4. Panzer Division 6/7th October 1941

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Re: 4. Panzer Division 6/7th October 1941

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Hello to all :D; bumping this old thread....................................

From Orel to Mtsensk.

On October 4, 1941, the 5th battery was assigned to Lauchert's advance detachment, which in the evening was able to form a bridgehead at Ivanovskaya, 15 kilometers northeast of Orel. At noon on October 5, 1941, the reinforced 103 Artillery Regiment prepared with a short fire to advance from the Ivanovskaya bridgehead in the direction of Mtsensk, which, however, came to a standstill in front of numerous heavy tanks and during attack aircraft. The Vorausabteilung Eberbach, which had the order to take Mtsensk, was given Artillery Regiment 103 without the 1st Abteilung, but with 4./A.R.69 and I./Nb.W.R.53 on October 6, 1941.

The artillery took up position to the southwest of Ivanovskaya and at 9 o'clock put concentrated fire on the breakthrough position. Enemy positions behind the Lisiza, including 4 light tanks and 7 anti-tank guns, were breached with the support of the II. Abteilung. Then our own tanks must withdraw from heavy Russian tanks, against which they have no effect but which can penetrate their own armor. The 6th battery, the I./Nb.W.R.53 and an advanced gun of the 4./69 intervene in the battle here. The regimental commander gives the battle substantial support through the fire of the II./103 without 6th Bttr., the III./103 and the 4th Bttr. 69 with excellent observation points on the heights west of the Lisiza.

Through the fire of the s.F.H. one or two tanks are put out of action. The I./Nb.W.R.53 is withdrawn via the Lisiza. The 6th battery, however, remains in front of the bridge and pushes 2 anti-tank guns, which also cause a heavy tank to turn off by hits. In the afternoon 4 heavy tanks attacked under fire protection from others. The 10 cm cannon of 4th Bttr. 69 forces them to turn off. Then 10 heavy enemy tanks reached the firing position of the 6th battery from the flank under the fire protection of other Russian tanks. The extremely critical situation can, however, be mastered with ease. There are two battles between guns and tanks, tanks against tanks and individual soldiers against tanks. 3 tanks are shot down by guns, 3 by tanks and another is set on fire by close fighters.

An 8.8 anti-aircraft gun and a 10 cm cannon also intervene in the fight. The enemy tanks retreat at high speed after crisscrossing. A gun from the 6th battery was hit directly. While the further deposition over the Lisiza is in progress, another tank attack follows, which in turn leads to close combat in the position and with the limbs of the 6th Battery, and ends after a long time with the shooting down of an enemy tank. After that, the VA Eberbach can withdraw completely unhindered across the bridge under the fire protection of the regiment.

The losses in II. Abteilung are 4 dead and 6 wounded out of a total of 10 dead and 33 wounded. Besides the one l.F.H. the advanced 10 cm cannon is also lost. Further total failures: six tanks and two 8.8 anti-aircraft guns. The l.F.H. has shown only limited suitability for defense against heavy tanks. But since the mass of the anti-tank gun with its 3.7 cm caliber is ineffective, there is only this makeshift solution. The commander of the II. Abteilung AR 103, Major Laukat, had the main merit in overcoming the combat crisis and was awarded the Knight's Cross for this.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... R103-R.htm
https://www.oocities.org/pentagon/quart ... menewo.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Kamenewo area..............................................
Kamenewo area..............................................
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Russian counter-attack's direction...................
Russian counter-attack's direction...................
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Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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