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Army Group South Ukraine #6 - Consternation Road to Berlin #73 - She-Wolves of the SS
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Tanks at Barentu
Africa Orientale Italiana #34
(Attacker) Italy vs Britain (Defender)
India (Defender)
Formations Involved
Display
Balance:



Overall balance chart for AOIt034
Total
Side 1 1
Draw 0
Side 2 1
Overall Rating, 2 votes
5
4
3
2
1
4
Scenario Rank: --- of 913
Parent Game Africa Orientale Italiana
Historicity Historical
Date 1941-01-31
Start Time 08:00
Turn Count 32
Visibility Day
Counters 107
Net Morale 0
Net Initiative 0
Maps 2: 90, 91
Layout Dimensions 56 x 43 cm
22 x 17 in
Play Bounty 185
AAR Bounty 227
Total Plays 2
Total AARs 0
Battle Types
Hill Control
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Road Control
Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Smoke
Scenario Requirements & Playability
Africa Orientale Italiana Base Game
Introduction

As 29th Indian Brigade steadily ground forward toward Barentu against tough Italian opposition, 2nd Colonial Division planned a counter-attack with all of its reserves. Amid heavy fighting the Indians finally captured the last ridge line west of Barentu late on 30 January. Giving the Indians little time to consolidate their gains, the Italians launched their attack the following morning.

Conclusion

It’s unclear whether the Italian attack actually had tank support or not – Italian sources do not appear to credit the Italian forces around Barentu with armor, placing all of the tanks at Agordat to the north-east. But the Indian Official History insists they were there, and they make for a more interesting scenario. The Italian garrison of East Africa included two companies of medium tanks and several more of light tanks, which were scattered about and moved frequently from sector to sector. In any case, the Indians fought off the Italian attack, but could not capture Barentu until 2nd Colonial Division’s rearguard withdrew in the early hours of 2 February in good order.


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
  • APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
  • 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.

Display Order of Battle

Britain Order of Battle
Army
  • Mechanized
  • Motorized
  • Towed
India Order of Battle
Army
  • Motorized
  • Towed
Italy Order of Battle
Regio Corpo di Truppe Coloniali
Regio Esercito
  • Foot
  • Mechanized
  • Motorized

Display Errata (4)

4 Errata Items
Overall balance chart for 869

All Bren carriers should have a movement value of 7.

(Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
Overall balance chart for 855

Two British infantry have their full strengths printed on the back. They should both be "2-3" when reduced.

(Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
Overall balance chart for 871

Ignore the direct fire values.

(Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
Overall balance chart for 101

The L3/35 with ID# 1505 has the incorrect movement factor printed on it. The movement factor should be 7, not 8.

(plloyd1010 on 2014 Nov 24)
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