"French vs Germans in Tunisia 1943" Topic

New scenario and AAR posted over on the blog:
link

Nice report and great figs – thanks for sharing!

Indeed, very creative and imaginative. I've never seen reference to this campaign. ditto to the beautiful figures.

A WW2 scenario you don't see much of. Thanks for the AAR!

Cheers guys, comments much appreciated :)

Looks really good! I do actually have 'French for Tunisia' somewhere on my shopping list, so might make use of this one.

Fascinating. The fall of Tunis I thought meant "peace in our time" on the North African Coast. Then to see the 12 RCA Somuas in action like this. I thought they were stood down by this stage and ready to move to the UK to form the 2eme DB under Leclerc. French in Tunisia of course, but I had never known this late on. Not well documented in the English literature.

I showed a Heller Somua in 12 RCA markings here, but thought they were all obsolete by the fall of Tunis

I do actually have "French for Tunisia" in my ready forces box, but have not managed to assemble a game that is as on-target as this one appears to have been.

For me, this would have checked all of the boxes for a very well done game:
- Well constructed scenarios to stimulate the history-buff in me
- Unique challenges and capabilities for each side to engage my competitive nature
- A chance to play with some very nicely done up, and probably less-often used toys, to satisfy my inner child (I mean, that's why I love miniatures more than board games … am I right?)

Oh, and the AAR is a treat to read.

Thanks for posting it!

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

Then to see the 12 RCA Somuas in action like this. I thought they were stood down by this stage …

The Somuas were not stood down. They served as long as they were in working order. Or so I recall from my readings.

I can recall several years back reading a first-hand account (in French … never saw a translation) of the very last engagement of the S-35s in Tunisia, in which the last two working tanks were destroyed as they crossed a valley by Pz IVg's ("Mk 4 Specials") in the waning days of the campaign, after the fall of Tunis (as described in this scenario).

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

p.s.
I have also seen pictures of S-35s on the streets of Bizerte enjoying the liberation festivities, but as this scenario suggests, the fighting did not end immediately upon the capture of these two final strategic objectives.

To quote from Wikipedia:

Six days after the fall of Tunis and Bizerte, the last Axis resistance in Africa ended with the surrender of over 230,000 Germans and Italians who became prisoners of war (POWs).[83] Major General Lucian Truscott, commander of the US 3rd Infantry Division and Major General Ernest N. Harmon, commander of the US 1st Armored Division, reported that German resistance in the American sector ceased on 6 May …. On 8 May, the 334th Division surrendered to the British forces between Mateur and Tebourba.[85] … on 9 May, the US II Corps, under Major General Omar Bradley, cornered … what remained of the 5th Panzer Army, which surrendered before noon. … Around 22,000 Germans in the mountainous Zaghouan sector also ceased fighting on 11 May and surrendered with their equipment to the Free French.

Thank you guys, comments much appreciated.

Deadhead Groupe Blinde sud Tunisiene were a very mixed formation made up of whatever armoured equipment the French had. 12 RCA supplied their Somuas, 9RCA had a squadron of 6 GMC 75 SP and 5RCA had recce elements and also a squadron of Valentine IIIs supplied by the Brits.

Mark – I wrote this game to field toys just as you say – I`m glad you enjoyed it :)

Always great to see one of your AARs Richard!