The Battle for L`vov, July 1944

Mike Turner – Soviet Late War Tankovy Battalion
The Battle for L’vov, July 1944
Following on the success of Operation BAGRATION the Soviets launched
an offensive to secure the Ukraine and gain a foot-hold in Poland. The
scheme of maneuver included two infantry forces breaching the German
lines followed by two armor heavy forces through the breach. The initial
objective was the encirclement of the city of L’vov and the German
reserves in the vicinity.
The southern arm of the pincer was composed of the 38th Army and the 4th Tank Army. The 38th
Army, which was composed of 15 Infantry Divisions, launched their attack on 14 July but met tough
resistance and only achieved marginal success in one area. Near the town of Koltov the Soviet
infantry created a 6 kilometer wide gap thru the German lines. The Germans heavily attrited the
Soviet Infantry Divisions trying to maintain the gap in order to commit the Tank Divisions of 4th
Tank Army. The Germans launched a series of counter attacks between 16th – 18th July in an
attempt to cut the Kolotv Corridor. The 322nd Rifle Division barely held the corridor open against
attacks by the 1st and 8th Panzer Divisions as well as the SS “Galicia” Grenadier Division. The
Soviet Rifle Divisions began to collapse due to their lack of armor and AT support. STAVKA made
the decision to commit units of the 4th Tank Army early to support the Infantry Divisions of the 38th
Army in their effort to maintain the “Koltov Corridor”.
The 93rd Separate Tank Regiment (T-34/85), and the 72nd Independent Guards Heavy Tank
Regiment (IS-2) were among the vanguard of the “breakthrough” units committed to support the
322nd Rifle Division in holding open the corridor, allowing the 10th Guards Tank Corps to attack
southern L’vov. The 93rd Tank Brigade was heavily engaged blunting the 1st Panzer Division, and
forced the 8th Panzer Division to turn south, while the 72nd Regiment spearheaded the 4th Tank
Army into southern L’vov. Based on their valiant efforts against the two German armor divisions
the 72nd Regiment was honored with the name “Lvovskiy”.
Mike Turner – Soviet Late War Tankovy Battalion
Resources
Great Battles on the Eastern Front, by Colonel (R) T. N. Dupuy
The Battle for L’vov July 1944, By David M. Glantz
Engines of the Red Army; http://www.o5m6.de/
XX
349
XX
SS
X
III
14
93
322
III
III
322
72
III
XX
322
1
Koltov
XX
8
XX
357
Mike Turner – Soviet Late War Tankovy Battalion
93rd Separate Tank Brigade
Regimental HQ
Recon Platoon
1st Battalion (T-34/85)
Cdr
1st Tank Co
2nd Tank Co
2nd Battalion (T-34/85)
Cdr
1st Tank Co
2nd Tank Co
3rd Battalion (T-70)
Cdr
1st Tank Co
2nd Tank Co
Motorized Rifle BN
Cdr
1st Co
2nd Co
3rd Co
Support Co
My Force
BN Cdr (T-34/85)
LT AR Car Plt
4xBA 64
1st Tank Co
5xT-34/85
2nd Tank Co
5xT-34/85
3rd Tank Co
6xT-70
Motorized Rifle Co
Cdr, 8xSMG Teams
72nd Indep Gd Hvy Tank Co
3xIS-2 w/Tankriders
72nd Independent Guards Heavy Tank Regiment
18xIS-2
I designed my force to represent a “scaled down”
version of the units of 4th Tank Army that assisted
the 322nd Rifle Division in holding the Koltov
Corridor. My Combat Platoon choices represent
each of the tank battalions in the 93rd Separate
Tank Brigade. My Support Platoon choices
represent the motorized rifle battalion and it’s
support assets organic to the 93rd Separate Tank
Brigade, the recon assets organic to the 93rd Tank
Brigade HQ and the last is representative of the
72nd Independent Guards Heavy Tank Regimant
pushed forward from 4th Tank Army to defeat the
counter-attacks made by 1st and 8th Panzer
Divisions.