The Taking Of Longtop Hill

The Situation in Tunisia The Taking of Longstop Hill
The Allied Drive for Tunis, 1943.


The Allied front line in Tunisia ran from Enfidaville northwestward to Pont-du-Fahs and then northward to the coast about 18 miles west of Bizerte. The British Eighth Army was on the right, French units on the right centre, the British First Army on the left centre, and the United States 2nd Corps on the left in the coastal strip.

During the fighting of November and December 1942 the Allied forces of the British 1st Army had been stopped at Longstop Hill and forced back to Medjez el Bab, where the onset of the winter rains turned the roads to mud and the wadis to raging rivers.
Further attempts to make it to Tunis had to be delayed until the return of dry weather. This gave the Germans and Italians plenty of time to continue their build up of forces in the north of Tunisia. Flights of supplies, weapons and men flowed into Tunis and Bizerte while the Allies in the north waited.

In April it was decided to once again start the drive on to Tunis. The Germans had launched an attack in early April driving the remaining British troops from their foothold in the high-ground around Longstop and the British were determined to take back the ground lost and get the advance moving once again towards their objective, Tunis.
German reinforcements waiting to fly to Tunis from Sicily
In front of the British positions stood the defensive positions around “Longstop Hill”, held by elements of 999. Afrika Division amongst others.
Longchop Hill Map 999. Afrika Division was a kind of redemption unit, not quite a penal unit in the true sense, but made up of men whose past exploits were not held in high regard. Many of the men had been found guilty of cowardice in the face of the enemy, desertion and other such disciplinary offences. For this reason they were not allowed to wear the national eagle, collar patches or cockade on their uniform nor were they allowed to wear the traditional army belt with the national eagle displayed on them. Despite the dubious source of the men the officers on the other hand were of high quality, and hand picked for the task of leading these men to reclaim their honour. Representing the division at Longstop Hill was the 962 Afrika-Schützen-Regiment (mot). This was a motorised battalion.

German attacks had forced the British to withdraw by 22 April 1943. The Germans were in possession of “Longstop” and surrounding high ground to the north-west as far as Dj el Tanngoucha. British troops held Chassart - Teffaha from which their line ran northwestward through Heidous.
The British plan was to seize Dj el Tanngoucha and Longstop Hill by an attack along both from the south-west. 

138th Infantry Brigade (6 Royal West Kents, 5 Buffs and 8 Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders) under command with 1 Surreys and the North Irish Horse (Churchill army tanks) and supported by most of the 78th Divisional Artillery, were detailed for the attack on “Longstop”.
999. Afrika Division symbol
999. Afrika Division symbol The Royal West Kents and The Buffs were to lead the attack with the Argyle and Sutherland in reserve. The North Irish Horse Churchills and the Surreys were to be prepared to breakthrough north-east along the road to Tebourba.

The Attack opened on 22 April at 2245 hours. The British infantry quickly gained most of their early objectives but soon ran into stiff resistance south-east of Dr. ech Chaibine. This delayed the final part of the day’s operations, making it impossible to capture the main hills because of darkness.

Scenario

Men of the 962 Afrika-Schützen-Regiment (mot) put up stiff resistance and held off the 8th Battalion Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and the 6th Battalion Royal West Kents from taking the high-ground to the north.

Mission: No Retreat (page 110 of the Flames Of War rule book)

Forces

British 1st Army
6 Battalion Royal West Kents
Rifle Company (Armoured Fist, page 57)

White Knees Command Card
Rifle Company HQ (MB133)  
2x SMLE rifle team
White Knees Command Card
2pts
-5 pts
Rifle Platoon (MB134)  
7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team
1x Boys anti-tank rifle
1x 2-inch mortar


11pts
Rifle Platoon (MB134)  
7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team
1x Boys anti-tank rifle
1x 2-inch mortar


11pts
Rifle Platoon (MB134)  
7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team
1x Boys anti-tank rifle
1x 2-inch mortar



11pts

3-inch Mortar Platoon (MB135)  
4x 3-inch mortar 6pts
6 pdr Anti-tank Platoon (MB110)  
4x 6 pdr gun     12pts
Churchill III Armoured Troop (MB130)  
3x Churchill III (6 pdr) 33pts
 Total 81pts
German
962 Afrika-Schützen-Regiment (mot)
Afrika Schützenkompanie (Afrika, page 27)

Africa Rifle Company HQ (MG112)  

2x MP40 SMG team

2pts
Africa Rifle Platoon (MG113)  
4x MG34 team
1x 2.8cm anti-tank rifle
1x sMG34 HMG
1x 8cm mortar

7pts
1pts
2pts
Panzerknacker command card 2pts
Africa Rifle Platoon (MG113)  
4x MG34 team
1x 2.8cm anti-tank rifle
1x sMG34 HMG
1x 8cm mortar

7pts
1pts
2pts
Panzerknacker command card 2pts
Afrika Schützen Platoon (MG113)  
4x MG34 team
1x 2.8cm anti-tank rifle
1x sMG34 HMG
1x 8cm mortar

7pts
1pts
2pts
Panzerknacker command card 2pts
5cm Tank-hunter Platoon (MG114)  
3x 5cm gun 12pts
Panzer IV Tank Platoon  
3x Panzer IV (Long 7.5cm) 30pts
Total 80pts
The table should be dominated by some high-ground which the defenders will set-up in. You may like to make some of the slopes steep by making them difficult going so vehicles will have trouble with them and infantry can’t double.
   
