Author	treadasaurusrex (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	United States
Participants	Capt. Chaos
Play Date	2024-09-10
Language	English
Scenario	AAAD013

This was a fun-filled, introductory, 13-session play-through with the dauntless & wily, Capt. Chaos leading, attacking elements of Combat Command B of the US 1st Armor Division, 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, as well as a proven OPLAN to operate from.

This was an excellent, maneuver-heavy, combined arms battle. 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, and 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 first session (game turn 1) featured a near-flawless, opening set of direct & indirect fires by the Americans advancing in two prongs: north (left flank) and south (right flank). The GIs drew first blood by eliminating a hilltop German infantry gun in the north, and the step losses soon were 2 for the US, and 4 to the startled German defenders. The initial victory point tally was 53 for the Americans, and 87 for the Wehrmacht.

Our costly second session (the end of game turn 1 to the end of 3) featured the Americans in both advancing prongs coming into decisive range and liberating the first hill hex in the north while surviving withering, long-range AT fire. Especially in the north several successful US air support and artillery strikes, helped to pin the German defenders in place. The step loss tally this session was: another 9 for the GIs, and 7 more for the German side.

The costly third session (game turn 4) featured the elimination of the last German-held position on the northwest 20-meter hill, and the dramatic expansion of the American footprint across the north half of Map 78. In the south, the American commander moved to break the stalemate by sending probes south of the main east-west ridge and along the south margin of the battle map. There was also a pair of accurate US artillery bombardments, some additional armored probes, and a successful air strike that cleared the bulk of the western portion of the Ousseltia Valley. US units spread out to further split the fire of the remaining Boche units on the margins of the valley. Victory point totals were now: 96 for the Germans, and 68 for the advancing GIs. Step losses were now 16 for the American side, and 15 for the Wehrmacht,

Our high-maneuver, fourth session (game turn 5) featured bold American armored thrusts to the east in the north, center and south sectors of the battle map. This proved a costly process as the steps lost in this session were: 20 for the attacking American columns, and 2 for the Wehrmacht defenders. Jerry AT fire was heavy and mostly accurate throughout this session. A substantial amount of map real estate was opened up to advancing GI mobile units – especially on the northern half of the battle map - with the sacrifice of multiple probing tanks and APC units. The updated victory point tally included, 165 for Germany and 82 for the United States.

The fifth & sixth sessions (game turns 6-8) featured multiple, fierce adjacent-hex fire fights and a great deal of long-range AT shots. Between them, the Jerry Tiger and the STG-IIIG caused havoc among the advancing Americans, as the GIs spread out across the battlefield. US mobile units began liberating German-controlled hill hexes in both the north & south margins of the battle map. The tide seems to have begun turning in favor of the GIs by the end of game turn 8, as the updated victory point tally was 156 for the rapidly-depleting Germans and 97 for the surging American side. Step losses were now 24 for the Jerries and the Americans had lost 40.

Our seventh session (game turns 9-10) featured surprisingly light casualties of a single step loss to both sides. American long-range, armored probing established control over another batch of hill hexes on Map 77, and the elimination of a Jerry halftrack. Unexpectedly, the Germans began a combined arms counter attack in the center of Map 78, led by the tank leader of the Tiger I platoon. The revised victory point score was now: 108 for the advancing GIs, and a still-formidable 145 for the Wehrmacht at just past the halfway mark in the scenario.

The high mobility and exciting, eighth session (game turn 11) featured a significant amount of shifting movement for both sides and the loss of 2 additional German steps by close assault on the eastern-most margin of the long east-west ridge south of the road (78-0213). Fierce close-range fighting continued in this sector. The twin American thrusts across the north & south portions of the battle map were now paying off, with numerous hill hexes probed & liberated by the US spearheads, bringing the updated victory point tally to around 129 for the American side and 126 for the Wehrmacht boys. Clearly, the battle’s momentum had now shifted in favor of Uncle Sam’s embattled troops, as control of another road segment shifted away from the Jerry defenders.

Our intense and hard-fought, ninth session (game turn 12) featured the loss of an additional 8 steps of US troops & tanks, as well as another German step loss as the two sides grappled in the south, central and east sectors of the battle map. The deadly STG-III, and a company of German landsers continued their reign of terror on the long ridge, while the sole remaining Pz-IIIN bagged a pair of probing US halftracks in the SE quadrant of Map 77. An audacious American advance in the center, made progress and drew into decisive range of the remaining Wehrmacht positions on the central 20-meter hill, north of the road on Map 78.

The intense tenth session (game turn 13) featured a fair amount of maneuver by the advancing Americans, as well as redeployment & retrenchment for the dwindling German side. An American T-30 platoon was eliminated, while a pair of Jerry truck units were also eliminated by a company of sharpshooting US M-3 Lee tanks on hilly Map 77. The victory point tally was now in the vicinity of: 115 for the Germans, and 151 for the, soon to be victorious, US side.

The eleventh session (game turn 14) featured minimal casualties of only 2 steps lost per side and a fair amount of maneuver with the Americans having the initiative and momentum. The victory point score was now: 116 for the Germans, and 155 for the surging GIs.

The 12th session (game turn 15-16) featured a great deal of maneuver in what was a rather grim session for the attacking Americans, who lost an additional 6 steps, compared with the German loss of an additional 4. With relatively few remaining units on both sides, and the pair of close assaults locked in stalemate, the focus switched to long-range artillery & AT fire duels. The GIs had the initiative in both turns and maintained their momentum and mobility. The victory point score was now: 121 for the Germans, and 160 for the soon-to-be-victorious American side!

Our 13th session (game turn 17-18) featured the terminal moves by both sides and the final victory point tally was: 164 for the Americans, and 134 for the Wehrmacht. A major American victory in Tunisia!

In all, there were 7 FOW-shortened game turn of the 18 played.