DAR: Germany 25 Missions

[Pat58]

In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the war in the east, the German Army has been significantly expanded. Panzergruppe 2 under Generaloberst Guderian has 3 PanzerKorps available at the start of the campaign. With fluid operations expected in the area, gaps between formations will inevitably be created. These will serve as opportunities for the enemy to penetrate into rear areas. Consequently, two kampfgruppen will be formed to operate between the PanzerKorps. KG Schumacher will operate in the area between XXIV and XLVII PanzerKorps. Each of these units have contributed an infantry company to KG Schumacher, with the panzergruppe filling out the formation with core combat support units.

A0- LTC Schumacher
Forward Observer- Lt Schmidt
Utility Vehicle group (2 Kfz 15 command cars)
1st Infantry Company- Cpt Hauser
2nd Infantry Company- Cpt Kammler
StuG Battery 224 (7 Sturmgeschutzen III-E) – Maj Tellner
Pionier Platoon- Lt. Langer
Mortar Company- Lt Krohner
2 scout sections
Opel Truck Transport Company- Cpt Mayerling
Munitions Supply Section (2 munitions trucks nicknamed “Annie” and “Hilde” short for Brunhilde)- Lt Hoedel

Core 1618 points

At the completion of each battle (set to 25), the Operations staff will assess the performance of KG Schumacher. The staff is aware that the KG is lacking in several areas. First, no part of the KG has the advantage of previous combat experience. The assault guns carry a modest loadout of 6 armor piercing and 11 HEAT rounds. So re-supply in the event of significant enemy armor will be an ongoing issue. There are no other tracked vehicles in the KG, so moving the infantry or support teams with a degree of safety will be a challenging proposition. Scout units will mostly be on foot, so reconnaissance will take time. Nevertheless, the staff does not expect KG Schumacher to be forced into overly-difficult situations as the 3 korps of PanzerGruppe 2 will have eliminated the most difficult resistance.

Note- unfortunately my graphics card won’t let me do screen shots so I will have to post saves so you can see the terrain.

June, 1941 near Minsk
Meeting Engagement
Visibility 88
Length 44
Map 80x80

Support
The Luftwaffe has 2 Me110D-2 missions on standby

Situation:
Objective areas in sector are scattered with 7 under our control, 8 uncontrolled, 5 enemy controlled.
Terrain is generally height 10-12 with 2 dirt roads. One in the north is running east-west and is the primary avenue of approach in the sector, with a western and central village. A second northwest-southeast road provides some degree of lateral movement across the middle of the sector. A single rail line bisects the area running north-south, with a village on the southern portion of the rail line. There is no significant water obstacle in the area.
A farmed area 400x500 meters is in the north. There are two wooded areas that dominate our area. The southern woods is not expected to play a significant part in operations. In the center of what is expected to be the battle area, the terrain in checkerboard terms is generally this:
C= clear F= farm W= woods Bold where formation is located

WCF
CWW 1st Company with pioneers in support
WWC StuGs and mortars in the PKZ (primary kill zone)
CWC 2nd Company

Artillery Target Reference Point set at far side of the PKZ. The forward observer is watching the PKZ and is with A0.
Scouts are deployed in the far north and south to detect enemy movement.
Service Support- Opels are in the woods behind the StuG battery and 1st Company.
Annie and Hilde in the woods behind 1st Company
Command- Schumacher is with the StuG battery

Main battle is expected in the PKZ where StuGs are located. 1st Company will absorb initial impact of any strike along the east-west road, and use pioneers as tank hunter-killers in the northern woods.
2nd Company will deal with enemy in their area.
Once the enemy attacks are beaten off, the KG will strike east to take all objective areas.

Details of the battle

Turns 1-4 no combat but the enemy is reported approaching

Turn 5-
North: 2 BT2s at 20+mph moving west on the northern road.
Center: 4 BA-10 scout cars appear in the PKZ. StuG 201 brews up a BA-10 @ 500m.
South: Scouts identify 2 T-26 tanks skirting the woodline of southern woods.
AIT (AI turn)- Smoke missions scattered in the area. StuG 101 lights up a BA-10@ 650m in PKZ

Turn 6-
A0 calls for a StuG platoon to reinforce 1st Company. Major Tellner sends 3rd platoon north through the woods.

