It was like Mars' spear has drawn parts of phase line Mohawk.
After pushing A Company from BP1, the Soviets had three options to cross PL Mohawk, which I will call "north" (west of BP1), "middle" (west of Behrensen) and "south" (west of Bisperode).
PL Mohawk, North Crossing
Still pumping adrenaline after the ill-executed retreat from BP1, Company A (now reduced to 8 Leopard tanks) crossed PL Mohawk at the north point and immediately pivoted south. The original plan called to fall back into BP2 and wait for the best limited counter-attack opportunity.
|
SITREP, 0834. Yes, you need to click this picture to actually read the map. |
However, as it can be seen in the map above, the Soviets were still pushing west of BP1 so Company A stayed near the north crossing point and spread their tanks so to take any enemy tanks crossing PL Mohawk from their left flank.
|
The north crossing of PL Mohawk was also defended by two vehicles of 1st Platoon, B Company (pictured above). These vehicles were also deployed to take any Soviet tanks with flank shots. |
The Soviet tanks showed up at PL Mohawk (north crossing) piecemeal, which allowed both German tanks and IFVs to engage them
con gusto.
|
A Leopard tank from the 1st Platoon, A Company destroys the lead of a T-72 tank platoon at PL Mohawk (north). The enemy tank is in the background (to the right), cresting a small elevation. |
|
So target-rich was the north crossing of PL Mohawk that the PzGr. at OP3 were allowed to engage. In the picture above, a Marder IFV has just shot a Milan ATGM and destroyed a Soviet T-72 (in the bakcground, right, near the road). Note the other T-72 in the left (near the road) moving towards PL Mohawk. |
|
The deployment of A Company (in a column of platoons) posed some serious friendly fire dangers. Tanks echeloned to the rear had to shoot "over the shoulders" of the tanks in front. |
|
Destroyed enemy vehicles piling up at PL Mohawk north. |
After just 7 minutes of shooting, 15 T-72 Soviet tanks were burning at the north crossing of PL Mohawk. One Leopard tank was destroyed, hit by enemy artillery.
Cheers,
3 comments:
Some of your best posts yet!
Getting me well into the mood for December and 2.62!
Hartford688
13 - 5 = 8
72 - 24 = 48
Sometimes the numbers are bad however good the math.
I sense things are gonna get a little less linear.
Great series you have going here,
James
Thanks for your comments, gents.
James, the odds are against the Germans no matter how hard I try. :)
Cheers,
Post a Comment