SCENARIO 5 Duel in the Sun: Skirmish in the Sand.

SCENARIO 5 Duel in the Sun: Skirmish in the Sand.

Noon 19^th November 1941

FORCES

Indian Armoured Recce Brigade

2^nd Lancers 

Risaldar  Khan Regular (Regular) in carrier

Uncle Ali in a Recce Carrier    

South Essex Yeomanry “C “ Squadron

Lt Ned Ransome in Crusader Command Tank “Stella”, inexperienced 

Sargeant Charlie Wheeler in Crusader “The Fying Serpent” inexperienced

Billy Mathews in Crusader “Luckie”  inexperienced

Two further Crusaders under Ransome’s command

DAK  5^th Panzer Division

Lt Zimmerman   in Cmd Panzer IIIJ 50mm L/42 Veteran

Panzer IIIG 50mm L/42 Veteran              

Panzer II Veteran            

2 Infantry Squads Veteran in cars one scouts     

All Desert fighters                                                 

Scenario  5  gave the side with the most order dice a slight advantage during the game.  Its a good scenario for the random nature of the set up. One piece of paper for each unit placed on one terrain piece. No plans just action, kill or be killed.  Will Ned Ransome survive again?

“Ransome, Brigadier Bob Sharpe wants pickets out, get yourself shifted toot swift over to those Mounds.  Do you see those little Mounds.  Might be one, maybe two miles away.  Yes, then get moving,take Khan and a Jat portee. Get on the horn if you see Jerry and get your troop back here if you do”.  The best thing to do in an “O” Group led by Major “Dimples” is to stay still and quiet. Ned Ransome hated the man, clearly it was mutual.  On the journey out to the Picket point, the thunder rages over the desert, kicking up a dust storm.  In the murk , Ransome’s anxiety kicks in, the dust has broken up his force,vague shapes.  He thinks they have arrived popping his cupola he pushes up to get a better look.  As the dust settles it reveals his troop.  The heat is soaring but Ned’s hairs are on end. 

Billy Mathews in “Luckie” is just in front of him. The 3^rd troop Crusader on top of the big mound seems to have lost its pennant.  Tink Taylor in “Bella” is just on his right up on the smallest mound.  Further on the right is the Flying Serpent.  No sign of Khan or Uncle Ali, could be in the closeby depressions.  The Jat portee is on top of the big mound, a prime target for the Panzer II opening  up with it’s autocannon 300 yards away.  The portee goes up like a rocket, that’s going to alert the whole Brigade flashes through Ransome’s mind as he slides down into his own tank. 

His next thought it shit ,that’s not the 3rd troop crusader it’s  a big nasty Panzer III.  He can see the Jerry commander as it thankfully reverses back over the mound, mustn’t like the odds,  he watches Billy Mathews in “Luckie” go after it. “Get out of it Billy”, he warns, while Billy only cries “Tally Ho”.  “You bugger!” Going round the mound “Luckie” has  closed in on the Panzer III, misses the rear shot , Ransome watches the Panzer III 50mm round bounce off “Luckie” the gun droops then  Jerry infantry swarm on “Luckie” lobbing 

grenades.  

Shouting “Stop Now Driver”, he feels the sweat gush from his armpits “Driver reverse,  we are going back the way we came.  The heat is intense.  He hears Charlie Wheeler shouting that “Bella” has been jumped up the rear by a Panzer III. Charlie cries Fire then he cuts off.  Head just out of the tank Ransome sees the Flying Serpent shimmering above the ground.  A tank round strikes the Serpent, they don’t bail still no reply from Wheeler.  "Charlie were is the bastard?” Tink Taylor cuts in “ Over the hill boss, just go straight at him”.

Flying serpent  spots the Panzer III behind Bella, fires and his the tracks

“ Driver crack on straight t ahead, Ginger get set there’s a panzer just over this crest”.  “Stella” kicks up a mass of stones skittering on the tank hull, with a cloud of dust covering their rear.  She bucks on the crest, Ginger fires, they load fire again, The Panzer III isn’t moving it’s right hand track has been mangled by as shell from the “Flying Serpent”, but its still pumping shots out on Charlie Wheeler.   “Slow now driver rocks ahead. Edge round to the right”.  Tink calls“Coming up on your right Boss”. the panzer III puts a round in Tinks tank for his trouble.  Sweats pouring down Ned’s neck, “ Come on Ginger get him” The 2pdr loads, fires Germans bail from the Panzer III.  "Good shooting".  Ned opens the lid, wriggles his shoulders peeking out.  Finally Charlie Wheeler responds, he banged his head and was out of it.  The 3rd troop Crusader has been brewed by a Panzer II which hunted down both Khan's and Uncle Ali's carriers

Bucking the crest

Tink Taylor on Ned's right

Game result  Jerry win, 4 VP putting four in the bag, while the South Essex manage only Panzer III and Uncle Ali has bagged a squad of Jerry infantry 2VP.