Kampfgruppe von Bootie: Day 1, Afternoon 1 (13:00 - 16:00)

[Rico]

Attention Oberst von @Bootie and Major @Mehlsack

Here is the situation map for the AFTERNOON 1 turn of Day 1 of the Rikonovo battle.

3rd Kompanie, II Btn PzGrRegt 14 has arrived on the map.

Sperrgruppe Mjkerner is now in radio contact with KG von Bootie HQ in Rikonovo.

The air strike on the Rikonovo railway station has backed up refugee traffic north of Rikonovo - -roads still very crowded in this direction.
Weather remains clear and danger of Russian air strikes remains - - although so far enemy bombing has not been very accurate.

Ready for your orders.

 

[Mehlsack]

@ Bootie : Herr Oberst, I suggest to attack south of the Berzhinka with a strong force. Since the tanks need infantry support they should pick up an Alarmkompanie as riders? I would take the risk to hold north of the Berzhinka with as few troops as manageble since we need a strong push south of the river. Your opinion, Herr Oberst?

 

[Mad Mike]

Herr Major @Mehlsack,

can my Kampfgruppe be re-united and where should I hold?
I could either establish a blocking postion in the eastern edges of the woods west of Zalzny or move the main body of my KG south to Stodenka or Shilino in case the Russians break through Abteilung DGs position at R7.
At least these seem to be the two most sensible options.

 

[Mehlsack]

Since Oberst von Bootie returned from his Fronturlaub he is the CO again, isn't he? I wouldn't want to spoil his great work...

 

[Rico]

@ Bootie : Herr Oberst, I suggest to attack south of the Berzhinka with a strong force. Since the tanks need infantry support they should pick up an Alarmkompanie as riders? I would take the risk to hold north of the Berzhinka with as few troops as manageble since we need a strong push south of the river. Your opinion, Herr Oberst?

Alarmkompanien will at best be ready to deploy at the Dusk turn -- if you want to send them earlier, they'll be understrength Straggler Companies (I'll do a die roll to determine by how much)

 

[Mad Mike]

Since Oberst von Bootie returned from his Fronturlaub he is the CO again, isn't he? I wouldn't want to spoil his great work...

You could be right, but still my question / suggestions stand. I trust someone at HQ will make a decision.

 

[Dutch Grenadier]

Herr Oberst @Bootie

I request to pull back to sector N7 and I could use some tank support.
My suggestion will be that Grp Mad Mike moves into the woods at sector D6.
The Russians will either leave them be and he can attack them from behind or the Russians will attack him in the forrest where he will have good defensive positions. I damaged most of the Russian armor so they will need to repair. This will give me time to escape and pull back so I can setup some defences at sector N7.

Hauptmann DG out

 

[Bootie]

Due to supply issues my air transfer back to Rikonovo has been delayed until Saturday evening. Submit your plans as necessary and proceed.

 

[Mehlsack]

Meine Herren, I am determined not to waste any time and will provide new orders during the next 2 hours... Any comments?

 

[Mad Mike]

Meine Herren, I am determined not to waste any time and will provide new orders during the next 2 hours... Any comments?

OK, here are my ideas:

- Move Grp Mad Mike to L2
- Move 3. Pltn / Grp Mad Mike to L4 / Uborak with the aim of re-uniting the company later on

- Move Grp Mehlsack to T4 to block potential Russian Infantry moving into the open flank of Sperrgruppe mjkerner

- II. / PGr 14 stays in I3 / Kherma
- 3. / PGr 14 moves to E4 via C7 / Logging Camp and D4 / Forestry Camp
- 4. (hvy) / PGr 14 moves to K7 / Sawmills and sets up Anti-Tank guns / 120mm mortars

- Abt. DG pulls back to P8 / Gnuya, trying to delay the enemy

- Grp Shorker stays where it is, delaying the enemy

- Panther Grp moves to L6, trying to form a central reserve which can be employed in every direction

 

[Rico]

OK, here are my ideas:

- Move Grp Mad Mike to L2
- Move 3. Pltn / Grp Mad Mike to L4 / Uborak with the aim of re-uniting the company later on

- Move Grp Mehlsack to T4 to block potential Russian Infantry moving into the open flank of Sperrgruppe mjkerner

