"KG Klink, Poland, Game 1" Topic

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:
link

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

Nice to see more Early War action in Poland, Jack. There must be New Years resolutions out there to finally get our work posted online. :)
Looking forward to more.

Thanks Jack, a nice looking table, there seems a growing interest in the early war stuff on these boards.

Wizbangs – I've been playing so much I haven't been keeping up on TMP here. I see I'm not the only guy working on playing through all of WWII, starting in Poland! I'm jealous as your looks much better than mine, but I'll endeavor to persevere. Oh, and I don't have an armored train either ;)

Norm – Thank you Sir, I appreciate it. I apologize as I don't comment as often as I should, but I've been following your posts on your 'Minsk' rules, as well as your various game/mechanics reviews.

V/R,
Jack