AAR 9

On the 11-13th of February 2000, I participated in a Command Post Exercise (CPX) recreating the World War II Eastern Front battle for the city of Kanev in 1943 . The event lasted from Friday the 11th to Sunday the 13th of February. Prior planning had been started up to two weeks earlier. The event was designed to give practical strategic and tactical experience to United State Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS) Cadet Candidates, University of Connecticut Cadets and Virginia Military Institute Cadets.

The week prior to the CPX was spent in staff groups gathering information so we the, USMAPS Cadet Candidates, could brief the respective incoming Soviet Army Commanders. I was assigned to be the G-1 Personnel officer for the Soviet Fortieth Army. I was responsible for tracking movement and losses amongst their units for the first two days of the campaign. The evening of Friday the 11th we briefed the Commander of the 40th Army units and supported their planning sessions.

On the morning of the 12th I was along with Comrade Thompson were assigned command of the 53 Guards tanks brigade (GTB) of the 6th Guards Tank Corp, 3rd Guard Tanks Army in the area of Volkonskoy .

We initially received command of the 53 GTB but later had the 22 Mechanized Brigade and the Corp Headquarters assets assigned to our command. The 51st and 52nd GTB's entered the area before use in pursuit of the retreating Germans. We were near Volkonskoy moving towards Gelmaytin pursuing elements of the 10 Panzer Grenadier Corps (10 PzG). The 51st GTB pursued the Germans along the Supov River towards Gelmaytin, followed by our 53rd GTB, while the 52nd GTB broke off and set a defense position along the Supov River. The 51st quickly caught the rear elements of the 10 PzG and engaged them in close combat. Small elements of the 7 Panzers Regiment arrived and attempt an attack on the 52nd's defensive but made no headway and were destroyed upon arrival of the 91st Separate Tank Brigade to their rear. My 53rd GTB and 22 Mech. brigade were faced with slow going and was unable to engage the 10 PzG. As night fell we maintained our positions though the 91st drove on towards Kanev. Overnight 3 Marder (Tank Destroyers) battalions and 2 Tiger Tank Battalions of the 506 Heavy Panzers arrived on a black top road between the 51st and 53rd GTB's. Our prompt fire destroyed the three Marder battalions and one Tiger battalion. The remaining Tiger battalion halted the Russian Advance for several hours and resisted all attempts to destroy it. The Tigers destroyed two battalions of T-34 tanks while resisting fire from up to seven more. The Tigers were finally destroyed with a battery of longer ranged anti-tank gun batteries. At this time about noon the 51st was ordered to attack the now entrenched 10 PzG's at Gelmaytain with the help of the slowly arriving 68th Infantry Division. Meanwhile the 52nd, 53rd, 22nd and Headquarters was to cross the Supov River at a small blown bridge.

Attempts to repair and cross the bridge were hindered till late afternoon by a battalion of entrenched Germans with artillery support. The Germans successfully withstood several mortar and tank barrages and were finally driven out by a charge of Russian Sappers. After repairing the bridge the units successfully cross and left in an attempt to make it to Kanev. We were later informed that orders had changed and we were to attack the 10 PzG at Gelmaytin, which fell back that night. The Russians later crossed the Dneper at several places and enveloped the German Army winning a total victory.

We learned many lessons about warfare. My first observation concerned teamwork. Our briefings taught us many skills that future officers need and we saw how different staff jobs interact. We picked up speaking skills and knowledge concerning military briefings and learned what staff personnel have to do. I also learned such tactical knowledge such as mass does win and other principles of war. The overall campaign was a great success and entertaining. The event while fun was a meaningful learning experience that could help all cadets involved in their professional development.