Introduction

This looked liked a great scenario, the more so as it was one of the few where there was a direct series of scenarios following it against which one could measure one's success or failure. The Italians have superb Morale---which also meant that, for once, I gained an advantage by the mis-interpretation of the Morale Rule---solid defensive positions, and excellent command organisation. While nothing can be done about the appalling quality of Italian Army officers, at least the Italians have enough of them to mount a coordinated defence, and the 102mm portée Anti-Tank gun battery, representing the Italian Naval guns (at least according to Avalanche Press), is a potent and mobile defensive weapon.

Note

Another row developed over the rules here. Although the Valentine was an infantry support tank, a reading of the Rules indicates the Commonwealth Forces get no shift in Assault for being supported by Armour. One argument is that the AFV-INF Assault bonus is meant to model the more advanced German doctrine, which the Americans did not master until after their drubbing in Tunisia, nor the Soviets until after they got backhanded following Kursk. One might argue that the Commonwealth Forces had learned it before Alamien---I would argue that Montgomery learned it at the hands of the Germans in 1940, but that is a point. More important, in my mind, is the idea that if one's rifle battalion is supported by tanks and tankers designed and trained to fight infantry actions, that ought to provide one with an advantage. Alas, I am alone in this view.

The Plans

This scenario has two geographic objectives and a casualty limit. Although not expressly stated, it was agreed that a Draw would result if both players failed to achieve their Victory Conditions. For the Commonwealth Forces, taking both hills without sufficient forces to fight two full-scale assaults is a tall order. This informs the Italian deployment decisions as well, since giving up one of the hills without a fight might guarantee a vicious fight for the remaining hill, but also makes the problem for the Commonwealth Player much simpler.

The Italian Plan

The Italian Player sensibly decided to defend both hills. The Southern hill (2005-2006) is the more difficult to defend, and this was the focus of his defense. Six Bersaglieri (BERS) platoons dug-in on the ridge of L2 Hill hexes, reinforced by two Bersaglieri Machinegun (BERS MG) platoons. Each ridge hex is held by one BERS platoon, with the two BERS MG platoons sited at 2108 and 1907. The 47mm Anti-Tank Gun battery is dug-in with the BERS platoon at 2008. The 102mm portée A/T gun battery is deployed in 1808. The Northern hill (0706-0708) is the easiest to defend, and was held by lighter forces, initially deployed to support the other hill. The three remaining BERS platoons are dug-in on 0709, 0809, and 0810. The 81mm Mortar platoon and the one remaining BERS MG platoon are dug-in at the L1 Hill hex 1010. The 20mm Ack-Ack battery and the L3/35 troop are dug-in at the L1 Hill hex 1011.

The Italian plan is to defend both hills, but the Northern hill will not be reinforced if it is the subject of a full assault by the Commonwealth Forces. The L3/35 and, if possible, the 81mm Mortar platoon and the 20mm Ack-Ack are to be withdrawn to the Southern hill, leaving the BERS platoons to fight it out.

The Commonwealth Plan

The major problems facing the Commonwealth Player are time and casualties. An attempt to force both hills seems likely to fail and cost too many men. A more methodical approach to one hill seems the better choice, and in typical fashion, the Commonwealth Player selects the British objective as the more likely one. The Indian Army forces will be brought around to support the attack on the Southern Hill. With the British Rifle (INF) platoons pushing the assault as quickly as possible. The Valentines will strike out to prevent any link up between the two hills, and flush the Italian portée gun, if possible. As soon as possible, the two 13-Strength Off-Board Artillery factors will be brought down on the Italian positions. Once the Southern hill is cleared, the Commonwelath Forces will move to take the Northern hill.

The Battle

This was a great fight. The very powerful Commonwealth attack ran straight into the very powerful Italian defence. The high Morale of the individual Italian soldiers helped compensate for the appalling leadership of the Italian officers, though this could not counteract the superb quality of the Commonwealth officers. Italian harassing fire from the Northern hill was met with fire from the two OBAs, which quickly put an end to the mobility of the Italian Northern force. The Valentines moved over and silenced the 20mm Ack-Ack battery, then took out the L3/35 and the 81mm Mortar. The Italian portée moved off to fire on the Valentines, and managed to obliterate the Reduced Valentine of the Indian contingent (costing the Commonwealth Forces a tank leader, alas, but spending a full-strength kill to do so). The remaining Valentines made quick work of the portée;-1 is not to hit even for a 2-Pdr, especially with four shots to do it (in the event, it took one shot).

The assault on the Southern Hill began, and proceeded with painful slowness. Although the Valentines were able to keep the Italian BERS MGs suppressed until the 3-Inch Mortar platoons were in position to fire, they could do nothing else. The 47mm A/T gun battery was silenced by being in an Assault hex, but this spread things a bit thin. Superb leadership kept the Commonwealth Forces from faltering, and this in turn kept casualties light. Once the BERS MG and other BERS platoons were under fire from the combined Anglo-Indian Mortar platoons, ably coordinated by British Lieutenant, the Valentines were free to sweep around behind the main assault and bring fires to bear against the Italian units recovering and reorganising. This had a disastrous effect when a lucky shot from the Valentines killed the Italian Colonel and brought the Young Fascists to a standstill. This permitted the Commonwealth Forces to make a big push, and when two of the assault hexes crumbled, the defence collapsed, three more Italian officers being Captured or outright deserting.

In the end, the Commonwealth Forces cleared the Southern Hill with a loss of six steps (two from the Valentine and four more in Rifle platoons) and five Turns remaining. The Players agreed to call a Draw, as the Commonwealth Player saw no hope of securing the Northern Hill in five Turns of play (it would take the rifle platoons between three and four Turns just to reach it).

Conclusion

In retrospect, the correct course for the Commonwealth Player would have been to probe both positions, then assault the weaker one with the Valentines in support while keeping pressure on the other. The Italian Player underestimated the effect of the Valentines massed fire and their invulnerability to small arms. The portée was a powerful defensive weapon, but once in the open it was easily dealt with. With the Morale Rules properly in use, the actual plan followed by the Commonwealth Player would probably not have resulted in a Draw; the column shift for the Italians would have been enough to inflict more casualties on the assaulting Anglo-Indian Rifle platoons.