Alt History Campaign, 44-46 (sw) SS KG Griffon

[PanzerBob]

SSKG Griffon ORDERS- 19-23 April 1945


We've been advancing along behind the steadily retreating, 3rd Third Army. I've managed to have two 12.2cm Bttys attached to my KG, I've also taken delivery of two of the much improved Tiger II Ausf D, (I refused Ausf B, because of the mechancal nightmare they'd become.) The D has the new ElectroTurbo engine and the Hawkeye FC System to name a few improvements. I also snagged onto a Hyena the newest Spahwagen, it has some night vision as well.

As Divisional Vanguard, we have attached additional Recce elements which include 4 Panthers UHU besides the usual units. These units have been assigned flank security.

My daily treks to Div Briefings, paid off today as FM Rommel was there. Several things came to light, First we are aiming towards the French West Coast in an effort to corral the Allied Forces back up onto their Normandy Beachead. Secondly, Patton is well and about to resume command of his Third Army, given Rommels' demeanor on this topic, this concerns me greatly.......

KG Griffon is to exercise more caution as the hunted wolf may find it's pack and turn and attack.........


[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] Obersturmbannführer PanzerBob

[PanzerBob]

Excerpt from War Diary 24 April 45

As we rolled into the town of Longue (N of Samur) and secured it my hunch (and Rommels') paid off. My Forward Recce Element -FORE- my HUBZ Gp, spotted a large Panzer force in an echelon left formation. I ordered the FORE in for a closer look and to harass the enemy. Closer inspection, showed a force of largely panzers, with infantry riding on top, no trucks or halftracks. My HUBZ hosed off a few panzers of their infantry. As a plus they also took out a few panzers, including at least two M26's. I was able to walk my 122 Bttys into the main concentration. The resulting barrage had the effect of turning the main force south, instead of running to my north most flank security screen; they would be hitting the town where most of the KG was waiting for them.

A small panzer group with accompanying infantry struck first and was dispatched and a hail of MG's Mortars, arty and panzer cannon. Meanwhile the south flank Security Element ran into another similar size force. It eventually was forced to withdraw, with help from a Tornado and several Tigers including the new Tiger II's.

The first of several air strikes I called in materialized in the form of a couple of our 262’s. They came in fast and delivered their bombs and rockets in amongst the Yankee panzers and men, causing much chaos in damaged panzers and human suffering. They were something to behold, I had never seen jet airplanes in person before. This left a fairly battered force of which to attack our position in town. The first panzer to emerge from the smoke was a M26, a Panther 100m in front of the beast, fired and the shot bounced off the front, the return fire from the M26 almost vaporized the Panther and it’s crew. The second two Perishing met with long-range death as my Tiger II D’s knocked them out at 2400m from south of the town.

The last part of the battle, the death blow was dealt with 4-5 Panthers and several Tiger I’s, under a continuous rain of fire and several passes by the Swallows. I lost two more Panthers, 2 StuG to Sherman 76’s in the resulting melee.

We remain victorious.

[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img]Obersturmbannführer PanzerBob

[PatG]

Interesting set of reports so far Bob. Apart from the Pershings, are the Allies getting updated kit too? And I have to ask - what's happening in the Far-East with the collapse of the Russians? With a land route now possible through Russia, The Japanese could be getting plans for 262s if not actual aircraft to take out the B-29 menace. Type XXI boats out of Japanese bases could be ranging up and down the west coast...

With Russian support gone they may have a better chance at supressing the Chinese. With Manchukuo stabilized and possible imports or occupied territory in Russia, the Japanese resource problems may be cured giving the Americans a much harder run for their money.

Finally - did the bomb drop putting the Japanese out of the war? If so - why aren't there mushroom clouds over the fatherland? If not - what's happening in North Africa and the Middle East? Will we see a revived second front threatening Imperial India and stretching allied resources further?

I love "what ifs" ;-)

[PanzerBob]

Thanks Pat, some good food for thought in your ponderings, and will be covered as the alt timeline marches on. I think I'll have to include some news clippings and letters to and from home to add more favour.

As the Allies, at present I'm going with the present OOB's as the Allies are having huge problems...

However,

I would love to play against Allied OOB's MOD'd for an alt timeline that I HAVE NOT CREATED, to add to the surprise and suspense, US Brit & Canuk, A lot can all of a sudden be pretty hairy on the battlefield when tanks are fielded earlier or up armoured or FC is improved. Aircraft see service earlier or are loaded out for CAS,

I created a Canadian OOB once a few years ago where the decision was taken to buy Soviet kit with some Western upgrades. (The US was furious) It was a blast.

