Despite the severe conditions and general lack of support services, the few KVs of the 21st Tank Brigade gave the Germans a sound thrashing as the Soviet winter offensive continued to roll. This period was the peak of the tank's ascendancy and they earned the nickname of "White Mammoths". Slow though they might be, their presence terrorized the Germans. As the German units cracked and began to pull back to seek better positions, the 30th Army drove 3rd Panzer Group before them. They fought through snowy woods the whole way until they butted up against the German last ditch defenses in front of Rzhev. On the 3rd of January, the brigade detected a German regiment and attempted to attack it while it was retreating. Unfortunately, the Germans had the help of a nearby flak unit, able to use its "88s" to great effect.
Objectives: Your company will converge on the village and destroy the FlaK 88 section, along with all other enemy presence. Your platoon forms the left flank of the company battleline. Your platoon and the right flank platoon (moving northwest along the road) will assault the village while the center platoon provides fire support. Again, remember that the FlaK 88 has 360 degree traverse.
