Battle Report 1 - Battles 1 & 2
The battle of Pyatikhatki, Ukraine
Core Units:
-Stab
--Kommendeur + Sd.Kfz. 251/1
-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 149
--1+10+10+10 StuG III Ausf. G
-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 149, I Batalion
--357 Infanterie+87 Sd.Kfz. 251 halftracks
-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 149, II Batalion
--438 Infanterie+5,7 cm PaK 208(r)+Granatenwerfer
-Parts of Heeres FlaK Artillerie-Abteilung 149
--3 2 cm FlaK 30
Battle 1:
Date: October 1943
Location: Pyatikhatki, Ukraine
Mission: Meeting engagement
Visibility: 1.000 metres
Result: Marginal victory
Points: 9.144 - 1.677
Support Units:
-4 15 cm sIG + RSO (10. (sIG))
-2 Panther D (5/II)
-1 infantry company (2/III)
Battle 2:
Date: October 1943
Location: Pyatikhatki, Ukraine
Mission: Delay
Visibility: 4.500 metres
Result: Draw
Points: 3.357 - 5.726
Support Units:
-4 Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8
-1 Panther D (5/II)
Battle Report:
The first battle was a clear German’ victory, with the Soviet’ taskforce losing 91 tanks and armoured vehicles and being forced into a rapid retreat, constantly perused by the German infantry. The Soviet’ high command however reacted quickly and within days, before the German’ forces could replace losses, launched a massive counterattack, which soon forced the German’ commander to order a tactical retreat, since it was clear early on that the battle couldn’t be won. Most of the mobile units managed to retreat successfully but the slow infantry paid a heavy price in terms of losses, with many of the infantry companies practically being wiped out down to the very last man. But their heroic actions made sure that the rest of the German’ taskforce could retreat successfully and also forced the battle into a draw. Thus the battle of Pyatikhatki turned out to be a minor German’ victory, with parts of the sector still in German’ hands after the battle was over.
Losses:
Germany - 525 men, 9 halftracks, 2 mortars, 3 anti-tank guns, 3 anti-aircraft guns, 17 StuG III, 1 Panther D & 1 Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8
Soviet Union - 1.270 men, 2 anti-tank guns, 3 mortar positions, 1 anti-aircraft truck, 147 tanks and armoured vehicles, 1 AOP truck & 1 aircraft
Claims:
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 149 - 92 tanks and armoured vehicles
5/II Panther D - 6 tanks and armoured vehicles
Infantry - 46 tanks and armoured vehicles, 2 anti-tank guns, 1 anti-aircraft truck, 3 mortar positions & 1 AOP truck
Halftracks - 1 aircraft shot down
Anti-tank guns - 2 tanks and armoured vehicles
Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8 - 1 tank destroyer
Captured equipment:
1 KV-1 M1942, 1 T-34/76E M1942, 1 T-34/76 M1943, 1 7,62 cm anti-tank gun & 1 anti-aircraft truck
Replacing losses:
Pz.Jäg.Abt. 149 - The 6 surviving crews without vehicles were given new StuG III Ausf. G, increasing the total strength of the unit to 20 tank destroyers.
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 149, II Battalion - Only parts of the infantry, parts of 3./I, were replaced, as were some of the halftracks.
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 149, II Battalion - The infantry lost was fully replaced, together with the 8.(PaK), which was given 3 captured 7,62 cm anti-tank guns, and the 9.(FlaK), where the only surviving crew was given a new 2 cm FlaK 30.
Captured equipment - The KV-1 M1942, T-34/76E M1942 and T-34/76 M1943 were all pressed into service and renamed KW-1 “1031”, T-34 “1032” and T-34 “1033“. The KV-1 was rebuilt by the workshop company and fitted with a KwK 42 from a severely battle damaged Panther D and with the commander’s cupola from a destroyed PzKpfw IV Ausf. H before being put into service.