Opening Moves (The Red Gambit Series)

by Gee, Colin

  He did so with regret of course but it was necessary as he waited for the elements of the capitalists’ destruction to assemble on the battlefield, which they were very close to doing.

  ‘Why is it always the damn tanks that mess things up?’ he mused, all the time watching the to-ing and fro-ing of American vehicles, bringing fresh meat to the grinder and taking away that which the grinder spat out, maimed and crippled.

  A BA-64 arrived to his rear and he received word that ‘armour’ had finally deigned to arrive.

  Taking one last look at the open ground he had spent over an hour reading and understanding, he nodded in satisfaction and went to speak to the assembled senior officers of the four arms of service about to immolate the capitalist legion on his chosen killing ground

  As senior Colonel, he laid out his plan for destroying this Amerikanisti tank force, coordinating with the newly arrived Colonel of Tank troops, Popov of the Army anti-tank unit and a Captain from his own divisional Artillery regiment.

  He explained the plan to them and it was a thing of simple beauty, requiring only one act of cooperation from the Americans to succeed.

  Looking at his watch and judging how much time the tank Colonel would need to get back to his unit and brief them, he designated 1240 hrs as the start time for his plan.

  1239 hrs 10th August 1945, Soviet Ambush and Counter-attack, vicinity of Reichenberg, Germany.

  Allied Forces – 23rd Tank Battalion and 17th Armored Infantry Battalion and 495th Field Artillery Battalion and C Company, 92nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Battalion, all of Combat Command ‘B’ of 12th US Armored Division and 2nd Battery, 573rd AAA Btn, all of US Fifteenth Army, US Twelfth Army Group.

  Subsequently arriving - 2nd Battalion, 255th Infantry Regiment of 63rd US Infantry Division, detached from US XXIII Corps, US Fifteenth Army, US Twelfth Army Group

  Soviet Forces – 2nd and 3rd Battalions and Anti-Tank companies of 179th Guards Rifle Regiment and 127th Guards Artillery Regiment, all of 59th Guards Rifle Division of 34th Guards Rifle Corps, and 242nd Tank Brigade of 31st Tank Corps, and Special Anti-tank Gun Battery Popov,1317th Anti-Tank Regiment, all of 5th Guards Army of 2nd Red Banner Central European Front.

  Simple orders issued and understood, Artem’yev had but to fire three flares to fully implement his plan.

  In his right hand he held a battered but functional Model 26 flare pistol, his left arm crooked so he could count down the seconds on his father’s wristwatch, an inner whispering from his subconscious registering the newly cracked glass. At three seconds to time he pulled the trigger, sending one red flare skywards, and setting in motion the death of many a young man.

  Fig#17 - Reichenberg, Soviet counter-attack

  Flare number one was the signal for PTRD’s and 45mm anti-tank guns to open fire on the tanks north of Rottenbauer. Neither type were of much use when targeting the Sherman tanks nearest them but some sought out the more vulnerable Stuarts and half-tracks, scoring hits and taking lives, causing 3-C/92nd troopers to displace south-west, searching for a way round the southern flank of the enemy.

  The CCB’ Commander responded quickly and aggressively to the challenge, noting the ground between him and the Russian firing line on the other side of the railway track was sound, both to the military eye and on the map.

  C/23rd were ordered to move immediately north with their armored-infantry component and to take a left turn into line when level with Lindflur orienting to the north-west, with a view to reaching the BahnhofStra²e and turning north to Reichenberg. B/17th moved west and north to come in behind them, ready for an assault once the AT guns had been beaten down.

  A/23rd were to take their cue from C/23rd and move forward to the crossroads before turning left to descend upon Reichenberg from the east. As a precautionary measure one platoon of tanks was to set up oriented north at the crossroads, screened by a recon platoon in the tree line ahead and the armored-infantry’s support companies were moved up to an off-road position between Rottenbauer and Lindflur, ready to react as directed.

  The cavalrymen were immediately drawn into a close-quarter firefight with Soviet guardsmen stationed in the woods to their west.

