DAR: Bou Arada - Tunisia

[RERomine]

Germany vs. GB

Mission: Delay, Bou Arada, Tunisia, 1/1943 - grouped objectives.

Enemy: Division(-) - 1 Armor Bde., 1 Infantry Bde., 1-3 Artillery Rgts., AAA and possible air support. Average force experience, ~75.

Terrain: Map = 100x100; German deployment zone dominated by one large double peaked hill. Peaks are elevation 60 and oriented North-South. There is one ridge in the enemy area of little consequence. Engagement area is mainly flat, with no cover or concealment. There are a number of tilled areas and depressions, but aren't expected to influence the battle. There are also two roads. One North-South road 300m West of German deployment line. This should not be a factor since it is East of the large hill. The other road extents from the East edge of the map to the WSW passing 200m South of the Southern peak of the large hill before generally turning West. Visibility = 40.

Troops: 1 Armor Co. (PzKw IVg, 1 immobilized w/1 crew casualty), 2 Infantry Co. (SS w/tracks), 11 Artillery Btry (On board, 9 tubes SPA, 1 immobilized, 1 2pts damage), 2 Heavy Tank Pltn (PzKw VIe, 1 immobilized), 4 ATG Btry. (2x 75mm PAK 40 Btry w/tracks; 2x 50mm PAK 38 Btry, no tracks)), 5 MG Pltn (MG42(2), 2 w/tracks), plus recon, AAA and ammo supply. Average force experience, ~95.

Note: This is a battle without refit!!

Time: 39 Turns

Analysis

I wasn't going to put another DAR out so quickly, but decided to do this one because it's going to be a good old fashioned Donnie Brook. All Delays turn out that way. The advancing force outnumbers the delaying force 2 to 1 on points spent. Odds on a Defend aren't much worse, but you can buy obstacles to slow the attacker. That means a larger number of enemy units can close the distance very quickly along a broad front. The delaying force must destroy advancing units as quickly and efficiently as possible. Ammo can't be wasted on targets where there is a low probability of getting a kill. The enemy will come with large numbers of recon units, tanks w/mounted infantry and support with lots and lots of artillery.

All that said, key to the defensive position is the large, double peaked hill. It allows high visibility and the opportunity for plunging shots. The North peak is larger, but the South peak is more critical since it's covers the East-West road crossing the map. Many enemy units will push up this road very quickly. The North peak is close to the edge of the map so any enemy units advancing along it will be easily dealt with from there. The objectives are in groups forward of this hill, but the terrain allows them to be covered by fire easily. The close proximity of both peaks with each other will allow for easy shifting of forces from one to the other as needed.

Plan

Defenses will be layered using multiple lines of defense. The first line will be composed of machine gun teams. This tends to focus enemy artillery up front. They can easily spread out and keep enemy infantry at a distance because they will start bailing off of tanks as the heavies start taking hits. There is no real cover short of some depressions, so they will set up along the deployment line.

The second line of defense will be on the North-South road and will be held by two infantry companies. There is a depression West of the road on the Northern part of the map, so a couple of platoons will deploy in there and wait in ambush for any enemy units that blunder into them. The rest will have to deploy along the road in the open.

ATGs will be placed on the forward slope of the hill behind the infantry. The 50mm ATGs will engage enemy recon units and tanks they can destroy, while the 75mm ATGs will target tanks.

On the hill, armor units will deploy on the peaks and 50 elevation level. Two platoons of mark IVgs and one platoon of Tigers will deploy on and around the South peak since they will have to cover both the road and the South edge of the map. The remaining tanks will be deployed on the Northern peak. There will be no reserve as it will be necessary to have as many guns on line as possible. Shifts will occur as necessary. Tigers will NOT engage armored cars and recon units until the battle is under control. No point putting an 88mm round through an AC and leave a 50mm ATG to try to deal with Valentine IX tanks.