Must run, PanzerBob

[PanzerBob]

KG Griffon War Diary 08 May 45

Since our last major engagement, we’ve been advancing with the Div along the northern Loire River valley. There have been some counterattacks by the Americans, but not in our sector. Most of our work on the advance has been policing up Third Army stragglers, Partisan actions and reacting to air attacks.

During this time, I’ve managed replace some of our equipment:

Beob/HQ Zug- SzPzW I Rommel (our new tracked APC)
Recce Gp- 2 more SdKfz 255 Hyena (Puma follow on with IR vision)
Panther Kp- 3x Panther F’s
Tiger Kp- 2 more Tiger II D’s
PzGren Kps- 3x Rommels’ (for Kp & Zug CO’s)2x Schwarzpanthers (FC upgrade, IR Vision,Armour Mods on Jagdpanther.
SPG Zug- 1x Sturmpanzer IV

I’ve been informed that a large part of our good fortune is due to success by the Luftwaffe in a sweeping interdiction campaign. We’ve made a huge impact on fuel supplies and reinforcements, and it is showing in the ever-retreating Allied forces.

Our Divisional Objective is St. Nazaire.

We are to halt on a rough line, north-south axis between the village of Sauenay and the Loire River to prepare for the final drive on St Nazaire. The Americans are preparing to defend the area, perhaps in hopes of an evacuation.

[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] Obersturmbannführer PanzerBob

[PanzerBob]

Joint Intelligence Bulletin---45-27845

Along with new ground weapons, the Germans have fielded yet another surprise onto the battlefield. This comes in the form of a machine called a helicopter, specifically an Attack Helicopter. It appears to have been employed down at the Battalion sized unit level in direct support of that units operations. It has the ability to take off and land vertically and hover or stand still at altitude. This has made for a deadly opponent for for ground forces.

The Tornado as it is called, is based on the Luftwaffes' first successful Helicopter the Dragon. Tornado has 1500hp power plant and is armed with a 30mm cannon, 2 MMG and an assortment of HE and AP rockets. It's primary mission is Scouting but, will attack given the right targets. They are armoured over it's vital spots. They move easily out of danger when attacked from the ground or air.

[PanzerBob]

KG Griffon War Diary 09 May 45

We were sitting along our sector of the Divisional Departure Line for less than 24hrs and I had sent my FORE out to scout our AOR after sunrise and much to my surprise they spotted two armoured forces moving down the roads in my flank areas. Again it seemed to be Panzers with Infantry riding, I'm beginning to believe this is an effect of the fuel shortage. As to what this recce in force can hope to gain, I'm not sure. We were well positioned to absorb this attack.

I had my HUBZ put in an attack run to slow the Yanks up in order to plot my arty and hopefully some from Div. Division gave me 3 15cm Battery’s and I had my BEOB's plot most of their fire along the north & south roads. I had the Tiger Kp move into better fire posns and put the reigns on my Panthers until I saw how the battle would develop. The PzGrens's supporting panzers also were moved up ready to fill in as well.

Arty came down as planned and the American Infantry were blown off their rides, and I ordered in the Tornadoes to harass them further. The first of the enemy columns came under the guns of my Tigers as they advanced though the barrages. American HE and smoke missions began to fall within and before our lines. I ordered the Panthers forward split between the two columns.

It was at this point the cursed JABO’s came in, 4 Mustangs and several Lightning’s all with rockets. The first several runs hit the Panther Kp’s HQ Section, both were damaged, and the Kp CO abandoned his Panther F under cover of his 2IC’s panzer. More Yankee panzers were being taken out, one PzGren Section on the south road took out 3 Shermans with Panzerfaust, the Kp HQ accounted for at least two more with a Panzerschreck and my panzers were making American armour into smoking wrecks. The JABO’s came in again making guns only runs, but they were now targeting my HT’s. Several HT’s were set ablaze, however, the JABO’s luck had run out. My AAA assets finally, scored two with a possible 3rd kills.

After 45 or so minutes of action the Americans are withdrawing. I sent a request up to Div to seek permission to pursue the retreating force. Word comes down we are sit tight, awaiting orders for the push on St. Nazaire.

I’ve ordered the KG to top up all ammo, fuel and stores, make good any repairs possible.

A “JOB WELL DONE” was also in order, but for the time being I’ve ordered our cooks to ensure a hot ‘eggs and sausage’ breakfast gets to all troops.

Obersturmbannführer PanzerBob