Kasserine 1943

[UP844]

Deployment & Plan

The map is mostly open terrain, with a hill range near the southern edge and two hills, one in the lower West edge (actuall, part of the southern range) and one in the middle East edge.

There are four VP hexes in the mid-top western area; no VP are awarded for casualties or exited units.
Initial deployment is fixed for the AFVs already on the map and for those entering on Turn #1. The German infantry entering in Turn #3 from the southern edge has a (limited) choice of set-up hexes.

German initial forces include 3 Tiger I, 3 Pz IV F2. On turn #2, 3 Pz III J arrive on the southern road and on turn #3 a large German infantry force enters from the southern edge of the map.

American forces, according to the scenario description include both infantry and AFVs. I expect a screen of infantry and AT guns on the two hills, set up in the entrenchments and armor units in the rear or entering the map.

My plain is pretty straightforward:

1) Since the Tigers are invulnerable - barring critical hits - to almost anything the American can throw at them (the only exceptions are M10s – if they are present – and infantry CC), they will play the main role in the attack. They will move straight to the VP hexes and occupy them as soon as possible and will get ready to welcome any Americans coming from the North.

2) The Panzer IVs and the Panzer IIIs will engage and neutralize any American forces on the two side hills and/or interdict them if they attempt to counterattack to retake the VP hexes. They will not engage American armor, since both of them are quite fragile machines (for a German tank) and even Shermans can destroy them with ease.

3) The infantry will divide into three groups: LMG-armed stacks will mop up any American units remaining on the hills, the MMG stacks will advance to repel any American infantry attack coming from the North.

[UP844]

Turn 1 German
As the game starts, some American units become visible: some 2nd line squads with a MMG and a 60mm mortar on the West Hill and three M3/75 deployed between the road and the West Hill.

Fire Segment
A Tiger destroys two M3/75, a Panzer IV misses the last M3/75, which was not visible by the Tigers
Movement Segment
Two Tigers move forward to engage the last M3/75.
One of the Pz IV is OOC, the other moves towards the East Hill but is destroyed by fire from two other M3/75.
Advancing Fire Segment
A Tiger kills the last M3/75 west of the road with a point-blank shot after moving.
Apparently, there are no American units in the VP hex area.

Turn 1 American
Defensive Fire Segment
The three Tigers all fire on the American MMG-armed squad on the West Hill without harming it

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Turn 2 German
Reinforcement Segment
Only a single Pz IIIJ can enter, since 2 of the 3 hexes are still occupied by Pz IVs (one fired, the other was OOC)
Movement Segment
Two Tigers take the southernmost VP hexes, the third ignores the American infantry on the West Hill and advances towards the VP hex area.
The Pz IVs and the lone Pz III move towards the East Hill and discover a third M3/75; the half-tracks fire but achieve no hits.
Advancing Fire Segment
The rear Tiger fires again to the MMG-armed squad with no effect
The Pz IVs and the Pz III fire at the M3/75s: no hits are scored, but MG fire stuns one of the American AFVs

Turn 2 American
Fire Segment
The M3/75 kill the Pz IIIJ.
Movement Segment
American infantry starts moving from both hills towards the German-controlled VP hexes.
The rear Tiger breaks 2 American squads (with a MMG) and a D* leader
Defensive Fire Segment
The Panzer IVs kill 2 M3/75

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Turn 3 German
Movement Segment
The two forward Tigers take the third VP hex, and the third joins them
Two Pz IIIJ move to engage American infantry coming down from the West Hill
Two Pz IV F2 move to engage the last M3/75 and American infantry coming down from the East Hill
The German infantry advances west of the road, taking care to remain beyond 10 hexes from the M3/75 and beyond the normal range of the American squads.
The 60mm Mtr on the West hill kills the German HS carrying the Lt Mtr. I do not think the mortar is worth wasting time to recover it.
Advancing Fire Segment
German infantry breaks all the remaining American squads on the West Hill
The Panzer IVs stun the M3/75 with MG fire.

Turn 3 American
Movement Segment
American infantry comes down from the East Hill
The Tigers and the Pz IVs (the latter with MG fire only) break all of them (see attached image)
Defensive Fire Segment
The Panzer IVs kill the last M3/75.

