Tunisian Convoy Strike: 16 April 1943
A 'Bomb Alley' Scenario
By Pat Callahan, adapted from a work by Mike Bennighof
October 2012

As the Axis forces in North Africa were squeezed into an ever-shrinking bridgehead by the Allied advance, Italy’s Marina Regina made a major commitment to keep the Axis forces supplied.

The Axis convoys while running the gauntlet of “Bomb Alley” also had to occasionally contend with Allied surface forces. On the night of April 16, 1943, off the coast of Sicily and north of Pantelleria island two P-class British destroyers, Paladin and Pakenham out of Malta, ambushed a Tunisia-bound Axis convoy.

The convoy was escorted by two Italian Spica-class (Climene series) torpedo boats, Cigno and Cassiopea. Though outclassed, the Italian torpedo boats engaged as the convoy made a run for it.

I have taken the liberty on naming the Italian transports.

Time Frame: Four turns. British iniative in the first impulse sequence.

Starting Weather Condition: 1 (Clear)

British Forces

All British set up in Z17 facing 013 (bow on).

• DD153 Packenham
• DD154 Paladin

Italian Forces and Setup

All Italians set up in B5 facing B6 (bow on).

Leader Verdi

• DE3a Cigno
• DE3b Casseopea
• TR35a Iolie
• TR35b Dinea

Special Rules

1. This is a night action.

2. Disengagement and Pursuit are in effect.

Victory Conditions

The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.

British receive points for:

• Each Italian DE sunk = 3 pts.
• Each Italian transport sunk = 12 pts.
• Each hull hit on any enemy ship not sunk = 1 pt.
• The Italian leader becomes a casulity or his ship is sunk = 1 pt.

Italians receive points for:

• Each British destroyer sunk = 7 pts.
• Each transport still afloat at game's end = 12 pts.
• Each hull hit on any enemy ship not sunk = 1 pt.

Aftermath

The Cigno was sunk outright and Pakenham was scuttled the next day after being taken in tow by Paladin. The Cassiopea was disabled and the Italian convoy got away. The survivors both went on to careers in the postwar navies of their respective countries. Paladin was later converted by the Royal Navy into a Type 16 anti-submarine frigate. She was scrapped in 1962. Cassiopea was repaired and served the Marina Militare in her normal role as a torpedo boat and was decommissioned in 1959.

Scenario Notes

This is an interesting and very balanced situation that with luck can be decided very quickly for either player — or it can last all four rounds in a nailbiting game of cat and mouse, or end up as something in between.

Gunnery factors are even. The British have an advantage in torpedoes but they may want to save them for use against the transports. The British also have more staying power with their destroyers (DDs) with two hull boxes each. The British, given a choice, usually target transports over the Italian destroyer escorts (DEs). Totally ignoring the escorts, though, could prove fatal.

The Italians on the other hand have no consideration except to sink or damage the British as soon as possible while trying to keep the transports out of harm's way. Usually Italian torpedos launch at the first opportunity. With only one hull box the Italian escorts may not be around when the next torpedo phase come up.

With a leader present the Italians can attempt to seize the iniative which allows the transports to try to make a break for it. If the Italians are not able to disengage or defeat the British ships, fear not! With only two gunnery factors firing, sometimes the British are hard pressed to get a hit, even on an unarmed transport. If the Italians can last four rounds, anything can happen.

Using the disengagement rules can save the Italians just when things look the worst. Both sides must remember that when attempting to disengage slower ships cannot pursue, and match-up of ships present can change in the next round.

Before attempting to disengage players should count up the points they and their opponent have earned so far. Remember the game ends if any side successfully disengages and then avoids pursuit.

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