1986 BGG rank #24130

Race For Tunis

2 players 180 min Ages 12+ 2.3/5 complexity 5.5/10 rating

About this game

Part of the Battles For North Africa series (which includes Decision At Kasserine: Rommel's Last Chance, Hellfire Pass, O'Connor's Offensive, Patton Goes to War, Objective: Tunis, and Rommel at Bay). Based on a series of battles fought between the Axis (German / Italian / Vichy French) and Allies (British / American / Free French) in late November and early December 1942. There are 4 scenarios: Race For The Ports (Nov 25th to 30th) Coup Pour Coup (Blow For Blow) (Nov 25th to Dec 5th) Alexander Eclipses Montgomery (non-historical Nov 21st to Dec 5th) The Gods Smile On The Allies? (non-historical Nov 21st to Dec 10th) The game is dedicated to the Jewish population of Northern Tunisia. Published in The Wargamer Magazine issue 57.

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Setup

ALLIED SETUP: In hexes 1014-16 / 1114-1115, place: 2-1-14 Rcn BDY (UK), 3-3-11 Tank 17A (UK), 3-3-11 Tank 17B (UK), 3-3-11 Tank 17C (UK), 1-1-10 Mot Inf B10 (UK), 0-1-10 AA 151L (UK), 1-1-10 Eng 5 (UK), 1-1-10 Eng 564A (UK), 0-1-10 AT A/72 (UK), 0-1-10 ART C12 (UK), HQ Blade (UK), 1-1-11 AT 701B (US), 2-1-14 ARM 1A/B (US), 2-1-14 ARM 1B/B (US), 2-1-14 ARM 1C/B (US). In hexes 1022-24 / 1122-1123, place: 2-1-4 Recon 456 (UK), 1-1-10 Eng 237/11 (UK), 0-1-10 AA 457/11 (UK), 0-1-10 AT 256/11 (UK), 5-5-10 Mot Inf 1ES/11 (UK), 5-5-10 Mot Inf 5NH/11 (UK), 5-5-10 Mot Inf 12L/11 (UK), 0-1-10 ART 132/11 (UK), HQ 11 Brigade (UK), 1-1-11 AT 701A (US), 1-1-11 AT 701C (US), 0-1-10 ART 175 (US). In hex 1016, place: 1-1-8 Mot Inf D/7Gd (Fr). In hex 1027, place: 2-3-5 Inf III/4MZ2 (Fr), 1-1-5 Inf 3/43C (Fr), 0-0-8 ART 9/62 (Fr). In hexes 1015-17 / 1115-16, place: 1-2-5 AB A/P (UK), 1-2-5 AB B/P (UK), 1-2-5 AB C/P (UK). In hex Oved Zarga (1023), place: 2-3-5 Inf I/4MZT (Fr), 0-0-8 ART 7/62 (Fr), 1-1-8 Eng 1/34 (Fr).

Turn flow

Each game day is divided into AM and PM turns. On each turn, players alternate activating their forces to move and combat. Allied reinforcements arrive on specific dates and phases (AM or PM) at designated map edges (primarily the West Edge, with some exceptions). The Allied player must race to capture Tunis before Axis defenses solidify. Artillery Effect Counters and Air Support (FB1) can be committed during appropriate phases to augment ground combat.

Scoring and victory

The Allied player must capture Tunis before the Axis player can consolidate a defensive perimeter. The winner is determined by control of key objectives (primarily Tunis) by the end of the scenario. Full victory conditions are defined in the complete rulebook. Scoring sources: Control of Tunis, Control of key map hexes, Destruction of enemy units

Source: Rulebook

Rules to know

The most useful rules for getting a first game right.

Setup

Blade Force units set up in hexes 1014-16 and 1114-1115

At game start, the following Allied units are placed in the hex range 1014-16 / 1114-1115: 2-1-14 Rcn BDY (UK), 3-3-11 Tank 17A (UK), 3-3-11 Tank 17B (UK), 3-3-11 Tank 17C (UK), 1-1-10 Mot Inf B10 (UK), 0-1-10 AA 151L (UK), 1-1-10 Eng 5 (UK), 1-1-10 Eng 564A (UK), 0-1-10 AT A/72 (UK), 0-1-10 ART C12 (UK), HQ Blade (UK), 1-1-11 AT 701B (US), 2-1-14 ARM 1A/B (US), 2-1-14 ARM 1B/B (US), 2-1-14 ARM 1C/B (US).

Setup

11th Brigade group units set up in hexes 1022-24 and 1122-1123

At game start, the following Allied units are placed in the hex range 1022-24 / 1122-1123: 2-1-4 Recon 456 (UK), 1-1-10 Eng 237/11 (UK), 0-1-10 AA 457/11 (UK), 0-1-10 AT 256/11 (UK), 5-5-10 Mot Inf 1ES/11 (UK), 5-5-10 Mot Inf 5NH/11 (UK), 5-5-10 Mot Inf 12L/11 (UK), 0-1-10 ART 132/11 (UK), HQ 11 Brigade (UK), 1-1-11 AT 701A (US), 1-1-11 AT 701C (US), 0-1-10 ART 175 (US).

