[blitzkreig]

Battle 02 - Poland 1939 (Battle of two fields)

Difficulty - 20% repair points
Tank Heavy - Off
Map Size - 60 x 60
Visiblilty - 16 Hexes
Length - 44 Turns

GROUND:

The map is heavily wooded. There is however a large area of open ground in the centre of the map containing two fields bordered by woodland on three sides. Wooded high ground dominates the western clearing edge and a dirt road runs along the northen clearing edge. The Dirt road runs E-W through the nothern quarter of the map. North of the road there are thinner patches of woodland. A village is streched across the road along the edge of the open ground.

VH: The victory hexes are spred across the map. A group scatterd around the village, a group around the southern edge of the open ground and several scattered through the German and Polish deployment areas.

SITUATION:

Enemy forces:

A Polish counterattack of unknown strength is expected in the area to prevent the rapid thrust of 1st Pz Div deep into polsih territory.

Friendly Forces:

Following the KG's victory at the battle of the Bridges elements of the KG begin to extract themselves from the trafic Jam in the rear. The Pz crews are able to carry out some quick reapirs before Obrstlt Steiner takes the intiative passing through the Landseers (Infantry) FEBA with orders to exploit inot the Polish Rear areas.

Stiener stands somking his trademark cigar as dusk begins to set, visibility is reducing fast. Steiner waits next to the light armoured radio car of the KG HQ's KleinerPz Funk trupp. The signals officer is in contact with a Storch observation plane flying over the KG's line of advance. "Large Enemy force sighted 3000m to the east Her Obrst!" The KG TAC HQ races into activity Steiner being quick to act, the KG must get to the high ground before the Poles!

Core:

KG TAC HQ:

Kommandeur: Obrstlt Steiner
KG Staff: 1 x Speahtrupp , 2 x Sdkfz 15 field cars
PzFunktrupp:1 x sdfz 260 (sdkfz 223 without MG)
Kranken : 1 x Opel blitz truck (ambulance)

1st Le Pz Kp: Major Gross

Kp HQ: 1 x Pz IIc, 2 x Pz Ib, 1xPzbefwgn

1st Zug: 3 x Pz IIc, 2 x Pz Ib
2nd Zug: 3 x Pz IIc, 2 x Pz Ib
3rd Zug: 3 x Pz IIc, 2 x Pz Ib
4th Zug: 5 x Pz IIc

1st Schutzen kp (Pz Gren):

Kp HQ: 1 x SMG Gruppe, 1 x MG34 MMG Gruppe (2 MG34 MMG),
2 x Sdkfz 251/1 SPW (SchutzenPzWgn - halftrack)

2 x Schutzen Zug: 3 x Rifle Gruppe, 1 x antitank rifle
team, 1 x 50mm mortar team, 4 x Sdkfz
251/1 SPW.

Support:

1 x 105mm btr+
1 x 150mm btr
2 x VB (Sdkfz 223 FOO)

MISSION:

Meeting Engagement

EXECUTION:

FSG: Fire support group and reserve

KG TAC HQ, + 2 x VB, 1 x Schutzen Zug, and the 4th le Pz Zug to push through the woods on the reserve slope of the high gound on the western clearing edge and take up overwatch postions in the tree line on the crest. The Schutzen Zug providing southern flank protection to le Pz Zug which will in turn provide cover fire for the le Pz kp. KG TAC HQ to deploy in some buildings on the northern edge of the high ground. 2 x VB to move into good observation positions on the crest. 150mm btr to be used for on and off board counterbattery fire. 105mm + btr to be used against Polish troop concentrations.

Manoeuver Element:

1st le Pz Kp (-) to push onto the open ground, dominate it and push the Polish Infantry back into the eastern woods where they can be contained.

1st Schutzen Kp (-) to push through the village providing a screen to the Pz kp's left flank.

Turn 1-5:

The Schutzen Kp (-) moves into the village rolling along the road in their SPWs protecting the Pzs left flank. Several Polish Infantry squads are observed entering the village's eastern end 400m away. North of the village a Polish TKS is seen moving between the woodland. Polish 75mm Arty hits the road but falls well to the rear of the SPWs.

The le Pz Kp (-) advance into the open ground with 2 Zugs leading, advancing in bounds they secure several VHs. The Pzs open fire on some Polish infantry in the eastern end of the village with MG fire. A force of Polish Cavalry and armoured cars emerges from the woods into the south end of the clearing. 2 Polish armd cars are soon burning after taking hits from Pz IIc 20mm cannons and the Cavalry cut down by MG fire.

The FSG takes up postions on the high ground. In the far south serval VHs are taken by the Poles.

Turn 6-11

Sporadic Polish 75 & 100mm fire arty impacts on the west end of the village in the German rear without causing casualties. The rear most Zug of the le Pz Kp is dispatched North to deal with the threat of the flanking TKS. The Zug wheeled around the western end of the village before moving east catching a TKS plt and a supporting Polish Infantry Coy in the open. 5 TKS were soon turned into burning wrecks by 20mm cannon hits. The accompanying Polish Infantry took heavy losses from the Pz's MGs and were forced back.

