Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: South Africa's War #2

Panzer Grenadier Battles on October 24th:
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Fronte Russo #9 - Potemkin Village	Leyte '44 #13 - Failure at Buri Airfield
Red & White #28 - Bastion

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Down in Jubaland South Africa's War #2
(Defender) Italy	vs	Britain (Attacker) South Africa (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Italy		3º Gruppo Dubat
Italy		91ª Brigata Coloniale
Italy		91º Battaglione Coloniale
South Africa		1st Infantry Brigade

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	3

Overall Rating, 4 votes
5 4 3 2 1 3
Scenario Rank: --- of 1093

Parent Game	South Africa's War
Historicity	Historical
Date	1941-02-17
Start Time	10:00
Turn Count	28
Visibility	Day
Counters	93
Net Morale	1
Net Initiative	1
Maps	4: 19, 3, 7, 8
Layout Dimensions	86 x 56 cm 34 x 22 in
Play Bounty	157
AAR Bounty	168
Total Plays	4
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
River Crossing

Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Terrain Mods
Joint Forces Battle

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Desert Rats	Maps
Eastern Front	Maps
Road to Berlin	Maps
South Africa's War	Base Game

Introduction
The Juba River, flowing through southeastern Somaliland, represented a formidable defensive barrier and the Italian command believed it had to hold the line to keep the Allied advance away from the key port of Mogadishu. The Italian-officered Somali battalions assigned to the river line had a generous allotment of artillery by East African standards, but their numbers were far too few to hold a static position against a motorized enemy.

Introduction

The Juba River, flowing through southeastern Somaliland, represented a formidable defensive barrier and the Italian command believed it had to hold the line to keep the Allied advance away from the key port of Mogadishu. The Italian-officered Somali battalions assigned to the river line had a generous allotment of artillery by East African standards, but their numbers were far too few to hold a static position against a motorized enemy.

Conclusion
The Italian defenders arrived just as the South Africans were crossing the river in inflatable boats, and opened up heavy machine-gun fire on them. Despite several spirited assaults — the Somali troops proved not only willing but eager to engage in close combat — they could not force them back across, and within a few hours the South Africans had expanded their bridgehead and begun work on a bridge to bring their vehicles across. The road to Mogadishu lay open.

Conclusion

The Italian defenders arrived just as the South Africans were crossing the river in inflatable boats, and opened up heavy machine-gun fire on them. Despite several spirited assaults — the Somali troops proved not only willing but eager to engage in close combat — they could not force them back across, and within a few hours the South Africans had expanded their bridgehead and begun work on a bridge to bring their vehicles across. The road to Mogadishu lay open.

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. 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.
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

Italy Order of Battle

Regio Corpo di Truppe Coloniali
Foot

Regio Esercito
Foot Leader Towed

Regio Esercito

Foot

Leader

Towed

South Africa Order of Battle

Army
Foot Leader Motorized

Army

Foot

Leader

Motorized

Display Errata (1)

1 Errata Item
	Ignore the direct fire values. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (1)

Bridgehead practice

Author	Grognard Gunny
Method	Solo
Victor	Britain, South Africa
Play Date	2025-11-16
Language	English
Scenario	SAWa002

This scenario turned out to be more than it appeared at first glance. The Italians, coming on the battle area in the opposite corner of the map from the South Africans, had to leave their MG units to catch up with the rest of the units, which left the Italians short a couple of units to engage to bridgehead. The bridgehead itself, got established OK, but it was a tough fight to get everyone across (and out of the way) considering the fact that the Italians was trying to contain the bridgehead. Fortunately, for the South Africans, the effort was not successful. (Note - This was an interesting scenario and I recommend it for on-line play.)

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