KEREN 1941, EAST AFRICA AAR of World at War 25 Keren, 1941: East Africa Orders to Sudan Based Forces January 30, 1941 From: Commander in Chief, Middle East Command, General Archibald Wavell To: Commander of the Northern Front, Lieutenant-General William Platt Lieutenant-General, Your orders are to pursue the enemy down the road to Keren employing both 4th and 5th Indian Divisions. Upon capturing Keren, await further orders from the Middle East Command. Good Luck and Godspeed. The Battle of Keren has the Savoia Grenadiers defending against a Commonwealth assault aimed at the capture of the town of Keren, of the Italian colony in Eritrea. Keren is of strategic importance as the railroad and road junctions are keys to the access of Amara and the Red Sea port of Massawa. February 5, 1941. Turn One by E.R. Bickford Production: Lise Patterson 2012 Decision Games Bakersfield, CA. Administration Phase. Both players check the supply status of their units. All of the troops of both sides begin in supply. Commonwealth Bombardment. The British player wants to suppress enemy units before bringing them to battle, so he uses his artillery to bombard the Italian positions. The 4th Indian Division has three artillery units which are fired at the position near Mount Sanchil. As a result, one Italian colonial battalion is eliminated and two artillery batteries are suppressed. The artillery with 5th Indian Division has no line of sight to an enemy position so there is no fire from them. WW 25 AFTER ACTION REPORT AUG SEP 2012 A1
KEREN 1941 Italian Bombardment. The two batteries on Mount Sanchil are suppressed and therefore cannot fire. The rest of the Savoia artillery batteries are unable to sight the British units so there is no return fire. Commonwealth Movement Phase. This allows all of the player s unsuppressed units to move. The 5th Indian Division advances forward from Happy Valley toward the objective peaks, the Pimple and the Pinnacle. The terrain hinders the advance somewhat, but some progress is made. Then two brigades march around the Pinnacle along the road to the west. The Italians have created an avalanche on the western side of the Pinnacle to inhibit movement. Part of the 4th Indian Division marches toward Mt. Sanchil while the railroad is secured on the flank. One brigade protects the peaks on the western end of the Cameron Ridge. A2 WW 25 AFTER ACTION REPORT AUG SEP 2012
EAST AFRICA Italian Ranged Fire. The Italians ranged fire on the Commonwealth Brigade on the main road near the Pinnacle. Some of the artillery is also employed and this yields positive results; the Commonwealth troops retreat. Italian Movement. One of the powerful African battalions advances to take control of the Pinnacle. The cavalry from the east also advances to cover the Italian Army s left flank. Other forces move forward to protect the Dongolaas Gorge. Italian reinforcements are rushed forward to the front lines. Commonwealth Ranged Fire. Commonwealth fire suppresses the African battalion on The Pinnacle. Assault Phase. The Italians cannot conduct any assaults. The Commonwealth, however, decides to launch an assault against the suppressed unit on the Pinnacle. This results in the complete destruction of the African Battalion. The Commonwealth captures the objective. Turn Two Administrative Phase Both sides check supplies and are okay. The two suppressed Italian units fail to rally. Bombardment Phase Major-General Heath orders the 5th Indian Division s artillery to bombard the Italian cavalry units on the eastern side of Mount Falestoh. As a result, suppressing both battalions. Then the 4th Indian Division s artillery fires at the Italian infantry on the southern side of Mt. Sanchil, also resulting in suppression. The Italian artillery also fires. The battery on Brig s Peak targets the Commonwealth Brigade heading to the main position on Mt. Sanchil. This fire has no effect. The Italian artillery also fires at the Commonwealth forces advancing along the main roadway and this forces a retreat. Movement & Ranged Fire During the Commonwealth Movement Phase, the 5th Division advances up the center. One brigade occupies the Pimple, while the Brigade on the Pinnacle presses on northward. A colonial battalion occupies the Pinnacle in the former unit s place. Then along the road, two more of the 5th Division s brigade units move into contact with the Savoia Division. Likewise, the 4th Indian Division marches on toward the suppressed units on Mt. Sanchil. Both peaks on Cameron Ridge are secured by a Commonwealth Brigade. WW 25 AFTER ACTION REPORT AUG SEP 2012 A3
