I decided to try a smaller map as suggested to improve AI armor/infantry cooperation. So...
KG Krafft, 27 November, 1942 - Eastern Front
Situation: The battle for the Rzhev Salient continues as the Soviets pursue Operation Mars objectives despite early setbacks. KG Krafft, still operating as part of 1st Panzer Division near Belyi, isn't given much time to recuperate from yesterday's battle (special delay battle). The Soviet 1st Mechanised Corps under Gen. Solomatin, despite having its nose bloodied the day before, continues to press the attack.
Battle setup notes: KG Krafft has the same OOB as it did for the previous day's battle with the exception that the 17cm K18 batterie has been replaced with a 10cm K18 batterie. Yesterday KG Krafft faced elements of 1st Mechanised Corps/219th Tank Brigade - the 219th suffered severe losses and should be considered combat ineffective. Gen Solomantin had already committed 1st Mechanised Corps reserves, so it is likely that the attacking force from this battle is drawn from the 65th Tank Brigade and possibly 91st Rifle and/or 19th Mechanised Brigade. Historically, this is the day that Solomatin asked Tarasov for reinforcement but Tarasov sent the reserves to the north instead.
Orders: Prevent the Soviet task force from breaking through in your area. [delay mission, map 40x60, scattered victory hexes, visibility 53, length 40]
Battle plan: The western portion of the area is dominated by two low hills, hill 231 and hill 307. A panzergrenadier platoon will deploy on the western edge of hill 307, supported by the ATG platoon deployed on the eastern slope of hill 231, with a MMG team and a StuG platoon on hill 231. The northern flank will be secured by another StuG platoon in reverse slope positions on the northwestern slope of hill 307. The southern flank will be secured by a panzergrenadier platoon deployed in the gully south of hill 307 with support from a StuG platoon hidden in the gullies south of hill 231. The third panzergrenadier platoon will be held in reserve west of hill 231.
Depending upon the strength and composition of the first wave of the enemy force, the northern and southern StuG platoons may execute a pincers counter-attack to the east of hill 307. Should the enemy advance in the far south be strong enough to threaten the panzergrenadier platoon there with being overrun, the panzergrenadier company's SP-GrWs are to provide cover smoke for withdraw. With the exception of the transport for the reserve panzergrenadier platoon, all soft vehicles are being withdrawn to the west for the duration of the battle.
Execution:
T02: The Soviet recon and first wave of armor are spotted by scouts. A pair of BA-10s trailed by a T-26 approach the southern panzergrenadier positions. A BA-64 trailed by a T-60 some 500 meters behind approach hill 307, and a pair of T-34s along with another T-26 advance in the north. The veterans of KG Krafft ensure fire discipline holds and no units betray their positions.
T03: As the BA-10s try to pass through the positions of panzergrenadier zug M in the south, one is destroyed by close assault and the second is destroyed by the StuGs of zug F as they advance out of the gully (south of hill 231) into firing positions. At least a dozen additional armored vehicles are spotted joining the first wave, a mix of T-34s, T-26s, T-60s, and a pair of SU-76s.
T04: The StuGs of zug D join the battle, destroying a BA-64 as it advanced into range. Another BA-10 is destroyed by close assault in the south.
T05: The StuGs of zug D destroy another BA-64 and a pair of T-34s as the Soviets try to advance across hill 307. In the south, zug F destroys two T-26's and a T-60 just beyond the panzergrenadiers.
Oberstlt Krafft orders an artillery strike from the sIGs and GrWs on the mass of russians in front of panzergrenadier platoon M in the south.
T06: More Soviet armor lumbers into view, at least four T-28s, a pair of KV-1s, and at least a platoon of T-26s. Three T-34s and a T-60 are destroyed in the north, the ATGs open fire and knock out one T-26 south of hill 307. Two more T-26s and a T-60 are dispatched by StuG fire in the south while panzergrenadiers send another T-26 into retreat. Soviet artillery fire begins landing, 120mm mortars and 76.2mm field guns shell hill 231 but inflict no casualties. Irregardless of losses, the Soviet advance continues despite losing an entire platoon of T-60s to StuG fire as quickly as they entered view on hill 307. Our only functional MG34 team was destroyed by long range fire from Maxim MGs. No other significant losses have yet been reported.
