Panzer Grenadier Battles on March 29th:
Spearhead Division #16 - Final Accounting
A Quiet Evening in the Valley
Author Schoenwulf
Method Solo
Victor Draw
Play Date 2016-09-23
Language English
Scenario LCDT011

On March 22, 1943, a Franco-American diversionary force attempted to bypass units of the Italian Centauro Division south of El Guettar. Bersaglieri from the Centauro Division were dug in west of the central wadi, two 47mm AT groups were entrenched in the southern and south central rocky areas, an AB41 was adjacent to the southwest wadi, and a major bombardment group consisting of two 75mm and a 100mm platoon was entrenched on the northeast 60-meter hill. Units of the 12e Régiment de Chasseurs d’Afrique moved east through the valley where they were slowed by both wire and minefields. An engineer platoon found a clear path east, and the Allied units moved forward in force. As the sun started to fall, the combined effects of fire from both an M3A1 Scout patrol and multiple 75mm French batteries caused the Italian gun crews in the major bombardment group to abandon their weapons. At 1800 hours in the last light of day, an Italian AB41 platoon eliminated an Allied Truck MG, while fire from Somua S35’s destroyed a Bersaglierri infantry group. After that, both sides settled in for the evening with the battle ending in a draw.

This short (12 turn) scenario, with victory based totally on step loss, did not start out well for the Franco-American side when one of their infantry crested the southwest 20-meter hill to reconnoiter and was destroyed by the Italian major bombardment group (rolling “snake eyes” on the first roll!). Two steps were lost on the first turn, and since the Italians only needed three for a minor victory, things looked bleak for the Allies. However, they had similar good fortune when they were able to demoralize all three of the artillery units in the major bombardment group through a combo of direct fire from an M3A1 and bombardment from dual 75mm units. The demoralization check for all three units resulted in their flight, and subsequent abandonment. At that point, the Italians only needed one more point to match the Allied total and secure a draw, which they did on the last turn with 2-hex visibility due to the mobility of their armored car and the plethora of one-step Jeep MG and Truck MG units. After that, both sides could gain no further advantage by any increase in step loss since the Victory Conditions read that “Tied victory levels or any other result is a draw”. So, they hunkered down and finished out the foray at ease. The Allies ended the scenario with 3 steps lost, to 5 lost by the Italian forces. The scenario is pretty much an effort to get three steps quickly while keeping your forces from losing three in the process. There are only 4 turns with visibility of 12 hexes, which limits the ability to accrue the steps needed for victory without short-range combat. In the latter situation, the Italian infantry are best placed near the AT units to ensure that the S35’s can't move in and have their way with them.

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