12th Pz Div in action

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12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

I've been contemplating on doing a bit of a different AAR.
Different in the sense that I won't be describing the complete scenario I'm playing, but instead only following a single formation, the 12th Panzer Division, and its combat history during the battle, only occasionally covering the situation elsewhere around this division in order to get a grasp of the cause of its actions.

The scenario is Operation Neva, playing PBEM against Ogar. The game actually started with me playing the Soviet side for the first 35 or so turns, before Ogar tossed in the towel after a encirclement of the majority of his forces.
Instead of starting a completely new game, we agreed to switch sides, with him taking over the situation from turn 14, just about the time the decisive break-through was created and me trying to see if it was salvagable.
The 12th PzDiv was still arriving at this time and had so far seen no battle.

The development of the first 13 turns can be seen in the following mini-map movie
Image

This is the situation after that on start of turn 14:
Image

The main axis of the Soviet offensive have been marked in.
Partisans had already caused much disruption on the supply lines from Pleskau to Luga, Dno and Novgorod, so the 12th Pz Div, arriving along the blue arrow from Army Group Center, couldn't be railed directly in the way of the offensive, but first had to clear the partisans off the road to Luga along the dotted line.
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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Having arrived the previous day was the following elements of 12th Pz Div now around the importan town of Ostrov was:
HQ (GenLt von Bodenhausen)
II./pzGrRgt.25
I./Art.Rgt.2
Pz.Aufkl.Abt.12


Just arriving were:
II./PzGrRgt.5
II./Pz.Rgt.29
III./Art.Rgt.2
Flak.Art.Abt.303


Expected in the following day are:
I./PzGrRgt.5
Pz.Pio.Btl.32
II./Art.Rgt.2
Pz.Jg.Abt.2


Being refitted in East Prussia and not expected for a couple of weeks are:
I./PzGrRgt.25


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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

TURN 15, Evening Jan 20th 1944.

Weak elements of 1st and 8th Partisan Brigade offer little resistance and the initial success in the morning is followed up during the evening and the Ostrov-Pleskau road is cleared with minimal losses in cooperation with units from the 388th Feldausbildungs-Division stationed in Pleskau.

Image

The division reports the follwing strength of AFV and heavy weapons at the start of the day, not counting the I./PzGrRgt.25. First number is authortized equipment:

Code: Select all

 SdKfz 222 (2cm)	                12	7	
 SdKfz 223	                3	3
 SdKfz 251/1	                33	0
 SdKfz 251/2 (8.1cm Gr.W)	6	0
 SdKfz 251/3	                8	0
 SdKfz 251/7	                5	5
 SdKfz 251/8	                1	1
 SdKfz 251/9 (7,5cm kz)	        12	0
 SdKfz 251/10 (3.7cm)	        27	2
 SdKfz 261	                3	1
 SdKfz 7/1 (2cm Flak-Vierling)	8	4
 SdKfz 10/4 (2cm FlaK)	        8	1
 PzJg.38(M) (7.5cm lg)	        12	11
 PzJg.38 (7.62cm)	        10	8
 PzBeobWg III	                6	3
 PzBefWg III (5cm kz)	        4	4	
 Pz IIIL (5cm lg)                8       8
 Pz IIIN (7.5cm kz)	        1	1
 Pz IVF  (7.5cm kz)	        2	2
 Pz IVH (7.5cm lg)	        88	49
 10,5cm (sf) "Wespe"	        12	11
 15cm (sf) "Hummel"	        6	5

Code: Select all

 2cm FlaK 38	                26	19
 3.7cm PaK 36	                3	1
 4.5cm PaK 184(r)         	3	1
 5cm PaK38	                12	3
 5cm Gr.W.36	                8	8
 7.5cm le I.G.18	                17	17
 7.5cm PaK40	                15	9
 7.62cm PaK36(r)	                6	2
 8.1cm Gr.W.34	                36	32
 8.8cm FlaK 36	                8	4
 10.5cm le FH.18                	12	10
 12cm s Gr.W.42	                6	0
 15cm s I.G.33	                6	5
 15cm s.FH.18	                12	12
 
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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

TURN 16, Morning Jan 21st 1944.

With the road to Pleskau clear, II./Pz.Rgt.29 and II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 reach the town by noon.
II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.25 and Pz.Aufkl.Abt.25 is still engaged in light battles east of the Ostrov-Pleskau road, but making good progress.
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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

TURN 17, Evening Jan 21st 1944.