Turn 8-
StuG 001 (Maj Tellner) torches 2 BT-7s at 650m in the PKZ.
StuG 302 kills a BT-7 @ 200m in the PKZ
StuG 101 sends the turret flying off a BT-7 at 650m in the PKZ.

Turn 9-
StuG 301 in the northern woods dispatches a BT-2 @ 300m
AIT- A BT-7 is killed by a StuG in the PKZ.
StuG 201 fires up a BT-7 @ 850m in the PKZ.

Turn 10-
Enemy units eliminated in the PKZ: 6 BA-10s, 6 BT-tanks destroyed, 1 BT tank abandoned. Corporal Hollmichel’s squad from 3rd Plt 1st Company on the woodline of the PKZ is credited with 4 vehicle/crew kills to this point.

Turn 11-
SPOTREP from northern scouts: 6 T-26 and 4 infantry squads approaching 1st Company at moderate speed.
StuG 301 eliminates a T-26@500m

Turn 12-
StuG 302 rips apart a BT7 on the north road @ 150m
StuG 001 dispatches a BT-7 @ 300m to the south.

Turn 14-
StuG 301 eliminates a T-26 @ 500m in the north.
The Luftwaffe is called in but one aircraft flies straight into the teeth of Soviet air defense and downed by 37mm fire. North scouts now identify 11 rifle squads and 4 T-26 tanks headed for 1st Company.

Turn 15-
StuG 301 flames a T-26 @ 500m in the northern zone. Another attempt to attack a T-26 fails as return fire smashes the StuG, knocking out all weapons.
In the southern area, a squad from 3rd Platoon, 2nd Infantry knocks out a T-26 with hand grenades.
AIT- A T-26 succumbs to StuG 302 @ 100m in the north. Again, 3rd Platoon of 2nd Company knocks out a T-26.

Turn 16-
StuG 001 kills a T-26 @500m just outside the PKZ.

Turn 17-
StuG repeats the performance of the previous turn, bagging another T-26

Turn 18-
21 Russian infantry squads and 5 tanks are pressing down hard on 1st Company which has been split apart. A 200 meter gap has most of 1st and 2nd platoons with the pioneer platoon north of the road while the 3rd platoon and the Co HQ with a couple squads cling to the south. The StuG battery with 4 vehicles along with 2 squads from 3rd platoon 1st Company work to drive off 4 Russian squads that are on the southernmost portion of their assault line.
AIT- The forward observer is killed in the northern woods by enemy rifle fire.

Turn 20-
A pionier kills a T-26 in the northern woods.
AIT- 2 squads from 1st Company perish in the northern woods.

A0 issues FRAGO 1 (Fragmentary Order #1)

KG will counterattack enemy in northern woods.
1st Company- establish blocking position west, but south of main road.
2nd Company- advance to CKZ and prepare for transport to woodline western edge of northern woods. Upon arrival, dismount and attack west on command.
StuG Company. Clear enemy from area vicinity of western woodline in preparation of 2nd Company’s arrival.. Then support attack of 2nd Company.
Mortar Company- Place indirect fire in center of northern woods on command.
Transport Company- move east immediately and load 2nd Company at CKZ. Deliver to western edge of northern woods if clear of enemy observation and fire.
Command- I will be with 1st Company.

Turn 22
Halfway through the mission our individual losses are
Artillery FO KIA
KG command vehicle destroyed
StuG 301- 1 crewman
HQ 1st Company 8
1st Plt- 27 (3rd squad KIA)
2nd Plt -14
3rd Plt - 25 (2nd Squad KIA)
2nd Company
3rd Plt- 3

The StuG battery with 3rd Plt 1st Company are engaging 6 rifle and 1 cav squads on the western edge of northern woods. Corporal Hollmichel’s squad now has 7 kills to their credit. Another 4 enemy rifle squads and a cav squad are fleeing for the road to take them back east. 2nd Company is now loading on board the Opels for transport to the fighting. 1st Company with pioniers now has most of the squads south of the road.


