High Command Wargame Rules - Operation Barbarossa, Part 3 - Staraya Russa

Soviet Offensive at Staraya Russa

August, 1941

Imagine, just imagine, that we use the army lists from High Command but we deal with task forces - corresponding to the Divisions - and we populated the stands according Flames of war Army Lists. Let me try it:



GERMANS



X. Armeekorps

Artillerie-Kommandeur 19 - 4x 15cm sFH180mm Gun, horse drawn limbers, 1x 8.8cm FlaK36, SdKfz 7 (8t) half-track
Artillerie-Kommandeur 135 - 4x 15cm sFH180mm Gun, horse drawn limbers, 1x 8.8cm FlaK36, SdKfz 7 (8t) half-track

30. Infanterie-Division

Divisionsstab - 1x Command SMG team, 1x 2iC SMG team, 1x Motorcycle and sidecar, Kfz 15 field car, 1x 2cm FlaK38, truck
Radfahr-Abteilung 30
1. Schwadron - 1x Scout rifle team, Kubelwagen, 1x SdKfz 222
2. Schwadron - 1x Scout rifle team, Kubelwagen, 1x SdKfz 222
Infanterie-Regiment 6
I. Bataillon - 1x Rifle/MG team
III. Bataillon - 1x 7.5 leIG18, horse drawn limber
Infanterie-Regiment 26
I. Bataillon - 1x Rifle/MG team
III. Bataillon - 2x 8cm GW34 mortar, horse drawn wagon
Infanterie-Regiment 46
I. Bataillon - 1x Rifle/MG team
III. Bataillon - 2x MG42 HMG
Panzerjarger-Abteilung 30 - 1x 3.7cm PaK36, truck
Artillerie-Regiment 30
I. Abteilung - 1x 10.5cm leFH18, horse drawn limber
II. Abteilung - 1x 10.5cm leFH18, horse drawn limber

126. Infanterie-Division

Divisionsstab - 1x Command SMG team, 1x 2iC SMG team, 1x Motorcycle and sidecar, Kfz 15 field car, 1x 2cm FlaK38, truck
Aufklarungs-Abteilung 126
1. Kompanie - 1x Scout rifle team, Kubelwagen, 1x SdKfz 222
2. Kompanie - 1x Scout rifle team, Kubelwagen, 1x SdKfz 222
Infanterie-Regiment 422
I. Bataillon - 1x 1x Rifle/MG team
II. Bataillon - 1x 7.5 leIG18, horse drawn limber
Infanterie-Regiment 424
I. Bataillon - 1x 1x Rifle/MG team
III. Bataillon - 2x 8cm GW34 mortar, horse drawn wagon
Infanterie-Regiment 426
I. Bataillon - 1x 1x Rifle/MG team
III. Bataillon - 2x MG42 HMG
Panzerjaeger-Abteilung 126 - 1x 3.7cm PaK36, truck
Artillerie-Regiment 126
I. Abteilung - 1x 10.5cm leFH18, horse drawn limber
II. Abteilung - 1x 10.5cm leFH18, horse drawn limber

290. Infanterie-Division

Divisionsstab - 1x Command SMG team, 1x 2iC SMG team, 1x Motorcycle and sidecar, Kfz 15 field car, 1x 2cm FlaK38, truck
Aufklarungs-Abteilung 290
1. Kompanie - 1x Scout rifle team, Kubelwagen, 1x SdKfz 222
2. Kompanie - 1x Scout rifle team, Kubelwagen, 1x SdKfz 222
Infanterie-Regiment 501
I. Bataillon - 1x 1x Rifle/MG team
II. Bataillon - 1x 7.5 leIG18, horse drawn limber
Infanterie-Regiment 502
I. Bataillon - 1x 1x Rifle/MG team
III. Bataillon - 2x 8cm GW34 mortar, horse drawn wagon
Infanterie-Regiment 502
I. Bataillon - 1x Rifle/MG team
III. Bataillon - 2x MG42 HMG
Panzerjaeger-Abteilung 290 - 1x 3.7cm PaK36, truck
Artillerie-Regiment 290
I. Abteilung - 1x 10.5cm leFH18, horse drawn limber
II. Abteilung - 1x 10.5cm leFH18, horse drawn limber

LVI. Armeekorps (motorisiert)

Artillerie-Kommandeur 125 - 4x 15cm sFH180mm Gun, horse drawn limbers, 1x 8.8cm FlaK36, SdKfz 7 (8t) half-track, 1x StuG D

SS-Division 'Totenkopf'

