CMBB v CMAK

[Mad Russian]

4th TBR was formed up with 16 x T-34s out of total 49 tanks of different models. By 16th of October (battle of Mtzensk started on 11th) it had operational 3 x KVs, 7 x T-34s and 23 x light tanks (mainly BTs of different models). In reality Germans were neglecting very basics of war marches: they were moving in march column formation without recce and flanking protection in the enemy territory and, surely, were bitterly punished. In order to hide their incompetence, Langemann and Guderian reported about Russian monsters (enjoy the proportions above:)), which were "unbeatable" and were "flying around" (using usual 10-13km/h off-road speed:)) panzers, which, in their turn, were stuck in the mud. In reality, people, who drove T-34/42 and PzIVF2 told, that the later was easier to drive in mud. They went even further, claiming that PzIV was able to get out of bigger mud, than T-34 (I can buy the argument, that it is subjective, but gearbox of early-mid war T-34 was infamous). Similar problems had Nering with 16th Panzer near Borisov, when he suffered at hands of another competent Soviet tank commander - Kreyzer.

I have two widely differing accounts of the battle. The one I'm most interested in is the one on 6 October. Losses for that battle are listed as ten tanks, two 88mm Flak, one 100mm gun and one 105mm howitzer for the Germans. The Soviets were shown as having lost eighteen tanks but they do not say what types they were. They do say that the attack was in two waves and that one group of Soviet tanks had twenty-five tanks in it.

It would be good to get the Soviet perspective, on the first ever battle involving the first tank brigade(4th) to be formed, with the intention of using the T-34 as it was intended. With seasoned crew members and a seasoned commander.

I have one source that states that the brigade was fully equipped with T-34's and I know that's incorrect because they at least had KV-1's as well.

Good Hunting.

MR