The last night action of the battle begins with a thunderous barrage. As the Germans try to gain the bridgehead they fought so badly for the last 2 days , Ozgurnikov's armor rides towards its rendesvous with destiny.

Ozgurnikov looks at the battlefield before him now pockmarked as the face of the moon and dotted with the burning carcasses of tanks; 1943 modelT34s, grandfatherly Panzer MkIVs, Panthers,Tigers, IS-2s and SUs. It is an accurate depiction of what each side's state of the killing technology offers.

While the armored clash in the Northeastern corner of the map has resulted in the destruction of the Panzer IV company and the 2 Tiger Platoons minus one which escaped into the bushes, the situation in the west is serious as the Germans move in closer onto the bridge. The men of the A/T platoon guarding the bridge lay dead or wounded near their guns pulverized by the fire of the approaching grenadiers and tanks.

However, there is one thing that Ozgurnikov finds interesting. His old and worthy opponent George is no longer dashing forward aggressively.

The end of a company of PzIVs, as the 1st and 2nd Tank bn. of Ozgurnikov's corps drive out of the forest.

Ozgurnikov binoculars train on the 2nd Medium tank bn and the men of the 4th Mnt. Bn approaching the other end of the 'subway'.


Now, where is the enemy's panther bn...

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