Ozgurnikov reports...

As 2nd tank regiment started its engines,we realized that a group of enemy infantry has dug in the hamlet that was previously the HQ of the Corps. Quickly, the support company and the HQ defense platoon opened fire on the intruders. Those guns of the AA bn that can bear on the enemy also gave their support. However, it soon became apparent that the  enemy was more than a mere platoon and was dug deeply in the area. Apparently, Germans infiltrated in the darkness and found themselves directly behind our lines. We believe that there are about a company of the Germans in the area and they seem to be equipped with their AT rockets.I am detailing the parts of 1nd Naval Inf Bn and 1st Mnt. Bn. to clean the area.

At the same time, we have spotted a group of assault guns heading in the direction of the village, obviously trying to lend support to their infantry. Immediately our 2nd TD Company made of SU85's moved in to hulldown positions. In the ensuing long range AT fire exchange we killed 6 or 7 Assault guns and one unidentified SP.

The tank regiment situated in the village,alerted by these developments pressed on to the help of the men in the hamlet and started giving gun fire support to the efforts to push the German infantry back.

I would like to point out that the 2nd TD company with their 85mm guns actually did a far better job than the 1st TD company armed with 122mm guns. It also deserves mention that even at a range of about 800 meters they managed to score repeatedly on their enemies. Their sloped upper hulls also helped them to survive several hits.

We believe that the enemy now realized that he can continue the attack in this direction only with the help better armored tanks and we are expecting to encounter them soon.

signed
Colonel Ozgurnikov

Soviet Tally for the Third Battle

The Soviet Losses for the third battle were ;

KIA: 450+
Casualties : 250 +
 

6 AA guns were destroyed.

 

1x 76.2 Regimental gun KO'ed.

 

One T34 was hit 2 times but shells simply passed from one side to another and no explosions occurred.

Battle 3 Dubno Op

Plan
Three pronged localised attack with view to clearing Soviet forces in their sectors and straightening the MLR in preparation for a major attack the next morning.

Objectives of the localised attack as follows.

Left flank

Two grenadier companies supported by one assault gun tasked to clear wooded area in preparation for assault into village latter that night.

Centre left
Mixed panzer battalion (Stug and PzIV) supported by the SPW borne Jager battalion move into the ‘subway’ to attack centre village from its left flank.

Centre Right
Panther battalion supported by grenadiers mounted on it’s vehicles and some SPW moves forward tasked with attacking the centre village from the right flank.

Centre attacks supported by rocket batteries, and 105mm battery firing short preparatory barrages on the village area.


Operations opened with short sharp Soviet artillery and mortar barrage that hit the length of the combat sector. Luckily casualties were very light, although the barrage did disrupt the attack groups in their assembly positions. Order was quickly restored and both the panzer kampfgruppes move out.

Centre
Combat recce units (from the pioneers) leading the mixed panzer battalion made contact with a Soviet listening post, which was quickly assaulted and wiped out. Trailing the pioneers the kampfgruppe made it’s slow way through the soft ground of the ‘subway’.

The pioneers made good progress but one of the supporting Panzer IVs hit an undetected minefield and lost a track. This was quickly followed by a supporting SPW, which also hit the same patch of mines and lost a track. This necessitated a slight diversion to avoid further casualties.

To combat against further mines the Pioneers fanned out and moved along what was to be the main axis of the attack. In doing so contact was made with a Soviet outpost, which was taken under effective fire. This engagement rapidly escalated as more Soviet units appeared out of the dark. Meanwhile a 20mm cannon SPW sent forward to support them ran onto some mines and became immobilised. It would appear that given three vehicles so far have hit mines the pioneers have done a piss poor job to date of clearing a path for the following AFVs. A certain pioneer company commander had better pull his finger out and quick!

Right
Panther battalion made good progress with an SPW platoon in the point, closely supported by a Panther platoon. About 800m from the village the SPW borne grenadiers dismounted and in open order approached the village.

Around ten minutes into the opening of the attack Soviet artillery started to shell the sector of the Panther battalion, including the bridge area around Pivyatin. Fortunately the fire was inaccurate and no effect.

A few minutes latter the right hand kampfgruppe made contact with a Soviet outpost, which was quickly wiped out by supporting grenadiers. The advance guard of the kampfgruppe (dismounted jaegers supported by their SPW) came under accurate and heavy mortar fire.

Under heavy fire they quickly advanced into the outskirts of the right hand side of Pivyatin. The SPW pulled back, as the Panthers slowly moved forward to support the grenadiers. A patrol quickly sent forward to check out an area of barbed wire came under close range fire from a T34 killing all the patrol.

The continuing barrage of mortars and light artillery knocked out one SPW and inflicted casualties on one of the grenadier platoons. The other SPW pulled back without mishap although several crewmembers were killed/wounded. These SPW were then in a position to pick up grenadiers from the follow up company to support the attack into Pivyatin.

