_____ASSAULT ON ASCO*
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___Republican Spain Assault*
______Nationalist Spain*
_____Near the Ebro River,*
_______July 25, 1938*
___Updated for Version 7*
_________Turns:12*
___Not Difficult to Win
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______Design: Redleg*
E-Mail artifice@fireserve.net*
*
July, 1938 finds Republican Spain struggling for survival. In an attempt to draw Nationalist
forces away from other sectors, a daring attack across the Ebro River is devised.**

At 0100 hours 25 July, 1938 the Republican forces are able to cross the Ebro River into 
enemy territory without being detected. The attack on Asco was made by the XV International
Brigade under the command of Major Jose Antonio Valledor. The 59th Spanish Battalion and
the Canadian Bn (nicknamed: Mac-Paps) assaulted the village occupied by a battalion of the
Spanish Legion attached to the Nationalist 50th Division. In addition to the infantry, there
was a squadron of Legion cavalry in the area.**

The Spanish 59th Bn attacked from the South along the river bank. The Mac-Paps attacked
the West side of Asco.**

NOTE: Actually, there were far more troops in this battle than are shown. In this battle,
you will find 2 companies of the 59th Bn and 1 company of the Mac-Paps. The village was
eventually surrounded and surrendered. The Mac-Paps confiscated the captured cavalry
horses and drove rapidly West to assist the British battalion in their assault on Corbera.
Meanwhile, the Lincoln Bn was also pushing West from positions South of Asco. Note that
Asco was also attacked from the North which is not reflected in this scenario in an effort
to keep the size of the scenario from being far too large.
**
As this battle develops, you will note an absence of artillery. This is for two reasons:
First, the International Brigade was not able to get its artillery into position to support
the attack on Asco. Second, Nationalist artillery and air strikes were being directed at
the foot bridges and boat crossings still taking place along the Ebro river.

After the battle: The Republicans were able to cross the Ebro because the conventional wisdom
was that a swift-running river such as the Ebro, could not be crossed in force. Before the 
Nationalists had recovered from their surprise, a bridgehead 25 kilometers by 50 kilometers 
had been established. Many Nationalist troops and resources had to be rapidly transferred 
away from other fronts to meet this threat.
**

Sources*
*
Men in Battle, Alva Bessie*
Recalling the Good Fight, John Tisa*
The Abraham Lincoln Brigade, Arthur H. Landis*
The Civil War in Spain, Robert Payne*