08.08.16 WEB HOL South of Jarama

South of Jarama, February 6, 1937

A 20mm Spanish Civil War game fought on Saturday, August 16, 2008

In early February, 1937, Nationalist forces attacked across the Jarama River to try to cut the link between Madrid and Valencia, the new seat of the Spanish Republican government. This wargame refought the battles around the town of Ciempozuelos; Loyalist forces of the newly-formed Popular Army defended the town and the surrounding hills.

The order of battle for each side, below, is gleaned from the actual forces available on this date. Historically, the Nationalists broke through, but in our game they were stopped cold. This was mainly because we over-rated the combat skill of the Republican forces while under-rating their enemies. The Nationalist players were good sports throughout, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

This battle was played by the Gourmet Wargaming Club at "Game Central" in El Cerrito, California, with 20mm miniatures using our homebrew Hail of Lead rule set.

Scroll to bottom of page for specific information about the miniatures.

Nationalist Order of Battle - Agrupacion Varela

VII Legion Extranjera (Spanish Foreign Legion bandera)

IV Tiradores de Ifni (Moorish tabor)

VII Alhuecemas (Moorish tabor)

Tercio El Alcazar (Carlist Militia tercio)

I Mellila (regular army battalion)

I Argel (regular army battalion)

Light Artillery Grupo (on-board) (70mm)

Medium Artillery Grupo (off-board) (105mm)

Reinforcements:

II Tiradores de Ifni (Moorish tabor)

II Serrallo (regular army battalion)

1st Tank Company

II Heavy Artillery Grupo (off-board) (155mm)

Republican Order of Battle - 2nd Group

18th Brigade (PSOE - Socialist) (4 battalions)

Elements, 12th International Brigade (2 battalions)

1st Artillery Grupo (off-board) (77mm)

2nd Artillery Grupo (off-board) (114mm)

Reinforcements:

Elements, 12th International Brigade (3 battalions)

24th Brigade (Popular Army) (4 battalions) (this unit never entered the battle during our game, as the Republicans had no need of it)

The battlefield before the action. Republican troops will hold the villages, at right. The largest, central village is Ciempozuelos.

The Nationalist advance begins from the table edge.

Loyalist commanders of all descriptions await the enemy.

A Republican commander (foreground) looks over his forces on index cards.

Nationalist regular infantry enter with an odd box-shaped vehicle (center) that turned out to be a homemade armored box with a mortar platoon inside.

Republican infantry watch the enemy's approach from the nearby hilltops.

These Loyalist infantry, well-supported with machine-guns, watch the approach to Ciempozuelos.

Insurgent Carlist militia with their characteristic red berets are flanked by a mass of Moorish infantry (top).

As the Nationalists move forward they come under sporadic artillery fire.

Carlist militia have taken quite a pounding, to judge from the number of yellow and red markers. Note the cavalry patrols (top center) heading towards Ciempozuelos.

A Nationalist Bilbao armored car makes a bold reconnaissance run in the face of the enemy.

Half of a Popular Army battalion near Ciempozuelos is creamed by enemy artillery of various calibers.

More Republican infantry on the left flank moves forward to grab the enemy's attention. The Loyalist left flank is unmolested by the Nationalist advance.

Moorish infantry advance on the Nationalist right flank.

The Republican right flank is well anchored in the small village. The Bilbao armored car gets a bit too close, and is hammered by a hail of small arms fire.

Ciempozuelos is held by Socialist infantry with the usual homemade armored monstrosity.

And this is the force that's heading straight for Ciempozuelos in the center.

More Nationalist forces arrive on the battlefield. In the foreground a Foreign Legion bandera deploys to counter a local enemy advance. Note the Panzer I light tanks in the center.

A close-up of the magnificent mortar carrier. This vehicle was actually quite effective in this battle.

Some of the Republican infantry that threatened the Nationalist center. Desultory artillery fire followed them.

Horrors! The Nationalist air force summons a flight of Hs 123 attack biplanes. This model is solid lead; note how it presses into the the top of the foam rubber hill. No base would hold up this fine machine.

The Republican air force countered with a quick bombing raid by a Potez 540 that ended up knocking out a Panzer I. In this battle, airpower's major role was to cause lots of morale checks, with little collateral material damage.

The Moors on the Nationalist right engage the enemy as the poor armored car burns. This village was a hard nut to crack.

Nationalist armor uses its superior speed to cruise across the Republican left flank.

Republican infantry eye the tanks warily.

The full weight of the Moors is slowly covering ground to threaten the enemy right flank.

Ciempozuelos sees a fierce firefight developing in the nearby hills.

