15 Sept 1942, end 1st scenario
German victory 47 stone hexes including rail station building. German amasses 88 CVP , Russian 46 CVP. Total S? activations- 49 yes, 25 no.
Soviets activated- 628AE, 628 NKVD x9.5, 527 x8, 447 x7, 426 x22, 10-0, 9-0, 8+1 x3, MMG x3, LMG x3, ATR x6, MTR, FT, T-70 x2, T-34 x2, KV-1, 76INF.
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Sitrep to 71 ID HQ
IR191 was involved in heavy combat in and near the Stalingrad-I rail station. Sturmkompanie 171 (Cpt. Dobberkau) was successful in seizing the rail station building, defended stubbornly by a NKVD Militia company. Intelligence reported the NKVD troops defending the station were led by two (8+1) Commissars, J.Gochinsky and R.Waldensky, both died during the fighting. Of note was the attempted employment of a flamethrower in an aborted Soviet counterattack (RE24-25); the weapon and it's manning infantry were eliminated by pointblank SMG fire. The Sturmkompanie suffered 25% casualties in the assault, including total loss of the lone flamethrower. Cpt Dobberkau will be recommended for commendation for his leadership.
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The right platoon of I./IR191 (Kompanie Schmidt) met initial success in the rail yards due to devastatingly accurate bombardment by HE111s and Stukas that shattered buildings along the west side of Kommunisticheskaya, burying Soviets in the rubble. This allowed the platoon to make a rapid advance up to the edge of the station square. They were held up briefly by a dug-in T-70 and a platoon of NKVD defending building H33. The main body of Kompanie Schmidt did not fare as well, first meeting heavy resistance from NKVD troops and a T-70 in building K31; this included Soviet heavy artillery (150OBA) that knocked out the supporting STuGIIIG; the artillery would later hit the railyards, smashing buildings and railcars and starting fires. Cpt. Schmidt was wounded by sniper fire, and then went berserk. His platoon followed his example and charged the K31 building; a (628) squad of NKVD in turn also went berserk and charged into the street to meet the berserk Landsers (resulting in that rare ASL event of dueling berserkers). The berserk Soviets died in a hail of fire. In an interesting twist, two of the berserk German squads (467s) charged into the hex with the T-70; one died in DFF, the other suffered casualties; this hex would draw in squads of both sides for several turns of close combat and heavy losses before the T-70 and NKVD would finally succumb. Kompanie Schmidt then ran into the 'Panzernest'just south of Blagoevskaya, where a dug-in KV-1 and a T-34 barred the way, supported by a platoon of NKVD Militia led by two commissars (10-0, 9-0). I./IR191 had seized the Soviet strongpoint in K33, and the T-34 charged right at them, crashing into the building, and then into the cellar! The kompanie could not advance further faced with the 'Panzernest'. Of note, another sniper's bullet found (10-2) Cpt Schmidt, mortally wounding him. Lt. Lindau (8-1) took command of the Kompanie. The kompanie suffered 50% casualties in the fighting.
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III./IR191 (Kompanie Von Holtey) also met heavy resistance attempting to seize the rail crossing. They were held up for several turns by a Soviet strongpoint (D47), and intelligence reported these were elements of the 6th Tank Brigade, led by a Major Khopka (9-2) and supported by an immobilized T-34 in building G47. The supporting STuG was knocked out by flanking ATR fire. This forced Regiment to commit the tactical reserve Stosstruppe Schulze (8-1 Lt Schulze) with the remaining STuGIIIG. The STuG engaged the T-34 in a duel, with shots going back and forth for several turns. Finally, a round from the T-34 knocked out the last STuG. Lt Schulze's platoon pressed the attack and were hit by heavy fire, wounding Schulze, routing the platoon. Instrumental in the Soviet defense was the valor displayed by a SMG squad (527) of the tank brigade. This squad battle-hardened twice (fanatic 628) and created no less than three (!) heroes. In spite of Stuka attacks, this heroic bunch of troops continued to support the T-34, keeping the Landsers of III./IR191 from approaching the tank with demolition charges. The attack here was stalled except for a foray up the gully that grabbed some of the south map edge. The III./IR191 and Stosstruppe Schulze suffered 33% casualties, including two 8-1 leaders (Schulze one of them), without much to show for it.
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Summary: While the attack on the station was successful, the attacks by the I. and III. /IR191 both fell short of their objectives, and the Regiment suffered 30% casualties. Furthermore, the supporting STuG battery was entirely knocked out, leaving only hand-held anti-tank weapons to deal with Soviet armor. One bright spot- the battalion mortar OBA was never used, and so will be available in the next scenario. Intelligence is now reporting the Soviets are massing to counterattack, and elements of the 13th Guards are rumored to be approaching the station. IR191 would be hard pressed to repel a heavy night attack, yet the overly eager Soviets throw away this advantage by counterattacking while it is still daylight....fools! We must now prepare to smash the counterattack. To help in this regard Division HQ has sent a heavy weapons platoon for support- heavy mortars and MG42s, tonic for the soul!
Signed, Lt von Morin, Adjutant IR191.
Merry Christmas to all my ASL comrades.
Tom
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Originally Posted by johnl
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