[SaS TrooP]

This one is unusually small for me, it is typical battalion sized battle!

Romanian Armoured Division "Romana Mare" action at Scobalteni*
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Date: 20th of August, 1944*
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Location: Scobalteni, just near Podu Iloalei, Iassi region, modern day Moldavia*
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Type: Romanian advance vs. Soviet delay*
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Back in 1944, Nazi Germany and their allies were in general retreat. The most famous Soviet offensive of that year is the one known as Bagration, which completely shattered German central positions and pushed them away from pre-war Soviet territory for good.
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The less known offensive is the one known widely as Second Iassi-Kischinev Offensive, executed in August 1944 by 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts. The offensive had several objectives. It mainly served as southern backbone of Bagration, pinning posible German reinforcements. Secondly, it aimed for possibly reaching Romanian oil fields in Ploesti region, the only decent oil fields Wehrmacht had access to. Finally, it could also knock out Romanians out of the war, and Romanians still provided roughly 400 000 troops for the German cause. It should be mentioned in the background that August was second Soviet attempt on the matter - the first offensive failed miserably in April.
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Meanwhile, Germans were overburdened with attempts on stabilising the central front caught in deadly Bagration Frenzy. The south was stripped of many armoured units with German rebuilt 6th Army holding the area together with Romanian 3rd and 4th Armies commanded respectively by General Petre Dumitrescu and General Ioan Mihail Racovita.
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The exception was however 1st (and only) Romanian Armoured Division, known in Romania as "Romana Mare", and on German planning tables as "Gross-Rumanien". The division was being rebuilt after disasterous losses it suffered in 1941-1942 mostly due to inadequate quality of armoured vehicles - Romanian licence aquired Panzer 38(t)s faced T-34s and KV-1s they could not simply fight against. Now, however, the division was fully German equipped, but low on tanks as for division grade unit. In August 1944, it operated roughly a battalion (~50) sized Panzer IV unit and another circa 30 StuG III assault guns and Romanian TACAMs (T-60s equipped with 75mm guns for tank destroyer role), as well as several dozens of Sd.Kfz. 222 and half-tracks for armoured reconneissance. This had to suffice for threre motorized regiments that only had AT guns. Nevertheless, morale was high and training properly conducted.
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On 20th of August 1944, massive Soviet barrage made an opening statement for Second Iassi-Kischinev Offensive. German and Romanian field artillery positions (well reconnoitered before) were obliterated within one hour. At roughly 6 AM full front assault occured in the first phase of Soviet deep operations doctrinal concept. By 10 AM situation of German and Romanian armies was desperate with several divisions decimated or running in panic. This is when "Romana Mare" was deployed from the reserve. Their objective was to plug the gap in Romanian positions near the town of Podu Iloalei, roughly 20km from Iassi. The division was however split due to huge equipment shortages everywhere. Assault Gun companies were attached to motorized regiments with task of preparing blocking positions against Soviet armour.
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For this reason, proper attack on Scobalteni and Podu Iloalei at around 10 AM was only conducted by the lone divisional tank battalion with the mentioned ~50 Panzer IV tanks and a lone TACAM tank destroyers company, supported with some armoured cars and in later stages by divisional mechanized recon infantry.
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Commander - we know Soviets are already in Scobalteni, and they are in force. But you have tank heavy formation. Punch through the Soviets and stop the gap before it will be used by the enemy to bring reserves in. We do not know exact numbers, but we estimate Soviets to be at regimental strength.
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SPOILERS BELOW - READ ONLY IF YOU WISH TO HAVE FULL HISTORICAL SPECTRUM BEFORE PLAYING THE SCENARIO
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As the order itself to attack on Scobalteni was correct, Axis command failed to determine the proper direction of Soviet thrusts on the first day of the offensive. Romanians were told they would engage blocking positions and anti-tank guns, this was proved to be true. But Romanian tanks descended from the city of Roman which was the Soviet objective for the first or second day of the offensive. Thus Romanians not only met blocking positions - they met untouched armoured brigade regrouping before striking on the deep rear of German lines.
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Attacking Romanian tankists first encountered AT guns fire. But soon massive amount of T-34s emerged and quickly forced the attackers to grasp on rather defensive posture. Romanian attack soon turned into desperate delaying action against stronger armoured enemy and battle of Scobalteni later emerged as the greatest tank battle of entire offensive and the greatest tank battle in Romanian military history.
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Fighting lasted for the whole day. Romanians claimed to have destroyed roughly 60 armoured vehicles of various types, which means they most likely destroyed the Soviet brigade and prevented it from reaching the rear. They however suffered heavy losses in the process with about 30 tanks disabled or destroyed. Finally, the battle ended with the nightfall. Battered Romanians divided into several small columns and attempted to retreat towards Roman, in which they succeeded, but with the loss of all company commanders and battalion commander.
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3 days later, on 23rd of August, Romania declared a ceasefire with the Soviets. Menawhile in Bucarest, Romanian dictator Ion Antonescu was deposed by the King. One day later Romania switched sides and joined the Allies. At one point, nearly half million soldiers made Romania 4th member of the Allies with armies size compared. Soon the "Romana Mare" was fighting again - this time, however, against their recent allies.
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After the war, communist coup deposed the king and People's Republic of Romania was declared. In early communist era, many commanders were persecuted for their previous fight with the Germans. it is somewhat ironic given the fact Romania joined the Axis because Soviet Union annected Moldova.
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Design: Marcin "SaS TrooP" Kaluza*
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Sources: Various, but the most brilliant ones are:
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Cornel Scafes, Horia Serbanescu, Ioan Scafes, Cornel Andonie, Ioan Danila, Romeo Avram: Armata Romana 1941-1945, RAI, 1996
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Ion S. Dumitru: Tancuri in flacari, Nemira, 1999
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Vasile Ienceanu: Pedepsiti sa invinga, Fundatia General Stefan Gusa, 1998
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(all translated in parts and available at Axis History Forum)