Most of the Italian ranged fire is ineffective, but one Commonwealth unit is suppressed on the Pimple. Now the Italian forces in the south fall back toward Fort Dologorodoc, while more reinforcements are pushed toward the center. Assault The 4th Indian Division launches an assault against the two Italian KEREN 1941 Colonial battalions due south of the peak of Mount Sanchil. The enemy units are both suppressed. The Commonwealth has overwhelming strength in this firefight and both of the Italian units are eliminated. The end of the day arrives. February 5, 1941 has seen the Commonwealth forces attack the Italian positions south of Keren. At this point the Commonwealth has collected a net of 19 VP. A total of 40 VP are required for a Commonwealth Victory. The battle is only one quarter of the way through. The Italians are receiving a steady flow of reinforcements. February 6, 1941 Turn Three Administrative Both sides check for supply and are found within their respective supply radii. It should be noted that the 4th Indian Division is deployed on their Carrying Supply sides, effectively lengthening their supply capabilities. The Commonwealth player manages to rally its lone suppressed unit, but the Italians fail miserably, leaving several units suppressed. Bombardment Phases The Commonwealth artillery unleashes a barrage against the Italian positions on both Mount Sanchil and Mt. Falestoh. Some of the Italian infantry is suppressed as a result. Some of the fire has no effect. One of the advantages of suppressing a unit is that it will be unable to use defensive fire as the attacking units move into contact. The Italians respond with artillery bombardment. The Italian guns at Fort Dologorodoc and on the road from Keren both manage to hit battalions from the 5th Indian Division, leaving them suppressed. Suppressed units cannot move in that state. This will likely hamper the attack from the south. Then the guns on the other side of the Italian position fire at the 4th Indian Division. One of this formation s battalions is also suppressed. Commonwealth Movement and Italian Defensive Fire Next, the Commonwealth forces conduct movement. These are still intent on bringing the Italian army to battle. Consequently, the Italian forces near Fort Dologorodoc issue defensive fire and this manages to suppress several of the 5th Indian Divisions battalions. Also one of the 4th Indian Division s units is driven back in the Dongolaas Gorge. The Italian units on Mount Sanchil employ defensive fire against the 4th A4 WW 25 AFTER ACTION REPORT AUG SEP 2012
EAST AFRICA Indian Division. This forces one of the Commonwealth battalions to fall back. Italian Movement and Commonwealth Defensive Fire The Italian commander re-deploys his lines near Fort Dologorodoc. This takes them out of the line of assault. Slowly, Italian reinforcements are showing up. The Commonwealth army orders defensive fire. This leaves a colonial battalion suppressed. Assault Phase The 4th Indian Division launches an attack against the Italian position on the peak of Mount Sanchil. This position is defended by two Italian artillery battalions. One is destroyed during the assault while the second battalion becomes suppressed. The objective remains in Italian hands though. Turn Four Administrative Phase Both sides return their artillery units to the unfired sides. The Italian player checks his supply status. Supply is easier for the Italian forces as their supply depots are more toward the center of the map rather than the map edge, where the Commonwealth supply depots are. The Commonwealth is also fully supplied, but the 4th Indian WW 25 AFTER ACTION REPORT AUG SEP 2012 A5
KEREN 1941 Division s battalions are still flipped to their carrying supply modes. The combat ratings are reduced to simulate a detachment of troops from each battalion being used in hauling supplies, ammunition and provisions forward. Most of the Commonwealth Army s troops recover from suppression. The suppressed Italian units do not recover. Bombardment Phase The 4th Indian Division s artillery fires at the Italian position on Mount Sanchil. This causes a couple of enemy battalions to become suppressed. The 5th Indian Division fires one artillery battalion and suppresses another Italian unit near Fort Dologorodoc. The other artillery battalions do not fire as they prepare to move to the road to gain a better position. The Italian artillery is now fired. The guns at Fort Dologorodoc targets one of the 5th Indian Division s battalions. It is suppressed as a result. Then the artillery on Brig s Peak fires and damages one of the 4th Indian Division s battalions. Commonwealth Movement and Italian Defensive Fire The 5th Indian Division pushes ahead with its advance toward Fort Dologorodoc. The Italian defenders issue defensive fire. Only one of the artillery units manages a hit, A6 WW 25 AFTER ACTION REPORT AUG SEP 2012
