Part 7 Spanish Civil War mini campaign (August-September 2020)
Part 7 — September 15th 2020
Continue my campaign with my own made rules “From Warsaw to Berlin” addenda’s “To Madrid!”.
We are during the Spanish Civil War, I’ve think about a small military campaign as part of the major offensive and Battle of Brunete, July ’37.
7th short battle of Brunete it’s another breakthrough scenario. The day its July 23rd 1937.
Nationalists after the pursuit of the Republicans forces two days ago, stop their offensive progresses for try to delivering the final blow to the Republicans. But meanwhile Republicans built up their earthworks, small bunkers and a complex of trenches just around the large village of Villanueva de Reales.
Republican forces are from XII Brigada Internacional, Garibaldi battalion (Italians) and some Ejercito popular troops with only 2 T-26 tanks but with a lot of antitank guns and anti-air guns but no air support nor artillery support. Their engineers made up some improvised minefields.
Nationalists forces are huge, a small tercio battalion, 3 reinforced companies of bando nacional infantry, Requetes and Regulares de Marueccos supporter by 12 guns and 13 tanks. For air support there are 2 SM81 Italian bombers and 2 HS123 German fighter bombers.
Nationalists objective it’s to make a breakthrough of 60cm (1,2km) in the Republican lines and bring it open for all the scenario duration (28 turns). This maybe the last chance for nationalists to destroy republican resistance and break their lines.
The battle it’s on the same terrain of previous battles.
After Battle Report:
Nationalists are the winner again for the seventh time in a positive row. They try to breakout on the left Republicans line with the Spanish Legion battalion and some Pz I tanks but fail, some tanks are destroyed on minefields so the left flank attack slow down and fail and nationalists try to take cover on the hill 121. So start up the B plan, a rapid attack in the right republican flank in the very thick wood area. A nationalists infantry company of San Quintin battalion advance for half an hour under machinegun and rifle firing and assault the weak republican bunkers and trenches, they have not enough troops for hold well and strong all their defensive line.
At the end of the game the nationalists have breakout on the right flank of republicans line made the breakthrough requested by their command. The battle toll its high for both party, nationalists have 4 tanks destroyed (nearly a 30% of their force) 2 immobilized by mines and gunfire, they suffer also 69 casualties; republicans lost 2 T-26 tanks, 3 bunkers and 218 casualties but made a successful retreat so no prisoners for Franco.
