Paw Of The Tiger
Operation Gypsybaron
Hungary
October 20th, 1944
German and Hungarian forces had been reeling back from multiple Soviet attacks, as well as the defection of Romania to the Allied side. The Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front under Marshal Malinovsky had launched another offensive with the goal of taking the Hungarian town of Debrecen, which would give them the open tank terrain of the Hungarian plain. Outnumbered 2:1, Soviet forces bludgeoned their way through the Axis defenses. Though the terrain favored the defenders and Soviet forces were suffering heavily, a series of swirling battles ensued that finally saw Soviet forces of the 6th Guard Cavalry Corp of Cavalry-Mech Group Pliyev break through and take up positions north and south of Debrecen, that also seriously threatened to cut off major elements of the German 8th Army. Looking to draw away Soviet reserves and relieve tension around the Axis forces still battling in the Debrecen region, General Friessner carefully husbanded scarce reserves, including the 503rd Schwere Panzer Battalion fully outfitted with Tiger II tanks, and unleashed them on October 19th/20th from the town and river crossing at Szolnok on the Tisza River. These forces were to drive a wedge into the Soviet and Romanian forces, taking the towns of Mezotur, Turkeve and Kisujszallas. This would draw what reserves the Soviets had left away, and allow Axis forces to retreat and possibly still hold Debrecen. The 19th saw the 4th Romanian Division, holding a bridgehead over the Tisza River, face the full-force of the German/Hungarian assault and suffer grievously, with a few survivors fleeing to the eastern side of the river and trying to form a line with the 9th Cavalry Division. The morning mists hid the sight of King Tigers as they led the Axis forces in their attack.
This scenario is available as a free download on the PANZERKORPHQ Yahoo! Group.
Although designed for the Divisional WWII miniatures system, the scenario can be used as a framework for company- or squad-level games.
Panzer Korps and its various handbooks are available directly from panzerkorps.com, or from On Military Matters.
In the U.K., from Caliver Books; and in Europe, from Worean.
Watch for us at Recon 15 this week, April 23rd through April 26th, in Orlando, Florida.