Ostfront AAR - Fire and Ice - Operation Taifun November 1941
This AAR uses an actual aerial reconnaissance photo of the Petrowka area provided by Marechallanes in the thread http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...609#post246609.
I took the Germans and my son Alexander took the Russians.
OPERATION TAIFUN, MOSCOW FRONT NOVEMBER 15, 1941 - PART ONE
With the onset of the winter finally freezing the thick, clinging mud of the Russian 'rasputitsa', the Wehrmacht launches their final operation to take Moscow codenamed Taifun. Assigned to the 4.Panzerarmee, the 20. Panzer-Division would be in the vanguard of the attack. Commanded by Spanish Civil War veteran Generalmajor Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma, the 20. Panzer was to attack towards Vyazma, the last major defensive line protecting the Soviet capital.
From the turret of his Panzer 38(t), Oberleutnant Kurt Müller of Panzer Regiment 21 peered through his binoculars at the 'kolchos' or collective farm. There was no sign of Ivan, but then despite the propaganda over the past six months he had proven himself a crafty devil who new how to fight. There was no time for delay however, as his company formed the vanguard of the 20.Panzer. Müller ordered an advance with one column moving to the left of the kolchos with his troop taking the right. Just then two Messerschmitt Bf 109F fighters appeared from the west, all the fighter cover the hard-pressed Luftwaffe could provide to cover the advance.
The two pilots in the cockpits of the 'Friedrichs' were Hauptmann Hans Philipp Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 54 'Grünherz' and his Katzmarek Feldwebel Herbert Brönnle of 2./JG 54. Both were experienced Jagdflieger having seen plenty of action since the early days of the war over Poland and France. Flying at 7000 metres, they scanned the horizon for the Red Air Force, which had become much bolder of late as the Wehrmacht closed in on Moscow. Hptm. Philipp was looking down at the farm below when his eye caught a sudden movement. There some 2000 metres below he made out two winter camouflaged aircraft streaking in from the east - Sturmoviks!
Serzhant Yuri Klimetsov pushed his throttle of his 'Ilyusha' to the firewall. He and his wingman comrade Mladshiy Serzhant Piotr Orlov could see the grey shapes of the Fascist tanks against the white snow. Klimetsov's young gunner screamed into his microphone - "Germanski fighters, 12 o'clock!" Klimetsov looked up and not for the first time wished for fighter escort, but losses had been heavy and there were no planes to spare. The enemy fighters were high, and he judged his flight had a chance to get in before the Fascists could intercept. Klimetsov knew their mission had to succeed for the Red Army had yet to consolidate their line after the withdrawal from Bryansk. "Damn the fighters, we attack now - for Stalin!"
Phillip and Brönnle dive down on the Sturmoviks, but the VVS aircraft are too low to intercept.
As the Luftwaffe fighters overshoot his aircraft Klimetsov's gunner fires a quick burst!
Having got in under the Messerschmitts Klimetsov and Orlov dive on the panzers. In their haste to get to grips with the enemy however they are going too fast to get down on the deck for a close range pass.
Opening up at long range with their cannons and machine guns they still damage the two Fascist tanks, killing the driver of the lead vehicle. Philipp and Brönnle pull hard on their sticks to get in behind the Russians.
Banking hard to port the Russians open fire on the second panzer column, with Orlov damaging another tank.
Diving again the Messerschmitts are almost on the Sturmoviks, but too late to prevent their first attacks.
Philipp and Brönnle make a pass over the Sturmoviks, attacking each of the Russian aircraft. Orlov's gunner returns fire at Brönnle's aircraft, the 12.7mm rounds punching through his wing.
As the Russian pilots continue to cut a path of destruction through the lightly armoured panzers hitting Oberleutnant Kurt Müller's vehicle. The Messerschmitts reverse and continue their attack with Philipp blasting Orlov's machine but also hit by return fire. (Philipp's attack was a telling blow however, as 20mm cannon rounds smashed into the Il-2s engine).
Throttling right back the slower Russians again force the Messerschmitts to overshoot, Orlov's gunner putting another burst into Philipp's aircraft. Klimetsov puts a burst of cannon fire into the lead panzer which starts to burn!
As the Russians turn back to make another attack run Philipp and Brönnle throttle back to stalling speed to avoid another overshoot.
Both German pilots fire on Orlov's aircraft. Philipp's high deflection burst goes wide (0/0), but Brönnle times his fire well and blasts the Russian out of the sky (8/2!). Orlov returns fire, but cannot track the fast moving 'Friedrich'.
Orlov crashes his stricken Ilyusha into a snow covered field, giving Brönnle his first victory of the day.
END OF PART ONE
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What a wonderfully different & exciting 
Originally Posted by clipper1801
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