Tank Graveyard at Minsk-AAR

[Oberst]

Turn 3:
A lot of motorized sounds coming from the Soviet side. West of the Soviet obj one of my AC's had a short skirmish with a patrolling Soviet AC. A few shots where fired but the Soviets managed to retreat with no losses. My AC unit decided to pursue, thinking that they maybe able to score a quick kill but unfortunately a T34 plt awaited them and 2 units where toasted. The remaining unit fell back but pulled off the rode to observe if any Soviet units would push forward. No other action this turn.

Turn 4:
Sure enough my opponent decided to check out the area and a lone T34 plt slowly moved forward just N of my AC unit. It moved forward to the edge of the plateau where 1 of my Panther plts was lying in ambush. The loud crack of its 75 mm gun meant the destruction of 2
units from that coy. But to my dismay several more T34's pushed forward and returned fire. The Panther plt was forced to retreat but still in LOS and with its rear in full view of the Soviets. Several more T34's quickly moved forward and this time 1 Panther unit was destroyed. Thinking to get a closer shot another T34 advanced forward but ran into 2 PZIV plts which had no remaining opp fire. Like vultures a coy of T34's opened fire at one of the plts. One unit was destroyed and the remaining 3 PZ's retreated. Several more T34's moved up and fired and 2 more PZ's were brewed up. Another T23 fired at the other PZ plt, destoying one unit. Just E of my AC 2 T34\85 plts along with a SU122 plt stopped just short of the edge of the plateau. One Panther unit, along with 4 PZIV's destroyed. Not a good start. But all was not lost. My AC unit had visual LOS to all of the Soviet units lying along the edge or just beyond the edge of the plateau. My wounded Panther plt along with the 1 remaining PZIV unit blasted back and took out 1 Soviet T34 unit which retreated to the N and then fell back out of LOS. A Tiger plt advanced a few meters to get a good view and once the smoke from its 88 had cleared, a destoyed T34 was revealed. Another PZIV opened fire and a another Soviet T34 was blazing. The other remaining PZIVH also got in a shot and another T34 was gone. Just W below the plateau, W of my AC unit, another Panther plt engaged gears and climbed up the ridge road. A shot from the SU122 bounced harmlessly off of its armor. A single shot and a T34/84 unit was burning. A Tiger plt also moved up. shaking off a shot from one of the T34/85 plts, the gunner set his sights and the 88 claimed another T34/85 unit. The Tiger then fell back as did the Panther plt. Two more PZIVH plts remained in the area and one by one they moved forward. One destroyed the remaining T34 unit engaged earlier by my units to the N. A Soviet commander remained by itself amid the debris of his destroyed coy. The other PZIV, had a tough choice, fire at the Soviet units engaged by the Tiger & Panther or try for the Soviet commander. I opted for the commander but today he was lucky as the shot missed. Both units along with my AC unit then pulled back out of LOS. But what awaited them? Would the Soviet commander decide to push forward and revenge their fallen comrades?
Losses:
Axis: 1 Panther unit, 1 PZIVH coy, 2 AC units
Allies: 7 T34 units, 2 T34/85 units.

More to follow.

Gil ( Oberst )

[Cole]

Comrades,

I take time from the glorious battle to liberate Minsk to counter vile Fascist propaganda and provide an account of the heroic 25th and 32nd Tank Brigades.

I have made my headquarters on Hill 290 in the village of Vyshkovo. My orders are to push towards Zaslavly controlling the main road that passes through Slovoda. Our intelligence section has intercepted German transmissions and we are sure that the enemy is concentrated around Slovoda and will contest ownership of this road.

During Turn 4 we engaged enemy panzers that were attempting to climb the north-west slope of Hill 290. Our assault caught them by surprise and as we had the height advantage we were able to score some kills. Unfortunately the enemy was able to quickly react and withdraw in a fast and orderly manner, scoring a couple of kills during their retreat. Additional enemy panzers arrived in support of the retreat providing covering fire that disrupted the tempo of our attack before disappearing in the smoke and mist.

Just to the south of this action there is a dirt road passing down the west slope through a small village. Some T-34's were posted here to guard the approach and were heavily engaged by advancing panzers, to include some Tigers. The German withdrawal was orderly and during the engagement we lost contact. The choice was either to wait for reinforcements or pursue the fleeing enemy.

Major Morkunas still shaken by the carnage around him (7 SPs of T-34s destroyed in his hex) had the presence of mind to remain in position in order to try and determine the direction of the German withdrawal. Unfortunately due to the haste of the German withdrawal, smoke, mist, and the nuisance of panzer fire directed at his vehicle he was only able to determine the direction of the 3 PZ-V's retreat (blue question mark on the map). He ordered his T-34's forward and three platoons traveled down the north west slope without incident. The platoons fanned out but could only locate the 3 PZ-V panzers in retreat towards the safety of an orchard. This information was radioed in and more T-34's engaged the panzers from the slops killing one and disrupting their retreat. Since the remaining enemy still was not located and obviously had left the immediate area a platoon was tasked to enter the village next to the orchard in hopes of cutting off the fleeing panzers or determine if any enemy were located inside. Almost immediately after starting up again towards the village the T-34 platoon was engaged from the rear by PZ-IVs located at the foot of the west slope.

A T-34 platoon from second company was sent down the west slope in order to engage the PZ-IV's that had just fired but they soon came under under heavy fire from a platoon of Tigers, losing a tank. The Germans had concentrated here and were determined to engage any pursuers. A second platoon arrived but the heavy fire continued and they were not able to return accurate fire. So far two Tiger platoons and two PZ-IV platoons were spotted. More T-34s followed and took revenge killing one Tiger and a PZ-IV. The SU-122 platoon was ordered to fall back but the tankers were filled with a righteous desire to avenge their comrades in the burning T-34s and were able to engage and destroy two retreating Tigers from the ridge line. Half the enemy forces were in obvious disorder and recon was ordered forward in order to try and cut off any retreat and help support a close assault. Before the assault could take place another Tiger and PZ-IV platoon were discovered. They were also engaged from above by more T-34's and the recon unit was again ordered to help another close assault but they soon discovered a platoon of German infantry protecting the north side of the road.

