Baber on wargames: Hir Moussa, Tunisia, 19th January 1943

Hir Moussa

Tunisia 19^th January 1943

Map borrowed from Spivak & Léoni`s "Les Forces Francaises dans la Lutte Contre L`Axe en Afrique

This is actually the 5^th game of an Operation Eilbote I mini campaign I started years back which follows the advancing German columns driving through the Eastern Dorsales. All can be found here on the blog, technically this scenario is game 3 of Kampgruppe Lüder`s advance and using larger scale rules (Rapid Fire! as an example) you could link the games together on one tabletop. Over the years since I started writing this mini-campaign more information has come to light and I have re-written this particular scenario several times. The basic game is a German attack Vs now allied, ex-Vichy French, in what should be a very one-sided game, but the interesting mix of forces makes for a visually different game.

Background

Early in January, Kesselring decided he was not going to allow the allies to build up and probe von Arnim’s positions at will. Once the front had stabilised preparations were started for a limited counter blow with the aim of clearing the Eastern Dorsales as far south as Robaa and the Karachoum Gap; also capturing the Kebir Reservoir (which supplied Tunis).
This sector was held by an ad hoc collection of French units part of Juin’s XIX Corps; the French lacked modern equipment and radios and the Germans were convinced this was a weak point of the front. A diversionary attack was also planned against the British around Bou Arada to draw off allied reserves and disguise the axis of the German attack. The attack was code-named “Eilbote” – special messenger.

Kampgruppe Lüder together with troops from 756^th Mountain Regiment having brushed aside Sous-groupement Carpentier continue their drive down the Ousseltia Valley towards Hir Moussa and the Karachoum Pass. There has been a brief pause whilst troops reorganise, rest, re-arm and mop-up remaining French colonials from around Oum-el Abouab.

The next objective is the Carrefour (cross roads) of Hir Moussa referred to by the Germans as “Point 19”, which sits on the road to Ousseltia the area provincial town. Taking the village and crossroads will both open the way south to Ousseltia and also close off the southern end of the Karachoum Pass, a major objective of Eilbote, closing off routes towards Tunis and forming a solid defensive line.

A plan was formulated for Lüder`s mixed column from 10th Panzer to proceed down the road whilst elements of 756th Mountain Regiment would swing in from the north and envelope the carrefour defences.

The French XIX Corps command had placed their only mobile reserve at Hir Moussa, it’s this force plus various stragglers that must halt the German advance.

French orders

A surprise German counter offensive has been launched, Juin`s XIX Corps stretched thin across the Dorsales is being pushed aside by superior German armoured units. Your command was the Corps only mobile reserve based around the village at Hir Moussa. The situation has now changed dramatically you’re your forces must try and hold the superior German units from breaking through to the provincial town - Oussetia! You must hold long enough for Allied reinforcements moving up from the south to reach you and stabilise the situation, the honour of France is in your hands, bon chance!

French forces

Sous-secteur HQ with –

HQ plus transport

Elements of 411e DCA with 2 x AA MGs

Section d`Sanitaires (Medical unit)

2 peloton 47e Regiment Infanterie Coloniale (10 men each with: 1 - LMG and 1 - VB launcher)

Gun section 61RAA - 75mle1897 plus crew (horse towed)

1ere du 1REC (Lt Nede) with –

1 x armoured car peloton, 1 x motorcycle recce peloton (9 men, 1 - LMG)

1 escadron moto du IV/8e Garde with –

2 x cycle pelotons (each with an LMG, 1 x VB launcher)

Compagnie “F” de 37 AC de Marine – 2 x 37mm gun with crews & tows

1 section de la 1re Batterie de DCB – 1 x 25mm AT gun plus crew & tow

7e escadron du 4RCA – 2 x D-1 tanks

Emplaced in and around the Roman ruin south of Hir Moussa, a totally separate command, the 1^st of three blocking positions thrown up by the Allies.

Captain de Mareul

57th Goum of 1st Tabor (1GTM)

Gun section - 47mm AC (64RAA)

Gun section - British 6pdrs (21^st Anti-Tank Regiment, RA)

Elements of a US tank destroyer company – 1 x Dodge w/37mm (601^st TD Battalion, 1^st US Armd Div.)

A platoon of US M3 lt tanks (1^st US Armd Div.)