A complete reconnaisance of the east of the Ostrov-Pleskau road is still not complete, but the majority of partisans seem to have been destroyed.
Pz.Aufkl.Abt.25, I./PzGrRgt.5 and II./PzGrRgt.25 is given order to help clearing out this area and the coming days head along the Ostrov-Dno road to clear this of enemy partisans.
The remaining part of the division will keep heading towards Luga. Partisans have blow several of the bridges along this road and Pz.Pio.Btl.32 will help repair these along the way.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

TURN 18, Morning Jan 22nd 1944.

The division has been split in two forces, the larger group including the Pz.Abt and Pz.Pio.Btl heading up the Pleskau-Luga Road where security forces have had skirmishes with partisans. Up until the first broken bridge the supply situation is still good and the group assembles in front of the bridge, waiting for the Pz.Pio.Btl.32 to arrive. The pioneers arrive in the afternoon, but a quick repair of the bridge isn't succesful.

Image

The Southern group continues clearing out partisans as can be seen on the attached map. I./PzGrRgt.5 at first sent south is this turn sent back up north.
It should be noted that the dotted red lines are painted on to help show that the hexes are not empty, but actually contains partisans unit, but that the units are invisible unless attempting to enter the hexes.
The Pz.Aufkl.Abt.12 (mislabeled as 25) advance 13km NE along the Ostrov-Dno road before encountering enemy partisans.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

TURN 19, Evening Jan 22nd 1944.

At the northern group the pioneers get the initial bridge repaired, with the rest of the units resting for the turn. 10km up the road FeAusb.Rgt.639 force the partisans away from the area around the next bridge. (no image)

I./PzGrRgt.5 turns off the Pleskau-Luga Highway and heads east instead along the Pleskau-Dno highway at full pace, reaching the positions of Sich.Btl.886 that have held a partisan battalion in check here. With the Pz.Grenadiers arriving, the Sich.Btl uses the superiority in numbers and begin a southern pincer to encircle the enemy unit.
Pz.Aufkl.Abt.12 covers another 15km NE along the Ostrov-Dno road this evening, making it to the edge of the town of Slavkovichi, that was taken by the partisans a week ago.
II./PzGrRgt.25 continues light combat with partisans east of the Pleskau-Ostrov road.

Image

The following map shows the overall situation at the end of German turn 19. Units of 12th Pz.Div have been colored white.

Image

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Turn 20, Morning Jan 23rd 1944

After having repaired the first bridge, Pz.Pio.Btl.32 moves on to the next 8km up the road. The rest of the northern group takes up waiting position before the bridge.
The security forces NE of this bridge continues to force the enemy into the forrests north of the Pleskau-Luga road. It is unknown what, if any, forces are along the road between 12th Pz-Div and III./Gr.Rgt.322 which is under pressure from heavy partisan forces at the village of Ludoni.

Image


With Slavkovichi clear of enemy forces Pz.Aufkl.Abt.12 stays on the road east towards Dno, but encounters enemy forces of unknown strength after an advance of only a few km.
I./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 holds its position, waiting for additional forces to assist in the elimination of the partisan battalion in its way. The rest of the units of the division continue to help clearing the rear area of partisans.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Turn 21, Evening Jan 23rd 1944
The next bridge is repaired by Pz.Pio.Btl.32 in the early evening, and the northern group is ordered to split up in two forces. II./Pz.Rgt.29 and Flak.Art.Abt.303 will move quickly towards Ludoni to assist the III./Gr.Rgt.322 that is under attack by partisan forces out of Ludoni.
The other group consisting of Pz.Jg.Abt.2 and II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 will assist the men from Feldausbildungs.Rgt.639 with clearing the forrest and area along the broken Pleskau-Luga rail line. During the evening the enemy forces here are forced further back.

Image

On the Pleskau-Dno road I./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 and additional security forces start the attack against the partisan battalion that is blocking the road and makes good progress against crumbling resistance. The enemy is pushed almost 10km east.
Pz.Aufkl.Abt.12 doesn't gain same momentum, but manages to force the the enemy partisan unit to withdraw south off the Ostrov-Dno road.
The area west of this is still riddled with enemy partisans and although weak in strength they are hard to get completely destroyed by the men of II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.25

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Turn 22, Morning Jan 24th 1944

Pz.Pio.Btl.32 moves to the second to last bridge before Ludoni and start repairing. II./Pz.Rgt.29 holds its positions during the day to receive suuplies, but Flak.Art.Abt.303 crosses the frozen river and reaches the southern company of III./Gr.Rgt.322. An enemy regiment of partisans have during the night made an attack out of Ludoni and split the norhter group of III./Gr.Rgt.322 up into two.
II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 keeps pressure up on the weak partisan forces east of Novoselye, while Pz.Jg.Abt.2 follow a small track south of the Pleskau-Luga rail Line for 10km without encountering any resistance.

