January 2002
We played a Spanish Civil War scenario based on the battle of Seseña, 29 October 1936, using 20mm miniatures with Command Decision 3rd Edition rules (using 2nd Edition dark green order chits). The battle took place at Game Central, aka 2088 Key Boulevard, El Cerrito, California.
Most of the 20mm figures were sourced from Historical Products Company, run by Pat Condray in Florida.
Historical Background: A Nationalist Victory
29 October 1936: Counterattack on Seseña
At dawn the republican counterattack the nationalist right flank, toward Seseña. This is the first venture of the new Popular Army with Russian equipment. 15 T-26 tanks, driven by Russians under Captain Arman, spearhead the attack against Monasterio's cavalry. Lister is in support with the first of the republican mixed brigades, formed with men from the Communist 5th Regiment.
The tanks quickly out distance their supporting infantry, scatter the enemy cavalry in the narrow streets of Seseña, and reach Parla on the Madrid-Toledo road. During the battle, the Russians wipe out a squadron of Italian tankettes; one T-26 is said to have knocked out 11 Italian machines. Although successful against both the Nationalist cavalry and their supporting Italian tankettes, the T-26s are forced to retire when a detachment of Legionaries set several of them on fire with hastily improvised petrol bombs.
Nationalist forces involved in the historical battle:
Column #8, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Yague
Column Headquarters
1st Tabor of Rif
3rd Tabor of Rif
7th Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion
Falange Bandera of Morocco
1 battery of 75 mm field guns
1 battery of 105 mm field guns
1 battery of 155 howitzers
After viewing the photos of the battle, scroll down to see the order of battle for both sides, and the after-action report for the game.
Nationalist Order of Battle
1st Tabor of Rif (Moors)
Veteran, morale 9
Headquarters:
1 command stand
1 MMG stand
1st Infantry Company:
1 recon infantry stand May form two patrol stands.
2 infantry stands
2nd Infantry Company:
1 recon infantry stand May form two patrol stands.
2 infantry stands
3rd Infantry Company:
1 recon infantry stand May form two patrol stands.
2 infantry stands
1st Tabor of Rif (Moors)
Veteran, morale 9
Headquarters:
1 command stand
1 MMG stand
1st Infantry Company:
1 recon infantry stand May form two patrol stands.
2 infantry stands
2nd Infantry Company:
1 recon infantry stand May form two patrol stands.
2 infantry stands
3rd Infantry Company:
1 recon infantry stand May form two patrol stands.
2 infantry stands
Corps Cavalry Units
Experienced, morale 8
Corps Sabre Squadron 1:
1 command cavalry stand (1)
1 cavalry stand (1A)
Corps Sabre Squadron 2:
1 command cavalry stand (2)
1 cavalry stand (2A)
Tank Company
Experienced, morale 9
1 command L3/33 tankette
1 L3/33 tankette
1 L3/33 F tankette with flamethrower and fuel trailer
Marine Company
Regular, morale 8
1 command marine infantry stand
2 marine infantry stands
Nationalist Reinforcements (see random entry rules)
Nationalist Column #8
Column Headquarters Units
Experienced, morale 8
Headquarters:
1 command stand (Lieutenant Colonel Yague)
1 staff radio truck
1 recon armored car
Attached Antitank Battery:
1 37L45 AT gun
1 gun crew stand
1 light truck
3rd Tabor of Rif (Moors)
Veteran, morale 9
Headquarters:
1 command stand
1 MMG stand
1st Infantry Company:
1 recon infantry stand May form two patrol stands.
2 infantry stands
2nd Infantry Company:
1 recon infantry stand May form two patrol stands.
2 infantry stands
3rd Infantry Company:
1 recon infantry stand May form two patrol stands.
2 infantry stands
7th Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion (-)
Elite, morale 10
Headquarters:
1 command infantry stand
1 recon infantry stand May split into two patrols.
Infantry Company 1:
1 command infantry stand
1 infantry stand
Infantry Company 2:
1 command infantry stand
1 infantry stand
Infantry Company 3:
1 command infantry stand
1 infantry stand
Machinegun Company:
2 MMG stands
Falange Bandera of Morocco
Regular, morale 8
Headquarters:
1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Century 1:
2 infantry stands (1A, 1B)
Century 2:
2 infantry stands (2A, 2B)
Century 3:
2 infantry stands (3A, 3B)
Century 4:
2 infantry stands (4A, 4B)
Nationalist Off-Board Artillery
1 Battery 77L35 field gun (1”/4)
1 Battery 105L12 mountain howitzer (2”/5)
Nationalist Aircraft
1 CR-32 fighter Air = 2, MG-1
Republican Order of Battle
1st Shock Brigade of the Spanish People’s Army
Experienced, morale 9
Headquarters Company:
1 command stand (Commandante Lister)
1 car
1 staff telephone wagon
1 recon cavalry stand May split into two patrols.
