Chain of Command, North Africa, 1941. Scenario 6, “Attack on Objective”

British Rifle Platoon, led by Rob & Steve, commanding a standard British infantry platoon, with a Lieutenant & Sergeant, a 2” MORTAR TEAM, a BOYS AT RIFLE TEAM & three infantry sections, each comprising of Corporal, LMG TEAM & Six riflemen. In support the British had an Adjutant, Pre‐Game Barrage, a Recce Section of two Universal Carriers & an M3 “Honey” Stuart Tank.

The AFIKA KORPS defenders Schutzen Platoon defenders, controlled by Mal, comprised of a Leutnant, leading three infantry sections, each with an Obergefreiter NCO, two MG34s and 8 riflemen. In support, the Germans had an Adjutant & a PaK38 50mm anti‐tank gun.

The patrol phase was a cagey affair. The Brits wanted to push wide across both flanks and the Germans were determined to hold onto the centre ground. In the end, the Brits established a forward jump-off position just West of the central orchard, but were pressed back on the flanks. The Germans managed to snatch nominal control of both centre buildings. This would prove critical!

The game opened with the Brits rolling the M3 Honey onto the table. However, the tank commander did not like the lay of the land, so called up for infantry support. The infantry arrived and pushed into the central orchard, while the 2” mortar established a firing position behind the orchard and started to lay smoke in front of the suspected German held buildings, in front of the bridge.

Once a decent smoke screen was established, the Brits started to push Yellow infantry section down the road, just to the South of the orchard. However, there was a gap in the smoke screen & suddenly an MG34 opened up from the second story of the big house just to the North-West of the bridge. This caused some shock, but little else, so the Brits dashed Yellow section down the road, to try to seize the small house just South of the German held main house.

Alarmed by this development, the Germans revealed another infantry section, in the depression to the South-West of the bridge. This caused significant casualties in Yellow Section, before they managed to dash into small ruined house.

To try to dislodge the Germans, the Brits pushed the M3 tank rapidly down the road, almost running over Yellow section, before they managed to scuttle into the relative safety of the small house. At this point, sadly the wind picked-up and a Pak38 was revealed in the Wadi, just South of the bridge. Its first round significantly jarred the M3’s crew and while the second shot missed, the third had the M3 crew bailing out! 

It was now clear now that Germans held the area in significant strength. The Brits called forward further reinforcements in the form of a further infantry section in the orchard and a Universal Carrier section South of the road, to try to suppress the Germans in the Southern depression.

Sadly the carriers proved unable to provide effective suppression for the Yellow infantry section, sheltering in the small ruined house & Yellow section was rapidly whittled down to just the NCO and one rifleman, before being routed from the house.

In the central orchard, the reinforcement infantry section moved forward to the Eastern perimeter wall, but only just in time to see Blue Section become pinned down by German fire from the house. Red Section rapidly set-up to provide counter fire, but before they were set, the Germans revealed a further squad in the Wadi, just North of the big house. The combined fire of four MG34s rapidly reduced the new British infantry section to a handful of men! At this point, the British decided to withdraw and seek artillery support.