Bir Hacheim Refight Today

Hello everyone. I have just returned from another play test of some amendments to the Rapid Fire war gaming rules for a refight of the above battle.

This game was set on an 8' x 6' board where a mixture of Italian and German armoured forces attacked a French trench line protected by a minefield.

Here is an overview of the Free French trench line. The barb wire on the left denotes the far edge of the minefield. I once read that there was not usually a method of denoting the farthest edge as you did not want to tell the enemy where that was. A barb wire line was only used to stop your own troops from straying into the minefield. I cannot vouch for the authenticity of this comment but it does seem to make sense.

In the far top right is the start of a second trench line and a lorry hide.

Here is a closer view of the barb wire line. I supply  range of barb wire from my business, 'Tunnies Terrain'.

 A close up picture of one of the trenches. This particular one has a sub floor which can accommodate a kneeling figure. The camouflage netting over the top is made surgical netting soaked in water and PVA then a scattering of dried, used tea leaves is added and when dry painted and varnished. The width of the trenches allows figures based on a two pence piece to easily fit in them.

I used the larger trench complex for a command centre. Here is an SHQ Ford 'Woodie' General Koenig, commander at Bir Hacheim, used one of these as his staff car. I cut the roof light out of the model as the pictures I have seen of Koenig in this vehicle show this present.  This was driven by Susan Travers, also his lover at the time, and the only woman to be accepted as a member of the French Foreign Legion at the time. She was also decorated by the Legion, after the war for bravery. The medal was presented by Koenig. 

I have read that she may not have been the only woman present at Bir Hacheim as there were some 'Anamite' nurses in the hospital as well. I believe for 'Anamite' read 'Vietnamese'? I am sure that any French viewers will elaborate on this.

I have also made a number of bunkers to house anti tank guns for the defence of the position. Here is the rear of a French 75mm M1897 field gun. The modular nature of the trenches means these can be fitted anywhere into the defences. Here further camouflage netting covers the position.

Here part of Panzer Regiment 8, 15 Panzer Division start the advance to the French lines. The vehicles behind are carrying the infantry component of the attack.

I made a conversion from an ESCI M13/40 into a Carro Commando. Later in the year I went to the MAFVA show at Duxford only to find a resin conversion kit in the MAFVA tent! Oh well!   

The Italian side of the attack was shelled by the 25pdr gun from the French side but narrowly missed...twice!

The semovente units approach the barb wire relatively unscathed, supported by a bersaglieri infantry unit.

here is a close up of one of the German figures taking part in the attack. This is an old IT figures DAK infantryman. Now available from S & A Scenics.

An old battered Panzer II joins in the attack. Sporting the red turret number typical of the 8 Panzer Regiment. This is an ESCI model which I bought already painted. I stripped it, repinned some of the wheels and refitted the tracks. Putting vehicles on a base also helps with this. The main gun was replaced with brass wire.

Here is one of our Panzer II's bigger brothers. A short barrel Panzer III. An MMS model showing the turret bin Zug identification stripe, (Tank Combat in North Africa, Thomas L Jentz, page 156).

The Panzer II approaches the bar wire and despite being shelled the Axis forces have suffered very little. The defending French infantry are still in cover and have slowly successfully spotted much of the attacking force.

One of the emplacements holds a French 47mm 47/32 anti tank gun and starts to open up on the enemy, concentrating on the tanks of the 8 Panzer Regt. This was the most successful gun on the day. The model is an SHQ gun with a mix of SHQ British gun crew with head swaps and a standing retrokit figure in a colonial pith helmet.

A company of Foreign Legion supported the anti tank gun but they found it difficult to successfully spot anything for most of the day!

Further along the line a covered bunker housed more defenders.

The Italians got through the barb wire and crossed the minefield, without loss, supported by more Bersaglieri. This Semovente 75/18 is an Italieri model.

The French anti tank guns were systematically screened from firing by successive smoke rounds masking their view. Here is a rear view of the crew.

Typical Nazi trick!

This was rather busy! I have read the American Field Service evacuated wounded from Bir Hacheim, most nights. They used Dodge ambulances, not Austin K2.

One of the more precious commodities at Bir Hacheim, a Milicast water bowser.

 

Eventually the defenders spotted the attackers and started to deal with the German Panzers. One squadron failed a morale test, after losing two Panzer IIIs and a second company started to suffer loses. A breakdown in communication left the 25 pdr firinf at the same point, which the enemy had passed! By the time communication had been re-established the Italian attack had breeched the trench line.

This model is an ESCI/Italieri model with crew from ESCI, one with a head swap and a retrokit resin figure.

Here the losses on the German attack starts to mount.

The Gallant defenders continued to pick off the enemy infantry advancing across the minefield.

The Italians reached the trench line, after killing all but one of the company defending their front. The minefield failed to stop the Semoventes and a continuous smoke screen held up the field gun in the area. The gun eventually backed out of its emplacement to make a new line behind the trenches.

The battalion mortar was bought back into action and caused some casualities to the advancing Italians but failed to stop them.

The German attack took further losses but they continued to get closer and reached the trenches by the end of the game. One Panzer III faced off against a French 75mm anti tank gun which ended in mutual destruction!

The Italian infantry cross the mine field under fire.

At the end of the game the Italian attack was the most successful, however a company of reinforcements were heading to stem the advance. The German infantry had also reached the trench line and the defenders had already been killed. The company on the far end of the trench line was in the process of being transferred but they were no where near the break in the defences.

We had no additions or problems with the amendments to the rules so we are ready for a larger game at the New Buckenham Historical Wargamers.

If any French viewers, who have access to French sources and can add or elaborate to the battle please feel free to contact me through this blog.