- II. / PGr 14 stays in I3 / Kherma
- 3. / PGr 14 moves to E4 via C7 / Logging Camp and D4 / Forestry Camp
- 4. (hvy) / PGr 14 moves to K7 / Sawmills and sets up Anti-Tank guns / 120mm mortars

- Abt. DG pulls back to P8 / Gnuya, trying to delay the enemy

- Grp Shorker stays where it is, delaying the enemy

- Panther Grp moves to L6, trying to form a central reserve which can be employed in every direction

Remember: you can detach the AT guns from the Hvy Company

Also, the 88's can perform indirect fire as well (check arty range charts in Rules)

 

[Mehlsack]

@Rico : Thank you for the hints. Was arty support by the 88's available during the last battles?
Can you explain what happens if a HQ unit meets with an enemy unit alone?

@Mad Mike : Thank you for the input. I am going to conduct a slightly more aggressive move.

 

[Mad Mike]

Also, the 88's can perform indirect fire as well (check arty range charts in Rules)

I see, the 88's have a range of 9 hexes, so they could support any battle at the moment. Quite good, actually.

 

[Rico]

@Rico : Thank you for the hints. Was arty support by the 88's available during the last battles?
Can you explain what happens if a HQ unit meets with an enemy unit alone?

@Mad Mike : Thank you for the input. I am going to conduct a slightly more aggressive move.

HQ unit gets overrrun most likely

 

[Mehlsack]

HQ unit gets overrrun most likely

will you make a dice roll to determine the faith of the HQ unit?

 

[mjkerner]

Hier Hauptmann mjkerner,

I'm not sure how much longer I can hold Zaprud'ye ,without reinforcements, since I have only a platoon of infantry and the 2 Stugs. If the Russians decide to fling a full infantry company with a few T34s at me, things could get real dicey. I don't want to abandon Zap, since we can gain the rest of the day at least even if I get annihilated, so I could stay for the initial portion of the next turn, then withdraw immediately into Kurgan, as long as reinforcements get there by nightfall.

 

[Dutch Grenadier]

I say we should move grp Mad Mike to sector D6 to help me escape. I have no AT to hold any advance.

 

[mjkerner]

DG is gonna need help, and we have to face the fact that we are gonna lose the Gayna "line", such as it is, in a couple of turns. If The Soviet infantry in Obcha moves to S5, he can cut the road Kurgan-Rikonovo by nightfall. If Gruppe Mehlsack moves to R5 (or maybe S5), and I retreat to Kurgan, we can by some time for DG and Mad Mike to hold at Gnuya. Mehlsack could dismount in Q4 and move to R5 and the vehicles could move to or toward Riko.

 

[Rico]

will you make a dice roll to determine the faith of the HQ unit?

I can set up a small scenario to play out the encounter

 

[Rico]

Ok, here's how stand-in commander's Major @Mehlsack 's orders play out.

From North to South:

1. Gruppe Mad Mike advances to O1, no enemy contact nade.

2. Sperrgruppe Mjkerner reports now renewed enemy offensive activity, but reports tank engine sounds and spotting of several enemy tanks (est. 5 -6 T-34's) crossing ford to Obcha village.

3. Gruppe Mehlsack is now dug in at Kurgan position

4. Heavy Company has joined with 3. PzGr platoon from Gruppe Mad Mike and deployed at P5. -- still setting up 120mm mortars when attack on Gnuya starts, not able to give fire support to Abt. DG.

5. Abteilung DG has retreated and deployed at Gnuya village -- pursuing enemy tank force makes contact at 14:00.

6. Panther Gruppe has arrived at the Workers' Settlement, awaiting completion of formation of Alarmkompanie 1.

7. 3. Coy, II/PzRegt 14 has arrived at L11 at 16:00 , observing the Bobr river crossing. Enemy armoured cars and recon infantry spotted at M11 across the river (assumed same recon force repulsed by Gruppe Shorker earlier who have swung around to the south) -- no combat engagement at this point.

8. Meanwhile, Gruppe @Shorker has deployed to Novoye and at 15:00 comes under attack from enemy forces observed at Kholkoz 121 at midday.

BATTLES:
There will be TWO battles ... one for Abteilung DG, and one for Gruppe Shorker.