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.