rune Posted July 7, 2004 Share Posted July 7, 2004 I want to make a scenario, as historical as possible, on the attack at Oudna Airfield. I know 2 Para attached on 30 Nov 1942, minus 1 platoon left behind at the drop zone. I got all the information I can find from web sites, does anyone have good information from a book on the battle? Also anything ont he German defenders is appreciated. Please don't post anything about the battle here, just the forces. Battle information can be sent to runen@comcast.net. Don't want pre-made scenario spoilers. Rune 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rune Posted July 7, 2004 Author Share Posted July 7, 2004 Oh yeah, any maps would be great too. I found an air photo and am making the airfield now, but an overhead shot doesn't show the terrain too well. Rune 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rune Posted July 7, 2004 Author Share Posted July 7, 2004 A bump so it is seen. Rune 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tar Posted July 8, 2004 Share Posted July 8, 2004 Well, the terrain looks pretty simple and uniform: http://www.suebarton.free-online.co.uk/oudna.htm 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rune Posted July 8, 2004 Author Share Posted July 8, 2004 Still need mroe info on this, anyone have anything? Now I am not sure ont he Photo I have, but will still go with it for now. Rune 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rune Posted July 9, 2004 Author Share Posted July 9, 2004 Once more bumped....maybe this one will teach a lot about paratroop ops in Africa, since not too many seem to know about them. Rune 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paco QNS Posted July 9, 2004 Share Posted July 9, 2004 Source is "Para! Fifty years of the Parachute Regiment" by Peter Harclerode, pages 38 and ff, only the mentions on enemy forces: At that point, however, six german heavy tanks appeared and attacked the battalion, as did a number of Messerschmitt fighters which strafed the paratroops. These were followed by six Stuka dive bombers. On the following morning, 1 December, a column of enemy armoured vehicles was observed approaching from the direction of Oudna. After a while the column halted at a range of about 2.000 yards ... At that point C Company reported that three armoured vehicles, two tanks and an armoured car, were approaching from a different direction and that they were displaying the 1st British Army recognition signal, which was a yellow triangle. Frost naturally assumed that this was the leading element of the forces with which the battalion was to link up during the advance on Tunis. This illusion was shattered a few minutes later when C Company´s commander, Major John Ross, reported that the vehicles were German ... During the afternoon, at about 1500 hours, the enemy mounted their initial assault with light tanks and infantry mounted in armoured halftracks. Heavy artillery and mortar fire was brought down on the battalion ... ...//... 2nd December ...//... At approximately 1500 hours the enemy opened fire with mortars and subsequently with machine guns. ... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rune Posted July 9, 2004 Author Share Posted July 9, 2004 Paco, Thanks, I already had that. Still working on the map, but got the fores done and most of the map, as well as the main briefing done. Rune 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingfish Posted July 9, 2004 Share Posted July 9, 2004 ...psss...remember...no Australian troops this time.... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rune Posted July 10, 2004 Author Share Posted July 10, 2004 LOL... Here is the main briefing... if anyone has corrections, will appreciate it. Rune Title: Written Off Type: Allied Assault Date: November 30th, 1942 Location: Oudna Airfield, Tunisia Region: Africa Weather: Day, Clear, Airfield Terrain: Dirt Wind: Breeze from the SW Turns: 45+ Best Played as: Best played as Two Player, or as Allied against the AI. AI should be free to place. Author: Tim 'Rune' Orosz Background: After the Bruneval Raid, 2nd Parachute Battalion of the British 1st Airbourne Division found itself shipped to Africa aboard ships. 2 Para was led by Lt-Colonel Gofton-Salmond, who fell ill and was replaced by Lt-Colonel John Frost, who would later becone even more famous at Arnhem. Two drops were scheduled, and cancelled as the situation kept changing. On November 27th, the Battalion was placed on stand-by for an airdrop. The plan was to assault the airfield at Pont du Fahs then move North to the airfield at Depienne, destroying both. Since both airfields were within 25 miles of tunis, it was also hoped to throw the German Forces into confusion. Immediately before takeoff on 29 November, Frost was informed there were no aircraft at either airfield, and they would need to attack the airfield at Oudna, 12 miles to the North of Depienne. Frost was to pick a drop zone near Depienne from the air in the lead aircraft. They dropped near Depienne, and the landing was unopposed, however, it was spotted by a German Patrol which sent the alert out. The injured were left at the drop zone, along with a platoon to pack away the parachutes and equipment containers. The rest of the Battalion marched out into the night and cold to reach the airfield. Mid-day on the 30th, they reach a ridge near the airfield. Scouts reports only a single wrecked aircraft on the field. C Company moved to attack from the West and A Company and the rest of the Battalion moved up over the ridge to the attack... Semi-Historical, about 1200 points. [Forces are real, could not find an accurate enough map] Sources: http://www.britishairborne.org/history2nd.html http://members.aol.com/awat6/parachute_regiment.htm#OUDNA%20-%20 http://www.firebirds.org/menu1/mnu1_p7.htm Historical Outcome: After a sharp fight at Oudna, 2 Para was finally able to reach the British HQ, having had radio problems before this. The relief column of tanks that was supposed to reach them had been beatened and driven back to Medjez-el-Bab, forty miles west of Oudna. 2 Parachute was written off by the British Commanders, and it was expected for the Battalion to surrender to the Germans. Frost would have none of that. He decided to withdraw to a nearby hill and wait for night to make their way back to British lines. Fighting 4 pitched battles during their retreat, 180 paratroops made it back to British lines together, and more stragglers would come in over the next several days. British losses had been high, 250 troops and 16 officers did not return. However, the Division got a new nickname from the Germans due to the way the parachutists fought, calling them the "Red Devils". 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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