WW2 Desert Campaign turn 6 - game 3

This is the third game of campaign turn six. So far in this turn we have seen in the initial 21st Panzer division attack being repulsed by the South African infantry division. The following action saw the Axis attack regain it's momentum with the 15th Panzer division overcoming stiff resistance by the New Zealand infantry division. This third, and final, engagement between the attacking Italian Ariete armoured division and the Allied 1st armoured division will determine the outcome for this campaign turn.

Campaign Map Turn 6

The tabletop is setup using terrain cards and has three objectives, two sets of hills and an escarpment. Ariete armoured forces plan outlined below is to attack the first hill objective with some screening forces attacking any defending units positioned in the central wadi. The second phase of the attack will focus on the second set of hills. Any surviving units will then make an attempt the escarpment and third objective.

Tabletop, objectives, and attacking plan

Neither force is at full compliment due to wear and tear, and both start the game with 30 percent of their units in reserve. Weather conditions mean neither force can rely on air support (in other words I forgot about air support!)

Order of Battle:

Allies:

• 1 x Stuart unit
• 1 x Carrier unit
• 2 x Grant units
• 3 x A13 units
• 2 x Infantry units
• 2 x 2 Pounder Portee units

Axis:

• 3 x Infantry units
• 2 x Armoured car units
• 1 x Light tanks unit (L6/40)
• 5 x Medium tank units (M13/40)
• 2 x AT guns
• 2 x Semovente 75mm 

The engagement started well for the Italians. Their first attack on the first set of hills quickly gained a foothold. They we less successful in the centre with the intended screening force being more heavily engaged than expected with the defending Allied forces positioned in the wadi. The end result was only one Semovente unit was available to support their attacks on the hills.

Opening positions

Initial attacks gain a foothold on the first hill objective.

The second Italian force arrives and heads towards the wadi hoping to skirt around any defending forces and support the attacks on hill objectives.

With the first objective hill won both sides take time to reorganise for attack and  defence.

The second phase of the engagement saw Allied force regroup with their reserves behind the wadi. Italian reserves arrived and swiftly move down the road as a diversionary tactic. After this period of manoeuvring a tank engagement was fought out around the second hill objective. The outcome of this was in favour of the attacking Italian units.

Italian reserves move swiftly down the road to act as a diversion.

The Italian reserves draw off one tank unit with in the background a sizeable tank engagement is getting underway.

A tank engagement is fought over the second hill objective.

Italian tanks get the upper hand and the second objective which will soon be in their grasp.

Mustering all remaining units an attack was mounted on the escarpment. The defending infantry unit gave a good account of itself, but numbers eventually told.

Early attacks on the escarpment were unsuccessful, but subsequent attacks were as all remaining units were marshalled to provide support. 

A victory to the attacking Italians delivering a much needed second win for Axis forces to continue their advance on the campaign map.