Maj Hamm repositioned his forces and caught the enemy armor in the flank.  Explosions of enemy vehicles filled the air as the German forces destroyed over 10 tanks in less than 5 minutes.  The discovery of an enemy Hq's element let Hamm know he had the Russian's as he ordered the lead vehicles to cross the bridge and establish a bridgehead.

At Ref Pt 40,  Immelmann's Infantry arrived and advanced to reinforce the position,  The 22nd Pz was harassing the remnants of the enemy Infantry trying to escape

"Eric get Lt Immelmann on the radio" ordered Hamm.  At the same time,  he ordered another Plt from 1st Pz to get across the bridge.  "Sir, yelled the radioman as he handed his commander the microphone.  "Immelmann,  sweep your forces towards the 22nd Pz.  I just got off the radio with their commander and they know to watch for you."  Hamm also called the 3rd Pz Co Cdr and ordered him to reoccupy the positins 2nd Pz had been in and to be prepared to engage any Russian armor in the area.

Maj Hamm was satisfied with the outcome so far. His Bn had taken some loses but less than expected.  He ordered the 22nd Pz to sweep the terrain to the north then to head for the bridge east of L'shcikovo. He told Immelmann to bring up his transports to start loading his men.  Those elements that were farthest were to be loaded first as Hamm wanted to make sure Ref Pt 50 was clear. He was going to use the Infantry closet to that location.

He released the 2nd Pz Co to continue north but retained the Lt Plt as security for his Hq's.  Elements of 1st and 3rd Pz Co's linked up with the Bn Hq's and were to act as escort.

The reports that were coming over the radio brought an end to Hamm's confidence.  7 Russian tanks ambushed the Bn Hq's escort and two Pz's were lost.  The confused reports prevented Hamm from knowing if the losses were in 1st or 3rd Pz Co"s.  As he was trying to make sense of what he just heard,  his own element was being raked by machinegun fire.  Then reports from the Recce who were approaching Ref Pt 50 said they had been engaged....The Russian's were trying to cut him off from forces that Hamm had sent north....

Hamm could only image the enemy tanks that attacked his command element were the same that hit the Bn Hq's escort.  The two PzII's that were his security were burning.  His driver had masterfully evaded the enemy by taking his vehicle between the trees and out of visual range.  The 22nd Pz was the closet Pz force and Hamm ordered them west.

Hamm's vehicle was tucked between bldgs as he awaited the Pz's of the 22nd.  The terrain here was very constricted and he didn't believe the Russian's would continue any pursuit.  The advance on Ref Pt 50 was underway and the enemy tanks had better things to do than chase him.  As Hamm was finishing that thought,  the Eric told him that the 22nd was on the trail leading to the bridge.

The radio reports from Immelmann were encouraging as he reported clearing Ref Pt 50 of enemy forces but the next one from the 22nd dismayed him.  Enemy units were reported to the east forcing 2 Plt's to turn around leaving only one to reinforce his elements.  With enemy armor roaming between the main N/S road and Ref Pt 50, Hamm ordered the Bn Hq's escort to hold in place.

The 17th SS Pz was able to hold open a corridor to the north for the main body of the advancing Regt/Div but was never able to pin down and destroy the enemy armor that was preventing the use of the main road in the sector.

Hamm was in his command vehicle going over the previous battle in his head, again.  His over-confidence cost his Bn dearly. 1st Pz Co was decimated. 12 Pz's lost which included all of the Lt Pz Plt. 2nd and 3rd Pz Co's were down 4 Pz's each and that was after the replacements had arrived.  Now his unit was preparing to move again with reports of a Russian force that was advancing in their direction.  No further information was available. The sector Hamm was assigned to advance in was dominated by wooded high ground to his NE and mostly open ground funneling into the built up area of Bra'Kino to his north. With his Bn at about 65% strength, Hamm could ill afford to get decisively engaged. He would need to outmanuever the Russian's if contact was made and strike only on his terms.  

Hamm walked over to his Cdr's that were gathered by his tent.  Standing there with his Pz Cdr's was his friend Cpt Jocheim from the Artillery who was talking with Cpt"s Immelmann and Sepp from the 13th SS Mot.  Also there was Cpt Asher from the 14th AT Co. This group of men had operated together since the begining of the campaign and Hamm was thankfull that Regt had the forethought to keep them together.  

"Gentleman, this is how we are going to handle this.  Cpt Immelmann's and Sepp's Infantry will advance to the woods at the base of Hill 240 and if no contact is made, continue to the crest where you will set up to engage any enemy advancing from the north. Cpt Asher's AT Co will screen your left flank and provide warning of any enemy advancing out of Bra'kino.  My Pz's will swing out to your right flank and manuever between Hills 240 and 250 then turn to the west to engage any enemy units in the flank in the vicinity of Ref Pt's 200 and 40. Based on the information from Division intelligence and forward scouts, this is where the Russian's seem to be headed.  Of course if the main force decides to advance out of the Bra'kino area, then we will have to adjust accordingly. We must identify the larger threat as early as possible."  After going over smaller details Hamm informed them that they would departing within the hour.

