Defending Toledo, SCW, September 1936

Desperate Holding Action at Toledo

September 1936

This is a fictional scenario, representing the desperate fighting by Republican militias to hold back the advancing Army of Africa who were trying to break the siege of El Alcazar in September 1936. It also gives me another opportunity to field a Schneider Ca-1 on tabletop as at least two of these saw action in Toledo, with one was certainly lost.

History

On 18 July Colonel Moscardó acting on his own initiative (he was not involved in the conspiracy directly) tried to organise the rebels in the city based around the military academy in the Alcázar fortress. Initially only a handful of cadets assembled, as it was summer vacation, but a strong force of Civil Guards had been brought in from the countryside. These together with a mixed band of officers and a large number of Falangist volunteers brought the total number of defenders to around 1,100.

Moscardó had also managed to stall the war ministry`s orders to despatch the contents of the Toledo arms factory to Madrid, and his men had managed to move most of the contents into the Alcázar before the militia column from Madrid arrived. The garrison was besieged for nearly two months.

Towards the end of September Varela`s relief column was within striking distance of the city; the horrors inflicted upon the populous by troops from the Army of Africa has been widely circulated and badly affected the morale of the militiamen, many fled north towards Madrid, some stayed and fought heroically.

The Game

Your command is ordered to defend an industrial area south of the city, which has already suffered aerial bombing by rebel forces and some deliberate destruction by the troops now hiding in El Alcazar with the traitor Moscardó.

Tour orders are simple - hold back the enemy long enough to give other units time to either withdraw towards Madrid or form a more solid line of defence, ¡Viva la Republica!

This is straight forward attack defence game with veteran Army of Africa units supported by artillery and aircraft Vs militia with some support across a battle damaged, built up industrial area. The militia are heavily outnumbered and frankly outclassed, the Militia commander must husband his forces whilst inflicting casualties on the enemy.

The Rebels must clear or break the militia within 15 turns to win, if the militia are still holding at the end of the game, they are considered victorious.

Republican Popular Militia

Due to the desperate nature of the defence, the militia are not subject to morale checks, this battle is a fight to the death for them. 

HQ

                             4 Platoons (mostly rifles, some Molotov Coctails & grenades, 2 LMGs)

MMG team

75mm field gun & crew

I allowed the republicans to have telephone lines installed to allow for directed fire by the `75.

Ca-1

The Ca-1 had to roll a D6 to see how much ammo it had for the Blockhaus 75mm (as it happened it rolled a 6).

Due to being quite old and badly maintained it also had to roll 1D6 every time it moved to avoid a mechanical breakdown (on a 1) during the game it made every roll.

Army of Africa (all veteran)

Legion HQ

Legion Company (4 platoons)

Legion support platoon (MMGs, 80mm mortar)

Regulares HQ

Regulares company (4 platoons)

Machine gun platoon

Bilboa A/C

Artillery battery – 2 x 75mm + truck tows (arrive on table turn 3)

Air support – He123 (arrives on turn 10)

My Table

Dispositions

The Legion were on the right, the Regulares on the left

The Republicans were spread out across the ruined area, with some troops held further back in reserve. The republican HQ and first aid post was in the center with the field gun positioned on the right and the Ca-1 well forward on the left to act as a shock counter-attack unit or at worse a pillbox.

Note the artillery spotter and girl sniper on top of the water tower

Turns 1 & 2 The game started with the rebels already occupying the outlying farms, so were within rifle and machine gun range of the first line of Republican defences. They advanced upon the militia and took casualties from riflemen and LMGs, the `75 also dropped a shell among the Regulares! Return fire was very effective (lots of 6s were rolled) and the militia were badly torn-up!

Turn 3 saw the Rebels reach the rail-line all across the table, the Regulares on the left continue to receive casualties, but are gaining the upper hand against the militia. On the right to counter the Legion the Ca-1 decides to advance and make its presence felt!

It`s first round proves a shock for the Legionnaires

The Rebel artillery arrives on the tabletop

Turn 4

The rebel artillery unlimbers

On the left the fourth Regulares platoon has a bad turn, takes several casualties from machine fire and another `75 hit – they need a morale check next turn.

On the right the Ca-1 inflicts enough casualties on the 2^nd Legion platoon to cause them a morale check also!

Turn 5 Both the 2^nd Legion platoon and the 4^th Regulares fail their respective morale chacks and go to ground!

The Ca-1 advances against the 3^rd Legion platoon its guns cause serious casualties forcing a morale check on that unit also!

The Ca-1 is targetted by the rebel guns, but their first shots are wide

Elsewhere the Regulares 3^rd platoon takes considerable casualties from the militia MMG and also needs a morale check! But their (the Regulares) 1^st and 2^nd platoons have cleared the militia in front of them and are pushing on. The Legion 1^st platoon is battling with militia on the far right and the 4^th platoon is driving through the Republican center.

Turn 6 The Regulares 3^rd platoon fails its morale and goes to ground, but the Legion 3^rd platoon makes theirs and with the cry of “Vive la Muerta!” they close assault the Ca-1! They fail (badly) and on top of that the Rebel `75s drop their next salvo bang onto the Republican tank, destroying it and wiping out what was left of the Legionnaires in the process!!

On the far right the Legion 1^st platoon, backed up by the company HQ over-run the militia in front of them. In the center the Legion 4^th platoon has taken enough casualties to require a morale check!

On the left the Regulares 2^nd platoon is decimated by machine gun fire and also needs a morale check! The 1^st platoon has however cleared every militiamen in their way and has broken the line.

Turn 7 The Republican CO organises all available men for a counter-attack up the center where the Legion 4^th platoon has been forced to ground by casualties!

On the left the 2^nd Regulares platoon is also pinned down by a failed morale check!

Turn 8 The last Regulares platoon still able to move (the 1^st) is caught in the flank by machine gun fire and targetted by the Republican `75 – they now need a morale check too!

But on the far right Legion flags fly and bugles blare

In the center the Legion 4^th platoon is shocked by the arrival of the Republican HQ

The Rebel `75s target the Republican gun which has caused so much trouble (first rounds fall short)

Turn 9 The Legion 4^th platoon cracks under the Republican HQs attack! On the left the Regulares 1^st platoon also breaks and falls back, another shell from the Republican `75 speeds them on their way!

However the Rebel guns finally have the range and wipe out that troublesome gun!

At this point I decided to call it a day, the Republicans are spent, they have no reserves left and the left flank is wide open! But, they nearly did it, they effectively still hold the center and have fought the Regulares to a standstill and badly blooded the Legion company also, so a pyrrhic victory to the militia I think.