A platoon of Ft17 (commanded by Capt. Lennen)

Additional troops

On Turn 4 - stragglers from 7RTM withdrawing from Oum-el Aboub and other positions NW of Hir Moussa

2 x reduced platoons (7 man platoons) one has an LMG, the other a VB launcher)

On turn 8 - stragglers from the Karachoum Gap

8 legionnaires (I/1er REI) inc LMG

Turn 12 + 1D6 from the south-east

Recce unit from US 1^st Armd Division: 2 x Jeeps (one with radio, the second w/.30cal) (6 men)

White scout car (8 men, inc BAR & Grenade rifle)

German forces

Down the road from Oum-el Abouab

Kampgruppe Lüder

Elements of 10^th Panzer:

Elements of Kradschutzen-10: Armoured car platoon, 2 - motorcycle platoons

HQ + 2nd Kompanie/69^th Panzergrenadier Regiment (motorised) inc FOO for artillery with HQ (in trucks)

2/I battalion 7^th Panzer Regiment (3 x panzer III)

Platoon of 4/I battalion 7^th Panzer Regiment (1 x panzer IV)

Support

1 x battery I battalion 90^th Panzer Artillery Regiment (105mm) off table situated at Oum

Turn 8 - 1 x Stuka sortee

Turn 10 from the north

Infantry company from II battalion 756th Mountain Regiment

Turn 15 Down the road from Oum-el Abouab

Elements of 501st hvy Tank Battalion

1 x Tiger I

1 x Panzer IIIN

501^st Panzer pioneer platoon

2 platoons 3^rd Kompanie 69^th PG in trucks

1 platoon Panzer Pioneer Battalion 49 (in half-track)

My table

Looking north towards Hir Moussa

Looking north towards Hir Moussa across Roman ruins south of the town

Looking down the road from Oum-el Abouab

A few shots of Hir Moussa and the shrine

Roman ruins

The game

The German elected for three turns of random artillery (4 rds x 105mm) onto Hir Moussa as their forces advanced down the road.

Turn 1 Kradschultzen-10 lead the way

This turns artillery was scattered and caused no French casualties

Turn 2 the German advance continues, but 1^st motorcycle platoon takes casualties from an indirect `75 shell

The German artillery is once again random, but lands two shells one into the mosque (the French HQ) and the second among the Legion cavalry!

These shells not only knock out the Aml50 but, destroy a staff radio truck and kill several officers including the legion cavalry Lieutenant, the surviving legionnaires fail their morale check and go to ground!

Turn 3 last round of random German artillery, nearly takes out the Hotchkiss DCA (luckily gun and gunner survive), the rest of the shells land harmlessly but just infront of the advancing kradschultzen-10. The French `75 fails to land a shell on target!

Turn 4 the Moroccan stragglers arrive.

The German motorcyclist dismount and advance on foot

At this point they are hit from the French concealed in the vineyard and take a few casualties, the 25mm hits but fails to penetrate the Sdkfz232!

Turn 5 Both Krad platoons plus the 232 and the lead panzers move to engage the French in the vineyard.

The French infantry cause a few more casualties among the Germans, the 25mm once again failed to penetrate the 232. The gun is wiped out by a 50mm shell from a panzer III and the French infantry are chopped up by multiple LMGs, vehicle mounted Mgs and 20mm auto-cannon…..

The French `75 zeros in on one of the panzers (near miss, no effect)

Turn 6 what is left of lead French platoon retreat, but the Kradschultzen are still pinned by French troops on top of the store. The Panzers and 232 turn their attention to these! Behind the burning building you can see the first D-1 advancing to contact

The French `75 lands a round smack onto a panzer III, setting it ablaze!

Turn 7 the remaining panzer engages the D-1 which takes a catastrophic hit and blows up!!

The lead platoon of 2/69 PG arrives only to get its truck machine gunned from the opposite back – truck destroyed, casualties inflicted!! In this photo you can also see the 232 has moved out of the vineyard back onto the road.

Turn 8 the Luftwaffe arrive

As do the Legionnaires retreating from the Karachoum Gap

The Moroccans have moved to back up Guarde Republic on the south bank, both are hotly engaged with 2/69 PG across the river, a panzer IV adds its firepower to the struggle as does the 232, which is hit by a concealed 37mm AC d`Marine (fails to penetrate). Both sides take casualties. The panzer III supporting the Kradshultzen infantry moves through the vineyard and pushes past the burning D-1

Turn 9 the Stuka lays her eggs on a building in the village (French DCA proved ineffective), destroying the structure killing several french infantry.