Like any battleplan,  it changes as soon as it launches. For Maj Hamm, it changed during the first thirty minutes.  Cpt Asher's 14th AT Co established the initial screen on the left flank and reported no contact.  Cpt Sepp had found a good route and dismount location up a draw to conceal his units approach to Hill 240 and was talking to Cpt Immelmann.  He also reported no contact.  Jocheim was setup to provide artillery support when needed. Hamm was still going to send 3rd Pz wide along the right flank but he adjusted everyones plan accordingly.

"Sir, Cpt Asher transmitting" announced Eric as he handed the headset to his Commander. "Hamm here, what's your status?" "We have heavy track vehicle activity in the area of Bra'Kino.  No ID yet but the Russian's are out there. I've got a Plt covering the SE road out of Bra'kino but that's it. The ground here is ambush territory so I will play that game" reported Ascher.  Hamm looked at his map.  No contact reports from Cpt Sepp and,  his forces had crested the hill and were moving to Ref Pt's 40 and 240.  3rd Pz Co was making good time and had entered the saddle between the high ground.  His lead Pz's had taken over flank security for Sepps' Infantry and had reported no contact.

"Sepp, Hamm here. You find some good ground and hold in place. 3rd Pz is about to cross your front and clear anything in the low ground.  You are now my mobile reserve. Immelmann,  get your men into the woods to the west and start a slow advance towards Ref Pt 65.  Try to control that trail. Ascher has the southern portion covered."  ordered the Commander.

He was about to order his forward Pz's off the high ground and advance NW when the radio came alive......

Maj Hamm wanted to engage those tramsports before the dismounted their passangers and ordered 1st Pz to advance and engage those enemy units on the right and 2nd Pz to engage those on the left.  Hamm wanted his Pz to breakup the enemy formations and slow their advance so 3rd Pz could close and hit them on the flank......The initial shots found their targets and the transports were scattered and some destroyed but.......

...a Co (-) of Russian 76mm AT guns were able to close and engage the 1st Pz. Two tanks exploded and when Maj Hamm recieved the report he was angry at himself. He thought his right flank was the most secure as all the reports were indicating an enemy push on his left, now his weakess Company took even more casualties.....

As the advance towards Ref Pt 65 proceeded, Maj Hamm set off for the fight that raged between his Pz's and the enemy AT Co. He was not going to have any threats from this flank as reports kept coming in of enemy Infantry and Armor approaching on his left.  A Plt from 2nd Pz was left as a blocking element to guard Immelmann's advancing right flank as the rest of his Pz's went about the task of destroying the enemy guns.  Jocheim's Artillery took out some guns and transports that were unlucky enough to be caught in the barrage.  3rd Pz reported they were clearing the draw......

Hamm could see the lead Plt's of the 3rd Pz as they emerged from the draw and they immediately opened fire on both the Russian guns and their transports. At the same time,  1st and 2nd Pz also began firing catching the enemy from 3 sides. Hamm was observing the destruction as he heard Cpt Immelmann's voice over the radio...."We have enemy armor at Ref Pt 65.  My first attack was beat back with casualties....

With his first attack repulsed,  Cpt's Immelmann had the 2 Plt's of Asher's AT Co that were in his area join in the second attack which resulted in 6 burning enemy tanks and the remainder retreating into the woods.  Aschers' other Plt reported more enemy armor approaching from the NW.  The Plt from 2nd Pz actting as flank guard to Immelmann's attack reported an enemy Infantry Co advancing on his position and he was engaging....

"Hamm, Immelmann....I have more enemy armor at 65...these are not the light tanks we engaged earlier, this is a new unit, with different vehicles, tanks I haven't seen before." "You have an enemy Infantry Co approaching your right flank with the lead element about 500m out"  replied Hamm as he took in the strange report about "new" tanks....

Maj Hamm listened as Cpt Immelmann kept reporting on the fight he was in with the Russian armor at Ref Pt 65. With two Plt's from Cpt Asher's AT Co., Immelmann was able to attack, counter-attack and hold his positin but was unable to advance.  Maj Hamm and his Pz's were advancing towards Ref Pt 65 as they attacked the enemy Infantry trying to move south.Hamm detached 2 Lt Pz Plt's to harass the Russian transports and any HQ's elements they happen to spot.

Just as Cpt Sepp's Infantry were begining to move out to reinforce Immelmann's forces, Maj Hamm's voice came over the radio.."Sepp, get your men off the trucks and back into position. There are some enemy elements that made it past us and another force is approaching. Immelmann, another enemy Infantry force has appeared to the north.  I have to deal with it before I can move to our location."  Immelmann didn't hear the transmission as another Russian counterattack forced back one of his Plt's.

Sepp's recall order didn't get out and his Company was enroute to reinforce Immelmann at Ref Pt 65.  Hamm's Pz's began to overrun the remainder of the Russian Infantry that were trying to split his forces.

"Hamm, the Russian's have broken my front" reported Cpt Immelmann.  Hamm was busy trying to stop the next wave of enemy Infantry before it could get close to Sepp's abandoned positions but he knew some enemy forces had gotten past him and were advancing towards Hill 200.

Hamm was desparately trying to get a handle on this fight. He took two Plt's and followed the Russian Infantry up the draw they had took to try and slow down their advance and give Sepp's units time to get back into their positions.  Immelmann reported that he had defeated the enemy tanks at Ref Pt 65 but had lost track of a few stragglers.

The Russian Infantry advance continues and again enemy armor appears at Ref Pt 65.