We have bloodied the enemy and have again caused a lot of confusion and disruption. I now expect heavy casualties as the Germans are able to recover quickly and there is still at least a Tiger platoon that was not engaged.

[Von Luck]

LOL I just love reading these AAR's brilliant.wish i could put finger to keyboard and do the same thanks guys waiting on the next installment.

[Oberst]

Axis turn 5:

The news that awaited Oberst at the advanced battle HQ of the 31st/5th PZ Reg was grim to say the least. In the area between Sukovichi and Dinorevichi, the Soviets had not halted or regrouped to await the next German action. Instead they advanced, sometimes in seemingly mad early war mass attacks. But the results where anything but early war. Our tanks, with their high velocity guns and accurate optics, where designed to take out their armor at long range. But they where now closing inclose, sometimes at 250 - 500 meters. And at that range even their low velociity 76 mm guns where inflicting heavy casualties. Reports indicate that 8 Tiger units as well as 2 more PZIVH units have been destroyed. But in grim desperation out Panzers have managed to inflict heavy losses also to the Soviet armored force. In a series of tank vs tank duels 6 T34-M43's where reported destoyed. Six more disrupted T34-M43's, along with a high ranking Soviet Commander, where eliminated by a near suicidal counterattack by one of our brave PZG plts who where joined by a SPW251/9 plt. Unfortunately the PZG suferred casualties and most likely will be destoyed shortly. A plt of BA-64 AC's where also destoyed in the general area. Reports from our recon units, in the area to the E around Semkov, report the destruction of another BA-64 AC plt. Our units have fallen back to regroup and rearm but I fear that the Soviets will continue their attacks.

Oberst

[Mr. Guberman]

...our..and "out"...

by the bye...

[Cole]

Russian Turn 6

The advance down the west slope of Hill 290 was temporarily halted by a platoon of Panzergrenadiers in a vicious counter attack. The German infantry (along with some mortar half tracks) were able to take advantage of strong covering fire remaining unmolested until they were in the midst of the advancing T-34's. Three tanks were destroyed and I cannot raise my Regimental commander on the radio.

The German infantry was brave but were quickly overwhelmed. Their sacrifice was not in vain and bought time allowing many German panzers to escape. A T-34 platoon gave chase south towards Sukovichi but was engaged by a PZ-IV platoon about 1 1/2 kilometers away. One T-34 was destroyed and the platoon commander halted his tanks to radio in a report stating that he believed the PZ-IV platoon was not part of the fleeing force but warning of more German forces in the area.

Major Olfukhov's tanks were assigned to guard the south slope of 290. He immediately gave the order to advance towards Sukovichi in order to cut off the German retreat. Before being able to reach the crossroads the lead platoon was engaged by a Tiger platoon stationed in a hamlet 2km to the south. The following platoon was then engaged by a PZ-V platoon located in woods 1/2 k south of the Tiger. The enemy fire slowed movement across the exposed open areas but the third platoon was not engaged and is racing to engage the Tiger at close quarters. This would seem like a suicidal assault but help arrived from the east in the form of a T-34 company, resulting in one destroyed Tiger bursting into flames after an opportune rear shot presented.

Major Morkunas has entered Dinarevichi but only three PZ-IV's were discovered and destroyed. The T-34's that were sent north did discover a PZ-II platoon covering the retreat of what we believe to be the PZ-V's. Three separate platoons engaged the small German tanks but neither damage the smaller tanks or proceed further into the woods.

The German's are now in an excellent position to counterattack using the roads to quickly fire and then disappear in the woods. We will suffer more casualties but our determination to rid the Motherland of the Fascist cancer is such that we are prepared to pay any cost to bring destruction and doom to the enemy.

[Cole]

Here is an image of the map where the current fighting is located.
Vyshokovo is my HQ and the Germans are located near Slovoda.
Note 1 is what I am calling the west slope in my AAR.
The NW slope is where the text box says first contact was made.
The three blue dots to the west of Sukovichi is the general location of the PZ-IV platoon that engaged my T-34's pursuing south.

[Oberst]

Soviet armored attacks have slowed as I have been able to regroup and bring up reinforcements to counter the vicious and suicidal attacks. The remaining 2 tanks from the Soviet T34-M43 plt which had been engaged by PZIV's disappeared when they where engaged and eliminated by a flight of Stuka's from Erich Rudel's Immelmann squadron. I'll have to learn if it was not Rudel himself that helped us today and send him some captured Russian cavier and champagne.
Meanwhile the Soviet tanks which had advanced S from Hill 290 where engaged by several Panther plts from the I Battalion. A total of 2 more T34-M43's as well as 1 T34-M41 where destroyed. A Puma unit, lying in cover, engaged and destroyed another T34-M41, before retreating back within our lines. From the W, a PZIVH plt engaged another T34-M41 plt with excellant view of its rear and brewed up 2 more. Several JS and T34 plts where observed heading W, NW from Hill 290. This will require some observation and caution.

Oberst

[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.

[Cole]

This screen shot is titled "Please Don't Undisrupt"
The ruins of the PZ-IV are smoking in the west.
The Tigers were originally stationed on the road just north of the forest. The smoke on the forest hex is the ruin of a T-34. The Tigers retreated into the woods but the brave Panthers remain and fight.