After the fall of Orel, the Soviets began organizing a force to stop the Germans. The force was just beginning to arrive at Mtsensk when the German panzers drove toward Tula, the arsenal city south of Moscow. The newly formed 4th Tank Brigade was thrown in to slow down the invaders, with the hope that it would give the Soviet forces time to assemble behind the Lisiza River south of Mtsensk. The lead elements of the German 2nd Panzer Group engaged them on the 4th of October.
Objectives: Delay the enemy, destroy as many enemy units as possible with minimal losses, and do not let the enemy pass down the road towards the east.
