Battle report: 1st German Panzer Division vs. 1st Russian Tank Corps (28th June 1941)

The second battle on my mini-campaign saw the 1st Panzer Division attack the 1st Tank Corps.

A map of the battlefield.

A photograph of the battlefield.

The forces involved

The 1st Panzer Division comprised:

• General Hentzau (Above average; 6 SPs)
• 4th Divisional HQ (Average; 2 SPs)
• 1st Armoured Car Battalion (Average; 2 SPs)
• 1st Panzer Regiment (Average; 3 SPs)
• 2nd Panzer Regiment (Average; 3 SPs)
• 7th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Average; 4 SPs + 3 SPs)
• 4th Artillery Regiment (Average; 2 SPs)
• 4th Panzerjager Battalion (Average; 2 SPs)
• Total strength: 27 SPs
• Exhaustion Point: 9 SPs

The 1st Tank Corps comprised:

• DivCom Borodin (Below average; 6 SPs)
• 1st Armoured Car Regiment (Average; 2 SPs)
• 1st Tank Brigade (Average; 3 SPs)
• 2nd Tank Brigade (Average; 3 SPs)
• 3rd Tank Brigade (Average; 3 SPs)
• 10th Motor Rifle Regiment (Average; 4 SPs + 2 SPs)
• Total strength: 23 SPs
• Exhaustion Point: 8 SPs

Because the German invasion was unexpected, the 1st Tank Corps had not yet been able to concentrate, and was still scattered over a number of locations. These were determined randomly using a system similar to that used to create the terrain map.

(A D6 die was thrown in turn for each unit to determine which row of grid squares in the left-hand column the location count would start in. 2D6 dice were then thrown, and the combined scores determined how many grid squares across, down, and back from the starting grid square was the one in which the unit was located at the start of the battle.)

The Russian units were located as shown on the following map:

A map of the battlefield showing the locations of the Russian defenders.

A photograph of the battlefield showing the locations of the Russian defenders.

The abilities of the respective commanders affected the median values of playing cards used to determine how many units the red (Russian) and black (German) commanders could activate each turn, as did the quality of their respective communications. Thus, DivCom Borodin – who was rated as below average (-1) and who had poor communications links (-1) – had a much lower median playing card value (2) than General Hentzau, who was rated as above average (+1) and who had good communication links (+1), which gave the German a median playing card value of 6.

Turn 1
The Germans moved first. They turned over a 6 of Clubs, and could activate up to six units.

Led by the 1st Armoured Car Battalion, the bulk of the 1st Panzer Division advanced onto the battlefield in an arrowhead formation, with the 1st Panzer Regiment on the left, the 4th Divisional HQ (with General Hentzau) in the centre, and the 2nd Panzer Regiment on the right. Immediately behind was the 4th Artillery Regiment.

The 2nd Panzer Regiment immediately engaged the 2nd Tank Brigade, and destroying 1 SP.

The 1st Armoured Car Battalion also fired at the 2nd Tank Brigade, and forced them to retreat.

The Russians turned over a 2 of Diamonds, and could activate up to two units.

Realising that the German attack was likely to overwhelm his Corps before his units were able to deploy into proper defensive positions, DivCom Borodin rushed to join the 3rd Tank Brigade. He also ordered the 1st Tank Brigade to advance to meet the oncoming Germans.

The situation at the end of Turn 1.

Turn 2
The 4th Artillery Regiment fired at the 10th Motor Rifle Regiment, and hit the unit's transport and caused casualties to the unit.

The Russians moved first, and turned over a 2 of Hearts. Therefore, they could activate up to two units.

DivCom Borodin might not have been a very experienced or able Soviet commander, but he knew that he had to take the battle to the Germans. He ordered the 10th Motor Rifle Regiment to get off the top of the hill it was on as soon as possible, whilst he personally led the 3rd Tank Brigade forward to engage the 1st Armoured Car Battalion. This forced the 1st Armoured Car Battalion to fall back.

The Germans turned over a 5 of Clubs, and could activate up to five units.

The 1st Armoured Car Battalion charged forward, and occupied a position near to a small settlement from where they were able to fire into the flank of the 2nd Tank Brigade. Its fire caused further losses to the 2nd Tank Brigade, whose situation was becoming parlous.

The 2nd Panzer Regiment turned to engage the 2nd Tank Brigade, forcing it to fall back yet again.

The 1st Panzer Regiment advanced and fired at the 3rd Tank Brigade, causing it to lose 1 SP. Although DivCom Borodin, was with the 3rd Tank Brigade, he survived the engagement uninjured.

