WW2 in North Africa: Into the Gap Part 1

I found this scenario on the Serpentine Wargame Club blog and is the first of the Op Compass actions as part of my N.Africa project:  http://serpentinewargameclub.blogspot.co.uk/

When I wargame solo I tend to play a game over several days. I therefore intend to break the AAR down into several parts reporting on the action soon after it happens on the tabletop. In this way I hope to provide easier to read postings in bitesize chunks but also more detailed. Any feedback on this method of providing AAR's is appreciated as it will give me a guide for the future.

The scenario courtesy of the Serpentine Wargames Club:

A Jock Column encounters an Italian Column in the Ebna Gap

The British forces would pass through the Ebna Gap with 4th Indian Division moving northwards to take the camps from behind, 7th Armoured Division screening to the west and south, while 'Selby' Force from the Mersa Matruh garrison would move along the coast road. Logistical problems would be solved by the creation of Forward Supply Depots (FSDs), with Nos. 3 and 4 holding enough fuel, food, water and ammunition for five days of activity, in No-Man's Land.

The setting up of these depots was screened by 'Jock' Columns and a sharp clash occurred on 19 November with an Italian force in the Ebna Gap ended with 5 Italians tanks destroyed and 100 casualties. This stunned the Italians for the next 3 weeks while intensive training by the British culminated in 'Training Exercise No. 1' which had British forces practising to attack exact replicas of the Italian camps. After this, Wavell gathered his senior staff together on 26 November and briefed them on 'Training Exercise No. 2' – Operation Compass.

On the 19th November 1940 a Jock Column patrolling the Ebna gap encounters an Italian Column of Tanks and Infantry.

Continued -

17/11/1940

0700 Zulu

From Western Desert Force HQ

To Major Jock Campbell.

Assemble a column from the available resources in WDF HQ and patrol the Gap between the Italian Camps at Nibeiwa and Bir Rabia.

Aggressively patrol the area NW of Bir Enba into the "Ebna Gap" and deny the enemy the opportunity to interfere with or gain intelligence on Training Exercise 1. We want to deter the Italians from leaving their camps so press them hard.

From Italian HQ 

11/11/1940

Lead your combined force into the desert on patrol and destroy any British raiders you encounter. This desert belongs to Italy now and we will not allow the British to infiltrate our defensive lines.

Into the Gap, 19th November 1940
Scale = 6mm

Figures and vehicles = GHQ, CinC and Heroics & Ros

Rules = Blitzkrieg Commander II

Table size = 6' x 3'

Orbats:

The battlefield prior to deployment. The British will deploy on the left side of the board.

Each side rolls a D10 and makes adjustments relating to their recon units to determine who arrives first and for how many turns. The British win the roll and have 4 turns of movement before the Italians arrive.

The 11th Hussars race ahead of the main British force scouting the ground ahead of them.

The Armour Group leads infantry units behind the 11th Hussars.

25pdr Field guns supported by a couple of infantry sections sweep out to the right of the main British patrol. The 40mm AA gun is to haul itself onto the high ground.

The main body of the Northumberland Fusiliers with the CO moves onto rocky high ground to the left of the British position. From here they hope to dominate the Ebna Gap.

So far so good with command rolls as the fusiliers debus and take cover in the rocky terrain. All is quiet ahead of them and no reports yet from the 11th Hussars.

The 3" mortar deploys.

The 11th Hussars position themselves among dunes ahead of the main British force. They are joined by the Forward Artillery Observer for the 25pdr's.

The armour group positions itself behind rocky terrain ready to pounce on any unsuspecting Italians.

In the centre of the British position, 3 infantry sections, a 2pdr anti-tank gun and an anti-tank rifle deploy awaiting further instructions.

The 4th turn lead to a failed command die roll from the CO so no further movement was allowed. The 25pdrs had yet to deploy.

A low rumble could be heard in the distance. The men of the 11th Hussars were alert scanning the skyline. Ahead of them armour and trucks appeared on the high ground. They immediately radioed the CO. Contact had been made!

The Bersaglieri motor cycle platoon with a recce armoured car lead the Italians into Ebna Gap.

NEXT: The opening clashes.