Post by Adrian Taylor on Jun 9, 2005 11:21:16 GMT
Hoth’s 4th Pz Army South Pincer Campaign
Chapter 1 (M): Reconnaissance in Force
Scenario: 4th July. In preparation for the Kursk offensive, GD Division of 48th Corps started clearing the Russian outposts on the 4th July. Action took place around Butovo with the GD Grenadiers regt, supported by assault guns or a bat of 11th Pz Div Pz Regt seizing the ridge lines east & west of Butovo, before attempting to clear the town itself, which was defended by a Russian Inf bat. Butovo was eventually taken by the end of the day, but it became obvious the Germans had already lost the advantage of surprise.
Chapter 2 (M): Assault on Cherkasskoe
Scenario: 5th July. 48th Pz Corps starts its push on Kursk by assaulting the 1st Russian line running south of Cherkasskoe, defended by 67th Gu Rifle Div. While assaulting the first Russian defence line the GD Panther Brigade are forced to halt due to an un-detected minefield. GD PZ Grenadiers are forced to attack without armoured support. Eventially Russian Line assaulted by GD Pz Regt with tiger Support. Village taken after Russian counter-attack by 245th Tank & 1440th S-P regts.
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www.activegaming.org/Project_Kursk/Images/Panther in trouble.jpg[/img]
Chapter 3 (L): Crossing the Lukhanino
Scenario: 6th July. Still trying to cross the Pena, GD Div kept on pressing along the river north-east stopping only at Syrtsev to at last cross the Lukhanino River. The assault to establish the bridgehead was made by GD Grenadier Rgt on both sides of Syrtsev, supported by the remnants of the Panther brigade, the Russians retreating quickly to the north-west up to the main 2nd defensive line along the Pena at Syrtsevo.
Chapter 4 (M): The Road to Oboian
Scenario: 8th July. Crossing the Lukhanino River on both sides of Syrtsev, GD Div started moving north. To secure their left flank against the 3rd Mechanized Corps, GD Pz Grenadiers supported by some panzers were sent north-westward to seize Syrtsevo, while a battle group consisting of the Stug & the Recon bats followed the main road to Oboian, capturing Gremiuchii, thus breaching the 2nd Russian defensive line. As GD Div was following the Pena north to take Verkhopene, the Russians were reinforced by the 112th Tank Brigade of 6th Tank Corps, which launched a counter-attack from Syrtsevo. Another armoured counter-attack went from the north-east against Gremiuchii. Having beaten back that last one, the battle group of Stug & Recon bats then pushed on north to seize hill 260 on the road to Oboian.
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www.activegaming.org/Project_Kursk/images/GD Stugs at Gremiuchii.jpg[/img]
Chapter 5 (XL): Gross-Deutschland to the Rescue
Scenario: 10th-13th July. As it gathered around hill 260 to push north again towards Oboian, GD Div was called back to the west in order to rescue 3rd Pz Div, which had taken up the positions previously gained by GD, but now was subject to a brutal counter-attack by 10th Tank Corps. 3rd Pz Div was quickly pushed back from hills 243 & 247 to Berezovka & Verkhopene. GD Div arrived just in time to strike 10th Tank Corps on its left flank. While moving west, GD went itself under pressure on its right flank from 86th Tank Brigade & 286th Rifle Div on Kalinovka. Pz grenadiers held the line there while mechanized elements pushed on west against 10th Tank Corps, the battle group being reformed to attack hill 247, while the rest of GD seized hill 243 then cleared the woods north of Berezovka, eventually establishing contact with the beleaguered 3rd Pz Div.
Chapter 6 (L): The Drive to Prokhorovka
Scenario: 10th July. Hoth's Panzers, with Pz Div LSAH in the lead, started advancing from hill 241 on Prokhrovoka on 11th July. LSAH progressed along the railway line up to hill 252 & also took the Oktiabriskii State farm to the north-west of it. That line was defended by the 9th Gu Airborne Div, backed up by the remnants of 169th Tank Brigade & 53rd Tank regt (KVs). Intense Luftwaffe bombing & nebelwerfer fire preceded the assault. LSAH then worked on securing its flanks, attacking Storozhevoe on its right (defended by remnants of Popov’s 2nd Tank Corps), & Andreevka on the Psel on its left (defended by 99th Tank Brig), helped there by Recon elts of TOT.
Chapter 7 (M): Battle for the Psel Crossing
Scenario: 12th July. While LSAH advanced on Prokhorovka it fell on the Tot Div to cover the latter’s left flank by crossing the Psel River then advancing north-north-east along the western bank of the Psel. After securing a crossing over the Psel, Tot Fusiliers regt managed to take hill 226 & establish a foothold in the east side of the fortified village of Kliuchi.
Chapter 8 (XL): Tank Battle at Prokhorovka
Scenario: 12th July. Hoth set out to resume his advance on Prokhorovka, still spearheaded by LSAH. Less than 2 hours after commencing the attack, LSAH ran into the planned Russian armoured counter-strike led by 29th Tank Corps’ 31st & 32nd Tank Brigs, coming straight from the north-east on the Prokhorovka axis. Its 25th Tank Brig, supported by 2nd Tank Corps’ 169th Tank Brig, and later 53rd Gu Tank regt, simultaneously attacked LSAH’s right flank at Storozhevoe. LSAH’s left flank was attacked by 18th Tank Corps’ along the Psel River on the Petrovka axis 170th & 181st Tank Brigs. At the height of the battle in a 2-pronged lunge, 31st Tank & 53rd Mot Rifle Brigs managed to penetrate LSAH’s line west of the Oktiabriskii State farm, held by LSAH’s Recon bat & pushed on to Komsomolets State farm, menacing to overtake the German artillery positions & cutting their communication lines, as well as threatening the Div advanced command post on hill 241. The attack was eventually repulsed by LSAH’s Pz regt & fighting slowly subsided on all parts of the line.
