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serg3d -> On the spearhead. June 1941. (4/13/2006 4:21:47 PM)
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Colonel Katukov! We have a situation here.
German attacking old fortification line near the Grodno. Unfortunatly most of fortifications was disarmed.
But you are lucky - in your sector there is still naval gun emplacment and mindefields.
You tank brigade in a reasonably good shape - you have intact T-34(40) company(10 tanks) , and managed to keep company of obsolete BT5 light tanks (14 BT5 and 1 BT7a).
You also having 3 just conscripted infantry companies, recon platoon, HMG platoon, two platoons of AT guns - pretty good 76mm and old 37mm junk, two sections of 82 mortars and AA MG truck platoon. That should be enough to stop Fritzs.
Oh, in you sector should be remnants of retreated anty-tank battalion - two 76mm AT platoons and two Maxim MG platoons. Take them temporarily under your command - their former commander was just shot for retreaing without order.
We have no recon whatsoever - you may be hit by battalion of the 6th panzer division or it coud be some unidentified infantry, be prepare for both. You should delay the enemy at least 30 hours.
At last brigade have enough ammo and can stop running. Time to make a stand. Katukov ordered to disperce AT guns and MG along the edge of the forest, infantry in the first line before them, light tanks behind in the forest. Precsios T34 company in the center, behind concrete naval gun emplacement. His main hope was on the minefield, which should be able to blunt German attack.
For three hours Germans were taking their time, at last 4 sections of infantry and three tanks moved frough the central hill and to the north from the center. Katukov ordered light tanks move forward and open fire on the enemy infantry. Conscripts and MG started fire too.
Suddenly german infantry was all over the center. AT guns destroyed two enemy tanks. Conscripts continue their fire. BT5 moved out and into the forest keeping the fire on german tanks and infantry. Some german sections retreated. Best infantry in the world were retreating under the fire poorly armed and barely trained former workers, peasants and just released convicted political prisoners. Reausserd by small number of german tanks Katukov moved forward T34 company.
Another hour and two remainig T-VI destroyed. However german infantry and MG pushing stubbornly to and through the minefield.
More and more german infantry attack all along the defensive line. If they break through the thin line of defense into the forest tanks will be useless and inexpirienced conscripts will not be able to push them back. For a while tanks and MG keeping germans at bay. Luckily there is no AT rifles. Thin armor of BT5 wouldn't able to withstand them. However they may stll appear.
German AT rifles made their appearence. Tanks should be more careful now. German infantry walking through the mine field en masse. AT least two section broke though the minefiled(may be more). One section of conscripts and Maxim MG lost, four sections only half of their fomer strength and four suppressed.
10th hour. About acompany of german infantry broke through minefiled in the ceneter-notrh. Situation becoming dangerous there. Two BT5 immobilized and anothwer couple severley dameged.
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