"Heavy Tank Battalion 503 with Army Group Don in... " Topic

…Southern Russia.

"On 27 December 1942, OKH sent Heavy Tank Battalion 503 to Army Group Don to assist in stabilizing the front. This unit was needed to help protect Rostov so that the 1st and 4th Panzer Armies and other German units in the Caucasus could withdraw across the Don River to the Donets River, where the high command planned a new defensive line.
This battalion arrived at the beginning of 1943 and Army Group Don immediately assigned it the mission of securing bridges across the Manytch River for use by withdrawing forces. By this time there was not a continuous front in the area. German forces defended a series of blocking positions and strongpoints in an attempt to stop the Soviet advance. These were located at key points at road or railroad junctions and major river crossings. The fighting was characterized by rearguard actions, while the main body of troops took up new positions farther back.

Heavy Tank Battalion 503 participated in this fighting from 1 to 17 January 1943, primarily securing important river crossing sites. Due to the fluid nature of the battlefield, however, they were sent from one important area to another, and in one instance covered 65 kilometers in one day…"
Full article here
weaponsandwarfare.com/?p=38440

Amicalement
Armand

Looks like good material for a Skirmish Campaigns style scenario booklet.

The last line, "…in one instance covered 65 kilometers in one day…" is a good a reminder that not all German heavy tanks broke down so easily.

Agee with you my friend Gamertom.

You are right Centurian.

Amicalement
Armand

There are average march km to loss statistics.