Turn 24- StuG battery minus 3rd section drives off 3 infantry squads and has paved the way for the Opels to arrive with 2nd Company without interference from enemy fire.

Turn 27- 2nd Company has offloaded and the attack begins. Penetrating into the woods from the east, we have surrounded the Russians now trapped in the woods with 1st Company holding in the west. 3 more rifle platoons are cut down.

Turn 33- For the previous turns, the enemy infantry has been systematically cleared from the northern woods. The last Russian unit, a T-26 is killed there. The KG is advancing east to capture all objectives. 3rd Platoon 2nd Infantry Co kills the Russian HQ in forested area in the center of sector. StuGs are advancing southeast down the road.

The remainder of the mission is anti-climactic. 3rd Platoon, 2nd Company capture VH to the south. StuGs avoid AA units successfully and capture the remainder. A few weakened local attempts along the road by the enemy to repel the KG are unsuccessful.

Turn 44- Capture last of VH.

Final Score
4131-380 Decisive Victory

Battle Losses
Men 133:607
Artillery 0:1
Soft Vehicles 3:0
AFV 0:38
Aircraft 1:0

142 rebuild points are taken to replace all losses.
No upgrades are made available.

Operations staff assessment of and recommendations related to KG Schumacher Mission 1

Assessment- Combat formations fought well. StuG III-E successfully engaged BT-2 and BT-7 type vehicles at 650m in general and to a maximum of 850m. Infantry fought and rallied well in the course of destroying men and armored vehicles. Corporal Hollmichel, 3rd Platoon 1st Company is recommended for Iron Cross 1st Class for destruction of 12 enemy formations. Artillery had mixed results. The FO was exposed to enemy fire and killed. Air missions were not entirely successful. At one point artillery ammunition was exhausted and re-supply late in coming. During the latter advance phase, the mortars were outranged by the advance. Scouts performed adequately, reporting enemy forces approaching in the northern area. Transport and supply is inherently weak because of the dependence on Opel trucks. The unit succeeded in delivering 2nd Company to its assigned jump off point after FRAGO #1 was issued. Command and control was good initially, broke down somewhat towards end of mission as units raced for objectives

Recommendation- Keep track of mortar ammunition stocks. Avoid compromising position of artillery FOs. Confirm with Luftwaffe air controller the appropriate direction of flight so as to avoid high-density AAA locations.

Next mission: Meeting engaement at Korosten.

[Pat58]

Mission 2
July, 1941 at Korosten
Meeting Engagement
Visibility 51
Length 43
Map 80x80

Support
The Luftwaffe has 4 Me110E-2 and 2 Fieseler Storch missions on standby
A platoon of three 37mm AT guns have been released

Situation:
Objective areas total 21 and are scattered with 3 under our control, 11 uncontrolled, 7 enemy.
Terrain is generally height 10-12. There are no roads or villages in the battle area. A single rail line bisects the area running slightly southwest-northeast. A water obstacle in the area consists of a deep-water lake to the north running about 700 meters lengthwise and from 50-300 meters across. A stream runs from the lake in a northwest to southeast direction from one end of the sector to the other. The terrain around the stream is depressed for a distance of about 300-400 meters. There are a few fords and a single railroad bridge in the center just a little east of the center of sector.

The initial deployment area in the northeast is largely wooded, with the lake to the east presenting a natural barrier. The 37mm AT platoon is deployed to cover the 150 meters north of the lake where there is a ford at the stream allowing units to cross to the east. The KG deploys in the northwest around a clearing to establish a kill zone 300-500 meters wide and up to 1100 meters deep. Russian units coming up from the depression where the stream is located can then be taken under fire. This strategy has some risk as since there will be no initial advance, time could become a factor if the KG remains in position for too long with so many VH not under friendly control.