[UP844]

Turn 4 German
Fire Segment
MMG-armed infantry stacks and Pz IVs fire on American infantry on the East Hill
Movement Segment
A Tiger takes the northernmost VP hex
A Panzer IIIJ and some German infantry continue mopping up the West Hill
American Rout Segment
2 infantry squads near the West Hill routing in open terrain are eliminated through Interdiction

Turn 4 American
Fire Segment
A squad and a HS, armed with a MMG, rally on the West Hill and fire on a German stack, breaking a squad and pinning another.
Movement Segment
A FT-armed American squad moving south from the North edge of the map is broken by long-range MG fire from two Tigers (why risk MA malfunction?) and also fails an Experience Check
Defensive Fire Segment
The third fires its 88mm on an intact American stack on the East Hill and breaks all units but one, which is subsequently broken by Pz IV fire.
German infantry on the West Hill fires on the just rallied Americans, killing the leader and the squad and breaking the HS.
MG-armed infantry fires on the stack already mauled by tank fire with no effect.
As far as I know, there are no more Good Order American units on the map.

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Turn 5 German
Movement Segment
German infantry finished clearing the West Hill from American infantry.
The Tigers back down some hexes so as to avoid being in range of American tanks when they show up. I suppose their entry area would be similar to the German one, so I place the Tigers 13 hexes south of the map edge. This move leaves the northernmost VP hex unoccupied, but I am fairly confident three Tigers will be sufficient to stop any armored attack: Shermans would be easy kills and M10’s (if they are present) are vulnerable even to small arms fire.

Turn 5 American
Movement Segment
Three M4 enter from the north (I redeployed the Tigers just in time). The Tigers and a Pz III fire on them and kill one
Advancing Fire Segment
The two surviving M4s fire on a Tiger and on the Pz III with no effect

[UP844]

Turn 6 German
Fire Segment
The Tigers kill the two M4s
Movement Segment
German infantry moves to the rear of the Tigers to provide small arms fire against possible infantry attacks.
MG-armed German infantry cleats the East Hill from American infantry.
Turn 6 American
Movement Segment
Three other M4s enter from the north. A Tiger kills all of them with 3 consecutive shots

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Turn 7 German
Movement Segment
Panzer IIIs and IVs start taking position on the East slope of the West Hill, so as to fire on the flanks of any American armor.
Turn 7 American
Movement Segment
Three M10s enter from the north. The Tigers kill two, and the third Buttons Up because of Tiger MG fire
Advance Segment
The M10s returns to Crew Exposed status

[UP844]

Turn 8 German
The Tigers kill the M10 and the last (I suppose) surviving American squad, which was wandering in the north-west area of the map. As far I know, only an American leader remains on the map

Turn 8 American
Movement Segment
Two M10s enter from the north. The Tigers and a Panzer IV kill both
The last American leader runs south towards the VP hexes, but is pinned 2 hexes away from the nearest one.

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Turn 9 German
Fire Segment
Fire by 3 Tigers and a Panzer IV only manages to break the American leader in open terrain.
Movement Segment
German infantry moves to the northernmost VP hex
Advancing Fire Segment
German infantry kills the American leader

Turn 9 American
Nothing happens

The game ends with a German major victory

[UP844]

Playing the scenario from the other side provides better intelligence about the opponent.

The infantry in A and the M3/75 in B have very little chance to survive the opening Tigers' fire. The infantry will, if possible (wishful thinking), attempt retreating north to hide behind the woods hexes, in hope of inflicting some casualties on the advancing German infantry.

Group C can effectively fire up to the road and - above all - the Germans cannot see it at the start of turn 1, unlike the M3/75 of Group B. This means they will not only survive the first German Fire Segment, but also that they will fire the first shot against any German units moving along or east of the road. The half-tracks, in particular, will be able to fire two times before any Panzer can reply with reasonable accuracy.
If (when) the German reaction becomes too dangerous, Group C will attempt retreating and join Group D.

Groups D and E will attempt to flank the Germans occupying the VP hexes (there is no way to prevent them to take these) and to retake as much of them as possible.

[rico21]

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[UP844]

TURN 1

Turn 1 German
Fire Segment
The three Tigers and the Pz IV fire on the M3/75 deployed between the road and the West Hill, killing one and STUNNING another with MG fire. The latter is as good as dead, but the AI will fire at him anyway.
All the tanks also fire at the infantry on the West Hill, even if doing so make them lose Acquisition on the M3/75s (I do not complain, but it is a utterly stupid move)
Movement Segment
Two Panzer IVs move along the road
Defensive Fire Segment
The surviving M3/75 in the valley bottom pumps 3 round on the leading Pz IV and Shocks it.
The two M3/75 on the East Hill fire at the trailing Pz IV and achieve on hit, that does not penetrate.
The 60mm Mtr on the west hill fires at a Tiger, in the very improbable hope of getting a Critical (it cannot do anything else anyway)
Advancing Fire Segment
The trailing Pz Iv fires at one of the M3/75 on the hill and misses

