AAR 10/11/2012, 113th v 2.CSB Grudge Match

Map(s): Kasserine-Counterattack, Bridgehead

The 113th and the 2.CSB have a grudge-match on the heels of our last victory. The battle was a modified realism scrim consisting of 2 rounds. Due to a server crash after the first round, the second round was completed on the 2.SS server, on the map "Bridgehead."

Axis Defense:

Set up a triangle defense on the map "Kasserine Counterattack" with 1st Squad in the entrenchments at "Ridge", Recon spread out to the Western edge of the map acting as Observation points, and 2nd Squad defending the "White Mosque" and the high ground therein. PHQ set up at the Villa, which provided us with accurate intelligence on enemy movements until it was eventually silenced.

The Platoon HQ formed a mobile reserve just behind the town of "Rhassira" ready to react to enemy penetrations and flanks. They performed this role admirably until knocked out by enemy armor.

We tip our hats to the 2.CSB on this attack; despite vigorous fire both from 1st Squad's AT guns and 2nd Squad's MGs, the majority of the enemy (with a M4 and M10 in tow) took the heights to the East of White Mosque. This high plateau provided both an excellent fire position, as well as an excellent defensive position. After repelling the movements of a third enemy tank to the West in conjunction with Recon, the Tank Platoon attempted to perform a pincer movement on the enemy on the heights. This counterattack was crushed almost immediately. Despite several solid hits at 1300m by the Panzer IV, the enemy tanks could not be knocked out, and the enemy brought forward their M10 and immediately knocked out the Panzer IV; the crew bailed to safety depsite being taken under artillery fire as well. The two lighter Panzer IIILs did not have the firepower at that range to do anything to the M4s, and were knocked out after a prolonged firefight.

At this point, the enemy systematically and cruelly reduced every position with ample HE fire while the infantry deployed to defend against close-in attacks, and repelled a last ditch attack by 2nd Squad and Reconnaissance, who used shaped charges to great effect, disabling one M4. When the barrage finally ended, our forces were so dispersed, and lacking cohesion, that all they could do was pull inside the nearest position and wait for the infantry to come into a place the HE could not reach. The enemy infantry suffered terribly by these ragged pockets of Survivors before they finally cleared out the last of the 113th troopers. The first round went decisively to the 2.CSB.


Allied Attack:
Due to a sever crash, the leadership of the 113th and 2.CSB agreed to conduct the second round on the map "Bridgehead", hosted graciously by the 2.SS. The 113th would attack with their typical loadout of jeep-mounted reconnaissance, a rifle section (consisting of 2 squads) mounted in M3 Halftracks, and a reinforced Platoon HQ element, artillery capable. We had for this attack, only 1 M4 tank in support. The Axis were armed with 4 MG-42s, 2 Panzerschrecks and a plethora of panzerfausten, STG44s and 98 Carbines. The objective was the town of "Honnopel" and all the geography in its immediate vicinity.

The attack was, for the most part, a demonstration in combined-arms tactics. Enemy resistance was light and sporadic at best. Woods to the right flank and rear of the town were rapidly cleared out by the reconnaissance section, with the tank following close behind to pump HE into any suspected enemy positions. With a smoke screen provided by the tank, 1st Squad attempted to gain a foothold, fighting dismounted, to the right flank of the village. They were repelled at close quarters by MG fire, and thereafter provided accurate suppressive fire from the outskirts with their .30 M1919. This suppression fire resulted in at least one enemy death.

With the failure of 1st to gain a foothold, the attack shifted to the woods to the rear of the village. The Church and courtyard therein of the town proved a strong position, and enemy fire from rockets and MGs swept the flank and hindered movement for several minutes. An artillery barrage suppressed the position long enough for the entire platoon to move to the rear of the village, recon then attacked and cleared out the Church and used the courtyard to cover 2nd Squad, HQ and the Tank's progress to the left of the village. Another two hardpoints tried to halt the platoon's progress, a shed and a trench, both were systematically reduced by cover from the tank, and close-in assault from 2nd and their Halftrack. When the entire permiter of the town had been silenced, the tank began to spray upper story windows as 2nd and Reconnaissance systematically mopped up resistance in the town. The last enemies were killed by HQ when they unsuccessfully attempted to ambush them.

In the span of 20 minutes, the 113th wiped out a suspected 22 enemies, amply armed and in strong positions, for only 8 Killed in Action. A resounding feat that completely wipes out the memory of the first round.


The Scrim results in a satisfactory DRAW

Signed,
2nd Lt. Rinaldi
113th Cavalry Squadron, 113th Cavalry Group