Stalin's Orders ETO (id:#65661)

(From The Cellar Pack #11 ID: FT306)   [next]   [previous]

Kolsovo, Russia 1942-07-28 (4 others)

Overview:

Although Soviet tankers had a lot to learn from their more experienced adversaries, a number of units had accumulated a good deal of skill in the hard winter ‘41 fighting. An example was the encounter between two Soviet tank brigades and the 11th & 19th Panzer Divisions during the German drive against Kolsovo, on the Bryansk Front. The German attack was into a natural pocket formed by woods to the west, the Vitebsk River to the north and the Resseta River to the east; the town of Kolsovo was in the north just below the river. 19th Panzer advanced along the edge of woods while 11th Panzer moved up the river. The initial attack was launched against a series of entrenched anti-tank guns and infantry. Once through this defensive belt, 19th Panzer got entangled with two companies of BTs which darted in and out of the woods. As the 19th tried to root out the harassing light tanks, 11th Panzer became the victim of hit-and- run attacks by a T-34 company using uneven ground for cover. The outnumbered Soviets refused an engagement which would have pitted them against a better-equipped foe. The T-34s finally lured some of 11th Panzer’s tanks into hilly terrain, where they were ambushed by dug-in KVs.

Defender: Russian (No more details)  

Errata (source)