TUNISGRAD, NORD AFRIKA 2 "DAS ENDE"

 A GENERAL PETTYGREE BATTLESTORY

IN TWO CHAPTERS

Date: Spring 1943 
Location: North Africa, Northeast Tunisia Near Bizerte
Situation: Von Recker's Last Stand
Imagineered From History Using What We Have

Tabletop Game Using Home Rules and 28mm Miniatures

Players: Chuck The Lucky and yours truly, Bill P.

See Chapter 1 here

https://northafricancampaigning.blogspot.com/2021/04/tunisgrad-nord-afrika.html

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Chapter 2 "Das Ende"

Colonel von Recker and General Pettygree continue conversing about the Battle of Metline.

North Sector

"By the time the Americanische 1st Armored Division's...."

"Vanguard arrived and approached the north and south Metline heights, we were deployed and waiting for them."

"Everyone was carefully concealed within the ancient Carthaginian temple ruins or behind rises in the ground."

"For a time near the north sector ruins, their tank commanders stood in open hatches peering through binoculars until they thought differently. Perhaps they saw movement on our part." 

"Whatever it was, they suddenly disappeared below slamming hatches closed above them resuming forward movement."

"As they trundled forward our defenders began to show themselves preparing to fire. We engaged with the Marder and anti-tank gun to no effect."

"The Americans rushed forward like cavalry outflanking us. Our infantry did execution among the Yankees but that was not enough. It was at this point that....

"Kapitain Boelke summoned his courier."

"Kurt, tell Colonel von Recker, we are outflanked, the Marder is destroyed, our shells are defective and we're falling back --- to prevent capture. Schnell!" 

"It was not long before Americanische panzer and motorized infantry ascended and occupied the height. Boelke managed to escape with his infantry and somehow hooked up the anti-tank gun bringing it back to our final defensive line."

South Sector

"The southern height we initially occupied fared worse. Our infantry prone behind dirt mounds (not shown) were hit by high explosive rounds and immediately retreated below a distant crest. Our remaining Marder was pummeled by the Americans."

"The Marder as well as our only remaining armored car were lost at this point. Our defective shells and accurate enemy firepower  stunned us. The Americans were thought to be green and therefore ineffective. This was not the case. However, their infantry suffered a high rate of casualties from our infantry."

"They rushed forward causing our previously concealed infantry to rapidly fall back to our final defensive position mentioned moments ago.

"There was only one card left for me to play."

"Schuelemann's Panzer Mark VI Tiger appeared stopping the American advance. This allowed us to regroup behind the Metline rivulet. The Americans needed to regroup as well."

DAS ENDE (The End)

"Once again our survivors were carefully concealed as...."

"The Americans came toward us."

"Even crossing the bridge that our Tiger could not cross without collapsing it."

"We were waiting for the right moment to open fire with a Mark IV held in reserve and the redeployed anti-tank gun."

"The Sherman was hit and...."

"Taken out of the fight. Minutes later...."

"Our Mark IV was knocked out."

"Schuelemann's Tiger suffered a lucky strike."

"More Americans came from the ruins  eventually...."

"Easily crossing the stream to...."

"Overwhelm our last heavy weapon."

"More enemy came forward."

"Boelke rallied his men but it was the end. There was nothing more to do for honour and comrades. Surviving and captivity was all that was left." 

SURRENDER

"As an American P-40 flew overhead, we assembled in Metline."

"For terms and departure."

"Terms were naturally unconditional."

"One of the American panzer crews decided to...."

"Take a look at the Tiger. I later learned they were amazed by it."

So now for me this wretched war and madness is over. It was soon time to depart but not before I was given the kind opportunity to change into my more formal uniform. General Pettygree that is the story of Metline." 

CLOSING REMARKS

Metline was a two-player, two-session tabletop game for Chuck The Lucky and myself. We used my home rules featuring fast movement, easy fire mechanisms and a feature to end the battle to redeploy without the necessity to move units doing so and spending precious time too. The latter is what happened after Schuelemann's Tiger appeared. We stopped the game and redeployed all forces.

Fog Of War Funny Thing! I utterly forgot about the Mark IV Panzer until von Recker redeployed east of the Metline Stream. How's that for game fog of war folks?

Not a big game but it was stimulating, fun and offered an opportunity to use 28mm collections not often used.

Thank you for looking in. I really appreciate you doing so.

Your comments are welcome, if you please, below.

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