SOTCW

This scenario is based on the Iraqi decision to switch the oil from Haifa to Tripoli.  This routed the oil from the Kirkuk oil fields from British control to Vichy French.  In actual fact the British did not take any action.  But in this scenario they do!  Following the invasion of Crete two days ago and the sinking oh HMS Hood yesterday the British commander was instructed to provide a victory!

Special Rules - the pipelines, marked by signposts and the pumping station must not be shelled.  A 6" exclusion zone for HE shells and bombs was inposed.


A Column comprising: a Squadron of the Household Cavalry, 2 rifle companies, the carrier, assault pioneer, AA (captured Breda 20mm) platoons of the Essex Regt, a battery of 18/25 pdrs, a troop of 2 pdr, a tactical HQ and supported by the TransJordan Arab Legion and  a Company of RAF Armoured cars.

H-1 was held by a detachment from each of the Iraqi Desert Police and the German trained Legion Freies Arabien.  And a relief force made up of a motorised cavalry squadron, 2 rifle companies, a support company, a troop of engineers, a squadron of armoured cars, a troop of tanks, a battery of 18pdrs an anti-tank troop and a small tactical HQ.

(the models were removed until spotted by the British).

The British opened with a rapid advance on H-1 with the Arab Legion protecting the right flank. 

The Iraqis were even more bold and rushed forward at breakneck sped to seize the high ground accepting some high losses in their motorised cavalry. 

Meanwhile the British are delayed by the dug in Legion Freies Arabien.

Sweeping round the flank the Iraqi armour cuts the Arab Legion up quite badly.


In their rush they forget to wait for infantry and artillery support.  British artillery ranges in.

The British press home with a deliberate attack.

The Iraqi attack on the flank is slowed down but at some cost.

The Iraqi artillery come under a twin threat from the Arab Legion Wagner armoured car and the RAF Audax.


At the same time the Royal Iraqi Air Force rrives and in a spectacular effort bombs the reserve company of the Essex Regt and destroys their vehicles. 

The Nisr and the Audax fire at each other as they pass.

The Iraqi attack grinds to a halt under artillery and machinegun fire.

On its second pass the Nisr is shot down by massed fire from the infantry and armoured cars.

The Audax makes a second as well and despite heavy fire strafes the buildings at H-1.  The artillery and aircraft of both sides are not permitted to shell the Pumping station or near the pipelines.

The failure of the Iraqi armour left their forces split and their artillery neutralised (one destroyed and one captured).  The British capitalised on this and masked the Iraqis on the hills and pressed home the attack breaching the defences with balgalore torpedoes and explosive charges.  The Arab Legion cut off the road back to Baghdad.

The surviving Iraqis fled.

The Arab Legion drove back with their prisoners and trophies.

A complete British Victory:  The losses were:
British: 26 WIA, 20 KIA, 1 x 2pdr portee, 4 x 30cwt (3 recovered), 2 x 15cwt (1 recovered), 2 x Fordson Armoured Cars (2 recovered).
Arab Legion: 14 WIA, 9 KIA, 4 x Scout Cars (2 recovered), 1 x Wagner Armoured car
Iraqi Army: 18 WIA, 7 Missing, 23 KIA, 18 captured, 2 x CV-33 (1 captured recovered), 3 x Crossleys (1 captured recovered), 2 x 18pdr (1 captured intact), 3 x Light Dragon (2 captured intact), 4 x 30 cwt (1 captured recovered), 1 x 3" mortar (captured), 2 x Vickers MMG and 1 x Lewis AAMG (captured intact,  1 x radio car (captured intact) 1 x Nisr.
Iraqi Desert Police: 6 x WIA, 2 x missing, 6 x KIA, 7 captured, 1 x bus (captured inact), 1 x car (captured intact)
Legion Freies Arabien: 2 x WIA, 1 x missing, 9 x KIA, 6 captured, 2 x trucks captured intact
German Mission: 2 captured