Divisionsstab - 1x Command SMG team, 1x 2iC SMG team, Kfz 15 field car, 1x SdKfz 10/4, 1x StuG D
SS-Totenkopf-Aufklärungs-Abteilung
1. Kompanie - 1x MG team, kubelwagen, 1x  SdKfz 231 (6-rad)
2. Kompanie - 1x MG team, kubelwagen, 1x SdKfz 222
SS-Totenkopf-Kradschützen-Bataillon - 1x Motorcycle Rifle/MG team
SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1
I. Bataillon - 1x MG team, Kfz 70 truck
II. Bataillon - 2x MG42 HMG, Kfz 70 truck
SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 2
I. Bataillon - 1x MG team, Kfz 70 truck
II. Bataillon - 1x 7.5 leIG18, Kfz 70 truck
SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 3
I. Bataillon - 1x MG team, Kfz 70 truck
II. Bataillon - 1x 3.7cm PaK36, Kfz 70 truck
SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment
I. Abteilung - 1x 10.5cm leFH18, horse drawn limber
II. Abteilung - 1x 10.5cm leFH18, horse drawn limber
SS-Totenkopf-Flak-Abteilung - 1x 8.8cm FlaK36, SdKfz 7 (8t) half-track

3. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert)

Divisionsstab - 1x Command SMG team, 1x 2iC SMG team, 1x Motorcycle and sidecar, Kfz 15 field car, 1x SdKfz 10/4
Aufklärungs-Abteilung (motorisiert) 53
1. Kompanie - 1x MG team, kubelwagen, 1x  SdKfz 231 (6-rad)
2. Kompanie - 1x MG team, kubelwagen, 1x SdKfz 222
Kradschützen-Bataillon 53 - 1x Motorcycle Rifle/MG team
Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 8
I. Bataillon - 1x MG team, Kfz 70 truck
II. Bataillon - 2x MG42 HMG, Kfz 70 truck
III. Bataillon - 1x MG team, Kfz 70 truck
Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) 29
I. Bataillon - 1x 7.5 leIG18, Kfz 70 truck
II. Bataillon - 1x MG team, Kfz 70 truck
III. Bataillon - 1x 3.7cm PaK36, Kfz 70 truck
Artillerie-Regiment (motorisiert) 3
I. Abteilung - 1x 10.5cm leFH18, horse drawn limber
II. Abteilung - 1x 10.5cm leFH18, horse drawn limber
attached
Panzer-Abteilung 3 - 1x Panzer III



SOVIETS



29th Rifle Corps (from 11th Army)

179th Rifle Division

Headquarters - 1x Command Rifle team, 1x 2iC Rifle team, 1x 45mm obr 1937 gun, horse drawn limber, 1x DShK AA MG on truck
215th Rifle Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x Maskim HMG
234th Rilfe Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x 82-BM-41 Mortar
259th Rifle Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm obr 1927 gun
618th Artillery Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber

181st Rifle Division

Headquarters - 1x Command Rifle team, 1x 2iC Rifle team, 1x 45mm obr 1937 gun, horse drawn limber, 1x DShK AA MG on truck
186th Rifle Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x Maskim HMG
195th Rifle Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x 82-BM-41 Mortar
243rd Rifle Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm obr 1927 gun
639th Artillery Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber

34th Army

Artillery Division - 6x 122mm obr 1938 howitzers, horse drawn limbers

245th Rifle Division

Headquarters - 1x Command Rifle team, 1x 2iC Rifle team, 1x 45mm obr 1937 gun, horse drawn limber, 1x DShK AA MG on truck
898th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x Maskim HMG
901st Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x 82-BM-41 Mortar
904th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm obr 1927 gun
770th Artillery Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber

254th Rifle Division

Headquarters - 1x Command Rifle team, 1x 2iC Rifle team, 1x 45mm obr 1937 gun, horse drawn limber, 1x DShK AA MG on truck
929th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x Maskim HMG
933rd Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x 82-BM-41 Mortar
936th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm obr 1927 gun
791st Artillery Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber

257th Rifle Division

Headquarters - 1x Command Rifle team, 1x 2iC Rifle team, 1x 45mm obr 1937 gun, horse drawn limber, 1x DShK AA MG on truck
943rd Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x Maskim HMG
948th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x 82-BM-41 Mortar
953rd Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm obr 1927 gun
793rd Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber

259th Rifle Division

Headquarters - 1x Command Rifle team, 1x 2iC Rifle team, 1x 45mm obr 1937 gun, horse drawn limber, 1x DShK AA MG on truck
939th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x Maskim HMG
944th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x 82-BM-41 Mortar
949th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm obr 1927 gun
801st Artillery Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber

262nd Rifle Division

Headquarters - 1x Command Rifle team, 1x 2iC Rifle team, 1x 45mm obr 1937 gun, horse drawn limber, 1x DShK AA MG on truck
940th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x Maskim HMG
945th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 2x 82-BM-41 Mortar
950th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle team
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm obr 1927 gun
788th Artillery Artillery Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber
2nd Battalion - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, horse drawn limber

