AAR SS vs partisans, 1942

[jtcm]

Co Vet SS + 2 82mm mortar + flamethrower, probe against Partisans (Akula), dawn, Spring 1942

At 6.30 we reached our jump off line. The terrain rose gently towards the treeline where we suspected that the bandits’ outposts were hiding; in between, patches of wood promised good cover for infantry advance up close to the suspected enemy position.

As the sun rose, we set up the MG34s and the mortars on our left, under direct orders of the commanding officer, to provide fire support over open ground 450m from the objective. The infantry started moving forward in the open, soon taking harassing fire from heavy sniping weapons, probably anti-tank rifles used in an anti-personnel role. The platoons manoeuvered forward, to a patch of light woods in the centre of our sector, and which lead foward up the slope. As we pressed on in the cover of this light copse, we were surprised to take heavy fire directed simultaneously from our left and our front, namely rifle fire with Maxim support, from several positions in platoon strength in heavy cover at about 200 m. As we turned to the fight, we expected to achieve fire superiority rapidly, thanks to our armament and our support group, but the dispersion of the bandits’ positions, all firing in a massed fashion against our assault elements which were concentrated in a relatively small space of unsatisfactory cover, and the distance at which our support elements were located, resulted in our assault troops being embroiled in a fifteen minute medium- to long- range fire-fight, during which casualties were sustained and ammunition expended, especially that of the support heavy mortars but also that of the squads LMGs, to little effect, since there were always enough bandits in action to hold up our advance with skilfully directed fire from two directions, and any suppressed enemy units, especially their machine guns, rallied with surprising rapidity, in order to resume effective action.

Just before this firefight broke out, two squads grew separated from the main advance but decided on their own to carry out flank reconaissance on our right, using cover and dead ground. During the firefight, which they understood was happening from the heavy volume of fire, they sought to turn the enemy’s position, and in their belief, due to their unimpeded progress, that they had located an open flank, pushed forward hastily and without sufficient reconnaissance precautions, thus falling into an ambush from a flank guard of estimated platoon strength with machine gun support, and taking overwhelming casualties in the first exchange of fire. Later in the fight, the remnants of one squad (MG 34 + riflemen in support) recovered from their shock and set up an overwatch position hence effectively preventing the enemy’s flank units from shifting to the main firefight, by driving them back into covered positions with aimed rifle and LMG fire.

In the centre, some assault units recovered tactical initative to the point that they formed as an ad hoc attack group, led by command-capable NCOs and junior officers, and pressed forward on to the limits of the woods our men were occupying, and conducted a frontal engagement with the bandits in these woods. Concentrated firepower at close range, and exceptionally bold action by the flamethrower team, quickly drove off the enemy units. However, in trying to pursue and exploit, our infantry soon found a second position of fresh enemy infantry, ranged at a treeline along the tactical crest of a low saddle, and forming a line which we were not able to impress.

At this point, we had taken significant losses, and command and control of the assault units was non-existent. We therefore staged a withdrawal, under cover of our support heavy machine guns and of mortar smoke.

*****

A last effort, Kameraden ! Under our frantic, heavy covering fire from all sides, the flamethrower man rushes forward, shouting hoarsely, and stops and squirts a long bright burning jet into the trees, again and again. The partisans have finally broken, and we rush forward into the wood, past the Russian dead, shooting at the fleeing bandits. The flamethrower operator is slumped, dazed, exhausted; his supporting man is wounded, has fallen behind in the assault. We pursue. But suddenly the trees come to an end, and from the other side of the clearing muzzle flashes appear all along the treeline, out of the dark, with Russian shouts. The distance is under 100 m, and the bullets zip into the trees or strike the pine needles on the ground. We fall flat, trying to mount a response. But our light machine guns are empty from so much firing. Three whistle blasts ! Nothing left to do today. We fall back, cautiously, under harassing fire from the Maxims.

*****

The little Soviet captain looked around at his assembled men. He flicked away the last of his cigarette, before starting to speak. The first step had been to organize the partisans in a military fashion, into squads and platoons; the second had been training for small unit tactics; now was time for the third step.