T07: Close assaults by panzergrenadiers in the south destroy a T-26 and with assistance of fire from one of the PaK 5cm 38s routs a T-34. StuGs claim four more Soviet armored vehicles including a SU-76 but now smoke from wreckage is blocking fire lanes and some StuGs shift to shelling enemy infantry as they approach. A third KV-1 is spotted in the south just as 15cm shells begin falling all around them. Heavy mortars and field guns continue shelling positions around hill 231 and some on hill 307, 82mm mortars begin dropping smoke south and east as well as on hill 307 further obscuring firing lanes. The southern StuG zug comes under heavy bombardment from a 122mm battery and a pair of 76.2mm batteries. A few more Soviet tanks fall to StuG fire as they emerge from the smoke.
T08: Panzergrenadier zug M is in a precarious position now, under assault from at least a platoon of enemy tanks with enemy tanks and MGs to the north preventing a withdraw and smoke obscuring the line of sight for artillery spotters who were directing the GrW and sIG fire in support. Despite their predicament, the panzergrenadiers launch close assaults against the Soviet armor, knocking out one T-34 and routing another along with a pair of T-26s. While enemy armor continues to advance against the southern panzergrenadiers, panzergrenadier zug K in positions on the western edge of hill 307 are mauled by combined air strikes and bombardment by two additional 122mm batteries along with 82mm mortars. One of the Soviet aircraft is heavily damaged by FlaK fire. A 76.2mm battery drops smoke right in front of the southern StuG zug while other 76.2mm batteries and mortars pound the StuG positions atop hill 231. A 152mm battery opens up on the area just southeast of hill 231, fortunately no friendly units were affected. A PzAufklaerer team is killed by enemy infantry on the southern edge of hill 307.
T09: A few more enemy tanks are taken under fire, one T-34 and a T-26 are destroyed. All StuGs are advancing, zug F in the south is moving closer to panzergrenadier zug M in hopes of an extraction, zug E in the north is advancing onto the northwestern edge of hill 307 to forstall any enemy advances on the hill, and zug D along with StuG C0 advance towards the eastern edge of hill 231. The PaK gruppe is being withdrawn to the northwest both to escape enemy bombardment and to block any enemy armor movement north of hill 307. Panzergrenadier zug L is still being held in reserve. Heavy enemy shelling continues but the K18 batterie swings into action and secondary explosions are heard in the distance. StuG D2 suffers damage knocking its guns out of action. A rifle squad of zug M is rendered combat ineffective but a KV-1 advancing on the remnants of the zug is destroyed by StuG fire. Another tank in that area, a T-26, is destroyed by a direct hit from a 15cm shell.
T10: Advancing StuGs knock out two more enemy tanks, a T-60 and a T-26, and the PaK gruppe completes its redeployment north of hill 231. Enemy artillery slacks off momentarily and an advancing KV-1 is immobilized in the gully occupied by panzergrenadier zug M. The first wave of enemy armor appears to have been largely defeated and with the assistance of smoke from a GrW, it may be possible to withdraw the remnants of zug M. The StuGs are, however, running low on ammo, with some units out of HE, others out of AP.
T11: With the assistance of the StuGs of zug E who destroy three enemy tanks, panzergrenadier K recovers from the bombardment and retakes their positions on the western edge of hill 307 repulsing the russian infantry advance.
T12: StuG zug F manages to break through to panzergrenadier zug M's position, destroying a KV-1 in the process. Soviet infantry is mounting a major attack in company strength from southeastern positions on hill 307. Enemy shelling is once again mostly ineffective but another airstrike disables StuG E2's guns.
T13: Extraction of zug M continues and, as the strength of the enemy infantry attack on hill 307 becomes more apparent, Oberstlt Krafft orders zug K to fallback as well. It is hoped they can be redeployed along with zug M to cover the StuGs from infantry close assaults while resupply operations begin. There are only three known enemy tanks still operational though one of those may be an artillery mobility kill. In a rather mixed fortune turn of events, heavy enemy shelling occurred in the area of the extraction of zug M resulting in the loss of the zug kommandeur, however, the majority of the enemy bombardment fell short - on their own advancing armor and troops that were already being shelled by our sIGs and GrWs. Secondary explosions indicate at least one enemy AFV was destroyed by their own artillery fire. In the north, one SdKfz 251 of the ATG gruppe was hit by artillery fire and immobilized.
T14: A T-34 advanced in the north only to be destroyed by the massed fire of three PaK 5cm 38s. One, nearly full strength, squad from zug M remains behind after relocating to a better position, the other surviving squad is evacuated to the rear. The attempt to withdraw zug K in the center is being complicated by 76.2mm battery bombardment. The sIGs and GrWs are relocated to avoid possible counter-battery fire and the StuGs continue to withdraw towards the resupply area. Another SdKfz 251 of the PaK gruppe is lost to artillery fire and 152mm shells begin landing on the withdrawing panzergrenadiers of zug K. Fortunately much of the rest of the Soviet bombardment is falling short, impeding their own advancing infantry.
