Deadly Diversion (EF II) DAR

[Skryabin]

14 turns

Scenario Description:

September 14th, 1942

Semiluki, NW of Voronezh, 210km E of Kursk: [Best played against Human opponent] The Hungarian Second Army saw little fighting in 1942 until given the task of guarding the northern flank of Army Group B along the Don River to free up German formations for the assault on Stalingrad. But that ended when a sudden counterattack by the Soviet 40th Army in late August forced them to withdraw back across the Don near Voronezh. In support of the initial

German attack on Stalingrad in mid September, Germany's allies conducted diversionary attacks all along the front to tie down Russian reserves. Determined to even the score the Hungarian 34th Infantry Regiment launched attacks to recapture the bridges across the Don at Semiluki, northwest of Voronezh.

Supported by rafts and hastily constructed assault boats, the Hungarian infantry threw themselves through a rain of artillery at the Soviet bridgeheads and across the river at the reorganized 1002nd Rifle Regiment holding the bridges and heights.

Disposition of Col.Sodro's 34th Infantry Regiment, which got an order to capture the bridges over Don River at Staryy (Old) and "New" Semiluki.

1st Infantry Battalion under command of Mj.Bayts and 2-nd Inf.Battalion under Mj.Magyarisi are preparing to attack bridges in Staryy Semiluki. As reinforcement the 1st Armor Company of Capt.Faragho containing 12 light tanks 38(t), equipped with 37mm guns (Б) is going to join them soon. Now it is moving along the paved road from "New" Semiluki.

3rd Infantry Battalion under Mj.Temisvary with support of 43rd Mortar Company (B) is going to approach the bridges at "New" Semiluki.

Artillery strikes are going to provide 100 and 150mm guns of 34th Artillery Regiment.

Col.Sodro and his mobile HQ (A) is still in the search for a safe place.

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Turn One

3rd Company of 2nd Battalion (A) and 3 Company of 1st Battalion (Б) on drafts are going to cross Don River trying to stay unnoticed.

Improved Russian positions defending bridges (B) are spotted. First sound of shooting is being heard and both sides are carrying minor loses.

Situation in "New" Semiluki is practically the same.

[Skryabin]

Turn Two

By this time the crossing has begun, drafts and assault boats were on the water. And silently four companies started to pull towards enemy's bank. They heard only calm play of the waves and sounds of cannonade, (those were 150mm guns covering Russian positions).

One of the companies (A) noticed trenches on the hill (B) on another bank of the river. There was no any activity on the hill, but they felt an ambush may be there waiting for their friends. And company commander sends a soldier down the shore to alarm the 3rd Inf.Company.



LOS of the company in the forest (A). This is the only spot from which Hungarian soldiers can observe those trenches up oh the hill (B).



It is a perfect view opens from that hill (B). The only safe place for lending is a narrow forest line. But the drafts are on the water already (Б) and only now their commander realized that he made a mistake when gave the order to lend to the open space on the east of the forest. There is probably Russian MG platoon up on the hill. Without any cover his company is going to carry heavy loses. Much better place for lending was on the west side. Although it was also in enemy's LOS, but his gyes will be protected by trees and bushes of the swamp. And he gives an order to change the course.

* * *

Meanwhile the main forces lunched their attack. In Staryy Semiluki under intensive artillery fire enemy carries heavy loses and partly even started to retreat to one of the bridges.



In "New" Semiluki down the river two brave platoons (A) almost with no loses captured bridge entrance, and three Russian platoons are being cut with their back to the river. If this captured position will stay in Hungarian's hands, those three platoons are doomed.

[Jim von Krieg]

Nice work brother...

Regards,

Jim vK

[Cole]

More excellent screen shots and visual descriptive additions. Next time I'm going to try and use your techniques.

[Skryabin]

Thanks to everyone who participating by reading and writing in this Dar :bow: This way all the fun is doubled!

Turn Three

In Malyy Semiluki in spite of heavy loses and intensive artillery fire Russians are being able to establish a strong defensive line. Approach to their improved positions is open and inconvenient space were also a minefield detected. An attempt to get closed failed - Hungarian soldiers were fain to retreat back to forest and suburb area. Capturing of those positions is going to be not an easy task.



