Blinov, Nov 1942, information wanted

[British Tommy]

Hello!
This is my first post here and I was wondering if any one can supply any information about the battle at Blinov, November 1942.
I have put together a CMBB scenario based on the original Talonsoft EF scenario by D.Bevard. Here's the details and information pasted in below:

Scenario name: Red storm at Blinov
Based on the original Talonsoft East Front scenario by D.Bevard
Original main briefing by D.Bevard
Converted to CMBB by Bob Millard (British Tommy)
Email: bmillard7291@yahoo.co.uk
Date: 19th November 1942
Turns: 20 variable
Time: dawn
Weather: thick fog (limited LOS)
Ground conditions: light snow
Only to be played as the Romanians
Not suitable as a two player game

Original main briefing:
Blinov, 140km Northwest of Stalingrad. While the German 6th army resumed it’s attacks through the labyrinth of masonry and factory buildings in Stalingrad, disaster was brewing to the Northwest along the Don river.
Out of the rain, snow and freezing fog the Russians launched an attack spearheaded by the 5th tank army from Serafimovich against the Romanian 3rd army.
The Soviet attack was preceded by a concentrated artillery bombardment followed by waves of tanks and infantry advancing through the thick fog.
While Romanian 13th, 14th and 9th infantry divisions disintegrated in the panic, at Blinov formations of the 1st cavalry and 6th infantry divisions dug in and fought stubbornly to hold their positions against attacks by elements of the Russian 14th motorized and 216th tank brigades.
Thought the Soviets were slowed, the few isolated areas of resistance could not hope to hold back the red storm pouring across the Don and into the rear of the German 6th army.

The scenario is being play tested at the Proving grounds at the moment ( now on version 2 of the scenario) but I would like to make the scenario more historical.
Also, may I have permission to use any information from this site to be included in the scenario?
I will of course mention where the information came from.
Many thanks in advance!

[Victor]

The scenario you posted contains some false information. Sometimes wargamers don't use reliable sources of information.

First of all, the 9th Infantry Division did not "desintegrate" on 19 November 1942. It repulsed the the attack of the 4th Guards Rifle Division on its left and center sectors. Its right wing and the neighbouring 14th Infatry Division were overran by the 1st and 26th Tank Corps and the 8th Cavalry Corps in the afternoon of 19 November, after having resisted the initial infantry assaults made by several rifle divisions. The same for the 13th Division, which resisted until the afternoon the overwhelming forces thrown agaist it in the Kletskaya sector.

Second, the Only "Blinov" I was able to locate on the map is a Blinovsky, South of Bolshoy, on the Tsutskai Valley in the sector behind the junstion between the 9th and 14th Infantry Divisions. The 6th Infantry Division and the 1st Cavalry Division were much more to the West. The immediate neighbour to the right of the 14th Division was the 5th Infantry Division. Near Blinovsky was active the 7th Cavalry Division, which was in reserve and was committed to restore the front. It clashed with units of the 8th Cavalry Corps.

The 216th Tank Brigade was part of the 26th Tank Corps which attacked on the Tsaritsa Valley (parallel with the Tsutskai, more to the West) behind the 5th Infantry Diviion and straigth into theRomanian 1st Armored Division, with which it clashed on 20 November.

Personally I don't see how the described battle could take place, since the units in question were in totally different areas of the front on 19 November.

Of course you can use information from the website forthe scenarios. This is why this site and forum exist: to provide information on a subject many have problems trying to discover.

[British Tommy]

Thank you Victor!
Excellent reply, just what I was looking for
And many thanks for allowing me to use information from this site.
I will now replace the original scenario briefing with the correct information.
Next step is finding out the correct OOB's for the Romanian force which slowed down the Russian breakthrough at that sector of the frontline. The AT guns listed in the original Romanian OOB's consisted of 25mm ATG and AA guns.
Better still, below I have pasted in the weapons and forces I am using for the Romanians (the player takes the Romanian side).

Units under your command:
INFANTRY
Four platoons of rifle infantry
Three platoons of cavalry infantry
One pioneer platoon

SUPPORT UNITS
One light machine gun team
Three Heavy machine gun teams
Two sharp shooters
Three tank hunter teams
Two flame thrower teams (attached to the pioneers)

ARTILLERY
One 75mm artillery spotter
Two 81mm mortar teams
Three 60mm mortar teams

ANTI TANK WEAPONS
One 76.2mm field gun
One 25mm AT gun
One 25mm AA gun
One 37mm AT gun
One 45mm AT guns
One 20mm Flak gun
Four AT rifle teams

STATIC DEFENCES
Five barbed wire tiles
Two antipersonnel mines
Two daisy-chains AT mines
Two TRP’s

I will do some research here and see if my OOB's is correct or not.
Cheers,
Bob