I’ve been toying with and reviewing aspects of the 4th scenario the Kasserine Campaign.

Tunisia – The Kasserine campaign [Scenario 4] with its Allies move first; is that a nod to the fact that the Germans will run away with the game?

Just how far can the Axis get in two turns?

The designer note hints at the fact that for play balance US should go first. However if the Allies do go first it is most likely that an aggressive allied player will do much the same as the Axis did in their Kasserine pass operation?

I recently played 2 turns in what was a purportedly a learning game that ended with just such an end state where the French units and US 1^st Armoured bifurcating the map and ending, ostensibly the game [due to supply issues for Trace]. So it appears that both sides seem to have a yawing opportunity to have a game deciding move turns 1 & 2, maybe not so much two turns for the Axis, more like 3 or 4 to get to place where the Allied side capitulates.

• Going back over the game play from that prior effort , there are certainly things that the Axis player could do better.
• Ship turn 1 reinforcement to Sousse. [ Correction: in this Scn no Feb 15 reinforcement, so not an option]
• Pull mobile forces from the Mareth line and possibly draw down on units defending in the Tunis area, either in their turn or in the reaction phase by being in Reserve mode.
• Heavier use of air in the reaction phase would have been a smart play also.

So I asked online for some advice about this question regarding the scenario and how to approach it.

Q: How do you play the Opening turn for Kasserine campaign game [Scn 4.0] ? I’m curious.

A: Honestly, having an agreement to not launch attacks on the first turn (with the exception of the German units attacking Kasserine) is probably your best bet. Particularly around Sousse, the complete lack or a solid defence line will lead to a aggressive allied player cutting you off on the first turn.

A: With 11 Axis Reserve markers it should be very possible to stymie any allied attempts without them exposing themselves. But I’ve never done a Kasserine start in Tunisia…

A: The huge amount of American and French forces facing a small amount of Italians with the Allies going first is a recipe for disaster. And even if the Axis are only cut for a single turn, that pretty much ends any chance of the Battle of the Kasserine pass from happening due to the supply costs. Maybe if you made Sfax a supply source for the first 3 turns you might be able to avoid it?

A: Yeah, honestly it’s much better to start with the initial campaign rather than the Kasserine start. Either that or having a rule against running amok for the first few turns. Maybe it might also be worth it to allow both players to move around a bit before the first turn? Like certain units could spread out to make a more solid defence? But I digress. Actually, could I ask a favour? If you do end up playing the Kasserine start let me know how it goes, because I’m about to start my own game and I want to see if there is an option that stops either player from running Amok.

Above is a zoom in on the primary area where both sides can do some early fast moves. The area South of Pichon has a good road and not much in the way except for some crappy Italian units which would allow the capture of Sousse within two turns. That is critical as it is the sole trace supply route for all units West and South of there. Further South the Kasserine pass area is the Germans primary axis of advance.

Time to look at what actually happened then!
This is what is so cool about our hobby. We can play a game, have an experience, wonder how that really went, or wonder why it went differently. OR just consider possibilities.

Actions prior to Scenario kick off on Feb 15^th 1943:

The two actions just prior to Rommel’s Kasserine operation called Morgenluft, which were conducted by the Yanks & French seemed to go horribly wrong at Faid Pass and Gafsa on or around January 31^st. With 900 French casualties, 210 US casualties and many tanks eliminated.

“We could not help but wonder whether the officers directing the American effort knew what they were doing” – Company War diary February 1^st.

Rommel’s Plan:

Rommel’s plan was to conduct similar raids, but press onwards through Kasserine and then threaten supply lines in Algiers in and around Tebessa. A slim chance of an all out victory but Rommel had always been in for a lucrative gamble. Grand strategic implications meant approval came quickly as both Mussolini and Hitler were eager for good news after Stalingrad’s fall and disastrous retreat from Tripoli.

View from Faid Pass looking West.

Allied Plan:

The Allies meanwhile faced severe command contention, lack of respect, lack of supply, lack of discipline and inexperienced leadership on the US side. Combined arms tactics were still not working for the US, the French were poorly equipped and not trusted, and then of course the Brits were as ever superior and intractable in their demands and plots to wrest operational control from the upstart rookie Eisenhower. [ That’s my take netting out 100+ pages of intrigue from An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson]. The US operation Satin was supposed to close the door on the Mareth line by capturing Gabe or Sfax. It failed.

How should we view all of this and adjust for the potential for both sides to go a bit wild?

My take away on the situation is that the Allied forces were in no way able to prosecute an attack, nor where they capable of successful co-ordinated operations at this point. Their forces were poorly allocated, many in exposed positions, and command confusion reigned. Whereas Rommel though hampered by supply constraints was ready and prepared to execute his operation and the that of the Northern feint.

Rule Adjustments:

Perhaps the way to adjust the scenario is to have the French Moroccan [I think it is] division & elements of 1A not advance past hexrow 44 eastwards on Turn 1 & possibly turn 2?

Allow as mentioned above Sfax to be a supply source for up to three turns if Sousse falls?

What other options would you consider to prevent a wild swingy opening?

 

Images and some quotes from:

History of the Second World War.

The Desert War by George Forty

Kasserine Pass 1943 Osprey Publishing by Steven Zaloga

An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson