Background
The Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive or Lvov-Sandomierz Strategic Offensive Operation (Russian: Львовско-Сандомирская стратегическая наступательная операция) was a major Red Army operation to force the German troops from Ukraine and Eastern Poland. Launched in mid-July 1944, the Red Army achieved its set objectives by the end of August.
The offensive was composed of three smaller operations:
- Lviv Offensive Operation (13 July 1944 – 27 July 1944)
- Stanislav Offensive Operation (13 July 1944 – 27 July 1944)
- Sandomierz Offensive Operation (28 July 1944 – 29 August 1944)
The Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive is generally overshadowed by the overwhelming successes of the concurrently conducted Operation Bagration that led to the destruction of Army Group Center. However, most of the Red Army and Red Air Force resources were allocated, not to Bagration’s Belorussian operations, but the Lvov-Sandomierz operations. The campaign was conducted as Maskirovka. By concentrating in southern Poland and Ukraine, the Soviets drew German mobile reserves southward, leaving Army Group Center vulnerable to a concentrated assault. When the Soviets launched their Bagration offensive against the Army Group, it would create a crisis in the central German front, which would then force the powerful German Panzer forces back to the central front, leaving the Soviets free to pursue their objectives in seizing the Vistula bridges and gaining a foothold in Romania…
The renewed Soviet offensive got underway on 29 July, with Konev’s spearheads quickly reaching the Vistula and establishing a strong bridgehead near Baranów Sandomierski. However, strong German counterattacks near Sandomierz prevented further expansion of the Soviet bridgehead. In early August, Harpe gained some respite. Five divisions, including one Panzer division, were transferred from Army Group South Ukraine. These were immediately thrown into action around Sandomierz. Soon after, another five German divisions, three Hungarian divisions, six StuG brigades and the 501st Heavy Tank Battalion (equipped with Tiger II tanks) were placed under Harpe’s command.
Large-scale German counterattacks were launched in an attempt to throw the Soviets back across the Vistula. Using the towns of Mielec and Tarnobrzeg on the eastern bank of the river as bases, these attacks caused heavy casualties to the Soviet forces. By mid-August, Konev’s spearhead, the 6th Guards Tank Corps had only 67 tanks remaining. The Germans launched a fierce counterattack with the 501st Heavy Tank Battalion and the 6th Panzer Division, totaling around 140 tanks including 20 Tiger IIs. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the 6th Guards held the bridgehead, knocking out 10 Tiger IIs. By 16 August, the German counterattacks were beginning to lose steam, and Rybalko, the commander of the bridgehead, was able to expand the Soviet controlled area by a depth of 120 kilometers, capturing the city of Sandomierz. With both sides exhausted, the fighting died down and the Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive was deemed complete.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lvov%E2%80%93Sandomierz_Offensive)
The Game
Situation
The scenario is the initial engagement of the Soviets with the Königstiger or Tiger II. German Victory Objective: Seize and hold one or both of two key bridges (the left or center) before reinforcements arrive. Soviet Victory Objective: Prevent the Germans from achieving their objectives.
(http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=111&art_id=1360&kb_cat_id=30)
Terrain:
The terrain is extremely soft and sandy, dominated the area around Sandomierz. All normal Cross-country terrain other than roads is considered Rough Terrain and is Difficult Going.
Scenario Special Rules:
- Play was lengthwise on the table. Since the table was twice as long as what was called for by the scenario, consider each of the boxes 1×2 feet.
- Each side’s units were predetermined by the scenario.
- The Russian units started mostly off board as reserves and a couple defending the left and center bridges.
- The Germans began 24” from the southern edge, with the remainder as delayed reserves.
- All off road movement was difficult.
- The Russians had a ten tank T-34/85 company in ambush.
- Both sides received Air Power, priority for the Russians and Limited for the Germans.
- Due to the lack of King Tigers, the Germans filled out their points with Panthers.
- The Germans received the first move.
The on board Germans consisted of: A Schwer Panzer Company consisting of: a platoon of four Königstigers, Kradschutzen recon, Armored Pioneers and a half battery of Hummels. The German reserves consisted of a platoon of MK IVj’s and two platoons of three Panthers. All of the German units were rated Confident Veteran.
The Soviets consisted of: two T-34/76 and one T-34/85 Company on board. Soviet reserves included two mixed T-34/76 and T-34/85 Companies and three IS-2 companies. The Russians were Guards units and were rated Fearless Trained.
Narrative:
Recon Moves: Germans rushed the Kradschutzen platoon up the center road to push back any Soviet ambush.
On Turn One: The Tiger platoon moved down the right hand road and the Kradschutzen pushed farther up the center. The Pioneers advanced on the left hand road. The Kradschutzen triggered a response from Jay’s T-34/76 Company in the woods between the left and center bridges, which resulted in several casualties.
Over the next couple of Turns, as the Germans deployed their units along the road, the Russians attempted to surge their tanks from behind the bridges into engagement range, in the hope of eliminating the German infantry. They managed to cause noticeable causalities on the Kradschutzen and the Pioneers. The Tigers were now in range and the AT16 rating cut through the T-34s like butter. The Hummels supported the infantry, killing and bailing several tanks each turn.
The intent of the scenario was to restrict the off road movement, but the Soviets moved between the roads and into the woods with only minor bogging except when it counted. The Soviets attempted to overrun the Pioneers, his Company Commander bogged, preventing any contact. The frozen tank company was destroyed on the next turn.
On Turns Four through Eight, the Tigers, Hummels and Air Power raked the Russian tanks without retaliation. This plus a continued streak of bad die rolls added to the frustration. The Soviets just could not get around to the Tiger II flanks to have any effects and failed to summon Russian Air Power! Finally, triggered by the German Recon troops moving up to the wheat field, five tank T-34/85 ambush rushed to overrun the recon and get on the Tiger II sides. The result was that the Recce platoon was overrun, but all the flank shots against the Tigers missed or were deflected! After perforating those pesky T-34/85s, the German commander discovered that his Tigers were heading for the wrong bridge and began to back off to reroute to the Center Road. At the same time, the delayed German PZIVs finally made up to the front line and began to attack towards the center bridge.
By Turn Nine and Ten, the German reserve Panthers had come on line and tore up the remaining Russian tanks attempting to hold the bridges, while the PZIVs cleared the woods in front of the center bridge.
By Turn Ten, the Soviets had little left and the Tiger IIs were in position to dominate the center. The game was called the game as a counter-factual German Victory with no losses to the King Tigers!
– Manteuffel