[RERomine]

I've attached the save file for the set-up for this battle. It's pretty much as I had mentioned earlier, but the hill is a larger than I thought, so I put one tank platoon in the saddle between the two hills. They can shift as needed. My immobilized tanks are on the Northern peak since I think that is a safer place for them.

[RERomine]

Turn 1

Enemy prep fire hit part of the infantry line and one of the 75mm ATGs. The gun crew is running. Some infantry is running as well. They will get back online once the enemy artillery lets up. Estimated 16 enemy troops fired. That's 64 tubes! All of it was 5.5in or 25pdr stuff. I've seen a lot worse before, but I did suffer casualties.

The number of enemy vehicles approaching is 150+, most of which are tanks. They have most types in their inventory coming: Lee I, Sherman I, Sherman II, Valentine IX. There are a few recon units, truck and half-tracks, but their total number doesn't exceed 20. I've also dealt with larger numbers of attacking tanks as well, but they are going more with quality than quantity this time. They are approaching in two groups. About 90% are in a mass heading toward the North peak of my defensive hill. The rest are along the South edge of the map. Oddly enough, none are on the road at all

I'll give it a turn or two and may shift the one platoon of Tigers on the South peak to the Northern one. My 9 tubes of artillery are plotted in the path of the large group approaching. No kills are expected, but it should cause infantry to dismount. Maybe I'll get lucky with a shot or two and immobilize some.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 10 casualties.

Enemy: Zero.

[RERomine]

Turn 2

The enemy drop smoke with a couple more artillery troops. Those should be additional troops, because the other just ended firing live HE on turn 1. They couldn't have replotted and started dropping smoke in one turn.

Tanks on North peak opened up and destroyed a couple of armored cars. My artillery is having the desired effect by causing a couple of platoons to have to walk the rest of the way. Arty even nailed a truck and damaged a Sherman II with a top hit A new type can be added to the list of tanks seen: Churchill Oke.

The gap between the two forces is still there. If I can take out the small group down South, I have a maneuver option against the North group's flank. It's funny to think about, maneuvering a couple platoons of tanks against the flank of an oncoming brigade

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Two Mrmn-Hrngtn III armored cars destroyed, one Morris 15cwt truck destroyed, estimated 10 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 3

MG-42s opened up and destroyed five advancing trucks. They also engaged some infantry that dismounted from some tracks that have already run up to my machinegun line. One mark IVg destroyed a couple of scout cars. Artillery hit the advancing mass again, hitting some more tanks forcing infantry dismounts. Now visible are some Crusader AA mk1 tanks. No matter, I don't have air support. The number of enemy tanks appears to be increasing. At this point, estimate the number of approaching vehicles at 200+. Smoke is obsuring some of the battlefield, so there is no way to be sure.

I've attached a screen print of what I see attacking. Some I can't see because of smoke. There are so many, the screen print is zoomed out. I have a total of 35 tank killing guns. While I don't really like to allow too much opfire because it wastes ammo, it's necessary in this case. Forces like this can't be stopped by just firing on my half of the turn.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Two Morris 15cwt and three 1&1/2 Ton trucks destroyed, two Daimler Dingos destroyed, estimated 15 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 4

MG-42s, ATGs, infantry, artillery, recon tracks and a few tanks engaged the approaching enemy forces inflicting heavy casualties. Still, it seems like just a scratch on the mass advancing in the North. Basically, I am using just about everything in my inventory. Most of the enemy tanks are beyond the engagement range of my tanks as of yet, however. That will change soon.

The Southern force might be larger than initial observations indicate. They seem to be more drawn out in length than anything. It could be in the range of 30 tanks. Still much smaller than the Northern group, but can't be ignored.

A few enemy mortars dropped smoke. The rest of their artillery is quiet at the moment. That will change soon.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Four halftracks, two Bren Carriers, two Daimler Dingos, two Daimler A/Cs, one Lee I tank and two Sherman II tanks destroyed, estimated 40 casualties.