Author	treadasaurusrex (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	Capt. Chaos
Play Date	2024-08-03
Language	English
Scenario	AAAD038

This was a fun-filled, introductory, 17-session play-through with the undaunted & clever, Capt. Chaos leading, green defending elements of the US 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One), while I had elements of the veteran German 10th Panzer Division, newly-deployed to Tunisia. Both sides drew decent sets of leaders, with the Axis having a slight advantage. The US command determined that the only viable path to victory for the German force was to achieve the victory condition of controlling the five 60-meter & twenty six, 40-meter hexes of Hill 336. Considering that control of those same hexes would substantially contribute to a potential Allied victory, the Big Red One concentrated the majority of its mobile firepower on Map 76, where the GIs occupied dug-in, positions with interlocking & overlapping fields of fire on the various contour lines on Hill 336, as well as on the 40-meter hill southeast of Hill 336, and in the adjoining Wadi Keddab in the southwest quadrant of Map 76.

The intended function of the integrated American defense was to ambush the attackers, create cross fire killing zones, and thereby offset those advantages the 10th Panzer had in morale and initiative. If the American side could stick to their defensive plan, they would blunt the German advance and significantly reduce their chances of achieving a victory. This was a large-scale, maneuver-heavy, combined arms fracas. The actual orders of battle was deployed by both sides – and to ensure added realism – all US units were deployed in hidden mode.. We played with the FOW, tank riders, consolidation, smoke/illum, extended assault, hidden units and excess initiative optional rules. In addition, we utilized the following 3 house rules: 1) Road Movement for Mechanized & Foot Units All FOOT & MECHANIZED units may move on roads at the rate of 1/2 a Movement Point (MP) per road hex, just like MOTORIZED units 2) Standardized Movement for Mechanized Units All mechanized units may move through clear hexes at a movement cost of only 1 movement point (MP) per hex, instead of 1 1/2. Add one to this cost if moving up or down slopes hexes. 3) Dug In Units on Slope Hexes are Automatically in Limiting Terrain in Desert Games Unless prohibited by special scenario rules, ALL units that are dug-in on slope hexes are considered to be in limiting terrain and are spotted if enemy units approach to within 3 hexes, or 4 hexes for reconnaissance units – unless they are marked with a spotted marker, see 8.22.

The initial session (game turn 1) featured a 3-pronged – right, center (west along Highway 15) and left flank – Afrika Korps movement-to-contact from the eastern edge of Map 78 in the pre-dawn darkness. First blood was drawn by the dug-in GIs against an overeager, probing MTC platoon that lost one step as it transited to Map 76 in the center of the battle map.

Our second session (end of game turns 1–2, and the start of 3) was characterized by continued German probing in the center and on both flanks. There was a lengthy exchange of both OBA and limited Direct fire as the German mobile scout columns popped in-and-out of the darkness. A step loss of a M-3/75 TD platoon occurred on the eastern margin of Hill 336, and was the first US casualty due to a sharpshooting Pz-IIIJ Special platoon at the start of the 3rd game turn. A complete mechanized infantry battalion surged forward on the German right flank with the slowly rising sun at their backs and in the faces of multiple US positions on Hill 336 as visibility increased just before dawn. Effective use of American illumination aided US long-range artillery & direct fire in the northern sector of Map 76 before the session ended. The updated victory points were now 36 for the American side, and just 1 for the advancing Germans.

The hectic, third session (game turns 3- and a part of 4) was marked by a shift of momentum to the left (southern) flank, German advance that had been stalled for 2 game turns, as well as the loss of 3 more steps for both sides. Visibility improved with the rise of the sun ensuring more long-range AT and artillery fires. Landser infantrymen leapt of the tanks that they were riding & surged forward in the south supported by accompanying scout units, a few panzers and a Marder III. The central German pincer stood fast in the east-west wadi, south of Highway 15 on Map 78, while the northern thrust absorbed the punishing loss of an empty SPW platoon and a stationary HMG unit in the wadi. A platoon of American M-6 portees & a section of US tank destroyers was eliminated in the north. The revised step loss tally was now: 5 for the attacking German side, while the Americans had lost only 4. An overwhelming US victory was now seeming likely, with an updated victory point score of 40 for the defending GIs, and a mere 4 point for the Jerries.

