The US and Italians start out facing off accross a valley, both sides dug in on hills, the US on the west, the Italians on the east, and the US troops have to attack and cause as many casualties as possible, and take as many of the 40m hill hexes as possible as well. The board gives the US 5 40m hills behind their own line, and the conditions just count 40m hill hexes, so I counted those while the Italians didnt lose any hill hexes but had one tied up in assault at the end. The US 37mm guns and the M-6 succeeded in killing much of the Italian armor at range, and US troops assaulted and eliminated 3 steps of M14/41s as well. After killing off the Italian armor, on board arty and mortars, and any dug-in troops on the 20m hill hexes, the US troops went into general attack mode, crossing the gap and getting into position to assault the whole Italian line. The problem is that the Italian Bersaglieries had a differnt opinion, and disrupted or demoralized nearly the whole US attack line. While US troops slowly succeeded in assaults at both north and south flanks, the Italians dug in on the heights held out to the end, with just the single assault hex contested. The US eliminated 24 steps of Italians, while the Italians only managed 5 steps of US, and counting the 40m hexes that start in US hands, the US ends with 5 40m hexes and the Italians with 4. A difference of 20 points for a major US win. Great game.

Author	treadasaurusrex (United States)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	United States
Participants	Capt. Chaos
Play Date	2023-07-31
Language	English
Scenario	AAAD039

This was a 8-session play-through with the determined, wily & resourceful, Capt. Chaos leading advanced elements of the Italian 131st Centauro Armored Division that begin on, and around, Djebel Berda. I led forward elements of the American 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division that started dug-in on Hill 722. The Americans drew a decent set of leaders, the Italians did not. We played with the consolidation, smoke/illum, extended assault and excess initiative optional rules. In addition, we used the following three house rules: 1) Road Movement for Mechanized & Foot Units All FOOT & MECHANIZED units may move on roads at the rate of 1/2 a Movement Point (MP) per road hex, just like MOTORIZED units, 2) Standardized Movement for Mechanized Units All mechanized units may move through clear hexes at a movement cost of only 1 movement point (MP) per hex, instead of 1 1/2. Add one to this cost if moving up or down slopes hexes, and 3) 3) Dug In Units in Slope Hexes are Automatically in Limiting Terrain in Desert Games Unless prohibited by special scenario rules, ALL units that are dug-in on slope hexes are considered to be in limiting terrain** and are spotted if enemy units approach to within 3 hexes, or 4 hexes for reconnaissance units – unless they are marked with a spotted marker, see 8.22.

Our initial session (game turn 1) featured totally ineffective OBA for both sides as the Americans began an extended, right flank & central movement to contact on the southern half of the map. A combined FOUR combat 7-die rolls were thrown.

The second session (game turn 2) brought the first casualties for both sides in adjacent-hex firefights as the American force began to lap up against the dug-in Italian infantry positions on Djebel Berda in the south and the center of the battle map. Two companies of the US advance began veering to the left and climbed over the lip of the hill mass under cover of a smokescreen and suppressive fire. There was some effective Italian counter battery fire that demoralized one of the trio of 37mm AT guns in the north. Also, in the north, a company of Italian infantry, supported by mounted scouts and a tank platoon crossed the valley and began attacking the dug in US positions on the north-south ridge, Once again, a combined FOUR combat 7-die rolls were thrown.

Our third session (game turns 3-4) featured many adjacent-hex fire fights on the lower slopes of Djebel Berda, as well as across the adjoining valley to the northwest. The initial American flanking movement to the left of the Djebel’s 40-meter hilltop failed miserably and was on the verge of collapse. Steps losses caused both sides to lose one level of initiative. The updated victory point tally was 12 for the now-defending Italians and a mere 9 for the Americans.

The fourth session (game turn 5) consisted of ferocious fighting on the slopes of the Djebel as the Americans attempted to re-establish their assault stacks & regain momentum. Numerous adjacent-hex firefights and the first full-on, close assault on the hill supported by mortar and HMG fire and OBA erupted on the southern 20-meter contour line. Slowly the GIs sought additional toeholds on the Djebel and maneuvered for flanking and enfilade positions, as the Italians grudgingly gave ground. The infantry component of the Italian northern thrust across the valley was thrown back, leaving only a scatter of leaders, trucks, some motorcycle infantry and the lone AC90/53 SPAT portee. With 2 additional Italian step losses, the updated victory point tally was now tied at 12 for both sides.

Our action-packed, fifth session (game turns 6-7) featured multiple adjacent-hex firefights and a pair of close assaults on Djebel Berda, as well as fierce, close-range fighting in the north edge of the long, north-south 20-meter ridge. The casualty tally was 15 steps for the battered Italian defenders of the Djebel, and 11 for the haggard GIs. Highlights included the loss of a section of Italian Semovente 75/18 assault guns that was finally caught in a successful cross fire, as well as the first captured American leader. The updated victory point tally was now: 20 for the Americans, and 15 for the Italian side. A combined FIFTEEN combat 7-die rolls were thrown.

The “forced from my home by roofers” 6th session (game turn 8) consisted mostly of the development of three, American close assaults in the southern and northwestern portions of the Djebel. Surprisingly, these were accompanied by some accurate US mortar and OBA supporting fire that finally eliminated the most powerful, hilltop Italian gun emplacements. A combined EIGHT combat 7-die rolls were thrown.

Our seventh session (game turn 9) was played at K.R. Rabbit’s hospitable & museum-like place, and was characterized by a dramatic tightening of the American grip on the lower slopes of Djeba Berda. A record, 3 close assaults were successful for the advancing GIs and another step of Italian M-14/41 tanks was eliminated on the 40-meter hill top. Victory points were now: 28 for the Americans, and 17 for the Italian side. A combined TEN combat 7-die rolls were thrown.

