Sened Station
1/2/43
v1.3 (changed aircraft and de-typoised OB)
The scenario represents the attack by Combat Command D on Sened Station, the ultimate objective being Maknassy about 10 miles further down the road
The attack commenced on the 31st January but was abortive as the 1/168th infantry were tardy in getting into position. As they were de-bussing their trucks they were pounded by Stukas which, completely disrupted the preparations for the attack
During the night the 168th was reinforcedby the second battalion. Its unclear how, but the 2nd battalion sailed past the US front lines, went through the Axis front line and de-bussed, in the dark, in the middle of the Axis position. Although this attracted some desultory Axis fire, they were largely undisturbed as they dug-in; at least until daylight.
The game starts at 9am on the 1st as the US forces advance from the east. The 2/168th finds itself in a whole world of hurt.
1943 Map of the Battlefield from: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/tunisia/txu-pclmaps-oclc-6542667-sened-61.jpg
Contemporary map, note how little has changed but this map shows the olive groves. From: http://www.sabria.org/illus/carte-tunisie/sabria-org-carte-tunisie-sahara-meknassy.jpg
Map and Order of Battle
Axis Deployment
III/92 Fanteria Btg and 334 Schnelle Abt deploy in the area delineated by the pink dotted lines. They are not allowed within the area reserved for the 2/168th. All stands must be deployed facing west. At least 1/3rd, but no more than 2/3rds, of the stands must be within 3" of the west grove or the eastern most ridge line. All stands are entrenched (-3 cover). The PaK-40 guns must be within 18" of one of the cactus patches
24" of mixed mines may be deployed within the deployment area
Note the deployment area skirts the West Grove at 6" distance.
3 Kp 334 Schnelle Abt is a reinforcement on turn 4, it must enter within 6" of point B, Note the OB does not contain a typo, this unit has Marder I.
XV Btg Carri must deploy within 6" of Sened Station
Marder I being loaded on to a Me-323 almost certainly headed to Tunisia. Bigger picture here: https://flic.kr/p/8Cesh2
US Deployment
RHQ & 1/168th Infantry enters the table turn 1 or later between D&E. Point E is halfway between points A&D
2/168th Infantry starts on the table in the area delineated by the pink dashed line. Stands may not be within 3" of an enemy stand. All stands are in foxholes (-2 cover). The area extends 6" either side of the road.
3/13th Armoured enters the table turn 1 or later between point A and 6" south of point F
Terrain
The table is 5ft x 8ft if playing 1" = 50m. Norths is towards the top of the page. The open ground is for the most part desert though there is some dusty cultivation around the station. Note that the ground scale has been compressed on the map to allow all the battlefield to fit
Red lines are roads, the thicker, darker lines are tarmac, the others are tracks.
The black dashed line is a railway. It has no game effect.
The brown dashed lines are ridgelines. They break LOS. They are very steep - vehicles may not cross the lines and personnel take a BMA to cross.
The dark green areas are olive groves. They are open blocking terrain they do not otherwise provide cover. Max LOS within the groves is 8".The olive groves are not thick enough cover to prevent air attacks. However if using the Simple Air Rules when attacking a target wholly within a grove the deviation roll is 8-10 rather than 9-10. AA guns may not fire at aircraft out of the groves.
The lighter green areas are patches of cactus. Personnel within get -1 cover. Personnel and un-armoured vehicles within move at half speed. It is not possible to man-handle guns within. LOS between personal stands and class I guns is limited to 2". LOS to or from larger guns and vehicles is unimpeded.
The grey square is a mud brick BUA (-3 cover) the simple town fighting rules are in effect.
Aircraft
The Luftwaffe had air superiority during the battle and the air was thick with Stukas, though many attack the rear echelons rather than the battlefield.
Each turn the German player rolls d10. 1-8, no planes, 9-10: Stuka. German air attacks can only be made in the western 18" of the table. Instead of making an on table attack and attack can be made on either US off table artillery battalion. This will automatically stop the artillery battalion firing next turn
Special Rules
The game is 11 turns long with a 50% chance of a 12th turn rolled at the end of the 11th turn
No unit that starts on table issue an order to move on turn 1
The 2/168th may not fire or call artillery turn 1. The 2/168th may not issue an order to move on either turn 1 or 2.
The 334 Schnelle Abt is likely to be withdrawn during the battle. On turn 5 roll before the order phase to see if a withdrawal will take place during turn 6: a 6 on a d6 is required. Roll each turn with the number required dropping by 1 each turn so in the orders phase of turn 7 a 4-6 is required to prompt a withdrawal. However a 1-2 is never a withdrawal. Once the 344 Abt is withdrawing at least half the orders issued by its command stands must be either disengage orders or movement orders that point towards table edge B
Victory Conditions
In order to win the US player must remove all Axis stands in good morale from within 12" of point B. Point B is measured from the centre of the road. Victory is ascertained after the last turn
Its an Axis victory if the US does not make its victory conditions
Good morale means not shaken and not demoralised
References
50 Special Brigade: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=198805
92 Regimento & 10 Besagleri: http://www.comandosupremo.com/forums/topic/7077-92-infantry-regiment-in-tunisia-organised-as-as42/page__pid__105103#entry105103
334 Infanterie Division KTB (via http://www.wwii-photos-maps.com/home_page_042.htm )
334 Schnelle Abteilung Kreigsgliderung: http://downloads.sturmpanzer.com/NARA_RG242/T78R398_H1_43.pdf
334 Schnelle Abteilung Marder I:
http://www.feldgrau.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=32192&p=230017&hilit=Tunisia+10+panzer#p230017
443rd AA Battalion:
http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/36division/archives/443/44320.htm
701st Tank Destroyer Battalion Operations Report: http://www.tankdestroyer.net/images/stories/ArticlePDFs/701st_TD_Jan_31-Feb_3_43_Operations_Rpt.pdf
Armoured Artillery at Sened Station: http://www.scribd.com/haraoi_conal/d/33877762/1-ARMORED-ARTILLERY-AT-SENED-STATION
AS42 Organisation: http://www.comandosupremo.com/forums/topic/6220-trieste-trento/page__p__98644__hl__as42__fromsearch__1#entry98644
Colonel Drake's Report of the action (168th Infantry Regiment): http://www.34infdiv.org/history/168inf/4212-4303DrakeRpt.pdf
Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West, Chapter XX: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-MTO-NWA/USA-MTO-NWA-20.html
