Counter-Attack on Mérida – A Crossfire Scenario in the Spanish Civil War

A scenario for Fuego Cruzado – my variant of Crossfire for the Spanish Civil War – as the Republicans try to recapture Merida from the advancing Nationalists.

Historical Situation

Setting: Mérida, Badajoz Province, Extremadura , Spain; 11 Aug 1936

On 10 Aug 1936 the Republican Militia put up the first serious resistance to the advancing Nationalists at the river Guadiana 200 miles from Seville and 4 miles south of Mérida (Beevor, 1982, H. Thomas, 1986; both Turnball, 1978, and Scurr, 1985, say 11 Aug). The Nationalists, under Lt. Col. Asensio, made a strong thrust, capturing first the bridge and then Mérida itself.

During the 10th Lt. Col. Yagüe arrived from Seville to take direct command of the Army of Africa (Lt. Col. Asensio had been field commander up to that time). On the 11th Yagüe ordered the majority of the army (3,000 men) toward Badajoz astride the road to Portugal (Beevor, 1982; H. Thomas, 1986; both Turnball, 1978, and Scurr, 1985, say 12 Aug). Lt. Col. Tella and the 1^st Bandera were left to defend Mérida.

2,000 assault guards and civil guards from Madrid supported by the bulk of the Mérida militia who had fled at the initial assault the day before, launched an unsuccessful counterattack on Tella’s column.

Terrain

6 foot x 4 foot table.

Key features are:

• The southern third of the table should be urban – representing Mérida.
• The northern two thirds should be fairly typical Spanish terrain, e.g. rock fields, boulder fields, scrubby, rocky low rises, fields (in season), orchards (in season), woods, crest, walls, buildings, streams.

Pre-game preparation

Place terrain as per the Bridgehead scenario in the Crossfire rules (p. 32-33):

• Players choose opposite table edges.
• Then players alternate placing terrain anywhere on-table.
• Terrain placement stops when all of these criteria have been met:
  • At least one third of the gaming area is covered by terrain features.
  • At least half the features in the southern third of the table – representing Mérida – should be buildings.
  • No clear line of fire from edge to edge, anywhere. Double check before the game starts and shift terrain if necessary.

Nationalist Player (Defending)

Objective

Prevent the Republicans capturing and holding building features in Merida.

Deployment

Deploys first, visible, anywhere in southern half of the table as per the Bridgehead scenario in the Crossfire rules (p. 32-33). Any terrain feature that contacts the half way line is considered in the defender’s half of the table.

Forces Available

Elements of Tella column.

Reinforcements

Perhaps Nationalists get some (1 or 2 squads) from a reserve??

Republican Player (Attacking)

Objective

Capture four Nationalist building terrain features in Merida for five consecutive Friendly initiatives as per the Bridgehead scenario in the Crossfire rules (p. 32-33).

Deployment

Begins scenario with initiative. Deploys second, visible, anywhere in the northern half of the table as per the Bridgehead scenario in the Crossfire rules (p. 32-33).

Forces Available

A mixed force of Paramilitary and local Anarchist Militia under a Anarchist leader..

Victory Conditions

Terrain objectives

The Republicans win by capturing four Nationalist building terrain features in Merida for five consecutive Friendly initiatives as per the Bridgehead scenario in the Crossfire rules (p. 32-33), otherwise the Nationalists win.

Scenario Special Rules

• See Crossfire House Rules and Fuego Cruzado (Crossfire House Rules for Spain’s Wars).
• HTD Special Rule 4. The Moving Clock is in use.
• Special Rule. Political Cooperation is in use.

Notes

Type of Scenario: Assault

References

Beevor, A. (1982). The Spanish Civil War. Cassell & Co.

Scurr, J. (1985). The Spanish Foreign Legion. Osprey.

Thomas, H. (1986). The Spanish Civil War. Simon & Schuster.

Turnball, P. (1978). The Spanish Civil War 1936-39. Osprey.