General Hentzau also brought forward the 7th Motorised Infantry Regiment and the 4th Panzerjager Battalion. Although it was at the maximum range of its weaponry, the latter fired at the 1st Tank Brigade, forcing it to pull back.

The situation at the end of Turn 2.

Turn 3
For the second turn running, the German 4th Artillery Regiment fired at the 10th Motor Rifle Regiment, this time destroying the unit's transport and causing the unit further casualties.

The Germans moved first, and turned over a 7 of Clubs. Therefore, they could activate up to seven units.

The 1st Panzer Regiment moved forward, firing at the 3rd Tank Brigade as it did so. The fire was ineffective, and the 3rd Tank Brigade emerged unscathed.

The 2nd Panzer Regiment also turned and moved to engage the 3rd Tank Brigade. Their fire was more effective and caused the lose of 1 SP. Yet again, DivCom Borodin survived this intense combat.

The 1st Armoured Car Battalion engaged the 2nd Tank Brigade, which it forced to retire.

The 4th Divisional HQ (including General Hentzau) moved forward so that it was next to the 2nd Panzer Regiment, and the 7th Motorised Infantry Regiment took up a position behind the 1st Panzer Regiment. Finally, the 4th Panzerjager Battalion moved forward and to the left in order to cover the right flank of the advancing Panzer Division.

The Russians turned over an Ace of Diamonds and could only activate one unit.

Seeking to retain as much of his force as a viable fighting formation, DivCom Borodin ordered the 10th Motor Rifle Regiment to withdraw as fast as they could.

The situation at the end of Turn 3.

Turn 4
As there were no targets within range, the 4th Artillery Regiment did not fire.

The Russians moved first, and turned over an Ace of Hearts. Therefore, they could only activate one unit.

Knowing that 1st Tank Corps was very close to reaching its Exhaustion Point, DivCom Borodin decided that taking aggressive action whilst he was still able to was the best course open to him. He ordered the 3rd Tank Brigade forward, and opened fire on the 2nd Panzer Regiment, with the result that the 2nd Panzer Regiment lost 1 SP.

The Germans turned over a 5 of Clubs and could activate up to five units.

Both 1st and 2nd Panzer Regiments fired in turn at the 3rd Tank Brigade, forcing it to fall back before it was destroyed. Despite this, DivCom Borodin survived the encounter, although he was left stranded some way from the nearest of his Corp's surviving units.

(At this stage in the battle, 1st Tank Corps had reached its Exhaustion Point.)

The 4th Divisional HQ (including General Hentzau) moved forward yet again, and occupied a position to the right of the 1st Panzer Regiment. At the same time, the 7th Motorised Infantry Regiment swung to the left, and moved to the left of the 1st Panzer Regiment.

The situation at the end of Turn 4.

Turn 5
As there were still no targets within range, the 4th Artillery Regiment did not fire.

The Russians moved first, and turned over an 3 of Hearts. Therefore, they could activate up to three units.

DivCom Borodin made his way across country to the hill adjoining the 1st Tank Brigade's position. From there he ordered the 1st Tank Brigade to withdraw, along with 1st Armoured Car Regiment.

The Germans turned over a 6 of Spades and could activate up to six units.

The 4th Divisional HQ (including General Hentzau) moved forward to the position formerly occupied by the 3rd Tank Brigade.

They were accompanied by 1st and 2nd Panzer Regiments and 7th Motorised Infantry Regiment, with the 4th Artillery Regiment following some way behind.

The situation at the end of Turn 5.

Turn 6
The 4th Artillery Regiment turned to its right, and fired at the remnants of the 2nd Tank Brigade and the 10th Motor Rifle Regiment. The effect was devastating, destroying what remained of the 2nd Tank Brigade and inflicting further casualties on the 10th Motor Rifle Regiment.

The Russians moved first, and turned over an 3 of Hearts. Therefore, they could activate up to three units.

DivCom Borodin attempted to join the remnants of the 10th Motor Rifle Regiment, which he had ordered to withdraw as best it could.

The Germans turned over a 7 of Spades and could activate up to seven units.

The 1st Armoured Car Battalion and the 4th Panzerjager Battalion moved forward to engage the survivors of the 10th Motor Rifle Regiment. This resulted in the destruction of the 10th Motor Rifle Regiment and the capture of DivCom Borodin.

Elsewhere on the battlefield, General Hentzau ordered his units to stop, regroup, rearm, and refuel prior to their next advance.

By this point, the 1st Tank Corps had effectively ceased to exist as a fighting force. It had lost a total of 18 SPs (including the divisional commander), and only had two full strength units (the 1st Tank Brigade and the 1st Armoured Car Regiment) remaining.

The situation at the end of Turn 6.