Re: Sagermann Journals for the Blog

 

Nov 1^st FOW game

Action in Russia June 1944

Kampfgruppe Sagermann

The Russkis had broken through again! Their offensive was now stalled however & the worst was over, but marauding bands of Russian tanks & foot were still at large.

Sagermann found himself again defending lines of communication There were 15,000 litres of aero-engine coolant & 40 tonnes of tinned meat in 2 small dumps which needed guarding. Hardly glamorous but "Befel ist befehl".

Feldwebel Lenze had just checked the company positions

• A grenadier platoon of SMG/Pfaust command plus 6 LMG teams with attached HMG section & a PAK40

• .A weak white Pioneer platoon with attached PAK40 & HMGs

• Half battery of 4 x105mm guns

• 4 12cm mortars

• There was also Schwartzbein a sniper from battalions special service section, a strange type with a wild look in his eye & a twitch. He had wandered into the company lines last night

The downed telephone lines & Ivan's radio jamming had cut Sagermann off from the outside world. At the last battalion briefing 3 days ago he was told there were the following reserves, somewhere in the area.

• A platoon of 4 Panzer IVs

• A mobile AA section

• Another grenadier platoon

• A grenadier Scout platoon

The position had dense wood to Sagermanns left flank & a ruined village to the right with the forces available Sagermann had no choice but to hedgehog one platoon around each of the 2 supply dumps.

They had already seen off a few half-hearted probing attacks from jeep-borne troops but the dust clouds on the horizon & the labouring of tank engines told Sagermann today was going to be busy......

Baskivich's Battlegroup

Baskivitch hadn't stopped in 5 days, they had started the offensive that, along with the American & British landings in France, would crush the Fascist invaders.

The break through was relatively easy, but he was now cut off.

Yesterday he had fought off 2 attacks from German tanks, half his force including 5 precious T34s was still trying to disengage from them, now he ran into more Nazi infantry, guarding what looked like a fuel dump he desperately needed the fuel, so would have to attack.

A company of 10 T70 light tanks

A company of motorised infantry with SMGs supported by Maxim guns.

A Guards Katyusha battery

Division had attached a battery of Katyushas to his command, their firepower would be useful. Their CO Petrov was a nice enough guy, but stone deaf an occupational hazard for Katyushniks.

The light tank company CO Dropitof was completely unhinged, due to the broken exhaust which spewed half bunt diesel fumes into his tank, he smiled manically as he charged across the steppe.

The Katyushas moved into position using up the last drops of Baskivitch's precious fuel then opened fire on the Nazi positions. The tanks rolled forward squeezing through a gap in between the dense woods. The infantry rose up & started their dogged advance

Rockets fell around the Grenadier platoon smashing the PAK 40 stretcher bearers ran forward to remove the shattered bodies of the gunners. The grenadiers hugged the earth for protection leaving them pinned down. Schwartzbein's nerve broke at this point he ripped off his uniform & ran to the rear.

Sagermann's artillery now struck back, the Russki tanks paid for their carelessness in bunching up, a vicious artillery barrage left 4 tanks burning fiercely.

The katyushas now shifted target to the second PAK a lucky hit sheared the breach off the gun putting it out of action incredibly the entire crew survived unharmed. This left Sagermann with no anti tank defence saving a few panzerfausts. The tanks & infantry rolled forward, two tanks bogged down in the woods. A second straggling company of infantry arrived to bolster the attack.

Counter battery fire fell around the Katyushas putting one out of action their fire was now much less effective. Sagermann's HMGs opened fire on the infantry who began to take heavy casualties. Their advance wavered but continued.

The T70s continued their advance the 2 bogged tanks managed to get moving again, the katyushas blasted ineffectively at the pioneer platoon. The tanks sprayed the grenadiers position with MG fire bolstered by the 2 HMGs of the infantry. They then went in to close assault the grenadiers.

The grenadiers' panzerfaust accounted for another T70 and the pioneers MG fire caused the Russian infantry to rout. Sagermann & his 2IC attacked the T70s with panzerfausts & panzerschreks but to no avail the Russkis had captured the supply dump Sagermann was now forced to retreat after riddling the tinned meat with MG fire to spoil it for the Russians.

Baskivich was now no better off he had used his last drops of diesel in capturing the dump but couldn't run his trucks & tanks on engine coolant.

Dropitof tried, blowing the piston rings on a T70 for his trouble. His infantry tried to drink the coolant two died one went blind. It was going to be a long walk back to division.............