  A further tank platoon of B/23rd was added to the mix in Rottenbauer, the rest joining the support companies off-road as a mobile reserve. The Colonel set up his mobile command post adjacent to the destroyed cavalry M24, having decided that Fuchstadt was suitable for his command needs.

  He climbed to the attic room of the modest private house on the village’s northern edge to test the view, the occupants having long taken to their heels when the Soviets returned.

  As he steadied himself and took everything in through his field glasses, he caught sight of a hit on one of C Company’s tanks that flipped the track off in an instant. The tank fought back even though immobilised and it was noticeable that his tank crews had already done good work amongst the camouflaged Soviet gun positions, where barrels stuck skywards or scars in the earth indicated positive hits and definite kills.

  A half-track disintegrated under two simultaneous hammer blows, body parts and weapons thrown in all directions, momentum driving the burning hulk forward, a fiery hearse containing a dozen young men.

  An M5 Stuart light tank was halted, the furthest forward vehicle in the advance, smoke gently drifting from open hatches. The impetuous cavalrymen who had crewed it bolted in all directions, trying hard to find cover before Soviet machine gun bullets found them, and in all but one case failed.

  A second flare rose from the Soviet position. The Colonel had no time to think before the crack of more powerful weapons were heard and tanks began to die in earnest.

  Fig#18 - Reichenberg, Soviet second flare attack.

  The Soviet 179th’s Regiment’s TOE contributed four Zis-3 76.2mm guns to the fight but the ace played by Artem’yev was the battery from the Army’s independent anti-tank regiment, consisting of one additional Zis-3 and a pair of 100mm BS-3 guns.

  A late addition to the Soviet war inventory, the penetrating capability of the 100mm was awesome and nothing on the field that day was going to be able to resist its shells.

  To the American Commander it seemed that the Grim Reaper was at work on the field in front of him. Clearly, the answer was for his tanks to press closer, supported by whatever mortars and artillery he could lay his hands on. To close and use weight of shot and shell to overcome the defenders, for to withdraw meant an end to his attack and probably an end to his unit. He added the B/23rd reserve force to the headlong charge.

  Three knocked-out Sherman’s became five before his gaze, his binoculars remaining glued to his face as he rapped out orders, orders intended to save his command from being butchered but which only hastened its end.

  His artillery officer called in vain to the 495th Artillery supporting them, the American artillery presently being on the end of a severe aerial attack and unable to save themselves, let alone contribute to the debacle developing nine miles away.

  The Armored-Infantry’s self-propelled M7 battery, stationed adjacent to Fuchstadt, waited on orders from a dead fire-controller whose OP vehicle had long since been destroyed. The three M7 SP guns failed to open fire when it might have made a difference.

  Once Artem’yev saw the American tanks driving harder at his lines he prepared the third flare and, when they had reached the most advantageous position, launched it to initiate the final phase of the plan.

  The twenty T34/85’s of 1st and 2nd Companies, 242nd Tank Brigade had been concealed in dead ground in exactly the same position occupied some hours beforehand by the ill-fated 2nd Battery 975th Artillery Regiment.

  They burst from cover to be confronted with the unprotected right flank of an under fire and under pressure American tank battalion.

  The American tank platoon at the crossroads engaged them as quickly as they could but it did not save many of their fellow tankers. Seven A Company Sherman’s received telling hits in as many seconds.

  Fig#19 - Reichenber
g - Soviet third flare.

  In any case, that covering platoon was suddenly confronted by a Russian tank company and headquarters unit with infantry support coming from further north. Twelve armoured green beetles spewing fire and seemingly intent on running over the top of them and on into Rottenbauer, already sweeping the demoralized remnants of the 1st Platoon’s troopers in front of them.

  The third flare also had another purpose, and its flight cued in the supporting artillery battery, whose 122mm shells descended on the troops in Fuchstadt. The three M7’s took the opportunity to displace according to standard doctrine, withdrawing from the field in disarray.

  The six 120mm mortars of the 179th Regiments heavy battery targeted Albertshausen and ‘killed’ an M-16 half-track from the 573rd with their first salvo.

