Tiger 131 - The Forgotten Battle
By Dale Oscroft
Published by The Tank Museum, Bovington
ISBN 970-1-917-71501-0
Paperback, 143 pages
The campaign for Tunisia in WW2 has been an obsession of mine for a number of years, the wonderful mix of troops types and limited time period, makes it an interesting theatre to game and model.
The book is quite short, as it only actually covers the two days of fighting for the Guerit El Atach Ridge infront of Tunis during 23rd and 24th April 1943.
The coverage is very detailed with some excellent maps and I think the whole battle could quite easily transfer onto a tabletop using the information provided here.
The author, who`s father participated in these actions, is with this book attempting to correct an error in the history of one of the most famous vehicles in the Tank Museum`s collection - Tiger 131 - the world`s only fully restored, mobile Tiger tank! It seems that through various reasons, including: the press, politics, general confusion and some self advertising! How Tiger 131 came into British hands had been lost to time! But with the help of regimental records, the research staff at Bovington and his father`s stories, the author was able to highlight the truth - a very interesting story.
There are also a number of B/W period images of Tiger 131 and some colour ones of her during and after restoration.
An interesting little book that will slot neatly into my Tunisian library and whilst I highly doubt I`ll use the capture of Tiger 131 as part of a game, the battle report was very detailed and I am considering adapting the infantry aspect onto a tabletop soon.
Thanks for the review. With regards to wargaming North Africa this isn’t a subject that interests me (just doesn’t “float my boat” at all). Still, I appreciate that there will be plenty of gamers & aficionados of military history that will be keen for clarification - perhaps even the definitive answer regarding Tiger 131.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Geoff
Hi Geoff. The wide deserts of NA have never had an appeal for me either, but Tunisia is very different. Yes there are deserty areas in the south, but also mountains and valleys, it can be very wet and cold! And the mix of troops is just fantastic - early Yanks with Lee tanks and half-track mounted SP guns; veteran but exhausted Africa Korps and Italians; superbly equiped 10th Panzer Division, Fallsjaeger, Italian marine infantry, French XIX Corps with 1940 era kit, British 8th Army (Indians, Gurkhas, New Zealanders), British 1st Army (Green kit not deserty). So many options, just so absorbing; 10 games posted here take a look, very different from the usual North Africa games.
DeleteInteresting book and your comments about western North Africa are spot on to which you can add the longest transport journey for a full amphibious assault -Norfolk yards straight to the shores of Morocco! Plus all the politics darlan, de Gaulle etc. the latest film is worth a watch…..
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I`ve run 7 games set during Operation Torch (AARs on here) plus another 10 in Tunisia, the variation of forces and situations keeps the whole theatre very fresh and interesting. I haven`t seen the latest movie about de Gaulle, but will get there eventually :)
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