Turn 1 American
Administrative Segment
The Panzer IV recovers from Shock
Fire Segment
The M3/75 in the valley bottom kills the first Pz IV; it retains ROF but misses the second Pz IV
The two M3/75 on the East Hill fire at the remaining Pz IV: both hit but fail to penetrate
The 60mm Mtr on the West Hill continues firing at the Tiger, with no effect
Movement Segment
The American squads on the East Hill attempt retreating north but are wiped by Tigers and all of them are broken
American infantry on the West Hill moves forward to cover the plain and to fire (with somewhat higher chances of success) on the Panzer IVs
Defensive Fire Segment
Tank MG fire Stuns the M3/75 in the valley bottom

TURN 2

Turn 2 German
Administrative Segment
M3/75 recovers from Stun
Fire Segment
The Tigers and Pz IVs fire on the M3/75s in the valley bottom, killing the previously Stunned one (they also fired on the STUNNED one, but failed to kill it)
Tank MGs kill the MMG-armed squad and a leader on the West Hill
Movement Segment
Two Pz IIIs moves forward in the valley
Defensive Fire Segment
The M3/75 on the East Hill fire on the German tanks in the valley and kill a Pz IV and a Pz III
Advancing Fire Segment
Pz III fires on STUNNED M3/75 and misses

Turn 2 American
Movement Segment
The 60mm Mtr squad moves to a hex I thought was not in LOS of the Tigers. I was wrong, and leader and squad are both broken by fire.
Defensive Fire Segment
The Pz III and the sole surviving Pz IV finally kill the STUNNED M3/75 in the valley bottom
The Tigers slaughter all the infantry on the West Hill: a broken HS is the sole survivor
 
TURN 3

Turn 3 German
Reinforcement Segment
Fire Segment
The Tigers kill the last survivors of the West Hill Massacre
Movement Segment
The two Pz IIIs and the Pz IV move north-west towards the VP hexes.
Defensive Fire Segment
A M3/75 on the East Hill fires at a Panzer III but misses. The other M3/75 has no LOS (my fault, I should have fired in the Movement Segment)

Turn3 American
Fire Segment
The M3/75 kills the Pz III.
The other M3/75s and the American infantry fire on the German infantry in the plain with little effect
 
TURN 4

Turn 4 German
Reinforcement Segment
Fire Segment
The Pz IV fires at the M3/75 and misses
Movement Segment
The Panzer III moves towards the VP hexes; the M3/75 fires at it and misses, but retains ROF
The other M3/75s and the infantry fire on the German infantry advancing in the plain; most units are broken, a few are pinned, none is in Good Order
Defensive Fire Segment
M3/75 fires its second shot at the Pz IV but misses
Advancing Fire Segment
The Pz III fires at the M3/75 and STUNs it with MG fire

Turn 4 American
Reinforcement Segment
Two 2nd line squads arrive as reinforcements, to be set up anywhere in the map. I place them adjacent to the Pz III and to the Pz IV, hoping to engage them in CC.
Unfortunately, during the Reinforcement Segment I can only see the enemy units in LOS of the units I already have on the map and the two poor squads end up in the middle of a previously unseen force of Tigers and infantry
Fire Segment
One of the reinforcement squads fires on a German infantry stack with no effect; the other is OOC
The infantry on the hill fires on the German infantry below, which is only a minimal part of the overall enemy infantry force.
Movement Segment
Both M3/75 attempt moving to redeploy on the flank of the German axis of advance, but both of them are Stunned by German LMG fire as soon as they expend 1 MP to start.
Defensive Fire Segment
The Pz III kills the previously STUNNED M3/75
The reinforcing squads are both killed by a hurricane of tank and infantry fire

[UP844]

TURN 5

Turn 5 German
Movement Segment
All VP hexes change hands and become German-controlled
A few German squads move NW, harassed by American infantry on the East Hill that only manages to Pin one.

Turn 5 American
Reinforcement Segment
3 M4 Shermans enter from the north edge (on the east side: I have no intention to make penny attacks)
Movement Segment
2 Shermans are OOC, the remaining one moves slightly south
The M3/75 stay buttoned and move north along the East Hill ridge; the infantry follows them
Advance Segment
The infantry advances to the edge of the East Hill, but there are no Germans in sight.
 
