The attack on Beda Littoria, 17/18 November 1941 by British commandos, being a wargames skirmish scenario using 15mm figures and "Hell by Daylight" based rules (written by Jim Webster, published by Aschluss, code JW-01). The only kind of WWII games I really like are skirmishes or fairly small actions such as "Arnhem Lift" which I have written about before. Commando actions such as "Cockleshell Heroes" also fascinate me. As research for this scenario I have chosen two books "Commando" by Brigadier Peter Young, Purness's History of the Second World War Weapons Book No. 7, 1969. "Commando Attack, " by Gordon Holman, published by Hodder and Stoughton Ltd., 6th edition, 1944. The latter book is written in a style of "British Movietone News" that Harry Enfield likes to make fun of these days. In a review "The Tattler" magazine said, "This is a book to buy, to keep for one's sons and their sons to read in happier days." Peter Young's account was short and to the point as one would expect from a soldier who was once himself a commando and commanded 1st Commando Brigade and won the DSO and MC three times. He quotes "Commando Attacks" in his bibliography. I will briefly describe the action, give a map and comment on the rules and how they might be used. Obviously if readers have their own favorite rules, they will use those instead. As with "Cockleshell Heroes," this raid began in submarines. The 30 commandos involved were landed from HMS "Torbay" and "Talisman" 200 miles inside enemy territory. They used two-man rubber dinghies and a large wave washed some of them away as they were launching. The remainder, Peter Young says half of the two parties, made it to the shore, I make that 15 men. They were signalled in by Captain J.E. Haselden, an Intelligence officer dropped by Desert Reconnaissance Group to act as a .,reception committee." The small force now divided into three groups (5 in each). Lt. Col. Laycock was in overall command and Lt. Col. Keyes (23 years old, Black Watch from the photos of his hackle) was to lead the "kill group" or snatch squad - whichever became feasible. Laycock and a sergeant and two men stayed in a "wadi" (dried up steep banked river course) with an ammo and rations dump. A "firm base" I would call it. They hoped the missing members of the attack group would find them and be directed on to the objective. Lt. G. Cook (his Christian name was Gay) and six men were to cut the telephone and telegraph wires at the crossroads South of Cyrene. Geoff Keyes and his group set off at 2000 hours across rocky hillsides (no wonder commandos trained in Scotland!). At dawn Keyes and his group were in a defensive ring on a small hill. They were discovered by a group of Arabs armed with Italian carbines(!) and led by a man in a red turban. Luckily one of Keyes' men spoke perfect Arabic, Cpl. Droui was a Palestinian. The Arabs brought the commandos soup and goats meat. When it got dark Red Turban led them for a couple of hours to a large dry cave smelling dreadfully of goat. The next day found them hiding in a small wood where they fed on arbutus berries. It seems these are very pleasant. A thunderstorm came on so they crept back to the cave. Keyes did a "recce" and saw an escarpment near Beda Littoria. An Arab boy who was acting as a guide also did some scouting and from what he had already seen, his map, and the boy's information, Keyes was able to brief his men for the attack. At 1800 hours on the 17th the raiders sloshed off on their final attack march. At the escarpment they paused and Lt. Cook and his squad went off to suppress the communications links. Keyes and Sgt. Terry acted as scouts and Capt. Campbell brought up the rest 50 yards to the rear. About 2330 they reached some outbuildings about 100 yards from the HQ. As Keyes and Terry did another recce, a door in one of the outbuildings opened and an Italian soldier with an Arab came out. A dog began to bark. Campbell shouted in German, "As imperiously as I could," that they were a returning patrol. Cpl. Droui repeated this in Italian (useful bloke). The inhabitants went back inside. Keyes, Campbell, Terry and the rest deployed, shoved through a hedge into the garden and rushed up the steps to the front door. Here the accounts diverge, I'm sticking with Young. As they reached the door, a German in a steel helmet and greatcoat came out. Keyes covered him with his Tommy gun. The brave German grabbed the muzzle of the Tommy and they wrestled