The French Stand and Fight - The Matrix Games version of West Front

Saint Lucien, 30km NE of Oran, Algeria: [Best played as Allied] The wildcard facing the Anglo-American landings in Northwest Africa on November 8th 1942 was whether or not the Vichy French would resist the invasion. In many cases French units chose to stand and fight. One of the keys to the success of the attack on the Algerian port of Oran in the Mediterranean was the swift capture of inland airdromes near La Senia and Tafaraoui. As soon as they were ashore near St. Leu, Task Force Red from CCB/1st Armored Division was on the road to their objectives. Dashing ahead, a flying column under Lt. Colonel Waters overran the airfield north of Tafaraoui after a brief fight late in the afternoon. But the next morning scouts reported armor and infantry from the 2nd African Chasseurs and 1st Foreign Legion Regiments advancing from St. Lucien. Impressed with French soldiers' abilities and willingness to fight, Waters quickly gathered his reinforced column and headed east to strike the French head-on before they could threaten the airfield.