enough, two wagonloads of ammunition.

The Slovak defenses anticipate the major point of enemy effort to be in obtaining the northern hill and as such are prepared to fall back onto the hilltop prepared defenses until such time as a counterattack can be mounted. KG Krafft will secure the open area in the south and prepare to conduct any necessary counterattacks to the north. One platoon of StuGs (platoon D) will reinforce the northern Slovak antitank group during the first wave of the attack. A fire support group will operate east of the Slovak positions, comprised of the sIG Ib's, their ammunition carriers, and the SPAA section for defense.

Execution: No sooner has KG Krafft arrived in the area than the Russian artillery begins to fall in copious amounts of 152mm and 122mm shells all around, and in a few cases, upon, the Slovak defenses. Counterbattery fire from the K 18 batterie reportedly falls on one of the 152mm batteries. The Slovak troops hold up fairly well under the fire and order is soon restored to most units.

A pair of T-34/76 M1941's carrying Gaurds engineers advanced along the road until they met the guns of StuG platoon E. A T-34/76 M1942 is spotted heading cross country towards the northeast face of the north hill, another is spotted moving northwest on the road possibly following the first. A pair of armored cars and a platoon of T-60 tanks are operating on the approaches to the southeast face of the north hill. Another pair of T-34/76 M1941's is spotted in the far south.

Squads from infantry platoons M and N fire upon the T-60's at extreme range to dislodge their riders and then begin to withdraw to secondary positions. In the north, StuG's of platoon E claim another victim, but at least two more are lined up awaiting treatment. The T-60 advance is flanked on the south by a couple troops of calvary. Further to the south, another group of T-60's is operating with support from at least two T-34s. A trio of BA-64's is operating in the open southeast of company Q's hill.

Two more T-34's in the north explode under 7.5cm gun fire from the StuGs there, while to the southwest of the north hill, an ATR and tankhunter team join forces to destroy a nosy BA-10 armored car. Company K continues to refuse engagement, firing only when safe, and withdrawing westward after firing. A fire mission called on the path of the northernmost T-60 advance is reinforced with sIG Ib fire now that the road looks to be clear.

A trio of T-34s advance into the woods, one is destroyed by close assault as the Slovak infantry continues its hit and run withdraw to the fire trench. StuG platoon E heads south to join the rest of the batterie as its work in the north seems complete. The SdKfz 250/10's of the recon platoon destroy a pair of BA-64's before the Soviet armored cars can spot the main body.

Two more T-34s are destroyed by close assaults from the plucky Slovak infantry. A T-60 is also destroyed but another two survive. In the south, KG Krafft claims three T-34's, a T-60, and a BA-64 as it swings into open field action. The T-60's in the forest are proving a bit rough for the infantry to handle so the southern tankhunter teams are moving northeast to assist.

Platoon S of company Q destroys two T-34's with close assaults and damage a third. A T-60 is destroyed by a southern antitank group 4.7cm ATG and its partner bounces a few rounds off of a nearby T-34. KG Krafft, on the prowl in the south, destroys one T-34 and damages another, as well as routing a Maxim HMG squad. All is not well however, although the K 18 battery continues to conduct counterbattery fire, the intensity of the Soviet bombardment is making life difficult for company K, delaying its withdraw to the fire trench.

In a stroke of good fortune, the Soviet artillery shifts fire to the southern antitank group and the entire barrage falls short, right atop their own advancing tanks and infantry. A few more T-34s and T-60s are destroyed while the Axis troops take advantage of this opportunity. Oberstlt Krafft orders friendly artillery to shift positions and resupply.

Despite the stalled advance due to friendly fire, the Soviets aren't through yet. A pair of KV-8s are seen in the south, and some artillery batteries continue to pound positions atop the northern hill causing no end of problems for company K. Still, an hour into the battle, Oberstlt Krafft cannot help becoming a little bit optimistic, while company K is having difficulties, company Q is in fine shape and the Soviets seem to have precious little armor left with which to threaten the StuGs.

Company Q begins its counterattack, advancing eastward under cover of the StuG's. The pionier platoon of KG Krafft assists in the operation, sweeping the southern areas along with the recon platoon. A few Soviet tanks remain but are operating independantly and are being picked off one by one. The north hill is still a sticking point, but gradually most of company K has gained the protection of the fire trench while machinegun and indirect fire have whittled down the opposition. There are still at least two T-60 tanks operating on the hill which are no end of trouble but they seem to be as handicapped by the heavy Soviet bombardment as the Slovaks are.

An hour and a half in and the counterattack in the south has been a success, there is still some enemy resistance and a second echelon infantry attack is incoming but overall the south looks to be in good shape. Company K holds the fire trench upon the north hill and not much else. A counterattack there would be possible except for the continual heavy bombardment.

The second echelon infantry attack turns into a full scale company+ strength attack on the south flank. Although the StuGs rapidly run out of HE ammo, their machineguns are required to prevent a collapse and no time for reloads. The pionier platoon is thrown into the gap in the hopes of holding the line until the attack has slacked off and company Q can advance.

Despite the best efforts of the K 18 batterie's repeated counterbattery fires, the rain of steel from the Soviet guns continues making troop redeployments hazardous at best and endangering vehicles on the south flank. On the north flank, three T-28e's and a platoon of infantry are advancing, repositioning of the ATGs there account for one T-28e. One of the remaining two braves the antitank ditch. Mortar fire was slowing down that advance but the Slovak mortars are out of ammo and are sent to resupply.

An ATG in the north manages to immobilize one T-28e but in doing so leaves itself exposed to enemy fire. Two hours into the battle and the southern flank is stabilizing, whether it will hold once the StuGs and sturmpioniers withdraw is another matter. Unfortunately they are going to have to withdraw soon, not only are they in sore need of resupply but two platoons of infantry are about to outflank defenses to the north.

The StuG batterie commander and platoon F which were operating in the south have to break off and head for resupply. The Slovak infantry platoon they were supporting is in full rout. The SdKfz 250/10's of the recon platoon are engaging the advancing Soviet infantry with long range fire. There is some hope though, the sturmpioniere platoon together with StuG platoons D and E have successfully pulled out of line and are redeploying to take the southern Soviet infantry in the flank.

Slovak company K continues to hold on tooth and nail in the fire trench, the northern flanking movement by the enemy has thus far gone largely unchecked but sIG Ib's and SdKfz 7/1's of KG Krafft are racing towards long range firing positions from which they can hopefully slow down the advance. Soviet artillery fire continues to be heavy and 152mm batteries continue to pound company K.

The K 18 batterie continues counter battery fire though company K found that hard to believe as they were subjected to increased levels of incoming fire. Under combined artillery and infantry attack, their hold even on the fire trench became tenuous. The south was a different story, the Soviet second echelon attack crumbled as the sturmpioniers and StuGs hit them in the flank.

Three hours into the battle, with time running out, KG Krafft breaks off pursuit in the south and heads north in hopes of recovering at least some of the eastern positions on the north hill. Company K is losing the battle for the firetrench, the northern half of the trench has become a nomans land. All friendly artillery is called in to assist by fire missions on the enemy positions north of the firetrench.

The remnants of company K hang on till the bitter end, reinforcements began to trickle in from company Q, enemy artillery began to slack off, and KG Krafft pushed up the eastern side of the north hill. It wasn't enough for complete victory as time ran out.

Marginal victory, KG Krafft (whew)!

Last turn file attached, thanks for reading
Brian