1st Mechanised Corps

Headquarters - 1x Command Rifle team, 1x 2iC Rifle team, 2x Motorcycle teams, 1x DShK AA MG on truck
5th Motorcycle Regiment - 2 Rifle M/C, 1 BA-20
1st Tank Division
1st Tank Regiment - 1x T-34
1st Artillery Regiment - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, truck
3rd Tank Division
3rd Tank Regiment - 1x T-34
3rd Artillery Regiment - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, truck
163rd Motorised Division
529th Motorised Regiment
1st Battalion - 1x Rifle/MG team, truck
2nd Battalion - 2x Maskim HMG, truck
3rd Battalion - 1x Rifle/MG team, truck
759th Motorised Regiment
1st Battalion - 2x 82-BM-41 Mortar, truck
2nd Battalion - 1x Rifle/MG team, truck
3rd Battalion - 1x 45mm obr 1937 gun, truck
365th Artillery Regiment - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, truck

attached

25th Cavalry Division

Headquarters - 1x Command Cavalry Rifle team, 1x 2iC Cavalry Rifle team, 1x DShK AA MG on truck, 1x Pioneer Rifle team, pioneer supply cavalry wagon
98th Cavalry Regiment
1st Squadron - 1x Rifle/MG team
2nd Squadron - 1x 76mm obr 1927, cavalry limber
100th Cavalry Regiment
1st Squadron - 1x Rifle/MG team
2nd Squadron - 2x 82-BM-41 Mortar, cavalry limber
104th Artillery Regiment - 1x 76mm ZIS-3 field gun, truck

Operation Barbarossa, Part 2 - Staraya Russa

Soviet Offensive at Staraya Russa
August, 1941




References

Operation Barbarossa 1941 (2) - Army Group North; Robert Kirchubel; osprey Publishing; Campaign 148

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=93910&p=1102646

http://operationbarbarossa.net/Brief-Mil-History/Briefmilhistory3.html#an_3

http://www.feldgrau.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=18061

War Journal of Generaloberst Franz Halder, Chief of the General Staff of Supreme Command of the German Army (OBH), Vol VII. Historical Divisions, SSUSA. 1 Aug 41 - 24 Sep 42.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/34th_Army_(Soviet_Union)

http://www.scritube.com/limba/engleza/books/Hitler-moves-east-PART-TWO-Len12258.php

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/159076/scenario-3-staraya-russa




Background

On 21 July Hitler, Keitel, two staff officers, some SS bodyguards, and propaganda photographers arrived by air at Heeresgruppe Nord. None of the participants knew it then, but the German high command was in the middle of a five-week debate over strategic decisions on the campaign's future during the prime summer campaigning season.

Hitler issued Directive 34 on 30 July, followed by a Supplement, on 12 August. In them he reasserted the primacy of Leningrad, specifically pushing von Leeb, C in C of Heeeresgruppe Nord, to swing wide right and link up with the Finns.

Most significantly it stated that before attacking Moscow "operations against Leningrad must be concluded".

Meanwhile Vatutin, chief of staff of Northwest Front decides an attack to Army Group North's extended eastern flank, set for 12 August. On the flanks, the 48th Army aimed for Novgorod while the 27th moved on Kholm. In the center, supported by the 11th Army, the robust 34th Army represented the main effort, driving into the 30-mile gap between the X. and II. Armeekorps from 16. Armee.

The Battle

12 August

34th Army attacks 50-mile gap between X. Armeekorps and II. Armeekorps. The 11th (against Staraya Russa) and 27th Armies (Kholm) attack in support.

14 August

SS-Division 'Totenkopf' and 3. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert) move to the area of 16. Armee.

16 August

245th Rifle Division and 163rd Motorised Rifle Division cut Staraya Russa - Dno railroad near Gorki. SS-Division 'Totenkopf' moves out against their left flank. 29th Rifle Corps elements enter Staraya Russa behind withdrawing 30. Infanterie-Division.

19 August

Headquarters of LVI. Armeekorps (motorisiert) and 3. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert) begins counterattack. 30. Infanterie-Division transitions from defense to offenseive stats. II. Armeekorps attacks at Kholm.

20 August

SS-Division 'Totenkopf' and 3. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert) meet near Velykaya Selo and close trap on bulk of 163rd, 202nd, 245th, 262nd Rifle, and 25th Cavalry Divisions.

Order of battle



GERMANS


X. Armeekorps
30. Infanterie-Division
126. Infanterie-Division
290. Infanterie-Division

LVI. Armeekorps (motorisiert)
SS-Division 'Totenkopf'
3. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert)



RUSSIANS


29th Rifle Corps (from 11th Army)
179th Rifle Division
181st Rifle Division

34th Army

245 Rifle Division
254 Rifle Division
257 Rifle Division
259 Rifle Division
262 Rifle Division

XXV Cavalry Corps
25th Cavalry Division
54th Cavalry Division

1st Mechanised Corps
5th Motorcycle Regiment
3rd Tank Division
163rd Motorised division
202nd Motorised division