  23rd Tank Battalion and its supporting elements were on the precipice, and only firm resolute leadership would save them from disaster.

  The American Colonel snatched the radio mike from the hand of his operator, his response prepared and ready to pass on to his dwindling force.

  A Soviet OF-471H standard issue HE-fragmentation round contained 3.8 kilos of high-explosive, and the whole projectile could arrive on a target nearly twenty thousand metres away, delivering twenty-five kilograms of fragmentation power.

  The particular round in question had left gun no2 of the Divisional Heavy Battery some seconds beforehand, lovingly wiped clean and slid into the breech of his A19 122mm field gun by a leathery old man who wished for no more than a swift return to his modest existence in the Ural mountains.

  In truth, most of the OF-471H’s destructive power was wasted, as a fraction of it was all that was needed to eradicate the entire mobile command group of the 12th’s Combat Command ‘B’.

  The round struck the apex of the dormer roof above where the Colonel was stood, radio handset at the ready. It did not explode, instead carrying on and obliterating the radio operator before surrendering up its destructive force at bedroom floor level.

  If nothing else, it was quick.

  The Sherman’s were fighting back, some reversing, keeping their front to the enemy. A few others turned tail and ran, quickly falling victim to anti-tank guns or T34’s who lapped up kills on tanks displaying their weak areas of armour. The half-tracks fared badly, falling victims to the complete range of Soviet weaponry, one limping home with its full nearside bogie set removed by a 100mm shell.

  More casualties were sustained as tanks and transports strayed into artillery and mortar zones, fire being shifted expertly by the Artillery Officer who was already on Colonel Artem’yev recommendation list, along with more than a few others in this wondrous victory.

  Switching the rest of the 2nd Battalion to go to the aid of their beleaguered comrades in Rottenbauer, he watched in satisfaction as the 242nd Tank Brigade swept the field clean. He witnessed the sight of one vehicle turned into an instant fireball by a bazooka hit and then watched the dead tanker’s comrades avenge themselves by first machine-gunning then crushing the group responsible.

  A pair of B Company Sherman’s dropped in behind shallow ridges to the north of Fuchsstadt and tried to cover the disorganised retreat.

  Both scored hits, the first bounced off the tank unit commander’s vehicle having given the crew a huge fright, the second struck the driver’s hatch of the vehicle behind him flat on the vision slit just as the tank dipped into a depression.

  It did not emerge into sight again; instead, the view became clouded with a rich oily smoke, marking the loss of more sons of Mother Russia.

  Vengeful comrades hurled shell after shell at the brave Americans, occasionally hitting but not causing terminal damage.

  Another T34 shuddered to a halt, this time one from the outflanking force descending from Rottenbauer in the north. No fire, no smoke, no life.

  An American half-track [D] burst from the village behind them, bouncing along in their wake, unseen by those closest, recognised by others more distant but immune from harm because of the nearness of their comrades.

  Against all the odds it escaped, dropping into a small cut that took it northeast towards the river.

  An M-16 ran from Albertshausen, its quad .50 mount lashing out at anything in range [E].

  It died, victim of the fog of war, in this case smashed by a friendly bazooka round, hastily aimed by a terrified infantryman virtually blinded by smoke. Three men escaped, two more ran around, thrashing in their agony as flames slowly consumed them.

  The Soviet Artillery Officer switched his radio to a different channel and sent information to the tanks, which started to perceptibly slow.

  122mm shells started to arrive, accurately dispatched onto the point of dogged resistance.

  Neither Sherman was hit but no further shells came from them. They were later recovered for use as spare parts by Soviet tank maintenance crews. The Americans who rode the Sherman’s into battle either died from blast or concussion within their chargers, or perished in a sea of metal and explosives trying to escape them.

  Combat Command ‘B’ had been swept from the field with huge loss of life.

  Soviet casualties amongst the 242nd Battalion’s armoured units were evenly spread, with each of the three medium companies losing four tanks, some of which were salvageable. Other gaps were made up with three Sherman’s salvaged from the field. 4th Company lost only one vehicle and crew, inexplicably driven over a ridgeline and turning over, killing all inside.

