Beda Fomm, South of Benghazi, 6th February 1941

[paulr]

The following is the Spearhead game we played a couple of Saturdays ago...

British Background
The "five-day raid" launched by the Western Desert Force as a spoiling operation against the Italian 10th Army near Sidi Barrani in early December has exceeded all expectations. The Western Desert Force has left the deserts of Egypt nearly 500km behind and been renamed 13th Corps. Following the successful actions against the Italian armour defending Mechilli the fragmented remains of 10th Army are flooding west and then south along the coast road hotly pursued by 6th Australian Division which replaced 4th Indian Division. O'Connor has taken the bold decision to push the nearly exhausted 7th Armoured Division across poorly mapped desert terrain south of the Geba Enab in an attempt to cut off the retreating Italians.

The 7th Armoured Division rapidly reorganised prior to moving off. Two regiments were sent back to Egypt and their tanks were redistributed to the remaining four regiments. Initially the Division moved as a whole aimed at Ghemines. Air reconnaissance showed that they were aiming short and travelling too slowly over the broken ground. O'Moore Creagh was forced to divide his Division, part of the mainly wheeled Support Group with artillery support was redirected to Beda Fomm and has ambushed the retreating Italians. 4th Armoured Brigade arrived late in the day and attacked the eastern flank of the enemy column before laagering overnight.

The British objective today is to kill the "fox in the open" and destroy all the Italian battalions.

Italian Background
The 10th Army has been bundled out of Egypt and is retreating along the Libyan coastal road. With the fall of Mechilli the Italian position at Derna is untenable. The desert route to Benghazi is open and there are reports of British forces flooding across the open desert. Rear area troops are already withdrawing as rapidly as possible down the coast road. 60th Division, Armoured Brigade "Babini" and 10th Bersaglieri Regiment are fighting desperately to hold off the overwhelming British and Australian attacks on their rear guards. In additional vital components of these forces are required to cover the immediate desert flank at Soluch and Sceleidna.

Yesterday afternoon just south of Beda Fomm the leading element of the retreating 10th Army ran into British forces blocking the road to Agedabia. Despite desperate efforts into the night British infantry and artillery block the route south but the British armour has been driven off to the east.

The Italian objective is to break through to the south. If they manage to get three battalions off the southern table edge they have won. Five battalions off the southern table edge would be a decisive victory.

Terrain
The table is 5' from north to south and 3' from east to west. The coastal road runs north south approximately 1' from the western edge which is bordered by soft sand dunes. The road crosses a hill, The Pimple, near a mosque in the north east corner of the table. There are one or two small hills west of the road. To the east of the road are a series of north south ridges. At the south end of the table the road passes between two hills.

[paulr]

Initial deployment - the Italian positions were diced for


Italian infantry and light tanks attack Combe Force's blocking position, 2^nd Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment arrives from the east


Both sides suffer casualties as the Italians assault the dug in positions of 2^nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade - light tanks of 2RTR head for the road to support 2RB


The remainder of 4^th Armoured Brigade arrives further north, threatening the advancing Italian medium tanks of Gruppo Babini

[paulr]

C Company, 2RB and the supporting AT guns withdraw behind the reserve company on the road to avoid being overwhelmed
60 Light tank battalion and 60 Motorcycle Bersaglieri follow up the first assault wave


Two of the three medium tank battalions of Gruppo Babini attack 4^th Armoured Brigade while the third heads down the road towards Combe Force


The light tanks of 2RTR block the road after machine gunning Italian infantry. A carrier platoon of 2RB attempts to blunt the Italian assault on the hill
The third medium tank battalion of Gruppo Babini prepares to engage 2RTR and 11 Hussars


With light tank causalities mounting 7 Hussars withdraws from the ridge but the two Italian medium tank battalions have paid a heavy price

[paulr]

We called a halt to the game here as it was getting late.

The Italians have suffered heavy casualties with:
- all their light tanks destroyed or retreating
- one infantry battalions all but destroyed
- the motorcyclists having lost about a third
- two medium tank battalions approaching 50% losses

For the British both 2^nd Rifle Brigade and 7 Hussars had suffered significant casualties but there was plenty of fight in the rest of the Combe Force and 4^th Brigade.

The victory conditions were too tough for the Italians and will be reduced before we use this scenario again.

[Techno]

Great stuff, Paul !
Thanks for posting.
Cheers - Phil

[Hertsblue]

Love a good desert scrap, although it's the first one I've seen against the Italians. And the illustrations are first class too.

[toxicpixie]

That's always a terrible time for the Italians, handicapped not just by their encircled position but also by their gear and organisation and supply state and...

Mind, it's not always easy for the Commonwealth either, as most of their gear isn't much better, is worn out and in serious need of resupply

Good game

[getagrip]

Great game.

Prefer the "limited materiel" type battles to the "I've got ten Tiger tanks" variety; more gritty.

[Hertsblue]

Great game.

Prefer the "limited materiel" type battles to the "I've got ten Tiger tanks" variety; more gritty.

Absolutely. "Here's the awkward squad and half a sandbag. Now let's see you take Benghazi."

[getagrip]

Absolutely. "Here's the awkward squad and half a sandbag. Now let's see you take Benghazi."

That's why I'm doing early Eastern front with my BKC; I like the idea of a PZii having an impact.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Lovely looking report.

[toxicpixie]

That's why I'm doing early Eastern front with my BKC; I like the idea of a PZii having an impact.

Not often you can say that

Mind, I always think that about theWestern Desert. When the MkVi is a credible battle tank...

[getagrip]

Not often you can say that

Mind, I always think that about theWestern Desert. When the MkVi is a credible battle tank...

Yeah,  and there's a real joy in that rather than pounding the cr@p out of each other with uber guns

[toxicpixie]

When the extra dice and bonuses from getting into short range on someones flank become a joy and a reward, instead of just another couple of dice to bounce with, you know it's right

[getagrip]

When the extra dice and bonuses from getting into short range on someones flank become a joy and a reward, instead of just another couple of dice to bounce with, you know it's right

Agree totally