Rommel Mid War Americans v Germans

Andy and I played another Rommel game tonight. This time Andy had suggested we play a campaign which would consist of a linked series of four games (two mid-war and two late-war) with some constraints on the quality of the troops we could select. The first game was set in Tunisia.

As this was the first game my Americans were limited to 'green' infantry (apart from the armoured infantry) and the entire tank force was 'green' as well. We both chose a 110pt army then bid points for the game to decide on the scenario.

Since the Americans were so awful I bid only 90pts as I really wanted to defend while Andy went for the full 110pts. A 20pt difference allowed me to select the 'Scramble' scenario and defend.

Andy had to capture two objectives and the American line of supply that ran through some mountains before nightfall. With a decent terrain roll I put some hills and three towns down together with a river. I chose two of the towns as Andy's objectives. One of the interesting things with this scenario is that the defender can't deploy in the first four rows (which includes the supply source) so the attacker may be able to outflank the defender before they get to react.

The American deployment looked a bit thin especially with the huge space behind the lines. The furthest forward town and the town on the right are the objectives, Two infantry battalions on the left flank should stop the Germans using road movement to outflank the American line:

The Germans deploy across the battlefield with their stronger units on the right:

Immediately the American plan collapsed. Andy used 'intercepted signals' to move the American infantry on the far left allowing him to use road movement and a couple of tactical phases to totally outflank the American line. They almost capture the American supply line but can't quite get there. In response the Americans rush forces back to defend the supply line. It's certainly a scramble for the Yanks!:

The German attack continues with heavy pressure on the American armour around the supply line and the armoured infantry holding the wood on the left:

The Americans dig in around the objectives and on the hill occupied by the artillery. So far no attacks have been made on the towns:

The Germans continue to attack the American armour around the supply line inflicting heavy losses on them:

On the left the armoured infantry have been forced to vacate the woods and are almost spent:

The first attack goes in against the American held town in the centre. It is easily beaten off though:

Further attacks on the town are more successful and the Americans are almost driven out. They have no reserves to move into the town:

The infantry battalion defending the hill and one of the artillery batteries has been destroyed by German attacks. One battery manages to hold on:

Around the supply line the German's flood forwards. Most of the American armour has been wiped out  with  just a few armoured infantry holding the supply line still. All the American forces remaining apart from those around the supply line are now isolated:

The central town falls to the Germans at last. They have their first objective and look likely to capture the supply line:

The only bright side for the Americans is that the second objective town has not been attacked yet and is strongly held. The Yanks are desperate for night to fall:

The first German attack goes in against the final objective but is easily beaten off:

There are only a couple of armoured infantry left holding the supply line. The Americans have taken horrific losses but have managed to hold out until nightfall:

American losses were two battalions of Sherman's, three of Stuarts, four of armoured infantry, six of green infantry and all their artillery! The Germans lost a mere two infantry battalions.

Andy really threw me with his use of intercepted signals ruining my plan and denting my already fragile confidence in the American's ability to hold out. The scenario certainly lived up to it's Scramble title as I desperately tried to shore up my positions and took huge losses.

Andy played very well being aggressive, concentrating on the objectives and keeping the pressure on me right to the end. I suspect that it was the location of the second objective that saved me, protected by the river it was not easy to attack and I did keep most of the Sherman's in support of it right to the end (partly as, being isolated, I had no ops spare to use them!).

So it is 2-0 to the Americans after the first game and we move on to Italy for the next one. I can upgrade some of my units following the hard-won experience from Tunisia and Andy's force won't be so highly rated. Looking forward to the next game!