Near Bizerte, Tunisia --- The Pillbox

A GENERAL PETTYGREE BATTLESTORY

THE PILLBOX

Date: Spring 1943 

Location: North Africa, Northeast Tunisia Near Bizerte
Situation: The Pillbox
Imagineered From History Using What We Have
Solo Tabletop Game Using Home Rules and 28mm Miniatures

You will perhaps give me the honour recalling my previous Battlestory from Tunisia. It related Colonel von Recker's surrendering the last Afrika Korps Battlegroup in the land of Ancient Carthage. For your convenience, if needed, memories may be refreshed here.

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

and

https://northafricancampaigning.blogspot.com/2021/05/tunisgrad-nord-afrika-2-das-ende.html

Now let's meet Jack, Colonel Brand and others as they continue to the seacoast to end the campaign in North Africa. --- Click on photos to enlarge them.

CHAPTER 1--- THE HALT

"See anything, Jack?"

"Nuthin', mate. The last remnant of the vaunted Afrika Korps surrendered with von Recker last week. Now here we are in Wadi Uh Noh smell'n the sea air drifting inland."

"Suppose some didn't get the word to stand down? Eh Jacko?" 

"Give it a rest then, Tim. Havoc stop! Radio the Colonel we've arrived at today's destination and all is clear."

"Colonel Brand, Sir, Havoc reports they've halted at the village north edge and all is clear."

"Very well. Halt the column under cover. We'll have a look around and take a rest break. I'll shift forward to see for myself though."

"Bottle of fig wine, Engleeschman offizier?"

"No thank you. Fig wine? Well, what do you know?"

"Only fifty pence. Bargain. Forty pence?"

"NO! We don't want any carpets. For the love of...."

"A good shady spot Tim. The column's come round taking what cover there is. Do you have any Lucky Strikes left?"

"Sure. Time for a peaceful smoke. --- Wait, you hear something, Jack?"

CHAPTER 2 --- BIRDS OF PREY

"Allierten soldaten in die Wadi Uh Noh. --- Vorwärts."

"Allied soldiers in [the] Wadi Uh Noh. --- Forward."

"Ach ja! Sherman panzer, links, zehn Uhr. --- Angriff!"

"Oh yes! Sherman tank, left, ten o'clock. --- Attack!"

"Take cover!"

"Auf Wiedersehen, nichts! --- Und Sie, mein Freund?"

"Until we meet again, not. --- And you my friend?"

"Artillerie kampfwagon."

"Artillery [halftrack]."

"Zurück."

"Back."

"Stukas at 12 o'clock, Bert"

"I see 'em Allan.

"Fire."

"I got him Allan!"

"Steady mate. There's one more and yours is still flying. --- Never mind! 109s at 11 o'clock. Follow me to engage."

LATER

"Make a decent line. --- The show's over."

"Colonel Brand, what happened to the dive bombers?"

"Our chaps chased them until German fighters intervened. As near as I could see at this distance, nothing was shot down though one Stuka was trailing smoke."

"Our only loss and a cruel one was the Sherman. Sergeant Buckmaster, set up a perimeter. Then find me for tomorrow's orders to attack the pillbox."

CHAPTER 3 --- EARLY NEXT MORNING

Right Flank

"Sergeant Buckmaster. Two kilometers this way is a large tree with lots of cover overlooking the pillbox. There were no Germans or Italians anywhere. They were probably hid'n behind the coastal ridge or gone."

"Very good. Forward men."

"This is the tree lads. Latham and Grimm take the left. Borg and Roget take post on the right. The rest of you bed down. Quiet and no cigarettes."

"When will the attack begin Sergeant?"

"Just after dawn when Havoc makes her clever move behind us."

Dawn

"Oi Jacko, I sure wish we still had the tank!"

"Yeah well mate, that French 75mm over there is potent enough, I guess." 

"Sun's up. Let's recheck the halftrack."

"You know Larry, I think we ain't goin' home again after today."

"Shut up Tim. You drive proper at speed an' we'll get through."

"Radio message com'n in from Colonel Brand, Jacko."

"And he sez?"

"Release the fox."

"Alright, start her up and let's make a big fuss so Jerry sees us before the others."

"God help us!"

Left Flank

Brand's Mobile Force in lorries on loan from USA General Patton. 

"See the pillbox, Colonel?"

"I do Lieutenant Darby, clear as day."

"Give the order to Havoc, release the fox."

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CLOSING REMARKS

The rest of the story will be played using Fog of War dicing for German numbers, ammunition available and overall morale. The campaign is within hours of ending in favor of the Allies. Will the Germans obey a hold at all costs order or not. Dice will decide.

Come back in January 2022 for the finish.

Thank you for looking in. Comments welcome.

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