Attack on Soviet Brideghead, Strypa 16 April 44

[Wolf]

On April 16, 1944 German forces are to have wiped out a Soviet bridgehead near Osowche on the Strypa river. The attack was carried out by elements of 100. Jäger-Div, 10. SS Pz Div, 506. sPzAbt- also, in addition Reynold's in Sons of the Reich mentions 'an army PzGren-Rgt'(?) was to have taken part..

Does anyone know a more detalied OOB of the forces involved in this attack?

Also, is anything known of the defending Soviet troops?

[Art]

Does anyone know a more detalied OOB of the forces involved in this attack?

According to Ponomorenko (2009) the counterattack included 10 SS Division (both 22 and 23 Regiments and recon battalion), 73 Panzergrenadier Regiment/19 Panzer-division, elements of 100 Jäger-Division (at least 54 Regiment) and 506 Tiger Battalion.

Also, is anything known of the defending Soviet troops?

There is a very instructive investigation here:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/dou/?docID=136070853
According to this document the force included 317 Rifle Division (5241 men) supported by 130 Anti-Tank Regiment (13 guns) and 525 Mortar Regiment (30 mortars) and 155 Rifle Division (5679 men) supported by 374 Self-Propelled Regiment (12 SU-152 guns, only 4 operational). Casualties on 16.04.44 were:
317 Division - 90 men killed, 205 wounded, 224 missing
155 Division - 89 killed, 188 wounded, 66 missing
130 AT Regiment - 23 killed and 10 wounded
Also 31 45-mm and 76-mm guns and a number of other weapons lost.

[Art]

A fragment of the Soviet situation map with a view of this episode:



Full map here:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/dou/?docID=100800936

[Wolf]

Thank you Art!

Is there any mention of any of those (4) SU-152s being transported across the river?

[Art]

Can't find anything. What I've missed is that the are seems to be a juncture between 1 Guards Army and 4 Tank Army. From the last 147 Rifle Division was situated on the bridgehead at the right flank of 317 Division. 600 and 640 Rifle Regiment/147 Division supported by 8 tanks from 63 Guards Tank Brigade were subject to German attack on 16.4 and had to retreat behind Strypa. Their casualties were:
600 Regiment (16-17 April) - 9 men killed, 21 wounded, 40 missing
640 Regiment (16-17 April) - 7 killed, 37 wounded, 37 missing
63 GTBr lost 3 T-34 and 1 SU-85 destroyed and 3 T-34 damaged, 45 men killed and wounded on 16 April.

[Wolf]

So it seems the Soviet forces had elements of three rifle divisions with support, including some armour, in the bridgehead...

[Art]

Right. Keep in mind that 3 Soviet divisions were about as strong as one 10th SS Division.

[mars]

And so many missing means at least part of Soviet forces were routed

[Art]

If you take a document linked above, there is a clear description of panic among troops and disorderly retreat. One should keep in mind that preliminary reports on losses could be corrected later and fate of missing clarified.

[Wolf]

Does anyone know of the organisation of the German SS-PzAA10 at the time of the fighting - esp. did it have a company with Kübelwagen instead of half tracks...?

Also, at this time of the war did the batallion organisation in the 100. Jäger-Division differ from other "regular" infantry divisions?