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Colonel von Blitz -> PBEM DAR: summer 1943, somewhere in Russia (3/10/2009 9:13:03 AM)
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PBEM Meeting Engagement
Nazi Germany (me) vs. Soviet Union, June 1943, somewhere in Russia.
Purchase points: Germany 3000 (+HQ), USSR 3500 (+HQ)
- no reinforcements
- no deploy-phase mines
- no special force infiltrations
- no air support
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A Soviet mechanized column has been reported advancing rapidly towards a small village of Gorovitz, which acts as a road junction point and is very important supply route. My Panzer battalion has been dispatched to the scene, to intercept and destroy the Soviet unit.
The area is quite open, though there are several hills across the whole map. Only in the north there is a forest, which is not that dense - it will provide fairly good advance routes for Soviets, who most likely are reluctant to enter the open area because of my lurking Panzers.
Unit composition:
Panzer Bataillon
1. Panzer Kompanie (8 Panzer IVH)
2. Panzer Kompanie (10 StuG IIIG)
Panzergrenadier Bataillon
Aufklaerung Zug (3 M/C Sqd + 3 Scout team & vehicles)
1. Kompanie (6 SpecOp Sqd + 6 SdKfz 251)
2. Kompanie (8 Infantry Sqd + 2 MG42 + 2 Flammwagen/16)
FlaK Batterie (4 88mm FlaK)
The panzers will operate in company-level, we'll keep a Panzer company together as a hunting pack, in order to avoid being overwhelmed by massing Soviet tanks. 1st company will advance at the center and the 2nd company will advance in the south. This way, the center Panzers can also support the advancing StuGs. Both groups are reinforced with flammwagen and mechanized specOps. Northern area will be screened with scouts and the rear flags are protected by a battery of mighty 88s and infantry.
I choose to advance through the south, though I am almost 100% sure that the Soviet will advance through the northern forest. I believe that my opponent also thoughts that I will counter his forces near that same forest and is prepared for this. Considering that I have slight disadvantage in purchase points and my tanks are more expensive, I have numerical disadvantage. Thus I think I will keep out of the forest, try to hunt his tanks down from the center with elite Panzer IVs and in the meantime, try to reach his rear units with StuG assault guns. If everything goes as planned, my opponent will react to my 'unexpected' advance in the south and this is what I am waiting for - if he reacts as I want him to, this battle is won.
Turn #1: Motorcycles start their way in the center and south and encounter several cavalry and sapper units, fire is opened, but without severe casualties. My motorcycles confirm immediately my initial thoughts: Soviets are advancing in the north, south has smaller security unit only.
Turn #2: I lose my motorcycles as Soviet fast BT-tanks and armored cars, with cavalry, attack them immediately. I hate to lose my motorcycles at this stage already, but they provided me enough information.
Panzer IVs advance few hundred meters and open fire after reaching the hilltop. Few shots and two BT-7s, one OT-34 and one FAI armored car are destroyed.
In the south, one BT is destroyed by StuG. The rest of the battery advances, keeping their noses behind a protective hill.
Turn #3: Soviets advance rapidly in the north, they have reached the westernmost edge of the forest, and are now waiting behind a small hill, just beyond the grasp of my 88s. Soviets fortunately 'warned' me about their position by accidentally advancing too far forward and my Panzers immediately destroyed one BT-7 at the top of the hill.
I close in, attacking the enemy flank with Panzers and mechanized SpecOps. Within minutes I manage to destroy four BT-7s and one T-34, routing half a dozen Sapper squads in the process
In the south, Sturms are advancing at full speed.
Turn #4: Enemy rallies and brings in his cavalry with Molotov Cocktails, striking back at my assault force. I lose two Panzers in the process. But, I fight back, destroying two more BT-7s and immobilizing one OT-34. After this, I retreat few hundred meters. Soviets try to catch my with indirect fire, but instead he strikes his own units with mortar and artillery fire.
South is also in small troubles - I was not expecting to encounter two M10 Wolverines! They flanked my StuGs and destroyed three of them from 20 hexes away! Rest of the battery opened fire and managed, in the end, to destroy one M10 and damage other. Unfortunately one StuG had to advance dangerously far away of the main body.
Turn #5: Center quiets down as I retreat slowly, using smoke dischargers and giving fire permission to my FlaK units. Some smoke is poured from Soviet mortars.
The major action shifts to south, where enemy security unit moves up and destroys my lone StuG, as I somehow had foreseen. That's four StuGs already lost - rest of the battery attacks the Soviet security force of two T-34s and five BT-7s. As I close in, four of the BTs are destroyed by StuGs and the T-34s are taken out by infantry and Flammwagen.
Turn #6: Nothing new at the center, I continue to retreat slowly, this time in turning 90-degrees and trying to setup an ambush for Soviets and also letting my 88s protect my Panzers. Enemy seems to have lost a couple more BTs by my heavy guns.
The south is almost clear: I destroy the last BT-7, though in the exchange I lose one more StuG and one Flammwagen to M10 Wolverine. The Wolverine crew climbed back to their damaged tank and opened fire as they saw that the gun was still operable. Damn it!
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At this point it is good to evaluate the losses. My own losses are at this stage: 2 Panzer IVHs, 5 StuGs, 1 Flammwagen, 1 SdKfz 251, three squads of SpecOps and 3 squads of M/Cs. In total, approximately worth 1075 points (~36%). But I still have 11 fully functional and dangerous Panzers!
On the Soviet side, the losses are: 16 BT-7, 4 T-34/OT-34, 2 M10 Wolverine, mixed amount of armored cars, app. 1 company worth of infantry, few M/Cs and a platoon of cavalry. In total, the Soviets have lost units worth around 1900 points (~54%).
Considering that my Soviet opponent has some 120mm Mortars and 152 howitzers in the rear, with ammo truck, they alone are worth ~350 points. Also, I have damaged two tanks and have observed advancing at least two T-34s, one more M10, few BTs and a KV-1c. These tanks are worth around 700 points. This leaves just few hundred points for cavalry and infantry, that has also been observed around the forest.
For me, situation is clear: the Soviet does not have reserves anymore, after I destroyed their rear security unit. I believe I have now clear path to advance and take out soviet indirect artillery and ammo truck. Without mortars and covering smoke, I have the possibility to attack Soviet main body in the center, both with Panzers and StuGs. As I now have gained the upper hand both in numbers and quality, I really have to screw things up, in order to lose this battle.
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More to come, as this PBEM battle continues...
Colonel von Blitz
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