[Desert War] Counter-attack on Bir el Harmat (right map) - May 27, 1942

Unternehmen Venezia - The 1st Armoured Division surrounded the Deutsche Afrika Korps.
Mediterranean Theater By: jdrommel - Last update: 05/10/2017
Axis Player: Allied Player:
x8 x10 x7 x10
    first You play first


There are problems with this scenario: it cannot be set-up using the standard terrain tiles of Memoir '44 and the selected extensions. There are too many terrains of one or more types. Please contact the author.

Historical Background:
On the 27th of May 1942, Operation Venice (Unternehmen Venezia) allowed the Deutsche Afrika Korps to bypass the Gazala line, but the success was not complete for Rommel. At mid-day, the 21.Panzer Division was north of Bir el Harmat in front of the Knightsbridge strong point defended by the 201st Guards Brigade. At this time began the British counter-attack in the confusion of the fog of war. The 22nd Armoured Brigade attacked from the north-east, the 2nd Armoured Brigade attacked the 15.Panzer Division on the east and destroyed an infantry battalion, the III/115 IR. On the west side, coming from Sidi Muftah, the 44th Royal Tank Regiment (1st Tank Brigade) attacked the 21.Panzer Division and destroyed as well an infantry battalion, the III/104 IR. The battle lasted until the end of the afternoon. In the evening of this day, the Deutsche Afrika Korps had lost one third of its tanks, most of them because of the new allied tank, the M3 Grant, and was isolated in the middle of the British units. The situation was not in favor of Rommel, but he was not discouraged and he continued to apply his battle plan.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.

Briefing:
Axis player [Germany/Italy] : 8 command cards, you move first.
Allied player [United Kingdom] : 7 command cards.
Setting : Place a mine token on the two half hexagons (3rd row from the Allied side) which are the junction of the two maps at Knightsbridge, to have a continue minefield.

Conditions of Victory:
20 medals.
Sidi Muftah, Bir Lefa, Knightsbridge and Got el Ualeb are each a temporary medal objective for the Axis player. Bir el Harmat is a temporary medal objective for the Allied player.

Special Rules:
- Use "BCF Command" rules (Nations 5) to all Allied units and "Royal Italian Army" rules (Nations 6) to all Axis units with Italian badges. Don't use the "Italian High Command" rule.
- Use "North African Desert" rules (Actions 9) and "Oasis Recovery" rules (Actions 10).
- Use "Antitank Weapons" rules (SWA 1 & 2) to all infantry units with badge.
- Use "Elite Armor" rules (Troops 2) to all Allied tanks of the 44th RTR. These tanks are moving slow, they can move only one or two hexes and fight.
- Use "Command Cars" rules (Troops 20), this is the personal command-car of General Rommel.
- Use "Heavy Anti-Tank Guns" rules (Troops 23) to German artillery units with 88mm badges.
- The Allied player lays out the minefields (Terrains 29).

Scenario Bibliography:
- Magazine "Batailles & Blindés" hors série n°8 - Afrika Korps, tome 2.
- "Tobrouk" - Michaël Carver.

Warning:
Please note that this scenario was not approved by Richard Borg or Days of Wonder, so you have to check yourself about playability, potential gaming issues, etc.

Set-up Order
1
1
6
5
3
6
15
1
2
12