Delaying the ENY with Just Support Weapons - Graviteam Tactics Predators in the Midst

12SEP1943, 63 km southwest of Kharkov. In a delaying action after the defeat at Kharkov, I am in command of elements of the 223 Inf. Div. reinforced with one regiment from the SS Das Reich Pz. Div.

It is a thin line for this two days the scenario simulates. Time, space and troops are confined to one delaying position. It is remarkable how this DLC reflects the realities of German delaying defensive operations during WWII (please see Counter-Strike Operations: Combat Examples and Leadership Principles of Mobile Defence, by von Senger und Etterlin). 

The maneuver layer of Graviteam Tactics Predators in the Midst. Situation at mid-morning 12SEP1943.

In this particular scenario, the amount of maneuver units is rather limited for the sector assigned, but surprisingly the amount of fire support is moderately generous. I reinforced my maneuver units accordingly ...

The terrain favors the delaying action practices of the time. Wide open fields of fire and with the soil mudded due to previous rain, that would wreck havoc on the enemy's mobility and number of troops.

The first enemy contact came at 0900 sharp on our left flank. A mix of panzer grenadiers, fire support weapons and a limited supply of tanks was there to be part of the festivities.

I was hesitant to implement the tactics outlined in the book mentioned above. Instead of a forward line with all I have, looking to engage almost from stand-off positions, I kinda echeloned my defenses with all my 16 tanks (a fun mix of PzIVs and Tigers) in the back. Waiting for the situation to develop, I thought. We could have benefited from forward listening posts.

The enemy showed as pure infantry with very limited indirect fire support. In that sector I had a few machine guns, mortars, a field gun firing in direct fire mode and a rusty old AT gun that owned the morning with galantry.

The AT gun that caused the enemy so much grief. So desperate was the enemy to silence it that it ordered artillery smoke on it.

By 0915, the enemy's main effort was achieving its culmination point. But then I noticed some enemy combat patrols on our left flank. Time to order the tanks into action.

The tanks forward assembly area, with some tanks in dug in positions and others just arriving from our interior lines.

This picture just to prove that both you and me are suckers for these machines of hell. :)

But the battle ended, with no real action for the tanks which were left moving to the left flank.

The day is young, and the men are ready!

Cheers,