Author	sagunto (Italy)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	United States
Participants	treadasaurusrex
Play Date	2023-01-28
Language	English
Scenario	CoDa001

This was a longish 3-session play-through of this "sort of balanced scenario." I played the defending Italians against the undaunted Treadasaurus and his fast-moving American dragoons. We used the fog of War, consolidation, smoke and excess initiative rules. The Americans were able to capture all the needed hilltops in hard fighting at the end of game turn 26 after surrounding the Italian positions. The Italians were able to eliminate 13 US steps and 2 leaders, while losing 21 steps and 4 leaders. Together, we threw 13 combat 7-die rolls in our 3 online sessions. There were 8 fog of war shortened turns out of the 26 we played. An American decisive victory was gained in desperate fighting.

Others have suggested that the Italian order of battle should be enhanced and that this scenario should be shortened. I agree, and have cut and pasted these 3 suggestions, below:

1) reduce the number of game turns from 30 to 20; 2) replace the 2 x 15 increments of Italian OBA with 2 x 16 increments; and 3) consider adding at least 1 motorcycle platoon and an additional Italian Tenente leader to the initial setup.

Author	treadasaurusrex (Italy)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	United States
Participants	Chaco
Play Date	2022-03-02
Language	English
Scenario	CoDa001

This 4-session play-through of this relatively balanced scenario resulted in a resounding American victory in the rugged hills of Tunisia! The Italian Commander surrendered after the US 1st Cavalry had captured 14 points of 60 and 40 meter hilltops, and when his troops were completely surrounded and under deadly CMG fire from 3 directions. This occurred before the US Commander began systematic close assaults on the outlying, dug-in, north and south edges of the Italian hilltop position on Map 76. The American movement to contact was very well-executed and the US suffered no casualties in the first 6 turns. The Italians lost both of their 81mm mortar platoons to accurate US OB artillery on game turn 2.

Superior American mobility, clever deployment of assets, and heavy automatic weapons triumphed over a virtually immobile Italian infantry battalion with indifferent leaders and lacking transportion & armored support.

Suggestions for future play: 1) reduce the number of game turns from 30 to 20; 2) replace the 2 x 15 increments of Italian OBA with 2 x 16 increments; and 3) consider adding at least 1 Italian motorcycle platoon and an additional Tenente leader to the initial setup.