TURN 6

Turn 6 German
Movement Segment
Some German infantry continues moving NW even though all VP hexes are German-controlled

Turn 6 American
Reinforcement Segment
3 other Shermans arrive at the north edge; since two of the three eastern set-up hexes are occupied by tanks that were OOC in the last move, I have to set up the new arrivals along the road (and in sight of the northernmost VP)
Fire Segment
The AI is not as devious as a human player, and a Panzer III is standing on the VP hex, showing me its rear. Two Shermans fire and immobilize it (at least, it is not a Tiger).
Movement Segment
An infantry squad moves cautiously in the valley bottom east of the VP hexes but finds no German (this is the time Sarge says “It’s quiet… too quiet”)
The MMG and Lt Mtr take position on the hill to fire on the few German infantry units still coming up the road
Two Shermans are OOC, two others manoeuver to attack the Panzer III (a bit of overkills, but I don’t want to risk a Sherman to find the other German tanks)
The M3/75 arrive on the plain.
Defensive Fire Segment
The immobilized Pz III kills a Sherman
Advancing Fire Segment
The infantry on the hill pins a German leader
Advance Segment
The recon squad spots an immobilised Panzer IV and a squad (I do not remember when the Pz IV was immobilized)

[UP844]

TURN 7

Turn 7 German
Fire Segment
The immobilized Pz III fires at a Sherman and hits, but fails to penetrate
The immobilized Pz IV fires to the squad that located it but with no effect
Movement Segment
German infantry continues moving NW; 1 squad is broken by fire from the East Hill
Defensive Fire Segment
Two Shermans fire at the Pz III: both miss and one of them breaks its MA

Turn 7 American
Reinforcement Segment
3 M10s arrive on the map; one of them is set up so that it can immediately fire on the Pz III.
Fire Segment
M10 kills the Pz III
Movement Segment
The recon squad discovers a Tiger in the second VP from the North.
American AFVs start moving to position themselves for flank shots on the Tiger; the M3/75 move first to draw fire and the Tiger misses; Shermans and M10s follow
A Sherman that was attempting flanking the Tiger on the opposite side discovers a second Tiger that misses it, so I leave it in motion to make it a harder target
Defensive Fire Segment
German infantry pins the American infantry stack on the East Hill
Advancing Fire Segment
A M3/75, two Shermans and two M10 fire on the Tiger. They score zero hits and a M10 breaks its MA.

[UP844]

TURN 8

Turn 8 German
Administrative Segment
The M10 repairs its MA
Fire Segment
The Tiger in the VP hex fires at a M10 and misses, but Stopped another with MG fire
The Tiger in the rear fires at the Sherman in motion and kills it (so much for the harder target)
German infantry breaks the mortar-armed squad on the East Hill
Defensive Fire Segment
Everybody fires at the Tiger: the Shermans miss, the M3/75 hits but does not penetrate, the M10 hits 4 times but all of them fail to penetrate the Tiger side armor.

Turn 8 American
Reinforcement Segment
Two M10s arrive on the North Edge
Fire Segment
The M10 achieved a hit, the M3/75 two, but none of them penetrates.
Movement Segment
A 2nd line squad and a Sherman move in the Tiger LOS and are promptly destroyed (sacrificial victims to avoid Tiger fire on the M10s)

TURN 9

Turn 9 German
Fire Segment
The Tiger in the VP hex kills a M3/75
Defensive Fire Segment
A M10 kills the Tiger

Turn 9 American
Movement Segment

Disclaimer: this is a typical “rule lawyer”move. I am a bit ashamed using it, but unfortunately it was the only way I had to avoid the embarrassment of a Major Defeat.


The infantry, then the leaders, and finally the last M3/75 make a suicidal charge to draw Tiger and tank fire
The Shermans and the M10 run to the VP hexes and gain two (for 30 VPs). Unfortunately, the M10s are all stopped/Stunned/STUNNED by infantry fire before they can reach another VP hex and achieve a Minor Victory.

[UP844]

This is the final result of the battle.

[UP844]

A scenario design note, if I may: the M3/75 deployed between the road and the West Hill (and the infantry on the same hill) are doomed.

If the M3/75 were deployed 1 or 2 hexes back, they would have - like the ones on the hill - the advantage of the first shot. I don't think this is going to make a great difference as far as Tigers are involved, but perhaps it can give them some chance to kill Pz IIIs/IVs and to survive a bit longer.

[KingHunter3059]

Wow! Thanks UP844, I really like the review and advice. I have other scenarios in mind.. This is a great and cool game!