KG Klink, Poland, Game 1

[Just Jack]

All,

It’s finally begun!

It’s 0500, 1 Sept 1939, and the war has just begun as the German 10th Army is crossing the frontier. Kampfgruppe Klink is assigned to the operational control of the 4th Panzer Division, and is in the vanguard of the invasion. Col Klink’s plan for his sector of the line is to use his infantry to open the hole, then have his motorized reconnaissance and panzers pour through in the direction of Mokra.

The Germans have three rifle sections and an MG at top left, opposite four enemy rifle squads; in the center, the Germans have their CO, mortar, field gun, an MG, and a single rifle section at center, opposite the Polish field gun (center) and MG (far right). At bottom left, the Germans have four rifle sections, while the Poles have nothing directly opposite, but can cover all avenues of approach in the south via fire.

It would not be a game of mine without close combat; here the CO, Lt Freitag, and Sgt Haas lead their men into close combat to dig the Poles out of a bunker, with their CO in support.

Here are my notes, to give you some flavor:
-2nd Lt Nessler, commander of 1st Platoon, executed for cowardice (if this upsets you, please understand that it’s just a joke and that these ‘men’ are made of lead).
-Sgt Landauer (1st Sqd/1st Plt), Cpl Hackl (4th Sqd/1st Plt), and Cpl Steinkamp (MG, Wpns Plt) reprimanded and reduced in rank for cowardice.
-Cpl Obst wounded in action, received Wound Badge, will return after Polish campaign.
-Officer Cadet Hinkle transferred from KG HQ to assume command of 1st Grenadier Platoon.
-1st Lt Freitag and Sgt Haas recommended for Iron Cross 2nd Class for leading their men through heavy enemy artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire into close combat to destroy the enemy’s central, fortified positions, which opened the way for the armored thrust on 1 Sept 1939.
-Lost ~20 KIA/WIA. 3rd Squad, 2nd Gren Plt eliminated until replacements received.
-Caused ~30 KIA/WIA, captured ~20 EPW, 1 field gun and 1 medium mortar.

For the whole batrep, please visit the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/12/kg-klink-poland-game-1.html

Well, it was a hell of a fight and was iffy right up to the end. I’ve played a boatload of games already, just need to take an ‘operational pause’ to get them written up. But I’d rather keep playing. Next fight is the early recon efforts on the north side of Mokra; spoiler alert: the KG did better than its real-life counterparts, but the fights following it get pretty damned ugly… Stay tuned, more to come.

V/R,
Jack

[Sparker]

Great batrep of a well presented game. Thanks!

http://sparkerswargames.blogspot.com.au/
'Blessed are the peacekeepers, for they shall need to be well 'ard'
Matthew 5:9

[Rod Robertson]

Just Jack:

Very Interesting! A very detailed and well illustrated report. The poles put up a surprisingly good resistance to KG Klink. The German principle of Schwerepunkt demands that the Germans should have concentrated far more troops and fire-power at this one point of conflict to achieve a decisive breakthrough at the lowest cost in time and lives. Perhaps KG Klink is too small to be used in Breakthrough battles and should be limited to exploitation after the breakthroughs.

A happy New Year to you and yours and may 2015 bring you great success between 1939 and 1945.

Cheers and good gaming.

Rod Robertson.

[kyoteblue]

Good game, thanks Just Jack.

[Just Jack]

Sparker – Thank you Sir, I appreciate it, standby for (many) more.

Rod – You’re absolutely right regarding Schwerepunkt, but please keep in mind that the tabletop is only showing one small portion of a larger battle, following only portions of a single unit.  So, as an attachment to 4th Panzer Division, KG Klink was responsible for one small portion of 4th Panzer’s fight at the frontier, which was only a part of 10th Army’s fight to breakthrough at the border.  In this manner I can use the KG to carry out any of the varying types of missions as parts of larger battles.

And you’re right, the Poles put up a fair amount of resistance, but mostly that was due to the amount of forces and their structures on the tabletop; I gave the Poles a pretty good chance of doing well as I didn’t simply want a pushover.  In terms of how I’m running the campaign, even if the first fight failed, the overall breakthrough by 4th Panzer would still have occurred (just off table), and so I’d still have moved on to Mokra.  Only with a severe reprimand for the Schutzen Company Commander for embarrassing the Kampfgruppe 😉

And Happy New Year to you as well, hope you’re getting some gaming in!

Kyote-John – Hey Old Man, glad to see you, hope you’re having a great holiday season.  I apologize, I’ve been playing so much I haven’t really been reading up on the forum here, but I just read through your Barbarossa thread, good stuff, just need pics 😉  You get a camera, then you can call me and I’ll walk you through how to 1) set up a blog (which you don’t need to use as a blog like I do, just as a means to store your photos on the net), and 2) how to post them here!  Take care.

So far I’ve finished 7 games, and the table is set for number 8.  I’ll try to get another one written up and posted today, so stay tuned fellas.

V/R,
Jack

[kyoteblue]

I got German turn 5 posted.

 

[Author]

Posts