Author	treadasaurusrex (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	goosebrown (AAR)
Play Date	2022-04-08
Language	English
Scenario	AAAD010

This was a 5-session, online play-through with a resolute, challenging and resourceful opponent playing the American side. This scenario is played on a long and narrow map that constricted movement for both sides. We played without the dreaded FOW rule, but with the Consolidation, Extended Assault and Smoke optional rules. I played the remnants of the once-proud PanzerArmee in Tunisia. In this scenario, the 10th Panzer Division's objective was to push the advanced American elements out of Djebel Bou Aoukaz and surrounding rough terrain.

My opponent's setup was well-thought-out, and in-depth. The German combined arms force inexorably advanced west on both flanks, while the captured 25-pounder, the OBA, and 2 platoons of 81mm mortars suppressed the most forward American elements. Adroit fire and maneuver and accurate supporting artillery resulted in the elimination of 2 of the US AT guns in the first 3 turns, thereby ending the possibility of AT crossfires in the bare hills and valleys of Map 77. The American side was able to inflict heavy casualties on the slowly advancing Germans infantry while grudgingly giving ground in the center of Map 76. However, once the panzers arrived on the main hill mass, they were able to destroy all 9 of the waiting American M-3 halftrack on both flanks with well-aimed AT shots.

Typical of the luck of the German Commander, the US 105mm howitzer platoon lasted through the entire game, in spite of repeated counter battery fire. In addition, a single American .50 cal HMG platoon managed to inflict 4 step losses on attacking German infantry before the American player conceded the minor victory on Game Turn 13.

The victory conditions required that the Germans achieve two major objectives: 1) clear all hills on the western Map 76, and 2) control all five of the 60-meter hilltop hexes, also on Map 76 -- without losing 10 steps. In our play-through, the Germans were only able to achieve a minor victory by holding the 5 hexes of 60-meter hilltop, since they lost more than 10 steps. The final count of steps lost was: 25 for the US and 12 for the German side. Axis victory conditions would have been easier to accomplish if it weren’t for the “mud rule,” which significantly reduced German armor and truck mobility. The scenario favors the German side and played out much like the real effort did.

This was a fun-filled, historically-accurate (hence slightly unbalanced) scenario. I give it a rating of 4.