Chapter 1 (M): Reconnaissance in Force
Scenario: 4th July. In preparation for the Kursk offensive, GD Division of 48th Corps started clearing the Russian outposts on the 4th July. Action took place around Butovo with the GD Grenadiers regt, supported by assault guns or a bat of 11th Pz Div Pz Regt seizing the ridge lines east & west of Butovo, before attempting to clear the town itself, which was defended by a Russian Inf bat. Butovo was eventually taken by the end of the day, but it became obvious the Germans had already lost the advantage of surprise.
Chapter 2 (M): Assault on Cherkasskoe
Scenario: 5th July. 48th Pz Corps starts its push on Kursk by assaulting the 1st Russian line running south of Cherkasskoe, defended by 67th Gu Rifle Div. While assaulting the first Russian defence line the GD Panther Brigade are forced to halt due to an un-detected minefield. GD PZ Grenadiers are forced to attack without armoured support. Eventially Russian Line assaulted by GD Pz Regt with tiger Support. Village taken after Russian counter-attack by 245th Tank & 1440th S-P regts.
Chapter 3 (L): Crossing the Lukhanino
Scenario: 6th July. Still trying to cross the Pena, GD Div kept on pressing along the river north-east stopping only at Syrtsev to at last cross the Lukhanino River. The assault to establish the bridgehead was made by GD Grenadier Rgt on both sides of Syrtsev, supported by the remnants of the Panther brigade, the Russians retreating quickly to the north-west up to the main 2nd defensive line along the Pena at Syrtsevo.
Chapter 4 (M): The Road to Oboian
Scenario: 8th July. Crossing the Lukhanino River on both sides of Syrtsev, GD Div started moving north. To secure their left flank against the 3rd Mechanized Corps, GD Pz Grenadiers supported by some panzers were sent north-westward to seize Syrtsevo, while a battle group consisting of the Stug & the Recon bats followed the main road to Oboian, capturing Gremiuchii, thus breaching the 2nd Russian defensive line. As GD Div was following the Pena north to take Verkhopene, the Russians were reinforced by the 112th Tank Brigade of 6th Tank Corps, which launched a counter-attack from Syrtsevo. Another armoured counter-attack went from the north-east against Gremiuchii. Having beaten back that last one, the battle group of Stug & Recon bats then pushed on north to seize hill 260 on the road to Oboian.
Chapter 5 (XL): Gross-Deutschland to the Rescue
Scenario: 10th-13th July. As it gathered around hill 260 to push north again towards Oboian, GD Div was called back to the west in order to rescue 3rd Pz Div, which had taken up the positions previously gained by GD, but now was subject to a brutal counter-attack by 10th Tank Corps. 3rd Pz Div was quickly pushed back from hills 243 & 247 to Berezovka & Verkhopene. GD Div arrived just in time to strike 10th Tank Corps on its left flank. While moving west, GD went itself under pressure on its right flank from 86th Tank Brigade & 286th Rifle Div on Kalinovka. Pz grenadiers held the line there while mechanized elements pushed on west against 10th Tank Corps, the battle group being reformed to attack hill 247, while the rest of GD seized hill 243 then cleared the woods north of Berezovka, eventually establishing contact with the beleaguered 3rd Pz Div.
Chapter 6 (L): The Drive to Prokhorovka
Scenario: 10th July. Hoth's Panzers, with Pz Div LSAH in the lead, started advancing from hill 241 on Prokhrovoka on 11th July. LSAH progressed along the railway line up to hill 252 & also took the Oktiabriskii State farm to the north-west of it. That line was defended by the 9th Gu Airborne Div, backed up by the remnants of 169th Tank Brigade & 53rd Tank regt (KVs). Intense Luftwaffe bombing & nebelwerfer fire preceded the assault. LSAH then worked on securing its flanks, attacking Storozhevoe on its right (defended by remnants of Popov’s 2nd Tank Corps), & Andreevka on the Psel on its left (defended by 99th Tank Brig), helped there by Recon elts of TOT.
Chapter 7 (M): Battle for the Psel Crossing
Scenario: 12th July. While LSAH advanced on Prokhorovka it fell on the Tot Div to cover the latter’s left flank by crossing the Psel River then advancing north-north-east along the western bank of the Psel. After securing a crossing over the Psel, Tot Fusiliers regt managed to take hill 226 & establish a foothold in the east side of the fortified village of Kliuchi.
Chapter 8 (XL): Tank Battle at Prokhorovka
Scenario: 12th July. Hoth set out to resume his advance on Prokhorovka, still spearheaded by LSAH. Less than 2 hours after commencing the attack, LSAH ran into the planned Russian armoured counter-strike led by 29th Tank Corps’ 31st & 32nd Tank Brigs, coming straight from the north-east on the Prokhorovka axis. Its 25th Tank Brig, supported by 2nd Tank Corps’ 169th Tank Brig, and later 53rd Gu Tank regt, simultaneously attacked LSAH’s right flank at Storozhevoe. LSAH’s left flank was attacked by 18th Tank Corps’ along the Psel River on the Petrovka axis 170th & 181st Tank Brigs. At the height of the battle in a 2-pronged lunge, 31st Tank & 53rd Mot Rifle Brigs managed to penetrate LSAH’s line west of the Oktiabriskii State farm, held by LSAH’s Recon bat & pushed on to Komsomolets State farm, menacing to overtake the German artillery positions & cutting their communication lines, as well as threatening the Div advanced command post on hill 241. The attack was eventually repulsed by LSAH’s Pz regt & fighting slowly subsided on all parts of the line.
