| Operation Compass Stalls Near Derna | ||||||||||||||
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Other reviewers have suggested that this scenario’s victory conditions are seriously flawed. The Australians side must control darn near the entire map, which means that they have to traverse a great deal of game board real estate. Again, as others have reported, this scenario is, "fundamentally broken." The victory conditions call for the Australian/British player to control all hexes on the map except those in the northwest corner in only 22 game turns! In this scenario, I was the defending Italian side against a determined Australian opponent, in a 3-session, online, play-through, the Commonwealth force came diagonally across the map directly at the advanced Italian HMG positions on the west side of Derna's airfield. The Australian Commander split off a task force of mortars and HMG units in a right flanking move to engage the northernmost Italian HMG position; and a left flank force that eventually was aimed at the right side of the primary Italian Bersaglieri INF & artillery positions. Fierce short-range fighting ensued, first around two of the HMG positions, and then later as the Australians left flank attack developed -- on the right 2 dug in hexes of the main Italian defensive line. A plucky British Bren Carrier acted as an advanced skirmisher and drew a significant amount of Italian fire away from the approaching Australian infantry columns for 6 turns, before eventually succumbing to Italian AT fire. In then end, the Australian Commander conceded defeat at the start of the 15th game turn when we decided that there was no hope for a Commonwealth victory or a draw. At that point the Italians had lost 5 steps and the Australians had lost 12 steps and 2 leaders. The poorly-conceived Italian victory conditions called for the loss of at least 6 Australian steps and for holding the NW corner of the map. Here are some suggested scenario Instruction changes: Italian Force - Delete 1, 47mm AT gun platoon - Add 1, 81mm Mortar platoon Commonwealth Force - Delete 1, 2-pdr AT gun platoon - Add 1 additional 3-inch Mortar platoon Special Rules The Commonwealth Force may use the smoke rule with 3 turns of smoke per individual mortar unit. Replacement Victory Condition language The Australian player wins a Major Strategic Victory by eliminating all Italian units, while not losing more than 12 steps. The Australian player wins a Minor Tactical Victory if there are no undemoralized Italians units within 13 hexes of Hex 0818, while not losing more that 8 steps in combat. The Italian player wins a Major Strategic Victory by eliminating at least 10 Allied steps, and by maintaining at least 4 undemoralized combat units and a leader within 13 hexes of Hex 0818. The Italian player wins a Minor Tactical Victory by eliminating at least 8 Allied steps and maintaining 2 undemoralized combat units and a leader within 15 hexes of Hex 0818. Any other result is a draw. As published, I rated this scenario as a 2, only because it was an enjoyable, fun play-through with a creative, resolute and entertaining opponent leading the Australian side. The scenario truly deserves a rating of 1. |
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| 1 Comment |
Historically, the Commonwealth drive was stopped at the Wadi Derna, thus forming the northern cap on the Cyrenean Bulge. That said, forcing relative historical outcomes does not make for good games.
The victory conditions do not seem to be well thought out. The forces are fairly evenly matched, with a firepower advantage going to the Italians. Since the narrative focuses on the air field, really an airfield complex, victory should center around control and usability of that.