Mj.Magiarosi decides to move his 2nd Battalion to left flank where approach to Russian IPs is covered by forest. And soon Hungarian platoon captures the first line of them.

* * *



In "New" Semiluki - the tide turns, everything happens there on the wings of the wind. Vanguard of the 3rd Infantry Battalion captured entrances to both bridges. Moreover two Russian platoons on the right flank were surrounded and eliminated. Coming soon heavy artillery strike was going to "prepare" the enemy on opposite side of the river for next Hungarian attack.

Four companies crossing the river already started their lending. So far everything was quiet there - did their maneuver stayed unspotted indeed?

[Crossroads]

Great stuff!

Always enjoy these DAR/AARs, lots of useful information and tips available to those newer to this trade :)

What are the optional rules you are using?

[Big Dawg]

Good work!

[Skryabin]

What are the optional rules you are using?

Optional rules are everything except EA and Variable Visibility, though now (while I am getting such results) I am thinking that maybe this scenario would be better balanced with Extreme Assault ON. Will see what happens further.

Thank you fellows. And the battle continues:

Turn Four

(A) 3/2/34 Rifle Company staying undetected complete it's lending and started to move towards soviet IP on the left flank.

(Б) 3/1/34 Rifle Company lending in the forest.

(B) Capitan Benko and his 34th Engineer Company are preparing for attack on left flank.

(Г) 3/3/34 Rifle Company was spotted by the enemy and had to change their lending place. They decided to move down the river and lend in the forest in the corridor between two minefields.

In Staryy Semiluki the 2nd battalion continue it's relocation to left flank. If Hungarians will be able to capture entrance to both bridges, a big part of Russians will be surrounded...

In "New" Semiluki pushed to the river and surrounded leftovers of Soviet defenders were captured during one of Hungarian's attacks. There was a little disappointment when attackers learned that one of the bridges was destroyed, but all the bank line was captured and moral of Hungarian troops was at their best.

Only after last artillery strike Russians lost about 40-45 men.

Overall loses by this time were:



Soviets lost about 450 men, and Hungarians - a little more then 100. That was a big difference.

[Skryabin]

Turn Five

The entrance to the bridges have been captured! Leftovers of six soviet platoons (about 160 men) (B) got surrounded. Hungarian translator offered them to lay down their arms, but there was no any answer.

3rd company of 2nd battalion (A) is preparing to attack.

It seems like those trenches up on the hill, that everyone was so worried about, are empty. Without any resistance 3rd company of 2nd battalion (Б) landed on the soviet bank and started to move towards the eastern bridge.



Disrupted by heavy artillery fire, Russian positions across the river were attacked like a shot. Enemy retreated, and the first bridge was captured so easy, and without any loses.

Engineer company (A) using smoke grenades is getting close to enemy's position.

A minefield detected at the place of lending and 3rd company (Б) fain to go down the river.

In overall the operation went too smooth and col.Sidro, as he was getting more and more news about their quick advance, was wondering. He expected more serious resistance.

[Skryabin]

Turn Six

Surrounded Soviet soldiers make their last atempt to slow down the enemy, and move foreward (A). But in front of massive push of Hungarians it seems like they don't have any chances.

Finally an MG platoon appiars on that hill! (Б)



Very soon all disrupted Russian infantry steps back to the river (A).

An MG platoon retrits under Hungarian fire (Б).

34th Engineer Company on left flank (B) is coming right next to the bridge. A little bit more and it will be captured.



In "New" Semiluki Hungarians braked forth through the bridge, and try to hold their new position (A). Under intensive fire they are carrying loses and retreat together with wounded. Their place is taken by fresh reinforcements. Since they captured this bridge, there is no way they are going to leave it.

3rd Infantry Company is still on the water (Б). When Soviets left their trenches, the company commander changes his mind again and gives an order to go back to previous place of lending.There is no surprise soldiers don't like him, he is a flaccid man. Will they go this way back and forth all the time of the battle? In silence the soldiers were giving those looks to each other...