EAST AFRICA but this one is in the Dongolaas Gorge, not against the main attack on Fort Dologorodoc. Italian Movement and Commonwealth Defensive Fire Some of the Italian reinforcements have made it to the front lines. Units pass through the Dongolaas Gorge to help defend the fort on Mt. Falestoh. These receive defensive fire from the Commonwealth units which are poised to assault. Italian Assault Phase The Italian formation near Fort Dologorodoc attempts a preemptive attack. This is a 3-1 odds attack, but it goes rather poorly for them. One of the Italian units is eliminated as a result. The other assaults are postponed as the Italian player s morale has dropped a bit. Commonwealth Assault Phase The 5th Indian Division attacks several Italian units along the flanks of the fort. These assaults go nowhere. Nonetheless, the Commonwealth forces press on. Another assault is conducted against an Italian colonial battalion in Dongolaas Gorge. The enemy unit is eliminated. Next, the 4th Indian Division assaults the Italian position on Mt. Sanchil. This is successful, and the Commonwealth captures the peak of Mt. Sanchil. Another attack along the ridge to the left forces an enemy battalion to flee in retreat. With the current Italian losses, and the captured objectives, the Commonwealth player has a net of 33 VP, of the 40 necessary for victory in this scenario. February 7, 1941. The Commonwealth has had a fair amount of success, but the Italian reinforcements are increasing as time passes. Expect some counterattacks. Turn Five Administration Phase The artillery returns to its unfired sides. Both players attempt to rally their suppressed units. None of the Italian units manage to rally this time. The 4th Indian Division rallies both of its suppressed units. Now the 5th Indian attempts the same. None of the 5th Division s suppressed units successfully rally. This might hamper the next round of combat. Commonwealth Bombardment Phase The Commonwealth player selects targets for both the 4th and 5th Indian Divisions artillery barrage. One Italian unit is hit on the ridge near Brig s Peak and is forced to retreat. The 5th Indian s artillery suppresses Italian units defending in Dongolaas Gorge. Italian Bombardment Phase Now the Italian commander attempts to slow the Commonwealth assault force with bombardment. The barrage against the 4th Indian Division manages to push two battalions back toward Cameron Ridge. Then artillery from Fort Dologorodoc leaves a battalion of the 5th Indian Division suppressed. Several 4th Indian Division units east of Mt Sanchil are also suppressed. The Italian artillery is starting to stem the tide of the Commonwealth s advance. Commonwealth Movement and Italian Defensive Fire The units of the 5th Indian Division continue to prepare for an attack against Fort Dologorodoc. The Italian defensive fire sends the units east of the fort in retreat. Commonwealth reinforcements arrive from Scescilembi Valley and advance toward the Dongolaas Gorge. Italian Movement and Commonwealth Defensive Fire Italian reinforcements march forward from Keren. There are numerous artillery units available but these move slowly. Since the line of sight is blocked by ridges, the artillery battalions are attempting to move toward the center of the map area. There is little effect from the Commonwealth s defensive fire. Italian Assault Phase The Italian units in Fort Dologorodoc counterattack the 5th Indian Division to the south. One battalion is targeted. It has already been suppressed by defensive fire. As a result of the assault, the Commonwealth battalion retreats, but remains intact. Commonwealth Assault Phase The 5th Indian Division conducts an assault against the Italian position due west of Fort Dologorodoc. These units have been suppressed so their was little defensive fire as the 5th Division pushed forward into contact. As a result, an Italian colonial battalion is eliminated. This brings the Commonwealth s VP up to 34 points. WW 25 AFTER ACTION REPORT AUG SEP 2012 A7
KEREN 1941 Turn Six During the Administrative Phase, most of the Commonwealth battalions rally. Three remain suppressed however. A few Italian units rally, but most of the suppressed units remain in disarray. Both sides conduct bombardments. The Commonwealth has three air missions available. One mission strikes the Italian artillery on Brig s Peak. The enemy guns are suppressed. Then an air strike targets Fort Dologorodoc, leaving the Italian position suppressed. Another strike hits to units on the flank of the fort and these retreat to the north. The Italian artillery has virtually no effect this time. As it rolls in, it is on low ground which reduces its effectiveness. A8 WW 25 AFTER ACTION REPORT AUG SEP 2012