Our costly, fourth session (game turns 4-5) featured the Germans dealing out death and destruction, left & right against forward-deployed American units. In all, there were 14 GI steps losses, plus the loss of a Lieutenant by capture. The surging Jerries lost 5 more step, while continuing to probe the US defense. A pair of completely ineffective Luftwaffe air strikes hit at dawn. US artillery managed a few successes, as well as in opfire, and in a pair of adjacent-hex firefights. Axis artillery accuracy was much improved this session. By the end, the US initiative level had fallen to a one, with 19 steps lost to a German loss of 10. The American victory point total was now 45, to a mere 18 for the advancing troops of the 10th Panzer.

The high-intensity, fifth session (game turn 6) was less bloody, with only an additional 4 steps lost by the embattled GIs, and 2 more by the surging Germans, as all three of 10th Panzer’s pincers closed in the north, south and center. In the north, the Third Reich lost the second of 2 platoons of valuable motorcycle scouts in the early morning glare. In the center, the first US minefield encountered, was to claim a scouting SPW platoon in the narrow pass between Hill 336 and the 40-meter hill south of Highway 15. In addition, a hilltop position of US towed, 105mm howitzers was eliminated by accurate Axis OBA. In the south, the German combined-arms, column moved into decisive range, as the last section of US T-30 SPAA was destroyed by long-range AT covering fire. To the north, after enduring repeated ineffective Luftwaffe and mortar bombardments, the last of the GI’s 37mm ATG units and a Lieutenant were eliminated, opening the front door to the rapidly-closing, wave of dismounted panzer grenadiers. FOUR utterly fruitless combat 7-die rolls were thrown by the American side.

Our high-maneuver, sixth session (game turn 7) featured a good deal of long-range AT & OBA fire. The final American self-propelled, scout platoon was eliminated along with another 81mm Mortar unit on Hill 336. These step losses reduced the US initiative level to zero. The reinforcing US 899th TD BN arrived on the battle map after a 2-game turn delay. A bold & brave SK10/4 was destroyed south of the large wadi on Map 76 while probing ahead of the German left flank pincer. In the center and left (southern) flank, the German wave closed to decisive range on the 40-meter hill and on the southeast margin of the large wadi before the FOW prematurely ended the game turn. No significant movement occurred on the northern portion of Map 76 this session. The updated victory point total was now: 50 for the GIs, and only 26 for the surging Jerries.

The seventh session (game turn 8) featured nearly as much maneuver as the previous one, but was less deadly. An extended series of long-range AT shots led off with the elimination of a step of US M-3 105mm SPH on the crest of Hill 336. A GI Major also fell on this large hill mass, and an armed truck was eliminated on the far US left flank. A probing Pz-II tank fell prey to a sharp-eyed Stuart light tank platoon in the far right US flank, losing a pair of steps. Another Jerry SPW halftrack was also eliminated at close-range on the 40-meter hilltop south of Hill 336, as well as a platoon of Landsers in the NW wadi on Map 78. The Jerry left flank approach was becoming disarrayed, and the right flank was distracted by long-range firefights, while the weaker center pincer had come to a halt in decisive range south of Highway 15. The latest victory point tally was now: 53 for the GIs, and only 28 for the Germans.

Our costly, eighth session (game turn 9) increased the step loss tally by 1 for the scrambling Germans and another 4 to the Americans plus a deserting Captain, as the focus of the battle shifted south. There were multiple long-range AT shots that produced additional armored casualties, as well as many ineffective OBA and onboard artillery/mortar fire missions. Another fruitless Luftwaffe air strike failed to find a target, and the turn ended prematurely before there was significant movement by the menacing, but nearly stationary, German pincers in the north & center. Victory points now totaled: 54 for the GIs, and only 32 for the Germans. A solid US victory going into the 10th game turn.

The costly, ninth session (game turn 10-12) was a painful one for the defending GIs, especially in the southern half of the battle map, which turned into an armor piercing shooting gallery. The American lost another 5 steps, including the remaining pair of half-strength M-3/105 SPH units, the last Stuart light tanks, plus sections of both infantry and M-6/37 SPAT guns. A German Captain deserted on a morale recovery attempt. The Axis had one partially successful air strike and one completely ineffective strafing mission, as German infantry tightened their grip on the margins of the southern wadi and the 40-meter hill. The revised victory points were now: 54 for the GIs, and only 37 for the surging Germans.

