2 Battle of Szczercow






2 Battle of Szczercow

(Rules: Arras to Ardennes)


 Battle Turn Zero and Start




The Germans deployed with only one infantry battalion due to the casualties taken in the previous fighting, supported by three tank battalions.  The Poles had two infantry battalions forward in entrenchments creating a linear defence with the third infantry battalion closely arranged in reserve to protect the key areas. A company of 7TP tanks that were in support was positioned to the right of the reserves for deployment as required.



Battle Turn One

The Germans started by advancing units on the north side of the road, provoking an artillery response from the Poles. Subsequently the Germans developed an infantry assault on their southern flank, immediately suppressing one company of Polish troops.  The Polish companies were well spaced out, which might have compromised any ability to provide mutual support, although deployment of a second company to provide fire support diverted some of the attacking German units. The German 3rd tank battalion advanced to support the infantry attack.  

 

Battle Turn 2

During turn two the German attack overwhelmed the Polish defenders who fled.  The gap in the line allowed the 3rd tank battalion to pour through while the 4th tank battalion trailed behind it.  To counter this the Poles moved the 7TP tank company from the right flank of the reserves to the left flank of the position.


Battle Turn 3

3rd Panzer rolled up the Reserves position overwhelming the defenders by a flank attack and overrunning the Command Centre; subsequently pushing through and causing the HQ to move and destroying more defenders.   The 7TP tanks were better tanks than the PzII they faced but nevertheless lost the firefight and had to retire, being subsequently joined by the remnants of the various infantry units.  Ultimately all these units would congregate into an area that became known as ‘The Pool’, as troops would reform into combat formations before being directed back into the fight. The German infantry also commenced a flank attack with the objective of taking the village in the woods.  At this time the extended Polish 2nd Battalion started pulling back with one company going into the village in the woods.

 



Battle Turn 4

The German 4th Panzer Battalion joined the 3rd in sweeping along the reserve line: a solid phalanx of more than 100 tanks.  The defenders of the village and supply centre had some initial success in holding off the tanks in an urban setting.  Meanwhile the German infantry closed in on the village in the woods but faced tough opposition.  On the north flank 2nd Panzer Battalion took advantage of the Polish abandonment of the entrenchments by advancing but the retiring Polish troops held them off and the restricted frontage made it difficult for the German tanks to deploy in numbers.


 


Battle Turn 5

3rd Panzer finally burst into the village, taking some casualties but eliminating the defenders and overrunning the Supply Centre; the forward company of tanks would subsequently hold on to the village against subsequent weak counter-attacks emanating from ‘The Pool’.  The German infantry had the misfortune to run out of ammunition, badly losing a firefight as a result.  2nd Panzer would force back one company, which joined ‘The Pool’ but the tanks continued in place, grappling with the remaining Polish infantry.  The 7TP company got back into action but failed to make any impression against the German tanks, despite the notional superior design of the Polish tanks.


 


Battle Turn 6

Despite being short of ammunition the 7TP tanks kept back the horde of German tanks.  The Germans surged forward with the infantry finally getting into the village and taking the surrender of large numbers of Polish troops but more fought on, denying the Germans the objective.  2nd Panzer now deployed through the woods to take the remaining Poles in the flanks but the defenders were strengthened by more troops from ‘The Pool’ and the Poles fought on.



Battle Turn 7 and End

Nightfall came too soon for the Germans.  No doubt the Germans had rounded up many evading Poles during the night and forced them to surrender.  The Poles had stood long enough to deny the Germans the village-in-the-woods but had otherwise been comprehensively overwhelmed.


 

The Germans scored 1VP for the village, 1VP for the Command centre, IVP for the Supply Centre and 1VP for the LoC opened through the flank but missed out on the second village, the village in the woods.

 

Lessons

1.     You need lucky generals: the Poles rolled appalling dice except for defensive fire from the village-in-the-woods.

2.     The importance of the indirect approach, the failure of linear defence and the limitation of foot infantry without motorised transport.  Defending everywhere risks defending nowhere.

3.     The need for greater integration between infantry and tanks; also, the comparative shortage of German infantry compared to the number of tanks.

4.     Defend urban areas being attacked by tanks from within the buildings rather than engaging in a firefight.

5.     On Turn Two, three time-cards proved to be hidden under the End of Turn Card and two more on Turn Three; thus, the battle went on a turn longer than normal.

 




Comments

New comments are not allowed.

Popular posts from this blog

World War II - Battle of Britain Day - 15 September

Declaration of war:  Chamberlain's radio broadcast [extract] 3 September 1939 I am speaking to you from the cabinet room at 10 Downing Street. This morning the British ambassador in Berlin handed the German government a final note stating that unless we heard from them by 11 o'clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany. The Few: Churchill's  Speech to the House of Commons [extract] 20 August 1940 Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. The Blog: The Captain's comment at the RAF Museum [extract] 13 July 2021 We need a blog to record our battles.
Read more

Poland

The invasion of Poland in September 1939 was a very sad affair.  The Germans were able to attack from the north, the west and the south, with the Soviet Union subsequently attacking from the east.  The Polish Army did not help by trying, understandably, to defend nearly everywhere.  Politically authoritarian, the High Command that had won Polish independence was understandably reluctant to listen to dissenting views.  Dissonance at the top between generals together with putting dissenters into backwater commands did not help.    Nevertheless, the soldiers fought very valiantly and with great bravery.  Nor was the High Command unaware of military changes, developing some useful military hardware.  They were restricted by budget limitations but tried nevertheless to equip themselves well.  Unfortunately, this has also given rise to myths such as the cavalry charge against tanks, a piece of Nazi propaganda that the Polish Government are still irritated by; fake news that still surfaces pe
Read more

Airwar 1940

Image
  In 1940 the Germans had advanced their airbases to the coast of France.     The Battle of Britain was about to begin.   One lone Hurricane fighter was on a test flight over Kent but a German fighter swarm on a fighter sweep had spotted the lone fighter and was getting ready to pounce.  However, the Germans had been spotted by an RAF formation that was seeking to use their up-sun advantage. The initial situation. Two German aircraft miss when firing and the British fighter dodges the third, thereby surviving the initial attack and is now alerted to the danger while the support closes in on the Germans.   The Germans continue to fire and continue to miss. All the aircraft are now in combat and a whirling engagement develops.  The Germans have positional advantage over their prey but generally miss when firing or the pilot, either clever or lucky, dodges their shots.  Meanwhile 74 Squadron arrive and prove better shots, scoring hits to the discomfort of the Germans who find that they th
Read more