Faid
Tunisia, January
30th - February 2nd 1943
On
the 30/01/43 the Axis launched an attack of its own against Faid Pass,
committing 21st Panzer Division, directly under 5 Panzer Army control, aided by
elements from the Italian 50th Special Brigade (General Imperiali) and by army
troops. The mission was to control the Faid Pass, to install security
detachments on the chain of mountains from north of Faid Pass to Sened Village
and to reconnoitre halfway to Sbeitla. At the conclusion of the operation, the
attacking force was expected to withdraw all but strong security detachments.
These detachments, with others from Brigade Imperali, would occupy key points
in the Eastern Dorsal. Italians would hold the area of Sened Station, blocking
the narrow plain.
Faid was initially held by a single French mixed brigade
from Gen. Joseph Welvert`s Constantine Division. Two battalion combat groups
covered the approaches to Faid & Sidi-Bou-Sid. The northerly one covering Faid Pass
and approaches across Djebels Kralif & Bou-Dzer (facing North, North-west and west with a defensive coverage
of 15KM) was built around II/2RTA (Chef de battaillon Bertrand). The southerly
one: facing South, set to defend Rebaou
Pass
This
brigade found itself confronted by two battle-groups from 21st Panzer and
elements of the Italian 50th Special Brigade.
Our game
I
came across an excellent article and disposition map for the defence of Faid by
1st Battery of 67RAA, so I`ve based this scenario purely on the northern sector
and the defence of Faid.
Rough sketch map
based on the one in the article I found
Faid Pass looking east towards Faid
Sbeitia to Kairouan road through Faid Pass (looking east)
Faid and the French HQ
Looking east towards the pass
Looking south towards Faid
looking down on the pass from the north
French defenders of the pass
4th company of 2RTA
and 47mm DCA or 64RAA
Support weapons including a captured Italian 75mm field gun
French HQ and reserve, FT17s and AM50 plus a couple of
platoons of Algerians
Chasseurs d`Afrique motorcyclists and the French reserve
The guns of 1st batterie 67RAA plus the DCA (defense contra
avion) of 411 DCA
Axis forces
50th Special Brigade
557 Gruppo Semoventi
5th & 7th companies 92nd Infantry
M41 tanks, an AB41 plus motorcycle troops from Centauro Division
AB41 plus motor infantry from Superga Division
Panzer IIIs of 5th Panzer Regiment with a Kompanie from
Tunisian Field Battalion T2
More Italian trucks awaiting their troops (I had to re-use
infantry due to shortage), more panzers and a Marder III of DAK along with
another Kompanie from T2
The final wave of DAK - Elements of 580 Aufklärungs abteilung; III/104 PG Battalion and
5th panzer
Played over 4hrs, 35 game turns, I played the French (as
always), my lads Alex (21) and Chris (18) played the Axis.
Special rule:
every 10 turns, the game stops and resets, both sides re-organise and the Axis
get a new set of troops (additional to
what they already have), this represents the slow careful approach of
the Axis wanting to preserve their forces, also the rough terrain and bad
weather.
Minefield and decoy markers
First moves saw 50th Special Brigade advancing towards the
pass, the Italian commanders decided to split their forces - half towards pass,
the other half towards a higher pass at the centre of the table.
The Italians came under directed `75 artillery and 80mm
mortar fire during these opening turns.
On turn 4, a 47mm DCC (defence contra char) fired and hit a Semovente, but was
quickly smashed by return fire from others.
Italian sappers approached the first mine field, but were
immediately attacked from previously concealed positions by Algerians of 2RTA
The Semovente and infantry Brixa mortars responded
Turn 7 saw a second Semovente knocked out by a direct `75
hit! A third SP upon firing rolled a double 1! (a subsequent role of 3 meant
the main gun was jammed), this vehicle crew withdrew from the action.
Through turns 8-10, the Italians struggled unable cross
mine-fields, being shelled by guns they could not see and their last Semovente,
being now all alone, simply turned tail and ran away, at which point the
Italian infantry lost heart and withdrew.
So the clock resets, the Italians recovered some casualties
(as did the Algerians) and the game re-sets. The Italians also got
reinforcements in the form of tanks and recce troops from the Centauro Division
plus more engineers.
Again the Italian split their advance, one half moved
straight for the pass, using their M41 tanks and infantry to support/cover the
sappers in clearing the mines.
once they reached the pass the Italians once again came
under attack from defenders including another 47mm DCC
By turn 6 the Italians in the centre had cleared most of the
forward slopes
whilst those north of pass advanced virtually unopposed over
the rough terrain (Algerian defenders had been drawn towards the pass)
Italians in control of the eastern end of the pass
The French throw their mobile reserve forward
which deploys at the western end of the pass
Turn 9 the Italians in the centre reach the heights and can
finally look down into the valley beyond, they spot the battery of 67 RAA and
promptly call down 100mm artillery on them!
The result
Once again at turn 10 the clock resets, the Italians control
the heights either side of the pass and the eastern end of the pass is open.
Both sides recover casualties, the Axis gains further troops - more Italian
infantry are sent forward with more M41s. From the south in a sweeping move
towards the central higher pass came the first elements of DAK, tanks from 5th
Panzer supported by a kompanie from Tunisian Field Battalion T2!
The Italian armour tries to force the pass and meet French
`75mm and Ft17 37mm cannon fire, they quickly lose two Ab41s
Italian troops reach the top of the ridge north of pass, but
get a nasty shock - hidden in the farm the French have a captured Italian field
gun which they are now going to use against its former owners!!
At the southern end of the table the Germans overcome the
last Algerian resistance and their panzer IIIs join the Italian Semovente
advancing through the high pass.
At the western end of the pass Italian M41s encounter
75mle1897s set up in an AT role! One tank is quickly dispatched, but then the
gun`s recoil mechanism breaks!!
In the centre Italian and German infantry advance supporting
their armour
The French commander sends everything he has left to
confront this break-through
At the north end of the table after a vicious fight the
Italian infantry over-run the farm, the captured Italian field gun only fired
on shot before the breech mechanism jams and that gun is also useless....
At the western end of the pass, with the AT gun useless the
M41s and Italian surge forward catching the French defenders in a pincer with the
advancing panzers and Semovente and infantry from the front.
Game over, strategic win for the Axis.
On the whole I don`t see what more the French could have
done, the unlucky roles which jammed/broke the French guns didn`t help.
