Djedeida 29 November 1942 Tunisia - Preliminary

The excellent Hexes and Squares site has recently added a Rommel scenario for the battle of Djedeida (which I think is pronounced Jay-day-da) which can be found here.

I converted the square map to hexes.  Djedeida is E9 and Tebourba is at D2.

While assembling the forces and bits of terrain, I thought I would look up the battle and see what extra information was available.

From North West Africa - Seizing the Initiative:

The Allied drive toward Tunis reached its climax on 29 November. The 11th Infantry Brigade Group renewed its assault on Djedeida after a half-hour's artillery preparation of high explosive and smoke shells at dawn, followed by an attack of the 5th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, and a dozen American tanks of the 2d Battalion, 13th Armored Regiment. The enemy leaped to his guns when the barrage lightened and hit the tanks with antitank and heavy machine gun fire as they came over a ridge and rolled down the forward slope. Enemy airplanes were extremely effective. Tanks which pulled back to defilade found no cover from repeated dive-bombing in the open, rolling countryside. Enemy air attacks, more intense than those of any previous day, also harried the infantry as it broke off the assault. These attacks continued as one portion of the infantry organized a defensive line at the ridge while the remainder withdrew to Tebourba.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisian_campaign:

By late 26 November 11th Brigade had taken positions in and around Tebourba, which had  been evacuated by the Germans, preparatory to advancing on Djedeida. However, on 27 November the Germans attacked in strength. 11th Brigade tried to regain the initiative in the early hours of 28 November, attacking toward Djedeida airfield with the help of US armour. On 29 November, Combat Command B of US 1st Armored Division had concentrated forward for an attack in conjunction with Blade Force planned for 2 December. They were forestalled by an Axis counter-attack, led by Major-General Wolfgang Fischer, whose 10th Panzer Division had just arrived in Tunisia. By the evening of 2 December, Blade Force had been withdrawn, leaving 11th Brigade and Combat Command B to deal with the Axis attack. The attack threatened to cut off 11th Brigade and break through into the Allied rear, but desperate fighting over four days delayed the Axis advance and permitted a controlled withdrawal to the high ground on each side of the river west of Terbourba.

And from Osprey Campaign 312 Operation Torch

The following morning, November 29, the reinforced 11th Brigade Group attacked again. Forced to advance through open ground, 11th Brigade Group was savaged by Stukas. Enduring the relentless dive-bombing, a British Army captain conceded, “Like all things German, it is very efficient and goes
on much too long.” Unknown to either side, Torch had reached its high water mark; Tunis’ minarets were faintly visible from Djedëida, “to remain a haunting memory through many tough days ahead,” recollected a US tank commander. The Allies would not again come so close to Tunis until May 1943.

 The assembled Axis forces, just missing a towed 75mm gun.

 And the Allies - just missing three M5s.

The joy of retail shopping.  

Found what I needed in Tactics.  

Yeah!

With the terrain, just need to make some bridges for my new river segments, perhaps some small rocks/shrubbery to hide/secure the joins, palm trees (although I think the areas are more olive groves) and two suitable buildings for the urban areas.  Simon has signed up for the palm trees and could have and still might, supply the M5s.  Then it's just a matter of finding the time...