An overall view of the battle at roughly half way through. The village of Ciempozuelos lies at left, beside the dreaded red dice chimney. (Most dice thrown in the chimney's top come to rest showing 6 pips in the tray below.)

The Moors are hit hard by artillery and machine-gun fire.

The Republican left flank is hit hard by enemy artillery.

Foreign Legion infantry (top left) fight the Popular Army.

Various Nationalist units head for Ciempozuelos.

The Republican right flank is crawling with Popular Army.

More air support! A Nationalist He 51 fighter strafes some unfortunate enemy infantry.

The last surviving Nationalist Panzer I sweeps into the remnants of the enemy left flank.

But one crappy light tank ain't enough to stop the attack of half an enemy battalion.

Officers of both sides intermingle peacefully at the battle's end. Spain is united once again! Viva España!

The Miniatures:

Almost all the figures are 20mm lead castings available from Historical Products Company (HPC), run by Pat Condray.

Most armored cars are resin and lead castings from HPC. One (seen burning on photo page 35) is an SDD model in resin and lead.

Towed 65mm infantry guns are lead castings from HPC.

Panzer I's are 1/76 scale plastic models made by Fujimi.

Aircraft: The Nationalist Hs-123 is a metal model from Spain; the Republican Potez 540 bomber is a Heller plastic kit; I'm unsure of the manufacturer of the He-51.

The battlefield before the action. Republican troops will hold the villages, at right. The largest, central village is Ciempozuelos.	The Nationalist advance begins from the table edge.	Loyalist commanders of all descriptions await the enemy.	A Republican commander (foreground) looks over his forces on index cards.	Nationalist regular infantry enter with an odd box-shaped vehicle (center) that turned out to be a homemade armored box with a mortar platoon inside.
Republican infantry watch the enemy's approach from the nearby hilltops.	These Loyalist infantry, well-supported with machine-guns, watch the approach to Ciempozuelos.	Insurgent Carlist militia with their characteristic red berets are flanked by a mass of Moorish infantry (top).	As the Nationalists move forward they come under sporadic artillery fire.	Carlist militia have taken quite a pounding, to judge from the number of yellow and red markers. Note the cavalry patrols (top center) heading towards Ciempozuelos.
A Nationalist Bilbao armored car makes a bold reconnaissance run in the face of the enemy.	Half of a Popular Army battalion near Ciempozuelos is creamed by enemy artillery of various calibers.	More Republican infantry on the left flank moves forward to grab the enemy's attention. The Loyalist left flank is unmolested by the Nationalist advance.	Moorish infantry advance on the Nationalist right flank.	The Republican right flank is well anchored in the small village. The Bilbao armored car gets a bit too close, and is hammered by a hail of small arms fire.
Ciempozuelos is held by Socialist infantry with the usual homemade armored monstrosity.	And this is the force that's heading straight for Ciempozuelos in the center.	More Nationalist forces arrive on the battlefield. In the foreground a Foreign Legion bandera deploys to counter a local enemy advance. Note the Panzer I light tanks in the center.	A close-up of the magnificent mortar carrier. This vehicle was actually quite effective in this battle.	Some of the Republican infantry that threatened the Nationalist center. Desultory artillery fire followed them.
Horrors! The Nationalist air force summons a flight of Hs 123 attack biplanes. This model is solid lead; note how it presses into the the top of the foam rubber hill. No base would hold up this fine machine.	The Republican air force countered with a quick bombing raid by a Potez 540 that ended up knocking out a Panzer I. In this battle, airpower's major role was to cause lots of morale checks, with little collateral material damage.	The Moors on the Nationalist right engage the enemy as the poor armored car burns. This village was a hard nut to crack.	Nationalist armor uses its superior speed to cruise across the Republican left flank.	Republican infantry eye the tanks warily.
The full weight of the Moors is slowly covering ground to threaten the enemy right flank.	Ciempozuelos sees a fierce firefight developing in the nearby hills.	An overall view of the battle at roughly half way through. The village of Ciempozuelos lies at left, beside the dreaded red dice chimney. (Most dice thrown in the chimney's top come to rest showing 6 pips in the tray below.)	The Moors are hit hard by artillery and machine-gun fire.	The Republican left flank is hit hard by enemy artillery.
Foreign Legion infantry (top left) fight the Popular Army.	Various Nationalist units head for Ciempozuelos.	The Republican right flank is crawling with Popular Army.	More air support! A Nationalist He 51 fighter strafes some unfortunate enemy infantry.	The last surviving Nationalist Panzer I sweeps into the remnants of the enemy left flank.
But one crappy light tank ain't enough to stop the attack of half an enemy battalion.	Officers of both sides intermingle peacefully at the battle's end. Spain is united once again! Viva España!