WWII KG Regenbogen: Episode 1, Barbarossa

[TacCovert4]

@Exo

Belay my last.

Two options if you don't want to be KG XO (which I would GLADLY accept):

1) 4th Platoon, Motorcycle Platoon.

2) 4th Platoon, PzGren or Armored Cars.

[Pruitt]

Originally Posted by TacCovert4

The Armored Cars are almost certainly the Sdkfz 222 (4x4) and Sdkfz 232 (6-rad) types. Both types are armed with the 20mm cannon and coaxial MG. Of course considering the tanks in the Kampfgruppe, the armored cars are faster on road and have the same armament.

I would rather get a Panzer Grenadier Platoon than the little Sdkfz 222's. Of course I also asked for Panhard 178's. The Wehrmacht took all the Panhards they could find as loot. Many German units used captured (ersatz) equipment. The spare parts department was in chaos.

Fahnrich von Pruitt

[Khryses]

PzGren it is!

There are some P204s around, but none currently available in Regenbogen's force pool.

Hauptmann Heinz could (possibly) requisition some if he exerted some of his remaining influence with the powers that be, but an Oberfahnrich doesn't have that kind of clout.

[TacCovert4]

The Hauptmann does not see the need at this moment to use what little influence a career soldier has to get an armored car of dubious improvement above what's readily available.

I'd prefer to save my 'crack deals' for other things, like halftracks, better tanks, and so on.

[T. A. Gardner]

Need a "Der Spiess?" I'd be happy to be the company sergeant major.

[TacCovert4]

Also, you can go ahead and add the Pak 38 as the HQ Option.

[Khryses]

Welcome aboard, Stabsfeldebel Gardner!

With the KG XO role filled, we can move past Hauptmann Heinz's attempts to lure Exo into the role.

He has already accepted a 4th Platoon into his KG, which gives us a full OOB for KG Regenbogen (although we're still open for Platoon XOs if anyone else is interested in getting involved).

With a small amendment to the Soviet lineup, I'll get to work on my briefing (due later today) and we can get under way.

[The Exorcist]

Originally Posted by Khryses

Pruitt

..

The Exorcist

Welcome back!

A Recon Squad would likely comprise 1 BMW R75 with MG34, 1 BMW R75 without as well as 4 single MCs with SMG-toting riders.

A Recon Platoon would include 2 of these squads, as well as a command R75.

Sounds fair enough, makes for 13 m/c all together, 17 men if the combos have 3 men on each... but that sounds like a very uncomfortable way to go in Barbarossa.

[Khryses]

Most of the commanders of KG Regenbogen had never worked together before this day, but Hauptmann Heinz's warm schnapps-charged greeting had certainly begun things on a good note when the officers had gathered the night before.

This morning the officers gathered once again in Heinz's tent, beneath a fly tied between two trucks of 1st Platoon. The growl of a Kugelwagen nearing and coming to a halt is the only warning given before the tent flaps part and an older officer in feldgrau enters.

Major Khryses looks around the room in the pre-dawn glow and nods approvingly at the varied and aggressive officers he finds there. "Good, gentlemen. It looks as though my staff chose well - but deeds will be the final proof." Walking briskly over to the table, he unfolds a high-level map showing the advance of the 14th Panzer Division and gestures to the ground ahead of them.

"Our comrades are driving the enemy before them, and through their speed and shock are outpacing the Russian retreat. Another two days at this pace and the Panzer Group will cut off whole enemy Armies without hope of resupply. To ensure that happens, we need to secure the river crossing here," he taps a bridge on the map ahead of the Panzer van, "to ensure it is not destroyed or blocked. A hard defense here by a small body of men could buy the enemy enough time to escape. This must not happen."

Tracing his finger down the river to a point at the end of a minor arterial road close to the Kampfgruppe's camp, he taps it emphatically. "Sympathizers among the local population have identified a ford here. Neither the crossing nor the road is suitable for the main line of advance, but a small body of men moving with dispatch can drive between the Soviet flankers and pass across the river here, then up this narrow track to the crossing at Kergevii. Once there, your orders are threefold."

"Firstly, scout the village and its surroundings to determine the enemy strength there.

Secondly, seize and defend the crossing-point if at all practicable to allow 14th Panzer to exploit the schwerpunkt. They are expected to arrive at the Kergevii crossing around 1300 today.

Thirdly, after the Panzer vanguard passes through your position you are to secure the road in the Kergevii area until elements of the 103 Panzergrenadier Regiment arrive to relieve you. They are expected by 1430."

He steps back from the map and raises a frosty eyebrow.

"Any questions, gentlemen?"

[Colonel Sennef]

Leutnant Kolzenf raises his hand:

"Herr Major,
The hill to the south of Kergevii, how high is it?"

[Khryses]

"According to our maps, the crest is 107m above the level of the river Leutnant."

[TacCovert4]

Hauptmann Tacreich Heinz has the following to say.

Jawohl Herr Major. Plan for crossing the ford will be:

3PL's Panzer
Motorcycles
HQ vehicles
1st Platoon
2nd Platoon
3rd Platoon's other Panzers.

That will get a vehicle capable of pulling any that get stuck out of the river and to the East Bank. And follow it up by order of weight to keep from wrecking the ford before we get across it.

Once across my general intent is that 4th Platoon will immediately scout the hill and seize it until a follow on platoon arrives to hold it. That will cut off reinforcement of the village and give us the high ground while denying it to the enemy. Plus, if the enemy is on the high ground, the sooner we know, the sooner we can deal with it.

I will also execute an attack on the village and the fork.

I will hear suggestions from the Platoon Leaders as for plans to attack the village and seize the bridge.

[Colonel Sennef]

Herr Hauptmann,

Good plan for crossing and scouting the village and its surroundings to determine the enemy strength there. (object 1)

As for your requested suggestion for object 2:
I would say the Panzers stay on the narrow track, lest they become bogged.
the other platoons of the coy including HQ follow 4th recon platoon onto the hill
if needed to clean the enemy from it,
assess the situation around and fine-tune the plan for the attack
and then launch the attack.

For the attack (object 2) I suggest:
- recce and assess first, based on this, something like:

- 3rd platoon’s panzers continue N over the track towards the bridge and act as a fire base for 1st platoon.
- 1st platoon sweeps down from the hill towards the NW, cross the road and turn West towards the bridge, seize it and continue over it to its west side to secure its western approaches
- 2nd platoon: one squad stays on the hill while two squads secure the crossroads and approaches to its NE.
- HQ platoon stays on the hill for overview
- 4th recon platoon stays at your disposal for battlefield awareness.

Object 3 TBD.

[Senorankka]

"I need to see the village with my own eyes before going in. Every gun and machinegun spotted makes our job easier."

"If it is possible, I would like to hitch a ride with motorcycles to recce the place before committing my panzers"

"When we fight, my Panzers can carry few men forward, but not that many. One option could be for us to support the attack to the hill and use it to gain overwatch over the crossing.

[Khryses]

Seeing planning now in full flow, Major Khryses turned and makes his way over to Gardner with a brief respectful nod.

"Stabsfeldwebel, a man who has spent as many years in the ranks as you have must be a past master at attention to his surroundings. Who should I speak to for a mug of coffee dark and strong enough to wake the dead?"

In Storch and car alike, the Major had been moving all night to put his separated detachments in motion by the correct hour. Once Regenbogen moved out it would the hardest time - when there was no longer much of anything he could do to directly influence the outcome of the operation.