Our tenth & eleventh sessions (game turn 13) featured a great deal of fighting in the southern half of the battle map, especially around Wadi Keddab on Map 76. Some accurate US OBA that disrupted a column of Boche tanks carrying troops in the far north of the battle map. This was a relatively bloodless game turn with only a single GI step loss in spite of 2 Luftwaffe air strikes, multiple artillery & mortar bombardments, and a pair of fiercely contested close assaults. The victory point score was in still favor of the American side at 55 to 45, though it was close enough to possibly force a draw.

The 12th session (game turns 14 & part of 15) was very grim for the defending GIs with 6 steps and a leader lost in ferocious fighting as the Jerry tide began sliding up the lower reaches of the south & northeast margins of Hill 336. The Germans lost a single step of infantry and one leader in adjacent-hex fire fights. Both combined arms, close assaults south of Highway 15 ended successfully for the advancing Landsers as their central & left flank pincer movements merged after the final capture of the 40-meter hilltop south of the highway. Again, Luftwaffe air support proved mostly ineffective, but Wehrmacht artillery was markedly more effective in demoralizing & eliminating US troop concentrations. The updated VP score was now in favor of the surging Germans at 59 to 48, still close enough to force a draw.

Our high-maneuver & costly 13th and 14th sessions (game turns 15-17) saw heavy casualties among the stubborn defenders of Hill 336 as the grinding German advance continued, as individual units drew into decisive range of the 60-meter hilltop plateau. There was accurate long-range Jerry AT fire on offense, as well as accurate mortar bombardment and decent Luftwaffe & US air strikes in support of both the north & south German thrusts on this hill mass. Probing columns of Wehrmacht scouts began scooting across Map 76 and into the central valley on either side of Highway 15. Ten steps of GIs were lost, and another Landser platoon was halved, which triggered a reduction in initiative level for the Third Reich boys. During game turn 16, the senior US leader was eliminated in a mortar barrage. Wehrmacht, combined-arms, assault stacks formed up on Hill 336’s 40 and 60-meter contours. The victory point tally now stood at: 74 for the Jerries and 43 for the, now-dwindling, Americans as the fate’s pendulum swung further against the defenders of Hill 336.

The costly 15th session (game turns 18-20) featured more of the same as the 10th Panzer boys tightened its grip on the crest of Hill 336, where the defenders were no separately into three groups. Another US senior leader was eliminated at the start of the 19th game turn. Total step losses at the end of this session increased by 6 for the Wehrmacht and 2 for the GIs. The victory point tally was now around: 87 for the Jerries, and 37 for the embattled Americans. A combined SIX combat 7-die rolls were thrown.

Our costly & exciting 16th session (game turns 21- First half of 23 ) was an extremely grim one for the American defenders as the crest of the Wehrmacht wave poured across the summit of Hill 336 sweeping all before it. The GIs suffered 15 step losses and 4 leaders eliminated, mostly in close assaults and adjacent-hex firefights as they stubbornly gave ground on the hill mass. In the south half of the battle map, German armor, scouts and artillery finally cleared Wadi Keddab, and surrounded the last ridgetop US position in the southeast quadrant of Map 77. The revised victory point tally was now: 120 for the Third Reich’s ruthless 10th Panzer and 32 for the embattled GIs of the Big Red One. Adding insult to injury, the US side was the victim of SIX combat 7-die rolls this session.

The 17th and final session (game turns 23-24) featured the inevitable Wehrmacht, close-assault-heavy triumph, although the Americans still bravely held on in a pair of 40-meter hill slopes on the north edge of Hill 336. There were 12 FOW-shortened game turns of the 24 played. Only a single German unit was able to scoot all the way off the west edge of the battle map. Also of note was that there was only a single American leader still in action at the conclusion of this epic clash.

The final result of this somewhat gamey -- exciting and but fun to play -- scenario, was a victory point score of: 126 for the Germans, and 32 for the American defenders. The Africa Corps achieved a hard-fought victory.