Enemy tanks were heard moving about in Pivyatin both to the front, left and right flanks. A patrol was sent forward to investigate. This patrol ran smack into some Soviet infantry laying low and was cut to pieces. The fleeing remnants came under fire from a concealed T34.

The centre Panther platoon moved up to engage this tank and in doing so came under fire from a concealed light gun. This was taken under fire from others in the platoon and knocked out. The Soviet tanks were seen pulling back across some fords on the river. Meanwhile the left hand Panther platoon closely supported by a platoon of Grenadiers fired on the located Soviet infantry positions across the road, in preparation for an assault by the Grenadiers.

Under fire from the Panthers enemy infantry units were seen to break or be eliminated. The Grenadiers prepared to move across the road now that resistance had slackened. Two platoons of Grenadiers, using SPW, had been brought forward to support each of the Panther platoons in preparation for clearing the village.

Panthers in the centre platoon made contact with a T34 and took it under fire. Meanwhile advancing Grenadiers supported by Panthers of the right hand platoon made contact with a series of Soviet outposts and took heavy casualties until the Panthers managed to bring down fire on the enemy. Shortly after the Panthers move forward and came under close range fire from concealed T34s, with one Panther being KO.

Left
On the left flank a patrol made contact with a Soviet outpost. A fierce firefight ensued which nearly wiped out the patrol. A counterattack was soon planned to remove those identified outposts.

The counterattack went in and made contact with enemy elements to it’s left. A firefight broke out with attacking squads taking casualties.

Whilst this was going on lead units from the attacking grenadier battalion were a hundred metres or so from the village with no contact having been made.

A short while latter the lead squad of this attacking battalion came under fire from a concealed MG on the outskirts of the village and pulled back after taking several casualties. However the MG was located in a small house by the following platoons and taken under fire, whilst anther platoon closed on the guns position. After a short sharp firefight the enemy MG and a supporting infantry outpost were wiped out, and the advance into the village continued.

The platoon that had been tasked with clearing the woods ran into another firefight with some Soviet infantry SMG/LMG teams. This developed into a running battle with the Grenadiers pushing forward all the time.

AAR

Estimated several light guns knocked out and two T34s killed numerous enemy infantry killed.

Own Losses: 155 Casualties

KIA: 306

2 Mortars
2 AFVs

As the fourth battle opens, Ozgurnikov is certain that the enemy will attack with strength and concentration on focus points where Soviet line is weak. In order to remedy the situation, he has tries to make sure that the line is held by at least a thin cordon of blocking forces with mobile reserves ready to move in to fortify the enemy's axis of advance once it becomes clear.

Ozgurnikov's experience has shown that

• T34/76 is a clearly inferior tank in every respect save mobility to Panthers and must not be used to engage heavier armor unless well outnumbering the opposing forces. However, the canister round is extremely lethal.
• The D5 85mm gun is enough to KO most German tanks that roams Dubno map. In fact, it is accurate enough to score a KO hit over 2000 meters. A Panther was killed at around 1200 meters which is again quite satisfactory.
• 122mm gun on the ISU122 series is a slow loading yet lethal piece of our arsenal. However, this can be cured by having a full company of ISU's so a continuous fusillade is kept over the enemy. Even if the number of stored 122 AP rounds is few, the HE charge landing close to a German vehicle is powerful enough to immobilize it.
• No smaller caliber less than 76.2 ZiS-3 or the captured 75mm Pak is enough to kill heavier German armor. Only a lucky hit by the 45mm AT guns on the side armor can disable or kill a Panther.
• More use of our superior artillery arm must be made destroy German assets before they take part in action. A tiger or panther with a missing crew member is far inferior to one with full crew.
• A frontal engagement with German armor must not be forced unless enemy is outnumbered heavily.
• Most enemy tanks have slow turrets, so a flanking approach is the best to defeat them. If possible, the enemy is to be engaged from at least 2 different directions to give at least one engagement front to have a flank shot advance.
• Enemy HT are highly deficient in the way of armor , and can easily be defeated with almost any A/T weapons. However, AT rifles or light AA guns must be used primarily to attack these vehicles to free the heavier guns of Tanks and TDs.
  

The Third Battle of Dubno : A Soviet Perspective

The third battle of Dubno ends with a night engagement. At first parties of grenadiers try to penetrate into the town but pushed back thanks to the cannister fire from the T34s of medium tank bn. In the meantime, McEwan's second column has difficulty when they encounter that appear to be a mixed density minefield in the sunken gulley in the center that was previously the site of skirmishes between two forces.

Moments later, McEwan's tanks emerge out of the darkness and run into the mixed mountain bn's men near the edge of the town. The Panthers with their close-in defense grenade throwers inflicted serious casualties on the defenders. However, once more thanx to the decisive action by the medium tank bn. at least one panther was KO'ed by close range AT fire. It is apparent that the frontal armor of the panther can not be penetrated by our standart 76.2mm F42 gun even with the tungsten ammo.

In retrospect, this action showed us that the enemy is carefully probing for a weakness in our lines and aggressively pushing forward once it finds such openings.