Para-dice and an Italian Sure Shot | ||||||||||||
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On November 23, 1952, a joint British/American force consisting of units from the 1st East Surrey and B Co. and the US 701st Tank Destroyer Battalion attempted to clear some fallschirmjägers of Kampfgruppe Witzig from the area west of Medjez el Bab in central Tunisia. The engagement began with sighting of the Germans at 1300 hours along a trail west of the town. The German forces were defending two hills just east of the trail with mortar placement on the northernmost hill and a Semovente 47/32 out of sight east of it. The Allied forces aligned along a wadi and on hilltops west of the trail with a primary assault directed at the south hill. Two Brens waited with their infantry platoons aboard to make the move eastward. As they moved forward, the Semovente shifted to the German left to protect the south hill. An M6 and M3/75 were moved forward to cover the Brens, but the M6 was stalled by mortar fire; the crew of the M3/75 were not well trained in targeting, and the Semovente destroyed both Brens by 1345. Fortunately, their infantry platoons and officers had unloaded first under cover of a smoke barrage. The Semovente was then finally destroyed by the M3/75, but the British assault on the south was a see-saw affair throughout the afternoon. The British finally had the Germans on the ropes by 1445, but could never completely clear the hill of German units, which were later reinforced by an infantry platoon that had been held in reserve on the north hill. At 1530, the rejuvenated M6 took high ground on the north hill, which also remained contested at the end of the scenario. This is a short scenario with a small number of units. The objectives involve hill control and USA step elimination. While the USA had lost the requisite 5 steps for German victory, both hills east of the road were contested, resulting in a draw. Because of the limited number of both units and turns, good die roils seemed to play a bigger part than strategy and tactics. The Germans also have the chance to put aircraft into play, which happened on five of the twelve turns, but the aircraft did not cause any step losses through their strafing. This is a good introductory scenario for sharing the game as it can be played quickly, and gives a solid luck factor that results in opportunity for success with either side. |
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