Decion at Kasserine - Day 1 3rd Battle

As a result of the second battle the Americans have the ability to react to react to the German advance. Historically they chose to hold their positions leading to the two battalions of the 168th infantry becoming pocketed by the advance of the Germans. Well after careful consideration of their options the American High Command dice opt to pull back their outposts into a more defensible perimeter( a 1in three chance ) as opposed to staying in their current positions.

Rather than just pack up and run the Americans allocate some tanks and recce to  move up from Sidi Bou Zid to provide support if required to the infantry. This all takes some to time to organize. Meanwhile the Germans continue their advance around the Djebel Lessoouda and threatening to surround the 2nd battalion of the 168th. The game will have the 2/168th at one end of the table moving at foot speed. Coming from the other side are the tanks from I company 1st Armoured and a company from the 81st Reconnaissance battalion. The Germans will be arriving after a short delay in the two corners next where the American infantry start.

Finally the Americans get everybody moving and they have one free move before the Germans arrive. Turn 2 brings Kampgruppe Reimann with the Tiger onto the battlefield while the Americans move towards safety. The first shots are exchanged in turn 3 as the recce advance towards their infantry. No damage is done but rolling a ten for morale, pin the recce. This will delay the link up between the two groups but will allow the tanks to catch up with the recce.

Turn 4 brings Kampgruppe Gerhardt onto the table. The American infantry are in a sack with the mouth held open by the tanks and recce. Both sides are now in range to start shooting with the Americans loosing a tank from the 1st Armoured and a jeep from the 81st. Now for the moral tests. A German tank company becomes pinned. Now for the American morale, both the 1st Armoured and the 81st Reconnaissance roll tens and both fall back. Suddenly safety for the 168th is a lot further away.

The game is now over though it still has to be fought to its conclusion.Now with no hope of escape the 2nd battalion of the 168th is pocketed and crushed by the two German kampfgruppes that have caught it in the open. It takes several turns for the battle to be concluded. The American armour briefly rallies and tries again to break through but once again fails morale and reties this time for good.

After the battle the 2/168th is reduced to size of a small company.

Well that was a bit of a surprise. You do not often see three dice rolls literally cause a game to fall apart. It will be interesting to see how this plays out as the campaign unfolds.