The Battle of Irun - 2 September 1936

The Spanish Civil War in Basque country

A 20mm miniature wargame fought on Sunday, February 24, 2008

 

The morning of September 2nd saw a renewed attack on Puntza Ridge, to the southeast of the city of Irun, by two mixed Nationalist banderas and one Carlist militia tercio. They faced four larger banderas/columns of Basque and Anarchist militia who had hastily dug in on the crestline of the ridge. Follow the action, below.

Most of the 20mm miniatures shown hesre were produced by Historical Products Company, run by Mr. Pat Condray. We used the Hail of Lead homebrew rules set, and fought the battle to conclusion in about 7 hours, playing 22 half-hour turns.

 

 


An overview of the battlefield; the Nationalists will attack from the top left, the Republicans defend the Puntza Ridge, center, and the City of Irun.

Republican generals of the north demonstrate the Anarchist and Basque fashions of the period.

Two large CNT militia units are discovered hastily dug in on the top of Puntza Ridge (center). Hidden masses of Nationalist troops (left) move though the scrub to attack.

A Requetés (Carlist) militia company with LMG stand in stylish red berets looks up at the Anarchists on the hill.

A closer look at the CNT militia on the center of the ridge.


A Nationalist mixed bandera of Falange militia (in blue), Requetés (red berets), and Guardia Civil (bottom) are hit hard by surprisingly accurate fire from more CNT militiamen on the ridge.

A couple of Nationalist commanders massaging the dice and consulting important paperwork. What is that Anarchist flag doing behind them?!

A lone artillery battery with French 75mm field guns opens up on one of the lead Nationalist banderas.

Another Nationalist bandera assaulting up the center of Puntza Ridge. Guardia Civil at left, Falange militia at bottom, and a company of Carlist militia at right.

Nationalist losses mount on the right of their attack. Note the blue smoke marker amongst the CNT militia, denoting spotting rounds from enemy artillery.


The convent of San Marcial is ritually burned by Anarchist militia. The Basques would not have been too happy to see this.

Anarchists on the ridge are barraged by three artillery batteries. They proved to be quite difficult to dislodge, however.

The giant generals contemplate a very important dice roll. You can see the attack in progress in the center of Puntza Ridge. Note the hidden Republican units (bottom left); many turned out to be dummies.

Anarchists on the ridge are pounded by 105mm artillery and blasted by small arms fire. Their numbers dwindle.

On the center-left, half the CNT bandera flee from their positions on the ridge, clearing the way for a Nationalist advance.


More Anarchists on the center-right of the ridge bar the way. Shots are traded with the Falange and the Requetés militias.

A Republican 75mm artillery battery is nestled with part of a Basque militia bandera on the far left flank.

Opposing troops on either side of the crest (marked by small grey stones) of Puntza Ridge.

Part of another Anarchist bandera moves slowly up to face advancing Nationalist troops on the top of the ridge. The Insurgents have taken the center!

The full weight of Nationalist artillery hits the Basques on the Republican left. Ouch!


Carlists on the center of Puntza Ridge blast away at CNT militia. A homemade armored car is rattled by MMG fire, and gives up the ghost.

The Republican HQ machine-guns the ridge in front of them.

Carlists in the center-right of the Republican line have overrun the enemy artillery battery, and brings the guns to bear on Basque militia (bottom right).

CNT fighters flee back from the ridge, pursued by a couple of battered Requetés companies. Note the Communist "Technicians" company uncovered at top--soon to be destroyed by accurate enemy fire.

Another overall view of the battle in progress.


These Republican Carabineros bring skillful fire down upon Nationalist troops assaulting the small village at top.

A single surviving platoon of Anarchists (center) is suppressed by wild fire from a company of Falange militia supported by LMGs. This small militia battle went on for over an hour before the CNT militia were overcome.

handful of Anarchists (bottom) hold out in the village behind the ridge, still exchanging fire with Carlists. Note the Falange militia advancing at top right.

The Republican artillery HQ with two 75mm batteries provide a backstop at the edge of the city of Irun. Fire from this unit helped turn back the deepest Nationalist penetration towards the city.

Nationalists hold the center-right of their line on Puntza Ridge, while a platoon of Asturian Miners (bottom), known as Dinamiteros, plus a half bandera of Basques, counter-attack. The Basques are still being pounded by artillery.


Carlist militia (top) have cleared the village and broken through the center. The Carabineros (bottom) contain the Nationalist breakthrough.

Remnants of the Nationalist left must now contend with maneuvering Basque militia (far right).

The Basques overrun the remains of couple of enemy companies on the Republian right.

A stubborn Nationalist LMG in the center village blasts away at the counter-attacking Carabineros, while a Dinamiteros platoon (left) closes in with TNT.

Basques on the Republican left flank trade shots with remnants of various Nationalist companies still holding Puntza Ridge.


These troops represent the last survivors of the Nationalist force. They fall back off the ridge as night approaches, almost 12 hours after the battle began.

The battle ends as the Nationalist survivors are rescued by a giant general. Both sides are battered and exhausted, but we had a good lunch, and the beer in the fridge never ran out!