This is a nice intro scenario to the War on the Equator supplement. Having just received my laser-cut counters, I wanted to give them a spin. Its a very small scenario, with 6 Ecuadoran platoons and 2 leaders facing initially 1 Peruvian platoon with a leader and eventually 4 more (including 1 HMG platoon) and 2 leaders. The fight is over the town on board 19. The Ecuadorans advanced quickly and seized the outskirts of town while the lone Peruvian platoon, after demoralizing an Ecuadoran INF (good luck recovering with 6/5 morale) pulled back awaiting reinforcements (which began arriving on turn 3). The Ecuadorans assaulted the lone platoon and it didn't go well. 2 of the Ecuadoran INF were demoralized and the other one disrupted. The remaining good order Ecuadoran units set up a defensive perimeter in 0506 and 0407. Things did not look good for the visiting squad.

And then it turned around. One of the Demoralized INF in the assault hex rolled a 2 to recover fully, and the other one recovered to disrupted, taking them out of immediate danger. Good luck on opportunity fire at 2 hexes (with a 3 strength unit) demoralized a Peruvian INF which promptly took off for the rear. 2 Peruvian INF and an HMG moved to soften up 0506 and then assault. An Peruvian INF advanced adjacent and survived the OP fire (3 column shifted to 11, rolled a 3, but the INF passed the morale test) and on the next turn, its return fire demoralized the Ecuadoran defender, allowing 3 more platoons to advance adjacent to the town. The demoralized Ecuadoran fled, but was replaced by a good order unit.

On turn 10, the Peruvians began a desperate assault with disastrous results. The Captain was demoralized and an INF was disrupted. The Captain ran to the rear to request reinforcements. Meanwhile, the demoralized Ecuadoran rolled another 2 and became good order again. The original assaulting troops from 0507 had finally recovered, and the Peruvians didn't have enough strength left to assault them effectively. They were on the 5 column, while the Ecuadorans were on the 9. They tried, but suffered a demoralized leader for their troubles.

With 11 of 12 turns done and no chance of taking more than 2 town hexes (and that chance was VERY slim), the Peruvians conceded.

I rated this a 4 because after thinking the Ecuadoran position to be hopeless, I saw how on defense and with a little luck, they could withstand the counter attack. With so few units and a playing time under an hour, this was a lot of fun.

Oh...that Ecuadoran INF that was demoralized on turn 2? It had fled to the woods in 0303 and sat there all game, finally recovering to disrupted on turn 10.