Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: South Africa's War #4

Panzer Grenadier Battles on April 27th:
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Army Group South Ukraine #6 - Consternation	Road to Berlin #73 - She-Wolves of the SS

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Crusader: First Contact South Africa's War #4
(Defender) Germany	vs	Britain (Attacker) South Africa (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Germany		33rd Reconaissance Battalion
South Africa		4th South African Armoured Car Regiment

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	5

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 6 votes
5 4 3 2 1 3.83
Scenario Rank: 168 of 913

Parent Game	South Africa's War
Historicity	Historical
Date	1941-11-18
Start Time	09:00
Turn Count	20
Visibility	Day
Counters	22
Net Morale	1
Net Initiative	1
Maps	2: DR4, DR5
Layout Dimensions	116 x 88 cm 46 x 35 in
Play Bounty	164
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	6
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Exit the Battle Area

Conditions
Terrain Mods

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Desert Rats	Maps + Counters
South Africa's War	Base Game

Introduction
South Africa's Army high command counted on its armored car regiments to carry on the Boer "commando" tradition. Four of them went to the Western Desert in late 1941, and became integral to the newly christened Eighth Army's scouting forces. When Operation Crusader opened, a South African regiment was one of three such units spearheading the advance. They soon encountered opposition.

Conclusion
To the west, the Italian 132nd "Ariete" Armored Division put up fierce resistance to the initial Allied probes, but here and to the east the German reconnaissance battalions charged with watching for the enemy reacted in near panic. The South Africans had greater numbers but the Germans had more anti-tank capability, yet the Springboks pushed the Germans back with relative ease, occupied their objective line and observed German reactions. It was a promising start to South Africa's participation in the Western Desert.

Conclusion

To the west, the Italian 132nd "Ariete" Armored Division put up fierce resistance to the initial Allied probes, but here and to the east the German reconnaissance battalions charged with watching for the enemy reacted in near panic. The South Africans had greater numbers but the Germans had more anti-tank capability, yet the Springboks pushed the Germans back with relative ease, occupied their objective line and observed German reactions. It was a promising start to South Africa's participation in the Western Desert.

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle
Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0). AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement. AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1). Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2). Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3) Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0). Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3). Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3). AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42). AFV's may Dig In (16.2). Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present. Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC). Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC). Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle

Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present.
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.

Display Order of Battle

Britain Order of Battle

Army
Motorized

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Heer

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

South Africa Order of Battle

Army
Leader Motorized Towed

Army

Leader

Motorized

Towed

Display Errata (2)

2 Errata Items
	Ignore the direct fire values. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	All SPW 251s have an armor value of 0. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (1)

El Alegre paseo por el desierto de los coches blindados

Author	Arensivia
Method	Solo
Victor	Britain, South Africa
Play Date	2012-11-02
Language	Español
Scenario	SAWa004

Con muy pocas unidades y muy buena puntuación, me animé a retomar PG con este pequeño escenario. Dos mapas enteros para defender con 4 AC alemanes y un anti tanque parecian demasiado. Desplegué a mis alemanes en el centro del tablero 4, esperando poder parar cualquier penetración sudafricana o al menos hacerle pagar un alto precio. Los sudafricanos, por el contrario, optaron por correr sin parara por el oeste. Los alemanes pronto comprendieron la táctica (normal, siendo una partida en solitario) y se dirigieron a toda prisa para intentar formar una linea de contención, pero un error (desviarse a la montaña 5/2106) y mala suerte con la iniciativa significaron que los MH III lograron pasar, llevandose algunos disparos de oportunidad que no sirvieron para nada. Bueno, al menos cazaré a los MH II , pensó el teniente aleman al mando de la fuerza. Pues no. Un hueco de un hex en el borde del tablero sirvió a los MH II para escabullirse tambien. El único que no pudo contarlo fue el 2 libras que venia detras, aunque descargó e intentó destruir a los AC alemanes, los motoristas dieron buena cuenta de él. El turno 10 la victoria sudafricana estaba clara: todos sus AC estaban fuera del tablero.

Finalmente, es según el registro la tercera victoria sudafricana, sin disparar un tiro (casi), y presumo que las anteriores tambien fueron así. ¿Hay alguna manera de detener la cabalgata de los AC?

A pesar del desequilibrio, un esceario rapido e interesante por ver como planteas la carrera, y tenso en las tiradas de iniciativa. Un 4, aunque no mas.

3 Comments

enrique

2012-11-02 08:26

Muy interesante reportaje, Arensivia. Es además un placer ver que alguien más escribe en español aquí. Saludos,

larry marak

2012-11-02 10:03

And thank goodness Google translate makes Spanish and French accessible to everyone on the forum..Excellent after action report.

Shad

2012-11-02 18:42

If you use Google's Chrome browser the translation is done on the page itself so you never even have to click away. And I agree, the capability to translate among ENG-SPA-FRE-ITA-POR is excellent!

Thank you for the AAR, Arensivia! South Africa's War isn't in my collection but AARs like this make me start wishing it was! ;-)

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PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > SAWa004

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