The Red Beast "Dealing with KV 1's"

[Adrian Taylor]

Sooner or later players will start meeting the odd KV 1. These tanks were a complete shock to the Germans when first met with most of their tank guns and artillery in-capable of doing any harm against them.

There are a few ways to tackle one of these beasts. But, it would be good to hear from fellows players how they deal with them?

Adrian

[foxy]

Well the 88m Flak in AT role is one of the best to combat this monster on the ground.

But the Stuka if you have it, is by far the best counter to the KV in the early period of Barbarossa.

Artillery can be used, but not as good and takes longer.

Later of course the Germans had bigger and better guns to combat the KVs, but remember the KVs were also upgraded as the war went on.

[Bogan]

Aaaargh, the Red Beast.

On my first few encounters with the KV-1 i had all kinds of trouble. I had been foolish enough to overlook the pak 38 upgrade in the previous chapter, and was left with no direct fire weapon capable of damaging the Beast.

In those desperate few encounters, i threw my panzers against the KV, trying to ram it up against a house wall so i could withdraw the rest of my forces and call in artillery and airstrikes.
This cost me dearly, as the KV usually smashed all my armour from point blank range, or my own artillery killed my tanks while trying to zero on the KV.

Learning from those early mistakes, i equipped my div. with 2 x pak 38, usually setting up an ambush kill zone just behind the front line, so if i see a KV, all my forces can retreat/withdraw to the safety of the rear zone.
Hopefully the KV will follow and be knocked out by my Pak.
Works best to have the pak on the flanks, and try to draw the KV towards the middle, so he gets hit on the side armour i reckon.

Your MP40 tank hunter and flame throwers teams are also very effective, but need a thick smoke screen or good terrain cover to tackle the Beast.
I only use infantry against the KV-1 and KV-2 if things are desperate!

Haha, got him that time.

The towed 88 AT role is the best for killing it by far.

[foxy]

Nice picture there Otis, the flammer Is doing the trick allso.

[Bogan]

Now,
remove my name from that post Foxy. ;D