EAST AFRICA The Commonwealth continues to push its attack. The 5th Indian Division is still trying to secure a victory by capturing Fort Dologorodoc. The 4th Indian Division has achieved its objectives. The Commonwealth artillery is attempting to suppress the Italian troops on Mount Sanchil to prevent any counterattack. Italian defensive fire leaves one of the 5th Division s battalion suppressed. Now, the Italian forces advance for a potential counterattack but these are quickly suppressed by the Commonwealth s defensive fire. The functional Italian units do not assault as these are not supported with enough strength to see a good chance of success. The 5th Indian Division resumes its attack on Fort Dologorodoc. There is a strong Italian Alpine battalion on the eastern side of the fort. The Commonwealth player declines the opportunity to attack. Instead, he concentrates on the position to the west of Fort Dologorodoc. This results in the elimination of a weak Italian colonial unit. The Commonwealth VP climbs to 35 points. Still five short for victory. February 8, 1941 Turn Seven Both sides are doing well in maintaining their supplies. The 4th Indian Division is mostly employing detachments to lengthen their supply lines, but they are not facing much opposition on Mount Sanchil. Most of the Commonwealth units recover from suppression, and about half of the Italian force also recovers. The Commonwealth air units attack Fort Dologorodoc and destroy one unit and leave the rest of the position suppressed. (This raises the Commonwealth VP to 36 Points.) Then two of the artillery on Cameron Ridge fire at an enemy colonial battalion and it is eliminated too. (37 VP). The Italian artillery concentrates its fire on the Commonwealth force deployed on Mt. Sanchil s Peak. This results in the unit retreating to the south. Next, the 4th Indian Division regains the position on Mount Sanchil, to prevent the Italian army from reclaiming the 10 VP objective. The 5th Indian Division resumes its attack near Fort Dologorodoc. The Italians are suppressed in that area, but still quite strong as they are defending with African and Alpine battalions. The Italian defensive fire manages to destroy one of the Commonwealth battalions near the fort. (-2 VP). The Commonwealth commander conducts an assault against the Italian infantry that is caught between Fort Dologorodoc and the Dongolaas Gorge. The Italians are forced to retreat, but have no retreat path and are destroyed instead. (+2VP). WW 25 AFTER ACTION REPORT AUG SEP 2012 A9
KEREN 1941 Turn Eight Most of the Commonwealth units are rallied during the Administrative Phase. One remains suppressed. The Italian morale is still faltering and several units continue to suffer from suppression. Both sides are maintaining their supply lines. The 4th Indian Division s supply line is attenuated though. The Commonwealth calls an air strike into Fort Dologorodoc. This effectively destroys the African battalion. (+1 VP) The Alpine unit there is also suppressed. Then the Commonwealth player employs his artillery which drives some of the Italian units back in retreat. Other units become suppressed. The Italian artillery concentrates on the Commonwealth units along the road near Dongolaas Gorge. This unit is eliminated. (-2 VP). The Commonwealth player redoubles his effort at Fort Dologorodoc. The African battalions on the eastern flank of the fortress employ defensive fire and manage to suppress the two Commonwealth battalions on the flank. The rest of the Italian defensive fire is ineffective. Then the Italians advance. The Commonwealth uses defensive fire. This has little effect. The fire is held against the fort because the Commonwealth needs to capture this to win at this late point in the battle. During the assault phase, a massive attack is launched against the Italian Alpine battalion at Fort Dologorodoc. The Commonwealth has excellent odds from the strength masses here, but the fortress has a die roll modifier as a defensive benefit. The battle is resolved and the result is not what the Commonwealth hoped for. The Italian unit receives only a suppression result. This brings the First Battle of Keren to a close. The Commonwealth has netted 37 VP. This is not enough for victory though. A total of 40 VP was needed to win the battle. Therefore, the Italians win and there will likely be a Second Battle of Keren in the coming months. A10 WW 25 AFTER ACTION REPORT AUG SEP 2012