Brigade Support Battery:
1 81mm mortar stand (ds)
1 wagon
Attached Tank Company:
1 command T-26 B tank (Commandante Arman)
2 T-26 B tanks
Infantry Battalion “Corbata” (“Cock’s Comb”)
Experienced, morale 9
Headquarters:
1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
2 infantry stands (1A, 1B)
Machinegun Company 2:
2 MMG stands (2A, 2B)
Infantry Company 3:
2 infantry stands (3A, 3B)
Infantry Company 4:
2 infantry stands (4A, 4B)
Infantry Battalion “Amanecer” (“Dawn”)
Experienced, morale 9
Headquarters:
1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
2 infantry stands (1A, 1B)
Machinegun Company 2:
2 MMG stands (2A, 2B)
Infantry Company 3:
2 infantry stands (3A, 3B)
Infantry Company 4:
2 infantry stands (4A, 4B)
Infantry Battalion “La Victoria”
Experienced, morale 9
Headquarters:
1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
2 infantry stands (1A, 1B)
Machinegun Company 2:
2 MMG stands (2A, 2B)
Infantry Company 3:
2 infantry stands (3A, 3B)
Infantry Company 4:
2 infantry stands (4A, 4B)
CNT/FAI Militia Bandera
Regular, morale 9
Headquarters:
1 command infantry stand
Century 1:
3 infantry stands
Century 2:
3 infantry stands
Century 3:
3 infantry stands
Century 4:
3 infantry stands
Republican Off-Board Artillery
1 Battery 77L35 field gun (1”/4)
1 Battery 105L12 mountain howitzer (2”/5)
1 Battery 155L15 howtizer (2”/7)
Republican Aircraft
1 R-5 attack-bomber Air = (2), 1 Light Bomb
Units Entering the Battle Randomly
Cards
Playing cards will be drawn to determine the time of entry of Nationalist reinforcements, plus aircraft for both sides.
Use a standard, 52-card deck of playing cards (including jokers).
At the beginning of each turn, referee plays two cards and tells each side whether or not a unit will be entering the board next turn.
No two units of the same type--land or air--may enter the board on the same turn
If two active cards are drawn, the second will enter on the turn following the first.
Spades (Nationalist)
Ace, King, Queen, Jack = 1 flight of CR-32 fighters enters the board next turn.
10, 9 = 7th Bandera, Spanish Foreign Legion enters next turn.
8, 7, 6 = 3rd Tabor of Rif enters next turn.
5, 4, 3, 2 = Falange of Morocco enters next turn.
Special: Column #8 HQ units enter with the second Nationalist unit that enters the board.
Hearts (Republican)
Ace, King, Queen, Jack = 1 flight of R-5 attack aircraft enters the board next turn.
Jokers
When a Joker is drawn, both aircraft enter the board next turn.
After-Action Report for Our Wargame
Nationalist Garrison of Seseña: Mark Hauck, commanding
1st Tabor of Rif (Moors)
Naval infantry company
Nationalist Garrison of Esquivias: John Gee, commanding
2 Squadrons of Cavalry
1 tankette company
All Republican units opposite Seseña: Mike Peake, commanding
1 Shock Brigade with 3 battalions: Mike Peake, Davey Schwartz, & Monte Lin, commanding
First Half
Republicans move Monte’s battalion towards Sesena on their left flank: a very slow and cautious advance that takes fire from Moors in the town and dismounted cavalry that move up on the Nationalist right flank of the town. Not much happens on this flank for the rest of the game.
Mark’s Naval infantry company moves out of the town on the Nationalist left flank and takes casualties from Republican mortar fire, as well as MMGs from Davey’s battalion on the Repulican right flank.
John Gee brings up the Falange battalion after it arrives in the 2nd game turn, and pairs it up with the tankette company to create a combined arms force that he uses to boldly assault Davey’s battalion as Davey is preparing to move his men forward. It takes Davey off guard and ties up his battalion for a few turns (basically for the rest of the game).
The Italian CR-32 fighter flies on board on turn 5, strafing first some Republican infantry. Bad morale slows the Republicans a bit.
Second Half
By turn 6 or so, the Repulicans launch an offensive of sorts in their center using Mike’s T-26 company paired with an infantry battalion. They take some fire from Moorish MMGs in Seseña before these are silenced by Republican artillery (!).
The CR-32 swoops down on turn 8 to attack the T-26 tank company (putting a hit on one of the tanks!).
Davey and John’s forces have clashed in hand to hand on the Republican right, with Davey shooting up most of the Falange infantry while losing an MMG to the flamethrower CV3/33. Davey’s battalion falls back in confusion, recovers, and then plunges back towards John’s forces to finish them off. Mike decides to send his T-26s (with supporting infantry) towards John to help Davey. John impetuously drives his troops into Mike’s advance and gets his flamethrower tankette force back by a close assault, but he drives off the T-26 command tank with a close assaults by the Falange.
The Soviet R-5 attack plane attempts to bomb Sesena once (bomb deviates harmlessly), and is later shot down by deadly fire from the CR-32 that enters at the same time on turn 9. Air victory for the Nationalists.
The game ends with Sesena still in the hands of the Nationalists; in fact, the Moors have consistently passed their morale checks (even in the face of advancing enemy armor) despite heavy losses.
We all agreed that the Republicans would take the town in time, but would be thrown back out with the arrival of more enemy troops. The Republicans did not push into the town with enough speed, and this combined with the aggressive stance of the Nationalist tankettes and Falange kept them from gaining their objectives.
Result
I ruled this to be a Nationalist victory.
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