The deployment pattern in checkerboard fashion C= clear L= Lake W= woods Bold indicates location of formation.

WWL 2nd Company with StuGs on the southern edge of the woodline
WCC
CWC 1st Company with pioneers in support and StuGs on the northern edge of the woodline

Artillery Target Reference Point set at far side of the PKZ. The forward observer is watching the PKZ and is with A0. Mortars are deployed forward along the woodline.
Scouts are deployed in the far north and south to detect enemy movement. Northern scouts will cross the stream to the east to observe enemy movement.
Service Support- Opels are in the woods behind the StuG battery and 2nd Company.
Annie and Hilde in the woods behind 2nd Company
Command- Schumacher is set back behind the StuGs deployed on the northern side of the PKZ.

Main battle is expected in the PKZ where StuGs are located. 1st Company and 2nd Company will deal with enemy in their respective areas. With the lake obstacle, it is expected that between the two infantry companies, 1st Company will see the most action initially.

As with the previous mission, once the enemy attacks are beaten off, the KG will strike east to take all objective areas.

Turns 1-6 no combat but the enemy is reported approaching. Time is already working against the KG.

Turn 6 AIT- A BT-2 is taken under fire and killed by one of the StuGs.

Turn 7 The FO calls for an air strike in the north, as scouts have spotted armor headed west. The Luftwaffe has orders to approach from the northwest and after making their run to bank right to the southeast for an egress from the area.

StuG 301 nails a BT-2 @ 900m in the PKZ.
AIT- 2 BA10s run into pioniers in the southern edge of the KGs position. One is set ablaze while the other is immobilized.

Turn 8- A BT-5 explodes from a shell fired from HQ StuG 001 at 900m.

Turn 9- A BT-2 is killed by StuG 301 at 1050m. Another BT-2 is hit at 750m from StuG 001.

Turn 10- The Me-110s hit home within the Airstrike Zone (AZ) east of the lake, knocking out 2 T-28 medium tanks. Scouts count 6 BT’s and 12 rifle squads approaching in this northern area.

Turn 11- 2nd StuG platoon positions itself to observe action in the AZ. Hits by StuG 201 and 202 turn a BT2 and BT7 into hulks at a range of 800m. Scouts update their SPOTREP with 14 rifle squads now present in the general area of the AZ.
One of the 37mm AT guns scores a killing blow on a BT2 at 750m.
AIT – A scout section in the south is lost as an enemy BT stumbles onto it.
2 more BTs are flamed by 2nd StuG platoon in the AZ.

Turn 12- A BT5 is wrecked by StuG 202 at 600m.
AIT- 2 more BT tanks are wrecks courtesy of an unidentified StuG and a 37mm AT gun.

Turn 13- An Me-110 strikes a rifle squad and quickly departs the area. Southern scouts report an unexpected development. No less than 9 BTs, a cavalry and scout unit now approach from the south. 1st StuG platoon is ordered to immediately aid 1st Company.

Turn 14- StuG 302 smashes a BT2 at 600m.
AIT- Engineers successfully blast a scout car and BT tank on the southern treeline.
StuG 302 fires up a BT-7 at 1150m. SPOTREP update from southern scout, now 15 vehicles in the southern area. With the bulk of the enemy infantry still on the march and a third of the time gone, this latest news is not welcome.

Turn 16- StuG 302 scores another blow against a BT5 at 650 meters in the AZ
AIT 2 BTs are set alight by 1st platoon StuGs in the southern woods.
1st Infantry completes a successful assault on 2 BT7s encroaaching in the southern woods.

Turn 18- The southern woods continue to see close-in fighting. Infantry from 1st Company light up two BT7s

Turn 20- Pioniers kill a BA-10 scout car and a T-26 meets its demise at the hands of StuG 102 at a range of 50m.

Turn 21- 1st StuG platoon continues to work away at the Russians. Each vehicle claims a T-26 at distances of 50 and 100m.

Turn 22- 1st Infantry Company chalks up another BT7 in the southern woods.

