Tank Graveyard at Minsk-AAR

[Cole]

Infantry hidden in rough terrain had spotted three Tiger platoons slowly climbing the SW slope. During the last two turns the remaining elements of the 25th and 32nd Tank Battalions maneuvered into position for a possible counterattack back down the hill. 3 Tiger platoons with a leader make for formidable OP fire so it was not until after a few Katyusha strikes in the surrounding woods cleared likely hiding areas for German infantry that two strikes were called in on the tanks themselves. In the unlikely event of a disruption or retreat our armor was ready to swarm.

An SMG platoon was spotted moving into position and was bought under heavy fire from many PZ-IV platoons. The fire was ineffective so the German commander ordered the Tigers up the slope to engage our infantry. The fire from the 88 guns was effective, causing loss of half of the platoon with the rest retreating now an opportunity presented itself.
This engagement caused the Tigers to move away from the Katyusha strike zone but now they would not be able to respond to a counterattack.

I ordered a SMG platoon into woods just west of the road leading up the southern slope. They were able to sneak up on a MG platoon and some PSW 234 armored cars. Accurate submachine gun fire erupted from the woods causing the surprised Germans MG teams to fall back into the trees in disarray.

With the Tigers moving back down the hill our armor moved forward. Initial fire from our T-34's was not so effective but caused a PZ-IV platoon to retreat and finally destroy the German recon. The heavy IS-2 tanks were then called forward and finally accurate gunfire started penetrating the thick armor of the enemy tanks.

I had thought that German infantry was located in the woods just north of the Tigers but unfortunately they were hidden in a gully. Even though their fire was ineffective and did not stop the IS-2's from engaging and destroying Tigers they still needed to be dealt with. A few T-34 platoons needed to engage and disrupt the infantry instead of being able to overrun the Tiger's positions.

The Germans have been bloodied again but far from knocked out. Two Tiger platoons remain undisturbed in Sukovichi along with at least two PZ-IV platoons. Fortunately the other Panther platoon and two other PZ-IVs are at least 2 kilometers away to the west. They will be able to engage my armor on the SW slope but at least they are not on the paved road and close at hand.