T15: The sole surviving SdKfz 251 manages to extract one squad of zug K from the fire zone, but otherwise zug K is pinned down. Oberstlt Krafft orders the now relocated sIGs and GrWs to bombard the southern hilltop of hill 307 in hopes of slowing the soviet infantry advance. StuG zug F moves at top speed to the resupply area. The soviet artillery bombardment renders one squad of zug K combat ineffective and continues to pin down the two squads remaining in the beaten zone.
T16: A few Soviet tanks, evidently of a second wave, make their appearance but all but one are quickly dispatched by the StuGs with AP ammo remaining. Another airstrike, this one only does slight damage to a StuG. Soviet artillery slacks off for the moment with only a few batteries firing.
T17: Combined sIG and GrW fire land on the main body of the soviet infantry atop hill 307 bringing its advance to a halt. StuGs of zug D maneuver into firing positions and quickly dispatch the sole remaining known T-34. StuG zug F begins resupply operations. While overall the enemy bombardment is continuing at a much lower intensity, damage from 122mm shells damaged a SdKfz 7/1 FlaK.
T18: Our artillery continues to fall upon the soviet infantry under direct observation of Hptmann Tellner in his SdKfz 250/12. The damaged SdKfz 7/1 FlaK is withdrawn to the rear. Soviet bombardment picks up again but one 122mm falls short atop their own infantry advance. The other falls upon the previously undamaged SdKfz 7/1 FlaK killing or seriously wounding most of the crew and causing the lone survivor to abandon the vehicle.
T19: Oberstlt Krafft orders our artillery to begin the move into direct fire positions to support the advance of the reserve panzergrenadier zug. As soon as StuG zug F has completed resupply, it is planned for them together with panzergrenadier zug L with the sIGs and GrWs in support, to advance and reclaim the lost ground on, and north of, hill 307. Soviet artillery badly damages one of the SdKfz 251/2 GrW's.
T20: Long range machinegun fire from our AFVs continue to encourage the remaining russian troops to head east. It appears, apart from the ongoing bombardment, that the battle is largely won and we merely need to reclaim our lost ground to make it clear to the enemy. Another airstrike, now unopposed by FlaK, damaged the SdKfz 250/12 observation vehicle.
T21: Panzergrenadier zug L prepares to mount up as StuG zug F has nearly completed resupply. Other AFVs continue machinegunning any soviet troops spotted within range.
T22: Heavy bombardment of hill 231 by a 152mm battery and other batteries convince Oberstlt Krafft to delay the counter-attack a few minutes. StuGs, recon elements, and support elements continue to push forward on the flanks, albiet slowly.
T23: The counter-attack is finally launched, flanking units continue to probe forward, destroying a lone enemy T-26 along the way. Enemy artillery continues to fall heavily on the north portion of hill 231, preventing panzergrenadier zug K from regrouping and joining the counterattack.
T24: The main counter-attack force advances quickly, the infantry dismounting between hills 231 and 307 as the StuGs destroy a T-60 and suppress an enemy infantry squad. Zug K's HQ vanishes in smoke and dust as its position is pounded by numerous 122mm shells. Another 122mm battery begins firing uncomfortably close to the sIG's ammo vehicles.
T25: With the aid of the flanking units, the lost ground is quickly recaptured. Now the decision awaits as to whether or not to push into the enemy's rear areas.
T27: Oberstlt Krafft decided to push ahead into the enemy rear and no sooner had the advance begun until a third wave of enemy armor was spotted. Two T-28s and two T-34s were destroyed by fire from the flanking StuGs as the center advance continued unopposed.
T28: As the advance continued, additional enemy tanks were spotted and destroyed along with two SPAA vehicles. Over a company's worth of infantry was spotted and brought under fire. They quickly routed and headed east.
T29-40: Pursuit and destruction of mostly routed soviet units to the western edge of the battle area. Continual heavy bombardment of areas 500m behind forward lines.
Code:
Battle Report
Losses: German Russian
Men 54 971
Artillery 0 36
Soft Vehicles 0 0
APCs 1 0
AFVs 0 103
Air Transport/Helos 0 0
Aircraft 0 0
Score: Germany 8285, Russia 344.
Decisive Victory, Germany.
Game Notes: There was less time between the first wave of armor and the following infantry, but... well its easy to see by the turn by turn above. Part of the reason it is less challenging than it could be is no doubt due to the experience levels of most of my StuG crews after so many battles, it did seem a bit more challenging than the previous battle.