Below is an After Action Report for The Last Hundred Yards Volume 4: The Russion Front Mission 45.0, Tigers on the Prowl. Enjoy!

---

October 1943: In the Battle of the Dnieper, elements of Konev’s Steppe Front were pushing into the Krivoi Rog area south of Kirovograd. A company of Russian T-34s was moving towards a refueling site when two Tigers from the 506^th Heavy Panzer Battalion, led by Leutnant Graef, found the unsuspecting prey. After the opening salvo by the Tigers, the Russians quickly went into action. To Graef’s surprise, instead of running, the Russians immediately turned and rushed him. As the Russians rapidly closed the distance between them, firing as they came, Graef for a brief moment wondered – had he become the prey.

Two formidable Tigers from the 506th Heavy Panzer Battalion, under the command of the skilled Leutnant Graef, were prowling the area. Graef’s tank was positioned on a small rise, offering a strategic vantage point, while his sergeant, Köhler, occupied a similar position some 300 yards to the east. The morning air was crisp and calm, but a distant rumble hinted at impending action.

As the column of enemy tanks came into view, Graef swiftly took charge. He ordered Köhler to target the trailing tanks while directing his gunner, Braun, to engage the lead tanks. The first salvo hit its mark, immobilizing the foremost enemy tank, prompting its crew to flee for cover. However, the Russians didn’t retreat as expected. Instead, they dispersed and, much to Graef’s surprise, started charging toward the Tigers at full speed.

Instinctively, Graef ordered his crew to prepare for action, realizing they might need to move quickly. The T-34s divided into three groups, attacking from the left, right, and center. Enemy tank rounds whizzed through the air as the center group returned fire while advancing. Graef commanded Köhler to concentrate on the tanks coming up the middle. Together, the two Tigers managed to eliminate two more enemy tanks, but the threat was far from over.

Suddenly, two T-34s appeared right in front of Graef’s tank, racing towards them with a steely determination. One of the Russian tanks headed for the nearby village, while the other attempted to flank the Tiger. Reacting swiftly, Graef ordered Braun to switch targets and engage the T-34 attempting to flank them. The turret turned as if it was in slow motion, while the enemy tank was racing toward their rear.

“Back left! Back left! He’s getting behind us!” Graef shouted urgently at Klein, the Tiger’s driver, instructing him to reposition the tank to face the Russian threat. Braun fired at point-blank range, hitting the enemy tank dead-on, causing it to explode. With one immediate danger averted, Graef decided to move south to create some distance from the remaining T-34 in the village.

Meanwhile, Köhler’s tank was also facing multiple adversaries, with three enemy tanks closing in on his position from the right. Realizing the danger of being surrounded, Köhler commanded his driver, Hofmann, to move their Tiger forward, down the slope, and through the village. Graef, seeing his comrade’s predicament, decided to go north to assist Köhler.

As the chaos of battle continued, Graef lost sight of Köhler for a moment, “Köhler, where are you? I’ve lost sight of you.” Köhler replied, “I’ve had to go north to get away from the two chasing me.” Determined to help his fellow Tiger, Graef instructed Klein to head back north to assist Köhler.

However, before they could reach Köhler’s position, Köhler destroyed one of the two remaining enemy tank chasing him. This was enough to give pause to the other Russian tanks, and they quickly retreated from the field. Graef and Köhler exchanged a knowing glance, silently acknowledging the unspoken bond formed between comrades in arms. In war, one found camaraderie and trust in those who fought alongside them, and that bond was something that transcended the chaos of the battlefield. With a sense of newfound unity and gratitude, they turned their tanks toward the horizon, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them next.

---