Turn 23- With 20 turns remaining, enemy infantry is only now appearing in strength. The chance of reaching all VHs by the end of the game seems increasingly remote.
6 rifle squads spotted east of the lake. 5 squads are at the southwestern outskirts of the PKZ. 3 squads and 2 tanks are southeast of southern woods.

Turn 24- StuG 101 lights up a T-26 at 500m

Turn 26- Stug 302 scores a direct hit on a BT-2 at 500m.

Turn 27- 2nd and 3rd StuG platoon need to restock ammunition. 1st Platoon advances east on its own. 2 squads from 2nd Company begin to cross the stream just south of the lake. The current VH count is 15-6 in favor of the enemy. Surveying the scene at the southern woods, 20 Soviet vehicles are burning hulks.

Turn 29- 2nd Infantry Company takes out a BT-2 east of the PKZ. As if there had not been enough Soviet armor, a new group of 5 T-26 tanks appear east of the stream. Fortunately at least they are the M1931 MG variety. In any case, that is a total of 9 armored vehicles still to be hunted down.
AIT- StuG 001 takes out a BT-2 at 550m.

Turn 30- Our infantry continues a general advance and is across the stream in force. The StuGs have almost reached the lone railroad bridge. HQ, 2nd Infantry polishes off a T-26 MG tank. Another 2nd Infantry squad immobilizes a BT-2 on the eastern stream bank.

Turn 31- StuGs from 1st Platoon and company HQ cross over the bridge to join our infantry.

Turn 33- Mortars have moved into a direct LOS of enemy infantry.
AIT A mortar platoon is lost to rifle fire.

Turn 34 AIT- The first StuG, 201, is lost in this battle as a clean hit from a BT7 kills the crew instantly.

Turn 35- HQ, 2nd Infantry Co eliminates another BT-7 through a hand grenade attack. Hollmichel’s squad is back in action, taking out another BT-7 with a grenade.

Turn 36- StuG 101 successfully hunts down the Soviet HQ.
Turn 37- StuG 202 picks off one of the T-26 MG tanks. Our own infantry having advanced east od the stream reach open terrain and are now being engaged at long range by Maxim MGs.

Turn 38- A scout section heroically attempts to draw fire away from the infantry squads and onto itself. It is hopeless as it is close to 2 maxims and 3 AAMG units.
AIT- The scout unit is eradicated

Turn 39AIT- In open terrain, a single shot from an unspotted 45mm gun brews up StuG 302. There are no survivors seen. VH count is now 12-9 in our favor.

Turn 40 AIT- The Maxims take out two of our squads again at long range. Clearly the one VH in the vicinity of the MGs has not been worth the price. In frustration, The StuG battery HQ and vehicle 101 flail away with MGs at depleted enemy rifle squads in the vicinity. All HE ammo has been expended and no time left to rearm.

Turn 43- VH count is 14-7 in our favor. Actually 3 the enemy still retains were within reach but not taken. It does not change the results significantly.

Final Score
3475-1488. Marginal Victory.

Mission totals
Men 121:594
Artillery 1:4
Soft Vehicles 2:0
AFV 2:59
Aircraft 2:0

It is noted that while both sides lost about a dozen men less than the last mission, the Soviets lost 21 more AFVs here.

Operations staff assessment of and recommendations related to KG Schumacher Mission 2.

Assessment- The basic plan to hold positions until the enemy had been significantly reduced was perhaps costly in terms of time. The destruction of enemy vehicles generally occurred in these locations:

Southern woods: 21
Airstrike Zone: 13
Eastern Stream Bank: 13
Primary Kill Zone: 7
Miscellaneous: 5

The location chosen for the PKZ was probably incorrect. Based on the location of the rail bridge, the main enemy avenue of approach was to the south. The original placement did put the KG within close proximity to 5 VHs. But the destruction of the enemy armor might have been accelerated moving the PKZ south. Against that argument it might also be considered that some vehicles killed in the AZ were taken under fire from StuGs positioned very close to initial firing positions within the PKZ.

