Score: (Italian step losses- Punjabi step losses)

THE BATTLE

0730-0800: The Italians arrive and begin to advance toward the SE hill. With sheer numbers they overwhelm the Indian opportunity fire.

They move to close range and suffer their first casualties to Indian direct fire. (2-0)

0815: Indians win initiative and some reduced Fanteria are eliminated. (3-0). Italian retaliation has no effect!

0830: Punjabis win initiative again and the result is devastating. Two Italian platoons are lost (7-0). The Italians overrun the Indian mortar (7-1) and the HMGs advance. The Indians are surrounded!

0845-0900: Both sides exchange fire and take a further casualty (8-2). A blow is landed when the British Super Captain is disrupted.

0915-0930: Italians press on and the demoralized reduced Infantry is eliminated (8-3). The Bren is assaulted but repels the Italians who are demoralized. Indian HMG reduces an Italian Bande. (9-3)

0945: Casualties are traded again (10-4)

1000: Italians have a large initiative advantage. Their foot flees from the Bren APC which is then eliminated by close range fire from the Italian 65mm! (10-5)

The Italian noose closes in on the HMG entrenchment. M2! M1! M2! Reduced HMG routs and Super British Captain (SBC) is killed!

1015: The HMG is eliminated due to compound morale failure (needed SBC!) The first hill (SE) is taken and the British officers are captured. Almost half time. The Italians will need to take the SW or NE hill. (10-8)

1030-1115: Italians head west with a few quick Bande moving north. They move to surround the Indians in the SW and take numerous casualties (13-8). One Indian platoon is demoralized and flees. No longer dug-in, they are hit and eliminated by the Indian mortars.

1130-1145: Close range fighting continues. Italian Bande assault demoralised Punjabi infantry eliminating them. Commonwealth losses begin to mount. This hill has been terrible for them. It is now apparent what a huge difference BSC made in the first hill (14-12).

The biggest Italian problem, is that once demoralised they do not rally very quickly!

1200-1230: The sides continue to trade casualties on the SW hill. (16-13)

Indian forces in the far NE begin to head south! Italians begin to target them with artillery.

1245-1300: Indians in the entrenchment are demoralised and the Italians assault. The Indians flee and are eliminated. In the SW hill a single demoralised Indian INF flees.

In the SE the advancing reinforcements are disrupted. The Italians try to get in their way and keep them off the SE hill.

An hour and half to go! (6 turns)

1315-1330: In the SE the Indian infantry gets on the hill but are disrupted. A couple Italian platoons run down the road to the north.

1345-1400: In the SE the advancing Indians are cut down and demoralised. They are quickly eliminated.

1415-1430: Facing impossible odds, the Italian Bandes in the north are demoralized, reduced and flee.

The Battle is Over.

DRAW!!!

Aftermath

Although managing to capture two of the three hills, the fine print says that if the Indians eliminate 10 or more Italian steps they obtain a Minor Victory. So, with both sides obtaining a Minor Victory, the Battle is declared a Draw!

(I missed that victory condition and thought the Italians somehow managed to get a victory out of this one).

This scenario was mostly assaulting the hills, but the Italians need to decide how (or if) to split their forces and if to use close up direct fire or assaults. It kept the hills from getting too stagnant. The Commonwealth also needs to decide how to split their forces and if and when to commit reinforcements.

Scenario Rating: 3/5 – A low three, but the interesting options and “close finish” kept it interesting. It played quite quick as well.