  The most notable Soviet tank casualty was the commanding Colonel, victim of an excellent shot from Belinda’s Bus.

  One of the 100mm guns had been hit, losing a wheel, and a jury rig was in place to keep it operational.

  No Zis-3’s had been hit and none of the gunners touched during the exchange.

  Losses in 45mm AT guns were much worse, with seven destroyed with nearly all their crewmembers.

  Anti-tank riflemen had also sustained large casualties, and over thirty lay dead on the field, with as many bleeding in the aid stations set up in Reichenberg.

  1st and 3rd Battalions of the 179th Guards counted less than forty casualties between them, mainly because they had not been heavily targeted during the battle.

  The 4th and 6th Companies that had fought in Rottenbauer were finished as effective formations. Of the two hundred and eleven officers and men alive that morning, barely a third responded to roll call that afternoon, and those seventy-two shattered men and women included walking wounded and those upon whom the deeper wounds were not apparent.

  2nd Battalion of 179th Guards Rifle Regiment was effectively finished as a fighting force, given that 5th Company, already badly handled in fighting north of Würzburg on the 8th August, had been dealt heavy blows by the US cavalry troopers in the wood line skirmish, adding just another fifty-eight effectives to the roster. They were formed into some sort of order as a single entity, albeit unusable for the foreseeable future.

  Fig#20 - Reichenberg - The End

  Artem’yev gathered the living in Rottenbauer where the medics had converted the Schloss into a hospital. He moved amongst his men, tears falling for their pain and sacrifice, not caring to celebrate his complete victory bought at the cost of their blood.

  For the Americans, the reaper’s bill was immense.

  Whole tactical units had disappeared from the order of battle.

  Of the four tank companies comprising 23rd Tank Battalion, only D Company, the light tanks, existed as a useful fighting force, having lost only one of their number during the days combat, and that being an M8HMC abandoned due to engine failure on the retreat back to Goßmannsdorf.

  Each of the medium companies had been at decent strength, with 12 M4A3 [76]’s and 1 M4A3 [105] close-support tank. Four C Company tanks escaped the field, as did one each from A and B, although the B Company vehicle broke down south of Sommershausen and was abandoned.

  Astonished US staff officers assembling as news of possible tragedy spread firstly refused to believe and then surrendered to despa
ir as a tank battalion that had mustered forty-one running tanks at the start of the day now could bring just five to the field, and those manned by men who were exhausted and shocked beyond measure.

  17th Armoured Infantry Battalion, support elements and all, had gone into action with precisely one thousand and one personnel to its name.

  It now could muster only two hundred and twelve equally exhausted and shocked men, although that number swelled to three hundred and two in the night, as stragglers made their way back to the relative safety of the front line.

  C Company, 92nd Cavalry was gone, its sole living representatives occupying six beds in the divisional aid station. Three men survived the night and by the next time the sun rose, one more had succumbed.

  573rd’s Battery had lost all its vehicles but eighteen men had escaped the Devil’s cauldron that had been created in the fields before Reichenberg.

  As a fuller picture of events was assembled, it rapidly became convenient to blame a long dead Colonel for the defeat, much to the disgust of those who fought in the action.

  Amidst the horror and the suffering, tales surfaced of the two tanks ‘Belinda’s Bus’ and ‘The Berlin Express’ and their valiant stand in the face of overwhelming odds. Reliable information from the AAA Lieutenant and a Captain from the armored-infantry filled in most of the blanks. Both men had escaped because the brave tankers had sacrificed themselves. Other witness testimony embellished the submission to the Army Commander.

  The family of eight crewmembers from the two tanks, both ‘B’ Company, 23rd Tank Battalion, attended the White House in November 1945 to receive posthumous DSC’s for their loved ones. Alongside them were the proud but emotionally wrecked parents of 2nd Lieutenant Jurgen Knapp, German-American commander of ‘The Berlin Express’, and Belinda Montoya, grieving wife of Tech5 Antonio Montoya and mother of the young son he never saw, and for whom the Medal of Honor was a poor substitute for a loving son, husband and father.