Execution: (continued from above) Less than 15 minutes after arrival an armored car of the recon zug spots a T34 approaching to the south of hill 706. One T34 turns into a platoon followed by a platoon of T60s and at least two BA-64 armored cars. Further north, three Ba-64s exit the gap between hills 705 and 706. Firing on the short halt, the StuGs of Zug D fire one shot each and three T34s are no more. They continue firing and brew up three T60s and two BA-64s.
The last BA-64 of the trio that passed through the gap is taken under fire by the armored cars of the recon zug and is destroyed. Panzergrenadier zug K detours to the west, taking a longer route over some treacherous terrain to avoid coming under fire. The StuGs of zug D destroy two more T60s and a pair of BA-64's at short range.
The enemy opens up with numerous mortars, fortunately most fall on empty ground far away although a few 120mm rounds fell close enough to the StuGs of zug E to shake up the crews a bit. Five T60s and a T34 are spotted atop hill 705 moving west at full speed. Despite the range, fire from the StuGs destroy four of the five T60s. Oberstlt Krafft requests counterbattery fire from the 105mm batterie against a suspected mortar site. The panzergrenadier kompanie makes good time despite the detour and though being far west of their original goal, prepare to dismount if the StuGs cannot soon clear the area of enemy armor.
Five T26s are spotted moving through the gap immediately following an intense bombardment with two more T26s traveling in flanking positions atop hill 706. Both flankers and four of the T26s in the gap were quickly dispatched by the StuGs. The vehicles of the recon zug move into depressions to stay out of the line of fire.
More T26s, a T34, a trio of T28s, and a trio of KV1s appear north of the gap. Oberstlt Krafft calls in a fire order to the sIG1b's to drop the hammer on the KV1s. The StuGs drop a smoke screen between themselves and the KV1s. They then turn their attention to the remaining tanks and knock them all out in turn. The StuGs continue the advance. Oberstlt Krafft finally orders the panzergrenadiers to advance and disembark. They will have to screen the ammunition carriers so the StuGs can reload.
One of the KV1s makes the mistake of skylining itself at short range to the StuGs, it took numerous hits but it finally blew up. Enemy artillery is bombarding the area where the StuGs had intended to reload, hopefully the bombardment will cease before ammo levels run critically low.
The remaining two KV1s make a critical error by getting too close to StuG E2, in an amazing display of gunnery and command skills Obrgfrtr Krohner and his crew knock out two KV1s with two shots. Oberstlt Krafft orders StuG zug E to retreat and resupply, noting it would be rather hard to explain running out of ammo while guarding an ammo dump.
One and a half hours after arrival on scene, KG Krafft seems to have no targets left but infantry. Enemy artillery is still a problem but one by one the 10.5cm batterie is knocking out mortar positions. The StuGs have to withdraw behind infantry lines now though as enemy infantry AT teams are beginning to infiltrate the area.
Two hours in, the StuGs are withdrawn for reloading. Oberstlt Krafft retargets the 10.5cm batterie on clumps of Gaurds infantry out in the open. The Panzergrenadier kompanie takes a bit of a beating but manages to hold M zug out of the action as a reserve while whittling down the forward elements of the Soviet company and dealing with the odd sniper. Casualties however, begin to mount and the early return of StuG zug F is very welcome along with the very effective observed 10.5cm bombardment. The armored cars of the recon zug add their machineguns into the mix and slowly the Soviet advance begins to halt.
The partially resupplied StuGs reenter the fray along with the sIG1b's and the enemy infantry evaporates. A maxim machinegun section engaged a MG42 section and came out the loser by far. Although a few panzergrenadier squads are down to half strength, the situation is well in hand.
Two and a half hour mark Oberstlt Krafft orders Major Rittenhaus to advance to hill 712 with the aid of the recon zug. StuG zug D is detached to remain in the area southeast of the ammo supply dump to aid the panzergrenadiers in mopping up. The panzergrenadier reserve platoon is ordered to mount up and join Major Rittenhaus.
Hill 712 is found to be free of enemy troops and the detachment turns its attention south to the gap between hills 705 and 706. A steady stream of routed soviet infantry is passing through the area and encouraged to keep moving by the machineguns of the detachment.
The panzergrenadiers in the west are still being shelled by 122mm guns but are beginning to drive southeast to dislodge the last few enemy holdout squads. In the process they are nearly outflanked by a reserved Guards platoon emerging from the ravines southwest of zug L's position. The StuGs of zug D quickly disabused them of the notion but not before they sent the L2 squad running for cover. Oberstlt Krafft orders the FlaK gruppe to provide long range fire support in that area. The 10.5cm batterie reports guns dry but there is little doubt that without their support the battle would have had a much higher cost.
Three hours into the battle, while the outcome looks favorable, the Guards platoon in the south is reinforced by a few desant teams and with one of the StuGs going guns dry as well as the MG42 section running out, it has been tougher than expected. Panzer aufklarung zug I is keeping watch over hill 712 while panzergrenadier zug M approaches the gap. The StuGs of that group have crossed over hill 705 and are now in the western half of the gap. Panzergrenadier zug K is being attached to Major Rittenhaus's group as soon as transport arrives.
PzGrZug K comes under fire from an unspotted maxim machinegun platoon and is unable to join Major Rittenhaus's StuGs for the time being. To the west, another StuG runs out of HE and MG ammo while two more Gaurds squads are spotted moving in. Oberstlt Krafft lends a personal hand in the area, leading his HQ squad in eliminating a desant team. Soviet long range artillery continues to bombard the Ost-Inf Kp's position but the shells continue to fall short.
Nearly three and a half hours after arriving on scene, Major Rittenhaus reports hill 706 and the gap are now also under KG Krafft control. Oberstlt Krafft barely had time to respond when he hears over the area command net that the rest of Ost Battalion 634 reinforced by a detachment from 17 Panzer will be arriving at the supply depot momentarily. The breakthrough had been successfully contained.
Decisive victory: KG Krafft.
Notes: I messed up on the setup, I believe if I'd put a few victory hexes near the supply depot that the battle would've been much harder. As it went, the Ost-Inf Kp was barely engaged at all and nothing ever came within the Tiger's field of view. Still, it did have its challenging moments despite ending up an overwhelming victory.
Last turn file attached, hope this was worth the read
