Kesserine!
On 8 November, 1942, the Americans landed
in Morocco and Algeria along with their
British Allies. By the 17th, they were in
Tunisia on a front stretching from Beja
through Pichon, Sidi bon Zid, and to Gafsa,
but it was a very thinly manned line. The
Axis responded, first with Stukas at Beja
and leveled the town. When the French General
Barre in Medjez-el-Bab finally threw in
with the Allies, the opposing armies were
on his doorstep. The ensuing battle was
brutal and forced an Allied retreat toward
Beja. The battle for northern Tunisia would
stalemate at Medjez-el-Bab. December and
January would pass as the stalemate continued
but on Valentines Day, 1943, Rommel attacked
the Americans not in the north, but in central
Tunisia.
With hindsight, it could be debated that
the Allied Command leadership up to this point
in North Africa was criminal. There was certainly
plenty of blame to be shared. Indefensible positions
at Fiad Pass were lost, then Sidi bon Zid fell. Gafsa
was abandoned. Sbeitla and Kesserine were left
undermanned and inviting to the Wehrmacht due to
poor radio discipline and finally, withdrawal.
It is at this desperate juncture on February 20th
that we pick up the battle with a ragtag force of
Americans holding Kesserine Pass west of the town
of the same name.
Terrain--***AVAtunis*** NEW AVA TERRAIN
Terrain by easyscor
Vox
Axis--123
Allies--123
Aircraft are traditionally available at all
vBase in the AvA
Allies:
A20G with 4x250lb bombs
P-40E
P39D, Q
Spit V, IX
Hurri IIC
B-25C
Boston III with 4x250 lb bombs
C-47
Storch
M4s (76mm) + Sherman
Firefly
Jeep
M3
M8
M16
Axis:
C. 202
109F-4
109G-2
190A-5
110C-4b
Ju-87D Stuka with 1x250 + 4x50kg
He-111 32x50kg
C-47
Storch
Panzer IV F, H
Tiger I
Jeep
SdKfz 251
M8
Ostwind
Wirble
Terrain: avatunis
Settings:
Friendly icons-- 3k
Enemy icons-- 0k
Radar everywhere
Killshooter is on.
Visibility is 12.0 miles
Fuel burn rate is 1.0
Ack settings are .25
Base capture: 10 troops
