AAR: 28. Panzer-Division

[Taskforce]

Battle Report 2 - Battle 3
The battle of the Dnepr Oblast, USSR



Core Units:
-Stab
--Kommendeur + Sd.Kfz. 251/1
-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 149
--7+7+6 StuG III Ausf. G
-”Beutepanzer-Kompanie”
--1 KW-1 & 2 T-34/76
-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 149, I Batalion
--75 Infanterie+50 Sd.Kfz. 251 halftracks
-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 149, II Batalion
--438 Infanterie+7,6 cm PaK 36(r)+Granatenwerfer
-Parts of Heeres FlaK Artillerie-Abteilung 149
--1 2 cm FlaK 30



Battle 3:
Date: October 1943
Location: Dnepr Oblast, USSR
Mission: Meeting engagement
Visibility: 2.350 metres
Result: Marginal Victory
Points: 8.558 - 2.442
Support Units:
-6 15 cm sIG (10. (sIG)
-5 Panther D (4./II)
-2 7,5 cm PaK 40 (4.(PaK)/III)



Battle Report:
In the beginning of the battle the Soviet’ taskforce seemed to slowly but surely get the upper hand, but gradually - one by one - the Soviet’ tanks were destroyed. However the air attacks caused unnecessary losses among the German’ halftracks and also crippled one of the captured T-34 tanks. But towards the end, although not the entire front was under German’ control, the battle ended with a German’ victory and with the loss of 95 tanks and almost 1.000 men for the Soviet’ forces. The most dangerous tanks, the three KV-85, were successfully eliminated by the captured and rebuild KV-1. The heavy support halftracks also managed to destroy a few armoured cars and scored their very first kills since the baptism of fire for the 28. Panzer-Division.

Losses:
Germany - 206 men, 2 (=19) StuG III, 1 T-34/76E M1942 & 4 halftracks
Soviet Union - 953 men, 95 tanks and armoured vehicles and 2 mortar positions

Claims:
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 149 - 46 (=138) tanks and armoured vehicles
”Beutepanzer-Kompanie” - 7 tanks and armoured vehicles
4/II Panther D - 17 (=23) tanks and armoured vehicles
Infantry - 18 (=64) tanks and armoured vehicles and 2 mortar positions
Halftracks - 3 armoured cars

Captured equipment:
3 T-34/76 M1943, 1 SU-76M & 1 anti-aircraft truck

Replacing losses:
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 149 - The tank destroyer battalion was given 3 additional StuG III Ausf. G, bringing the total strength of the unit to 21 vehicles, 7 in each company.
”Beutepanzer-Kompanie” - The surviving crew of the knocked out T-34/76E M1942 was given a T-34/76 M1943, also named ”1032”. The other two captured T-34/76 M1943 and the SU-76M were also put into service and named ”1034”, ”1035” ”1036” respectively, bringing the total strength of the captured tank company to a total of 6 vehicles.
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 149, I Battalion - All the infantry companies were totally rebuild from scratch with fresh troops, equipped with the new handheld Panzerfaust anti-tank weapon. However, no halftracks were replaced.
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 149, II Battalion - The infantry battalions losses during the battle were replaced with new soldiers, still equipped with the old Panzerwurfmine L.
Parts of Heeres FlaK Artillerie-Abteilung 149 - The two remaining anti-aircraft guns were finally replaced together with fresh crews.