Hill 247

Hill 247 By Mike Turner The second day of Operation Zitadelle found the Grossdeutschland Division fighting the second echelon of the Soviet defenses, in particular the 3rd Mechanized Brigade of the 3rd Mechanized Corps. The German 48th Corps of which GD was part of, had broken the 67th Guards Rifle Division the day prior, and if they could break 3rd Brigade, the road to Obayan would be open.   The Grossdeutschland Division launched eight attacks on Hill 247 on the 6th of July 1943 with Major Remer’s 1st Grenadiers finally succeeding near nightfall. This attack represents an earlier attack by the combined elements of the Recon Battalion and the Assault Gun Battalion, which if successful would have allowed the GD to advance toward Obayan that evening.

The Recon BN and the AG BN fought together throughout Operation Citadel, even fighting to retake Hill 247 on 14 July after a Soviet counterattack seized the hill from 3rd Panzer Division. 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Mechanized Corps was dug in with supporting T-34’s also dig in. Mission ~ No Retreat Kampfgruppe Gross Deutschland must seize Hill 247, securing the Obayan Road and opening the way north for 48th Corps to continue the attack. Left: This map shows the basic layout of the terrain. Kampfgruppe Gross Deutschland start at the bottom of the map while the 3rd Brigade’s positions are dug in around and on Hill 247.

The Forces

Armored Recon Company   Based on elements of the Grossdeutschlands Recon Battalion Reconnaissance Company (Ghost Panzer Command Card) Armoured Panzergrenadier Company HQ (MG241)   with half-track 3 points 1st Armoured Panzergrenadier Platoon (MG242) 7x MG34 team 1x Sd Kfz 251 (3.7cm), 3x Sd Kfz 251 (MG) half-tracks 13 points 2nd Armoured Panzergrenadier Platoon (MG242) 7x MG34 team 1x Sd Kfz 251 (3.7cm), 3x Sd Kfz 251 (MG) half-tracks 13 points 3rd Armoured Panzergrenadier Platoon (MG242) 7x MG34 team 1x Sd Kfz 251 (3.7cm), 3x Sd Kfz 251 (MG) half-tracks 13 points Sd Kfz 221 & 222 Light Scout Troop (MG223) 1x Sd Kfz 223 (MG) and 2x Sd Kfz 222 (2cm) 2 points Sd Kfz 231 Heavy Scout Troop (MG224) 2x Sd Kfz 231 2 points Support Platoons     Grossdeutschland Assault Gun Battalion   StuG Assault Gun Company HQ (MG250) 1x StuG (late 7.5cm) 13 points 1st StuG (late) Assault Gun Platoon (MG251) 3x StuG (late 7.5cm) 39 points 2nd StuG (late) Assault Gun Platoon (MG251) 1x StuG (late 7.5cm), 2x StuH (10.5cm) 39 points Total 137 points

Motostrelkovaya Battalion   Based on elements of the 3rd Motostrelkovaya Brigade Motor Rifle Battalion (Red Banner) Motor Rifle Battalion HQ (MS149) 2x M1891 rifle team 1 points DShK AA MG Anti-aircraft Platoon (MS134) 3x DShK AA MG 3 points Motor Rifle Company (MS150) 19x DP MG & M1891 rifle team 1x Komissar team 1x Maksim HMG team 19 points 1 points Motor Rifle Company (MS150) 19x DP MG & M1891 rifle team 1x Komissar team 1x Maksim HMG team 19 points 1 points SMG Company (MS113) 15x PPSh SMG team 1x Komissar teamwith 2 Rifle Platoons 15 points 45mm Anti-tank Campany (MS116) 4x Long 45mm gun 8 points PTRD Anti-tank Company (MS115) 6x PTRD AT rifle team 4 points Support Companies   76mm Artillery Battery (MS130) 4x 76mm gun 8 points 76mm Artillery Battery (MS130) 4x 76mm gun 8 points T-34 Tank Company (MS137) 9x T-34 (76mm) 51 points Total 138 points