0928_01_Szack - Either AI - PzC 31 Poland '39
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| Rating: | 0 (0) |
| Games Played: | 0 |
| SM: | 2 |
| Turns: | 11 |
| Type: | Stock |
| First Side: | Allies (Poland-39) |
| Second Side: | Axis (Poland-39) |
Date: September 28th, 1939 - Size: Small - Location: Szack
Scenario Briefing: When the Red Army entered Poland, it was opposed only by Wilhelm Orlik-Ruckemann's Border Protection Corps, or KOP. Established as an elite formation with strict age, height, and ethnic requirements, the KOP battalions had given up much of their personnel in early September to provide skilled cadres to reserve infantry divisions that headed west. The battalions had to be rebuilt with local reservists. With just 12,000 men spread across the entire Soviet frontier, the border corps could do little to stop the 600,000+ Red Army soldiers that poured into Poland from the east on September 17th. The improvised armies of the Kiev and Byelorussian Special Military Districts, despite severe logistical shortcomings, advanced rapidly from the border, taking Rowne on the 17th and Baronowicze and Tarnopol on the 18th. Late on the 18th, armored spearheads, despite fuel shortages and a high breakdown rate, arrived at Wilno and Lwow. Within a few days, much of Eastern Poland had been overrun. A joint German-Soviet victory parade was even held in Brzesc on September 22nd.
These rapid Soviet advances were made mainly in northeastern and southeastern Poland - the Red Army had bypassed the Pripyat Marshes in east-central Poland. A primitive road network made these vast wetlands largely impassable to tanks and motor vehicles and therefore only two rifle divisions advanced into the region on September 17th. Southeast of Sarny, the KOP fortress battalions held a line of pillboxes behind the Slucz river and covered the retreat of the border battalions, fighting a heroic rearguard action against the 60th Rifle Division at Tynne on September 19th. On September 21st, Orlik-Ruckemann formed an improvised group from his two surviving regiments and headed west toward Wlodawa where he hoped he might link up with Kleeberg's Operational Group Polesie. Having been bypassed by the bulk of the Soviet forces, Orlik-Ruckemann's Group found itself behind the advancing Red Army. Contending with miserable road conditions and occasional Soviet air attacks, the march was long and hard. By September 27th, Orlik-Ruckemann's men were approaching the village of Szack, only about 25 kilometers from Wlodawa.
The Soviet 52nd Rifle Division, commanded by Ivan Russiyanov, had set up its headquarters in the village. Russiyanov's division was dispersed, with its recon and sapper battalions preparing to move against Wlodawa while the rifle regiments scoured the forests to the north for Polish stragglers. Assured by his superiors that only there only "bands of Polish officers" wandering in the woods, Russiyanov had no idea that an organized, brigade-sized battle group was approaching his headquarters. An encounter with Orlik-Ruckemann's cavalry squadron southeast of Szack early on the 28th prompted him to dispatch the 411th Separate Tank Battalion to accept the Poles' surrender.
Reduced by fuel shortages and mechanical failure to just eight operational vehicles, the 411th advanced single file down a narrow, marshy road, hatches up, unconcerned that they might encounter Polish resistance. Once the tanks were within 500 meters, the concealed Poles opened fire. The Soviet tank crews panicked. Unable to maneuver on the narrow road, the vehicles were destroyed in short order. Having eliminated the tank battalion in ambush, the Sarny KOP Regiment attacked toward Szack.
Recommended Rules:
Alternative Assault Resolution, Artillery Set Up, Recon Spotting, Optional Surrender, Low Visibility Air Effects, Quality Fatigue Modifier, Counter Battery Fire, Night Fatigue, Programmed Weather.
Note: Virtual Supply Trucks are not used with this scenario.
Additionally, Delayed Disruption Reporting will provide a more challenging experience for the attacking player.
Additionally, Delayed Disruption Reporting will provide a more challenging experience for the attacking player.
Scenario Briefing: When the Red Army entered Poland, it was opposed only by Wilhelm Orlik-Ruckemann's Border Protection Corps, or KOP. Established as an elite formation with strict age, height, and ethnic requirements, the KOP battalions had given up much of their personnel in early September to provide skilled cadres to reserve infantry divisions that headed west. The battalions had to be rebuilt with local reservists. With just 12,000 men spread across the entire Soviet frontier, the border corps could do little to stop the 600,000+ Red Army soldiers that poured into Poland from the east on September 17th. The improvised armies of the Kiev and Byelorussian Special Military Districts, despite severe logistical shortcomings, advanced rapidly from the border, taking Rowne on the 17th and Baronowicze and Tarnopol on the 18th. Late on the 18th, armored spearheads, despite fuel shortages and a high breakdown rate, arrived at Wilno and Lwow. Within a few days, much of Eastern Poland had been overrun. A joint German-Soviet victory parade was even held in Brzesc on September 22nd.
These rapid Soviet advances were made mainly in northeastern and southeastern Poland - the Red Army had bypassed the Pripyat Marshes in east-central Poland. A primitive road network made these vast wetlands largely impassable to tanks and motor vehicles and therefore only two rifle divisions advanced into the region on September 17th. Southeast of Sarny, the KOP fortress battalions held a line of pillboxes behind the Slucz river and covered the retreat of the border battalions, fighting a heroic rearguard action against the 60th Rifle Division at Tynne on September 19th. On September 21st, Orlik-Ruckemann formed an improvised group from his two surviving regiments and headed west toward Wlodawa where he hoped he might link up with Kleeberg's Operational Group Polesie. Having been bypassed by the bulk of the Soviet forces, Orlik-Ruckemann's Group found itself behind the advancing Red Army. Contending with miserable road conditions and occasional Soviet air attacks, the march was long and hard. By September 27th, Orlik-Ruckemann's men were approaching the village of Szack, only about 25 kilometers from Wlodawa.
The Soviet 52nd Rifle Division, commanded by Ivan Russiyanov, had set up its headquarters in the village. Russiyanov's division was dispersed, with its recon and sapper battalions preparing to move against Wlodawa while the rifle regiments scoured the forests to the north for Polish stragglers. Assured by his superiors that only there only "bands of Polish officers" wandering in the woods, Russiyanov had no idea that an organized, brigade-sized battle group was approaching his headquarters. An encounter with Orlik-Ruckemann's cavalry squadron southeast of Szack early on the 28th prompted him to dispatch the 411th Separate Tank Battalion to accept the Poles' surrender.
Reduced by fuel shortages and mechanical failure to just eight operational vehicles, the 411th advanced single file down a narrow, marshy road, hatches up, unconcerned that they might encounter Polish resistance. Once the tanks were within 500 meters, the concealed Poles opened fire. The Soviet tank crews panicked. Unable to maneuver on the narrow road, the vehicles were destroyed in short order. Having eliminated the tank battalion in ambush, the Sarny KOP Regiment attacked toward Szack.
Recommended Rules:
Alternative Assault Resolution, Artillery Set Up, Recon Spotting, Optional Surrender, Low Visibility Air Effects, Quality Fatigue Modifier, Counter Battery Fire, Night Fatigue, Programmed Weather.
Note: Virtual Supply Trucks are not used with this scenario.
Additionally, Delayed Disruption Reporting will provide a more challenging experience for the attacking player.
Additionally, Delayed Disruption Reporting will provide a more challenging experience for the attacking player.
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