Author	treadasaurusrex (Australia, Britain)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Australia, Britain
Participants	OldPueblo
Play Date	2022-09-20
Language	English
Scenario	AfKo005

This was a 4-session play through with a determined & clever rookie opponent leading the entrenched Italian side at Bardia. We used the consolidation, excess initiative and smoke/illum optional rules. The Australian movement-to-contact got off to a great start and by 0830, they had captured 3 entrenchments with no casualties and were menacing a fourth. As is usual, the surrender rule played havoc with the defending Italian garrison, and 7 steps of their infantry were lost by that point.

A hastliy-organized Italian counterattack then developed, but the lower morale of their troops resulted in 4 demoralized infantry platoons that had to flee. By 0930, the Australians had taken the 4th entrenchment, thereby achieving their victory conditions and with only 2 step loses. Three more entrenchments fell in subsequent turns and the Aussies improved upon the historical results of this battle after many fiercely-contested, close assaults. Italian OBA ceased to be a factor on turn 12. A combined total of ELEVEN, combat 7-die rolls were thrown in this play-through (7 for the Italian side). Final step loses were 25 for the defending Italians, and 5 for the attacking Commonwealth troops. Both sides lost 3 leader units in the fighting, all Lieutenents.