While the Polish attempt to flank the village in the north turned into a bloody mess at least two Polish Infantry Coys and a 7TP Tank rush the Eastern end of the village. The Schutzen Kp is forced back by sheer weight of enmey numbers in a nasty firefight taking several casualties. The speed, armour and MG34s on the SPWs saving the Kp from heavy loses and allowing them to pull back under the cover of smoke grenades. The kp pulls back 500m and establishs a blocking postion. More Polish armour pursues the retreating Kp but two are knocked out be well placed hand grenades. The kp makes an urgent request for 105mm arty on the eastern end of the village to stop the Polish horde.

The le Pz kp pushes on across the open ground making it 3/4 of the way over buy the end of turn 11. Several Polish anti-tank rifle teams are killed on route but not before a Pz IIc is damaged by a well placed rifle round. Polish Infantry emerges from the eastern end of the village and the eastern woods bravely charging the advancing Pzs with fanatical courage. Rifle, LMG, 46mm mortars, anti-tank rifle grenades and anti-tank rifle rounds bounce of the Pzs armour in a ferocious fire fight. Despite taking horific casualites from MG fire the Poles are only halted by 105 & 150mm arty rounds which halts the horde, some brave Poles make it to within 50m of the Pzs! While the Polish infantry are cut down 3 7TP tanks move out of the village and engage the Kp HQ section with their 37mm guns. The three Pollish tanks are eventually knocked out by 20mm fire but not before 3 x Pz IIc are left destroyed. Obrgfrtr Mittelburg (2 kills) being the sole surviour form the steel coffins. A futher Pz IIc has its 20mm cannon destroyed before the last of the Polsih tanks is destroyed.

The FSG brings 150mm arty fire down on suspected Polish arty postions following the sightings of several smoke clouds in the Polsih rear. The btr soon has to switch fire on to the Polish infantry in order to stop the Pz kp from being overwhelmed.

Steiner observes the siucidal Polish charge through his field glasses. The KG seems to have been attacked by a reinforced Polish Btl! Steiner deicdeds that bold action is called for and decides to send the reserve Pz Zug and Schutzen Zug in a flanking attack in the south. The Schtuzen zug has alrady destroyed a Polsih amrd car trying to sneak into the German rear with a well place handgrenade. The unit ambulance is dispached to recover the stunned and bleeding Obrgftrt Mittelburg.

Turn 11-17:

The Poles begin to retreat acrros the map pursued by the KG. In the north the flanking Pz Zug cuts the road in the Polish rear trapping the retreating Polish infantry between them and the pursing Schutzen Kp in thier SPWs. The Polish retreat turns into a rout with the Germans guning down, capturing or dispersing several Polish Infantry Coys and an AAMG plt.

The le Pz kp mops up in the centre clearing up another Polsih Coy. Some Poles continue to fight with two Pz IIcs being hit by anti-tank rifle grenades. One Pz being damaged and the other having a track blown off. As the Kp advances deep into the Polish Rear the HQ section comes under 40mm AA fire, the Kps Pzbefwgn being brewed up by a well aimed burst of fire.

The FSG's flank attack hits another Polsih infanrty coy which is put to flight after several turns fighting. German Arty fire causing heavy Polish losses. The Schutzen Zug takes several VHs while the KG Kranken Wgn (ambulance) carries a stunned Mittleburg to the rear, at least he lived to fight another day!

Turn 18-22:

In the north the Schutzen kp dismounted in the enemy rear destroying 4 x 75mm guns, 1 x 40mm AA gun and the Polish HQ.

The Pzs take the reaming VHs in the the Polsih rear mopping up Polish stragglers, another AAMG plt and several 81mm mortar teams.

The 150mm btr destroys the remaining 40mm AAG after it claimed another Pz IIc and gave away its postion.

Turn 23;

VICTORY!!!!

Final Scores: Germany 4286
Poland 270

Losses:
Battle 2: Germany - Men: 33 AFV: 5
Poland - Men 1046 AFV: 14 Arty 9

Total: Germany Men: 58 AFV: 5
Poland Men: 1483 AFV: 25 Arty: 10

Man of the match:

Obrgftr Schwendt Kp HQ MMG Gruppe:

10 kills in his first engagement! Schwendt ordered his gruppe's SPW along the road into the middle of the retreating Polish infnatry before dismounting and having 7 squads surrender to him in one turn! His gruppe then guuned down a further 3 Poslih squads in the Polish rear after setting up his guns to cover the Polish map edge.

Fldwbl Bauman's accurate 20mm gunnery brings his tally to 10 kills having destroyed a further 3 TKS in this battle.

The Good:

I won! The SPWs really proved thier worth in their fisrt engagment of WWII. Their firepower, armour and mobility allowed a single Zug and the Kp Hq to take on, pin and hold nearly 2 Polsih Coys on ground of my choosing! Will recomensd to OKW that production to be increased!

The Bad:

My Pzs! The Mark I and IIs really showed they aren't up to modern war. They stuggled to compete on even terms with the Polish 7TP unless they got to within 400m By which time they took losses. The 40mm AAG easily destroyed the comand tank at over 700m. I need to treat these with caution next time! Some anti-tanks guns might also be a good idea!

The Campaign so far:

This has been really interesting and demanding campiagn so far. No fancy tanks with big guns in 1939! Speed and mobility have been the key so far. The SPWs have been invaluable and I've learnt that mobility and tactics beat mass and numbers every time (at least so far!)

Steiner will March again!