The Defence was ultimately successful and the 962. Regiment were able to hold off the attacks of the West Kents. This delay had made it impossible for the 8th Battalion Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders to capture the main hills during the hours of darkness.
Tunisian Landscape
Highland Troops cross a Wadi Soon after dawn, the Commander of 138 Brigade, appreciating that his original plan had been too ambitious, went forward and made another plan for 8th Battalion Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and 1 Battalion Surreys, supported by the North Irish Horse, to seize the Dj el Ahmera, (the western half of Longstop). Due to delays in getting the artillery support, the attack wasn’t started until 1330 hours on 23 April. Supported by heavy concentrations artillery, the Highlanders went up the Dj el Ahmera ridge with great dash through heavy machine-gun fire.
Scenario

Once again the Germans must fend off tenacious attacks by some of the British armies most determined troops, the Highlanders.

Mission: No Retreat
(page 110 of the Flames Of War rule book)

Forces
British
8 Battalion Argyle and Sutherland
Highlanders (Armoured Fist, page 57)

Rifle Company HQ (MB133)  
2x SMLE rifle team
Bagpiper Command Card
2pts
2pts
Rifle Platoon (MB134)  
7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team
1x Boys anti-tank rifle
1x 2-inch mortar


11pts
Rifle Platoon (MB134)  
7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team
1x Boys anti-tank rifle
1x 2-inch mortar


11pts
Rifle Platoon (MB134)  
7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team
1x Boys anti-tank rifle
1x 2-inch mortar


11pts
Vickers MMG Platoon (MB112)  
4x Vickers MMG 4pts
25 pdr Field Troop (MB116)  
4x 25 pdr gun 14pts
25 pdr Field Troop (MB116)  
4x 25 pdr gun 14pts
Churchill III Armoured Troop (MB130)  
3x Churchill III (6 pdr) 33pts
Total 102pts
German
962 Afrika-Schützen-Regiment (mot)
Afrika Schützenkompanie (Afrika, page 27)

Africa Rifle Company HQ (MG112)  
2x MP40 SMG team 2pts
Africa Rifle Platoon (MG113)  
4x MG34 team
1x 2.8cm anti-tank rifle
1x sMG34 HMG
1x 8cm mortar

7pts
1pts
2pts
Panzerknacker command card 2pts
Africa Rifle Platoon (MG113)  
4x MG34 team
1x 2.8cm anti-tank rifle
1x sMG34 HMG
1x 8cm mortar

7pts
1pts
2pts
Panzerknacker command card 2pts
Africa Rifle Platoon (MG113)  
4x MG34 team
1x 2.8cm anti-tank rifle
1x sMG34 HMG
1x 8cm mortar

7pts
1pts
2pts
Panzerknacker command card 2pts
5cm Tank-hunter Platoon (MG114)
 
3x 5cm gun 12pts
5cm Tank-hunter Platoon (MG114)  
3x 5cm gun 12pts
Panzer III (Mixed) Tank Platoon (MG107)  
3x Panzer III (7.5cm)  24pts
Panzer III (Uparmoured) Tank Platoon (MG105)  
3x Panzer III (Uparmoured) 24pts
Total 110pts
The Highlanders took high casualties, including their Commanding Officer (Lt.-Col. McNabb), his Intelligence Officer and Adjutant. At 1530 hours, after going in with the bayonet, the Highlanders captured the hill. During the attack two Squadrons of the North Irish Horse supported them along the Southern slopes of Longstop. When night fell, Dj el Ahmera was held by 8 Battalion Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and 1 Battalion Surreys. But the fight had substantially weakened both battalions. The 962 Afrika-Schützen-Regiment (mot) retired to the other end of Longstop (Dj el Rhar). An attempt to take Dj el Rhar during the night failed when the starting positions of the 6 Royal West Kents came under heavy mortar fire.

Despite the fact that the 962 Afrika-Schützen-Regiment (mot) were supposedly a penal unit they acquitted themselves fairly well and continued fighting until 13 May when they were captured.


Last Updated On Monday, January 10, 2022 by Wayne at Battlefront