Note: errata – Set-up forces call for 3x BREN, but 4x 25-pdrs. Only 3x 25-pdrs are in the counter-mix, so I suspect this is a typo. Only the 3x 25-pdr were used.

Late Afternoon Day one

The Australians advance to the west and camp just outside the Italian artillery range.

The 25-pdr are ready to bombard.

To the north, D Company digs-in for the night.

The Australian decide to hold their position until nightfall. The Italians move their south-east observers closer to the fort. By 2300 their repositioning is complete.

Night 2300 March 20-0400 March 21

The Australians use the cover of night to advance their main force 1200m. By 0400 all forces are repositioned and Dug-in

Day Two

A large sandstorm hits the area and all forces are at a standstill. The storm lasts for 26 hours and finally clears the next morning. When the sand settles, the Australians and Italians find themselves facing one another under the morning Sun. The Battle begins…

Day Three

British 25-pdrs fill the sky and concentrated Australian HMG fire attacks the Italians. The forward Italian HMG is lost and their AA crew are eliminated.

Italians respond by advancing their L3/35 in the north to disrupt D Company, while their own mortars and artillery attempts to silence the British guns.

The 20th Australian Brigade advances 200m as a lucky bombardment of Italian artillery and mortars takes out one of the three British 25-pdrs! (1)

Italian HMG in the fort begin to engage in long range fire against the Australians as they dig into a new line.

The Australian 20th completes its digging-in, but not before half a platoon is lost to the fort HMGs (2)

British BREN carrier picks up the Australian 2-pdr (in anticipation to use against the L3/35. The frontal Italian HMG platoon is demoralized and flees upon taking fire from a mass of Australian HMGs.

Australian foot troops advance again and are now 400m from the foot of the Italian fort.

Australian infantry storms to the wall of the fort. Australian HMG fire reaches the Italian 65mm Artillery and eliminates a battery. British 25-pdr eliminates an Italian Mortar.

The assault on the fort begins. Demoralized Italian infantry refuse to surrender and flee to the northwest.

D Company advances on the L3/35.

The L3/35, concerned about her safety, flees back to the Italian line.

Fleeing Italian infantry is hit by the British 25-pdrs.

The Australians lose two half platoons by the fort! (4)

Australian demoralized infantry flees the fort and is hit by Italian HMG fire (5)

Australian forces eliminate the Italian mortars, artillery, leaders and trucks trying to flee.

A lucky Italian HMG shot at extreme range eliminates half an Australian HMG platoon. (6!!!)

The L3/35 is assaulted by D Company and loses half of its tanks.

Two Capitanos surrender along with their infantry.

The L3/35 is destroyed by D Company.

An Australian HMG platoon is eliminated at the fort (8)

An Italian HMG rolling another (1,1) eliminates half an infantry platoon. This time in the north. (9)

An assault in the fort with the British engineers loses another half infantry platoon (10).

With that, the Italians surrender and the battle is over.

Aftermath

This scenario was aborted at this time, as I saw no way that the Italians could stop the Australians succeeding in their objective, which would technically constitute a draw.

The Australians were too reckless and consequently took too many casualties. The self-spotting of the 25-pdrs is not worth the risk of putting themselves under the Italian mortar/artillery fire. Better to hold the 25-pdrs back and use the spotting of one of their leaders until the Italian guns are silenced.

As it seems absolutely impossible for the Italians to survive two days of fighting against a much superior force (in numbers, arms and morale) it is virtually a given that the Australians will succeed in their objective. Consequently, the best the Italians can hope for is a draw by eliminating 6+ Australian steps.

I suggest that the victory condition should be tweaked to: Australians win if no Italian unit is left on the map AND they have lost fewer than 6 steps. If the Australians don’t win, the Italians do.