desperately. Keyes did not want to fire, because it would alert the enemy and couldn't reach his knife because of wrestling. The German strangely didn't shout but he heaved Keyes back by the gun to the wall between the main front doors. Neither Terry nor Campbell could get at the German because of this. Campbell shot the man with his .38 pistol. The commandos burst into the HQ, "Tommy guns and grenades! " ordered Keyes. A German came clattering down the stone stairs. Sgt. Terry fired at him just as his boots showed. Missed! The German went back up the stairs faster than he came down! Keyes flung open one of several doors opening off the hall. The room was empty, then he saw a light under another door and flung that open. About 10 Germans were inside. Keyes fired 2 or 3 rounds with his Colt .45 automatic and Campbell said "Wait, I'll throw a grenade in." Keyes slammed the door and held it while Campbell pulled the pin on a grenade. "Right." Keyes threw open the door, Campbell bunged in the grenade. "Well done!" said Keyes and then fell, shot by one of the Germans. Campbell shut the door and the grenade went off. Complete silence thereafter. Terry and Campbell carried Keyes outside but he was dead when they got out. Campbell left them and ran round the house to see how the others were doing. One of the commandos took him for a German and shot at him. He fell, wounded in the leg. The attackers drew off, carrying Campbell. He, realizing it was all of 25 miles back to the beach, ordered them to leave him. Sgt. Terry led the survivors back to the beach. The Germans found Campbell and sent him to hospital where his leg had to be amputated. They also found Keyes' dead body and gave him a funeral with full military honors. The service was taken by the garrison chaplain of Potsdam. It turned out Rommel had never lived in the house at Beda Littoria. He was in the front line with his troops (Holman says attending a birthday party!). The house was an HQ, but it was that of the German and Italian supply services. Lt. Cook and company carried out their mission successfully but were taken prisoner afterwards. To cut a long and interesting story short, Lt. Col. Laycock and Sgt. Terry made their way back to the Eighth Army which they reached on Christmas Day 1941, forty one days after the attack. They often had to subsist on berries but were not short of water as it rained continuously. "On joining them we fell upon the marmalade offered to us and polished off a pot each." Geoff Keyes was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. Laycock returned to England and took command of the Special Service Brigade. Rules These are not new but I think they're good. For soloists; you play the commandos and the Germans, Italians and Arab collaborators are triggered by your actions. This means posting sentries or patrols as any sensible command would but have a few "wild event" cards written by yourself that are generated either on a low or high dice throw. Examples: "Sentry Private Angelo has had too much pasta for supper, goes to sleep." or "Sentry Private Angelo has had too much pasta for supper, kept awake by indigestion." The Troop Class for commandos is "veteran." Troop class for EN will be "non-nal" or "green" (Arab levies on EN side). HQ troops are usually odds and sods on secondment from "teeth" arms or clerks and store men of various specializations. Div: Feld Politzie might be around (1,2,3 they're not, 4,5,6 they are). These guys could be classed "veteran," but there's only a few - usually on motorcycle combinations with MG mounted. Motivation Levels Commandos level 3. EN 2 Normal, 1 Green. Leaders designated by dice roll. Veteran leaders get 3D6 points, normal 2D6, green ID6. Unit Reaction Test 50% or more dead or wounded take a reaction test for that squad. Use % dice. Chances of retreat are 15 % for veterans, 25 % for normal, and 35 % for green. Movement Always test morale to see if your figure moves. Vets have high probability of doing what they are ordered or on own initiative. Move 8" when nothing seems to be happening, i.e. approach moves, etc. When under fire movement will be shorter or long . D6: 1-3 shorter, 4-5 longer. Shorter = 6", longer = 10". You may move less far but cannot "save up" move inches for next time. (I'm not going to copy Jim's rules out, you can but some or use your own - like my off the cuff "movement rule" above.) Back to MWAN #97 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com