SCENARIO:
A Rude Surprise for Rommel – Complexity 5

DATE:
27 May, 1942 – 15 Turns

LOCATION:
10 km E of Bir Cheim, 60 km SSW of Tobruk, Libya – a desert theater

TYPE:
Combined Axis forces attacking prepared allied positions. This may be the first time Rommel encountered the Grant Medium Tanks.

FORCES:
Enemy forces consisted of mainly Grant Medium Tanks and AT guns with Infantry forces. Most of the forces were fixed from Allied sides, but released. Our forces were 6 PzKpfw IIF, 13 PzKpfw IIIH, 2 PzKpfw IIIJ, 3 PzKpfw IV, various Howitzers and AA guns, mortars, and Infantry units. There were 2 air attacks available.

OBJECTIVES:
6 50 HEXs and 4 exit HEXs

Major Defeat 200
Minor Defeat 300
Minor Victory 450
Major Victory 550

TERRAIN:
Desert Terrain. Hills in the North and SE. A valley in SW and middle of the map. This was good tank terrain.

OPPONENT:
2nd Lt. Dean Thompson 23rd Inf Regt, 2nd Inf Division

All my forces were near SW corner of the map. Since most of the objectives were near the center or the north of the center, I decided to take most of my forces toward east. 1 company of Panzers and 1 company of infantry of my forces were diverted to north. There was virtually no action for 4 turns. Most of my infantry units made to the SE hill. 1 company of Panzers took southern most objective. This is when a furious battle started to take shape. First One platoon of PzKpfw IIF was destroyed by Grant Tanks and took the hex back. Over the next 5 turns, our forces took heavy losses. The total casualty: 4 companies of Panzers, 2 platoons of AT guns, 1 platoon of Engineers. However, my forces finally broke though around turn 11.

My detached force up north destroyed 3 platoons of AT and 4 platoons of Infantry. I sent most of my trucks toward the exit HEXs, but it was a slow going. Allied forces positioned 2 platoons of Grant tanks near the closest exit HEX. Since there were only 15 turns for this scenario, I had to make a quick move. A company of PzKpfw IIIJ appeared on the turn 8, and another company of PzKpfw IVs appeared on turn 10 with General Rommel! I immediately sent these reinforcements toward north to meet the allied reinforcements.

After destroying all the Panzers Allied forces sent to south, I send my forces toward the objective HEXs. This is when the enemy forces released all the fixed units. By the time our forces started to engage the enemy held objective HEXs, it was too late. Most of my trucks made within 2 HEXs of the exit, but the time expired.

By my hurrying the last 3 turns, my forces suffered heavy losses. My main fault was that I sent the forces toward east instead of north. This may have made a difference toward capturing the objectives although my right flank would have been hopelessly overmatched.

RESULT:
Allied Major Victory – 178 point.

LESSONS:
1. Grant Medium tanks can be effective weapon against PzKpfw III and IV.
2. Engineer Platoons can be great against enemy tanks, especially during assaults.
3. PzKpfw IIF is almost useless against enemy tanks. Use them for recon purpose.
4. Most of Panzers and stronger than Allied tanks during this time, but they have a faster tanks. Make sure engage them over a distance.

Dean Thompson was a good opponent. He was relentless in counter attacking my forces which delayed my forces sufficiently enough so that his reserves arrived just in time.

Even though I did not get a desired result, this is recommended if anyone likes very intense tank battles. I really enjoyed this scenario, but I was not sure of PBEM suitability. This one seemed to favor the Allies.