Author	treadasaurusrex (United States)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany, Italy
Participants	NBGB (AAR)
Play Date	2023-01-06
Language	English
Scenario	AAAD035

This was a 6-session play-through with the determined & indefatigable, NBGB, as the attacking Commander of a powerful combined arms Italo-German Battle Group. I played the defending US Commander of Combat Command B composed of green & over-stretched elements of the 1st Armored Division. We ignored the defense-favoring FOW rule, but used the smoke, consolidation, strategic movement, extended assault and excess initiative optional rules. We also experimentally used the following three house rules: 1) Road Movement for Mechanized & Foot Units All FOOT & MECHANIZED units may move on roads at the rate of 1/2 a Movement Point (MP) per road hex, just like MOTORIZED units 2) Standard Movement for Mechanized Units All mechanized units may move through clear hexes at a movement cost of only 1 movement point (MP) per hex, instead of 1 1/2. Add one to this cost if moving up or down slopes hexes. 3) Dug In Units are Automatically in Limiting Terrain in Desert Games Unless prohibited by special scenario rules, ALL units that are dug-in on hill, slope or wadi & gully hexes are considered to be in limiting terrain and are spotted if enemy units approach to within 3 hexes, or 4 hexes for reconnaissance units – unless they fire or move.

The 1st session (game turns 1-2) was characterized by a strong, but unscouted, German, left flank armored movement-to-contact in the southern quadrant of Map 77. This was supplemented on the second game turn by the gradual approach of the Italian force in the north (right flank), and the German infantry & mortar units in the center. After a brief exchange of AT fire in the south margin of the battle map, step losses were tied at 2 apiece.

During the second session (game turns 3-4) the strong German Panzer attack in the south was blunted by accurate long-range US AT fire, and the need to shift focus to higher on the 40-meter hill mass. German infantry formations began climbing under supporting smoke screens on the eastern margins of the hill preparatory to initiating a number of close assaults. In the north, the right flank Italian onslaught began in earnest and established contact all along the US line of positions on the thin north-south ridge. This closing action was also supported by well-positioned smoke concentrations. Initial contacts in this sector came at a significant costs in terms of close range defensive direct fire resulting in a large number of demoralizations and disruptions. A solid knot of German troops joined the south edge of the Italians skirmish line on the ridge. The Americans began migrating infantry formations and AFVs primarily in support of the fighting on the southern hill mass in hopes of containing the Teutonic horde cresting the 40-metter summit.

By the end of the session a combined SEVEN combat 7-die rolls had been thrown. Step losses totaled 14 for the Germans and 8 for the Americans, resulting in reductions to the initiative levels for both sides.

The very busy 3rd session (game turn 5) featured the partial collapse of the broad Italian infantry attack in the north ridge on Map 78 in the face of heavy US direct fire. The adjoining Germans also pulled back off the long ridge to the adjoining hill mass in the center of the battle map, to consolidate their gains & help protect the senior Italian officer who had fled to the east margin of the hill – he being hotly pursued by an over-enthusiastic platoon of Stuart tanks. The US side pushed slightly into the main pass at the juncture of the two game maps, and strengthened their hold on the north margin of the large north-south hill mass just east of the road on Map 77. The Germans managed to throw FOUR combat 7-die rolls. The step loss totals were now 20 for the Germans and 12 for the Americans. The victory points to-date were the inverse of the step losses, putting the Americans ahead by 8 points at the end of this session.

The action-packed and costly fourth session (game turn 6) featured the continued, bloody stalemate in the north edge of the map as the Italian advance was blunted and reversed on the north ridge. However, the consolidation of the German infantry formations and additional artillery support on the adjoining hill was completed, preparatory to their expected counter attack on this same terrain. In the south, fiercely contested hilltop close assaults continued along with long-range AT sniping as the Germans improved their hold on the southern hill mass and began probing forward with a company of Pz-IIIJ tanks that eliminated a pesky, dug-in 37mm AT gun platoon by close assault. American step losses exceeded that of the combined Axis force by midway through the 6th game turn. Ending step loss totals were now 25 for the Germans, and 28 for the Americans. As previously, the victory points to-date were the inverse of the step losses, putting the Germans ahead by a mere 3 points at the end of this session.

The fifth session (game turns 7-8) was a hard-fought one that proved-to-be-decisive for the Axis side. This episode included a combined TEN utterly useless combat 7-die rolls! In the northern sector, the Italian right flank attack on the ridge remained effectively stalemated and a single American Stuart platoon continued to be a thorn in the side of the Axis force. On the southern flank of that same ridge, a German probe was pushed back, but the subsequent American counter attack was then repulsed as well, while the Germans reformed for another try. In the south, German armor achieved a breakthrough in the relatively-porous and strung out American defenses in a swirling, tank-on-tank engagement that resulted in the elimination of a company of Sherman tanks. The Americans continued to barely hold on the margins of the contested, 40-meter hill mass. A mass attack of Landser infantry was forming up in immediate contact with the remaining defenders at the end of game turn 8.

Total step losses were 35 for the Italo-Germans and 42 for the rapidly faltering Americans. By the end of the session, the Axis victory point total was at 44 compared to the American total of 35 – we were already in the range for an Italo-German Minor Victory – but we decided to play on to the bitter end as we were having too much fun.

The 6th session (game turn 9) featured continued fierce fighting and ended in a mutual decision to finish the struggle as an Italo-German Major Victory. Total step losses were 36 for the Italo-Germans and 49 for the American. The final victory points were 51 for the Axis and 36 for the defeated Americans.