Operation Crusader- Dimples Sounds the Charge

(SCENARIO 17 THE CHARGE OF THE 9TH ARMOURED, TEL EL AQQAQIR,2 NOVEMBER 1942)

This scenario reflects my  setting in Operation Crusader with the fictional South Essex Yeomanry.  Arriving in Egypt the Yeomanry are brigaded with fragments of the 3^rd Indian Motor Brigade, in their case 2^nd Lancers Hodgsons Horse forming the Indian Armoured Recon Brigade.  On the 18^th November 1941 Operation Crusader the South Essex as part of the Indian Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade are sent out to search for Rommel’s tank force, turning back towards Tobruk the regiment  are warned in the early hours by the Recce Squadronn that they have encountered a blocking force of  DAK AT guns.  

FORCES 18th November 1941 near Tobruk

2^nd Lancers Hodgsons Horse

Risaldar  Khan Regular  (regular) with batman in  Recce carrier with Boyes 

2 Infantry Squads in Bren carriers each with an additional pintle mounted bren                 

South Essex Yeomanry “C “ Troop

1 Crusaders command tank , “Stella” inexperienced commanded by Lt Ned “Reverand” Ransome

1 Crusaders command tank inexperienced commanded by Lt “Bongo” Paterson

7 Crusaders inexperienced

DAK all veterans
Lt Braunbauer with 2 men
2 LMG Squads
1 infantry Squad
Panzer III
88mm
2 Pak 38 50mm

                                                                                 

                                                    

Major Trumper Jones had a simple plan the South Essex had to simply pass through the gun line shattering it and getting into Rommel's rear literally doing this while the DAK were in the dark.  The attack started in the pre dawn dark.  If wasn’t for the bloody Indian Khan, the Squadron Major Trumper Jones “Dimples” would have ordered a plain old high speed charge right over the guns.  Khan reminded him that The Auk had told “Dimples” categorically that he would have his command if he didn’t listen to his recce.   Khan had spotted both minefields and AT guns.  Khan plan was to clear out the AT Guns, if an only if, he was given covering fire by the Yeomanry.  “Dimples" delegated Ned Ransome to this tiresome task of giving covering fire.  Dimples world was being turned upside down by  a “foreign” recce carrier jockey, he even suspected that Ransome was too eager in supporting this plan.   Dimples was sure The Reverand  lacked guts and wasn't really that "Tally Ho". Well anyway the rest of the Squadron would charge and young Paterson, a super huntsman, was reminded not to spare the whip.

Britannia Crusader

The Major got lost on the way to the forming up point, somehow he also lost the radio link to the artillery and someone had misplaced the flare gun.  No artillery barrage.  Well the attack still had to go in.  Ransome commanding "Stella", led his troop forward in a steady advance, letting Khan push on with the carriers and Paterson hammered in at a run. All this noise simply alerted Jerry, the initial fire order couldnt get a clear target in the dark so no shots but plenty of ambush dice out of the bag.

                                                      

Achtung Panzers!

 Turn 2 immediately brought sunrise with direct sun in blindsiding the Yeomanry (an additional -1 to firing)

Ned Ransome partially blinded could clearly see the flashes of the 88 shots devastating the charging crusaders of his squadron.  "Stella's"Gunner "Ginger" Banks still managed to "6" hit on the 88, as did Sargeant Charlie Wheeler in his "Flying Serpent", two pins on the 88 and one kill.  

A hit a palpable hit Good shot Ginger!

Lt Bungo Paterson's tank had brewed, his number 2 Crusader was oinned by Pak 38 fire and the reserve Panzer III came on table and pinned his number 3 Crusader.  The inexperienced crew and the sand in everything adding to the shock of battle.  Khan pushed up within 6 inches of the Jerry positions with his carriers another move and they would be on top of one of the  Pak38s

Number 3 Crusader Pinned

Turn 3  Jerry mopped up the Pinned down Crusaders first  the Panzer III.  The Bungo's last crusader charged full tilt for the board edge wildly firing on the run at the Panzer III.

Panzer III mops up

Then the infantry after another hit by the Pak38

Ransome's crusader in the center of the battlefield looked distinctly lonely, trying to hulldown "Luckie" fubarred his order test probably tipping awkwardly into a hole, the 88 crew targetted "Luckie" but missed.

Ginger managed to get a third shot into the 88mm crew, and another troop tank managed a fourth hit forcing the blood spattered crew into a rally in turn 4. The Pak 38 put a round into Ransome's no5 Crusader Khan managed to fire this gun with the Boyes wounding one of the crew in return.  No5 crusader bailed as their tincan was on fire.  Four Crusaders were now out of action.

Turn 4   Bungo's last crusader crashed right off the board, better to live in hope than die at German hands.  The Panzer II was now free to roam.   "Luckie" was missed again by the Panzer III and the Pak 38.  still more misery for the South Essex, on top of it all the Jerry infantry opened up on the Scammel and riddled the radiator with MG fire, crushing any hope of recovery. 

The 88mm recovered taking off all the pins while the Pak 38 tried to bag Khan's recce bren,  some serious withdrawal saved him by throwing up a cloud of dust.  It was  Ransome's moment to pushed up, turning and advancing on the Jerry right he hoped to hook round, but lucky pinned down had to be left behind.

Turn 5 “Luckie” Rallies,despite being under fire from the pak 38, 88mm and the Panzer III.  One hit could have finished the tank off.  Bren carrier sprays the Pak38 crew who bolts for it off table throwing a fubar funk for their order check. Khan advances, Ransome turns in with his troop spraying the 88mm for all they are worth.   The Jerry infantry leap frog past the command group into foxholes

This maybe an advance order but it was made in reverse.

Turn 6  “Luckie” reverses facing off the Panzer III.    The command group leapfrogs past the jerry infantry squad.  The 88mm barely hangs on under more fire from Ransome ‘s troop and the brens of Khan.  The Flying Serpent scores the last hit of the game, the 88mm with multiple pins and only 2 crew left would last another turn.  Its just about possible for the infantry, Lt Braunbauer and the Panzer III to get away leaving the South Essex in procession of this part of the field.

Hard to find the best German unit possible Leutnant Braunbauer  who lent his command bonus to the 88mm Pak 38 and a squad of infantry at various points.  “Aldwinter”  was the best tank, nothing matches rolling 3 sixes in a row for tank firing.

Outcome a South Essex Yeomanry win one tank off table, three crusaders in the Jerry defending zone with two bren carriers 6points.  Dak knocked out four crusaders and one bren carrier.  The battle winner was “Luckie”, the tank that  somehow surviving an 88 glancing blow and then missed by the 88mm again, the Pak38 and the Panzer III.