Trained StuG crews are showing themselves capable of regularly destroying lightly armored vehicles out to engagement ranges of 600m, and up to 900 or even 1050 meters.
The infantry displayed its ability to engage enemy armor numerous times at close quarters.

Artillery continues to be a weak point for the KG. Two rifle squads were killed in the open late in the mission and mortars laying smoke or HE may have saved the infantry.

The lack of armored transport remains an issue. Had some been available, the enemy might have been sufficiently suppressed to save the two infantry squads or the one StuG which stumbled into the 45mm ATG position. The transport company cannot replace trucks with halftracks because there is no such organization. However, a tracked engineer platoon is supported within the army organization. Based on that, operations team recommends equipping the KG with a halftrack platoon.

Next Mission: Meeting engagement at Kiev

[Champagne]

This is interesting stuff and well written.

Which campaign is this? I'd like to try it. A campaign featuring Panzergruppe Guderian interests me.

[Wiking]

As near as I can tell this was a randomly generated Long Campaign of about 25 missions. Considering it was done about 5 years ago or so, I doubt you'll get any of the answers you're looking for unless Pat58 is still around. If you have specific questions though I might be able to help you out.

[Champagne]

Thanks! No, I have no questions about the randomly generated campaigns right now. I have been doing all of my playing with the scenarios vs. the AI. It is tough to win Decisive against the AI. The game provides a challenge to single-players.

[Pat58]

Hard to believe I started this thread almost nine years ago...

This is a continuation, sort of. The original game files are long gone, and since then I purchased the CD to the game.

The starting OOB is slightly different now, but I can always add to it later. It mainly consists of StuG Battery 224 and an infantry company, supported by recon, mortar and engineer elements.



Mission 3 of 25:

50km east of Smolensk
Meeting Engagement
11:00 11 August 1941 Duration 27 turns
Visibility 3,200m

Situation briefing for the KG:

Panzer Group 2 is east of Smolensk and is part of the encirclement around this strategic city. Numerous Russian groups are trying to break out from different directions, and one such group has been spotted by a Stork reconnaissance aircraft in our sector. It appears to be a group of light tanks and infantry.

KG Schumacher is ordered to engage and destroy this oncoming force.
In support of the KG for this mission is two infantry companies, two 10,5 cm howitzers and a sharpshooter.

The StuG III E armed with the 7,5cm StK37 L/24 cannon has this basic loadout: 24 Sprgr.34 High Explosive, 6 K.Gr.rot.Pz armor piercing, 20 Gr.38 HI/A High Explosive Anti-Tank, 3-5 Nbgr.Kw.K Smoke. The early HEAT round is somewhat undependable in terms of penetrating vehicles so often more than one hit is required to kill a target.

Maximum range of the 7,5 cm Kanone L/24 is 3000 meters. All StuGs are set to fire at a maximum range of 750 meters (shortcut Y,Q). This prevents firing at targets of opportunity with a low chance to hit and penetrate the target vehicle.

[Pat58]

11:09AM

A pair of Russian scout cars are observed approaching in the south.



Our scouts see nothing from their positions on the north road. 3rd and 1st infantry companies advance on hills 118.1 and 118.2 with Tellner's battery in the saddle between them.

[Pat58]

11:12AM

Several BT light tanks and a pair of cavalry squads have joined the scout cars in the area of hill 118.6. Tellner's battery now on the front slope of hill 118.2 take them under fire, setting several vehicles ablaze.



1st company is scrambling down the eastern slope of hill 118.2. The pionier platoon is on the backside of the hill for the moment. The other infantry companies advance as well.

[Pat58]

11:15AM

In a matter of minutes, the area around hill 118.6 is littered with the wreckage of many more vehicles. The StuG battery has had little difficulty breaking up this wave, and the Russian infantry is expected to be not far behind.

[Pat58]

11:18AM

1st Company, now on hill 118.4 has full view of advancing Russian infantry. The StuGs now switch to their HE rounds while our mortars and howitzers can be brought into action.