Image

Enemy partisans by Pz.Aufkl.Abt.12 pull south so the battalion continues it's way east along the road to Dno. After about 7km's progress another partisan battalion south of the road forces the unit to stop momentarily.
All other partisan units in the area are being hunted with good succes.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Turn 23, Evening Jan 24th 1944

A third partisan regiment arrive at Ludoni from the direction of Strugi Krasnye and III./Gr.Rgt.322 are now under very heavy pressure. In light of this II./Pz.Rgt.29 starts to move out and during the night make the first attack against the enemy 9th Regiment to reach part of the nearly encircled battalion. The attack doesn't make any progress, but losses are kept to a minimum.
Pz.Pio.Btl.32 completes the repair of the bridge.

Image

With the partisans weak enough to be kept in check by other forces II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.25 heads north to reach the Pleskau-Dno highway where the plan is to turn east towards Dno.
Pz.Aufkl.Abt.12 observes the enemy partisans pull back and it speeds up its advance to reach Dno. This night it reaches less than 10km west of Porkhov and so the road from Ostrov to this town has been opened.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Turn 24, Morning Jan 25th 1944

With the sun rising, the tanks of II./Pz.Rgt.29 renewed their attack on the partisan regiement defending the crossing of a stream by the Pleskau-Luga road. Despite having prepared good defensive positions the partisans lacking good anti-armor weapons eventually was forced to pull back towards Ludoni and another company of III./Gr.Rgt.322 was relieved.
II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 and Pz.Jg.Abt.2 assisted two battalions of Feld-Ausbildungs.Rgt.639 in forcing a partisan battalion away from the main road.

Image


Pz.Aufkl.Abt.12 reports enemy partisans arriving in its rear from the Pleskau-Dno road and in reaction to this turn back west to deal with this threat. East of this II./Gr.Rgt.501 of 290.Inf-Div clears the town of Porkhov of infiltrating enemy partisans.
II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.25 reaches the Pleskau-Dno highway this day, while part of the partisan bands south of this surrender this day.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Turn 25, Evening Jan 25th 1944

Pz.Jg.Abt.2 and II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 force the surrender of the partisan battalion south of Strugi Krasnye.
II./Pz.Rgt.29 keeps up the momentum from earlier in the day and split the enemy partisan groping by Ludoni in two, reestablishing contact with the last company of III./Gr.Rgt.322 at the north edge of the town.
Pz.Pio.Btl.32 get on with repairing the road-bridge SW of Ludoni.

Image

II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.25 continues its movement towards Porkhov, this evening covering over 20km along the road. I./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 also get back on the main road to Porkhov after having forced the blocking enemy partisans south.
Pz.Aufkl.Abt.12 forces the enemy partisans further south of the Porkhov airstrip. At the town itself the partisans is also retreating south.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Turn 26, Morning Jan 26th 1944

After the surrender of the partisan bands, Pz.Jg.Abt.2 turns back north, heading to the Pleskau-Luga rail line. II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 begins to make its way out the deep forrests by heading south towards the highway.
At Ludoni another victory against the partisans clears the highway from Pleskau up to this point for good. Now only groups NW and SE of the village remains.
Gr.Rgt.503 of 290.Inf-Div heads east through Utorgorsh to try to slow the Soviet offensive threatening to break through in this sector.

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SW of Slavkovichi the remains of a partisan battalion surrenders, while the partisans east of the town are in progress of being forced south by the two Pz.Gren battalions of 12th Pz-Div. Pz.Aufkl.Abt.12 is also trying to keep track of a small partisan unit, that tries to escape west.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

turn 27th, Evening Jan 26th 1944

With Ludoni cleared, Pz.Pio.Btl.32 heads NE along the Pleskau-Luga Highway to the next broken bridge. II./Pz.Rgt.29 prepares to clear road from the highway to the town of Strugi Krasnye still believed to be in the hands of the partisans. Pz.Jg.Abt.2 approaches the town from S along the rail line, reaching within 10km of it by the end of the day.