“Now, we know the Fascists are sending a company of SS-men to see how we’ve been doing these last weeks. There’s only one route that’s dry enough for tactical movement, so we’d better prepare a little party for the sons of bitches. I know of four ways of killing Germans. The first is tanks. The second is artillery. However, before Stavka decides on parachuting tanks or heavy mortars, we’ll have to make do without them. The third is fire-sacks and the fourth is defence in depth. Fire-sacks first: it’s best if you fire all together at Fritz, from at least two directions...”

[stikkypixie]

Nice AAR!

[JasonC]

Hard to tell without a map, but the canonical way of clearing an L-shaped ambush like that is to pull back from the long side (your front) and clear the nearer arm from the outside of the L. Which I guess was your left. I don't know if the covered route you took allowed easy backtracking, or if you had a reserve.

If you did, the reserve would lead the way on your left, trying to avoid fire from the guys in front of your main body by interposing the trees you sheltered in. The rear elements of the main body would backtrack and try to swing over to reinforce this reserve. The rest of the main body would pull back from the forward tree line and concentrate their fire to their left. Your overwatch group would be responsible for suppressing the forward tree line. (Mortar smoke might also help the swinging across movement).

The idea would then be to clear your left flank with a many on few or at least a two on one. That accomplished, you would then reoccupy the forward treeline, and support from their by fire, as the victors in the previous went round the enemy left. Trying to roll them up left to right along the long side of the L, with fire from the main body treeline and the heavy weapons concentrating just ahead of the turning movement, rather than spreading over the whole position.

How feasible all this was on your map, though, I can't really say without seeing it. You may have overcommitted to the center route too soon, without a reserve. It may have been so limited as cover that you could not break LOS with it front to back. Both combined would show questionable choice of a route.

On pressing with the two squads of scouts, scouting around for an open route is obviously sensible. But weak patrols have to be decidedly cautious tactically, about how far they push. They mostly serve to provide intel, and exactly the sort of interdicting fire you eventually got from that one half squad with LMG. If that patrol had led with one half squad without LMG, you might have had more left for this.

On heavy weapons from range as opposed to maneuvered close, I don't think that was a serious problem here. They had targets, and under 500m. Yes the MGs in particular are more powerful at 200m, but you had squads for that and not enough room as it was. One reason to leave heavy weapons back is to ease cover scarity and crowding at the attack point. This is particularly important if the enemy puts down a barrage.

A modest MG and mortar heavy weapons group is not going to destroy a company in wooded foxholes, but that is OK. The mortars just want to take out the enemy Maxims and the HMGs want to maintain pins and deny open ground for repositionings and counterattacks. They help in a straight up infantry firefight but won't decide it.

To break a whole company in woods is normally a job for serious HE, off map typically or infantry guns direct, or tanks. Infantry used many on few, ending in the same body of cover to finish off anyone who cowers (not letting them rally) will also do it. As you saw, just infantry fire from range will not, ammo giving out first. That counts as "tickling" in the adage "punch, don't tickle".

FWIW.

[jtcm]

Apologies for no map. I don't have grabs from this particular fight. Next AAR I'll try this Imageshack thing.

JasonC: thanks for comments. Yes, it was a L-shaped ambush, with short side on left. Yes, the map was a bit problematic re cover, especially falling back to shelter from frontal fire and clobber the guys on the side. Yes, it was a case of tickling rather than punching (my usual tactical mistake).

In this particular case the problem was exacerbated by arrogance: I saw what happened (well led ambush), but thought that Vet SS would simply shoot their way out of it, in a toe to toe slugfest. What happened was a classic case of tactics as "discomfort imposed on the opponent"-- whenever I tried to concentrate fire on the side, the enemies from the front would suppress my squads, whenever I tried to fire at the enemy line in front, the partisans on the side would pop up, dust themselves off and open fire with the Maxims. My company moving forward simply pancaked into a small space, and the fire from the the Maxims suppressed whole platoons at a time. My men inched forward until they finally got a fix on the enemy line in front, and blew it away (or burned it out)-- only to flounder in front of a second, fresh, line.

During setup phase I had joshed with Akula: my SS men were going on R&R, would eat the partisans and return to base for breakfast. Turned out to be nice fight-- I highly recommend "SS vs Partisan" probes for historical, yet balanced games.

I also hope you noticed the three different writing styles: official German-style prose; Landser-novelette; socialist realism.

[Zalgiris 1410]

Excellent, excellent stuff fallahs. I also recommend Hungarian Security forces against Partisans for 1943 for good interesting balances.