The Taking Of Longtop Hill

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.

In front of the British positions stood the defensive positions around “Longstop Hill”, held by elements of 999. Afrika Division amongst others.

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”.

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.

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.