On November 22nd, a combined Franco-American force with units from the 3e Régiment de chasseurs d’Afrique and the Company B of the USA 701st Tank Destroyer Battalion moved cautiously forward toward the oasis in Gafsa at daybreak. A perimeter of minefields had been set up around the town, and a gathering of both regular German Army and Fallschirmjägers were situated in town and dug in just north of it. A French Lt. with an infantry platoon moving with an AMD165 on the hill north of town spotted the Germans at about the same time a US Jeep MG on the hill south of town did. All Allied forces gathered on the north ridge after it was discovered that the SW entry to Gafsa was heavily mined. At 0730, OBA fire coupled with that of an armored group consisting of an M6 and two M3/75’s chased the German Army platoons in disarray from the north side of town. About half an hour later, the paratroopers on the east side of town were hit by fire from a P-40 squadron, OBA and a recon group made up of two Jeep MG’s and an AMD165. At 0815, the Allied armor group moved into the town and engaged the German Army regular platoons resulting in the latter fleeing to the orchard east of town. The Luftwaffe Lt. and his paratrooper platoons followed shortly thereafter in an attempt to rally the remaining German forces that had fled Gafsa. Two German Army platoons and their Lt. were lost in the fighting prior to the retreat from town, falling to the Allied armor group and another P-40 attack. By 0845, the German para unit and their commander in the orchard were being hit by OBA and pursued by the Allied recon group; they were given some relief when an Henschel 129 squadron disabled the AMD165. But, the armor group moved east from town and combined forces with French infantry to close in on the retreating paratroopers. They finally fell to the M6 & M3/75 platoons assisted by OBA that softened them up prior to assault by the armor group. The only remaining German unit on the battlefield was a motorcycle platoon that had no leadership and ultimately fled the scene. The battle ended with a French victory at 1015.

The objectives of this scenario consist of either town control, step elimination or a combination thereof. The Allies have the opportunity to pick away at the German forces in the town, since the recon vehicles (Jeeps and the AMD165) can spot units at four hexes in limited terrain and have a firing range of four hexes also. Thus, they are out of range of all the German units. Even though they are firing primarily on Column 4 of the direct fire chart, they have time to get a few hits on the German defenders, particularly the German Army at a morale of 6/5. The American armor group is relatively impregnable unless the German defenders attempt to assault it, but if stacked with the US Lt., it is a 19-point group, which can be difficult to overcome in an assault without serious damage to the attacker. Even though the Franco-American forces had Lady Luck on their side in the die rolls, it seemed that they could have achieved victory without her help. Overall step losses were 10 German to one French (a step lost from the AMD165 in the air attack).

A small, combined force of French Motorcycle Infantry and armored cars with a US contingent of HMG Jeeps and tank destroyers are ordered to take the German held town of Gafsa, Tunisia. In the town are German Army and Fallschirmjagers who don’t have any AT capabilities.

The Allies’ plan is simple, push back the German picket line and then drive up to the town and blast the defenders either breaking them and taking the town or causing heavy casualties

Right away it goes bad for the Allies as when the HMG jeeps move not position, the German outpost line opens up destroying a bunch of jeeps and killing the Lieutenant in charge. But the French and American regroup, hammer the German outposts, and force them to pull back. The force then moves adjacent to the town and the M3A1 GMCs pound away with deadly accuracy gradually reducing the enemy in the town. The German don’t dare to venture out or US artillery or aircraft will hammer then. By 1100 hours the Allies have caused severe casualties on the Nazis and withdraw for a win.

This is a low density quick-play scenario. But it is kind of dicey as the Allies just have to pound away until they either kill enough of the enemy or force them out of the town. Good one for solo play.

It took longer than we expected (3-sessions) but the Americans and supporting Free French won out over the defending Jerries hiding behind (and on) minefields and difficult-to-take entrenchments. This happened at night, so the Allies were able to get very close without drawing hostile fire and some of the minefields were decoys. The close assaults on the entrenched Jerries and moving the US infantry and HMGs around the Jerry positions took a long time and was tedious to accomplish. The last entrenchment was taken on the final turn and the Germans had very bad luck with their die rolls, they also drew a poor set of leaders. A combined total of 8 combat 7-die rolls were thrown in this play-through. There were 9 FOW-shortened game turns.

Once the minefield was bypassed, it was a three hour battle for the town, throughout which neither the off-board arty or the air power could be effectively used (without endangering one's own troops, at any rate). All in all a somewhat boring encounter. "La Campagne de Tunisia" will now go into permanent "hold" until such time as I gather up the boards for another "out of print" game (of course).