Image


The 3-4 partisan battalions between Slavkovichi and Porkhov are continued to be forced southwards, this day once again opening up the main road to Ostrov.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Turn 28, Morning Jan 27th 1944

22nd Partisan Regiment which had been isolated in the village of Milutino made a break-out during the morning to the west. Pz.Pio.Btl.32 is 10Km down the road from this, but the regiment shouldn't pose a serious threat to the pioneers attempt to repair the next bridge.
II./Pz.Rgt.29 opens its advance towards Strugi Krasnye and the enemy partisans in its way don't put up much of a fight before withdrawing north into the dense woods.
Meanwhile, Pz.Jg.Abt.2 closes another 5km toward Strugi Krasnye from the south without having observed any enemy activity.
East of this, Sich.Btl.375 reports increasing partisan numbers advancing east along the Utorgorsh-Ludoni road about 15km west of Utorgorsh.

Image

Enemy partisans at the Slavkovichi-Porkhov road are slowly but surely in the process of being confined in a big pocket south of the road as they during the beginning of the day are forced about 3km back.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Turn 29, Evening Jan 27th 1944

West of Utorgorsh Sich.Btl 375 reports sighting of another partisan regiment. Under heavy pressure a company of the battalion is forced to give up its positions on the road to Utorgorsh, and the partisans threaten to march on the town. The rail line through the town is still inoperable from earlier sabotage actions, but it's the best bet to restore the first supply link back to Luga, as the main Luga-Pleskau line are more damaged and would take even longer to repair.
Reinforcements are marching up the road from Dno to halt the partisans and II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 will try to reach the town from the west, but are still a couple of days away.
Pz.jg.Abt.2 enters Strugi Krasnye and finds the town deserted by enemy partisans.
II./Pz.Rgt.29 continues its pursuit of the partisans from 20th Regiment into the woods north of the Luga-Pleskau Highway.
The partisan regiment that in the begining of the day broke out of the town of Milutino are heading into the forrest south of the road.

Image

I./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5, II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.25 and Pz.Aufkl.Abt.12 are still forcing the enemy into a smaller and smaller pocket south-west of Porkhov. Soon the situation here is so under control that it can be left to the already present security units, so the units of the panzer division can be sent towards the frontline.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Turn 30, Morning Jan 28th 1944

The weak Sich.Btl.375 were unable to prevent enemy partisans advance east towards Utorgorhs. The Füs.Btl.30 are transported to the town by train, to halt the enemy before he reaches the north-south rail line.
II./Pz.Rgt.29 in ccoperation with II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 routed 20th Partisan regiment, destroying one of its battalions in the process, but didn't make any advance towards Utorgorsh during the first part of the day.
Enemy partisans at Milutino counter-attacked onto the Pleskau-Luga highway, but the arriving men of Pz.Pio.Btl.32 forced the partisans 5km back.
To the west of Strugi Krasnye Pz.Jg.Abt.2 helps in more partisan fighting.

Image

I./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 and Pz.Aufkl.Abt.12 makes a last attack on the partisans to the south, but other elements of the southern group, II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.25 and II./Art.Rgt.2 have already begun to move North-East towards the front, where the situation is getting critical.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Turn 31, Evening Jan 28th 1944.

Füs.Btl.30 moves west from Utorgorsh and encounters partisans less than 5km from the town. I./SS-Pol.Rgt.9 is moving by road from Soltsy, but isn't expected to make contact until tomorrow.
On the Pleskau-Luga road an attack on the partisan regiment in Gorodets had great success and the enemy surrendered, with the partisans at Milutino also being pushed back, this means that apart from a damaged bridge at Gorodets, the highway is now fully cleared between Luga and Pleskau.
II./Pz.Rgt.29 and II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 only covers 2-3km towards Utorgorsh by the end of the day.

Image

All the 12th Pz-Div units in the southern group are now on their way North-East to counter the enemy breaking through west of Lake Ilmen. The partisans left behind are so weak that they will be able to be controlled by the mixed security units still present.

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RE: 12th Pz Div in action

Post by LLv34_Snefens »

Turn 32, Morning Jan 29th 1944

Having made contact with the partisans at Utorgorsh yesterday, Füs.Btl.30 starts its attack to force the enemy further away from the town. The attack gains 5km before evening. I./SS-Pol.Rgt.9 moves up to help cover the approach to the town as well.
II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 and II./Pz.Rgt.29 pick up speed in their move towards the front. II./Pz.Gr.Rgt.5 helps shortly against the partisans but quickly disengages and moves 7km towards Utorgorsh. II./Pz.Rgt.29 heads along the road towards Luga and reaches Milutino by evening. Also Pz.Pio.Btl.32 is travelling along the road.
Pz.Jg.Abt.2 and Flak.Art.Abt.303 are still engaging partisans west and east of Strugi Krasnye.

Image

The southern group completely disengage from the partisan fighting this day. The forward elements reaching east of Dno.

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