Graviteam Tactics: Treacherous Lakes

On September 24, 1942, 51 and 57As of the Stalingrad Front received orders on the night of September 27 to attack the positions of Romanian troops in the defile between lakes Tsatsa and Barmantsak, capture the village of Plodovitoe and reach Tinguta station. Elements of 51A were supposed to strike north to the railway road near the Abganerovo station. The operation plan envisaged the destruction of the Romanian 1 and 4IDs with subsequent access to communications behind enemy lines, as well as the diversion of German forces from Stalingrad.
The positions of 57A elements were located in the area of Sarpinskie Lakes. The army included the 15gds RD, 20DBde, 1188ATAR, 18 and 76gds MTRs, 1334RR from 442RD and 76FR. South of 57A the defense was occupied by 51A. Elements of 57 and 51As were opposed by divisions of the Romanian 6AC consisting of 1, 2 and 4IDs. Due to delays encountered during the march to the initial lines, the start of the operation was postponed to the night of September 29. At the same time, German intelligence was able to identify preparations for the offensive. At 2:00 on September 29, units of 57A launched an attack in three groups on the forward positions of the Romanian troops.
After capturing the area between the lakes, the 1334RR with the 155TBde received the order to attacking the enemy at the heights west of the lakes and developing an offensive towards the Plodovitoe village. At the same time, 525sap bn with rifle units were supposed to prepare AT defense along the lakes line.
In turn, the German command began transferring reserves to the sector of the breakthrough of Soviet troops. Units of 14TD were transferred to the area of Sarpinskie Lakes to fend off the Soviet offensive. In the rear of the Romanian positions there was a railway, which was the main supply line for both 4TA and 6A operating in Stalingrad. The advance of Soviet units to the Abganerovo railway station would have caused a crisis in the supply of the German troops in Stalingrad area. The German command began hastily preparing large settlements in the rear of the Romanian troops for defense, and also pulled up reserves to the line of lakes. By the evening of September 29, the forward units of the 14TD entered the Plodovitoe village...

• Operation in September - October 1942 (12 turns).
• Precisely recreated area of over 200 sq. km: open plains with harsh terrain, lakes and small settlements.
• Historical organizational structure of units at the time of the operation.