At the river the German artillery FOO brings down fire onto the south bank

The 37mm damages the 232, but return fire from the A/Cs 20mm wipe out the gun crew.

Accumulative casualties force a morale check on the 1^st Guarde Republic platoon who fail badly mount the bikes and flee; but the Moroccans still hold the line and French infantry and the 2^nd Guarde Republic platoon in the village cause further German casualties.

Turn 10 The Kompanie from 756^th Mountain Regiment arrive on tabletop

The Panzer III supporting the Kradschlzen infantry in the village, spots and blows up another French truck near the mosque/HQ

The Panzer is hit in the flank by the last D-1 (fails to penetrate), the Kradshultzen infantry are badly mauled by Guarde Republic and MMG fire from the DCA position on top of the mosque.

Back at the river, the Germans have the fire-power, but cannot make forward progress as the Moroccans are well emplaced.

Due to overall casualties the French must take a morale check, which they pass

French first aid post bringing much needed comfort to the defenders and boosting morale.

Turn 11 the legionnaires coming from the Karachoum Gap arrive at Hir Moussa, their officer moves to re-organise the legion cavalry and form a solid defence around the shrine against the incoming 756^th Mountain Regiment

The Panzer in the village targets and wipes out the AA MG, but the Kradschultzen infantry have taken too make casualties and fail their morale and withdraw to cover.

Back at the river one platoon of 2/69 PG cross over covered by the Panzer IV, the rest of 2/69th along with the damaged 232 and the panzer III continue their battle with the Moroccans.

Turn 12 756^th Mountain Regiment runs right into the reformed Legion company, plus troopers from Guarde Republic and other odds`n sods. Both sides take casualties. The D-1 and the 37mm d`Marine both swing round to face the panzer III which has flanked them!

At the river the Moroccans are overwhelmed by fire, though 2/69th are badly blooded! The second Panzer III takes a direct solid shot hit from the `75 and is knocked out!

Turn13 the panzer III in the village moves to engage the D-1, the panzer misses and the D-1 fails to penetrate, the 37mm d`marine also fails to penetrate!!

The French `75 crew begin manhandling their gun to the road.

The combat between 756^th Mountain and the Legionnaires, et al builds up – very bloody

Turn 14 the US recce troops arrive on the tabletop

With the Moroccans gone the Germans reform and what is left of 2/69th and the Panzer IV start to moves down the road again

The infantry quickly come under fire from what is left of the French defenders, these intern are fired at by the damaged 232 and the Panzer IV.

The French gunners get their `75 in position

In the village, the Panzer III faces off against the 37mm AC d`marine and the D-1, all firing is simultaneous both French guns fire, hit but fail to penetrate! But the panzer rolls “double 1” the gun breech jams!! Faced with two from guns, surrounded by French troops in the various buildings, I rule a morale check – which they blow badly and abandon their tank, a couple of them are killed immediately!

Turn 15 The next German reinforcements enter the table

The Panzer IV is fired on by the French `75 (hit fails to penetrate), spots the gun and fires back – rolls “double 1” yet another jam!! The infantry and 232 are hotly engaged with the dug-in French infantry.

Back on the edge of the village, a brave Guarde Republic NCO jumps onto the abandoned Panzer III and drops a petrol bomb inside!

On the hill and around the shrine the Kompanie of 756^th Mt Reg. are in a bitter battle with the legionnaires and what is left of the Sous-groupe HQ.

Turn 16 the panzer IV reverses away from the French `75 - which fires again, hits again, but again fails to penetrate! The Panzer gunner manages to un-jam the gun. The 232 fires its 20mm towards the French `75 to keep the gunners heads down. The German infantry have virtually cleared all the troublesome French infantry. The first US recce vehicle reaches the outskirts of the village and cuts off road.

The battle around the shrine has reached stalemate, both sides have reached their limits.

Turn 17 the panzer IV advances again (successful morale check), this time its gunner is spot on

The German FOO calls down artillery onto the village with devastating effect, smashing the D-1 and killing several French

Turn 18 French morale collapses, though the legionnaires and HQ personnel still holdout at the shrine and mosque. The Germans are pouring down the road, The US recce quickly gets off it out of direct line of fire.