The eighth session (game turns 10-12) featured intense & costly close range fighting all over the Djebel hill top hexes as the advancing Americans took 2 of the key 40-meter hexes and disputed another. We lost track of the number of Axis steps lost in this bloody & consequential session. Surprisingly, one Italian Mortar platoon survived this 12-turn maelstrom. The last remaining platoon of US jeeps was eliminated by a long-range AT shot by the Semovente75/18. The final Victory point totals were: 43 for the Americans, and 15 for the Italian side resulting in a major American victory. I give this fun-to-play scenario a rating of a 5, and recommend it for SHARED and SOLO play.

Author	treadasaurusrex (Italy)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Italy
Participants	Capt. Chaos
Play Date	2023-08-19
Language	English
Scenario	AAAD039

This was a 5-session play-through with the dynamic, wily & resourceful, Capt. Chaos leading advanced elements of the American 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division that began dug-in on Hill 722. I played the Italian 131st Centauro Armored Division that begins on the Djebel Berda hill mass. Both sides drew decent sets of leaders. We played with the consolidation, smoke/illum, extended assault and excess initiative optional rules. In addition, we used the following three house rules: 1) Road Movement for Mechanized & Foot Units All FOOT & MECHANIZED units may move on roads at the rate of 1/2 a Movement Point (MP) per road hex, just like MOTORIZED units, 2) Standardized Movement for Mechanized Units All mechanized units may move through clear hexes at a movement cost of only 1 movement point (MP) per hex, instead of 1 1/2. Add one to this cost if moving up or down slopes hexes, and 3) Dug In Units in Slope Hexes are Automatically in Limiting Terrain in Desert Games Unless prohibited by special scenario rules, ALL units that are dug-in on slope hexes are considered to be in limiting terrain and are spotted if enemy units approach to within 3 hexes, or 4 hexes for reconnaissance units – unless they are marked with a spotted marker, see 8.22.

Our initial, bloodless session (game turns 1-2) featured totally ineffective OBA, and air strikes for the Italian side, and a left flank movement to contact on the southern half of the map to confront the dug-in GIs on the 20-meter contour line on the east margin of Hill 722. In response, a mobile Americans column moved east into the center of the valley to menace the remaining Italian positions on Djebel Berda. A combined TEN combat 7-die rolls were thrown.

The second session (game turns 3-4) was a costly one in which 10 steps of US troops, and 2 steps of the Italian side were eliminated. There were multiple, adjacent-hex firefights as the Italians began to get traction against the dug-in American infantry positions on the eastern margins of Hill 722 in the southern portion of the battle map. During game turn 4, there finally was some effective Italian counter battery fire, as well as accompanying close assaults. or long-range AT fire that eliminated the trio of US 37mm AT guns & portee unit. Likewise, both jeep platoons were eliminated in the central valley. In the north, Italian armor was able to establish a toehold, on the north-south 20-meter ridge. Steps losses caused the GIs to lose one level of initiative. The updated victory point tally was 13 for the advancing Italians and 10 for the Americans.

The third – very costly but fun to play – session (game turn 5-7) consisted of ferocious fighting on the east slopes of the Hill 722 as Mussolini’s Bersaglieri assault stacks maintained their advance by taking advantage of some lucky initiative rolls. Numerous adjacent-hex firefights and the first full-on, close assault on the hill supported by mortar, HMG and OBA fire erupted on the 20-meter contour line. In the north, Italian armor managed to “fire & maneuver” the remaining Americans off the majority of the north-south ridge. This advance then combined with the advancing central Italian column that crossed the valley as the GIs grudgingly gave ground in both areas. Accurate American OBA destroyed a howitzer and a single mortar platoon in one turn, and then eliminated the remaining two on the next! Increasing step losses again caused the GIs to lose a level of initiative, and the Axis level to drop as well. The revised victory point tally was now 21 for the advancing Italians and 11 for the American side. The step loss totals were now: 16 for the Americans and 6 for the surging Italians. A combined NINE combat 7-die rolls were thrown this session.

Our action-packed, 4th session (game turns 8-9) featured the first Italian combined arms, close assault on the crest of Hill 722 (Hex 77-0816) and multiple, adjacent-hex fire fights on the lower slopes to the west and east on the 20-meter contour of the same hill mass. The step loss tally was now 7 steps for the Italian attackers, and 17 for the tiring GIs. Highlights included the loss of the last Italian onboard artillery to an accurate US OBA strike and the appearance of an additional US infantry company that had been hidden from view since the start of the game on the lee side of the Hill 722 crest. The updated victory point score was now: 22 for the Italians, and 11 for the American side. A combined SEVEN combat 7-die rolls were thrown, nearly all in crucial situations.

The fast-paced, fifth session (game turns 10-12) featured very lucky Italian initiative throws and the subsequent development of three, overwhelming Italian combined arms, close assaults on both the east & west slopes of Hill 722. This tightening of the Axis grip on the hill mass led to intense & costly adjacent-hex firefights. Eventually, the westernmost 3 of the 40-meter hexes on Hill 722 were taken by the Centauro Division infantry. Surprisingly, two American Mortar platoon survived to the end of the game. The updated step losses were 26 for the American side, and 10 for the Italians. The final Victory point totals were: 12 for the Americans, and 34 for the Italian side resulting in a major victory for Mussolini’s Legions. A combined FIVE combat 7-die rolls were thrown. We felt that the experimental house rules worked very well in this maneuver-and-decision-heavy, Tunisian scenario.