Tank Graveyard at Minsk-AAR

[Cole]

RUSSIAN TURN 7 - TITLE IS WRONG

The Luftwaffe makes an appearance and destroys the remainder of the T-34 platoon sent towards Sukovichi to follow the German retreat.

Our T-34's assaulting the lone Tiger and PZ-V platoons in the hamlet to the south of Sukovichi were bought under fire from additional Tigers perfectly positioned in the large clearing in the middle of the woods to the east of Slovada. They caused a T-34 platoon to abandon the assault and make for the nearest cover. They lost a tank for their cowardice.

The assault continued but the PZ-Vs were able to cover the retreat of the disrupted Tigers and destroy two T-34's before fleeing into the woods. Additional T-34s arrived from the east in an attempt to cut off the escape. They were bought under fire from an additional platoon of Panthers positioned in the woods. We returned fire and were able to engage the fleeing Panthers but could only destroy one. The new Panther platoon has yet to be engaged and will be able to strike again before late arriving T-34's can fire.

A company of T-34's were held in reserve south of Hill 290. They went into high gear and attempted to clear the exposed ground as quickly as possible. One platoon was engaged by yet another Panther platoon and lost a tank as a result. The rest crossed into the hamlet and are proceeding to the fight.

Our forces in the north have followed the retreating enemy and have finally ran them to ground. Comrade Lieutenant Desinovich's platoon were in the vanguard and were able to withstand the combined fire of the waiting Tigers and Panthers. Our IS-2's were also engaged and the German tanks are quickly fleeing into the woods. Even with our overwhelming advantage in numbers we were only able to destroy two Tigers and a Panther along with a PZ-IV that was positioned one kilometer to the west. Hopefully the Germans will not be able to quickly recover this time and we can finish them off.

We finally made contact with our brave SU-122 platoon and they have returned as originally ordered to Hill 290. They have played a large role so far in our ability to make the Germans flee and have survived an engagement from Tigers at ranges as close as 250 meters. These comrades have already accounted for two Tigers and now seek out the German infantry.