Kasserine Crisis, the Europa Battle Scenario presented in TEM #13, offers the Axis player an immediate opportunity to sieze the initiative and punish the poorly deployed Allied forces. The better he utilizes this first-turn opening, the better his chances of winning the scenario. Here is my operational plan for Dec I 42.

I usually tend to use all advanced and optional rules (plus a few others), but since the scenario imposes an impossible common agreement upon most of these, I must assume that only 32B, 32C, and 321 are in effect.

The Place: Tunisia '42. The Purpose: Punish the Allies

The proposed approach is based upon a number of first turn strategic limitations:

a) The U.S. Tactical Problems bonus (28135b) will not be used this turn. It is much more useful later, when Rommel is in line.

b) There will be no ambitious exploitation; clear weather and a competent Allied player could make for a very short game indeed. Axis ground units must stay within the protective umbrella of their air forces (patrol and interception).

c) Central and South Tunisia are not to be seriously defended at this time. If the Allied player wants to campaign there, he will have to penetrate deeply and be pretty much exposed.

Logistical Note

Notice the step of supply sent to Pantelleria. This island-port can act as a temporary depot for transferring supply to the front. It has the same benefits as Bizerte/ Tunis (26C1), and subsequent naval transport to Tripoli or a Tunisian port is safe from Malta intervention (not involving Europe anymore).

[WitD tricksters should take note of this point. -RG]

Dec I 1942 Axis Initial Phase

3-10* PzG III 69 lands at Bizerte. (-4 MPs)
3-10* Mot III 86 lands at Bizerte. (-4 MPs)
2-10 Mot hv AA III 54 lands at Bizerte. (-4 MPs)
2-10 Mot hv AA III 55 lands at Tunis. (-4 MPs)
3-2-8 Pz II 501 lands at Bizerte. (-4 MPs)
2-6* Inf III 47 from Trapani tries to land at Tunis. (-2 MPs)
1 Step Supply from Palermo tries to land at Bizerte.
2 Steps Supply from Palermo try (individually) to land at Tunis.
1 Step Supply from Palermo attempts to land at Pantelleria.

Assuming successful transport, Bizerte still has a usable capacity of 2 1/2 REs and Tunis, 2 REs.

Airbases	Air Units	Mission
Bizerte (+ Airfield)	Me 109G MC.202 Ju 88C	Ground Support against 3412. Ground Support against 3412. No Mission.
Tunis	Fw 190A Re.2002 Re.2001	Ground Support against 3412. Ground Support against 3412. No Mission.
Pantelleria (Airfield)	Ju 87D SM.84	Ground Support against 3310. Ground Support against 3311.
Cagliari	He 111H (V)	Ground Support against 3311.
2800 (Airfield)	None	Ju 88A and He 111H can threaten Alger or 0512 from here.
3102 (Airfield)	None	Within 8 hexes of Bizerte.
Palermo	2x Ju 88A	Ground Support against 3311.
Trapani (+ Airfield) [Intrinsic AA = 6]	GO 244B Me 323D Ju 52	Transport 1-8 Eng III Afr to Tunis. Transport Ger Inf RP to Tunis. Transport 2-8 Inf III 160 to Mareth.
4507 (Airfield)	He 111H (B)	Ground Support against 3311.
Gabes	Ju 52	Transport 2-3-6 Inf X 50S to Bizerte and return to Palermo.
5129 (Airfield)	None	Note: Unless otherwise indicated, units return to same airbase.

The Victims

The Allied forces which will bear the brunt of the Axis assault are disposed as follows:

25:3309
1 x 1-8 Cmdo III

25:3310
1 x 1-8 Cmdo II 6
1 x 2-8* Inf X 36

25:3311
1 x 5-3-10 Arm X 26
1 x 0-1-5 Para II 1/1
1 x 10 Arm XX HQ 6

25:3411
1 x 2-8* Inf X 11
1 x 5-3-10* Arm X 1/CCB
1 x 1-2-6* Inf X Tun/1T

25:3412
1 x 3-8* Inf X 1 Gds

25:3612
1 x 0-1-5 Para II 2/1

Other Axis Forces

In addition to the Axis forces listed as arriving during the initial phase on page 14, the following units are already on the scene:

Bizerte
1 x 2-6 Mar III SM
3 pts lt AA
2 pts hv AA
one step of supply

25:3409
1 x 1-5 Gldr Eng II 11
1 x 2-5 Glider III Bar

25:3511
1 x 5-3-10* Pz III 7
1 x 2-10 Mot III Sv 287
1 x 2-1-10 Pz II 190

25:3512
1 x 2-5 Para III 5

Gabes
1 x 2-3-6 Inf X 50S

25:3611
1 x 4-6 Inf XX 1

Tunis
1 pt hv AA

Sfax
1 x 2-10 Mot III 10B

Trapani
1 x 2-8 Inf III 160
1 x 1-8 Eng III Afr

Tunisian Thunder Operational Plan for Kasserine Crisis

Introduction and Axis Initial Phase
Dec I 1942: Axis Movement Phase
Dec I 1942: Axis Combat Phase
Dec I 1942: Axis Exploitation Phase