These represent the first battles fought in our replaying of the Race for Tunis campaign, a supplement for the Command Decision rule set created by Frank Chadwick, Greg Novak, and others. The battles were fought by the Gourmet Wargaming Club with 20mm figures, using our Hail of Lead homebrew rule set. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see a list of the models and figures pictured below.

The combined battles of Bejda (middle town) and Souk el Arba (top right). The terrain is broken up by hills, patches of light woods, wadis (in light grey), and crestlines (marked with small gravel). Note German mechanized forces entering the board at bottom left; their goal is to break through Bejda to Souk el Arba.	The battle of Souk el Arba opens with a one-sided aerial dogfight: a single flight of Spitfire VB's is pounced on by a whole squadron (three models, not all pictured here) of Bf 109G's. The British aircraft is shot down with no damage to the Germans.	Souk el Arba is softened up by a squadron of Ju 87D "Stuka" dive bombers.	A squadron of Hs 129 ground attack aircraft blasts some British troops sheltering in a wadi (light grey).	The first wave of Axis moves towards Bejda: a kampfgruppe of 7th Panzer Battalion. The HQ element contains a PzKfw IV F2, an AA halftrack, and recon PzKfw II F. Note the panzer grenadiers marching down the road on foot.
One of the German panzer companies--this one with Pzkfw III J2 tanks--moves up behind a crestline to take hull-down positions.	The second panzer company, equipped with more PzKfw IV F2's, dominates the center.	German paratroops land on the first turn at the Souk el Arba Airfield. Heavy weapons land separately from their ammo supplies (represented by olive green crates). The landing is chaotic, but the Falschirmjäger are well-trained and well-armed when they touch down. Note the British defenders in the wadi at top right.	Another view of Souk el Arba Airfield. What you don't see is the better part of a British fighter squadron that was caught on the ground and destroyed when the paradrop was made. Note the 75mm recoilless gun lying on the runway; it will have to be recrewed.	British defenders on a nearby hill fire down on Falschirmjäger stragglers.
A squadron of Italian MC.2002 fighters provides CAP protection over Souk el Arba as the second wave of Axis air attacks flies in.	Italian CR-42AS fighter bombers expend their load on a unoccupied farm.	Another squadron of Stukas--this time Italian Ju 87B models--hits Souk el Arba as the Falschirmjäger watch.	But that's not all, folks. The town is plastered by a squadron of three Cant Z.1007 medium bombers. The British defenders are in terrible shape by the end of the Air phase of the turn.	German paratroops move into Souk el Arba. Note shell craters from the vigorous air attacks. A British paratrooper battalion that opposed the Germans was forced to flee before it was overwhelmed and cut off. Souk el Arba falls to the Axis!
PzKfw III J2 tanks attempt to occupty a wadi north of Bejda, and run into some tenacious British infantry. After an hour of sharp fighting, both tanks are burning. Panzer grenadiers arrive too late.	A couple of towed 2-pounder antitank guns are left behind in Bejda after a sharp firefight with German tanks. As the British fall back, the panzers flank the town.	The ace in the sleeve of the Axis at Bejda is this Italian Semovente unit. The assault guns pour fire into the town and surrounding wadis whenever the enemy shows himself.	British 25-pounder field pieces blast away at the German tanks attempting to bypass the town. The artillery knocked out one PzKfw IV F2 using direct antitank fire, but could not hold out against direct and indirect Axis artillery support. Bejda falls; the road to Souk el Arba is open.	The other fracas of the day: the battle of Djebel Abiad. This battlefield is to the north of Souk el Arba on the Race for Tunis campaign map. The terrain is broken up by hills, patches of light woods, wadis (in light grey), and crestlines (marked with small gravel).
This must be the Italian army! A convoy of all types of trucks descends from the east. A few of these come under immediate and intense enemy artillery fire, and out come the ground troops.	Half of a motorized Italian infantry battalion advances through a patch of light woods.	A British reconnaissance squadron opens fire from the cover of a wadi. The mix of vehicles is wrong; the order of battle called for Humber Scout Cars, but we only had Daimler Scouts and the Humber II armored car on hand. No purists here, no sir.	More Italian infantry moves up on the left flank. They are loath to move forward as long as the enemy carriers and scout cars are in the vicinity.	Italian off-board artillery provides a smoke screen to conceal the deployment of a company of 47mm antitank guns. Unfortunately for the gunners, the British light armor drove off before the guns could bite.
A shaky "action" photo shows a Semovente battalion moving up to counter the enemy scout cars. These vehicles are the open-topped variety with 47mm guns, but they represented the most powerful armor available at Djebel Abiad on this day.	Another British recce squadron is hanging about, ready to slow the Italian advance without getting riddled with 47mm shot.	More Italian infantry move up behind a crestline with a couple of towed 47mm guns in support.	More Italian trucks arrive, this time with towed 20mm antiaircraft guns (at top left). Note the unlimbered 75mm howitzer providing support at top right.	The east side of Djebel Abiad is a swarm of defenders. Entrenched, dismounted French cavalry (bottom right) fight alongside 2-pounder gunners. The black "krump" markers indicate that the Allies are currently under artillery fire.
Italian 20mm antiaircraft guns deploy on the top of a crestline. No enemy aircraft appear, and the British and French ground forces are too far away be harmed.	One intrepid platoon of Italian reconnaissance motorcyclists drives over a crestline to discover a deployed British artillery battery. Looking down the barrels of 25-pounders was probably not part of their job description.	The Allied left flank is supported by a battery of French 47mm antitank guns near the beaches.	British motorized infantry in Djebel Abiad counter a quick thrust by half a battalion of Italian troops. The attackers were forced to fall back to the cover of a crestline in front of the town.	The carnage as seen in the final stages of the game. Djebel Abiad (center) is under artillery fire, but the defenders are not likely to be dislodged. Italian Semoventi (center left) fight the recce vehicles in the wadi with some success, but eventually retreat with heavy losses to artillery and antitank guns. The Italians realize they have met their match and decide to withdraw.
The games in full swing.	A nearby oasis (aka The Sun Deck) provides shelter and beverages for player and referee alike. Note umbrella-shaped palm tree.	Axis commanders discuss the division of the spoils once the Allies are ultimately defeated. Let us not bother them with annoying historical realities; The Oasis is a place for recreation and dreaming.	Two adversaries share a couch. War ain't so bad when you have cheeseburgers and cheesecake to look forward to.