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.

[Taskforce]

Battle Report 3 - Battles 4-5
The battle of the Krivoy Rog, Ukraine



Core Units:
-Stab
--Kommendeur + Sd.Kfz. 251/1
-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 149
--7+7+7 StuG III Ausf. G
-”Beutepanzer-Kompanie”
--1 KW-1, 4 T-34/76 & 1 SU-76M
-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 149, I Batalion
--357 Infanterie+46 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
--3 2 cm FlaK 30



Battle 4:
Date: November 1943
Location: Krivoy Rog, Ukraine
Mission: Advance
Visibility: 2.350 metres
Result: Marginal Victory
Points: 5.506 - 880
Support Units:
-6 15 cm sIG (10. (sIG)
-5 Panther D (6./II)

Battle 5:
Date: November 1943
Location: Krivoy Rog, Ukraine
Mission: Advance
Visibility: 1.800 metres
Result: Decisive Victory
Points: 6.758 - 495
Support Units:
-6 15 cm sIG (10. (sIG)
-5 Panther D (4./II)
-2 PzKpfw IV Ausf. H (2/I)
-2 infantry companies



Battle Report:
The two combat actions of Krivoy Rog, Ukraine, were fought against a very tough opposition, but good leadership and good tactics combined with well-timed and well-planned artillery and mortar support turned out to be the key to a clear tactical victory, especially the second of the two actions, where the Soviet’ taskforce was wiped out completely, except for a handful men and a few pieces of equipment.

These combat actions also proved the 28, Panzer-Division as a competent and powerful fighting force in its own right and giving it more respect among the other Wehrmacht formations on the Eastern Front. They have also started ”producing” the first top scoring tank ace crews of the unit, with the five best of these having scored 82 out of the total 190 confirmed kills of the Pz.Jäg.Abt 149.

Losses:
Germany - 510 men, 2(=21) StuG III, 2 Panther D, 1 PzKpfw IV Ausf. H(=4), 1 T-34/76 M1943, 1 SU-76M(=3) & 5 halftracks
Soviet Union - 1.414 men, 66 tanks and armoured vehicles, 30 anti-tank guns, 21 anti-aircraft guns, 5 mortar positions & 3 howitzers

Claims:
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 149 - 52(=190) tanks and armoured vehicles & anti-tank guns
”Beutepanzer-Kompanie” - 16(=23) tanks and armoured vehicles & anti-tank guns
4./II & 6/II Panther D - 15(=38) tanks and armoured vehicles
2./I PzKpfw IV Ausf. H - 2 anti-tank guns
Infantry - 28(=92) tanks and armoured vehicles, anti-tank guns & anti-aircraft guns
Halftracks - 4(=7) tanks and armoured vehicles, anti-tank guns & anti-aircraft guns

Captured equipment:
1 KV-85, 5 76 mm anti-tank gun, 3 46 mm anti-tank guns, 6 37 mm anti-aircraft guns & 1 76 mm howitzer

Replacing losses:
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 149 - The sole surviving crew of the two knocked out StuG III was given a new tank destroyer and four additional vehicles complete with crews were also delivered, bringing the total strength of the tank destroyer battalion up to 24 vehicles, 8 in each company.
”Beutepanzer-Kompanie” - The crew of the knocked out T-34/76 M1943 were given the captured KV-85, also named ”1034” after battle 4 and was able to put in good use in battle 5.
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 149, I Battalion - Most of the infantry was fully replaced and also some of the halftracks.
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 149, II Battalion - Most of the infantry lost was fully replaced, as were the 82 mm mortars replaced by 120 mm mortars, increasing the range of the taskforces own fire support and making it less dependent on the 15 cm sIG 33 support guns.