Background
The Run for Tunis was part of the Tunisia Campaign which took place during November and December 1942 during the Second World War. Once French opposition to the Allied Operation Torch landings had ceased in mid-November, the Allies made a rapid advance by a division-sized force east from Algeria, to capture Tunis and forestall an Axis build up in Tunisia and narrowly failed. Some Allied troops were fewer than 20 miles (32 km) short of Tunis by late November but the defenders counter-attacked and pushed them back nearly 20 miles (32 km), to positions which had stabilized by the end of the year.
Another Allied attack was ready by late December 1942, when the Allied force comprised 54,000 British, 73,800 American and 7,000 French troops. The main attack began the afternoon of 22 December, despite rain and insufficient air cover; elements of the 18th Regimental Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (18th RCT) and the 78th Division 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards of the 1st Guards Brigade made progress up the lower ridges of Longstop Hill that dominated the river corridor from Medjez to Tebourba and thence to Tunis. By the morning of 23 December, the Coldstreams had driven back units of the 10th Panzer Division on the summit, been relieved by the 18th RCT and withdrawn to Mejdez. The Germans regained the hill in a counter-attack, the Coldstreams were ordered back and next day regained the peak and dug-in with the 18th RCT. By 25 December, ammunition running low and Axis forces holding adjacent high ground, the Longstop position became untenable and the Allies were forced to withdraw to Medjez.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_for_Tunis)
The Game
Situation:
It is 22 December 1942; after the withdrawl of the German Afrika Korps back into Tunisia, elements of the British 1st Army attack hasty defenses of the newly arrived German 10th Army in order to prevent its quick capture by the Allies. Victory for the British was to seize and hold the high ground of Longstop Hill and the adjacent Town. Capture of only one of the objectives would result in a minor British victory; otherwise it would be a German victory.
Scenario Rules:
- The game play was on a 9×5 foot table with the Germans deploying in the middle on the Hill and in the Town. The British infantry company deployed 16” from the forward German positions.
- Germans started in prepared positions with immediate reserves.
- Both players received 1500 points to build units from the old North Africa Book.
- Both of the sides of Longstop Hill were considered rough terrain and very difficult going (units had to reroll successful cross checks).
- The areas on all hill terrain was covered in high grass, so is classified as short area terrain giving infantry and light/medium gun teams concealment.
The Germans consisted of Panzergrenadier Company (three platoons), with 2 HMG platoons, 6 x Neberwerfers (off board), 75mm LeIG section and a Platoon. The infantry and HMGs were deployed on the hills, with the remaining units in reserve. All units were confident veteran. The Germans also purchased Priority JU-87G air support, which was deployed from the beginning of the game.
The British consisted of a Guard’s British Infantry Company with three infantry platoons, a medium mortar platoon, two carrier sections and two platoons of Churchills (2 each). The tanks were confident trained. The rest of the force was confident veteran with a plus one to morale (guards).
Game Narrative:
Friday’s game depicted the initial attack of the 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards on Longstop Hill to open up the advance on Tunis by the recently arrived British 1st Army. Key to the British plan was to simultaneously attack both objectives and force the Germans to defend both.
The game started with a bang as the British surged across their start lines and into the scrub brush in front the German position. The Churchills began to shell the German HMG positions while the 3 inch mortars laid a smoke screen in front of the German lines. The Germans countered by calling in Stuka support which destroyed a Churchill and bailed the other on the British right flank.
On Turn Two, the British platoon in front of the town swung around the flank of the town using the brush as cover while continuing to hammer the Germans on the Hill, causing several casualties. The batter Churchill platoon decided they had had enough and ran to the rear! The Germans countered by shooting up one of the infantry platoons on the Hill. The first German reserves arrived, the third infantry platoon, which started to move up to reinforce the town garrison.
On Turn Three, the British started to clear the German forward positions with determined infantry attacks. The Germans raked the attacking infantry with fire, giving as good as they got. The timely arrival of the Nebelwerfers from reserve had immediate effect causing infantry casualties and routing a carrier section.
As the Luftwaffe had not appeared since the initial turn couple of turns, the Germans were unable to defend themselves from the remaining Infantry, Churchills and Carriers, which destroyed the Panzergrenadiers in the Town.The German position on Longstop Hill was also on the verge of being cleared by the attacking Guards infantry platoons and supporting mortars. The remaining German reserves arrived, but they could not get into position in time to effect the game (taking losses to mortar fire as they advanced.
With the Germans a few stands away from Formation withrawal, the game was called as a British major victory.
– Manteuffel