The Defence of Cactus Farm

The Defence of Cactus Farm From 28 April until 2 May a Kampfgruppe of 48 Fallschirmjäger from the III Battalion, 5. Fallschirmjäger Regiment withstood several determined attacked on their positions in a fortified farm overlooking Medjez el Bab-Tunis road. British units from the 12th Infantry Division made well-supported attacks, backed up by the Churchills of the 12th RTR on one occasion, but found the Fallschirmjäger hard to budge. Leading this band of Fallschirmjäger was Feldwebel Schaefer commanding a mere 48 men

To re-fight the encounters use the No Retreat mission with the following modifications. Setting Up The German Tiger Heavy Tank Platoon is always in Deep Immediate Reserves. British 25 pdr Field Troop and German 10.5cm Artillery Battery are off-table and use Across the Volga rules from Enemy at the Gates or Iron Cross Feldwebel Schaefer Feldwebel Schaefer proved himself an able and aggressive commander during the defence of Cactus Farm, leading the assault on the Churchills, so when fielding him in the game use the following rules.

Feldwebel Schaefer is represented by the Formation Commander MP40 SMG team of a Fallschirmjäger Company HQ. Schaefer’s MP40 SMG team is equipped with the Panzerknacker Command Card at the start of the game. Special Rules: Commanding Presence: When a Unit’s Leader is within 6”/15cm and in Line of Sight of Schaefer, the Unit passes Motivation tests on a roll of 2+. Forwards: When a Unit’s Leader is within 6”/15cm and in Line of Sight of Schaefer, the Unit passes Blitz or Shoot & Scoot test on a roll of 2+. No Quarter: When a Unit’s Leader is within 6”/15cm and in Line of Sight of Schaefer, the Teams of the Unit hit on a roll of 2+ in Assault. Cactus Hedges The cactus hedges around the farm proved hard to penetrate, the troops wishing to move through the hedge treat it as Difficult Terrain. Infantry teams must make a Skill test to find a gap before they can enter the farm. Once the gap is found teams from the same platoon can follow them through.

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1st Royal West Kent Regiment & 12th Royal Tank Regiment, 12th Brigade, 4th Division

Fallschirmjäger Kampfgruppe

Churchill III Armoured Squadron HQ 2x Churchill (6 pdr) 22 points Churchill Armoured Troop 1 3x Churchill (6 pdr) 33 points Churchill Armoured Troop 2 3x Churchill (6 pdr) 33 points Churchill Armoured Troop 3 3x Churchill (6 pdr) 33 points Subtotal 121 points Company, Royal West Kent Regt Rifle Company HQ 2x SMLE rifle team "White Knees" Command Card   2 points -5 Points 1st Platoon 7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team 1x Boys anti-tank rifle 1x 2-inch mortar 1x PIAT Anti-Tank (PIAT Command Card) 13 points 2nd Platoon 7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team 1x Boys anti-tank rifle 1x 2-inch mortar 1x PIAT Anti-Tank (PIAT Command Card) 13 points Support   25 pdr Field Troop 4x 25 pdr Gun 14 points Total 158 points

Fallschirmjӓger Company HQ 2x MP40 SMG Teams 1x Panzerknacker Command Card 5 points 1st Fallschirmjäger Platoon 7x MG42/K98 Teams 1x Panzerknacker Command Card 11 points 2nd Fallschirmjäger Platoon 7x MG42/K98 Teams 1x Panzerknacker Command Card 11 points Fallschirmjäger  sMG42 Machine-gun Platoon 4x sMG42 HMG 6 points Support   10.5cm Artillery Battery (Page 34 Afrika Korps) 4x 10.5cm Howitzer 14 points Fallschirmjӓger Observation Post 1x Observer K98 Rifle Team 1 point Heavy Tank Platoon (Page 30 Afrika Korps) 2x Tiger 2x Panzer III (7.5cm) 74 points Total 125 points

Other Forces Forces that attacked on 28-30 April had less armoured back-up and were mainly infantry supported by artillery. An attack was also made on the night of 30 April under the cover of darkness. The British units that attacked were from 12th Brigade, 4th (Mixed) Division: 28 April: one company of the 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment 29 April: several companies of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 30 April: companies from 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, both during the day and at night. 1 May: Several attacks by companies from 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment and 12th Royal Tank Regiment. One attack with preliminary bombing by the US Airforce. 2 May: Brigade size attack, beaten off by German artillery. 3 May: Schaefer’s Fallschirmjäger withdraw.