Setup

French Mot Inf D/7Gd sets up in hex 1016

At game start, the French unit 1-1-8 Mot Inf D/7Gd is placed in hex 1016.

Setup

French infantry and artillery set up in hex 1027

At game start, the following French units are placed in hex 1027: 2-3-5 Inf III/4MZ2, 1-1-5 Inf 3/43C, 0-0-8 ART 9/62.

Setup

Allied airborne units set up in hexes 1015-17 and 1115-16

At game start, the following British airborne units are placed in hex range 1015-17 / 1115-16: 1-2-5 AB A/P (UK), 1-2-5 AB B/P (UK), 1-2-5 AB C/P (UK).

Setup

French units set up at Oved Zarga (hex 1023)

At game start, the following French units are placed at Oved Zarga (hex 1023): 2-3-5 Inf I/4MZT, 0-0-8 ART 7/62, 1-1-8 Eng 1/34.

Setup

Blade Force reinforcements arrive at the West Edge on 26 Nov AM

On 26 November AM, the following US armor units arrive as reinforcements for Blade Force at the West Edge of the map: 3-3-12 ARM 13D (US), 3-3-12 ARM 13F (US).

Setup

Tunis Division French infantry arrives at the West Edge on 27 Nov PM

On 27 November PM, the following French unit arrives as a reinforcement at the West Edge: 2-3-5 Inf II 158 (Fr). This unit is part of the Tunis Division.

Strategy briefing

Early Armor Thrust with Blade Force

Blade Force begins with three high-movement (MA 11) Tank units plus US Armor at MA 14. Use these fast units to push aggressively toward Tunis in the first turns before Axis defenses can consolidate. The 26 Nov AM reinforcements (ARM 13D and 13F at MA 12) extend this armored strike.

Coordinating Reinforcement Waves

Reinforcements arrive in distinct waves from 26 Nov through 5 Dec. Plan your front-line positions to receive units arriving at the West Edge efficiently. Don't overextend early such that you cannot absorb the 36th Brigade (28 Nov AM), Corps armor (28 Nov PM), and CCB (1 Dec PM) as they arrive.

Airborne Timing and Placement

Three airborne units start on the map and three more arrive 29 Nov at the West Edge. Airborne units (MA 5) are slow; plan their missions early and position them where their low movement won't be a liability — ideally holding captured terrain rather than racing cross-country.

Amphibious and East-Edge Threats

The 1 Dec AM amphibious commando landing and the 5 Dec AM East Edge arrival of Mot Inf 2H/1G can threaten the Axis from unexpected directions. Consider timing your main push to coincide with these flanking arrivals to stretch Axis defenses.

Artillery Effect Counter Management

Eight Artillery Effect Counters are available covering French, British, and US artillery. Higher-value counters like the 6-5 (132/11 UK, 138/36 UK) provide significant fire support. Prioritize their use against fortified Axis positions rather than open-terrain engagements where armor alone may suffice.

Common questions and edge cases

Are all airborne units set up at the start, or do some arrive as reinforcements?

Both. AB A/P, B/P, and C/P (UK) are set up at game start in hexes 1015-17/1115-16. AB D/P, E/P, and F/P (UK) arrive as reinforcements on 29 November at the West Edge as part of the Airborne Assault wave.

Do the 1 Dec AM Commando units enter from the West Edge like other reinforcements?

No. The 1 Dec AM commando units (Commando 1 US and Commando 1 UK) arrive via Amphibious Assault, which is a separate entry method distinct from the West Edge. All other reinforcements not explicitly labeled as amphibious use the West Edge.

Does the 5 Dec AM 78th Division unit enter from the West Edge?

No. The 5 Dec AM reinforcement (Mot Inf 2H/1G, UK) enters from the East Edge, making it the only scheduled reinforcement to arrive from the east rather than the west.

Are Artillery Effect Counters the same as the artillery unit counters on the map?

No. Artillery Effect Counters are separate special counters that represent the fire effect of their named artillery units applied in a specific game mechanic (e.g., bombardment or support fire). The actual artillery units (e.g., ART 132/11, ART 175) are placed on the map as standard unit counters, while their corresponding Artillery Effect Counters are used separately when those units fire.

French units appear in multiple setup locations. Which French units go where?

French setup units are split across four locations: (1) Hex 1027: Inf III/4MZ2, Inf 3/43C, ART 9/62. (2) Hex 1016: Mot Inf D/7Gd. (3) Oved Zarga (hex 1023): Inf I/4MZT, ART 7/62, Eng 1/34. (4) Hexes 1015-17/1115-16: No French units (this is the airborne zone). The first French reinforcement is Inf II 158 arriving 27 Nov PM at the West Edge.