Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Africa Orientale Italiana #8

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Mega Battle Africa Orientale Italiana #8
(Defender) Italy	vs	South Africa (Attacker)

Formations Involved

	Total
Side 1	2
Draw	0
Side 2	0

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	0

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 2 votes
5 4 3 2 1 3.5
Scenario Rank: --- of 913

Parent Game	Africa Orientale Italiana
Historicity	Historical
Date	1941-02-18
Start Time	07:00
Turn Count	24
Visibility	Day
Counters	92
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	0
Maps	2: 84, 86
Layout Dimensions	56 x 43 cm 22 x 17 in
Play Bounty	179
AAR Bounty	227
Total Plays	2
Total AARs	0

Battle Types
Urban Assault
Entrenchment Control

Conditions
Entrenchments
Minefields
Off-board Artillery
Reinforcements
Severe Weather
Smoke

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Africa Orientale Italiana	Base Game

Introduction
With the spring rains approaching, the British East Africa Command hoped to penetrate at least a short distance into Italian territory before the deserts became impassable to motorized supply columns. First South African Division with its two remaining brigades would envelope the contested twin villages of Moyale from the north, first capturing the town of Mega to the north of Moyale. The initial attempt bogged down, and after spending two days in the rain staring at the Italian Colonials, the South Africans began their assault.

Introduction

With the spring rains approaching, the British East Africa Command hoped to penetrate at least a short distance into Italian territory before the deserts became impassable to motorized supply columns. First South African Division with its two remaining brigades would envelope the contested twin villages of Moyale from the north, first capturing the town of Mega to the north of Moyale. The initial attempt bogged down, and after spending two days in the rain staring at the Italian Colonials, the South Africans began their assault.

Conclusion
The powerful pincer movement failed to materialize, as 2nd South African Infantry Brigade arrived late and from the wrong direction, with only one battalion having any impact on the fighting. “Just give me a free hand and I’ll give you Mega,” Lt. Col. C.L. “Kom-Kom” Engelbrecht of the 2nd Field Force Battalion shouted angrily at Buchanan, who asked how he planned to accomplish this. “How do I know?” Engelbrecht shot back. “It’s dark. I’ll see where to attack when it’s light.” The brigadier stood by passively while the insubordinate colonel delivered on his boast.

Conclusion

The powerful pincer movement failed to materialize, as 2nd South African Infantry Brigade arrived late and from the wrong direction, with only one battalion having any impact on the fighting. “Just give me a free hand and I’ll give you Mega,” Lt. Col. C.L. “Kom-Kom” Engelbrecht of the 2nd Field Force Battalion shouted angrily at Buchanan, who asked how he planned to accomplish this. “How do I know?” Engelbrecht shot back. “It’s dark. I’ll see where to attack when it’s light.” The brigadier stood by passively while the insubordinate colonel delivered on his boast.

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle
Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0). AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement. AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1). Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2). Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3) Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0). Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3). Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3). AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42). AFV's may Dig In (16.2). Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present. Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC). Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle

Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present.
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.